Little Girl's Pocketbook

The Cutie Pie has been invited to a birthday party this Saturday, so I offered to make something for her to take as a gift.  Her choices were a pocketbook, backpack or an apron.  She chose pocketbook.

I took my favorite adult pocketbook pattern, which, unfortunately, is now out of print, and reduced it to 65%.  That makes is just the right size for a pre-schooler.

This pattern is quick and easy but I really love how it finishes up.  I make them for different seasons.

Here's the birthday bag and a little wallet to match, made from scraps.  The birthday girl takes dance, so I chose this piece of pink corduroy with ballet slippers on it.

Stockings for Wedding Gifts

Because people keep insisting on getting married, I decided a couple of years ago that Christmas stockings would be a gift that would be personal and different.  I've made quite a few lately.  When a couple gets married close to Christmas, I'm able to get a little ornament to go along with the stockings.  However, when they get married in 100 degree weather, they're fresh out of luck.

Hancock Fabric has Christmas material on sale right now, so I usually stock up, go ahead and make the bottoms of the stockings and have them on hand.  Since it's easier to embroider the names onto a single layer of fabric, I wait and finish the tops (cuffs) when I need them for a gift.

These are also great when it's necessary to mail your gift, as they're easy to pack and ship and they're light weight.

I also make these for baby gifts as well.  However, I make them a little different, and will post a picture of the next one I make.

the fan

yes, I did make it - just haven't had time to post it.

I used the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and cut out a 9 1/2" oval from a piece of cardboard, another 9 1/2" oval from white vinyl, a 7 1/2" oval from  blue paper (didn't have blue vinyl) and I believe, a 4 1/2" tree/moon from the 50 States cartridge.  I put the white vinyl onto the cardboard, stapled the fat tongue depressor on with a heavier-duty type stapler, covered it up with the blue paper and put on my tree/moon.

It fans fabulously.

My Next Project

So it hit me today while I was fanning myself at work (I do that alot).

I'm going to make my own version of a funeral home fan, since funeral homes are too stingy to give 'em out anymore.

I'm of an age that a funeral home fan is a necessity, air conditioner or no air conditioner.

I'm using my Cricut and it's going to be the envy of every other woman my age at church.

And what do we live for, if not to be the envy of other women?

I'll post a picture at the end of the week, because tomorrow night I'm going to the movie - "Inception".

Long as I  have it by Sunday............

Well, Nannie Nannie Boo Boo

Okay, so I didn't win a Silhouette machine.

Well, by grannies, I etched with my Cricut.

The daughter of friends was married last weekend.  She now has the same type mixed marriage that I have - that being, one is from North Carolina and one is from South Carolina.  So I fixed this little candy/snack jar with equal real estate for each one.

Used my Cricut.  I got the 50 states cartridge a few weeks ago, mainly for the beautiful, gorgeous Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon.  I love it.  I've put it on blue envelopes, vinyl cutout for the back windshield of a car, and now this:

Just think of the possibilities......blue Christmas tree ornaments with my precious Palmetto Tree/Crescent Moon on them.....drinking glasses....plates....

I think I might cry.

Primary Music Calling - Whenever I Think about Pioneers

1) "...pioneers...women...men.." - Cricut Paper Doll Dressup;

Handcart came from Cricut My World;

"...children came too..." - lds.org, Friend July 2010;

1) "...like to have been a child then" - Cricut Paper Dolls, Dress Up & Every Day cartridges;

1) "...learned...", boy at Chalkboard - Cricut A Child's Year;

2) "...games they played.." (duck, duck, goose) - Cricut Animal Kingdom;

and yes, I glued these out of order

3) "...joined them in their fun..." - Cricut Nursery Rhymes

1) "...bright starry skies..." - Cricut Plantin for stars, Cricut Nursery Rhymes for moon;

2) "...day's measured journey..." signpost - Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls (Accessories 3 on one of them);

3) Are we there yet - Cricut Going Places

1) "...sung...loud and strong..." - Music flash cards I have;

1) "hosanna..." - Cricut Plantin;

2) "...our new home..." - state clipart from internet;

1) "...joy and thankfulness...their song..." -  google "free blank sheet music"; words are Cricut Plantin

Primary Music Calling - Faith

1) ...sun will rise...each new day - I used Sizzix die cuts, but there are Cricut cartridges;

1) "...hear.." - ear clipart from somewhere????;
2) "...each time I pray..." - picture, lds.org

1) "...seed..." - Seed;

2) "...grow.." tree - Cricut, any tree will do;

1)  "...within my heart."" & Do, Right - Cricut Plantin

1) "...lived with God.." - sky picture I took;

2) "...mortal birth..", baby - Cricut A Child's Year

1) "...can return...", return arrow - Cricut Going Places;

2) "...earth..." - Cricut Going Places;

1) "...trust in God above..." - made a sky picture (for something different)  - Sizzix

2) "...Christ...showed the way..." - picture - lds.org

1) "...faith...grow"  - Cricut Plantin;

2) "O" for obey - Cricut Plantin

Primary Music Calling - The Holy Ghost

1) "When Christ was on the Earth" - picture, lds.org;
2) Earth - Cricut Going Places;
3) For "He promised He would send", I started to put an envelope, but I decided I didn't want to confuse the Jr. Primary kids regarding how the Holy Ghost would be sent to us;

The Holy Ghost to Comfort Us - Used sad face clipart that I think I got from ldsabout.com (I've had it saved on the computer for so long that I'm guessing that's where it came from)

1) Still Small Voice - Cricut Plantin SchoolBook (for words and circles)
2) Surrounding items (that drown out the Still Small Voice) - Carson Dellosa clipart.

1) "He testifies of God and Christ " - picture from lds.org;
2) "And makes our hearts rejoice" - Cricut Plantin SchoolBook

 1) And we we are confirmed... picture - lds.org
2) .....to guide us (arrow pointing toward heaven) every hour - Cricut Going Places (arrow) and My Community (clock)

1) "Oh, may I always listen...." - same as above;

1) "And with his light" - Lamp photo I took;
2) "..do what's right..make a choice" - CTR letters from Cricut Plantin SchoolBook

Primary Music Calling - The Back

Cut the numbers out with the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Today

1) World - Cricut Going Places;
2) People are Confused - Cricut Plantin Schoolbook;
3) Go and watch the News, newspaper - Carson Dellosa clipart;
4) We can get direction, arrow - Cricut Going Places;
5) All along our way, highway (I need to cut out a person and put on that highway) - Cricut Going Places;
6) If we heed the prophets - picture, lds.org

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Daniel

1) Picture - lds.org;
2) "He refused to sin" - Cricut Going Places & Plantin Schoolbook
3) King - Cricut Nursery Rhymes
4) Lions - Cricut Animal Kingdom
5) "King soon saw" - eyes from a photograph I had taken;
6) "He obeyed God's Law" - cut out picture I had taken of the scriptures;

(I never figured out what to put for "Daniel's power was great" - besides, I ran out of room)

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Jonah

1) Jonah picture - lds.org;
2) Tried to run away - Runner: Cricut Going Places;
3) But he later learned (clocks depicting sooner and later times) - Cricut My Community
4) To listen: Cricut My Community
5) When we really try (I Think I Can, I Think I Can) - Cricut train on My Community
6) The Lord won't let us fail - Cricut Going Places
7) Report Card (showing we didn't fail) - just make one up;
8) Whale - Cricut Animal Kingdom

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Samuel

1) Samuel picture - lds.org;
2) Chosen a a boy - Cricut "A Child's Year"
3) Hannah promised God her son would serve with joy - Cricut "A Child's Year"
4) In the tabernacle - Sizzix tent (but there's one on a Cricut cartridge somewhere);
5) "Samuel heard his name" words - Plantin;
6) "Here I Am" - Cricut "A Child's Year" - school one and I cut the chalkboard off so that only his hand is raised

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Moses

1) Moses picture - lds.org;
2) All the words - Cricut Plantin SchoolBook;
3) Moses cutout - Cricut Paper Doll Dressup - Nativity
4) Map of the Promised Land - lds.org;

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Abraham

1) Abraham and Isaac picture - lds.org;
2) Chosen and the number 1 - Cricut Plantin Schoolbook;
3) Abraham and Isaac cutouts - Cricut, Paper Doll Dressup cartridge - Nativity 1 and 2;
4) Words - Cricut Plantin SchoolBook;
5) Bible - photograph I just took and cut it out.

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Noah

1) Noah picture - lds.org;
2) Word cutout - Cricut Plantin SchoolBook;
3) Repentance is strong soap - Mormonad, from ldsabout.com;
4) ear picture;
5) lying, cheating, stealing - for the "they were busy sinning" line;
6) Sad face and ear for "they wished they had listened";
7) Rain clouds - Carson-Dellosa, "Seasons, Holidays, and Celebrations Clip Art

Primary Music Calling , Follow the Prophet - Enoch

1) Enoch picture - lds.org;
2) Chalkboard - Rubber stamp, cut the word "good" out with Cricut Plantin Schoolbook;
3) City outline - Cricut Plantin Schoolbook;
4) No Sin - Cricut cartridge - you can use the "Going Places cartridge;
5) Cloud - Sizzix die cut - the large red one

I will probably go back and add an arrow pointing up to the cloud.

Primary Music Calling, Follow the Prophet - Adam

Since most Jr. Primary munchkins cannot read, trying to teach them a new song, let alone a new song with 457 verses to it, is a reason almost worthy of apostasy. Okay, I jest. But it is a challenge. Nursery children can sing the same song over and over, every week and love it. As a matter of fact, they get a little upset if you DON'T sing the ones they're use to over and over.

However, by the time they get to Jr. Primary, a little variety seems to be the order of the day.

We've jumped a little ahead and have started working on Follow the Prophet already, since, as I may have mentioned, it has 457 verses.

Therefore, Jr. Primary needs all the no-word visual they can get.

So here's the visual for Verse 1 - Adam Was a Prophet:

1) Adam and Eve - from lds.org;
2) #1 - Cricut cutout - Plantin SchoolBook cartridge;
3) Food - Carson-Dellosa clipart CD - "Seasons, Holidays, and Celebrations Clip Art", you can of course improvise on this with magazine pictures or whatever;
4) Footsteps ("following his ways"), Sizzix die cut;
5) One way - Photograph I took;
5) Little People - Sizzix thing that you can't get anymore - sorry.

Again, I use my Cricut ALOT and Carson Delosa clipart ALOT.

My construction paper of choice is the Peacock brand, sulphite construction paper.  And I cut it before I start gluing stuff on so that it will fit in a page protector.

Also, please note that on the back of each of these, I put a huge cutout #1, #2, etc., in the middle on the back, along with the words to the verse glued at the top right hand corner (large enough to read, but small enough not to take up much room on the back).  I'll take a picture of the back and post it when I get a chance.

Primary Music, Me and My Shadow

Welcome to "The Reason the Cricut Machine was Invented", calling for the LDS church - Primary chorister.

If you do not have a Cricut, I hate it for you. Love ya, mean it, but this Cricut will save you from much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, when it comes to visuals for teaching songs.

#1 - I cannot sing these 24th octave high notes on these Primary songs.

#2 - Being a party girl, however (if you count adding ice to your glass of Sprite as taking a walk on the wild side), I do like to have fun. So that makes up for not hitting the high notes.

That's where your Cricut can come in handy. So get yourself out of the bed and in the line at Wal-Mart at 3:00 in the morning the day after Thanksgiving like I did, and get yourself a Cricut.

Again, I don't claim to have the greatest ideas in the world. However, if this is an idea you can use, I'm glad I could help.

For the Sunday before Ground Hog day, I used the "A Child's Year" cartridge and cut out two each of selected shapes, one in yellow, one in black.

I had selected a line from a song for each cutout. A child would come up and choose a yellow cutout, I would read a line from a Primary song, they would have to tell me the line that came after it (the shadow), if they told me the correct line, the yellow cutout could be matched up with its black shadow and then we would sing the song. For Jr. Primary, I just gave the 1st line to a song, and they would give me the next line. For Sr. Primary, I made it more difficult, (I chose a line from the middle of the song from the 2nd or 3rd verse).

They seemed to enjoy it.

Note about Sizzix references you will probably see in the future:  you can't get 'em anymore.  But you can probably check other die cut brands that are still available.  I'm not sure what's out there outside of Cricut and Sizzix, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

Also, our local public library sells old, donated magazines for 10 cent each.  They're a great thing.  I like to go ahead and cut pictures out of them and store them in labeled folders for future use.

I Like My Stuff

I have fun with my stuff. It saves my sanity. And since I love to be nosy, and see what other people do with their stuff (maybe, possibly, I just might look at total strangers' blogs once in a while), I took a poll, and that person said she thought there could be somebody out there who would be interested in what I do with some of my stuff. (Allright, already, just because she's home with twin toddlers all day, and therefore she might, just might, be a little desperate for something to look at, what's your point? But hey, there are some howsomevermany billions of people in the world. You never know. There just may be that one person out there who's been searching for years for someone to show them how to make paper flowers out of toilet paper).

Keep in mind, I generally develop a strong interest in something and pretty much become obsessed with it for a while. Then some sort of old-age-attention-deficit takes over and, phooey, I move on to something else. Therefore, this will be one seriously random blog.

First thing, ya gotta have your priorities straight. In order to have a little moola for the stuff and things, ya gotta save moola somewhere else. Therefore, you need to develop a slight coupon addiction. Get yourself a big notebook, some notebook dividers, and some baseball card holders (you need all of that to organize your coupons). Then go here.

So, stuff will start showing up this weekend. Just remember, I warned you about the randomness. (Is randomness a word? It is now.)