How to turn peanuts into snowmen

 

 

Me and my 4 bouncing boys needed a new holiday tradition due to two kids having a food allergy. So we decided starting this year we will start making unique Christmas ornaments the day after thanksgiving. This year we are turning peanuts into snow men. It's an all day process but they are really enjoying it and watching movies. 

Supplies
roasted peanuts
White Paint acrylic paint
White Spray Paint
Black Paint acrylic paint
Paint for hats (your color choice)
Paint Brushes
Wax Paper
Cookie Sheet or cardboard box
Ornament Hooks
Hot glue gun
hot glue
ribbon for scarfs
buttons



First you hand paint each peanut with acrylic paint. This soaks into the peanut.

Second laying wax paper or foil on a cookie sheet or cardboard box spray paint both sides with white spray paint. This requires drying time.

Third I place painted in disposable shot glasses so my kids could dip the heads in the paint and making "stocking caps". Then they placed the snowman back on the wax paper for more drying time.They had so much fun using different colors for the hats. I can see how each snowman is going to be unique and were not even done yet.

Fourth we used the end of a paint brush to make the faces.

Fifth we hot glued the scarfs ( made from ribbon), buttons and hooks on. They came out so cute.

We are donating some of them to the grandparents and to a habitat for humanity Christmas tree.

Purses and more

The last few weeks the creativity bug has gotten me. I've broken out my seeing machine. I've made skirts, chair covers and purses. I helped teach a class at our women's night for our church were everyone got to make a skirt. They all came out pretty amazing. The today I made a purse out of an old pair of jeans I had. I have to say this is the best feeling purse I've ever had. It stays on my shoulder nicely and has just the right amount of pockets.I've also applied for my photography business license so I can get that off the ground. My first set of professional prints will be in tomorrow. I'm excited to see how they turned out. School starts in a couple of weeks so my creative will slow down then. Still hoping to find time to make Christmas gifts this year for everyone. Here is some pics of the purse I made that I just love.

Giraffe diaper cake

It had been a few years since I last made a diaper cake. I was asked last week to make one for a giraffe baby shower. Well I had been working on a giraffe hat and blanket for this shower so included it in the diaper cake. I have to say it came out to die for. The mon just loved it. Now I can't wait to see pics of the baby in the hat.

Matching tees

Thanks to my amazing friend Pastor Kay I've broke out my sewing machine a lot lately. I've been teaching her how to sew. Now she wants to learn how to appliqué stuff on tee shirts. So today I'm brushing up on my skills and I made my youngest boys matching shirts for church tomorrow. When my big boys get back I'll have matching shirts for all 4 of them to wear to church. I'm thinking guitars on different colors tee shirts or something like that. They will all have ties by the end of summer. Now my next project for me is a new wallet. I'm going to work on that tomorrow.

DIY bookcase

My husband and I made this totally awesome bookcase. We used all cheap 2 x 6 boards. We cut them the length and height we wanted. Then stained them and assembled. We did anchor it to the wall for safety reasons. By adding this one bookcase I took two out of the house. This is step one in my summer make over on my house. The final measurements were 7 feet tall by 33 inches wide. Cost was 8.50 we reused a bunch of wood we had around the house.

Clue 3

Clue 3 has been a bit more challenging then 1 and 2. I still managed to get one done this morning. I did have to rip it out a few times. But to me this is a very pretty daisy. So far two of the clues are octagons. One is a square. I'm really starting to wonder how this is going to turn out. Remember I get one clue a week ever wensday until some time in april. I'm really excited every week to get my new clue.

2010 Crochet along

A few weeks back i got an email about this years crochet along. I was so excited i order the yarn when i had the money. Well while waiting for it to start i found the crochet along from 2010. So i started on it. I wanted to have it finished by Feb 15th when the new started. Well i didn't i finished it the next day. But it is the most amazing blanket i've made so far. So amazing i used it once and then Cnnor stole it. Oh well he loves his blankets and since he had it he's been waking up only once. So i'm not going to complain.

Next Step in the crochet along

So this morning I get up and doing our whole morning routine. I wasn't paying attention to what day it was. This last week has been really busy. We are registering kids for soccer, football and cheerleading. So my mind has been on upwards. After I take the kids to school I sit down to finally enjoy my cup of coffee and I remember what day it is. So I head over to the web site and get the clue for today. Well so far i have made 3 I need to make 6 total. These one are 11 inches by 11 inches. These are quite a bit bigger then last weeks. Every week I get more excited to see how we are going to put them together.

Crochet Along

I'm doing a crochet along. With the Bernat yarn company. I'm really enjoying it. We get a clue a week. Every Wensday for the next 10 weeks i believe. So clue 1 was a lot of fun. I had to make 9 squares in one color in the 4 more squares in different color each. They are about 4.5 inches each. i got them all made the same day.

How to spin fiber into yarn using a spinning wheel!!!!

I'm going to try and explain the best way I can how how to spin fiber into yarn. You start with some carded, roving or top fiber. Picture below is roving fiber merno wool.

You draft it out. To draft you pull some of the fiber out so its thin and you can pretty much see through it. See picture below.

Now using a spinning wheel. Mine seen blow.

Attach your drafted fiber to a leader. I use acrylic yarn for my leader. You spin the wheel clock wise. You go till you fill has many bobbins has you want. This is only an example so i didn't fill the bobbins.  

Once you have the bobbins full. Shown here is two bobbins. but you can use has many has you want.

You ply them together on another bobbin. This time you spin the counter clock wise.

When you done plying your bobbin will be full. Mine is no because this just a sample.

Now using swifter, back of chair, bowl, or something round. I used my kids drum because it was small enouch for this about of yarn. You wrap the yarn around the item till all the yarn is off your bobbin. 

Now using yarn or thread tie it around your yarn. I always use acrylic yarn since i always have it easy on hand.

Take your yarn off the drum (or other item). This is what it looks like seen below.

Now using hot water from the tap soak your yarn in the water to set the twist. I let mine sit till the water is room tempater.

Then hang it to dry.

When your done your finished yarn. You can use to make what ever you want.

`There are other ways to spin yarn if you can't afford to buy a spinning wheel. You can use a drop spindle.You can find them just about anywhere if you google them. How ever I

 Loolie Mom Fiber Arts . She hand makes her drop spindles. 

Drop spindles can be very easy to use once you get the hang of them. Here is my 3 year old spinning fiber. All 4 of my kids can use a drop spindle. We are working on teaching my two oldest boys how to use a wheel.

To see more on using a drop spindle check out the video's that are all youtueb. I like this video its time lapest and gives  you a good idea of how it is done.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ZKyZfTG0M&list=UUNMOG-ysAaVjexWwHlE_jeA&index=8&feature=plcp

There are several other ways to spin fiber into yarn. Like upcycling an old fan, using a kick spindle, or make a drop spindle out of a pencil and piece of card board. I'll write those blogs soon.