Creating Something Fantastic: 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

PVC pipe and felt

With a little PVC pipe, felt, fabric, hot glue and notions I made this adorable Santa

Friday, December 9, 2011

What was your best Christmas gift that you ever got?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Homemade Christmas Advent Calendar

When I was a little girl I received my first advent calendar from my Great Uncle Gerry and Aunt Irene. That advent calendar was filled with candy--every day from December 1 to December 25 had a little paper window covering a prized piece of chocolate.

Every year after that my mom made sure that I had an advent calendar. Even though I knew what was behind each window it was so much fun counting down each day to Christmas. It helped build excitement for the big day.

As I've gotten older, I lost my taste for the waxy chocolate in the advent calendars, but I still love the concept of the Advent calendar. The Calendar in our house now helps us to feel more festive the whole month of December as well as remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Materials needed:
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Scrap fabric or paper
Mitten template
String (to hang your mittens on)
Stickers (to put numbers of your mittens)

Instructions;
I cut out fabric in the shape of mittens. I sewed them up, leaving the tops open to place the days of the advent calendar in them. I hung the mittens up like they were drying

Figure out fun and inexpensive activities that your family would enjoy that would make them feel more Christmasy

These are some of the activities that we are doing this year

Home Town Christmas,

Tree Lighting, Santa, Displays...

2
Decorate for Christmas

Ward Party 6pm

1^st Presidency Devotional 6-7pm

Library Movie

Games Friends

Temple

Make a Snowman

Movie

Visit family and go to a Christmas craft fair

Egg Nog and Christmas Music

Reading of Saviors Birth and sing hymns

Toboggan

Read Forgotten Carols

Games family

Library Movie 'Mr. Popper's Penguins'

Read Forgotten Carols

Dinner/Games Friends

Trivia game about the Saviors birth and Christmas songs

Christmas Movie

Nativity Movie

Games Family

Sam’s Party

Games Family

Christmas Light Watching--drive around town looking and admiring the Christmas lights, while listening to Christmas music

Christmas Movie

Nativity Movie

Other ideas; make cookies, go caroling, bring home made gifts to friends, bake bread, make holiday crafts, make home made gifts, act out the Christmas story,

Web sites with other ideas

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/advent125.htm

http://familyfun.go.com/printables/count-down-to-christmas-advent-calendar-activities-704015/

http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/printables/1106d_adventactivities.pdf

http://www.activity-mom.com/2010/11/2010-activity-advent-calendar-printable.html

http://kiddley.com/2006/11/22/fill-your-advent-with-activities/

http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=2391

Pictures sites
http://preview.tinyurl.com/7sqbm4e
http://preview.tinyurl.com/7nusrfe

Thursday, November 24, 2011

I Need Your Help and Opinions

I need your help and opinions about a number of things so please comment on what you think:

1. Do you think I should sell my hats?

2.Do you think I should sell my scarves?

3.If I did sell them what do you think I should charge?

(I was thinking for a plain jean/corduroy hat $30, embroidered or flower $40 and Naugahyde $50)

4. I'm contemplating giving a percentage of every sale to a not-for-profit--what do you think of that?

5. What do you think of me doing a give away of a hat and scarf set?

I created the pattern for my sewn hats.

My sewn hats are environmentally friendly, I use recycled materials.

Every one of my hats is hand made.

Every one of my hats is machine washable.

Every sewn hat has a lining

Flower Power

Blue Roses/flowers

Blue Jeans and Flowers

Beret

Flapper and Flowers

This hat was inspired by the flapper style

The scarf has hand embroidering and crocheted flowers

Corduroy and Naugahyde

Monday, November 21, 2011

Facials

Saturday I spent the day with some incredible women in Cardston Alberta Canada at the Women's Relaxer. I gave a presentation on facials. These are my notes on facials.

A facial cleans, exfoliates and nourishes the skin to promote clear, well-hydrated skin. A facial is the second most popular spa treatment after massage.

It varies from person to person. Ideally, get a facial monthly because that's how long it takes the skin to regenerate. Try to have a facial at least four times a year, as the season changes. You may need it more frequently if you are trying to clear up a case of acne, especially at the beginning. Otherwise, once a month is plenty. You can overdo it.

Healthy Looking Skin
"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. What do you want? An adorable pancreas?" -- Jean Kerr, American author and playwright

It's not enough to get a facial to keep your skin clear and beautiful. You need to have a great home skin-care routine. Here are the everyday habits you need to keep your skin beautiful:

1.      Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and leafy green. Good nutrition is the basic building block of healthy skin.
2.      Drink plenty of water every day. (I fill a carafe to remind myself.)
3.      Cut out skin-damaging habits like smoking, excessive drinking, tanning booths and excessive sun exposure
4. Throw away the soap and use quality products that are right for your skin type.
5. Give yourself a home facial as often as once a month.
6. Moistureize and clease every day
7. If you are having problems with your skin that a facial doesn't help or worstens seek a dermatologist out

Facial Steps--when doing a facial avoid the eye area and be gentle with the scrup and masks

1. Cleanse or Scrup (avoid the eye area and work it all over your
face using gentle circular motions with your finger tips)—remove
with warm water

You should clease or scub once a day just before you go to bed, to
remove inpurities

Note: Over cleansing can cause an off balance with your skin,
cuasing it to prodcue more oil which can lead to breakouts

2. Toner (use with a cotton swab/pad)

Apply to just washed face to remove the lasty traces of cleanser or
scrubs. You can use this as a midday refreshner too

3. Steam or Mask--10-15 min

Steams are soothing and an aromatic way to deep cean your skin. It
opens pores while hydrating your skin. (Only to be used once a
week)

Note: If your skin is having an break out, do not use this treatment.
The heat stimulates the skin and can aggravate the already irratated
skin

Masks are an intesive treament onely to be used once a month

4. Eye Soothers--10-15 min

This step can be used at the same time as the Mask.

5. Moisturizer/Sunscreen

Favorite Recipes

Cleanse

1c witch hazel

1/4c white vinagar

Mix together--when using--use a cotton swab/pad to cover face and
immediatly remove by splashing warm water on your face and than
pat dry with a towel

Scrubs

Baking Soda--meant for all skin types

2-3 tsp Baking Soda

little bit of warm water

Oatmeal--meant for dry skin

1Tbsp ground oat flour

1tsp lemon juice

2tsp plain yogurt

Toner

Witch Hazel

Steam--water should never be more than 104 degrees when using,
because it can burn your skin-when water is the correct temp place
your face over bowl and put a towel over your head and breath

in deep and enjoy--steam for 10-15 min

Plain Water

4c Water--you can have less depending on how deep or
shallow your bowl is

Herbal

4c Water (boiling)

4Tbsp rosemary and/or sage

Allow the herbs to steep in hot water. Allow water to cool down
enough to feel comfortable to use

Herbal Mint

4c Water (boiling)

4 Herbal Mint tea bags or a hand full of fresh mint slightly crushed

Allow the Mint to steep in the hot water. Allow water to cool down
enough to feel comfortable to use

Masks--avoid the eye area and gently place on face--allow to sit on
face for 10-15 minutes

Oatmeal and Honey--meant for all skin types

3Tbsp ground oat flour

2Tbsp honey

Mix the honey and oat flour--if it's too thick add a little water to the
mixture

Oatmeal--meant for dry skin

3Tbsp ground oat flour

2Tbsp milk or cream (use the highest cream count)

Mix ingredients

Eye Soothers--place on closed eyes and relax--10-15 min--this step
can be used when you using your mask

Black Tea

Black tea contains tannins which helps to redue puffiness and dark
circles. The cheaper the better, because the less expensive seems to
have more tannins

Cucumber

Thin slices of cucumber (thin enough to bend)

Moisturizer--avoid the eye area--gently apply with your finger tips
in a circular motion

Olive oil

Coconut oil

Sunscreen--I don't use any chemical sunscreen on my face, but I
just use clothing, hat and sun glasses in the summer to protect
myself from getting too much sun