September Card Exchange

Awhile back I mentioned that I was in a card club and I am still loving it. We have changed it from every month to every other month. This has been good because it seemed like it would sneak up on me way too fast every month. This way I don't feel pressure and can enjoy making the cards. I have way too many cards but am not quiting! Sorry Quincy.

I wanted to start posting these so I have record of them. I sometimes send them before snapping a picture and can't even remember some of the ones that I have made. So if you're not into cards or just don't get it like my husband, close this window now and return to whatever you should be working on. Hee hee.

The theme this time was a fall card and free choice. This is what I came up with:

I cut the pumpkin, the phrase 'thankful', the house and the label with my silhouette machine. Man I love that machine, but more to come on that later.

What Lucy's Been Up To Or Should I Say Into?

The cupboards

Lucy digging her way to the back where the Oreos are hidden.

She was successful of course.

Emptying trash bags all over my kitchen floor.

At least she is offering me one.

She's walking

But only behind this toy and along furniture.

Her skinny legs crack me up!

Her dinner

Not afraid to make a mess.

Her nose

Not sure who she learned this from.

The fridge

Looking for a midnight snack.

Caught red-handed.

How could I refuse this little cutie just one little snack?

Let's Get Crafty! Making Zipper Bows!

I have been thinking about starting my own craft blog but am afraid that it will turn into a "What Not to Make" or have only one post a year. So I am going to post more of the things that I make here on our family blog and if I keep it up I may start one in the future. This way I have record of what I made and it just might inspire me to get more of those projects finished, like my kids scrapbooks!

Last post I talked about attending Swiss Days in Utah. I came home eager to make some of the stuff that I saw. Here is my first project, zipper bows. I first saw these on Martha Stewart but thought they were a little too rough for Lucy at the time. Now that she is almost one and owns her first pair of skinny jeans I thought she is ready for sure. These were way overpriced at the craft fair, especially when it costs under $4.00 to make two.

Lucy is into smiling with her tongue lately. It cracks me up!

Here is what you need:
36 in. Zipper (I used a 22 in. zipper it was the longest one I could find at the store I was at. It worked perfect for a small bow)
Hot Glue or Craft Glue
Scrap of Felt
Hair Clip

I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of each step. I got excited and forgot to snap shots at each step.

1. Open the zipper to divide it into two. Each side makes one flower. Cut the zipper stop and plastic reinforcement off the ends of the zipper.

2. Place a dab of hot glue onto one end of the zipper that has the most fabric on it. Fold in cut edge; press down to secure. Roll end of zipper into a very tight "bud," securing with another dab of hot glue, and spiraling downward so teeth do not overlap each other. (This is when the thought came to me that someone needs to invent craft gloves that prevents finger burns!)


3. Roll at least three times. Make sure tacking is going down on each roll so they are not on top of each other. Glue with a dot of hot glue. (Be careful not to over glue. I hate when glue clumps show!)

4. After the bud is made then make one looser coil and glue. I found this to be the trickiest part but play with it until you're happy, then glue. Sorry, this picture isn't the best because it is showing the backside.


5. Then make a petal by forming a loop perpendicular to the bud; secure with hot glue.


6. Make your next petal by swirling the zipper to create a figure eight; secure with hot glue.



7. Repeat until you reach the end of the zipper.



8. Cut a heart shaped piece of felt that matches the color of your zipper so it doesn't show through. Glue on hair clip by making a dime size of hot glue on the back of the flower. Then open the clip and put the back side of the clip on the glue then press the felt on top inside the clip securing it to the bow and catching any glue that was overflowing from the clip.


You could also sew a pin on and use it for a broach or attach it to a purse. It would be super cute on a present at Christmas time. At Swiss Days they had it fastened to a headband with the headband wound in a zipper itself. I know Little Miss Lucy wouldn't keep that on so I wasn't going to try that.

I can't wait to make more using different colors!

Happy crafting!

Labor Day Weekend

Yay! We made it to Provo for the weekend and just in time to celebrate my niece Kadence's birthday. Jensen and Lucy were way happy to get out of the car and play on Grandma and Grandpa's swing set. I love this picture of James taking Jensen by the hand to show him where all the fun is.

Our little Lightning McQueen.

Oh my gosh! Check out that hair.

Speaking of Lightning McQueen, you have to be fast if you want to capture a picture of him and all of the cousins. This is the only shot I got before Jensen bolted right off the side scaring his two younger nieces.


So we tried it on safer grounds.

This seems about right!
Such a stinker!



Kadence eating her 1st birthday cupcake.
Oh man this was hilarious. She couldn't get enough!

Lucy getting a warm up for her birthday in a month.

I can't believe it! She's my baby and is going to be a year old.

On Saturday we had a full day. The only problem was everyone in Utah had the same plan as us. We headed to Swiss Days in Midway. I haven't been for years but it hasn't changed. Crazy craft women all running around trying to get the hottest items of the season, scones the size of a full grown watermelon loaded with honey, and lots and lots of people. I didn't buy anything but came home eager to make some of the stuff. It's hard to buy those things when you know you can make it at home. It's just actually finding time to do it.

Lucy eating her first scone.

We then thought we would head up to Park City to ride the Alpine Slide. We got stuck in the traffic and only had time to basically get our tickets, ride the ski lift up to the top of the mountain, and then slide down. I had done this when I was a little girl but didn't remember any of it when we got there. It was fun and wished we would of had more time up there.

Jensen and Quincy went down before me so this is the only picture I have of them. Quincy said Jensen loved going down and was giggling.

Lucy was too small to go so I went down by myself trying to snap pictures as I drove. Doesn't this look like a Olympic luge picture minus the painted toe nails and flip flops.

After the quick slide down the mountain we headed back to Provo for the BYU football game. Only this wasn't quick. We got stuck in the traffic again and made it to the game in the second quarter. It turned out to be a great game and was fun to see the old BYU quarterbacks during half time. After the game we headed to my brothers and had my favorite, Brick Oven Pizza. It never tasted so good after our busy day.

Sunday we relaxed and had a nice family dinner. My little brother and sister put together a DVD of family pics from last year. Some how my "Honey Honey" movie made it on there and will now be passed down for future generations. Who knew people (aka my little bro) could take it off your blog!

It wouldn't be complete if we didn't take a picture of these three cute girls. It's much harder to get them to stay put. All three of them are crawling and only posed for a second.

On Labor Day my mom fixed a nice breakfast and all of my siblings came to see us off. We were trying to head back to Logandale to spend some time with Quincy's family. All of his brother's were there and playing dunk ball and home run derby without him.

We had just passed Fillmore making good time when our tire blew. Luckily we were able to pull off the side of the road without any problems and change the tire. Also we were just a mile from a little town called Meadow and could see the sign that said tire service. This is our first road side situation together. I have to say we had pretty good team work. The kids were so good too. Thankfully it wasn't hot either. We got the spare on and we were set to drive the mile to Meadow when the tire didn't sound right. It turns out the spare was flat. We then called our roadside service but they said they were going to have to tow it. Luckily we called the shop itself and asked if they could come pump it up. They did. We drove the mile and got two new tires put on. We will now always have a special spot in our hearts for the tire shop in Meadow.

Back on the road again.

It put us back a hour and a half which was really going to make us late for home run derby. Jensen didn't seem to mind since he got his favorite treat out of the whole deal.

Quincy did get to play but not as long as he would of liked I'm sure.

Daddy's Little Rookie watched him for awhile but I think we were all worn out from our fun and eventful weekend.

This picture says it all!