* Ode to a Hammock *

Oh hammock....how I love you! As I am cradled in your tightly woven fibers.....everything changes. I feel at ease, rested, part of Nature, solitude, in awe of all things so much larger than me, quietness....even if just for quick moments. I steal away to you hammock as often as I can while we have this beautiful weather! Until we meet again hammock.........until we meet again.

* Mr. Frog *

I was finally able to capture some pictures of Mr. Frog....1 of the 3 frogs we have in our small fountain pond this year...he is a big one! We also have such amazing flowers and even with the harsh weather they are still holding on! We love to find the frogs everyday and watch as they enjoy life in the most relaxed way!

* Beautiful Bells *

I found these Lily of the Valley today....and picked some to bring cheer and loveliness inside! They are so simple and delicate....and smell so beautiful and fresh.....it's amazing! I had to take some pictures and enjoy them! Thank you God for such things.....that we can delight in you!

* Room Redo *

Whew....sorry my fellow bloggers....I have taken a time out from my blog due to our latest home improvement project! With exhaustion I am happy to report that the dining room and craft/office rooms have been stripped of wallpaper and painted!! Yay!! What a difficult project to accomplish with wallpaper but alas....we are finished and are enjoying our new rooms! It is amazing what fresh paint can do so I would like to welcome the colors of: Salt Glaze and Timothy Hay to our House! Beautiful and Earthy colors like sage green and the palest of blue are so wonderful and add such a fresh look! All I need is some sunshine to stream through the windows....so we can welcome Summer!!!

* Something about Daffodils *

There's just something about Daffodils! And we had to bring them into our Easter Brunch Celebration! Check out these adorable daffodil jelly bean cups a la Martha Stewart Living! Simply cut out a daffodil shape or use the pattern and attach a small sized cupcake liner to the middle! Add your yellow and orange jelly beans and what an adorable and sunny addition to your Spring place setting! Of course we simply had to add the real thing to our table as well....and I am hoping they will brighten our day....even if it may be raining! April showers bring May flowers!

* Kiddie Cones *

Happy Easter Everyone! Just preparing the Kiddie Cones that I made this year! The kids get so much for Easter and so to simplify I made these paper mache cones....just covered them with newspaper and a vintage look ball trim!! Super easy!! Then I stuffed them with cute and fun goodies....fluffy chicks, an egg straw, a pinwheel...a feltie chick or bunny and even a grow kit is at the bottom with a terra cotta pot!!! This way...when the cone is filled- thats it-a mini sized Easter Basket in a Cone! The kids are going to take their baskets on an egg hunt later and also will find the crepe paper carrots from an earlier post too!!! Happy Easter to all of you!

* Easter Bunny *

This picture is so funny! Ruby was not so sure about the Easter Bunny....her look says it all! What is up with that big rabbit? Is it touching me? I am kind of scared but I want candy! Hahahahaha! Priceless!

* Easter Tags *

It's time! The kids are ready to go to their egg hunt today! Look how adorable these pipe cleaner carrots are! What Bunny wouldn't want to deliver something special and take a closer look at those fuzzy carrots! I stamped each of the kids names to keep their baskets easy to identify and then just tied on a carrot!! What a cute way to make your child's basket personalized....and I am all for adding kids names on things....just to give it that extra special touch and it only takes a few minutes!!! Happy egg hunting!!

To Make the Carrot: just take 1 fuzzy orange pipe cleaner....the ones that alternate between thick and thin- take the bottom and form a small carrot point and start coiling it up around a pencil for the carrot shape. Slide it off the pencil, twist on a touch of green pipe cleaner to the top and VOILA! It just takes a minute!

* Carrots Anyone? *

Carrots are good for your eyes....and better than that...they will look super cute in your Easter Baskets!! These adorable crepe paper carrots are compliments Martha Stewart Living and I just couldn't resist!! Take some Easter goodies and just wrap them up like a carrot! Cut some green leafy fringe from scrapbook paper and hot glue to the top! Then on Easter morning your kiddies will love unwrapping these carrots to find some Easter goodies!
Quick Tip: sometimes wrapping would get a little tricky...I had some adhesive handy to make sure that the crepe was nice and tight...if my wrapping would get a little loose I would just dab on a bit and re-roll! If your crepe would break off before all your wrapping is done....no worries....just add a dab of adhesive roller to the edge and it will stick right back on and just re-roll over it! Carrots are fun and funky in shape so no worries about perfection! Happy Crafting!

* Spring Nest *

Finished Nest....Happy Spring!

Plastic Container to add shape to the Nest

Supplies: Moss, Shredded Paper, Brown Paper

Marbled Eggs in blue and green

Finished Nest with Moss...just add eggs

 Dying eggs with the kiddies today! Look at these adorable marbled "robins" eggs! Of course they needed a home for display....so we quickly put together this simple but beautiful nest! Using a plastic container for the shape we just covered and hot glued with ripped up brown paper, added some vintage shred and topped off with fresh green moss....but a nest can't be complete without the eggs! I was surprised how simple it is to make the marbled eggs....just add a bit of vegetable oil to the dye and swirl it around! A super cute and easy way to display those favorite hand colored eggs....and the kids love to see their eggs displayed for everyone to view! On Easter Morning...the eggs may hatch into a bunch of chenille chicks for a Spring Surprise!!! I can hear the chirping now....hurry Spring...we can't wait!

* The Pinwheel *

Spring and Summer are in the air....and what makes you feel more youthful than a pinwheel! They are like sunshine on a stick! These pinwheels are so easy to make and compliments to my friend Moe who let me borrow her Crafty Magazine (Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication: Scrapbooks Etc.)

Directions to make a pinwheel:
 use a 6X6 sheet of paper (double-sided works best)
 turn the paper to look like a diamond and trace an X from point to point
 cut on each line leaving 1/2 inch when you reach the center....
 use a smaller size hole punch and punch a hole in every other corner and directly in the center
 attach all the points to the center with a brad and VOILA!

A polka dotted pinwheel just for you! I hot glued a bamboo stick to the back! These will look lovely coming out of the kids Easter Baskets and will look lovely decorating their bedrooms as well! These pinwheels are for decorating and cuteness....they do not spin.....but never the less...they are adorable and a little bit of sunshine in a still wintery world!

* Pizza Muffins *

Another great make your own pizza night! The kiddies love it because they love to pick and choose through many great toppings like....cheese, pepperoni, yummy sausage, fresh basil, onion and peppers!! First we top the english muffins with olive oil and bake it to get it a little crispy....then we add our sauce and toppings and put them under the broiler for just a few minutes!!! Voila....a lovely little creation that the whole family loves!! Gotta love pizza night!

* Four Lucky Charms *

It doesn't take much to spice up St. Patricks Day here at home...just a sweet, simple treat! With a beautiful green sparkle dusted milk chocolate shamrock (Made by a lovely chocolatier at my work), a couple matching gumballs and a personalized green tag....these bags are ready to be devoured by our little "lucky charms" in the morning! Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone......I'm dreaming of corned beef and potato's!

* Goodbye Winter *

Goodbye Winter.....maybe and (hopefully) one of our last snows. Although I am a snow lover....and when you look at the stillness and beauty it is hard not to be....maybe I love it because our household is the opposite of "still" :) However....I am ready for the sun, the smell of grass.....and my new summer hammock to be displayed under these very trees! So farewell Winter.....until we meet again!

* Chicks n' Bunnies *

Chicks n' Bunnies Oh My!! I am starting to get ready for Easter and having fun making sweet little goodies for the kids baskets this year! I used some felt scraps for these cute little creations and stuffed them ever so gently.....then embellished with buttons, paper (stamped with their names) and just used floss to sew around the edge! I love making these little felties and know that the kids think their little creations are special since they were made just for them! How cute will these look popping out of their Easter Baskets! There is nothing more fun than a handmade goodie! Don't let these Chicks n' Bunnies fool you either....very fast and easy to make!!! Go ahead and try something new!

* Hi *

Hi there everyone! This is just an introduction to the blogging world....and since I am new it may not be very good. We are a family of 6 from Ohio....and live what I would consider to be a normal average life. Consumed with 4 kids and driving to and from school our lives are busy but happily so. My husband works full time and I dabble a bit into everything.....working part time teaching a variety of classes, selling Thirty One Gifts and as always making and creating something! Here is a family photo, which there probably won't be many of since I hate pictures with myself in them, but felt it was appropriate to say "hello" to all of you who may wander across this blog page one day.

Our children, Reese-6, Oliver-5 and twins Ruby-3 and Sydney-3 are so funny and keep us going everyday! Our adventures mixed with theirs create this amazing and yet difficult life at times....but from our family to yours we want to say "hi"!

* Triangle Love *

Curtains....ugh! Here is a very cute way to add something to the top of your window! Solve the curtain problem in a playroom or bedroom. These triangles are a great use of all the scrapbook paper that I have collected....attached to a polka dot ribbon with hot glue...this bunting looks so cute (sorry for the pics being a little fuzzy) Our kids love to look at all the colors and patterns and I just love the way they spice up the playroom! I think I may have to make girly ones for Reese and Ruby's bedroom windows! There's my next project....happy crafting!

* Spring Things *

We are so ready for Spring! Getting in the season with still a ton of snow on the ground (ha!) I have brought our Family Twig Tree Back inside to warm up and fill our family room with these simple yet beautiful ornaments.....Paper Birds and Glittered Nests! Both of these ornaments are so easy and enjoyable to make and add such a natural beauty to our room....plus we get excited for what we know lies ahead....green grass.....blue sky and sunshine! Our backyard will be teeming with Nature and we can share in the beauty and delight! Happy coming Spring everyone!