My older daughter loves the American Girl magazines, had no idea that they had a product line too. can’t wait to take my daughter to Hancock Fabrics to pick out an American Girl craft project.

I would sell one of my major body organs (that I have two of) for this machine. I have sat through the infomercial at least 6 times watching them make the coolest scrapbook pages and cards and such. My husband thinks i’m a little crazy for wanting one of these, but he doesn’t understand how important it is to me to have brag worthy scrapbook pages.

I’m leaning towards the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter (shown above) but at this point I would take what I could get. Guess I don’t really have the counter space for it right now, but I can dream can’t I? I feel like the little kid in that Christmas movie that wants the red rider BB gun. If only I could have a Provo Craft Cricut Personal Elctronic Cutter with soft touch overlay, and pressure dials that allow variance in paper width, with the Cricut All Mixed Up Cartridge Alphabet & Words. My entire year would be made.My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, it could happen.

Learning the Cricut

One of the things I like to do on my girls birthdays is break out the Crayola Sidewalk Chalk and draw pictures on the side walk. We use each individual sidewalk square for a giant size birthday message. One year we did this for my husbands birthday and he thought it was totally cheesy but fun, so I carried it a little further and did it for our wedding anniversary that summer. The girls and I had a great time drawing on the sidewalk plus it shows the person that you are doing it for just how much you care.

This year big sister and I did it for my 2 year olds’ birthday(just a few days ago), carried the stuff back inside to find the camera so we could take a picture of it for the memory book. When we got back inside my little one was eating the Crayola Sidewalk Chalk. Opps, forgot to put those up. At least they are non toxic, just made for a few interesting diaper changes.

I am addicted to scrapbook supplies. They say admiting something is the first step to recovery, right?
I love scrapbook supplies!! There are so many cool things out right now that didn’t exist when I first started scrap-booking years and years ago. My all time favorite tool is the Crop-A-Dile Eyelet & Snap Punch (shown above). Pretty sure that I could not live without it. My favorite thing to do with it, is make faux eyelet lace with it and use it as a border on my pages.

My older daughter loves to do craft projects, this one is a keeper.

Things you need:

Felt
Popsicle sticks
Tacky glue
Small paintbrush
Buttons in assorted colors (you can buy them by the bag in many craft stores)

I actually got this idea in my inbox this morning and it’s too cute to not share. They can be arranged in one big container or several containers for a Thanksgiving centerpiece that won’t be forgotten. After dinner is served they can be handed out for party favors.

What you will need:
(Parent supervision needed for young  or special need kids)
Artificial Sunflowers or Gerbera Daisy (enough for each guest to have one and maybe a few spares just in case)
Scissors
Cool melt glue gun
Plastic Google Eyes
Red Colored Card Stock for wattle
Orange Colored Card Stock for beak
Large Brown Buttons or Paper circles for turkey faces
Vase or containers of your choosing

How to make it:

1. Using an sunflower or gerbera daisy, trim the petals from one side of the flowers.

2. Make the turkey’s face by gluing two eyes and a colored card stock beak and wattle onto a large button or paper circle.

3. Glue the face to the flower center.

4. Arrange your beautiful flower turkeys in a container of your choosing, and admire.

This is such a cool idea, and I know the person that receives it would be thankful for it.

Candle Place Card

Write words of admiration or thanks, along with the recipient’s name, on a strip of paper and wrap it around a glass candle holder.

Or if your hand writing isn’t as great as you would like use your printer and just cut them to size.

Use double-sided tape to secure. Experiment with layering different papers to create a unique look.

Place a pillar candle inside the holder and light just before dinner. (Never leave a lit candle unattended.) If there will be a little kids around you might want to use the little flam-less battery tea candles.

Tip: If you’re making lots of these place cards, use a set of inexpensive juice glasses forcandleholders. They can often be bought in packs.

Tip: The dollar store is your friend.

It’s hard for kids to wait for dinner to be served, heres a quiet project for them to do while they wait.

Crayola Pages

Family Fun Pages

Better Homes and Gardens Pages

No-Crochet Flip Flops  

What you will need:
Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn
Flip Flops in your size

Directions:With one strand, wrap the Fun Fur around the outside end of the strap of the flip-flop (close to the heel where the strap starts) and tie a knot. NOTE: It is important to tie the knot at least three times to keep it from slipping. You may also use hot melt glue to secure the yarn, but don’t put the glue where it will rub on your feet and be uncomfortable.

Wrap the yarn around and around the strap, pulling it back towards the beginning to make it dense and furry. Continue to the end of the strap.

When you reach the end of the strap, tie another knot to secure the Fun Fur. NOTE: It is prudent to tie the knot at least three times to make sure that it will hold. Secure the knot with a dab of hot melt glue if you wish.

Cut the yarn.

For the second flip flop, make sure to start the yarn on the outside end of the other flip flop in the same color that you started the first so your flip-flops match. Repeat steps 1 through 4 to complete the second flip flop.

Optional Finish your flip-flops by gluing a large button, rhinestone, or beads to the toe.

My mother-in-law is great at decorating for family get togethers. I love her use of luminaries to light up the path going to the house in the evening. So this super cool Thanksgiving themed project is for her.

What you will need:
lunch sized paper bags
white, yellow, red, orange tissue paper
scissors
glue stick
LED tea light

How to do the project:
1. Cut out a circle as a guide to cut a slightly larger circle from the white tissue paper.

2. Cut skinny triangles of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper for the feathers, and cut two wing shapes from red tissue paper. Use a glue stick to affix the feathers and wings on the the tissue paper circle.

3. Cut a turkey body from the brown paper circle, then glue it to the center of the tissue paper collage. Line the edge of the bag’s circular hole with more glue, then lay the collage circle on top.

4. Fill bag with an inch of sand or rocks and place LED tea light inside, and they are ready to go.