Random Happenings

We have been keeping busy around here with holiday preparations and general excitement.

For some of my relatives this Christmas I am making gift sets of homemade bath and body products.  For Bob’s aunt (don’t read this, Katie), who loves my soaps, I am making a set using her favorite fragrance, plumeria, in each product.

I already made the soap bars, last week.  Today, I made a candle, using microwavable soy wax from the craft store.  I found out that all of my Bramble Berry soap fragrances can be used in candles – yea!

I am also going to make bath fizzies (!!) and lotion to round out the set.  I received my citric acid for bath fizzies yesterday and made a sample batch of three.  This is an awesome, super-fun project that you must try.  I will do a full post on the fizzie endeavors when I am through.  (Probably this weekend.)

Today, we did some Christmas crafts.  I dumped out a box of assorted crafting materials on the floor and we tried to come up with some ideas.

I made this paper ornament out of scrapbook paper.

I made these a couple of years ago, too.  You can also use old Christmas cards.  It is a good recycled ornament project.

From Martha Stewart,

These airy ornaments are a breeze to make. Cut a card into narrow strips; you’ll need about eight to 20 pieces, depending on how much space you want between them. Stack strips and punch holes through both ends with a hole punch (if the stack is too thick, do a few strips at a time); insert a paper fastener into each hole. Bend the stack into a C shape (the card’s design should be facing out), and wiggle the strips apart so they fan out to form a globe. To hang, take decorative thread and, starting at the middle of the strand, wind it around the paper fastener several times, then knot ends. When the holidays are over, push strips back into a stack to store without crushing (removing one fastener makes it easier).

There are other recycled ornament ideas at the link.

Big E made this snowflake ornament, using beads and wire.  He came up with this all on his own.

D did not feel like doing crafts, so he got out a cook book and found a cookie recipe that we had all of the ingredients for (peanut butter).  He asked if he could make them and did it without any help whatsoever.

They were the most amazing peanut butter cookies I have ever tasted.

That plate was empty within minutes.

Little E stayed in my bed and played with his Power Rangers.  He is sick today, fever and all.

I hope to get some posts done with more of the things I am making for Christmas, this weekend and next week, unless I catch whatever has Little E down for the count.