Do you Paper Craft???

if so check out this tutorial from candice carpenter.

here's an example of how she uses it.

great idea and super cute!

Are you a

snowman collector???

i am and i just found my all time favorite designer!

have you heard of nancy malay?

click here to view a sampling of her snowmen.

amazingly talented.

a snowman explanation

if your new to my blog you might be wondering what the heck is up with all the snowman posts.

i'll recap.

january is the month of the snowman and to honor the chilly guy, i decided to dedicate a post a day to the wintery fella.

hope you've enjoyed the first half of the months' posts...

A Snowman Party

was my attempt at a belated christmas party for my quilt class.
for one reason or another i could not find a night, in december, to hold a christmas party so i came up with this idea.
i would hold a snowman party in january and exchange snowman gifts, make a snowman gift, and have snowman decorations.

well...i was able to set the tables with snowman paper goods.

i couldn't find a cute snowman gift to make so we made these sweet mini dresden plate blocks and framed them.

i actually liked this project. everyone was able to get it done and that is success.

i wanted to make these out of rice krispy treats , but i didn't have the time.

i made this snowman purse that i posted earlier for my gift exchange and the gift i ended up with is a set of large stinkin' cute mugs and dish towels.

i had so many other ideas that i just wasn't able to pull together. but...i must say it was a hit and will be our class tradition for now on.

He's TEN months

and did i tell you all that he's walking???

yep, the day after he turned 9 months he took 3 steps. it's been slow and steady since but he's walking. i can't believe that i will soon be planning his first brithday! where does the time go? it really does make me sad to see the little ones grow so fast. do you think if i stop feeding them they will stop growing? no i didn't think so either.

have a great day!

i'm spending the afternoon with my little princess, my mom and my sister in temecula.

quilter's coop is in a new and bigger location! yeah for quilt shops!

Here's my

snowman gift for our snowman quilt party.

i'll post the info and pictures about that later. this cute purse was really easy to make. the best part was that i've had this kit for probably 5 years. so i've made a gift that didn't cost me anything and i've made one more of my many unfinished projects that are taking over my sewing room.

killed 2 birds with one stone.

...only i don't know why i even used that saying because i wouldn't kill a bird i love them.

(random thinking)

While searching

the internet to inspire all of you and

to honor the little chilly guy this month,

i ran across this post.

anthropologie had this cute guy in one of their window displays.

using recylced white sweaters and buttons, you too could make one for your home.

Garland, Garland, Garland

don't we all love garlands?

this one is PERFECT for family night

(hmmm, this is where i got the idea)

Click here for the tutorial.

I love talented people who share with all of us!

Fabric Banners

are everywhere have you noticed...

i'm sure they are easy to make,

but to be honest i've never made one.

being that i don't sew (i only quilt) i have searched for a tutorial

to make my life alittle easier.

i thought i'd share it with all of you, just in case you've been searching too.

oh & p.s i wish i could call this picture my own...sigh...i dream of beautiful patios.

Be Mine

can you believe it...

one month until valentine's day! what are you working on?

here's an idea for a cute garland from cottage magpie,

it's easy to make and oh so valentinzy.

What a Fabulous Find!

this one is for you, suz!

i know you'll LOVE it! i do.

click here for the tutorial and the

blog of some VERY talented ladies!

I Know, I Know...

christmas is over...i just can't help myself.

what's a gal to do when i come across these stinkin' cute ideas. just think of the possibilities. valentines, easter, st. patty's...the list goes on and on and on...

click here to go to the most wonderful blog EVER!!!
or click here and go directly to the post that holds
the key to these fabulous wonders of cuteness.

yeah, blogging...
yeah, talented people who share their talent with all of us!!!

It's So cute

i'm not sure i'd allow anyone to eat it.
here's how to make him.

3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)

2 tablespoons basil pesto

1 tablespoon grated onion

1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard

2 drops red pepper sauce

1 container (4 ounces) whipped cream cheese, softened
Decorations (see Success Hint), if desired
Assorted crackers, if desired
1.
Mix 3 packages cream cheese and the Cheddar cheese; divide into 3 equal parts. Combine 2 parts to equal two-thirds of mixture; mix in pesto. Mix onion, mustard and pepper sauce into remaining one-third mixture.
2.
Cover each cheese mixture and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape. Shape each cheese mixture into ball. Wrap each ball, label and freeze.
3.
About 12 hours before serving, remove balls from freezer. Thaw in wrappers in refrigerator.
4.
Arrange balls on serving plate with smaller ball on top for head of snowman. Frost snowman with whipped cream cheese before serving. Decorate as desired. Serve with crackers.
Store covered in refrigerator.

Our Snowman Family Night

was tonight. yeah!!! i love themes and what could be better than a snowman theme in January...nothin'
our family night (or family home evening as we call it)consists of a prayer, song, lesson, activity and, of course, a treat!

Just in case your interested in having your own snowman fhe, here's what i used.

1. a fun song called "Once There Was a Snowman" that i found here.

2. A story titled, "Mr. Snowman's Hat" that i found here.

3. we referenced Eph. 4:32 & D&C 4:6 for our scriptures.

4. i read a poem titled, "The Happy Snowman" that i found here.

once we did all that, we made the snowman garland that i found here. here's our version.

even the teenagers had fun doing this.

and the best part...the treat...were these tasty little guys.

i used snowman peeps for the tops of the cupcakes. peeps are great, they come in a ton of different holiday shapes. just insert a toothpick in it to keep it sturdy.

i hope you enjoyed our family night, i hope your night was full of fun!

Sigh...

christmas has officially ended here at the isa's. the decorations all got boxed up and the christmas tree (the "fake" one that i LOVE) waits 'til next year to be once again adorned.

i always hate taking the christmas decorations down, my house feels cold and empty. i have to admit, this year it was a bit harder to take down. we've been in our home for 13 years now and we've filled it with children and many memories. in fact, it's so full, it's about to explode which is why this will probably be our last christmas in our charming little home. so, with mixed emotions, i packed the christmas boxes. and as i wondered where my decorations will go in a new home, i felt both happy and sad. i really love my little home and the charm of an older house. for those of you who saw my house here, just know that it looks NOTHING like that now. i really need to quit blogging and get something made to fill the emptiness that christmas quilts have left behind. lucky for me valentines day is right around the corner. which reminds me...go here for a great website on seasonal decorations like the garland in the picture. loved it.

have a FABULOUS day!

love me

This is WAY too cute

not to show you.

if your into paper crafts you'll love this guy.

there aren't directions, but if you go here, the talented lady who made him will tell you what products she used.

I LOVE cupcakes...

do you?

here's a simple and way too cute idea for a snowman cupcake.

click here for the directions.

OH my Gosh!!!

i love this guy!!!

i'll be honest...i've had many a friend do this, but i have yet to try.

i will definetly be going here for the directions to make this guy.

if it turns out, he will be a cherished part of my holiday decorating!

THE MAMA TEST

I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter. She picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. 'Why?' my daughter asked.'Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, And probably has germs,' I replied. At this point, my daughter looked at Me with total admiration and asked, 'Mama, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart.' I was thinking quickly and replied, 'All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mama Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mama.' We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidentlyPondering this new information. 'Oh.....I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't Pass the test you have to be the dad.' 'Exactly,' I replied with a big smile on my face.

ok...so those of you who don't know Bob the Builder wouldn't undestand how much

i LOVE'd this one...

thanks suz!!!

p.s. if your still going, huh? let me share...

i know very little compared to bob...

the kids think he is the all time fix anything, do anything, man. don't get me wrong, the little princess knows (thinks) that my talents are all within the home. but little does she know, that bob could do all that stuff too. i just don't let him...

i've gotta keep some of the respect around here!!!

Do you Love to Bake

then check this out!

how stinkin' cute is he!

i hear it's quite easy to make...so go ahead impress your guests! go here for the recipe. it's a william sonoma cake pan but i couldn't find it on thier site.

i'm sure you can get it on ebay, just google it.

let me know how it turns out!