Happy Anniversary!

Today is the one month anniversary for TSG and Joe. He bought the pot roast, she is going over to cook for him. The Big White Puppy is celebrating her one month anniversary with Joe as well. Joe also has a Big Puppy, and they have become the best of friends. Mom and Dad are enjoying being Home Alone, together.

I made the ultimate mother mistake the other evening when Joe came by to end his evening seeing Kellye after a day of skiing. It was my first time meeting The One. Polite introductions made I sequestered myself in the family room leaving them the privacy of the living room. A drink of water needed, accidental eye contact made, Joe sitting very close to Kellye, embarrassed mother tries to cover up awkward pause.

"So what exactly is it you do for the power company, Joe?" "Chemical Engineering?" "Oh, I know what that is. It's like when someone wants to make pudding but on a really big scale, you would tell them chemically how to do this!" "No?" "Oh!" "Reusable energy?" "How interesting!"

Even without my glasses on I can see TSG glaring at me over Joe's shoulder. A polite retreat is quickly made.

Happily crafting away on my cute as can be Valentine shakers, my daughter leans into my crafting room as she readies herself for her First Anniversary, "Mom, Joe says he felt a little embarrassed when you came into the living room."

Indignant, defensive, embarrassed, mortified. "How can I possibly ever meet him again?" to which my daughter responded as she hugged me from behind and kissed me on the cheek. "Oh Mom, You're so dramatic, but I love you anyway!"

Every memory of my own husband coming to see me at my parents house when we were dating seemed to flood my heart. I don't think I allowed them out of their bedroom!

Halloween Shakers

A last Halloween craft made for the party in my craft room, I am giggling about having used every last crafting supply I own!

These Halloween Shakers are inspired by ones made by Bucks County Folk Art.

Round paper shapes can be found at Michaels. This is a great project for acrylic paints which blend easily as you paint. I have drawn faces with pencil.

I have used a simple technique of painting a solid base color,

Painting in small areas, apply a dark shade close to your drawn features, your base shade with with a little white added towards the edges of your shape. Blend from your dark to light until you like the desired effect. (note completed section top left).

Paint your white areas next, then your black. I added a little of my green color to the teeth and eyes and blended it in lightly. A liner brush is used to outline features. A craft stick also purchased at Michaels is inserted in the opening where I pulled out the hanging cord made slightly larger with the tips of my pointed scissors.

What fun it was to make these holiday revelers!

Let the party begin!