kidding around

It’s that time of year! Teacher gifts!

I actually enjoy thinking of something for my kids’ teachers. Sure, I have added to the “gift card” pool, but with 2 kids in school (soon to be 3!) I try to think of something handmade and a thoughtfully written note. These people have been huge influences in my kids’ lives and there is absolutely no way I can thank them enough. I feel fortunate that my kids attend a school that have extremely dedicated teachers and there are no real “qualms” with the teachers.

Anyway, I thought strawberry jam and Nathan’s famous toasting bread would be a perfect treat. No more early mornings speeding off to school…but hopefully a few relaxing days are ahead…

I used Everyday Food’s, June 2009 (I tried to link the recipe, but couldn’t find it on their site)recipe and love it! I did triple the batch so the cooking time took WAY LONGER than the recipe said, like 90 minutes longer. But I really cooked it down until I thought it was thick enough and it worked! I loved the addition of lemon juice (totally makes it) and not a ton of sugar.

I plan to make more until some other fruit is in abundance. I can’t wait.

Here is the recipe:
In a food processor, process 1 quart (4 cups) hulled strawberries until coarsely chopped.

Transfer to a large skillet and stir in a 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 T of lemon juice.

Cook over medium-high, stirring often until jam is thickened and little bubbles cover surface, 9-10 minutes (this is not long enough, cook longer until strawberries are really cooked down and the jam turns a deep crimson color).

Transfer to a jar and let cool to room temperature.

It’s wonderful on bread AND icecream.

I just realized that I neglected to share what Simon made for V-Day this year. He is well known in his class to be a master paper folder. As I was walking around the craft store a few weeks back, I had a bright idea for Simon and his cards…paper airplanes! There was a sale going on which gave me a perfect excuse to browse the paper section and buy 24 pieces (and a tad more!).

He loved making the planes. I loved that it didn’t require a ton of time (remember my last post?). Hopefully his teacher won’t hate me. I can just imagine the V-Day party with airplanes flying all over…there are 18 boys in his class and 6 girls…I better hide my face tomorrow!

I also love to give the kids a little trinket for V-Day.

Nothing big and it’s usually handmade. I generally have a harder time coming up with something for Si as he gets older. I don’t know how I came across it, but I found comic strip templates on the internet and knew this was for Si. He is my illustrator and has such a way in making simple line drawings look purposeful. I just printed out the templates and stitched a front and back cover (note to self…change needle!). He will love it!

I stumbled upon this adorable fabric last week and knew immediately I needed to make Penny and my niece Tizzy matching skirts. I love that it is not so overtly “Valentiney”- my kind of seasonal fabric.

So what are you all doing for V-Day?

Funny that I get into the festivities with the kids. But as for Nathan and I, a kind note is all we really need. We may do cheese fondue or maybe an indoor picnic and oh…with the kids too…And then of course, the next day we celebrate Si’s Day which in my opinion is my Valentine every year.

Since Ellie’s birthday in August, I set some serious goals in regards to gifts for the kids handmade by me…

1. Create and Complete each kids’ baby book.

2. Organize all of their photos from baby to present.

3. Make a quilt for their bed (did this for Ellie in 2007).

I am pleased to say that I HAVE FINALLY MADE SIMON A BLANKET FOR HIS BED! I have been promising him one for at least 2 years and now their is no reason to feel guilt.

Things I learned:

1. I love fabric and get all nutty when I have to choose just a few designs.

2. When I put my mind to something, I can actually get it done within a reasonable time.

3. I have no patience and did not hand stitch the binding. I did this for Ellie’s twin sized quilt. Good grief, full sized would have me really crabby.

4. Hand stitched binding is really the way to go. Glad my personality is reflected in Si’s blanket. HA!

5. It really is beneficial to pay attention to when organic batting goes on sale.

6. I am not a quilter and really appreciate those that do…

7. I had to remind myself to set aside my ego and enjoy making something for my son. Who cares if it is not perfect and there are wonky stitches. Simon doesn’t care, he will be thrilled to have something made from me!

I’m sure this list could go on, but now I am off to make curtains for his room. I’ll be sure to share shots of everything in use. And, yes, the other goals with photos and baby book are being checked off too. Nothing like the winter to get things accomplished.

I was trying to get a consensus with the kids and their Valentine-making plans. I asked if they wanted to get boxed valentines and all 3 looked at me like I was nuts. There was my answer.

Making homemade valentines is a wonderful winter project, but in the end it’s like pulling teeth to complete 25-30. There’s all the supplies and all the cutting and glue and glitter and making sure every kid gets one- times that by 3 kids and I am pulling out my hair (all with a happy face and attitude of “this is fun, right?!”)

I discovered my “Shrinky Dink” paper pack that I have had for about 3 years and knew this was the year to get out the SHARPIES and turn on the oven! My kids loved it, I loved it and look how cute everything turned out!

The charms just below are Penny’s creations. Ellie’s are above.

Ellie made necklaces for all of her girl classmates and for the boys…what do you do in 5th grade? We decided a frog magnet was funny and in Ellie’s opinion “who cares if they like it, I had fun making them”. That’s my girl!

Simon made some really cool creations too, but I will save his Valentine idea for another day. Let’s just say it involves something he is really good at and it is a frequent request from his classmates.

What are your kids doing?

I may blame this crafty project on my compulsive hoarding of cans, toilet paper tubes and jars. Or I may blame it on this girl and her birthday. What to make a crafty girl?

Well, for awhile I have been saving empty ribbon spools thinking they would make darling cake-like sculptures. Perfect as a token to celebrate a festive day…because I’m all about celebrating. Anyway, shortly after Christmas I was planning my next non-Christmas project and thinking of my pal’s day. Seemed like the perfect time to buy some more ribbon and venture into other parts of the craft store I don’t normally visit (scrapbooking supplies and different kinds of glue- wow, there are lots!).

I have had so much fun watching these little “cakelets” emerge that I decided to venture out and sell them in my sister’s shop. Guess what? 2 have sold and 1 other is a special order (the lime green one!). Fun!

Also, I want to thank this fellow blogger for helping me name these creations. I had several people comment on my Flickr account (I asked for name help) and they were all so darling. I knew you guys could help me out.

I can’t take the credit for this cute garland! Ellie stitched all the letters herself…I just gave her the idea to turn it into a garland to string across the tree. The only problem, it’s not for me! She did a great job stitching 14 letters!

I’m totally happy with the way this family photo turned out!

Some people go to a studio…some people go to an exotic place and have their photo snapped…we had a random stranger (that offered) shoot this portrait and it is totally us…I wanted the kids to help me with this collage so I just gave them some ideas and they had a ball. I had a lot of fun myself!

I did let them know that not everything would make the collage and they were fine with that~ they were thrilled to see what made our scene. I just cut and pasted…didn’t put too much thought into it…took it to the copy shop and was pleased that the colored copier gave me no problems!

Here are some close ups…

Okay, off to work and to battle the negative temps!

So things are busy here and I would imagine you all can relate!

I thought after the party on Sunday I was pretty much done with projects, but…no. Something possessed me to add a few more “to do’s” and I am loving it…seriously, no stress.

This weekend I am attending 2 Cookie Exchanges and I am so excited! I have never been to one and plan to make the above, “peppermint cremes”. This batch will go with teacher gifts. These cookies are SO easy to make! AND fun for the kids to help with…no joke! I do suggest using peppermint extract and not just mint…the mint is a bit too “toothpasty” in my opinion! Aren’t these so pretty? If you would like the recipe, just let me know!

I stumbled upon these mirrors while at the craft store and know some little girls will love them! I was planning to paint them a bit more, but my instinct was to just cover them in glitter! And who doesn’t love the Martha Stewart glitter? It really is the best.

Although I am not making the kids as many handmade gifts this year (the ornament party was sort of that…), I still needed to give them a token. So I started making this bracelet and these bookmarks resulted…the bracelet is still in the works! I love the way they looked and ended up making A LOT…these shown will be for teachers and I am pretty sure they will be well received!

Alright, enough from me. I’ll be sharing more things…happy winter day!

Update
Here is a recipe for the peppermint cremes, I doubled the recipe and it made about 4 dozen candies…perfect for gifts!

Melt the chocolate in a bowl and dip cremes half way. Place on waxed paper to set.

What do you do when your family consumes 4 dozen eggs a week?

You use the cartons to make ornaments! Perfect.

Penny and I enjoyed ourselves this morning as we created our first snowman of the season. Honestly, this is my kind of guy…the cold and snow are not my favorite. No freezing hands and cold feet!

More circled-felt ornaments! I suspect these will be popular and easy for our party. I may just be insane and already have the zillion circles already cut. Am I nuts? All I need is a few good movies to get me through.

Here’s the next installment of my ornament obsession…I love glitter and wanted to use more of it today. I also found I have several of these wooden people and, well, here you go…an angel.

Although, when I had doll’s hair on this girl she looked like a night club singer and she totally creeped me out. Ellie loved it, I cringed and thought that I made a very poor move using the hair. So painting on the hair seems to be the best bet.

What’s up with the nail? (Yeah, Simon asked the same thing.) I used a a small picture frame nail, thinking I can tie fishing line onto it for hanging.

Okay, hopefully people out there are enjoying these posts. Is no one feeling Christmas crafting yet?