Paying it Forward

The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what it will be is a surprise. There's a small catch...You knew there would be one didn't you? Post this on your blog then come back and leave a comment, telling me you're in. Fun, huh? Remember, only the first 3 comments receive a gift. Let's see who looks at my blog!

This and That

Well, it's been quite a week--Hannah was in her first STATE meet and did very well for a 7 yr 2 day old! Their team didn't win any big












medals, but they had so much fun, that they didn't seem to mind at all! I scrapbooked all day Wednesday with a friend at my favorite SB store. They loved my Cricut Creatures (Tinker is above) and want me to make some for the store, Now that's a project I'll LOVE!!!

It's beginning to look a little more like Spring--so today I spent cleaning cupboards and floors and the dog! I don't get in those moods often. I finished the "Princess" dress, except for threaded belt loops to keep the belt in place. Today, I beaded on 30 tiny crystal beads to the bodice, one by one, but it really increased the Princess "sparkle power" even more. Am hoping to get Ella to the Lake tomorrow or Sunday for a walk.
Next week is the BIG party! Can't wait to see my little Princess!
So maybe I can finally say "Happy Almost Spring" everyone! Have a Great St. Pat's Day next week.

Gone Cricut Crazy!

I really started this Blog because of my

Love of S'booking --but I never really ever talk about my SB accomplish -ments. Well, last weekend, I took 2 days worth of Cricut Expression Classes from 101 to Advanced. We learned a lot about all the feature buttons,
tons of other cuts, Nothing really

about making "Cartridge" Things, but it made me want to come home and really use my cricut for all the fun things it can do. So I got out my Pooh Cartridge and my Sesame Street one (both are the font versions of each one) and started creating. I thought the cheerful Elmo would be perfect to greet people to my fun SB room, and the other two just followed. Each one took less than 30 min to create, but they are so neat. We did learn you should NEVER make these elements in a size smaller than 3 in, because of the detail work. These are the largest size I could make on a 12 x 12 mat. Now I'm in Love!! and I still have more Pooh and SS, Tinker Bell, Cars, Hello Kitty, etc to play with. Of course I wish I had the Princesses --Gee I wonder why!

BUTTON, BUTTON, BASIC BUTTON!!!

Sometimes you just have
to get back to Basics, so that
is just what we decided to
do in our last 4-H meeting. We all-kindergarten to seniors learned a basic life skill--How to fix and repair small problems with our wardrobe, including sewing on Buttons. Here are my 2 adorable Grand daughters, H and C, both 1st Graders , in the act of sewing (second pic), and with the finished product! H even took her fabric home and sewed on 2 more buttons and took the whole thing to school to show her class. As a reward for learning this skill, each 4-H'r received a small home sewing kit and the "Gold Button Award". And you know what, this turned out to be one of the most fun meetings we've had!

Just a can-can skirt away!!

You all remember the Can-can slip--right?? Well the Princess dress is just a can-can skirt from being a true "Princess" Dress! I sent a pic to J. to check out--but as luck would have it their phone and internet lines got CUT just this morning by workers working on a water main!!! It might not be back in service til Friday--Talk about bad timing! Oh well, the pictures are sitting in her in box when it does come up. Now on to magic wands and glittered castles and other Pricess things. This party is fast coming together from both directions--Wisconsin and Iowa!

Talk about Persever-
ance and Practice! My little almost 7 year old Grand-
daughter, H, has all the
Positive qualities it takes
and then SOME!!! She was
so excited last night when
she told me her swimming
relay team had won the sectionals and was going to STATE!!
Now, you have to know this is her FIRST year on a swim team--in fact it was just last summer that she was swimming freely without a "belt"! H always has high expectations of life experiences and Always sets her standards High--often so High we adults that Love her so much feel she may not accomplish them in the often short time frames she sets for herself. This was one of those times!
Here she is --first year on a swim team (only since last fall), only 6 years old, swimming with 8 year olds, not knowing much about meets and official turns and strokes--but falling in love with the "butterfly" stroke and deciding early on that she WAS GOING TO STATE! Not an easy accomplishment in your first year! But here we are, back to the beginning--you have to know the make-up of H. Pure determination!!! She has never done ANYTHING halfway---she works harder and with more concentration than Anybody I have ever known--she is focused on the Goal--and NOBODY is going to convince her that she cannot do it!!! And as she goes for the goal, she always has a huge smile on her face! She is such a happy, carefree, adorable person! That's my H in a nutshell--and what does she end up proving to ALL of us??----well, she's going to State---with the 8 year olds--and that says it all!! Way to go H.--we Love You and we KNOW you can DO IT!!!!
And by the way, her older sister P, is also on her way to State. She is a beautiful swimmer and will go far. Good Luck to Both my Awesome Girls.

The Making of a Princess!
When my almost 3 year old granddaughter called to ask me to make a "Princess" dress for her 3rd "Princess" Birthday party--what could I do??? So here is the most beautiful princess at her first "fitting"--and as you can see, she is definitely feeling the part! Of course, she now calls for updates on the progess of the finishing touches--all the "Bling", hems, etc. I promise her it will be done--because who can dissapoint a Princess--not this Grandma!!