Simple Crafty Advent Calendar

So, Christmastime is coming!! I feel I am awake enough in my new environment to actual notice a holiday is coming! Unlike all the other holidays that have passed without me noticing. I spent New Years in a chinese grocery store, we completely skipped Valentines and St. Patrick's Day. We managed to squeeze in a few eggs for Easter but the candy was crap and the 4th of July was a huge bust. I spend moments of my day worried about my kids not knowing or participating in all these traditions and what would become of them so I vowed to make it a memorable Christmas!

I have never owned an Advent Calendar. And since my crafts have slowly made their way out of their boxes, I felt a huge nudge to make one myself. I found these cute bags at Ikea. They actually are meant for a calendar and come with these little number stickers, but I wanted it to be a bit more crafty than that. Tsk Tsk!

I used the Doily die cuts from Papertrey Ink and cut out 24 of the 3 different styles in white. And adhered them to the front of the little bags.

Then I busted out the ol' Cricut and made up my numbers at 1 1/2 inches. 

(I was SO glad the power situation worked out on that on. Ask me about the other things I have blown out using Sing's 220 power.) 

 Aaaaaand, easy does it... Taped those on with pop-up tape.

 Voila! I stuck the finished bags on the wall in the shape of a tree. 

My first Advent Calendar:

 Here's a close-up of a few of the numbers. It's really simple and I really like it. You may know about my Christmas Books that I add to each year and which live each year under our tree for our reading enjoyment. Well this year I wrapped each one and placed a number on it that corresponds with a day from the advent calendar. I also added a few Christmas movies to watch and of course some scripture reading for each day to really set our holiday up right.

I'm excited for it to start on saturday! WAAAY more excited than my kids, for sure. I was wondering if doing these things would make me miss home more or fill the hole that I've had since we've moved here. Luckily it has really helped me become more planted in this place of the world we have chosen to "bloom" in. Family traditions are what hold us together! No matter the craziness of life or the experiences that pull the rug out from under us. Tradition gives you comfort and the reminder that you do belong somewhere. And that is together as a family in this journey of life. Each tradition that we have dusted off or created this past year has really helped ground me in my reality. And because of that, I am even more excited to welcome Christmas this year. Ho Ho Ho!

Welcome Back!!!

Hey there! Are you out there, at all?? I am back.... 

Lots has happened in the last year and a half. First off, I had another baby. That's right. I now have 4 boys. I think some of you were here for that. I think I was, right?

Baby was born Sept. 2011. It was all I could do to keep going until it happened and then two months later, we moved to Singapore.

Yes, you heard me. Singapore. As in, Southeast Asia. We have been here for almost a year, and I tell you what, my head is still swimming. 

But I did get a bit of a craft space carved out of our EXTREMELY tiny apartment though. And somehow I have managed to level off my hormones to the point where I can actual DO some crafting!

Don't get me wrong, I love babies, and having babies and all my babies, but WHEW! Its about time I get to feeling normal again. 

So without further ado, here is my first card after 18 months:

Sending you a Happy (and crafty!) Hello!

(please ignore the extremely ugly green cutting mat. Still trying to figure out how to photograph these things in this EXTREMELY tiny apartment. Plus my new camera after leaving my old camera in a cab the second week we were in country. Oh, how I cried then.)

Now, I am not vain enough to think that people are out there just waiting for me to get back into the crafting game. Indeed, unless you are doing this professionally, its impossible to have people stopping in here everyday. But let's be honest. I'm doing this more for me, right?  But I would love to have some friends along for the ride, if you are out there looking for some crafting inspiration.

Now that I am feeling a bit more on my feet, I am getting to know Singapore and its crafting scene. So far, I'm just on the outskirts but I hope to get to see and do more here. There are some local craft stores that might have some space for a little western girl and her craft supplies. Maybe I will try to teach a few classes? 

Regardless, I will be logging onto the ol' blog here and updating as regularly as I can.

I have been feverishly preparing Christmas cards and ornaments for my tree. So stay tuned. I am going to be decorating my house right after Thanksgiving (which is just a regular thursday here) and then I will share pictures after that. So make a visit in a week or so if you want to get into the Christmas spirit.

Until then, if you are indeed out there, please stop by to say Hello! I hope all my blogging pals are still alive, well and crafting like banshees.

Happy Crafting Hello.... See you soon ; )

k

Bookmark Swap

Just wanted to stop in quickly and show you a little something I participated in a while back. Dear sweet Patti asked if I wanted to do a bookmark swap and you know, how could I not???? Here is what I made up using some die cuts, tags and ribbon:

I wanted them all to have enough ribbon hanging so it could be seen from the top and bottom of the book when you closed it. I love ribbon tales.

Here's a close up of all the ones I made:
It really makes reading even more fun to have a pretty book mark hanging out of your book!

And a little something else...

You can check out my personal blog HERE to check out who's coming in September. For those of you who don't want to click, I will give you a little hint: It starts with 'B' and ends in 'aby'.

Thats right folks, baby #4 is on the way! We weren't really planning it, but its here nonetheless and we are getting excited! Lots of changes here in Larsen land. So needless to say, I won't be blogging much. But will try to do my best. Now that I am not sick anymore, I actually do feel like crafting. It's the time that I keep looking for. But I do get something made here and there and will try to share more.

Thanks for stopping by!

loves

k

Cardabilities #28

Hey there!! Today marks the last day of my Cardabilities term so here it is without further ado.

Today's sketch:

Here is my take on it:

I used some new stuff here. Purple cardstock and buttons, doilie and extra large sentiment stamps (which I love!) All from PTI.

ok. I would love to stay and chat but I have a 4 year old begging me to help him cut cardboard. My momma instincts say I should help him rather then letting him do it himself. Do you think?

hope you have a great weekend.

thanks for stopping by!

k

Cardabilities #27

Good evening to you! Here is this weeks Cardabilities sketch:

And here is my take on it:

You know, I am still trying to figure out my camera sitch. I had this great one and the white balance worked great, but this new one, while I love it as a camera, has serious WB issues. anyway, I did get to ink up some new PTI stamps for this one. I LOVE the doilies!! Anyone out there agree? those doilies, whew! What's a stamping girl to do??

So this is a quick post. Got a MOUND of laundry haunting me from the other room. I really must get us some clean underwear to wear. Trust me, EVERYONE will thank me later ; )

thanks for stopping by!

k

Cardabilities #26

Cardabilities sketch today!!! # 26 coming your way! (um, I didn't mean for that to be a song... but you can kind of feel the music, right?)

Here is your sketch:

Here is my take:
Can you tell I want some fun in my life!! I need spring really really bad and I can feel it, on the edge just waiting to break through. The pot of spring bulbs I've had waiting out the winter in the garage are peeking up their little heads. They can feel it too and want to show themselves. I. just. cant. wait!
A little 'smile' close up for ya today. Don't you just love these balloons? I love this stamp set. Really its a gem.

How are things in your neck o' the woods lately? I hope the snow is melting and you get to feel some sun on your cheeks soon.

love to you

k

Valentine's Recap

So I am finally getting around to showing you what I put together for my friends for Valentine's Day. Now please take into consideration that I DID want to do something fancy-schmancy. Something like THIS or THIS, but between the three kids, and the winter blahs, I have a serious case of the lazy-s. SO, I broke out my Cricut (thanks again Mom!) and cut up some boxes:

They have this cute heart for the top. I used the Tags, Boxes, Bags and More cartridge. They folded up nice and easy.
Here are a few to look at. I punched out some white hearts using my Marvy small heart punch and then stamped my Happy Valentines Day stamp from PTI's Tiny Treats: Valentine set.
I stuffed them with some Lindor Chocolates. Really the perfect little treat for a Valentine. So that's it. Nothing remarkable or crazy unless you consider that it only took me an hour to put all 12 together. Now for a homemade valentine, that is pretty remarkable!

How has your week been? I am looking forward to a nice and relaxing weekend... hope it stays that way!

thanks for stopping in today. Have a great weekend!

loves

k