I've been busy lately

This month has been busy with having ladies over to do crafts and learn new things together. We had a group over Saturday and we did gourmet apples for valentines day and then I had some left over chocolate to play with. I saw a great idea on a blog and decided to try it. First you put a layer of pretzels on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Don't worry about making the pretzels in a single layer, it doesn't matter if they overlap each other. Melt chocolate, white or dark and get ready to drizzle over the pretzels. Sprinkle valentine M & M's over the top, sprinkles and what ever you have to make it festive. I used mini chocolate chips, a heart sprinkle mix that I got at Walmart and anything else that I could find. Let cool and then break up into pieces and put into a zip lock baggie. So easy and so yummy. Kind of pretty too.
These are dollar store frames that we mod podged over the top with scrap book paper and then put glittered letters in the holes to spell words like Kiss, hugs, xoxo, Love etc. You get the idea. We did these for Christmas and they were amazingly easy and we spelled JOY, NOEL, SNOW etc. Endless possibilities.
This is so easy it's funny how cute they turn out. These are coasters made out of 4 x 4 white tiles that I purchased at Lowes for about 18 cents each. I mod podged wrapping paper to the top of them and then after they dried I sprayed them with a coat of Krylon matt finish acrylic to protect them. If I do them again I would use cardstock scrap book paper because it would be easier to mod podge on the tiles without so many wrinkles. So cute and so easy. What a fun gift for teachers, friends or neighbors at Christmas. After everything is dry you glue felt to the bottom sides to protect your furniture or you can buy thin cork in a roll and put on the bottom. The cork was expensive so I opted for the felt to keep the cost down. Tie 4 tiles together with a beautiful ribbon and there you have it!!
This was another banner that I made to take to Utah for Kandis. We have been making banners since Christmas and this is just one we did for Valentines day. We did one for Christmas and then one for Thanksgiving and now one for Valentines day. Maybe Easter will be next!!

I have to take a break now from crafting to go help Kandis with her new little baby that will be coming any day now. We are excited to welcome Vann Michael Bennion into the world soon. I will take pictures and of course I will post as soon as I can. Nixon will turn 2 while I will be visiting so the big birthday bash will be a blast to do. Again, I will take pictures and show you all how that turns out.

Our stake was split today and they formed a new Lincoln Stake which we are now a part of. All of Loomis wards and all of Lincoln wards are now the new Lincoln Stake. The new stake President is Mark Perez with Pres Brasier as 1st councilor and Mike Schmidt as 2nd councilor. It will be a great time for change and new beginnings. The church is true and we will miss all the wonderful people we have served with in the Rocklin Stake. Rocklin stake now is comprised of 2 Granite Bay wards and all of the Rocklin wards. Roseville stake is all of the roseville wards only.

Home made crayons for a birthday party

These are the bags that my friend sewed for me for the goody bags that will go in galvanized pails for the kids. It will be filled with the crayons that I made and can be used to put special things in when they are done with the crayons.
These are the crayons that I made with the candy molds. Aren't they cute??? Easy for toddlers to pick up. I just hope they won't eat the brown one thinking it is chocolate.


I put the finished crayons in a glassine bag tied with bakers twine and then I will put a little sticker that will say crayons on it. I think they are fun!

I will be going to Utah when Kandis delivers baby Vann and so I have been working on things to put on a 2nd birthday party for Nixon while I am there. We really don't know when Kandis will have this little guy so we are going to plan on having a party with or without her around. The theme for the party is Construction trucks so I made some dump truck crayons to put in with the goody pails for the kids to take home. I used a candy mold that I found on Amazon.com and then you can use old broken crayons or you can buy new ones to make them. Just make sure you get good quality crayons because I tried it with some dollar store crayons and it did not work! So bummed to have a big mess and nothing to show for it. You put the broken crayons in an aluminum backing cup in the oven at 250 until it melts completely. Usually takes around 12 to 20 minutes. Take out of the oven and pour into the candy mold and let set. If you want to speed up the process you can put them in the freezer until COLD and then pop them out. So easy and so cute. Can't wait to do it again for another party some time.