tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74354748075238126762024-03-18T19:48:31.849-07:00BirshyKatWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-64842220767308939922014-07-22T14:35:00.001-07:002014-07-22T14:36:00.032-07:00My dog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-9256126255328061762013-03-12T21:51:00.000-07:002013-03-12T22:01:29.389-07:00God grant me the serenity....a new puppy!<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Norman's mom was a Chihuahua and his dad was a Yorkie, which makes him "Chorkie". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Day 1 with us. He was 3 months old and just under 4 lbs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last fall, a better shot of his mustache and beard.</span></div>
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N<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">orman about a month ago. 10 months old and 11 pounds, pretty much full grown (we think).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We haven't had a dog for 18 years and had discussed "maybe" getting another dog "someday." Then Norman became available and was pretty much dropped in our laps last summer (they guilted us horribly for months, knowing I have a soft heart). We are not really small dog people either, so it has been an different experience for us. This dog <b>NEVER</b> stops (moving, barking, chasing, jumping, playing, shredding mail/paper, CHEWING ON MY ANTIQUE CHEST, destroying paint brushes & toys, "jackassing" around, you name it)! Full of piss and vinegar. He thinks he is the center of the universe and can't understand why everyone (cats, humans, neighbors, birds, kids walking by to school, etc.) is not giving him their full and constant attention. Having such an active and tiny pup has really been an adjustment and a test of patiences for our household, both cats and humans. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most days, I can't almost believe that we have an 11 lbs. dog AND huge owls and several full grown eagles that nest within a mile from our home....f0r crying out loud! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He is turning me into a nut. W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">henever he is outside, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I run around the back yard looking up in the sky (my neighbors think I'm crazy). Within a 5 minute period, I can swing from "I am going to kill you" or "Are you out of your f@*#ing mind" to an "aww" moment...EASILY about 12 times. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Making my Christmas ornaments this year was nearly impossible. While I was sitting at our kitchen island, trying to concentrate while painting intricate/detailed lines, this dog would sit on the floor next to my chair and jump up (waist high) and down continuously for half hour periods. "LOOK AT ME! PAY ATTENTION TO ME! LOOK AT ME!!" I am one of this biggest animal lovers you will ever meet and I thought I was going to KILL him.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God grant me the serenity to survive this pup. I love him dearly, but fear he is going to be the death of me or I him. AMEN!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please send your best set of patience my way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tracy</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-52778060754615619032012-02-16T16:14:00.000-08:002012-02-16T16:14:46.628-08:00This Made Me Smile!<br />
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<a href="http://static.someecards.com/someecards/images/feed_assets/4dada1d9278c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://static.someecards.com/someecards/images/feed_assets/4dada1d9278c3.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />First saw this on <a href="http://pinterest.com/birshykat/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Pinterest</span></a>, but you can find the original source <a href="http://www.happyplace.com/3080/the-7-most-brilliantly-pointless-street-fliers/page/8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>! </div>
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I sure my cats are expecting me to post a flyer like this for each of them...they ARE awesome, ya know!</div>
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Blessings, Tracy<br /></div>
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<br />Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-22602636853552535082011-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:002011-12-15T10:45:53.476-08:00Need a Day Brightener?This <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">video makes me smile every time I see it. Don't you just love kittens?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-82078250037175551272011-10-27T21:17:00.000-07:002011-10-28T13:54:34.808-07:00Haunted House Silhouette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are a few quick pictures of the Haunted House silhouette that we display on our mantel every few years. I don't have it completely set up, but thought I would add some pictures while I am thinking about it. I made this 10 or more years ago and unfortunately, it is really starting to show it's age. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a large two piece silhouette, which was cut out of heavy duty poster board. The tree (on left), small hill (that you can barely see on the right) and small flying bats are part of the back piece; which is placed against the wall. The house, grass, gravestones and fence pillars are part of the front piece; which is placed about 5-6 inches in front of the back section. It is lit using a long light, which is sandwiched between the front and back sections. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been 10 years, and I still remember this silhouette being a CHALLENGE to make. The poster board was thick and really difficult to cut through. OMG, cutting out those fine details...let's just say, I remember learning several new swear words while working on it. I can't imagine having to eventually redo it. Oh, I do love it though!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-50623954305658550002011-10-16T15:31:00.000-07:002011-10-16T20:02:20.707-07:00Psycho Bunny Lives!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So....(I think) this guy is pretty much done. You may remember his humble beginnings in <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2010/10/uncleunclei-give-up.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">this post</span></a>. Not sure how I feel about him, but I do think he may be a little too cutesy for my taste. I guess I'll just have to see how he looks, once he is lurking out in our garden at night. I may have to go back and distress him...possibly add some dried blood and just make the poor thing look a little CrAzIeR. I would rather he looked rough, like he just spent a long night digging himself up. If I have time, I will try to get some better shots later. These pictures don't do him justice, since he really does look better in person.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />All we have to do now, is find him a nice, yet creepy, spot in our garden to hang out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-69121423544710619642011-10-09T09:08:00.000-07:002011-10-10T07:53:46.582-07:00Spooky Halloween Wreath LOVE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently ran across this wonderful idea for a Halloween wreath. When I first saw it, I immediately knew I had to try to make one for my very own. The original wreath idea came from the very talented Karen, over at <a href="http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/halloween-wreath/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"The Art of Doing Stuff"</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I found her tutorial to be very detailed and easy to follow. Oh yes, and the pictures, for those of us who are a little more visual (like me)...they are great. Can't say enough good things about this whole project. I LOVE how turned out. Go over and check out her tutorial if you have a moment. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I highly suggest using her tutorial as a guide, but here is my (quick) footnotes on this project.</span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like Karen, I made my own wreath base out of three layers of glued together Styrofoam. The wreath bases I found in craft stores, were too small and really expensive. Hello...a 4x8 sheet of 1 inch Styrofoam was about $4. I have a lot of leftover Styrofoam, which is a good thing, since I will use it on some project in the future. When I finished my Styrofoam base, it measure about 21-22 inches across. After I cut out the inner circle, the ring of my wreath was about 6 inches wide. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I couldn't find the glitter skulls she used anywhere. I ended up buying 3 small Styrofoam skulls at Michaels. I think they were $1.49 each. I poked a short piece of dowel into the back of each of their heads and then painted them black. Once dry, I painted on a thin layer of glue and sprinkled with Martha Stewart's Onyx glitter. After they were covered with glitter, I gave them a light dusting of Martha Stewart's Black Licorice glitter to accent the Onyx. The black Licorice glitter has flecks of blue and green added to black, which sparkles nicely in the light. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Karen used 6 boas, I think I ended up using 8 to cover my wreath. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When it was time to attach my skulls, I cut a few triangles of tulle/netting and stapled them together a few times to form a half clown collar; similar to the ones her skulls have. And yes, I used a normal stapler. The staples won't show, since they will be buried in feathers, so no big deal. I had two different scrap pieces of tulle on hand, one fine and one regular weave, so I used a little of each to give it more interest. I also added three short pieces of ribbon to each collar. After I attached the skulls to the wreath, I grabbed a tulle and ribbon collar and pinned it just under each skull; to look like it was attached.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My finished wreath is HUGE...about 25 inches wide. LOVE IT!!</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Completed Styrofoam base.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Skulls before paint.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paint drying.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glitter drying.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Netting that is draped on finished wreath.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the Tulle fabrics (fine not pictured) & ribbon that I used.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Close up shots of glitter skull on wreath. The photo makes them look silver, but they really are black.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span></div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-73813155020757441892011-09-10T22:35:00.000-07:002011-09-10T23:50:38.850-07:00Finding Treasures at Hunt & Gather!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you are ever in the Twin Cities area, you must take time to visit this store. <a href="http://huntandgatherantiques.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Hunt & Gather</span></a> is a wonderful flea market type store in Minneapolis, located at the intersection of 50th & Xerxes. This place is filled to the brim with eclectic antiques and the strangest, coolest, funniest and truly oddest objects that one can imagine. I could spend hours digging through this store. As I stroll through the isles, my mind is constantly spinning with ideas as I turn each and every corner. And best of all....the merchandise is generally very reasonable (a.k.a. - cheap). Their low prices keeps their inventory moving, so the store is always changing as new items are added. Yep...I am in love! <br />
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-77279730108133815852011-08-21T20:29:00.000-07:002011-09-05T21:22:13.974-07:00Here we go....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jennifer Davenport, over at <span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.decorating-ideas-made-easy.com/index.html" style="color: #b45f06;">Decorating Ideas Made Easy</a>,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>has been nice enough to feature our <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2009/10/almost-done-with-our-witchs-urn.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Witch's Urn</span></a> as part of her recent "Halloween Ideas" post. This post showcases the ideas of several talented folks who share our love for Halloween AND have some truly clever ideas. If you have a minute, take the time to go <a href="http://www.decorating-ideas-made-easy.com/halloween-decorating-ideas.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">check it out</span></a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-73940462373209776942011-05-11T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:49:48.646-07:00My Nephew is a Married Man!Just returned from my nephew's wedding at the Sirata Beach Resort, in St. Pete's Beach, Florida! Josh and his beautiful bride, Dawn, were married last Saturday. The wedding and reception were so beautiful & I have to say I shed a few tears. We are so happy for them both! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY63sVS6yOwoLtakjnHRmB4eXtJdEwibmMr-m5mhAZ_OJ91myA5yDlhr2lR8ZR2jjqn1sLwZkbCY0SDBBGp6Gk3bJGCFXaoaGSBhsUMiQ_MuYvchq_VqxUMzYhtldmWB9VnFNMLqXCUpT/s1600/DSC00965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY63sVS6yOwoLtakjnHRmB4eXtJdEwibmMr-m5mhAZ_OJ91myA5yDlhr2lR8ZR2jjqn1sLwZkbCY0SDBBGp6Gk3bJGCFXaoaGSBhsUMiQ_MuYvchq_VqxUMzYhtldmWB9VnFNMLqXCUpT/s320/DSC00965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7SWJUw4up3h3G8_FCjVb8LcnsB2d37LV1THEcw6R39U6k72L6g-W0eRW8LRhPHcXcgZO02DBFbdOti9qa5b-bs5yUa1kZDKuuJHeT7R7RVKYcn7cH2pLXlYQBa40tXghxLuc12oO9GhA/s1600/DSC00936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Blessings, Tracy</div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-6124679484960670272011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:002011-04-18T08:00:08.311-07:00Happy Anniversary....Brother Dear!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc35IEdK3SDxsgxf1VQlhMYqb0rHqCHI_dO2UC1bVcW-86TTWe8Y2uDnZEaKZJ5HbfZaxUz3-F0b0X5rGhfHLfFxtzX-scIV17793aBb-mYf81C8dIJbKAWZe3yGrKkhWcLir_rkMzeuf/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc35IEdK3SDxsgxf1VQlhMYqb0rHqCHI_dO2UC1bVcW-86TTWe8Y2uDnZEaKZJ5HbfZaxUz3-F0b0X5rGhfHLfFxtzX-scIV17793aBb-mYf81C8dIJbKAWZe3yGrKkhWcLir_rkMzeuf/s400/IMG_1737.JPG" width="400" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sorry, I finished this project very late on the night before the wedding, so the lighting for these pictures was pitiful.</span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq1yMI13K5ejTucHE9SHfmySQaLTvfIfLrvvEpcWDAqxLz64wIxo6wD1-ealRAiy083IZ-f4YOMF64B-lEpfOMBRCpjo3DvZNuXG85DBjK24YR6SyzvbQNcaKElJAIZH1Z0QD3n8g488m/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq1yMI13K5ejTucHE9SHfmySQaLTvfIfLrvvEpcWDAqxLz64wIxo6wD1-ealRAiy083IZ-f4YOMF64B-lEpfOMBRCpjo3DvZNuXG85DBjK24YR6SyzvbQNcaKElJAIZH1Z0QD3n8g488m/s400/IMG_1740.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pRLeOzt_NmndFJylcljwDdv2stIQWhZ8NeRjTTYcFFIHdV9HCa1F4p2F5cUOuEygBCZrmqlxl5o5Z0kCArKCakrNgCHWemQrSlQTuA8q4oHHjTgurhUTPp_OoC3l5FLCV2XL-WqpUFaH/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pRLeOzt_NmndFJylcljwDdv2stIQWhZ8NeRjTTYcFFIHdV9HCa1F4p2F5cUOuEygBCZrmqlxl5o5Z0kCArKCakrNgCHWemQrSlQTuA8q4oHHjTgurhUTPp_OoC3l5FLCV2XL-WqpUFaH/s400/IMG_1738.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">My darling brother and his sweet wife are celebrating their second wedding anniversary today. Whoo Hoo!! Also....EEK, I can't believe it has been two years already! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My brother didn't find the "right" girl until he was a little older (ahem...40), so they were both pretty well established, household wise, by the time they married. Since they had no "real" need for wedding gifts, my sister's husband came up with a fun joke to play on the happy couple. He suggested that everyone go to a local thrift store and purchase a used toaster to give as a wedding gift. I decided that I wanted to add a fun personal touch to the toaster I planned to give, so I looked for one that would be easy to paint. I found the perfect $5 toaster at Goodwill. I ended up painting a cheesy tattoo-ish looking design on the side. If you were lucky enough to know my darling baby brother, who may I add has a very healthy sense of humor, you would realize this design was the perfect fit. I was even surprised, when it turned out much better than I had expected. Really cute!! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At the reception, my brother and his wife were surprised to find a stack of gifts waiting to be opened. It was funny to watch them open box after box, each containing a used toaster. As we watched them open their gifts, I realized there must have been a secondary competition going on between some of the guest as to who could find the weirdest or grossest used toaster EVER. I have to say, there was some doozies in the mix. When my brother opened ours, he said, "Please tell me this one is new?!" They liked it so much, they still display this toaster on top of their kitchen cabinets. As the night went on, all of the guest chuckled at the thought of the happy couple hauling all of these toasters back to their local Goodwill and trying to explain themselves. Oh....the memories! ;-) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Blessings, Tracy</div></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtc35IEdK3SDxsgxf1VQlhMYqb0rHqCHI_dO2UC1bVcW-86TTWe8Y2uDnZEaKZJ5HbfZaxUz3-F0b0X5rGhfHLfFxtzX-scIV17793aBb-mYf81C8dIJbKAWZe3yGrKkhWcLir_rkMzeuf/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG"></a>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-16958263958162337682011-02-10T12:55:00.000-08:002011-02-10T13:53:04.954-08:00Snowman and Snow Girl Ornaments - "How To"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD4XB1Z7XGHcLijI6UWkWoKef_Uxhql6ssw1EnhUrybflrlRIk8lEWPUWP7jgDSx-PMvk5vyE9ho-9X2sPMUfjchnAZrLwOXaTLyxrpx3U9Ns7y_Axanm5VVHCHavUvpueqzh-pi9pQBz/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD4XB1Z7XGHcLijI6UWkWoKef_Uxhql6ssw1EnhUrybflrlRIk8lEWPUWP7jgDSx-PMvk5vyE9ho-9X2sPMUfjchnAZrLwOXaTLyxrpx3U9Ns7y_Axanm5VVHCHavUvpueqzh-pi9pQBz/s400/IMG_2384.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Sorry about these photos. I realized that I forgotten to take pictures of these guys, as we were walking out the door on Christmas morning. So I just ended up just opening the box & snapping a few quick shots.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ToZBin-rx4N_7KJOt9bM_XQiKtLPGrr6r-ODjxOpAt1JqfLnD_L0D5L2yI4gIz6H8cN12VWBcBUGIMwvtYTlC2zO_YrzDBOLi28Fl-wjPujLNdCpIzXt4t9jQTARjfplrFUdcdVkMIu0/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ToZBin-rx4N_7KJOt9bM_XQiKtLPGrr6r-ODjxOpAt1JqfLnD_L0D5L2yI4gIz6H8cN12VWBcBUGIMwvtYTlC2zO_YrzDBOLi28Fl-wjPujLNdCpIzXt4t9jQTARjfplrFUdcdVkMIu0/s400/IMG_2386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIpnZb3eNLyRHI91EG6zvAJGg2GUFDWu_ub1YDlxsuFdQSxIX7OO_cq31QwjtLRQ0q8xEWOv7sh7iJWT8antJet4LF3wVE9GPjCCGNwzco0syE1EpXfT6f_4ZAnonk-sa6e_nQIEvPX18/s1600/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIpnZb3eNLyRHI91EG6zvAJGg2GUFDWu_ub1YDlxsuFdQSxIX7OO_cq31QwjtLRQ0q8xEWOv7sh7iJWT8antJet4LF3wVE9GPjCCGNwzco0syE1EpXfT6f_4ZAnonk-sa6e_nQIEvPX18/s400/IMG_2389.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoxwo6TDEVtRbdGJqfOQXkn5FmlNIeNSwEKnY_X_nRQaDW2WdLAJmEDAdXlFMlorP9VUieP13pVN6-69S3sxwaEyyudx7u18zhMQ5bU0s0O-CIul-mp77l8s9wj-FUubOuGFhrnrYsPwA/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoxwo6TDEVtRbdGJqfOQXkn5FmlNIeNSwEKnY_X_nRQaDW2WdLAJmEDAdXlFMlorP9VUieP13pVN6-69S3sxwaEyyudx7u18zhMQ5bU0s0O-CIul-mp77l8s9wj-FUubOuGFhrnrYsPwA/s400/IMG_2406.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Made this ornament for a good friend's daughter.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_3DRBfJSQt2xcBLur4jNLbFnJ5cMOs_7-MGKA-EMog3hve37BWwZQTL07GylLKk8NfT5q8ShbxPvh4Vgqa7WdEBiHER-hXHSpxEvADOZEwD5-U36dbVb3efCWqoMB2SazasaWOHAa2gZ/s1600/IMG_2399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_3DRBfJSQt2xcBLur4jNLbFnJ5cMOs_7-MGKA-EMog3hve37BWwZQTL07GylLKk8NfT5q8ShbxPvh4Vgqa7WdEBiHER-hXHSpxEvADOZEwD5-U36dbVb3efCWqoMB2SazasaWOHAa2gZ/s400/IMG_2399.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjPJwFTiwV_aYXlcvkDDJQluiZmufDMxvPHUMgG_GgYsE0VGkJsFxfi1LKDHY6cYHYeoeQKD8OZmfStGZT-Cr3f3sGty5ckv5A1dy_zLQgmHQO1drXd6ENTJDwxeQEjBC-X6LsZ5AgoTJ/s1600/IMG_2398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjPJwFTiwV_aYXlcvkDDJQluiZmufDMxvPHUMgG_GgYsE0VGkJsFxfi1LKDHY6cYHYeoeQKD8OZmfStGZT-Cr3f3sGty5ckv5A1dy_zLQgmHQO1drXd6ENTJDwxeQEjBC-X6LsZ5AgoTJ/s400/IMG_2398.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are instructions on how I made my snowman and snow girl ornaments, back in 2009. You will have to forgive my memory, since I DID make these about a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, I finding my memory is getting a bit fuzzy with age.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I stated in a previous post - </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last year, I decided that I should try to make Christmas ornaments each year for my family members. I was inspired by the snowman ornaments that I saw on "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/handmade-ornament-galore.html" style="color: #4c4c4c; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Michelle my Belle's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blog. This woman is SO creative! I just love her blog. Since it was my first attempt at making ornaments, I decided to follow the instructions she posted for her snowman ornaments. I thought they turned out really adorable and my family loved them."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I suggest you follow her instructions, but here are a few things that I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">discovered as I made my ornaments and/or ended up doing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">differently.</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I placed a short piece of dowel inside of the snowman, to give the body extra strength. It ran from his crotch area to his head. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The dowel was wrapped with tin foil to form the main body, arms, legs and hat. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">On two of the ornaments, I used a small Styrofoam ball for the heads, since I was running low on tin foil. After these were completed, I thought I should have trimmed the ball down some, since the heads turned out a little bit too big.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*For the Snow girl ornament - I used a medium Styrofoam ball for the substructure.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This will be confusing, but...I would suggest embedding a separate small chuck of wood or dowel inside of the head, with an eye hook attached (for hanging). Our first piece of dowel, that ran through his body, didn't line up with the area we needed to place an eye hook for hanging. This second piece of wood would be added just under the tin foil, with the eye hook sticking out the top; taking into account that you will need the eye hook to stick out over the clay. I did not do this and found it difficult to come up with a secure way to add the hook to the top of his head. If you think about it, the top of the head really only consists of a thin layer of hardened clay with tin foil under it. You can't really screw anything securely into that?! We ended up using cotter pins that we purchased from The Home Depot. They kind of resemble a heavy duty bobby pin without the waves. </span></span></span></li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cws9o5NlMe3IqH065bu815A6djTZe899fhac0geu3i0a1owpBe0S_Op0CvfZaF2ZZdsJ4KjKQ2Rhekw8X3uST564MF3POucBbSh26KkH5LV8TMNaYLazJZgfJts0SmtKYmHorytEN8fs/s1600/Cotter+Pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cws9o5NlMe3IqH065bu815A6djTZe899fhac0geu3i0a1owpBe0S_Op0CvfZaF2ZZdsJ4KjKQ2Rhekw8X3uST564MF3POucBbSh26KkH5LV8TMNaYLazJZgfJts0SmtKYmHorytEN8fs/s200/Cotter+Pin.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the ornaments were completed -</div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We drilled a hole in the head of the snowman.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bent the flat ends of the pin apart/out to create tension, keeping the circle at the top tight. The shape will look like a Tepee with a circle on top.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Filled the hole with glue and then gently pressed the bent out ends of the pin together. Eased the ends through the hole, continuing pressure until they were through the hole. Once the pin was in the hole the ends sprung out some to help secure them in place. </span></span></li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After the substructure was completed, I used <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1601477098"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Creative </span></a><a href="http://www.paperclay.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Paperclay</span></a> to form the snowman.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I highly suggest using short pieces of (thicker type) toothpick or wooden skewers to help secure the eyes and nose on the head and to give them strength. I learned this the hard way when one or both of the eyes kept falling off my first two ornaments. From then on, I cut off a 1/2 - 1 inch piece of toothpick or skewer, placed a small dab of glue on the end and stuck it into the head; leaving some sticking out. Once they were secured, I formed the eyes and nose and pushed them on to the toothpicks/skewers. Make sure you score both sides of the clay and add a dab of moisture to help adhere the clay to the head. I'm pretty sure I actually used two short pieces of toothpick behind each eye to also help keep them from spinning. *</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the skewers, I use the bamboo skewer you would use for Kabob. You can find a huge packs of them for just a few buck at places like Walmart, etc. I use them all the time when doing crafts.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I pushed a dull pencil into the clay to make the dots in the hats, the holes for the mouth and in the middle of the buttons. </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once the clay was dry, I sanded the ornament with a fine grit sand paper.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For hanging, I used a long piece of wire. I attached one end to the eye hook, then wrapped it tightly (about 5 times) around the shaft of a med sized screw driver to create the tight curl and then formed large curls at the top by hand.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For paint -</span></span></span></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't remember exactly, but I imagine I used a pearlized cream colored paint for the main body.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the eyes, I used black, white and a pearlized lime green and light blue paints.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the buttons, I used black and a pearlized purple paint.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After I was done painting the ornaments, I didn't add the thin layer of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Golden's Interference Gold that Michelle had used. My local craft store didn't have it and I didn't have time to run across town to the "big boy" art supply store to purchase it. Instead, I ended up painting on a few coats of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Daler Rowney's, "FW Pearlescent Liquid Acrylics" to the main body (snow part) of the ornament. The name of the color I used was White Pearl. FYI - This stuff is very thin in consistency; just a bit heavier than water. You can't see it in the pictures, but this really gave the ornaments a beautiful shimmer. Make sure you let them dry between coats. </span></span></span></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl2QNaaDDO2Xj7nFMqYwq00TwEd8qJIba4gWjvYU25Jcoy5VJISr4wx_S6br7TfzIhl5EEaBYv659zuexpXEOzII9jdvWXDRPpi_u7ALb8C2oRgCgfwSDqm4I5Xay2vknXRqlWWoSYriM/s1600/DSC00816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl2QNaaDDO2Xj7nFMqYwq00TwEd8qJIba4gWjvYU25Jcoy5VJISr4wx_S6br7TfzIhl5EEaBYv659zuexpXEOzII9jdvWXDRPpi_u7ALb8C2oRgCgfwSDqm4I5Xay2vknXRqlWWoSYriM/s400/DSC00816.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here is a bad picture of my dusty, freshly shook bottle.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOOA3hsTaGU1cYMjl9YWqyrHbsq9vBCRvmhMWQA-lQ7RjrWyJfJiN2uMQ9PALnxXgW5G8Fg0hk6q6Eu2IbDtEQONN1dvPVhWmrQ7hUG80MwBTxZbRoTF_5YBFFsmYiEYghczfoDkx1VGo/s1600/GetImage.aspx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOOA3hsTaGU1cYMjl9YWqyrHbsq9vBCRvmhMWQA-lQ7RjrWyJfJiN2uMQ9PALnxXgW5G8Fg0hk6q6Eu2IbDtEQONN1dvPVhWmrQ7hUG80MwBTxZbRoTF_5YBFFsmYiEYghczfoDkx1VGo/s320/GetImage.aspx.jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here is a nicer picture of their blue color, shown on the </i><i><a href="http://www.fineartstore.com/Catalog/tabid/365/List/1/CategoryID/1421/Level/a/Default.aspx?SortField=UnitCost%2CUnitCost"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Fine Art Store</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">'s</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i> </i></span><i>website. See how beautiful the shimmer is?!</i></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I antiqued the ornaments by using watered down acrylic paint (probably a raw or burnt umber). I washed the paint over them lightly and then dabbed/rubbed it off. You would continue to do this until you like the level of antiquing. I actually had to go back and dab small amounts of paint directly into the hat divots, mouth area and in the buttons, since I didn't think these areas came out dark enough. I just dipped the tip of a toothpick into paint and dabbed a small bit in each divot. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We sealed the ornaments with a few light coats of satin acrylic sealer. We found that this also brought out the shimmer of the paint.</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once they were dry, a scarf was cut out of red felt and added to the snowman ornaments. *Red and white ribbon was added to the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">snow girl</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> ornaments for hanging.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tracy</span></div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-28512111722281848652011-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:002011-02-06T12:20:08.612-08:00A Stroll Down Memory Lane...Funny Commercials.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In honor of Aaron Burr's birthday, here is another of my favorite commercials from the past. It still makes me chuckle.</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OLSsswr6z9Y?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Original "got milk?" commercial</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span></div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-10190699675784576742011-02-03T09:10:00.000-08:002011-02-03T09:10:39.598-08:00Just part of Henry's daily routine...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRi0rm9THjFohiLlheOxoQEOnQah9Gd377Rc6ui4HCXo21uaSqaIY8cWLit9T3gpGHPPmMgf9Tb76b3tS7r36JgaF4s-ZoA4QAWSiNouCmt3WngHQq9WtsiabYpVcNUcdu0qg2liYy9BjS/s1600/DSC00809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRi0rm9THjFohiLlheOxoQEOnQah9Gd377Rc6ui4HCXo21uaSqaIY8cWLit9T3gpGHPPmMgf9Tb76b3tS7r36JgaF4s-ZoA4QAWSiNouCmt3WngHQq9WtsiabYpVcNUcdu0qg2liYy9BjS/s400/DSC00809.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">And, may I add, we have <b>3 bathrooms</b>! So <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-fun-to-be-1.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">naughty</span></a>!</div></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-81310883742681389272011-02-01T23:22:00.000-08:002011-02-03T09:29:58.682-08:00Tile Art<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Large (49 1/2 x 16 inches) tile piece we purchased a few months ago from Kirsten Walstead, at </span><a href="http://www.somitileworks.com/index.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SoMi Tileworks</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I really don't think photos do her work justice. These pieces are so much more beautiful in person.</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sorry for the picture quality.</span></i></div></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><i><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This piece was nearly impossible to photograph, since it</span></i></div></span></span></span></i></span></div></i></div></span></span></span></i></div></div></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><i><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hangs in a dark hallway in our home </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">due to it's SIZE</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></i></div></div></span></span></span></i></span></div></i></div></div></span></span></span></i></div></div></div></span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcFSaML2aAxvERA6nWrhn_DqB9QWyhV64eQknh-4xlv3TNEPRmLwIw9FT99tr2JgHag7Xpj8Gnv_EQGwNJ2D_qzgd3Bjot6bqmasYeimz3PyHvU1yvckY9rX3JzpJ1ep8VtJYCN7GGO8T/s1600/DSC00630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></i></span></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcFSaML2aAxvERA6nWrhn_DqB9QWyhV64eQknh-4xlv3TNEPRmLwIw9FT99tr2JgHag7Xpj8Gnv_EQGwNJ2D_qzgd3Bjot6bqmasYeimz3PyHvU1yvckY9rX3JzpJ1ep8VtJYCN7GGO8T/s1600/DSC00630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcFSaML2aAxvERA6nWrhn_DqB9QWyhV64eQknh-4xlv3TNEPRmLwIw9FT99tr2JgHag7Xpj8Gnv_EQGwNJ2D_qzgd3Bjot6bqmasYeimz3PyHvU1yvckY9rX3JzpJ1ep8VtJYCN7GGO8T/s1600/DSC00630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcFSaML2aAxvERA6nWrhn_DqB9QWyhV64eQknh-4xlv3TNEPRmLwIw9FT99tr2JgHag7Xpj8Gnv_EQGwNJ2D_qzgd3Bjot6bqmasYeimz3PyHvU1yvckY9rX3JzpJ1ep8VtJYCN7GGO8T/s1600/DSC00630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcFSaML2aAxvERA6nWrhn_DqB9QWyhV64eQknh-4xlv3TNEPRmLwIw9FT99tr2JgHag7Xpj8Gnv_EQGwNJ2D_qzgd3Bjot6bqmasYeimz3PyHvU1yvckY9rX3JzpJ1ep8VtJYCN7GGO8T/s400/DSC00630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></span></span></i></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></i></div></div></div></div></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></i></span></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div style="display: inline !important;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s1600/DSC00637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloOdlwS6TSGHx8nwtaFNnWuwMhi8AsMsSrXW7iRWWlOcGqfFzFF0iX_Ql5-LqKeoy86e_pVhCEgZS3lS1Bkm_ODuvi6P5yGTnzVavPtwYlT6CLOJHMt88RapVCHkVsBrTizh7mlWOjR6f/s400/DSC00637.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></div></span></span></i></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bomqSvLvfBQdjwpYYToKiRNTF2C7k5-3Xof_iNOV0VDGpMdLOT051zU9jw3X-4hpUReWy1FfVHF8TDCbBibbGy7_z3yom52huw4hV5-WSOaNlGtYx4is7NNDZ1KqAkdghfOmdmlT3dAJ/s1600/DSC00636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bomqSvLvfBQdjwpYYToKiRNTF2C7k5-3Xof_iNOV0VDGpMdLOT051zU9jw3X-4hpUReWy1FfVHF8TDCbBibbGy7_z3yom52huw4hV5-WSOaNlGtYx4is7NNDZ1KqAkdghfOmdmlT3dAJ/s400/DSC00636.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blessings, Tracy</span>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-69642677010158291402011-01-28T02:26:00.000-08:002011-01-28T02:26:00.915-08:00Our Beautiful Lily!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7WgAzhdUUraIS3Q5gYHBGX2LZ2C-PY_B0NHLS7W9Y7wUtILlwMnVgmG7-WTbNckVYpfWZzOzMy7XnBeohPUOvgzt3KS9ZS9m6RVgWlIWYPbnoQDLp4r-lLD045n9l0clHGFn_Yy9Cf_R/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7WgAzhdUUraIS3Q5gYHBGX2LZ2C-PY_B0NHLS7W9Y7wUtILlwMnVgmG7-WTbNckVYpfWZzOzMy7XnBeohPUOvgzt3KS9ZS9m6RVgWlIWYPbnoQDLp4r-lLD045n9l0clHGFn_Yy9Cf_R/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-60089174680078028282011-01-25T10:34:00.000-08:002012-07-16T10:02:19.386-07:00Santa Ornaments - Part 2Quick overview of how I made these Santa Ornaments for my family this past Christmas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoALsaiU1IW80DDOVUtlYtYCyj7Utt4zCdXY8ftQlsBaw3MslLx0l1E1byO7_pWoAMDuVwNwDJwyQ1cIT2pBuvEgIJgM3QyLdmx-dYSRMAdwDhj0r1AdBpU9A8Nj4GGHZrfcnnyjo07qe/s1600/DSC00755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoALsaiU1IW80DDOVUtlYtYCyj7Utt4zCdXY8ftQlsBaw3MslLx0l1E1byO7_pWoAMDuVwNwDJwyQ1cIT2pBuvEgIJgM3QyLdmx-dYSRMAdwDhj0r1AdBpU9A8Nj4GGHZrfcnnyjo07qe/s400/DSC00755.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>
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1. We constructed the ornament's substructure with these items. The three items on the right, plus a short piece of dowel, are the beginning of the substructure; which is assembled on the left. A good base will give your ornament strength. I want these to last a long time, so this was important.<br />
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<i>All supplies for this project were purchased at Michaels</i></div>
<ul>
<li>I first cut a circle, the size of a quarter, in the bottom of the cardboard dish; discarding the lid. </li>
<li>Drilled a hole, the size of the dowel, in the smaller thicker disk. </li>
<li>Flipped the dish upside down, applied glue to one side of the larger disk and pushed it all the way up inside of the dish until it was firmly pressed against cardboard; it will fit snugly.</li>
<li>Applied glue to one side of the smaller disk. Centered the disk on top (formerly the bottom) of the cardboard dish and glued down; making sure there was enough glue in the quarter sized hole to help bond the two wooden disk together. </li>
<li> Placed glue around the tip of dowel and pushed through hole in small disk, until it rests against larger disk. Let all dry thoroughly. </li>
<li>Sealed the cardboard box with Gesso, since it will be covered with damp paper clay.</li>
<li>After I took this picture, I did end up trimming the bottom of this dish a little, since it was too long for the bottom of his coat. I then applied Gesso to seal the cut end.</li>
<li>Screwed eye hooks into the bottom of dish, to use for hanging legs in future.</li>
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2. Added Styrofoam balls to make the body and head. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrSK7tT6SW23xNIWvIKTWDbwj4X3gRc7R31NFD6j7KMk28P5knQsK_04wvY9c1SybtVU9GDCnWhdr8xmHPEdH3CfTdrKtk1GU3mhgm-MeGNGcdh6ezI3JOVXy1ocngVwj4GIBk0lkNllc/s1600/DSC00714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrSK7tT6SW23xNIWvIKTWDbwj4X3gRc7R31NFD6j7KMk28P5knQsK_04wvY9c1SybtVU9GDCnWhdr8xmHPEdH3CfTdrKtk1GU3mhgm-MeGNGcdh6ezI3JOVXy1ocngVwj4GIBk0lkNllc/s400/DSC00714.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>I cut the bottom off of the larger Styrofoam ball and trimmed the sides, to make the body bell shaped. </li>
<li>Glued bottom ball onto cardboard dish and used sections of toothpicks/thin wooden skewers to secure the head, so it wouldn't spin, on to the larger ball.</li>
</ul>
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3. Used short lengths of thick (12 gauge) floral aluminum wire (very easy to bend) and tin foil to form hat's substructure (sorry don't have a picture of that). The tip and ball of the hat is the most vulnerable to breakage, so a good substructure is important. Please bear with me, this explanation may be confusing.<br />
<ul>
<li>I pushed one end of a wire into the head and bent to form the angle of hat. </li>
<li>I added two more wires to different areas of the head (3 total) and mimicked hat angle. I added a small piece of twisted up tin foil (in the shape of the hat) inside of the wires to add additional support.</li>
<li>Once the tin foil and wires were in place, I twisted and mashed the ends together tightly to form the tip of hat. The wires will kind of resembled a bent cone or tepee.</li>
<li>I left one wire tip a little longer and curled it tightly to form a tiny ball at end of Santa's hat. </li>
<li>I then covered the hat portion, not including ball at end, with a layer of foil. </li>
<li>Used additional small pieces of wooden skewers, that I pushed through hat into head to help secure it and keep it from spinning. </li>
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4. Once we determined the height of ornament, the top of dowel was trimmed. We then drilled a starter hole in top of dowel, added a dab of glue to end of eye hook and screwed in to hole.</div>
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5. Formed Santa's main body using "Creative Paperclay", covering the top of the dowel; only leaving the eye hook visible. **See below for tip. <br />
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<i>Update - People have asked how I made his textured beard, </i><i>mustache & eyebrows. I </i><i>added the </i><i>shape </i><i>of these things </i><i>on his face, then lightly </i><i>scratched t</i><i>he clay </i><i>with a pin to </i><i>create the </i><i>hair texture. Really </i><i>easy to do.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLynUA7SfSBpPS6TfFG1Lyi-zRjVRKL8MSFOhpdz3RSbsTfKVQdQ-zKmHr8TD82v7A4BqDxThM7fyY5g6aK_MVPKkU5q6cngneY37hVn8AjrXMrjPfmGQFTuPF1fwUZaVkdSP2j5tn3Qlr/s1600/DSC00705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLynUA7SfSBpPS6TfFG1Lyi-zRjVRKL8MSFOhpdz3RSbsTfKVQdQ-zKmHr8TD82v7A4BqDxThM7fyY5g6aK_MVPKkU5q6cngneY37hVn8AjrXMrjPfmGQFTuPF1fwUZaVkdSP2j5tn3Qlr/s400/DSC00705.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div>
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<i>Leg on left in process. Right leg completed and waiting for clay.</i></div>
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6. Used same 12 gauge aluminum floral wire and tin foil to make the substructure of legs. Then formed legs and boots with paper clay. Let dry completely.</div>
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7. Sanded ornament thoroughly with fine grit sand paper.</div>
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8. Sealed ornament with Gesso and let dry. This is needed, since the paper clay is very porous.</div>
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9. Painted ornament and let dry thoroughly.<br />
10. I signed and wrote the year on the inside (were legs hang from) of each ornament. </div>
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11. Applied 3 light coats of satin acrylic protective spray finish; letting dry completely between coats.</div>
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12. Attached ribbon to the top eye hook for hanging.<br />
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** TIP - For the last three Santa ornaments, I finished the top of the Santa ornaments completely (formed body with clay, let dry, sanded, painted and signed) and then covered the whole ornament with plastic wrap; poking the leg eye hooks through the plastic. I then started the legs. Once the legs were finished (substructure built, legs formed with clay, legs dried, sanded, painted and thoroughly dried), I ripped the plastic off and sealed the ornament with acrylic spray. I learned from the first three ornaments that those darn dangling legs were impossible to work around. They REALLY got in the way while painting, scuffing and transferring paint from the legs to the main body and back. This added TONS of touch up time to each ornament and made me pull out at least a few fistfuls of hair from the utter frustration.<br />
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I originally wanted to antique these ornaments, to bring out the facial features and the creases in his hat and coat. I unfortunately ran out of time though; barely finishing them up on Christmas morning. I really wish I would have had time to antiques them, since I think it would have given them more depth and character.<br />
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Here are pictures of the last 3 Santa's I made, before I added the top ribbon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzn7CMpY5Cm4Ltaqoczz0I5rj2AYCLboouwrecmda8sRZQnzeypz032LrP6eZ_cgolGbNjVzhDUmtqN8SzG7aEvrk3ueRk9EsfN9RHmrys1E1HcHE-pGfAWAw9XGSDmtB-qzH6ZaZjq_E/s1600/DSC00773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzn7CMpY5Cm4Ltaqoczz0I5rj2AYCLboouwrecmda8sRZQnzeypz032LrP6eZ_cgolGbNjVzhDUmtqN8SzG7aEvrk3ueRk9EsfN9RHmrys1E1HcHE-pGfAWAw9XGSDmtB-qzH6ZaZjq_E/s400/DSC00773.jpg" width="313px" /></a></div>
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My favorite Santa</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QVqTM0LqNb9I7nxl5Vsj7DC9nfoIOPOyEa2C8Go87yAc7j0NyuMX5PXuD90vqIhWenoBLq4RssCvbtYanepImaXAuCTxLu2EarGQBWnBjRlSH3NwqoRr5kytW2Q3H7nJEMQWX1hCm7KR/s1600/DSC00763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QVqTM0LqNb9I7nxl5Vsj7DC9nfoIOPOyEa2C8Go87yAc7j0NyuMX5PXuD90vqIhWenoBLq4RssCvbtYanepImaXAuCTxLu2EarGQBWnBjRlSH3NwqoRr5kytW2Q3H7nJEMQWX1hCm7KR/s400/DSC00763.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkevmJWtFv2BxZ7wes9vJicEh4NsVx6UjvRSKLLC7taBfsH99-p_2AY-HaD87TiE_RmvdISvXAmaPR74zCKvXM1d0KOmC6Y0jbicrk7CNe6NZZbDyLhEE2RjYRQEePJw35UoFFGdONhOh/s1600/DSC00769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkevmJWtFv2BxZ7wes9vJicEh4NsVx6UjvRSKLLC7taBfsH99-p_2AY-HaD87TiE_RmvdISvXAmaPR74zCKvXM1d0KOmC6Y0jbicrk7CNe6NZZbDyLhEE2RjYRQEePJw35UoFFGdONhOh/s320/DSC00769.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>
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Santa #2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7-WY3IXsKiDT8GHy3mqc6dgDlCNRtkvdLdU6uh2CXZmty4fIWWmqTPzsMOaYpZdlXbE4ycY8WgR5kIhE94zfNl6ITCqDoLBG9-pH9juSmbtE-a0orCu4jmmTQUrswOXnBcRdkDrKwGdx/s1600/DSC00771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7-WY3IXsKiDT8GHy3mqc6dgDlCNRtkvdLdU6uh2CXZmty4fIWWmqTPzsMOaYpZdlXbE4ycY8WgR5kIhE94zfNl6ITCqDoLBG9-pH9juSmbtE-a0orCu4jmmTQUrswOXnBcRdkDrKwGdx/s320/DSC00771.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>
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Santa #3 (a.k.a. - "The Big Faced Santa") on left</div>
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I made 6 of these ornaments. You can see the first three Santa ornaments, with hanging ribbon, in <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2010/12/santa-ornaments-with-dangling.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">this post</span></a>. Sorry to say there is only 3 or 4 pictures in this post, but you can see how my technique improved as I made each one. By the time I made the last one, "my favorite Santa" (shown above), I really had the process and Santa's look down pat. It really was a learning process.</div>
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Blessings, Tracy</div>
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</div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-41285925032922645612011-01-25T07:39:00.000-08:002011-01-25T07:39:13.605-08:00Those Angels are Singing Again?After digging through several of my OH SO messy drawers...just looking for 1 (frickin') item, I decided that I could not take it another day! Last Friday, I drove directly to The Container Store and purchased a boat load of "Interdesign" clear drawer organizing bins. I decided on this brand, since they had both a 2 and 3 inch deep version of these bins. From past experience, I was tired of shallow drawer organizing bins that hold maybe one brush or tube of toothpaste and leave a lot of wasted space remaining up to the top of each drawer. Since we could fit the deeper bins in our drawers, I bought these in several different sizes and shapes.<br />
Over the weekend, I tried different bin combinations to find the best way to utilize each drawer and the items that I kept in them. I organized the top drawers in 3 bathrooms (5 drawers total) and our huge junk drawer in the kitchen.<br />
Now that it is completed, I find myself wandering around the house randomly opening drawers...just to feel the rush of happiness when I see how tidy they look. My husband even noticed and gave me a compliment on how nicely organized everything is.<br />
As you might see in the pictures below, I got so excited I forgot to remove the tags/packaging from a few of the bins. I will have to go back and do that. I also have to return the bins that I didn't end up using.<br />
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I AM IN LOVE!!!<br />
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Here are picture of just of few of my bathroom drawers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHkOlIrMsVeOe4mPDL74DD7AI9-uAvv94qqxzKQIDEGnApfA_uBwr1RcALXq7X0sRKFAhClBjU1xU5J9wpAUARM5uzxX_fLNBVqg5fWAfLUXggMuawya9gj9mFVGGLIChlhxmHUZmCtAq/s1600/DSC00796%252B.jpg"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">And 2 pictures of my junk drawer.</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASqqj4zpJAUEmoWCtz2grfl_PeDMswh0ATukloOP5ZcHiZQjunHu0hX1__Cnrqc7otfETW0LWNQGsHMUp6EFBc79AWAx2Wk4HQXLoDHJB_SBsQ4-MOU5VQHyxcSVF0YHnvRam5wORyr5K/s1600/DSC00798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASqqj4zpJAUEmoWCtz2grfl_PeDMswh0ATukloOP5ZcHiZQjunHu0hX1__Cnrqc7otfETW0LWNQGsHMUp6EFBc79AWAx2Wk4HQXLoDHJB_SBsQ4-MOU5VQHyxcSVF0YHnvRam5wORyr5K/s400/DSC00798.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzo-W5EMmp6yTfWC0sWBKv0kG-QgUhacy3WEIFp3Lyf2FvGyZyF4z3syHJFoB84SJcPhY0gBX0DmVyRVzZqH2jyB_I9yYRkfy3-eeLo6TRKEMXk6oHG2upWQmo6NP4pGee6S391h35F23/s1600/DSC00799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzo-W5EMmp6yTfWC0sWBKv0kG-QgUhacy3WEIFp3Lyf2FvGyZyF4z3syHJFoB84SJcPhY0gBX0DmVyRVzZqH2jyB_I9yYRkfy3-eeLo6TRKEMXk6oHG2upWQmo6NP4pGee6S391h35F23/s400/DSC00799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Whoo Hoo!!! My drawers look amazing! <br />
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If you decide to do this, search the web for coupons before heading out. I found a 10% off coupon, just for signing up to The Container Store's website. I use a secondary email address for things like this. This way my main email mailbox doesn't get clogged up with sale ads and advertisements.<br />
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-37066720197754975972011-01-24T20:58:00.000-08:002011-08-06T21:23:32.406-07:00See...I told you!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I knew it! I have been telling my husband for years these little devils were dangerous! ;-) EEK! They terrify me.<br />
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-17443046350811169852011-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:002011-01-17T12:54:55.108-08:00Daily Reminder!I recently purchased this charming print by <a href="http://www.katiedaisy.net/typographic/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Katie Daisy</span></a>. It is bright and colorful and makes me happy when I look at it. We framed and hung it by the door we walk out each day. It's always nice to have this daily reminder to keep you in check, as you make your way out in the world.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This print hangs in a dark hallway, so these photos really don't do the artwork or beautifully ornate frame justice.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSwWsszitDfY-0HCf3YitEznSEsHV6cm2pOtYaMQAZYpM4SXhmxOCxWEj6Y__-r9e4sTx-42Mdhk7FFWblJOVnU_Xb4mbX7Euxl5YA0XGVCnnzLjrQ5MRzc0Nm7aKGyDdbBecPU_dy7KC/s1600/DSC00745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSwWsszitDfY-0HCf3YitEznSEsHV6cm2pOtYaMQAZYpM4SXhmxOCxWEj6Y__-r9e4sTx-42Mdhk7FFWblJOVnU_Xb4mbX7Euxl5YA0XGVCnnzLjrQ5MRzc0Nm7aKGyDdbBecPU_dy7KC/s1600/DSC00745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSwWsszitDfY-0HCf3YitEznSEsHV6cm2pOtYaMQAZYpM4SXhmxOCxWEj6Y__-r9e4sTx-42Mdhk7FFWblJOVnU_Xb4mbX7Euxl5YA0XGVCnnzLjrQ5MRzc0Nm7aKGyDdbBecPU_dy7KC/s400/DSC00745.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOGXxtTI6znW-B3Frk28itHjyyvLGTE3oBD1Xm8VG_2naUi22Af1HaYQPdL86ZnvasKHeytvQdiC6WFOzkNd4zjgBoRNw3b4UqKoNTcQIEU4E_La-ddsRIjz6sz6-VNqiUYp4LxXU6ML5/s1600/DSC00749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOGXxtTI6znW-B3Frk28itHjyyvLGTE3oBD1Xm8VG_2naUi22Af1HaYQPdL86ZnvasKHeytvQdiC6WFOzkNd4zjgBoRNw3b4UqKoNTcQIEU4E_La-ddsRIjz6sz6-VNqiUYp4LxXU6ML5/s400/DSC00749.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12VkLn0L0zAtbJlgQl36WHyABiYhyphenhyphent8jQzjoTSpRVMy41-2aVNDeEPdG41GkX1Hgz1wgMBR6GGrulDuHCypNUxXAc2fpMoimfC2bi8bLnTpwzMnL8UKLoeOH3ejLiCFuGuzJlv53mp5ka/s1600/DSC00748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12VkLn0L0zAtbJlgQl36WHyABiYhyphenhyphent8jQzjoTSpRVMy41-2aVNDeEPdG41GkX1Hgz1wgMBR6GGrulDuHCypNUxXAc2fpMoimfC2bi8bLnTpwzMnL8UKLoeOH3ejLiCFuGuzJlv53mp5ka/s400/DSC00748.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-67195871370108398292011-01-07T21:06:00.000-08:002011-01-07T21:06:39.324-08:00It's fun to be 1!!!Our boy Henry (a.k.a. - The Big Galoot) turns 1 today. Henry weighs 14 pounds now, but feels and looks much heavier. He is always looking to play and his favorite thing is to chase his poor sisters; especially Lily. Our boy also gives the word "naughty" a whole new meaning. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOVU0StgIrcXG0cqcKFM47k5djXd7TEU8Fe6iCAkmvpjDeec0WYVf7HCcXXafKgm4hs57iH30o8fj99VTjnLkYiGngUInm8SRlYFT6_Eis6ZCNX89C2r1gb3wuJ33V4Z7e2UvzoINIJN3/s1600/IMG_2497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOVU0StgIrcXG0cqcKFM47k5djXd7TEU8Fe6iCAkmvpjDeec0WYVf7HCcXXafKgm4hs57iH30o8fj99VTjnLkYiGngUInm8SRlYFT6_Eis6ZCNX89C2r1gb3wuJ33V4Z7e2UvzoINIJN3/s320/IMG_2497.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From this, about 9 weeks old...crying for food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICHMREu6JHgun68-nFj_2a5Ss5V-I7rPK6CsWKoFf0ueUJQRJHR4yZHECsqJRLUFVnmczlqvu903NTSDe-8miATsW4uKl14f-Bfv8vtxsoZ8ghi6CEMC13-Luzf_w0qwHrU48texqTMUU/s1600/DSC00647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICHMREu6JHgun68-nFj_2a5Ss5V-I7rPK6CsWKoFf0ueUJQRJHR4yZHECsqJRLUFVnmczlqvu903NTSDe-8miATsW4uKl14f-Bfv8vtxsoZ8ghi6CEMC13-Luzf_w0qwHrU48texqTMUU/s320/DSC00647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> To this, a month ago, "trying" to fit on my laptop briefcase to sleep.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We adore our boy.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings, Tracy</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-80029209489111719072010-12-25T08:24:00.000-08:002011-07-10T14:56:32.274-07:00Santa Ornaments with Dangling Legs...Finished!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are a few of my finished Santa ornaments; waiting to go live their new lives with my family members. Each one is a little different from the next; some fatter, some have bigger beards, hands in different positions, etc. I was in such a hurry on Christmas morning, I didn't get a chance to take many pictures of them. I thought they turned out pretty cute and my family loved them. I'll try to post more on them later.</div>
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**You can see Santa's humble beings <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-that-you-mr-french.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a> or brief instructions for these ornaments <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2011/01/santa-ornaments-part-2.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0L9Bjonmhonh9wT-7_4Maikh20ji6EVOBGon_Jc62fw-_EBoxI9k_DCOITZhrAs6Try6LGWnBxtWXSKDNfNCyv_TCsyEt4RVx2yBo9G-jN4OR5pYXfjxJ9mJn8YniAdhZE6A1dC_stWf/s1600/DSC00718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0L9Bjonmhonh9wT-7_4Maikh20ji6EVOBGon_Jc62fw-_EBoxI9k_DCOITZhrAs6Try6LGWnBxtWXSKDNfNCyv_TCsyEt4RVx2yBo9G-jN4OR5pYXfjxJ9mJn8YniAdhZE6A1dC_stWf/s400/DSC00718.jpg" width="233px" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysvOduGPbKL_mCj6_tXW_zrvFQAhPwi3vz2oGfXZXl71Dy__8xXL9UhwtYAQ88yFRH2MTq0ZubM_qbvsyD58yukPC_un9aPTk0QsByp6ehkhxgHtmhqBs19ZbUYaHtIokn-PBeA3U2Mo/s1600/DSC00724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; display: inline! important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysvOduGPbKL_mCj6_tXW_zrvFQAhPwi3vz2oGfXZXl71Dy__8xXL9UhwtYAQ88yFRH2MTq0ZubM_qbvsyD58yukPC_un9aPTk0QsByp6ehkhxgHtmhqBs19ZbUYaHtIokn-PBeA3U2Mo/s400/DSC00724.JPG" width="400px" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysvOduGPbKL_mCj6_tXW_zrvFQAhPwi3vz2oGfXZXl71Dy__8xXL9UhwtYAQ88yFRH2MTq0ZubM_qbvsyD58yukPC_un9aPTk0QsByp6ehkhxgHtmhqBs19ZbUYaHtIokn-PBeA3U2Mo/s1600/DSC00724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Blessings, Tracy</span></div>
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Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-9245110303645550812010-12-19T08:51:00.000-08:002011-07-10T14:57:02.453-07:00Is that you Mr. French???Last year, I decided that I should try to make Christmas ornaments each year for my family members. I was inspired by the snowman ornaments that I saw on "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/handmade-ornament-galore.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Michelle my Belle's</span></a>"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> </span>blog. This woman is SO creative! I just love her blog. Since it was my first attempt at making ornaments, I decided to follow the instructions she posted for her snowman ornaments. I thought they turned out really adorable and my family loved them. This year, I came up with an idea to make Santa ornaments with dangling legs . I am way behind with making these, since I just finished forming the main body of...OMG (sweating and wringing my hands)....the FIRST ornament last night. Oh yes, did I forget to mention....I have to make 6 of these guys!!! I seriously think my brain has been in denial that Christmas is only a week away! While making my first Santa last night, I thought he looked familiar, but couldn't put my finger on who I thought he looked like. The first thing this morning, I looked and him and thought, "Oh my gosh...Mr. French!" Not sure any of you are old enough to remember the television show Family Affairs; which aired possibly in the late 60's, early 70's? One of the characters was a very proper gentlemen's butler named Mr. French; played by the actor Sebastian Cabot. I faintly remember the show, since I was pretty young at the time, but I do remember the characters. Don't you agree that my Santa looks like Mr. French?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fsABJXS0698VBzeDoZRQsIF22xtH95P84eF9ODqjZX8EDHH7qzy8dcLsIjOJH9thTbyDlKceliL-W73cUcWsy6D5woJ85J9Bl7xmVPEzJu7st33vlh8iXL3-dW_Zw7OVKDDb9ebTNnrH/s1600/tvsinopse95005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fsABJXS0698VBzeDoZRQsIF22xtH95P84eF9ODqjZX8EDHH7qzy8dcLsIjOJH9thTbyDlKceliL-W73cUcWsy6D5woJ85J9Bl7xmVPEzJu7st33vlh8iXL3-dW_Zw7OVKDDb9ebTNnrH/s400/tvsinopse95005.jpg" width="307px" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fsABJXS0698VBzeDoZRQsIF22xtH95P84eF9ODqjZX8EDHH7qzy8dcLsIjOJH9thTbyDlKceliL-W73cUcWsy6D5woJ85J9Bl7xmVPEzJu7st33vlh8iXL3-dW_Zw7OVKDDb9ebTNnrH/s1600/tvsinopse95005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Left to right - Mr. French, Uncle Bill, Jody, Sissy, and Buffy. Not pictured, but also a popular character on the show, is Mrs. Beasley, Buffy's doll.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD2dsWbkbdHLJPCxMQAgLqREisX1eNI4fV8315YuaswN9icytGF2J7Z-SqliXuZO9L-dP8xMjsN6hxIrZpCsCAMS_-91Z5jUAFYF8T0yba0My8H9opPb72EZcfqOp0WK18jtDrFGT778P/s1600/tvsinopse95002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD2dsWbkbdHLJPCxMQAgLqREisX1eNI4fV8315YuaswN9icytGF2J7Z-SqliXuZO9L-dP8xMjsN6hxIrZpCsCAMS_-91Z5jUAFYF8T0yba0My8H9opPb72EZcfqOp0WK18jtDrFGT778P/s400/tvsinopse95002.jpg" width="400px" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU2cpYwBGigjIw4iANCH2dNe9bIuD7hIWbQumBPRDRikq_4C9h22wquNtdTjBXHM0vJMy-LEgN_Vo5rzOhWcgHqlWF_cTyWcdGaSu0_FF1xNy3iK6G5Y0fRtt-vKpf5hufj2ukpY-5e7t/s1600/DSC00701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU2cpYwBGigjIw4iANCH2dNe9bIuD7hIWbQumBPRDRikq_4C9h22wquNtdTjBXHM0vJMy-LEgN_Vo5rzOhWcgHqlWF_cTyWcdGaSu0_FF1xNy3iK6G5Y0fRtt-vKpf5hufj2ukpY-5e7t/s400/DSC00701.jpg" width="300px" /></a> </div>
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Here are the snowman ornaments I made last year. I will try to post more on them later. </div>
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**You can see the completed Santa Ornaments <a href="http://birshykat.blogspot.com/2011/01/santa-ornaments-part-2.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFDyqWpzNBZmL9V8CXwd1U34zV5RA-EW6I609W-9LEjjGQBCgZ51tUR_aZ0KHiGTI24KPrnBVwNl1fGFBqjOJHM97VU1UE9tnRhIJ3CUWvQj0hZ93uPOLrWiFaQGYuzEKcAfJg6otgTc9/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFDyqWpzNBZmL9V8CXwd1U34zV5RA-EW6I609W-9LEjjGQBCgZ51tUR_aZ0KHiGTI24KPrnBVwNl1fGFBqjOJHM97VU1UE9tnRhIJ3CUWvQj0hZ93uPOLrWiFaQGYuzEKcAfJg6otgTc9/s400/IMG_2384.JPG" width="300px" /></a></div>
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-34430914869083825562010-12-15T07:58:00.000-08:002010-12-15T07:58:57.106-08:00OH, OUR ACHING BACKS!!!We had to go remove some 4+ foot snow drifts from my mom's roof yesterday. She was in the 20 inch range from the snow storm last weekend. After blowing and drifting, her house and roof were buried. The bad thing about removing snow from a roof, is that when it falls to the ground, it packs really hard. This make shoveling miserable. First, you almost have a heart attack struggling to get the snow off the roof, then shoveling the (packed) snow from the driveway and sidewalk almost killed us. It doesn't look it, but the snow bank on the right side of the sidewalk is just shy of 5 feet high, at the tallest point. I'm 5'8", so it was up to my shoulders.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ache so badly this morning, that it almost hurts to take a deep breath. GOD FORBID I have to cough...ouch.<br />
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Blessings, Tracy</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Wes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435474807523812676.post-69309774835883849182010-12-11T21:58:00.000-08:002011-10-07T06:24:23.447-07:00ThankfulOur brother-in-law returned from his second tour in Afghanistan on Wednesday. Since his return, he has been at a base in Florida and was supposed to arrive home today. BUT, as luck would have it, we are having a good old fashioned blizzard today (ahem, 2 feet of the dreaded white stuff), so the poor guy is stuck in an airport in Florida. Even though he is safe, I know we will all feel better when he steps off his plane in Minnesota and is truly home. <br />
He has been gone for so long and we have all been very worried about him. For me, this type of anxiety/worry almost feels, at times, like it takes my breath away. I know it is odd (and proves I need some type of therapy), but I have been almost afraid to say his name out loud while he was gone; worried it would jinx him in some strange way. If I utter his name or my worries out loud, it makes them real. Strange and dysfunctional....yep, but that's how I dealt with the craziness that swirls around in my head each day. I am now also feeling guilty for being relieved that he is home, when so many soldier remain in harms way. I know....I am a lost cause. I may as well just start blocking out weeks at a time for therapy. <br />
After he returns home, he will have some time off then return to his other "not so safe" career doing police work.<br />
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Blessings, TracyWes and Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752148057127665551noreply@blogger.com0