He has been such a fun & mischievous elf this year and I am going to help him go out with a bang.  Scooter is going to take the stockings on Xmas Eve, and hide them, and the kids are going to have to follow the clue’s that he left to find them.   That naughty elf!  I got some of the clues online and changed the words to fit my needs.   I have a printable version and left certain areas blank that will allow you to fill in the name of your elf etc…. 

For the first clue you can hide it near a lamp that is not turned on. 

The second clue will be hidden in the oven.  I left “pumpkin roll” out of the downloadable version.  If you haven’t made one before I have a delicious recipe

The third will be hidden under my sons bed.

I left the area blank for the quiz as well so you can add an age appropriate quiz.

Well, every room in our house has a ceiling fan so the stockings will be hidden somewhere…..

DOWNLOAD STOCKING HUNT LIST HERE & HERE

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY AND BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR!!

The first step is to take a profile picture of your subject.  Preferably near a large window or slider and don’t use your flash so you get a nice silhouette.  Then I used the magic wand tool in my photo editing software to outline just their heads, it doesn’t have to be perfect, and I printed it on plain paper.   If you don’t have software that can do this you can just cut out around their head after printing.  Next I photocopied and sized it onto a plain sheet of paper until it was the size I wanted.

Next you are going to take your purchased wooden plaques and paint the edges and just around the sides on the top.  I purchased these at Michaels.  The “unwrapped” plaques are very inexpensive starting at .59 cents.  Measure the top of the  plaque and cut your decorative paper to the appropriate size.  Once the paint is dry I used Mod Podge for paper to glue it to the front.

While the paint is drying you can cut out your silhouettes.  I used double sided tape to adhere the photocopy onto a piece of black cardstock to help keep it in place while I cut.  Place the tape around the edges not under the silhouette.   Once the paint is dry you can glue the decorative paper on and give it some time to dry before gluing the silhouette on.  Let the silhouette dry for an hour or so and give it one more coat of Mod Podge on top and you are done!  I stapled some ribbon to the back and glued a piece of felt to cover it and finish it off .

I made a mini ornament silhouette for Kate’s tree…as if it doesn’t already have enough ornaments

xoxo,  Sonja

Now here is a cute, no sew, project for everyone on your holiday list..including yourself.  An easy to make, easy to assemble photo wreath.  Start off with a styrafoam wreath any size you like, I used 12″, and wrap it with ribbon.  Use pinning needles to secure the ribbon.  Cut out 3 1/2″ circles using decorative scissors for the edges, a scallop punch or a cricut.  Lay out paper circles around wreath to your liking.  Using thin ribbon make several small bows in coordinating colors.  Place extra pinning needles through bows and use these to pin paper circles in place.  Attach bells or other decorative embellishments through needles as well.  Then,  using a 3″ circle punch, punch out photos and slide in or secure with double stick tape.  I found that my photos slid right in so I can easily swap photos from year to year.  On the top create or purchase an embellishment, maybe the family name or a cute chipboard cutout!  

I left some blank so you could see how the paper circles are layed out but I plan on filling them all in with photos or decorative paper!  Cute, right??!!

xoxo, Sonja

This is my completed photo wreath…I just LOVE it!!

Put a smile on your guys face with a hanger like this,  featured at the Ace Hotel. 

Photo courtesy of Color Me Katie

It looks like they etched the wood but I am going to make them using a pack of wood hangers from Ikea, of course, and my friends cricut!  You can buy “Cricut Cuttables Adhesive-Backed Vinyl” at your local craft store in all different colors.  Apply transfer tape after cutting and apply onto hanger.  Seal it to give it extra hold and you’ve got a great gift!  How cute is that!!  He’ll love it and himself because HE LOOKS GOOD IN THAT!

xoxo, Sonja

Have you been looking for something to do with the left over pumpkin after making that delicious pumpkin roll?  How about something for your furry friend.  We made yummy pumpkin & peanut butter Scooby snacks to spread around the neighborhood to all of our doggie friends.  They were a hit and Sampson really liked them too!

They are super quick and easy to make.  Wrap them up or just hand them out and you will have a friend for life!

PEANUT BUTTER & PUMPKIN DOG TREATS

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tbls peanut butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl.  Dough should be dry and stiff.  Roll the dough into a 1/2 inch thick roll and cut out shapes.  Bake 40 minutes or until hard.

xoxo,  Sonja

ITEMS NEEDED:

Decorative Oilcloth

Chalkboard Oilcloth

Bias tape

Pinning needles

I purchased the oilcloth at the local fabric store but you can also order it online.  1/2 yard each can make 4 placemats measuring 18×11.5 each.  ($8/yard)  I purchased the damask oilcloth for the girls and the plain red for the boys.  After cutting out your two pieces of oilcloth, one side being the decorative and the other being the chalkboard, pin one long side together.  Cut out a smaller piece of decorative oilcloth as your pocket and pin to either side of oilcloth.  (I purchased a scrap piece for the pockets so you will need extra)  I placed the pocket in front for the big kids and the back for the little kids…..thought the younger kids would need the entire space to color.  Sew your pocket up along the sides NOT touching an edge and NOT ON TOP. 

Now you are going to want to cut your corners round.

I placed the corner of my placemat along the corner of a square on my cutting mat and drew an arch from corner to corner with a dressmaker’s marking pencil and then cut it out with scissors. 

Next you are going to want to iron your bias tape in half.

Now that your pocket is sewn on pin the other side of your placemat together and place the bias tape along one edge of placemat, pin or hold in place, and sew it all around.  Now you’ve got yourself a cool new placemat. 

xoxo, Sonja

xoxo, Sonja

After Sumo I never wanted to get another dog, ever!  He was such a big part of our family and it was heartbreaking losing him.  Jon, Kate, and Marty, felt the house needed another dog so I reluctantly went to the SPCA to “look”, and that’s how we got Sampson.   There are so many pets in need of homes there, it is soooo sad.  If you are considering adopting an animal please check your local animal shelter or animal rescue organizations first.  www.petfinder.com is a great resource as well.   

He is such a sweetie!  Another positive is we’ve got Big Daddy talking about moving to the farm! (and not the funny farm)

xoxo  Sonja

…or wrap up a few pieces in wax paper and celophane and give it as a delicious gift, with the recipe card included.  Great for teachers or as a hostess gift.

Download Pumpkin Roll recipe card here

Enjoy,  Sonja

I have always put these into individual scrapbooks but this year I came across a Love Letter Box over at eighteen25!  First off I am so excited to see other people doing this as well, and secondly they are giving away the CUTEST templates!  I am all over it baby!!

I think this is a great way to take the time to document what you have been meaning to say all year!

xoxo,  Sonja