Thoughts of Creativity Bubbling Over

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How is it that I have gone so long without making a List? There are so many things that I find everyday here on the web and with Christmas speedily approaching, the list is a bit lengthy this time...lol! Let me know what you guys out there in blog-land think!

I think that instead of buying AJ an expensive doll from Pottery Barn I will make her a cute Black Apple Doll instead! (@ Martha Stewart)

I have a thing for Kokeshi dolls and so does Gabby now. I am loving these adorable friendship dolls and you can even stick a sweet love note in there for that special girl! (@ Garnet Hill)

I have made legwarmers in the past for my girls using this tutorial, but never did I think about using thigh high socks to make arm warmers for myself! Genius! (@ Little Birdie Secrets)

Parents are always looking for cute holiday crafts for their kids that can actually be taken out and displayed every year. This easy peasy hand stuffed turkey is on my list for crafts this week! (@ Tangled and True)

Sometimes it is hard to find a cute way to package all those little gifts that you want to give, this innovative use for a regular can into a gift can is simply crafty! (@ The Idea Room)

These apple cranberry pocket pies are making my mouth water..... yummo! (@ Birthday Girl)

Finally! A clock that both teaches the kids about telling time and lets them know when it is ok to get out of bed and pounce on sleeping Mommy and Daddy! (@ Amazon)

And last but not least, a beautiful and easy wreath suitable for any home that is bookish and stylish! (@ Living With Lindsey)

Hope you like these... a little something from me to you!!
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This video is a perfect example of why we don't have TV in our house as all... and definitely opened my eyes to all the other ways markets try to get to our kids! (thanks Prasti for the link!)

One of my favorite Usborne books is 365 Things to Make and Do. It takes cute crafts from all of our other Make and Do books and created a huge list of crafts to keep little ones busy and creative. There are crafts for princesses, monster lovers, little travelers, and gift givers. I love that no craft takes lots of supplies, usually some tape or glue, crayons, paper, and scissors are as complicated as it gets.

I wanted to do a craft with my little ones about Thanksgiving and decided to do a Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey.  Here is what is will look like when done and there is a lot of room for variations. You can use felt for the body, add some real feathers, etc. The point though is to get the kids thinking about what they are thankful for and let them put that reminder on their doors so they see them when they wake up and when they go to sleep.
Here are the templates I created:

If you want you can also use foam door hangers or whatever, I like to keep these projects open to imagination!

Here is the Door Hanger Template
Here is the Turkey Template
(each makes 2 completed projects!!)

One of my good friends showed me the other day a lovely colonial rag doll that her daughter had from a festival. I loved the simplicity of it, the lack of sewing needed to make it, and the fact that little ones could even make their own with a whole bunch of them really easily. Here is how I made one for AJ:


1. Decide how big you want your doll to be from head to bottom of the skirt. Double that length and add a little bit extra. Cut 20-30 strips about an inch or so wide.  Use pinking shears if you don't want the fabric to fray. Also decide how long you want the arms from tip to tip (arm/body/arm) and cut 15 strips also about an inch wide.

2. You can use a small ball to help shape the head or just leave it a little flatter, but just fold the strips of cloth in half (front to back) making sure that the strips are angled various ways at the bottom to form a skirt. When two long strips are left take one and fold it in half left to right to give more shape and then use the very last long one front to back which will make the face.

3. Use a thin piece of fabric or some yarn to tie off around the neck to form the head.

4. For your arms, lay all your strips on top of each other and tuck the pack under the topmost skirt strip right under where you tied the head off.

5. Use a piece of scrap fabric for the apron, I used a piece big enough to cover the body and form a longer apron. Lay it on top and tie a piece of yarn or thin scrap around to form a waist. This will also trap the arms in between the neck and waist. I tucked the top part of the fabric under the neck tie to hold it up.

6. Lastly take another piece of scrap and tie it around the head. You can tie it like a gypsy or a colonial woman. (AJ liked the gypsy head cover!!) I also took a bit of thread and tied the ends of the arms to make hands which is totally optional.

Voila!!! Instant doll for your little one! Super easy and there is room for sewing on button eyes,  making yarn hair, etc.

So here is what has happened in the last 3 days... we have a custom computer nicknamed Natasha. (Klint spends so much time on it that I needed a name for the other lady in his life!) Natasha is an awesome computer with top of the line software, spyware, hardware.  Klint checked his email on Natasha, went to sleep, nothing unusual. I came home a few hours later, shook the mouse to do some design work.... nothing. Black screen, wouldn't reboot or POST. Nada.

Thought that it was the power source since Natasha is on 24/7, but even when we installed a new one it was the same deal.... Natasha in a coma. So we decided to drop her off at a computer place in town and hook up Grandpa Hewitt, our old computer. Now mind you all of our important things, our music, my Photoshop files etc are on an external hard drive, so no biggie... right?

Fast forward to last night when Klint decided to play Warcraft... Grandpa Heweitt decided to self reboot... weird... 15 minutes later did it again... 5 minutes, again.... and then.... POOF! Grandpa Hewitt black screened and was in a coma, just like Natasha. $*&#^()(*&^^*@@^&#^$&!!!!!!!!!

So there goes our ability to put new music on the iPod, for me to design, basically a good portion of our life... gone. Again, F@&K!!! And that dear readers is why I have been MIA. While I do have a netbook to work on, it is slow and is a b*tch to type on.

We are thinking that it was a power surge (or two) that took out our computers  so we have some heavy cash shedding to do to get them back in working order since they are going to require a new motherboard and such. Sigh...

Meanwhile, I will try to get some more posts up about the projects I am working on, just don't look for any new graphic designs... tear.... light a candle to the tech gods in my name and pray that we can fix this problem!!! (I miss my photoshop!!!!)

For Christmas Gabby requested a checkers board for us to play and I couldn't resist a DIY Pirates vs. Ninjas Checker Set.  I saw this on Etsy a while ago and lucky for me I live near a craft store (Pat Catans) that has all the supplies I need so I don't have to have them shipped here and waste precious painting time.

I toyed with a couple of themes, Pink Ninjas vs. Black Ninjas, Batman vs. Spiderman, Monkeys vs. Bears... but I know my girl and pirates are totally her thing!!

I will post pics once I get the varnish on some of the little ninjas I started with! If you don't live near a store that stocks these cute little wooden peg dolls, I totally reccomend this great Etsy store!  Here is a link to some other neat ideas for the peg dolls... what do you think? Is this something your kids would dig?

Well my friends, it has begun.... the frenzied holiday season. Today I saw workers draping lights on trees outside of a mall, heard Christmas tunes in a bookstore, and am seeing "HOLIDAY SALE" signs popping up left and right.

It is really hard to resist overspending, especially with "deals" everywhere telling you that you need this and that, making you feel guilty for not buying your child the newest toy, and pushing you into decorating your house befitting the cover of Southern Living.

This is the 3rd year that we will be doing our Rules of Christmas and I have even higher hopes of it's success now that Gabby is older. She can recite the rules to us when we are out and she definitely understands that she needs to make her choices wisely. I mentioned in my previous post that we are going to make the girls a fairy door and there are a few other things that we have in mind for them from Santa, but nothing that is going to push us into financial ruin.

I designed this notepad so that I can keep track of the ideas that I get for each person in my family, and so that I can mark off what I get and am not tempted to get yet another shirt or a toy that isn't on the list.

Here are directions on how to turn this into a real notepad which is nice if you have a large family that wishes to try this tradition out. And here is the PDF to print out, you can fit 2 sheets on a page if you landscape it.

In the next couple of weeks I will be sharing with you things I am giving the members of my family, since I don't have to worry about the kids reading the blog and ruining the surprise! Any ideas, hints, and tricks that you know are very welcome!!

Lately I have been thinking a lot about fairy tales and their importance in a child's life. With me selling children's books, many of which contain classic fairy tales, I am re-reading many beloved stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland.

I really believe that there is a special place, an important place, in childhood for fairy tales. I know many people believe that fairy tales should not be taught to children because they are too scary, will confuse the child as to what is real, or that they are immorally wrong and go against religious beliefs. But what I think is that fairy tales help children understand how the world works, that evil does not win in the end, that the underdog can rise to the top if they believe they can, and that cheating does not pay.

I know that as parents we want to protect our children from the evils of the world, but the hard truth is that there are evils out there. Difficult decisions to make, battles to be won, and evil to conquer. What better place than in a story to introduce these concepts?

In an effort to keep the fanciful imagination alive in our home Klint and I decided that we are going to put up a fairy door in the house on Christmas Eve while the girls are asleep. A little door where the girls can leave notes, trinkets, and pennies along with their imagination. I imagine too that the Christmas Fairy (who will have to be named of course!) will also leave notes and bits of fairy magic in the house.  I am not scouring the web for a mini mailbox and some teeny numbers to go on the fairy's door. Here is a great little article about where to get some fairy supplies! This is where I shall be getting my door from, I can't wait to paint it and make it a one of a kind fairy door!



(picture from Monkeytail & Wellington)

So AJ has really started taking an interest in going potty. We had a really easy time of it with Gabby, she just trained herself one day when she was about two and a half. We really can't take credit for her success in the potty arena. But, realizing that are girls are so different, we decided to take a different approach with AJ.

First we had her practice wiping herself, a very important thing if you are a little girl! Then we had her sit on the potty when we went, so she can see what we do. AJ actually had a few successful trips to the potty this way. So this weekend we decided on Sunday to just let her go around in a tee shirt and undies, so that she can feel what an accident feels like and get the idea more of pulling panties up and down. (We did try Pull-Ups, but they are too close to diapers for her to get the idea enough). And what a day! In the morning there were a lot of accidents and I was thanking my lucky stars that we had hard wood floors. But, the afternoon was accident free, which I consider to be a VERY good indication that we are on the right track.

Later today, after nap time, we will resume Panty Time in Casa de Krebs! Hopefully, more updates to follow!

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It seems like it has been awhile since I posted a list... there is so much going on with Halloween here, holidays coming up, and the weather changing I guess time got away from me! Here are some really cool links to projects, decor, party ideas, and more!

Poetry is fun as it is with kids, but I think this cute list poetry would be really fun with Gabby, especially since she is on a zombie kick! (@ Let's Explore)

It is early to be thinking about Christmas, but I might want to get a jump start on this adorable wooden spool advent calendar... (@ Just Something I Made)

We love dressing up in costumes around here, but sometimes all you need is a mask and tail to transform into that favorite woodland critter! (@ Oeuf)

With Christmas only 9 weeks away I am not only thinking about gift giving but also charitable giving. Here are some great ideas to get you started on a very charitable holiday season with your family!  (@ Simple Mom)

Now that the weather is a bit chillier I know that I am going to have to have some tricks up my sleeve to keep all my little ones busy. This DIY Chair Tent would be perfect and looks so easy! (@ Instructables)

We have a Japanese platform bed and Gabby wants one too, but I love the look of a headboard. This is why these wall sticker headboards are a easy, cheap, and fun solution! (@ Blik)  ---->

If I was going to throw a monster bash I hope it would have food like this one!! (@ A Home Grown Life)

Leave it to Jill to not only make a cute homemade playhouse for her son, Oscar, but to do it so beautifully with felt! I wish I had sewing skills like these!! (@ Homemade by Jill)

Currently we are having Nerf Sword battles at our house... but I think if my family (especially the hubby) had their hands on these marshmallow guns, I would have to duck and seek cover more often! (@ FangleTronics)

If you thought all embroidery was about girly cuteness think again... total hotness in thread here...mmmm (@ Feeling Stitchy)

As the mommy of a biter, hiter, and toy taker I think that these "I'm sorry my kid is naughty" cards are a much needed addition to my stationary! (@ Tan-ja-reen)

Well that is it folks! Hope you have a lovely evening!

Yesterday we went apple picking at an awesome orchard about 30 mins south of Cleveland. I am seriously a HUGE fan of this particular farm- Pick N Save. Not only do they have an enormous selection of apple trees, but the prices are beyond reasonable, they have a beautiful Friesian horse who loves to be fed apples, and there are even honey hives and chickens to look at! (Yes, I am a city girl and yes, chickens intrigue me!)


Last time AJ and I went with some great friends we got about 11 lbs of apples... and ate them all in 2 weeks. So this time around we got almost 20 lbs to cook, snack on, and make into lovely desserts! AJ loves picking apples, especially the bitty ones that she fondly calls her "baby apples". I love the realness of it all, the smells of the fallen fruit, and knowing exactly where they have come from. I was unaware that apples you get in the grocery store are actually LAST year's apples.... ugh! No wonder they have to color, wax, and chemical the heck out of them!


So look forward to some posts about apple crisp, apple dumplings, and such.... oh and be sure to send some links to YOUR favorite recipes my way!!! (20 lbs is a LOT of apples!)

Today I started running... and knowing me and the fact that if I don't have some real motivation to keep at it I will wuss out, I started a new blog documenting the journey from now until June 2010 when I hope to reach my goal of cutting my jean size in half. Come check it out, give me some encouragement because heaven knows I will need it, and feel free to leave some running tips and tricks! Presenting Chubby Chick Running!!

Have any of you out there in Blogland heard of Swap Mamas? If not and you are a fan of thrifty shopping and easy decluttering- this is the site for you!

Here is the jist of it: You go to the site, get a free page, list everything you have to swap and also everything you are looking for. You join some groups for fun that interest you, then people come to your page, check out your stuff and make you offers. You also go to their page to see what you want from them. It is totally money free and runs with the idea that "one man's trash is another man's treasure"!

Anyhow, I joined a month or two ago and am a complete addict. Seriously, I live on this site once the kids go down for bedtime! Well since I don't really have anything material to trade I decided to barter my lovely design work for some awesome bags, clothes, books, quilt... lol! And somehow, after creating a notepad to keep track of all my trades, I caught the eye of Queen Swap Mama herself- yay!

So now I am officially designing some items for Swap Mamas... swapping of course, for some awesome advertising space! Fun fun fun!!! Here are some recent creations!




Seriously, go check this site out... it is totally worth it!

the colors of fall>> long sweater coats >> warm apple crisp >> snuggling under blankets >> reading with my girls >> pumpkin decorating >> diy russian nesting dolls >> fall cleaning >> my new vera bradley all in one wristlet (yippee!!) >> roasted caramel almonds >> fall festivals >> zucchini bread >> chubby black squirrels >> halloween costumes >> this cute diy play kitchen >>pinecones >> living here in Lakewood >> going to the zoo with aj anytime she wants >> ballet flats >> packing gabby's lunch >> homemade chicken noodle soup >> the promise of a new day

I just got this book in the mail from Amazon and am devouring it! I am searching for guidance on how to simplify our life and home and this gem of a book does not disappoint.
From great tips on how to create a home that is close and full of creativity to ways to find (and organize) inspiration, I love that all the projects are simple and functional. There are lovely ideas on things to do with your children to make your home...well a home. How to slow down, how to create a space that encourages a creative spirit, and a great list of things to consider when bringing toys into your home.
It didn't surprise me to realize that this is a Waldorf home, especially with the ideas on how to decorate a seasonal table. More and more, this parenting/life philosophy is appealing to Klint and I. I can't wait to get Homemade Home, also by Soule, as my "something to read" for Christmas!

Ok folks, a quick post since it is so late:

1. Cold is almost all gone, thank goodness for meds finally catching up with me!
2. Fight with hubby is resolved, no blood was shed, and I can put the arsenic back on the shelf- hehehe!
3. Just got home from doing an awesome home show with Usborne books... was a bit of a drive but sooooo worth it. Seriously, I am loving this business and earning free books for my kids for Christmas! Their "something to read" is already taken care of!
4. Why didn't anyone remind me that 9 week old kittens act like 6 yr old little boys? All energy, no coordination, and complete silliness with big brothers!
5. I have been really really active in the graphic design arena, seems my inspiration is back in the form of baby announcements. Here are some new designs:


So that is that... more to follow shortly!