30 Days of Christmas – Day 19

(My laptop charger AND battery died simultaneously forcing me to play catch up for much of this series.)

Monkey’s classroom also has a teacher’s aide.  We surely can’t leave her unloved this holiday season.

A perusal through my shamefully vast fabric stash had me finding just what I needed to make her a tote as well.  I kept this one fairly simple because the fabric has a lot of personality on it’s own.

Pardon the terrible lighting.  It’s “work after the kids go to bed” night again. 

I lined the maroon fabric with a plain brown and included a few pockets for organization. 

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it when I first started working on it, but I really like the finished product.  I may need to make another one of these!

30 Days of Christmas – Day 18

(My laptop charger AND battery died simultaneously forcing me to play catch up for much of this series.)

I shared yesterday the fabulous shabby chic bag I made for Monkey’s teacher.  We also found a tutorial on pintrest (which I can’t find now) for making your own personalized notepads using your printer and rubber cement.

Huh.  I can handle that.  Monkey chose the scrapbook paper for the cover.  Then we designed the notes themselves to say “a note from Mrs XYZ.”

Cut down to size, hold notepad together with binder clips and spread rubber cement on the binding liberally.  After it’s dry, remove the clips and tie your notepads together with a pretty bow.

I did try using GOOP when I was having no luck to find rubber cement.  It held great but didn’t go on smoothly so it created a literal goopy mess on the binding.  (I just trimmed it down and re-glued after finding rubber cement)

 

I tucked them in the tote with a handmade card from Monkey, a few packs of baby wipes (she loves them for cleaning up the kiddos hands – can’t blame her!) and a gift card to help out with school supplies.

I hope we were able to show her how much we appreciate all of her hard work. 

30 Days of Christmas – Day 17

(My laptop charger AND battery died simultaneously forcing me to play catch up for much of this series.)

I introduced you to Alphie, our Elf on a Shelf, last year.  He was residing in our Charlie Brown Christmas tree that particular day.

There are lots of families out there who’s elves get into all sorts of Elf Shenanigans.  Many even blog their Elf Shenanigans.

I’ve seen marshmallow baths.  I’ve seen snowball fights and snow angels.  I’ve seen budding artists (I’ve actually considered the Rudolph one because my kids would love it).

Well, Alphie isn’t a trouble maker.  He’s very well behaved.  This year, he’s had a thing for candy canes and we keep finding him either in the real ones or hanging out with decorative ones.  If he’s helping himself to any, he’s been cleaning up after himself even.  Yup.  No shenanigans here, thank you.

Instead, he tries to find the trickiest hiding spaces.  Monkey & Little Man LOVE  to play hide and seek.  Alphie is more than happy to oblige.

He found the ultimate hiding space last night.  He’s hiding in the grate between the 1st and 2nd floor of the house.  He left his feet dangling from down below to help them find him, but the little buggers found him from above!

Alphie needs to work a little harder at hiding before he leaves us for another year.

30 Days of Christmas – Day 16

(My laptop charger AND battery died simultaneously forcing me to play catch up for much of this series.)

I had fully intended to list a few items in my etsy store this month for the Christmas season.  Enter laptop malfunctions and life and I never did get around to creating the listings.

I did, however, make some fully lined festive stockings that will end up sitting in my office until next year.  Or I’ll add them for an after Christmas sale if I don’t have Christmas burnout in the meantime.  ;-)

I’d almost like to keep them for myself but T’s sister had personalized stockings knit for us two years ago.  I can only hang so many stockings before Santa says I’m being selfish and stuffs them all with coal!

Festive.

30 Days of Christmas – Day 15

(My laptop charger AND battery died simultaneously forcing me to play catch up for much of this series.)

I saw this bag months ago and fell in love – which is really odd for a woman like myself.  I rarely carry a bag other than Little Man’s backpack full of diapers (which isn’t a major requirement for outings anymore).

I pinned it with the full intention of recreating it for myself.

Instead, I’ve gone and made my own rendition of it for Monkey to give to her teacher for Christmas (hopefully with a few goodies inside).

 

The lining is red striped ticking.  I included a few pockets for more organized storage.  I also used the lining fabric on the outside of the handles to add more color interest.  I decided to leave off the flower because it competed for attention against the handles and ruffles.  I also treated the edges of the ruffles with Mod Podge to prevent the fraying from going from Perfectly Rustic to Falling Apart after a bit of use.

I still love the bag and still think I need one of my own.