Frosty {Ornament}

{This is an oldie, but a goodie.  I posted this quick and easy tutorial last year. If you're in a scramble for an adorable gift, this is quick, and so so cute!}

So if you're like 95% of America... you are in the process of switching over all of your household light bulbs to the new energy efficient CFL variety (if you're not... you should!). At our house, as the old energy guzzlers burn out, we replace with the new and improved. Well, this week the last of our bulbs finally kicked the bucket and that left me with supplies for this adorable little ornament, which will soon be sent off to live at Goofball's teachers' houses. Although, they are just so cute, I think I'll make an extra one for our tree, I just love snowmen!

To get started:

1) Gather these supplies: an old lightbulb, various shades of acrylic paint (white is a must, but the other colors are up to you), some iridescent glitter, modge podge (although this isn't mandatory as I discovered today), fabric scraps, tiny bit of orange felt, sponge brush

2) Paint a thin-ish coat of white paint on the bulb part only (leaving the top silver for now), and sprinkle on the glitter while the paint is still wet (this saves you a step and eliminates the need for modge podge). I found that sticking the silver end in the playdough freed up my hands while it dried.

3) Dab some dark paint for the coal eyes, mouth, buttons, add the tiny orange felt triangle (I used a hot glue gun)

4) Add a scrap of fabric for the scarf, add some detail by cutting some fringe in the ends, hot glue that baby on...

5) Paint the silvery top a color of your choice, wrap some ribbon around the the top, and you've got yourself one darling little snowman ornament... doesn't it feel great to be crafty AND green :)

L'alfabeto Fan Page Giveaway

Are you a Fan of L'alfabeto on Facebook yet?  If not, head over and join the fun and stay in the loop about giveaways, sales, and coupon codes coming in January.

We had a giveaway for Facebook Fans this week when we reached 300 "Likes".  The lucky winners (yes, two!) of the custom wire monograms are...

Katie Tate Probandt and Kimberly Chris Holland.

{Winners were selected via Random.org}

Congratulations!  Please email me at lalfabeto@gmail.com to claim your prize :)

Fun With Felt {Garland}

I love felt.  It is cheap and easy to use, and I love color.  Here are a couple of easy ideas for some festive felt garland.  All you need are some basic sewing skills, a few pieces of felt, and a night or two in front of  your favorite movie.

{Felt Garland #1}  

Materials:
  *  felt in your favorite shade (or shades), I choose glitter white
  *  a sewing machine, or if you don't have one or are feeling super ambitious, a needle and thread
  *  a couple paper template in two different shapes, pictured are a circle and diamond, duh

Step 1:  Cut out a plethora of the two shapes.  Mine are about one inch each.  I used four 8"x10" sheets of felt, which yielded about 20 feet of garland (more than I needed)

Step 2:  Sit down at your machine and make one long continuous stitch through the middle of the alternating pattern of shapes

Step 3:  Decide where to hang the hand-crafted lovliness.  I hung mine in the opening between our kitchen and playroom, where I will hang all the Christmas cards we get in the mail.  Done and done.

{Felt Garland #2}

Materials Needed:
  *  Felt in a multitude of  fun colors, the more the merrier
  *  Embroidery floss in just as many fun colors

Step 1:  Using a paper template (I traced the top of a mini-playdough container), cut out a bazillion circles

Step 2:  Sandwich two of the same color circles together and sew together using your choice of thread colors using a blanket stitch (use {THIS} tutorial to figure what in the world a blanket stitch is, and how to do it)

Step 3:  Use a long needle, with tape over the tip so it is blunt, not sharp... string emboidery floss through the middle of each felt sandwich to create the length of garland your heart desires. 

I love the look of this garland because it reminds me of candy, and I do love me some sugar.

 

Crazy Amazing Giveaway... Merry Christmas to YOU!

I'm participating, via my Etsy shop L'alfabeto, in the most amazing giveaway over at Laura Winslow Photography's blog.  There are over $2000.00 worth of prizes from over 50 vendors, all for ONE lucky winner!!!  How excited would you be to win some swag for yourself, and also some as gifts, making you the most favorite gift-giver come Christmas morning.  If I won, and wasn't already my parents' favorite child, I would most certainly secure that spot with some of these amazing prizes as gifts!

Go {HERE} for a sneak peek at all of the prizes, and for more information on how to enter!

What are you waiting for?!  This is nuts!

Elf On the Shelf

Reason #23 why my children may need therapy one day...

Also known as, "sadistic fun for parents"... we can't wait :)
If you haven't heard of this... google it.

Not Life's Necessities

I am so very thankful for my family, friends, the necessities of life that God so richly provides for our family.  But that's not what this post is about.  I'm going to list some things, that although are not necessary to live, they sure are pretty awesome.  And I am thankful.
1.  toilet paper (think about life without it, seriously)
2.  1 out of 3 kids who can wipe their own toosh
3.  the drive-thru at Starbucks
4.  family pictures
5.  razors
6.  the Chick-Fil-A play place
7.  Chapstick
8.  the bulk section at Sprouts
9.  grass in the backyard
10.  Christmas decorations, specifically our ornaments and tree
11.  good mail (i.e. not junk mail or bills)
12.  Pez
13. coconut
14.  gentlemen who hold the door open for females, any female
15.  date night
16.  new underwear
17.  not cooking
18.  sweater weather
19.  opportunity
20.  anticipation


Happy almost Thanksgiving!

'A' List {a wish list}

I'm in full on Christmas shopping mode and plan to be finished within the next ten days.  Why?  Not out of being super organized, but out of necessity.  I'm not about schlepping my newborn in and out of the mall during what I hope will be a stress free December.  99% of my holiday shopping will be done online, mostly through Etsy.  I love love love Etsy, and I love the convenience of shopping at 3am (or 4am, or 5am, or 6am... get the picture?) while the babe and I are awake.  

I am often astounded at the talent that I find on Etsy, and love giving (and getting... hint hint) unique gifts (and yet my favorite store is Target, go figure!).  Here are a few Etsy treasures that I have had my eye on for a while. 

{Custom i.d Tag by Make your Dog Smile}

Dog I.D. tag, for the four legged family members... well, just the ones that are on the "nice list"... my parents have a definite "naughty list" pooch, who if it were up to me, would get a lump of coal.  If it were up to Gary, she would get the "anchorman treatment".  But I digress.  

{Break Out The /fat Pants, recipe cards by Not Moira}

The best recipe cards that I will gift to my brother and his bride... pretty much everything in this shop is unique and fun (and totally cool!)

{Decadence headband by Adam's Blankie}

I am smitten with this headband, and pretty much want one in every color for Babycakes. I am already planning her outfit for my brother's wedding in May around this gem.  The model is pretty darn cute too, if I do say so (yep... our sweet new Babe!)

{Wooden Memory Matching Game, Robot Edition by Lemon Tree Studio}

Total eye candy over this sweet gal's shop, but I especially love this Robot Memory Match game for Buddy Boy's stocking.  She has a super sweet owl set too, that I want for myself Sweetpea.

Get shopping!