Costumes of Halloween's past

I've been racking my brain trying to come up with Halloween costume ideas for the kids. I've never actually bought a costume. It started with me making a fairy costume for Audrie's first Halloween, and since then I just haven't been able to bring myself to purchase anything off the rack. I know my kids see those ready made costumes and sometimes wish I'd shell out the money for them, but maybe one day they'll appreciate their imperfect homemade counterparts, or at least the effort I put into them. Here are my past efforts:

My absolute favorite costume, I'll have to post later. It was Audrie's 2nd Halloween, and it was taken with one of those old cameras where you actually had to print out the pictures, so I have to do some digging.

I loved our Adventure Time costumes last year, and I've been trying to come up with something equally awesome, but I'm at a loss. We've got an extra character this year, so any ideas for a family of five?

And by the way, you might have noticed that I'm stalling here. I haven't done our Crafty Friday, so I was trying to distract you with lots of pictures.

xo

nessa dee

Brothers

The boys. My sweet boys. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship blossoms. Finn can't wait until August is old enough to play with him. He tells me just about everyday of something new he wants to teach his brother.

Finn sure does love his brother.

And I sure do love my boys.

xo

nessa dee

From my sketchbook...

I walked away for a moment, and when I came back, I found a party pig amid my characters. Made me smile.

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

I decided that I didn't want a spooky castle to be our only fall decor, so I dragged out the autumn decorations, today. We'll see how it goes.

And I've already had a little help with the decorating...

Happy Monday!

xo

nessa dee

Crafty Friday: Spooky Castle

Today's Crafty Friday was going to be a tricked out repeat of a castle we made 3 years ago, that is, until my kids had another idea. With Halloween just around the corner, and Hotel Transylvania about to come out in theaters, my kids wanted to make Dracula's castle. So my idea of a fanciful medieval castle with climbing roses and a princess tower was replaced with dark stones, Gothic windows and bats. But I have to admit, the castle looks pretty awesome. 

Here's what you need:

We decided to go with spray pint to cover all of our boxes and cans because it's quick, but craft paint will work just as well as will cover the pieces with construction paper like we did with our old castle.

Once you've painted your pieces, start arranging them how you want. Once you've got a design you like, glue it together with hot glue [parent's, of course]. 

Then, you can start embellishing the castle. We added tissue paper brick, and silhouette windows. For instructions on how to make the tops of the spires refer to the old castle post here.

 As a finishing touch, Audrie added bats strung on fishing line, a weather vane, and spooky trees.

With that we have our spooky castle, and I can say that I've officially started [and probably finished] decorating for the season. 

xo

nessa dee

Finnanigans

It's been a while since I've posted some Finnanigans. If you're not familiar with Finnanigans, it's the funny little things Finn says in our everyday life. Finn gives me at least one a day, but if I don't write them down right away, they fly out of my sleep deprived brain. Luckily, I've managed to remember a few to share with you today.

:: Mom, I remember things in my brain locker. It's like a high school locker, but it's in my mind.

:: pointing to his eyelids, " Mom, my eye covers hurt!"

:: Mom, August has green eye lint.

:: referring to a container full of replacement pencil lead, "If you need some rock ink, here it is."

:: After finding a tick on our dog [I know, gross] Audrie was trying to pick it off with a handful of paper towels to which Finn assured, "It's okay, Audrie. When Mom was little she had ticks all over her, and they weren't diseasey." [pronounced disease-ee] And just for the record, I didn't walk around with ticks all over me when I was little. I'm not sure what kind of hillbilly life my son thinks I lived.

Okay, I thought I had more, but at the moment, my baby is crying and my brain locker's empty.

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

What today, and most days around here look like:

Happy Monday!

xo

nessa dee

Crafty Friday: Tissue Paper Art

I don't know if it's the weather [it's raining!], the long morning we had at co-op, or the fact that this craft wasn't too exciting, but I had a couple of reluctant crafters. Add to that a baby who wouldn't take a nap...

 and a dog who kept running in the room to coax someone to play with her...

and our craft project was a bust. 

I did manage to get one kid to work with me, but the other was so engrossed in her own project, creating a dragon out of tissue paper and felt, that I gave up trying. 

Here's what Finn did...

We are planning on creating a castle next week, so if you want ti join us, start gathering cardboard tubes, cans, and boxes.

Happy crafting!

xo

nessa dee

Melt

That's what I do when I see that sweet, delicate face nuzzled up against that strong, broad shoulder.

I'm a puddle.

xo

nessa dee

Hello, Monday!

Why hello, Monday! How is it you always come so quickly, while Friday can't ever get here quick enough?

Speaking of Friday, it was the first day at our homeschool cooperative, and while we have been doing school for a little while now, I counted that as our first official day. And with that comes 1st day pictures...

I was nervous about our first day back at co-op and how August would do, but he slept on the way over, he slept while we were there, and he slept on the way home [Woo Hoo!] My mom came along to hold August while I tended to my co-op duties [Thanks, Mom!] She still hasn't heard the wrath of August when it comes to car rides. He tends to scream while in his carseat...and I mean scream. It can make for an unpleasant trip.   But on this day, he was a perfect angel. And I was one happy Mama. 

Happy Monday!

xo

nessa dee

Crafty Friday: Braided Necklaces

I figured if I'm ever going to get these craft projects posted earlier in the day, I'm going to have to start getting organized and doing the projects earlier in the week. That, or change the posts to Crafty Saturdays.

This project is as simple as its name sounds. If you know how to braid and have a bunch of fabric scraps, then you've got this project in the bag. First of all, you need a bunch of fabric scraps cut into long strips, long enough to fit over your head when the ends are tied together.

Next, take 3 strips and tie them together at one end like so:

BUT make sure you leave a little more excess fabric to be able to tie the necklace together once it's finished. I forgot to do so with the first attempt.

Then, start braiding. You can use your toes to hold one end...

BUT make sure you get a pedicure before taking pictures and posting them on your blog, which I also forgot to do.

After you're finished braiding, secure the other end with a knot.

Finally, tie the necklace around your neck.

You can also use shorter scraps to make bracelets.

Wider braids for hat bands...

And not to forget the boys, these little suckers can be used as awesome tribal headbands...

Happy crafting!

xo

nessa dee