Ginger bread house

Let me set the scene.

It's Sunday morning around 11.00am Kevin is at work the car is packed with all our clothes ,Christmas pressies and food.All ready for the drive to QLD when I decide -OK I need to make just a couple of little things more but hey I have time I should do a gingerbread house.
So I ring Kev...

Kev can you bring home a gingerbread house kit?
Why?
because I want to do one and take to mums that's why.....
Haven't you got enough already?
Kev it's Christmas there is no such thing as too much....

So my husband brings me home a gingerbread house....
Whats this?
It's what you wanted....
No it's not it is a triangle with a roof-crap.....
You wanted a gingerbread house kit this is what I got -deal with it.......

So I start to think how am I going to decorate this....
I then saw this post on one of my favorite blogs Desire Empire   and she has used the same funny shape gingerbread house as Kev bought me and it looks great.....(check out Carolyn's blog she has some really interesting posts and some delicous recipes as well)......So after looking at this post I feel bad for being such a cow to Kev  but that didn't last too long ha ha ha  -so off I go and decorate my funny little house which by the way was bought from Aldi's for around $8.

So here is the front of my little house,I decided to be different and do all the decorations pink & white.I think it turned out great but I would never tell Kev that as I couldn't stand the I told you so attitude..... Here's some more pictures..

  Before- Boring little brown house isn't it......

 

 

This is the back of the house.

 

The LM said this is Nana....

I used royal icing to do all the pipe work and you may not be able to see the colour properly but the
little balls (used above on the roof ) are pink....

A close up of the front ....I think I went a bit heavy on the "snow".....

 

So although when I got this kit I was like Yuck this isn't a gingerbread house now I think otherwise and that it turned out great and I will be going to Aldi's next year to get a couple to do for gifts....

Oh by the way the gingerbread tasted fantastic....

 

It was the week before Christmas....

It's the week before Christmas and I have things pretty much under control...I have just finished off some last minute crafts and although I still have a couple to finish  I cant show them till after Christmas as they are gifts for some special people.....

But here are some photos to show what I have  been up to....

 I made these for neighbour gifts and some for Kerry to take to her in-laws and to work.
This is the best Rocky road of all time- all you need is

Best Rocky Road Ever....
Coconut
raspberry lollies or you can use turkish delight.
mini marshmallows.
chopped nuts.
put all the above into a bowl and mix.I haven't given measurement's as I just use what I want to use..
I don't like nuts so I only use a handful.I love raspberry's lollies so I used 2 packs.I tell you it is fail proof.

Melt your chocolate (I used 5 bags of Nestle melts as I made 10 trees and they were quite heavy and big .While your chocolate is melting I made made cone moulds using some cardboard and greaseproof paper which I roll into cone shapes and when you are happy with this sticky tape it to keep its shape.I also used a staple just to make sure it held it's shape.

When the chocolate is melted add it to the  bowl of goodies -mix and spoon into cones.Yes you have to lick your fingers as you want to make sure it is yummy.This step is compulsory..ha ha ha

Put in fridge to set.When set unwrap and melt some white chocolate...Drizzle this on the bottom of tree so it will stick to plate then drizzle on top of top of tree  running it down the sides.Add decorations and a little star on top.I wrap in cellophane and Yippee !!!!!!!!!!The Best Ever Rocky Road Trees are  ready to give out or just for you to eat...

I copied this from an ornament I bought from Domanye. Cut 2 circles from card stock.Use Mod podge and paint a edge around circle sprinkle with glitter.Do the same with a small ball.Attach a letter onto the card and add ribbon.Cute and fast I think....

 My favorite idea.I bought the little bike from Kmart for $2.I choose this to remind me of the LM's toys and bikes.I did this piece in two halves to make it easier.Just paint on Mod Podge and dip into glitter -let dry repeat with other size.Add ribbon and hang..

 I was given these clear balls by a friend and didn't know what to use them for.Until I saw feather balls and fell in love with them but not the price.Easiest craft I have ever mad.Open ball and stick in feather.Close ball and hang.

The Snowmen balls are Kev and the LM's fingerprints and my nephew's and his daughter's finger prints.Yes the date is correct .I am one very slack lady at the moment....

 More balls and balls and balls.I am now sick of balls.Till next year he he he....I also had to make a couple of stockings for ours son's little family.

This is great.It is the Christmas pressie I got for my new Grandson (not born yet )....I love Pumpkin Patch clothes but not the price.I will only buy when the sales are on which lucky for me (I mean Kevin ) have started already so all these were 1/2 price which is a price I like.
Don't you just love the little jeans. They are size new born...Toooooo cute....

Looks like I have a reindeer plague .....but they are for Kev's workmates.So you can see I have been very busy and after Christmas I can have a rest..NO!!!! after Christmas I am going to paint my house,,

 All my little daycare noses for the kids are done and ready to be given out...

 

My agapanthus are putting on a beautiful show this year.

 

Can you believe 10 more weeks to go till I get to cuddle and kiss my little boy....

Love and resting ha ha ha

Baby handprint Christmas balls.

I love keeping anything that has the kids hand prints on it...little fingerprints made into owls or frogs etc...Well I got thinking and thought I want to put the LM's hand onto a Christmas ball.

It took me a couple of goes because the first time the ball was too small.Remember that LM is now 5yrs old on a newborn or a toddler this would be OK this was a ball about the size of a tennis ball.

Anyway I found in the $2 shop some large Christmas balls (the same size as the ones I did the monograms on )...

So how did I do it ?....

I used a  StazOn ink pad as it really works well on plastic.I got mine from Spotlight.
I coated the LM's hand with the ink pad till I was sure it was covered evenly all over...
Then I gently pressed LM's hand onto the ball...
I got out my embossing powder and sprinkled it all over the hand print....
I let it dry for a few minutes and then I got a small paint brush and gently brushed off any excess
embossing powder because remember wherever there is powder it will melt then you won't be able to get it off....
Then out came my heat gun and I heated the hand print up .It only took a few minutes and I mean a few minutes for the embossing powder to work...

Actually I need to confess something here.I wrecked one ball by getting too close with the heat gun that it dented my ball.It actually melted the ball in one spot....ha ha ha

So don't put the heat gun too close to the ball or if you do -just have another ball  ready just in case...

now here are a couple of pictures I took and tried to be arty on them....

 

I hope you like these and decide to make one for your self .The kids dont stay small for long and this is just another way to capture how small they were.You could even do one each year and mark on the balls the year you made them I am going to do this.

It's another thing on my list of to do's..

 

 

Today I am linking up here at

Wow Us Wednesday

Please come and have at look at all the beautiful things there.

Santa photo 2012

 

I love looking at Santa photos watching how the kids change from year to year.

This was our 2nd attempt to get our Santa photo.The first time we went the LM got a bleeding nose just before we got to the shop.I didn't know whether to go in still and just remember that his nose bleed is just part of the Santa photo story..

 

But looking at his white shirt with all that blood I couldn't do it.Story or not it would look like a horror story.So back home we went.

The following Saturday off we go but this time I am clever.This time the LM is sitting in the car in just his undies and singlet.

Don't move LM.......

Don't eat anything LM.......

LM please don't touch your nose.......

I SAID DON'T TOUCH YOUR NOSE......

it is not icthy just sit still......

We pull up at the shop for the photos and I tell you this years Santa story is a big nagging one...ha ha ha

We dress LM and go inside and everything is fine.Beautiful photo he tells Santa he wants a Buzz light year doll.Santa knows exactly what he is talking about.He also tells him he wants a dvd player for the car.

 

And for the first time there was no crying no Kev sitting next to Santa or the last 2 photos have seen the LM have my mobile in his hand to make him not notice Santa.

 

This time it was just LM and the big guy Santa.A new start to the LM's Santa story.......

The Movies

Today we went to the movies to see Rise of the Guardians well talk about a good movie this was FANTASTIC.......

The LM was scared in a couple of parts but otherwise he loved it...(and the malteasers and the popcorn that we had  )

 

I love cartoons as well and this movie is good for all ages....Quite a few funny one liners

 

Hugh Jackman was the voice of a very ocker Easter Bunny and when you first hear him you do a double take....

 

Check out the tattoo's on Santa's arm.....mmmm nice.I like this version of Santa.

If you have a chance to see this movie this holiday you wont be disappointed...

My only complaint was the cost OMG it was $80 for the 3 of us plus a popcorn and coke combo ,Kev got a choc top (or else he pouts and this is 10.00am eating ice cream )and a bag of malteasers.

An expensive trip but worth it....

Santa letters

I was determined to make sure that this year I did everything on my list.
You all know I was sick last year and missed a lot of Christmas but not this year.

I AM GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING I PLANNED TO MAKE......(well at least this  is my plan )..

On my list is a Santa letter.Usually we do this for all the niece's and nephew's For the letters that need to be posted we just put a normal stamp on the back and the others well the kids parents put them in the letter box on the day the want.

I put the child's name on the letter and also make it say boy/girl as needed.

The hardest thing is thinking up the contents for the letter as the  kids  range from 1 year to 9 years old but I think I did OK this year...

So 15 letters have now been printed and posted so hopefully there will be some excited kids soon.
I know the LM will just love his.

If you want the stamp or postmark or even the letter to send off for yourself just email me and I will pass it on....

Ho Ho Ho another item off my list  yes....

New house new beginings

Today our youngest son Ashley  and his partner Mel settled on their house and are moving in today/tonight.

Kevin and I are so proud of them.I mean how many 21year olds have a house and an investment house at his age.

They both look so young but they also look very happy .Starting a new chapter in their relationship.

I remember when Kev and I got together then moved in together then got married (hey I know it was in the wrong order but after both of us having 18yr marriage failures we both wanted to be sure ) it was fun learning new things about each other ,renovating our house (and its been 10 plus and we are still renovating ha ha )

Anyway we are both so proud of them and wish them both all the best and NO babies for awhile....(well maybe not that long  I would love to have heaps and heaps of grand kids)

Good luck and best wishes
love
  

Me and the Little Man

Just had to show this picture of me and the little man.

We took the photo and were mucking around with some photo editing app and I really liked
how it turned out....si I thought I would share.....

pity I didnt get rid of all my wrinkles and bits  ho ho ho

My little house this Christmas....

Hi

I haven't been around lately because I feel like crap...I am OK for a little while then I suddenly crash and go down that fast where I end up sleeping by my self (which I hate then after a couple of hours I wake and slowly try to enter the real world-sometimes it works sometimes no.

So on the odd occasion when I am feeling good I have tried to do some Christmas work.

I love all the Christmas trimmings but I don't love all the mess and putting away my precious  every day things so my Christmas can go out-What a drama but a nice drama if you understand me....ha ha ha  or should that be ho ho ho.....

 This year I went with just silver on my main tree which is in the lounge room.It looks beautiful at night when all lit up....

With all my balls with names on them I have now put this is the pool room and the same it looks great.I had to make about 7 or 8 new ones this year but as this tree is all gold and browns I decided to make it be special and have it on it's own....

I want to get a little tree for all my vintage ornaments like some are over 30 years old and bits that Kerry and the LM have made but at the moment I cant be bothered so that is for a project next year....

 Just some bits and pieces that I love.Some old some new....

We even put just a few lights up.Just to make the LM happy.
Watch out next year the Grisworlds are going to be put to shame...Ho Ho Ho

And here is my crazy elf.......weird ....