Pitter Patter Plates

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your family, I know I loved spending my time off with my loved ones. My son (Caleb, age 3) really got into Christmas this year... which made it that much better. Plus on top of everything, we had a white Christmas! This is my 2nd white Christmas in 27 years of life... this is also Caleb's 2nd white Christmas in 3 years of life. Ha, gotta love Texas!

This holiday season, Casey (my boyfriend) and I really have been trying to cut back and save some money. We tried to think of some good presents people would cherish but that wouldn't cut the bank. That is when I came up with Pitter Patter Plates! With each plate, I expanded my business and I have decided to make this more of a side job than just a gift giving skill I have.

If you see a plate you like, let me know and for $20 I can recreate that plate and send it to you (anywhere you are) complete with a stand. Or, if you have a favorite quote, saying, picture, etc. Let me know and I will make it come to life on a decorative custom plate!

Contact me if you are interested in buying a plate!

WWW.Facebook.com/pitterpatterplates

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PitterPatterPlates

Old School Desk

My 7 year old niece is OBSESSED with playing school. Over Thanksgiving break, I brought her up to work and let her play in one of our empty offices. She loved having her name on the door (she made her own sign), having her own phone (that I unplugged), her own rolling chair, desk and white board. I even made her a mock badge like the one I use to turn my computer on and open doors in my building. She was in heaven.

I asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she told me that all she wanted me to buy her was "tons of teacher stuff"... I planned on going to a local teacher store and stocking her up on some books but I wanted to do something else too. That is when I came across the idea of redoing an old school desk for her! I found one on Craigslist for $30. I had my brother in law go with me and pick it up, it was perfect! In great condition and very sturdy.

When I got it back home, I started sanding the desk down (after I took it apart of course). My sister and I had found a design we really loved (chevrons) so I started to map it out.

Step 1: I got a ruler and made a grid like pattern on the top of the desk (and the seat). Each little box is about 2 inches by 2 inches.

Step 2: I started to play connect the dots. If you look at the bottom, I messed up and had to fix it some. I went 2 up and 2 down and thought I could do it the whole width of the board, well I ran out of room and it looked kinda of odd so in the middle I went 1 1/2 down instead of 2 down. You will just have to play with your grid and draw your lines to where they look perfect to you.

Step 3: This is where most people would tell you to tape it off... well, I didnt have any tape so I started to free hand and well it turned out really nicely! I used the edge of my ruler to make sure I didnt go over into the next line. Paint every other line the same color (or if you want you can paint them each a different color)

Step 4: Paint the second color! Remember if you need help, just use the straight edge of the ruler... or tape it off.

Step 5: I put the desk back together (after I finished painting everything else of course)!

I can NOT wait until Christmas day when I get to watch my niece open this gift, she is going to be so excited. Now, I just need  to call up Home Depot and have them save me a washer or dryer box so that I can wrap it!

Love,

Krafty Karen

More fun with Eddie the Elf

Since I have last blogged, Eddie the Elf has been very active in our house. Every morning, Eddie is one of the reasons Caleb is so "easy" to get out of bed. I go in his room and whisper, "Hurry come quick, see what Eddie is doing... it is SO funny!" If you know me at all, you know I am very dramatic and well when Caleb finds the Elf, nothing changes! I put on a huge show about how funny and silly Eddie is... Caleb quickly feeds off my excitment.

You ready to see what Eddie has been up to?!

Eddie coloring Caleb a picture

Eddie brought Caleb a snowman stuffed animal who helped Eddie read a book to all of Caleb's "friends"

When Caleb saw this he said "I see a 'C' and an 'A', what else does it say?" And then he stole a few beans and took them to school to show his teacher. I am now aware that kids are NOT allowed to take beans to school... oops! 

I guess after a week of traveling back and forth from our house to the North Pole, Eddie needed a shower! Caleb has been saying for the past week (when we would hunt for Eddie) that he thought Eddie was in the bathtub, well this morning he was RIGHT!!

In our house we believe in 3 things... God, Santa and the Dallas Cowboys! I think Eddie helped them pull off a win against the Eagles last night!

I guess Eddie ran into some trouble with Caleb's Army men! Caleb was very mad at his Army men for tying Eddie up, he was so mad the he knocked all his Army men down and told them to leave his friend Eddie alone! Love that sweet baby boy!

Stay tuned for more mischief from Eddie as the month goes on!

22 more days until Santa comes!!!