Gift Card Advent Calendar

I wanted to make Chandler an Advent Calendar for Christmas this year but he is a bit old for the little trinkets I was thinking of putting in the boxes. He is, however old enought to date. So I made him a gift card Advent Calendar instead. It will hold gift cards to restaurants, gas cards, gift cards for the florist (because all good boys send flowers!), and any other cards I think will be helpful. I cant wait to start filling it with cards!

 

He can just untie the bow and pull on the folded down corner to find his card. I think he will really have fun with it.

Chandler asked me to do something with his very first ATA membership card. With a little help from Graphic 45's Bird song collection, I used a Seven Gypsies shadow box to create this altered art to hang on his bedroom wall. He LOVED it!!

 

 

 

Grilled Chicken Alfredo Florentine with Tomato Tarts for lunch. Those tarts were great!

Alrighty so I'm not a great blogger but I promised a couple people I would try to do better! So far all I have to report is that I made enough laundry soap today to last SIX months. All for only $1.19 per gallon (according to Heather and Joseph Pratt who actually did the math). It only took about two hours. Here is the recipe!

You will need:

 

5 gallon bucket

enough jugs to hold 2 1/2 gallons of soap
an old pot
1 bar of Fels Naphtha laundry soap, grated (available in the laundry isle)
3/4 cup Washing Soda (laundry Isle)
3/4 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry isle)
2 tablespoons glycerin (pharmacy)
2 1/2 gallons HOT water

 

Combine grated soap in the pot with a little water. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until soap is melted and there are very few lumps. Put 2 1/2 gallons very hot water in the 5 gallon bucket and add melted soap, mix very well. Stir in borax and washing soda, mix well then add glycerin and mix well.  I like to add some Scentsy washer whiffs to mine, it smells pretty. I use 2 caps full per batch. You may have some lumps don't worry about those as long as they are not huge. Use 1/2 cup per large washer load. SHAKE WELL before using.

My friend Pam and I each made one of these at the last Croppin' Train Retreat. SO fun, but boy did it take all weekend!

Newest card

I'm never happy to make a Sympathy card, but I have to admit that I'm proud of this one. All hand cut and pieced flowers and butterflies.

The new kit for halloween.

Here is the kit that Chasing Bees will have for sale at SSD this month. I'm working on a Thanksgiving kit now and should have it available soon.