Christmas Vacation

from our Christmas card, designed by Mel

So enjoying time off with my family!
***
PS- this happens to be my 320th post.
I am still in awe of the Project 320 progress made over the last two weeks.
Thank you!

they just keep growing up.

I want to gnaw on all of those chunky cheeks so badly!

Team 320

We are half-way through day two of raffles, and over
98% of the way to our goal!
*revised 15 minutes later to say...

WE DID IT.
We just built a well.

250 lives now promised clean, safe water
for years to come...

thanks to all of you!

I am in amazement.

Go check out our team photographer's weekend recap...

It's raffle time!

Our weekend of unpacking/organizing/re-organizing/photographing/blogging the donations was
AMAZING.

We only stopped to eat or sleep!
{lots of eating. very little sleep.}

The big week is finally here...

Go check out the first three bundles, plus a bonus Christmas bundle!
Enter away!

Happy Birthday, Julie!

OC or Bust!

Stay tuned this weekend for Project 320 updates.
Next week will be huge!

Operation: Christmas Cookie

*Week One*

This month all Cookie Monday cookies will be packaged, and randomly (and secretly!) distributed to front porches.

Our Mission: to spread Christmas cheer among family, friends, neighbors and strangers... to GIVE anonymously just for the joy of GIVING... to spend extra time in the kitchen together, getting our hands all sticky and sprinkly.

The Elves: we have three of the best trained, most jolly little elves on the job, but their identities must remain strictly confidential, for the sake of the Mission.

Flip on your Christmas lights and keep a close watch on your doorstep...
YOU may be next.

Week One: Sneaky Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 cups A.P. flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon sanding sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer; incorporate eggs and vanilla until well blended.
3. Quickly add flour mixture to butter mixture, until barely blended.
4. Mix cinnamon & sanding sugar in a small bowl. Roll walnut-sized balls of dough in the mixture until coated.
5. Bake 12 minutes; cool on wire racks, before packaging for delivery.
{makes 20-24 cookies}

thrilled!

to be the newest Mama on the team

at Mama Manifesto!

Come say hi!

silhouette love

This is my entry way wall.
I painted the kids' silhouettes using chalkboard paint (one of my favorite things), so I can either leave them plain, or write little (erasable!) notes on them.
{That's mistletoe on the sign. I don't typically hang random foliage from my signs. Just FYI.}

I am now offering hand-painted silhouettes in my shop!
I probably can't come to your house to paint directly on your entry way wall, but I CAN make you a canvas!

Meet my cutie patootie guinea pig, Leila!
{friend of Camden}
{daughter of Heather G.}

All I need is a profile image.
You choose the size and colors.
Bow optional!

What a classic keepsake.
I'd love to create one just for you!

one more bit of scarfy business

My friend Erin wants to get her swap on.
{SCARVES, people!}

Don't you, too?!

She says:
If you Scarfed Along (as in how you sewed a fabric cozy thing that wraps around your neck...NOT how you consumed Thanksgiving Dinner) with Julie or Heather, wont you please swap with us too?!

YEP. That's right. Beginners and Honor Students...everyone is welcome!

Here is how it will work:

Sign up between now and next Friday (the 11th) by emailing me at:
erin@bringingupburns.com
(I'll make it easy peasy...just click my address above)
Put "Scarf Along Swap" in the subject line, then include:

YOUR NAME
HOME ADDRESS
BLOG ADDRESS

I'll match you up with a partner (who you send to, will also send to you) and get everyone their respective information by Monday, December 14th.

Then it's up to you to get your scarf in the mail to your swap partner by Christmas Day!
(that's a little under two weeks. I know it's a busy time of year, but we want to enjoy our crafty chicness when it's cold, right?!)

Fun, fun. Get your swap on!

I am totally in!
{I'm pretty sure Kevin's ready to rid this house of the plethora of scarves hanging from every square inch like ornaments.}

Now go visit Erin, and tell her you're in, too!

a new scarf for...

Congrats, Aurora!
Avery will be so cute & cozy in this!

{Aurora is... "making one for my mom, one for my sister, one for my sister-in-law & one for me! Time to get busy!!!"}

Thanks again, to all who played along!

I would love to see more pictures at flickr if you have a chance!

And speaking of scarves, check out the fun new holiday goodness here.
{and more to come!}

Happy weekend!

$450 Billion on Christmas?!

wardrobe details.

for those of you who asked about the different patterns I used...

Chayse's hat
Found the simple tutorial at Mushroom Villagers.

Girls' dresses

The Portabellopixie 'Claire' peasant dress by Sandi Henderson.
I added ruffles to Camden's sleeves, and pom-pom trim to the bottom.

Kevin's tie
Used these basic instructions.

and my skirt
I winged it, but it couldn't be easier.

length: approximate measurement from waist to knee, taking into consideration adding coordinating strips at the bottom (include that in the total length)

width: 2 full 44" widths (by total length) sewn together to make a fat tube

hem the bottom

make a casing for 1/4" elastic at the top

shir along the entire waistband, rows 1/4" apart
(I made 10 rows, but I am really short)

slide in the elastic & stitch casing closed

steam shirring & you're done!

Now, who else is going to be a nerd and coordinate the outfits of every single family member? I wonder how many more years I can pull this off.