fly through our window....

... and you will see ~

 a new chalkboard message in the workroom {finally}!

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...what it looks like from our front door!  SNOW- came on Saturday and is hanging around for a few more days -YAY!!

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...where the A-man hangs out.... waiting for the "yes you can" to run right out there and play some more...

{notice the X wing in the pic... I love him!}

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Prissy loves it too... but she and I are gonna snuggle up and watch Anne of Green Gables today.  We just finished the books and we can't stand ourselves to start them. 

 NO school + cold outside = Anne of Green Gables marathon :)

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.... and many MANY unfinished projects!  I am gonna FINALLY finish this little darling today...  I hope?  This little corner chair braved the long journey from IN with Cooner {nearly 6 months ago}.  

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Happy Monday Dears!!!

Valentine Briefcases...

Happy Valentine's Day!

 I hope you are planning some fun for the ones ya love today...

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 This morning I am off to A-man's class party, then I'm off to Prissy's- YIKES!!  I am in charge of the "craft" {no surprise} for both parties :)  But not to worry- I am ready!  This year we are making Valentine Briefcases to carry all of their precious notes home in....

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I started out collecting boxes... 38 to be exact!  Shirt boxes, cereal boxes, UPS boxes, Amazon Boxes... I had NO discrimination!  Then I wrapped them ALL with gift wrap {or wallpaper or floral foil or market bags or.... you get the idea}.  I had a LOT of boxes to cover.  

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Then I cut openings in all of them with a carpet knife and added handles {from ribbon} to each..... And then {like one gone completely mad}....  I embossed all of their names on them.  **and now you know what you are dealing with here @ Ashly's ins {and} outs**- ha

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Prissy & HM got a hold of theirs this weekend.... 

but I'm sure they will be adding more to them today.  The possibilities are endless- beads, stickers, ribbon, felt, stamps, flowers, markers....

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I couldn't hardly help myself... I practically finished most of A-man's class {but I'm bringing lots of stickers for them to add}... They were just so much fun!!!  And I decided to keep the glue gun in the car for his party {only Prissy expects that out of me- wink wink}.

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A-man's is just his style... + mine- married together :)  He added the stickers... and I added the bias tape!!  He has NO idea what that is, but he LOVES his briefcase :)  He can't wait to give out his little arrows today.  Me on the other hand- I've grown a bit attached to them...

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  I have 2 others crazy mommas waiting to help me- glue guns ready :) 

 THANK YOU Sandi & Jenny!!!!

 I hope Y'all have a FABULOUS V-day!!!!

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p.s.  IN folks- PLEASE do NOT mention the fact that you didn't get A-man's arrow when your little V-day treats come in the mail.... I was afraid they would get broken + they were to big to be easily mailed.  THANK YOU :)

Prissy's friendship bracelet Valentine...

And now I give you Prissy's 2013 precious Valentine....  These are precious because she handmade each & everyone.... And she is precious to the core so there ya have it :)

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We are started out with 2 packages of paper coasters from TJ Maxx.  They are the perfect size and thickness to attached the bracelets..

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Then we printed out our message on pink card stock- "Our Class Would Knot Be the Same Without You.  Happy Valentine's Day" {and I think her little signature is a gift in itself!}

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Then the biggest task- making each bracelet.... ALL a little bit different & deciding who would get which one???

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 Next we glued the 2 together & cut little slats on both sides of the coaster.   Then attached the bracelet, the tag, & a goodie...

{lip gloss for girls & finger lights for boys} to each.  

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Finally we taped the bracelet in place on the back..

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TA DA!!!

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All set for the class party on Thursday!!!

{I'm nearly done with the 36 boxes than I've been working on..  my poor house will be thrilled to see V-day come & go :) }

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And I just happened to find Legolas's hair & Obi Wan's light saber when I FINALLY put the glue gun away in the workroom today...  And now I have one HAPPY baby boy :)  


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Who knocked his front tooth out {other one barley in} in Pre-K............  I have no words- he looks HUGE & somehow ready to take on the world??  {Did y'all know that the tooth fairy's going rate increases dramatically when trauma is involved??}  If he starts calling me "Mom" {I'm so much more of a Momma-kinda-gal} - I'm gonna cry myself to sleep tonight :) 

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p.s.  here is a sneak peek into the Valentine Boxes that I'm making for the kiddos' classes.....  Can you guess who this one is for??? 

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Happy Crafting!

A-man's Arrow Valentine..

Prepare your hearts for quite possibly my favorite Valentine
 {next to Prissy's this year :) }  that we have ever made.....

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Step 1:: 
 A-man's part was collecting very straight sticks-
 which he took VERY VERY seriously. 
 Prissy & I brought him several that he turned down...

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Step 2:: 
  I made an arrow template out of cardboard.


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Step 3:: 
  Next cut out the tips & feather parts out of light pink, dark pink, & red {2 peices for each=front & back}..  Super easy & cheap!!

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Step 4::
  Next we glued the pieces onto the sticks...

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Step 5:: 
 Add the feather felt pieces.

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Precious.... and so are the arrows!

  Prissy helped every step of the way :)

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 Step 6:: 
 Next make the feathers look real..  
First I cut them by hand... 
then I tried the roller cutter= MUCH EASIER!!

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I mean really- could they get any cutter???  

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Step 7:: 

 Next we needed a little tag to personalize them a bit??  But it couldn't be anything cute or girly or lovey???  Cause the A-man.. he is NOT well for that sorta stuff :)  NO- to "My Arrow Was Meant for You" or "Straight to Your Heart" kinda stuff...  But "Cupid's Arrow *use with caution*"  that seemed appropriate :)  

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Step 8::

  THE TREATS~{no candy this year... 

there are several allergies in his class.}  

So we opted for: lip glosses for the girls...

{25cents each after Christmas sale @ Wal-mart}

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and finger lights for the boys... I {heart} his little dimply hands!

{25cents/3pack after Christmas sale @ Michaels}

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My little helper had to take a few Lego breaks... 

but he's cute so I let him!! 

 And after all- he was the mastermind behind the stick collecting :)

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The finished product!

~A-man's 2013 Arrow Valentine~

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I love the rustic look of the jute tied onto them too... 

 Sorta manly and cute all at once!

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And speaking of PRECIOUS- look who I found under that scruffy beard and long curly hair....  My hunky husband - who I think goes undercover {manly/grown-out-beard-looking} every once in awhile to look older for his patients...  I missed his face.. and I know my MIL and Cooner are happy to see it too:)

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p.s.   and I dumpster dove last week {gasp} and brought this little shelf home.  A-man's room has been looking a bit small from all the clutter/Legos lately.  I think the key to small rooms is to go up??  So shelving seemed the only option....

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I can't wait to share Prissy's with y'all next week-

I hope you have a lovely weekend...

car Valentine....

So... the A-man isn't as into "crafting" as his sister... but he loved how his Valentines turned out too. Prissy helped me with these every step of the way...... Here is how we did it-

"car Valentines"

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start by cutting out 6 inch hearts on red & pink card stock {we used a cookie cutter for the pattern}

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then ink up your engines.... or roll match box cars over an ink pad and make tire marks on the hearts {I lied when I said A-man wasn't into his Valentines- he did LOVE this part}

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then write some clever little verse like

{Valentine- I never "tire" of you"

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and just to make certain that my little guy would love them... we added a little car to them too {red & purple of course}!!!

{and if you want extra praise- promise to let him take in treats & stickers too!!!}

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