Magazine Christmas Trees

I came across these magazine Christmas Trees last year as I was browsing the Martha Stewart website.  I cannot find the original video from the Martha Stewart website, but I did find a YouTube video.  Here is the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxZQZcm4XTQ

Our holiday decor has always been gold and red, so I chose to spray paint my tree gold.  I used green, red, gold, blue, and silver glitter. 

I guess they turned out really well, because last year my brother-in-law asked me where I bought them!

Here is a photo:

Christmas Season!

I love Christmas!  I love decorating, baking, singing, shopping (well, maybe not in a crowded mall), wrapping, etc.!  We started taking out the decorating this past weekend, and will put up the tree this weekend.  The kiddos are getting excited!

I have some crafts lined up that I will be showcasing on here soon.  Stay tuned!

Bri

Mummy Cupcakes - The Finished Product!

I wanted to make Mummy Cupcakes, so I searched Google images for some ideas.  I iced one to see how it would go, and I loved the finished product!

Icing:  Buttercream Icing from my Wilton Cake Decorating book.
Eyes:  Chocolate Chips
Tips:  Wilton Tip 5 to make the circles to stick the chocolate chips on.
          Wilton Tip 47 to do the overlapping

The finished product passed the test!  They were tested by a bunch of kindergarteners, and I received a big thumbs up!

Lesson of the Day

Do not put wax paper in the oven!

I was getting ready to make cupcakes for my son's Halloween Party.  It is not until tomorrow, so I thought I'd make the cupcakes on Monday night and ice and decorate them on tonight.  Yes, I was planning in advance!  (doesn't happen that often!)  Well, I had run out of muffin liners, and I did not want to go to the store.  I looked online for alternatives.  I found a webpage where someone had used parchment paper and folded it a fancy way.  I thought, hey, I can use wax paper and do that too!  I put them in the oven, and after about 8 minutes, I was smelling wax.  I went to the oven, opened it, and smoke was coming out.  I ran to the computer and asked Google if I could put wax paper in the oven.  No, you cannot! 

I had to use the rest of the batter to make a cake. 

Tonight I am making the cupcakes.  Pictures to come!

Bri

Halloween Spiders - Add a little Glitter!!!

Today we are sprucing up the house with Halloween decorations.  I make most of my crafts, with the exception of the stick ons for the windows.  Today we made some spiders with the bendy legs, but added some glitter!  They turned out great and look super-cute!

Nails!

My daughter and I created some fun and easy nails yesterday.

Step 1:  Choose 3 colours
Step 2:  Paint your nails in the colour you want to use for a base
Step 3:  Using a makeup sponge, dab your second colour on the edge of the sponge, and place on your nail.  Position it where you would the second colour to overlap.  *Note:  I forgot to take the pic while I was doing it, so I took the picture afterwards.*

Step 3:  Using a toothpick, make dots on your nails with the third colour.
Step 4:  Paint on a clear coat.

My toes!

My daughter's nails!

Bri

Monday: As seen on Pinterest

As it is almost Halloween, I was searching for DIY Halloween projects.  Here are a few:

Glowstick in a helium balloon!  How creative!

From marthastewart.com

I saw these luminaries on Craft Gossip last year.


Love this!  Super easy to make!

http://www.marthastewart.com/272757/witchs-broom-favors?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/halloween-treat-bags-and-favors#slide_10

In the days/weeks to come, I will be sharing some of the Halloween items I have made.  I update my decor every year, but also hold on the items from past years.  Stay tuned...

Bri

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving! 

We had our dinner yesterday.  We had the usual turkey, ham, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.  My sister made a fabulous perogy bake and I made my infamous layer salad.  It was wonderful!

Monday: As seen on Pinterest

If you haven't signed up for Pinterest yet, what's stopping you?  It's amazingly addictive, and has become my newest love.  I have "pinned" alot in the past week, but here are some of my faves:

A great way to display your children's art!  It can be changed weekly, or how ever often you choose!

From cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com

It's lace!  Great idea to make those gifts extra special!

From Etsy.com

Paper flowers from magazines!  I am definately going to try this!  And soon.

From pattyschaffer.typepad.com

Brilliant ideas!

Bri

Photo Share

I took this picture on the way home from visiting with family.  I loved it because you do not see these grain elevators often anymore.  I also loved the fact that it was weathered.  Warning:  I love taking photos, but I do not have expert editing skills.

Monday: As seen on Pinterest

Oh, how I love Pinterest!

My daughter and I tried the Newspaper Nails that I saw on Pinterest.  Super easy to do and it looks awesome!  Here is a tutorial:  http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/2011/09/newspaper-nails.html

Here are the pics of my daughter's nails:

Aren't they cute?

Tutorial: Grocery List Board

I'm in love with my Grocery List Board!

So simple, so easy, yet it makes me so incredibly happy!

How did I do it?

• I found an old frame that I wasn't using anymore
• I removed the picture and cleaned up the glass
• Using my paper cutter, I cut a piece of Stampin' Up cardstock to the correct size
• I inserted the cardstock behind the glass, then replaced the backing
• Then I hung it on the wall! 
• My grocery-list board is now ready to use.  Using dry-erase markers, I write my list directly on the glass.  It wipes off clean when I'm ready for my new list!

Here is the finished product!  Ta-da!

It's Wednesday!

I'm slowly starting to get the hang of my blog.  I've been peaking at other blogs I follow to see different formats/set-ups, etc. and tweaking as I go.  Soon Sparklefauxx (fauxx = fox) will be on a roll!

A little bit about Me!

• I am Briana
• I am a mother of two and a partner to an amazing man
• I live in Alberta, Canada
• I love family time
• I {heart}doing crafts
• I enjoy sewing
• I love baking
• I {heart} taking pictures - especially of my kids!
• I enjoy a good book

There's a little sneak peek!

What is this blog about?

This blog will feature my thoughts, my personal projects, my children's projects, and my goal projects.  I will also be showing photos that I have taken.  You may even here a bit about my family!

Thanks for reading!

Bri

First Post

I have been struggling to form my first post for quite some time.  I have wanted to blog for years, but never actually took the time to make the committment.  Then I was finally ready!  I had thought of the perfect name and I was excited.  One problem - the name was already snatched up by someone who had been quicker than I.  I guess that is what happens when you procrastinate for too long!  So there I was, with my thinking cap back on - searching my brain (and the internet) for words that I could use.  I told myself that when I saw the right word it would pop out.  Nothing did.  Finally, it came to me, it was a password that I had used in the past.  It was catchy, easy to remember, and fun... and so taken!  Ugghhh....  Back to searching... this time I thought of a name - and it was not taken!  Yay!