Just wanted to post really quick the neat swap items I received from other artists who participated in the May online Swaps. The first swap was the Create Art Share Happiness Swap from Helga of Art Chix Studio. I sent 6 postcards, you can check out my earlier post HERE,and got 5 back from other Chixies! So pretty with all of the pink! Next, is the Collage Stuff-Marie Antoinette ATCs swap. This was a 4 for 4 swap and my ATcs can be seen in my earlier post HERE. I received the gorgeous red roses Marie card from Lisa. Thanks to all of the artists and hosts! I had fun and now I’m trying to come up with artistic displays. Any suggestions for how to display?

Just thought I would share my entry, Heavenly Bodies, to Helga’s monochromatic Twinchie challenge. Twinchies are 2" square pieces of artwork and for this challenge they needed to be in one color family. I just got done reading one of my favorite books by C.S. Lewis Out of the Silent Planet so I was inspired to make my Twinchie with planets, moons and stars. I hope you are inspired to create something heavenly today

Speaking of Heavenly, I also got to make this sweet baby card for a neighbor of mine that is a new mom, Little Angel. I used a Stampin’ Up card and some of the beautiful paper from my Paper Source card contest.

Hurry over to Paper Source online to check out the Mother’s Day Card contest! I hope you are also able to vote for my card, Here’s Looking at you Mom. It was a neat opportunity to create a card from 100% Paper Source products, and also a challenge, to stay in that perimeter. I got inspired to use some family photos and created 2 cards, one of my Mom and one of my Grandma, both in the same colorways, but with different styling.

I was so happy to enter Bear Bit’s Blossom Spring Giveaway, but I was totally surprised to win this little bear! Ginger Brame is a fabulous Bear artist, photographer and blog owner that has been my privilege to get to meet through her blog giveaway! Thank you so much to the Talented Ginger! I thought I would share a few photos of blossom with everyone. Ciao

This month has definitely been busy and exciting for us in Texas, December started out with snow that lasted for a few hours right here in Friendswood! You can check out some of our snow pics from last Christmas HERE. We also had a children’s choir and party at First Baptist Church Friendswood on Dec 6th. My son got to sing in that and make some cute Crafts. This year for our Tree we decorated in Star Wars style using Gold, Silver and Blue ornaments and the Clone Wars toys from McDonalds really made a fun and beautiful tree! I am on a themed tree kick every year and I’m even planning next years already! Thursday was a fun cookie party for us we even got to have a friend over to help with the gingerbread cookies. Thank you Natalie! After this weekend I doubt I will have the time to post more so for now I hope this will do!

Just sharing my Etsy store with you, Visit Pinkdilla shop today for some cute Christmas items.

I have had this Martha Stewart Pom-pom Tom Turkey pattern and instructions for years but I never got around to make one til now! My own directions for making a pom-pom are below, I will also share my finished Tom Turkey as well as a CONTEST! To Enter my Contest for a free skein of Charcoal wool yarn just leave a comment and click on the ads, or leave a comment and share this site with friends and family, or leave a comment and a trackback from your own blog or site! I will pick the names out of a hat and then email the winner on November 10th. Enter today!

STEP 1) I had a thin piece of cardboard and cut out four semi circle donut shapes measuring an inch across, together would measure 2 inches, and then cut out 4 semi circle donut shapes measuring 1.75 inches, together they measure 3.5 inches. I had some old charcoal gray Wool Ease yarn and other supplies I pulled from my craft drawer, I did have to buy coral colored Vanna’s Choice Baby acrylic yarn as I didn’t have anything that color. To make the pom poms for the turkey really only takes a few minutes but you have to be very nimble to hold on to those fibers! It’s perfectly ok if a few fall out!

STEP 2) I wrapped the coral color yarn around 2 smaller cardboard cutouts 4 times, taking the scissors cut the outer edge of the yarn at the edge of both pieces of cardboard. Repeat these steps on the other 2 cutouts using the same yarn.

STEP 3) Fit both sides of the pom-pom together, this will form a circle with the fibers in the center and the cardboard around the edges.

STEP 4) Take a 5inch piece of yarn and slide it into the middle of the cardboard halves pulling the 5inch piece tightly, remove the cardboard and tie a knot

STEP 5) Fluff out your pom-pom with your fingers slightly and give it a good trim all the way around til it is a nice round ball!

Most of my supplies

Step Two

Cutting the edges

Edges now cut, I’m carefully holding the fibers in place

Step three, Holding both halves together very Very Carefully

Step Four, taking a 5" piece of yarn and slipping it in between the 2 layers of Cardboard

Tying the knot very tightly, I’m using my free hand to take the pictures all while a baby is fussing. Trust me you can do this!

Voila! A Pom-pom all I need is to finish Step Five the fluffing and trimming!

To finish the Turkey you will need:

1) several pieces of felt in ivorys, reds, and brows for the tail, plus pattern

2) a small piece of red felt or tinsel for the throat

3) 2 teeny tiny pieces of Yellow paper or craft foam for the beak

4) left over pieces of yarn in oatmeal color for the eyes and wings

5) Hot glue gun and craft glue for putting the pieces together

6) 2 pieces of wire or pipe cleaner tinsel for the legs

7) sharp scissors

My turkeys body seemed to be too heavy to stand on the tinsel so a heavier gauge wire would probably be best, so I made mine sitting down!

Don’t Forget to ENTER my FREE charcoal Wool Yarn Contest to make your own Tom Turkey with! Just comment and click on ads, comment and share with friends, or comment and link back from your own site/Blog!