9 Little Clay Russian Dolls and a bird.

This Christmas I discovered a wonderful medium in natural air drying clay.  It's one of those products you wish you would have found earlier!  These nine little Mytryoshka dolls were sculpted from stone clay and air dried.  I made sure to put wire in the sculpted doll before it dried to hold the ribbon that would eventually allow it to hang on the Christmas tree.  The paint I used went on perfectly with no issues and I finished the ornaments with modge podge.  These ornaments were for a handmade ornament exchange I attended, so I can't wait to make some for me and the girls!

This bird was my first try at using the stone clay.  I tried stamping the wet clay first, but it didn't dry the way I was hoping.  I sanded, painted the bird when finished and found it a nice little home with a special friend.

Here's the clay I used...

do you work with clay?

Is there a better product available?

Tell me about your homemade ornaments!

Happy New Year!

Michelle :)

216 photos to one: a christmas card in the making.

It took 216 photos, approximately 100 sneers, oopses, sit downs, stop movings, and stop making faces - to get the photo that we used on the front of our Christmas cards this year.  Like last year, I was hoping on using our Happy Holidays signs, but we couldn't get the boys to even set it in their laps this year.  So we improvised and took it with a varying of antique chairs we had in our home.  My tripod was the photographer and my MIL held the photo button down.  The rocking chair on the far right was my grandfather's - quite the treasure in our home! 

The Making of our Christmas Card.



I used Cici to set up the shot.  This one turned out beautifully!



The next step was to get all our kids in their chairs and Craig and I
would come behind them.  By the time Craig and I came around, the
boys were already running away.

I thought that we would try these signs again this year.  Cici and Nini
weren't cooperating (although cute) and the boys wouldn't have it.



We tried several times to take this shot of Craig and I behind us, but
Mr. T wasn't having it.



The girls and I wait for Craig to get Henry who had escaped.



We had everybody settled in their chairs, but just as we were taking a
few good shots, Henry came over to see Mommy!



I totally forgot about this.  First this wasn't me - really!  Hawk had just
done his business - We should have used this on the back our cards
for our annual photo outtake!



There are at least 10 photos of Mr. T honking Craig's nose!

  

Almost there! 



This one made the cut! 

How many photos did it take for your cover Christmas photo?!

Whoever has the highest number wins!

I hope you have a very wonderful holiday!

Merry Christmas

from Michelle

@ a happy heart blog :)

3 things to share Monday.



photoshoot props

1

We were busy a couple weeks ago taking our Christmas photos.  Not an easy task, but out of about a 100 clicks - we did get one that will be on the front of our cards!  Here's a sneak peak @ our photoshoot props!



Hawk, me, and Mr. T

2

 Hawk and Mr. T both love to sit in my lap when I read them a book.  They both assume that they get the prime spot right in the center of my lap.  It's really cute to watch!  And even cuter, that they don't fight about it.  They both fit just perfectly - there favorite book right now is The Little Blue Truck.



Mr. T and Mr. C

3

Mr. T loves to help.  Thats Mr. Ruff Ruff on his right and that's Mr. C (aka daddy) on the right.  Mr. T was pivotal in helping get our Christmas Tree just right in it's stand.  I love this photo!

What is your favorite book you reading with your kids now?

Have you sent your cards yet?

How many photos did you snap before you got the right one!?

Christmas Decorations.

Dining room table red tree and candle sticks with ribbon around chandelier.

The great thing about photographs is that it doesn't show the mess outside of the photos.  I am finally feeling better, with more energy; but while I was sick, not much cleaning went on in our home.  I did manage to have my husband get out the Christmas boxes and I got to work setting up our decorations.  As long as I didn't have to eat, or clean - I was OK!



Target Berry wreath over mantle (purchased last year)



New decoration:  Simplify Christmas wood frame w/ stencil - love these colors!



Stocking were hung on a ladder this year!
This is more kid safe than hanging it from
our fireplace mantle.  I think Santa can
still find them!



This is our living room with our Christmas tree, we waited to put the star on the tree, because Craig had to go out of
town and we didn't get time to put it up.  He's back and tonight we'll finish decorating the tree!



Last year's card holder was left in our basement and well, ruined.
This one I repurposed from on old mirror and frame.  I took
out the mirror and replaced with canvas and put cork contact paper
on it.  Then a decoupaged fun Christmas paper around it and finished
it with some ribbon.



Our main mantle in living room.

 

A new decoration:  I'm not sure I like this yet, but it was made
with shatterproof ornaments and glitter snowflakes.  I got the idea from
pinterest (where else, of course!)

 

This is the girl's little Christmas Tree.  This is my absolute favorite decoration
with their little presents made out of legos!  So sweet.  They had so much fun
putting this together.



Do your kids get along while playing with legos?

What is your favorite decoration in your home?
Have you found any new decor using Pinterest?

Have you ever cropped your photos so the "mess" doesn't show?!