In the meadow...

We can build a snowman. But first we need to get the cupcakes in the oven!

 This was a team effort for sure!

 I love the look of concentration here!

 Here we go...snow people in the works!

 Ready for their time in the oven!

 And now back to the cupcakes (notice the swirled ornaments in the background...we did those too!)

 Snowflake cupcakes!

 Happy Birthday!

I had a great time with these girls! A lot of them have been here before (some of them many times). It's always nice to have friends return to the workshop!

Enjoy!
Heather

1st Annual Cookie Exchange!

Yes, yes...I said annual. I have never been invited to a cookie exchange but always dreamed of being a part of one (everyone's gotta have dreams - big and small, right?) SO, inspiration struck and I decided to host one. BUT, with a Creative Bug twist...

What was the twist? Everyone arrived at Creative Bug HQ with bowls, hand mixers, cookie sheets and containers in hand...and they baked the recipes that I chose and it all happened IN my workshop!

We made Hello Dollys!

And Shortbread!

We spent time together...mothers and daughters of ALL ages...

Sisters and friends...

3 hours...in the confines of my workshop.

So, what do you get when you put together 12 people and a whole lot of butter and sugar? 10 different kinds of cookies totalling to about 6 dozen, a clean kitchen and a whole lot of fun!

I had a few people promise they will come back next year. It was a glorious moment in the Creative Kitchen. I am glad my mother was there to see it all unfold...to see my vision come to life. I know it's just cookies but there was more to it than that...next year, you'll have to book early because we were full this year!

Enjoy!
Heather

T'was a busy day!

T'was the day before Christmas...and all through the workshop not child was stirring...at least not yet! The chairs were set up by the tables with care in hopes that the children soon would be there! I in my apron and Mr CB in his too had just settled down for a minute or two...when at the door we heard such a clatter, we knew it was time, we knew what was the matter!

The children had arrived to create such goodies as tiny reindeer, sleigh bells and sugar plums! They hung their stockings after creating their chimneys.

They carefully saw to every last detail!

Then madness it struck in our final few moments. We pulled it all together and sent them off wishing them "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

I'd like to explain some of the details the kids added to his gift bag here. Like the carrots and cookies on the mantle. And the various brick patterns. They got very creative with their work. We sure had fun...well, I know I did anyway!

Enjoy!

Heather

A Comedy of Errors...

Well, I decided that I would like to make wreaths for the kids' teachers this year. Plan A was to make them with dried citrus fruit. I ran my oven for hours drying those lemon and orange slices I had painstakingly cut up...I had a bowl full of oranges done...and was finishing up the lemons when Grama CB arrived.

She took one look and said "Do you think they are dry enough" (remember this is my mother)

I replied: I followed the directions

She said: I think they need more time...you wouldn't want them to go mouldy.

So, after she left I put the lemons back in the oven. And they got burnt. Then, short attention span and all...I left the oranges for about a week...then I looked at them and saw some small (really small) dark spots. Don't you hate it when they are right?

So, on to Plan B. I found this while we were out shopping...

So...we got to work (that is after a friend delivered some wire hangers).
It was a serious job...Well, maybe not for everyone!Then we ran out of ornaments before the wreaths were done...so Mr. CB kindly picked up another container and we finished the job. I added bows and took a photo.When I took the wreath down ornaments went flying...All. Over. The. Place. I was SO sad. So, I consulted my panel of experts on Facebook...Grama CB happened to come over this afternoon so she finished the wreaths up. Then the kids and I made tags for them tonight...
These are some of the tags we made...Sorry the photo is sideways...technical difficulties.
SO...can you tell which tags are Simon's? All of the kids had fun making them before heading to bed.

Enjoy!

Heather

Hey Santa!

When Simon saw Santa on Saturday...there wasn't a moments hesitation...he just seemd to know that this was a man to get to know!

Time for a group shot! This is our first visit of 3 planned visits this year! We have a busy December!
Oh I almost forgot...this one wasn't about my kids! We went to Breakfast with Santa at Willow Creek Parlour here in Beamsville where I did a craft with all of the kids!
If you are local look out for us in the paper! We had so much fun with Santa and the other children!

Enjoy!

Heather

Christmas Craftiness

I booked a group to come to my workshop for some Christmas Crafts awhile back...the only requests were cupcakes and maybe a card. I love that. Sooo...I get to choose the crafts? They can be old or new? Great!

In this case, they is a bit of old and new...we made our cupcakes and later decorated them to be reindeer (unfortunately, we were tight on time so they were pretty rushed.)

We also made Santa Belly Lanterns and Penguin Cards.
I had so much fun with this group! They were a riot to have in my workshop...and very conscientious crafters too!
Here are my samples...
Sarah was eyeing up my lantern on the mantle the other day...

Sarah: Mummy, I really like that lantern.

Me: Thank you Sarah.

Sarah: Mummy, do you think we could do that lantern in Creative Kids?

Me: We are done our Christmas Creative Kids for this year Sarah.

Sarah: But maybe we could do it next year?

Me: Maybe Sarah.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who loves making these lanterns...we are getting quite a collection of them! We have now made Pumpkins, Ghosts, Snowmen and of course, our latest, the Santa Belly!

Enjoy!

Heather

Something fishy is going on here!

I did a Stampin Up! Demonstration the other night (sorry, you didn't know I was a demonstrator too? I know, it is a lot to keep track of!) and I am ashamed to admit that I found a bit of Christmas Spirit and did a Rudolph card. But seriously...who doesn't love Rudolph???We used the Sweet Centres...I love those things! The ladies had a lot of fun making variations...
I love seeing what they come up with...
I mean...how cute are those lashes???
And the eyebrows??? I love these ladies...they keep me on my toes!

Looking forward to the next time!

Enjoy!

Heather

It's almost Christmas Time...

The time of the year, that's so full of cheer
Yes it's almost Christmas time and I'm glad that it's finally here!

Anyone know that one? I haven't heard it in years...it's very nostalgic for me. That and Silver Bells and The Little Drummer Boy and...and...and...

I was in Grade 1/2 the other day...making some Christmas treats, making some happy kids...
Look at these babies! Some of the girls were calling these ornaments mistletoe...the boys didn't like that!!! No way, na uh! Hehe!

A good friend of mine with his Rudolph card...aren't they the sweetest?
I left the school with;

• a bin of leftovers
• a sore throat
• a rumbly tumbly
• a warmed spirit...after receiving hugs from a number of my friends.

Thank you Grade 1/2 for having me visit! It was fun!!!

Enjoy!
Heather
xo

Christmas is around the corner...

Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming!
Oh dear...oh dear...oh....

Frosty the snowman sat on a wall,
Frosty the snowman had a great fall,
All Santa's reindeer
And all of Santa's elves,
Couldn't put Frosty together again...

So, they made another bunch of snowmen!

Aren't they the cutest thing eva?!

These will be turned into scrapbook pages after Christmas is over and added to the albums the kiddies will find under the tree this year (filled with pages that they have done over the last year...I am so proud of them and their hard work!)Finally, it's the march of the penguins! How cute are these? I love that Sean felt the need to print his name on the nose of his penguin!!!
Kids are peculiar beings...

Enjoy!
Heather

It's that time of year again!

I have to admit I have been a little slow getting these samples done but things have been crazy over here!!!

So, are you ready to get ahead of the game? Our first 30 Cards for $35 classes are being held on October 3rd from 1-4pm and 6-9pm.
Come join us for some fun!

Enjoy!
Heather

Snow Day!!!

There seems to be endless excitement these days! We walked a friend to school for a couple of days as his sister and mother were sick and in his running around he said 'what are these trees? Why are they everywhere?' Well, they are our Christmas Cards and they are waiting to be finished and sent out...

On Friday the kids were sent home for a snow day as the weather was so snowy the school closed. So I finally managed to get these cards rounded up and into envelopes!!! Hooray!

Here is a closer view of this year's Christmas Card...I had fun doing them as I used SU! Designer Paper...it was all Certainly Celery but there were 6 different double sided papers making 12 paper patterns to choose from! So fun!

Now when you are trying to get the cards wrangled and the kiddies start to get bored what do you do? Pop in a video, make caramel corn...ahhh, a little peace. But wait they are hungry again? Now we have to get some healthy treats in...

These are deluxe funny faces...they were discovered in England when we were there several years ago visiting Uncle George and Auntie Val. They have morphed into a bit of a competition between my husband and I...who can come up with the coolest funny face ideas. The fun is endless!!!

Now, the cards are done and ready to go but it's too blizzardy to mail them and the house is getting pretty chilly...so the cards will wait another day...

Now that was Friday and here it is Monday...I have to be honest. I didn't get to the post office today either. But I did send the cards off with a friend of ours who came to pick up his daughter after she finished up a visit with us today...so let's hope we can finally say "The cards are in the mail!"

Enjoy!
Heather

T'was the Night Before Christmas Holidays...

Things have been a little hairy around here to say the least...so the night before Christmas Holidays...what did we do?

Well, I was feeling festive so I decided to try out some candy cane sprinkles I had in my cupboard in pancakes...we often have breakfast for supper when my husband works late...just one of the things we do around here!!!

So, I sprinkled them on while they were cooking and then flipped the pancakes. I must say...I was pleasantly surprised by the delightful flavour this created! We may actually revisit this soon!

Next Sarah pulled her first loose tooth out! It was bothering her so I suggested she give it a little twist and the next thing we knew she had it in her hand! I am not certain who was more excited...her or Sean!!!


Finally, Sarah and I walked to Tim Horton's to get gift cards for the teachers and Stan our crossing guard. I don't know what we would do without Stan!!! Anyway, I would normally create something but time is running short so we used these gift card cards and away we went!


Here is a peak at the inside of one! It's nice to be clearing out some of my extra cards I have hanging around here!


Then off to bed to get ready for the last day of school!!!

Enjoy!
Heather