(and by fancy, i mean instagram & camera+)

I helped by cutting out a few things she requested [hair, ballet shoes, etc] and she did the rest herself.  I think they are pretty cute and wanted to see what kind of paper bag puppets other people were making.  I’d love to see some of your own creations too!

I love this pirate!  By Amanda Formaro on Kaboose

From ‘The Star Wars Craft Book‘ by Bonnie Burton, Admiral “Sackbar”! LOL [via boingboing]

Toothy Guys by Michelle M. of Isle Tri

Rrrribit!  Cute and Simple Froggie from Learning Ideas

I am crazy about this owl made by Denise Sharp.  I think I’m going to buy a pack of brown paper bags today!

]]> http://furiousshirley.com/blog/2012/01/25/paper-bag-puppets/feed/ 1 http://furiousshirley.com/blog/2012/01/13/the-best-gift/ http://furiousshirley.com/blog/2012/01/13/the-best-gift/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:40:56 +0000 Shannon Shirley http://furiousshirley.com/blog/2012/01/13/ read more »]]> This year we brought a few of our family members to tears with this gift -

A mini book about little miss Ava.  It came out soooo cute!  We did a pic or two for each month of her existence and a few extra pages for some of her artwork and photos with family members.

We used Blurb to make the books and were really happy with the outcome.

I’m sure we will be making more books in the future … I’m thinking a wedding book would be great since I know I’ll never get around to printing photos and putting them in an album.

Perfect for a child’s room or someone that just loves kitties.  Made from chenille and tweed.  They also make owls.

The surroundings were beautiful – lush spring forest, lily pad laden ponds – ahhhhh nature.

While I sorted things out inside the cabin, Mike busted out the fishing poles and he and Ava dug up some worms and headed to the pond.  She caught a baby bluegill on her first cast!  She ended up catching a total of two … Mike, zero.

We kicked off our night by making a fire in the firepit and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  I thought Ava would love s’mores, but she said she didn’t like marshmallows “with brown stuff”.  She did enjoy waving her marshmallow stick around though!

On Saturday we went exploring [we were only 15 minutes away from the Michigan Harbor Towns on the beachfront] and picked up some local morels and sausages from a farmer’s market.  Ava spent lots of time outdoors and especially loved the tree swing out in front of the cabin.

Saturday night, Mike and Ava headed down to one of the ponds with a flashlight and net and brought back a bullfrog and a tree frog.  [If Ava spots a gnat or fly, she totally freaks out - but frogs and fish, love at first sight!]  She held the treefrog for quite a while and wanted to bring him home with us [um no.].

The next morning, Mike made a stellar skillet breakfast using our fresh morels and some wild onions, scrambled eggs, local bacon, and potatoes.  Yum.  Then he and Ava headed down to the pond one last time and found a few tadpoles.  [Not bringing those home either!]  By the time we had to leave, we were just getting into the rhythm of cabin life [isn't that how it always is on a vacation ... just when you start to relax it's time to go].

I have a feeling this won’t be our last weekend getaway for the spring/summer.

Learning to ride a tricycle:

Finally being able to pump the swing:

Climbing a tree:

(With Daddy’s help, of course)

Holding a baby lamb:

And planning a weekend getaway … which we are leaving on today.  It is Mike’s birthday weekend [official b-day Monday] and we are whisking him away on a surprise trip so I can’t share any details with you … yet.  XO

I covered the table with some scrap paper and handed her the measured ingredients to dump into the bowl.  Then I gave her the spoon and let her mix it up – her most favorite part of helping me in the kitchen.

Once the dough was thoroughly mixed, I divided it into three lumps [I had to keep adding flour until the dough wasn't so sticky] and then added the food coloring.  [I would really recommend wearing disposable gloves for this part, unless you want red, blue, and green hands like I ended up having.]  Just keep kneading the dough until the color is blended.

Hooray – play dough!

After I just reminded her to NOT smash it all together.

After I reminded her that once you smash them together, it’s very unlikely to have three separate colors again.

“Oh well, mom.  I’ll just make a rainbow worm.”  And that was perfectly fine with me. :-)

Angie lived with her grandmother while she was student teaching in 2001 and from those skilled hands, she learned the craft of crochet.  She refined her skills, began creating her own fun designs, and opened up her shop in October ’09.  Once she perfects a design [which can take days of starting to crochet, pulling apart, starting over, and finally nailing it], Angie can stitch up a pair of booties or an adorable hat in couple of hours.  So jealous.

Over the holiday season, these felted crochet ballet slippers [omg i love them] were selling fast, just like her current line of hats.  One lucky reader will even WIN A HAT just by leaving a comment.  [View Giveaway Details]

Angie is also a mom – two kids, ages 6 and 22 months – and spends a lot of late nights crocheting while the kiddos sleep.  She has even helped her daughter open up her very own Etsy shop [Greta's Paper Art] to sell her crayon creations.  What a cute idea!

Just like any mom, we need to find ways to unwind.  Angie’s, of course, involves crocheting … as well as a good cup of coffee and an episode of Little House on the Prairie.  Don’t laugh – I actually love that show too.  :-)  Thanks so much to Angie for taking the time to share a little of herself with me … and don’t forget to check out the Frolicking Leaves Giveaway!  XO

A sheet, little sandwiches, veggies, and homemade blueberry muffins brought a little bit of sunshine to our winter routine.

Ava thought it was pretty cool to not have to sit at the table.  She cleaned her plate and then danced around the room singing, “we’re on a picnic … la la la la la”.  We might have to make this a regular thing.