Marvelous Monday* - What a bear, cards & spiders have in common.

Mario, Toad and I went for a bit of a drive "up the shore" yesterday... it was even before the weather cleared for the day, and everything was still SO beautiful - picture perfect, like a winter postcard. Then, when the sun came out, oh, it could not have been a more perfect winter's day! A great day for a snowball fight, they decided. That's boys for ya ;-).

When they finally came inside their cheeks were so rosy, I just wanted to kiss the faces right off 'em! After a kiss or two though, I settled for making us all some hot cocoa, while they warmed up with "Boo-boo Bear". Boo-boo is a bear-shaped, rice-filled hot/cold pad and is named for his ability to sooth sprains, bellies, headaches and other aches & pains. Here he is.... he is never far, especially this time of the year, as the boys love to warm their hands on his belly after playing outside!

We got him years ago during one of those "Official Baby Co" sales.... but I think you could make your own. In fact, I had one of those "magic bag" pads as a teen and when it wore out (read: we nuked it too long and burnt it... be careful!), Mom sewed me a rectangular one out of a 12 X 12 piece of fabric that she folded in half, stitched and filled. It worked like a charm... Boo-boo is better, however - he is scented with lavender (sorry, Mom!). Using the same idea that Mom had though, you could make one in any shape you & your kids would find soothing.

Earlier in the day, we gathered around the dining room, and puttered with paper, paste & scissors. The boys made some spiders, and I made some cards, including a little mini-card with a Chinese New Year's theme - February 3rd is the big day this year (I'll post some of our plans/ideas for that later today).

In Chinese Astrology, DH is a Dragon, Mario is a Horse, Toad is a Monkey and I am a Tiger. I stamped these images in a grid pattern using gold ink on black cardstock, and then applied to a red background, with a little gold thread for extra bling. Then I stamped "the best is yet to be", which I thought was a hopeful message and fitting for a new year:

Here are two other cards I made while we were playing: They both use colour combinations I love...

Perfect plum, mellow moss, rose red (all Stampin' Up colours).... I like the brads for extra oomph.

Ruby red and cameo coral with a craft paper (all SU papers again).... I love this quote from Mother Teresa! A lattice embossing folder was used on this one to give it a bit of je ne sais quoi.

Last, but certainly not least, I just have to show you the little spiders the boys made: I have to say, they did look cute, the way they had them set up on a little nest & all! Here they are:

Here's to another marvelous week, my friends!

*Why "marvelous"? Well, according to my research (we have to be scientific here, right, because it is the small print), "marvelous" means "to cause wonder or astonishment".....Marvelous Mondays get the week off to a good start. People, this week is going to be exciting! Fun! Wonderful! That, and it's the day I share my crafting - and I, for one, am always astonished when I see the finished product: "Woot! I actually made something!"