Butterflies and Dragonflies: craft project

I'll share with you a few things you may need...

first

{duh}

a gingerbread kit

courtesy of Trader Joe's

really I should be a spokesperson in our area for them

*love* that store to pieces

just wish we had one a bit closer

I've tried to suggest they put one in our town or the next town over

my family and extended family would keep them in business

not to mention several friends too

but it hasn't happened yet

I'll just continue to suggest

until they decide to thank me later
after they do decide to open a new location near me for my convenience
and it's really successful

but anyway

thank goodness I have a job where I get paid to be a spokesperson

no,...
this is absolutely *not* a shameless plug for what I do

I'm being serious

about that

it's really not a plug

because there is nothing like loving something you get paid for

that's seriously my job

and I love it

just being honest

with you all

it's one of those *honest* kind of days

you know

fyi if you'd like a gingerbread kit yourself

this one was purchased for $7.99 from Trader Joe's

I haven't found one that is cheaper or cuter yet to be honest
just my opinion

if you don't have a Trader Joe's...

Target has a couple for $9.99 as well

{just thought I would share that in case you are a price kind of person}

so secondly...

and this one is completely optional...

it would be optional to me

but I really didn't have a choice in the matter

but secondly

you need

help that thinks they know everything about buildings

particularly metal pre-engineered buildings

who also can manage the project
or has management skills

oops...

I almost forgot we are doing a gingerbread house

not a "pre-engineered metal" gingerbread house

so those credentials/requirements
{I previsouly mentioned}

are highly optional

unless that person is cute

then just maybe they can get away with project managing

{ahem...the one above}

thirdly...

and what worked for us

is a wee little one who just likes to entertain everyone

or shake the candy packages...

maybe to make music
or maybe just to do it for fun

no particular skills required

but someone who makes you smile and laugh
{a requirement of any kind of project}

that would be this one in our family

see...

she just wanted to shake the packages of sprinkles, gummies

and that little mark on her cute face
she flat-backed herself at my in-laws house over Thanksgiving
ran right into the corner of the cabinets
it really did kind of scare me
ugh...
but luckily the mark is looking so much better now

so would this be fourthly?...

I'm thinking...fourthly isn't a word

so let's go with

next...

you need an assistant to the project manager

who likes to study

every.single.detail

to make sure it looks exactly like the picture on the box

so the project manager

doesn't have a misstep

the project manager doesn't have to submit a *change order*

for the corrections that have to be made

{oh yes Mr. Project Manager I've heard you loud and clear with the lingo these last 6 years

surprised the heck out of you didn't I?}

oh, and...

I need to introduce you to the assistant project manager

that would be this one

the one on the right of course
you've already met the head PM

I thought the project managers could use a picture together

lastly...

{I really wanted to say fifthly...}
as in the number 5 with a "ly" at the end

but I didn't...

just so you know...that does not say filthy above....it is 5thly...

if your mind wandered

that is not my fault...
I'm talking numbers here

you also

need someone to document

{I guess}

why is that always me?

did I mention over thanksgiving weekend

in the car traveling

the project manager

"this guy"

had me typing his e-mails

as he dictated them to me

and of course I'm supposed to know how to spell obscure construction terms

*that was a fun drive*

kidding...

I only had to do one short e-mail since he was driving
and I joked with him about it
that my payment for my time should be in new fall boots

should have gotten it in writing
before I hit *send* on the e-mail

but anyway...someone to document

that would be me...

by the way

this was a super easy kit

all you had to do was mix the icing

and for that you only needed a little lemon juice and one egg white

I must mention one disclaimer

project managers often like to do trial runs of the pieces

in order to show the subordinate workers how it is really done

and exactly how the icing should go between the pieces so it sticks together

just a warning

no really...

we had a super fun hour or so starting a new tradition of putting together a gingerbread house

and we all worked together perfectly

within our own roles

{wink, wink}

well...me the documenter

got in trouble for taking too long to document

i.e.
taking a few pictures

and was warned that the icing was going to get too stiff to use as glue
for the *panels*

and then the candies would not stick either

okay...

so I got three warnings

but it all worked out just fine

and if you have spare icing on hand

{doesn't have to be gingerbread icing btw}

for back-up that always helps

we didn't use our back-up icing at all
{smile}

our result was two very happy girls with a job well done
of decorating it all by themselves
and the box
{that's according to the assistant PM}

voila...

fyi...

I have a PM for hire
if you need one
for your gingerbread house

I know just the person

you may be able to hire him by the 1/2 hour

as long as the terms are agreed upon

of course by the project manager, himself
and most importantly by his legal team,
moi

of course I would get it in writing for you
accepted forms of payment would be
new fall boots for the PM's documenter,
moi

{chuckle}

Almost a month ago I made a run to Michael's

to grab some of their blank thank you notes for a $1

I like to look in the dollar section just to mix up the notes

so my clients aren't getting the same ones with each order

plus it makes doing thank you notes for each order so much more affordable instead

of $5-$8 per pack of eight that I seem to go through sometimes in a couple days

Michael's had some cute ones

have you seen some of them?

I'm in love with how simple they are

fly, shine, discover, and write your own story are the ones I purchased

the girls were with me

and we found a craft project in the same dollar section

so the trip to Michael's was under $6 including the thank you notes and a craft project for the girls

we found some miniature white bird cages

and put an "h" ball inside of it for Hayley

and for Madison I just stamped a blank tag I had on hand that Angela had given me

because they are always out of the m's...

so as soon as I find an m ball elsewhere I'll change that out for her

we cut out miniature butterflies and dragonflies to put at the bottom of the cage

butterflies for Madison

dragonflies for Hayley

{they sure made sure that they did not get mixed up}

I already had the butterfliy and dragonfly punches from awhile back

and newspaper was free

so this literally was a $3 project with them

the punches were a bit difficult for those tiny hands to do themselves

but they enjoyed filling the cages up and putting their tag and ball in the inside

they were little happy campers and some fun smiles from them as we placed the little bird cages on an antique desk in our loft below one of our picture walls