Croquet Anyone?

I'm listening to the sounds of spring outside, birds are chirping, the sun is shining. Ah what lovely weather. And as soon as the temperature creeps up into the 70s and stays there a bit, I might be able to get out and enjoy some sunshine. My fingers and toes really suffer in cold and brisk weather and I can barely move them when it's cold. We had a run of 80 + degree temperatures a week or so ago, but sadly, those temperatures went straight back down into the 50s and 60s again. My joints definitely are not amused. 

But the promise of warmer days ahead has definitely inspired some new exterior work...would you believe we glued together this darling little croquet set from bits of scrap wood we had lying around, and some paper clips and polymer clay? And since my hands are limited to what they can do with tools like hand drills or mini saws, making a miniature birdhouse out of wood was out of the question. So I tried another medium - polymer clay! It might not look as realistic as a wooden birdhouse, but it sure was easier on my hands to make these little cuties. 

Click on the pictures to supersize. And thanks so much for following along! Please feel free to leave a comment at the end - I love comments, and try to respond back to everyone! :) Many mini hugs to all!!

Easter Giveaway Winners!!!

I cannot believe how exciting this was! :D Not only did I discover many new and incredibly talented fellow bloggers to follow because of this contest, but the anticipation of who would win has been building every day as I saw more and more lovely comments coming in. So, without further ado, here's how we did the drawing (had to wait for dear youngest daughter to get home tonight after basketball and soccer practice ;)

Prize Number 1 - Easter Dreams :)

Prize Number 2: Easter Bread Prep Board :)

First we printed the comments pages from the blog...

Then, we cut each one into little strips of paper...Good Luck to everyone!!! 

Then we folded them, and placed them into a glass vase...mixed them up real good...

Then my youngest reached in to draw the 1st name, to win the Easter Dreams mini. :)

Oooooooh......can't wait to see...who is it? who is it? Drum roll please........

Micaela!!! Our first name drawn is Micaela!! :D Congratulations!!!

Now, for the Easter Bread Prep Board.....my older daughter gives it a try....reaching in....

And who will this winner be?

Daria!!! The second name drawn is Daria Prus!! :D Congrats!!!

Micaela and Daria, Please send me your mailing addresses, so we can get the minis out in the mail this week. You can email them to me via the email link on the blog, at jackiemdwriter@gmail.com.

And I really and truly want to thank everyone who visited my blog and took the time to leave a comment to enter the contest, and for all of you who posted a link on your blogs! You are all tremendous and wonderfully talented, I feel so honored to be a part of such a terrific mini making community! :D Welcome to all my new followers, and many, many mini hugs to all of you who entered the contest and have been following along. This was so much fun, we're going to have to do this again!!

Easter Giveaway Contest!

My first one! I am so psyched that I finally managed to create two adorable minis for my first ever blog giveaway. :) Celebrating reaching 100 followers (+ 9) and to thank everyone for following along since I started this little ole blog about 2 years ago. Your blogs have been such an amazing source of inspiration and creativity, I love following all of your mini escapades as well.

This being my first contest please forgive me if I don't get everything quite right, live and learn I guess. :) So feel free to send me a message if might have screwed something up in the contest rules. I'm always up for help. I'll keep the rules real simple so I can keep all my marbles together. So here they are:

Contest Rules:
1. Leave a comment on this post. Yep, that's it. Just leave a comment on this giveaway announcement post stating that you wish to be entered into this contest, and at the end of the contest I'll print off the comments page, and cut each name with comment into those tiny strips of paper. My girls and I will put them all in a box, and I'll have them do the picking. :) They love that sort of thing!

2. There are 2 minis up for giveaway. Each one is in 1:12 scale. One is an Easter bread prep board. We make these, for real, each Easter, and I <3 making them in miniature. And the other is "Easter Dreams" with a spring checkerboard cake (I was inspired by the new Wilton cake pan I saw in the craft store last week), an Easter basket, eggs, and a bag of jellybeans. The first two names we pluck from the box will win, the first name/comment drawn will receive the "Easter Dreams" mini, the second name/comment drawn will receive the Easter egg bread prep board. Once we have our winners I will post it all on the blog (with pics of the drawing) and the winners can email me their mailing info so we can ship the minis out asap.

3. The contest deadline to leave a comment on this post is two weeks from now, Wednesday, March 20th, at 6 p.m. E.S.T. in the U.S. That way that should give me enough time to ship them out so the winners can receive their pieces in time for Easter. :)

It's that easy. (I think) Did I cover everything? Rules? Deadline? How to win? Send me an email if I forgot an important detail.

And now, for the pics - (click on the photo to supersize).

"Easter Dreams" - this prize will go to the first name drawn from the box.
This mini includes one Easter checkerboard cake topped with yellow and pink roses, seated on a yellow cake stand; one Easter basket filled with Easter eggs, 1 wrapped chocolate bunny and 1 wrapped chocolate egg (see closeup pic below for detail of the chocolate egg and bunny without the wrapping); one slice on checkerboard cake with a scoop of melting chocolate chip ice cream; one plate of colored Easter eggs; and one teeny bag of jellybeans. All items are glued to the wooden circle.

Closeup of the unwrapped chocolate bunny and chocolate egg - bow color and the piping color of the wrapped bunny and egg varies from this one.

Next, for the second name drawn we have the Easter egg bread prep board:
This mini features a mini rolling pin sitting atop a mound of floured dough; one box of flour; one blue bowl filled with dough and raw eggs and a mixing spoon handle; one cracked egg on the board; several colored eggs and regular eggs lying about; and one freshly baked Easter egg bread. All items are glued to the board.

Thanks again for following! Good luck to all contestants! Spread the word, a contest is finally afoot at Micro Munchies! :D

Finally Completed the Christmas Projects!

Where does time go? Sometimes I'm not even aware of the days and how they pass so quickly. I'm only able to get a small amount of tasks done, nothing compared to what I used to. There was a time where I was punctual, when I got projects and deadlines completed on time, or even early! But alas my health (or lack thereof) gets in the way more and more. Lupus is a nasty thing, sometimes it's like having the flu for weeks and weeks without end. It inflicts mind numbing aches and swelling in my hands, feet, toes, knees, practically every joint I need to bend and function. But I made a commitment to myself a long time ago to complete these gifts, and complete them I did. Working on them a little bit at a time, 30 minutes here, 15 minutes there...and about a month and a half late, way past the holiday, they're done....but better late than never, eh? And now I've cleaned my work space of all the holiday stuff and can tackle a few new projects and get a piece ready for my first giveaway for all my terrific followers! Stay tuned for more info on the giveaway. And thank you soooooo much for reading and following my blog!

Click on the pics to enlarge...

The final 3 Christmas Stove ornaments. 

One for a friend who used to have an adorable Westie named Sydney. 

It looks just like her! Thanks to Manor House Miniatures I was able to purchase this wonderful little resin replica. The glue under her little feet wasn't quite dry yet when I took this photo.

Always something good baking in the oven. :)

For another friend who loves organic and fresh food!

Raspberry pie in this darling oven. 

Lots of cakes and cookies baking here!

I love chocolate bundt cake!

A yellow bundt cake fresh from the oven.

Crusty French loaf.

A cozy Christmas fireplace ornament for a friend with a very large family. :)

This miniature Nativity scene came from Manor House Miniatures. So unique!

I was dying to try this xylophone project that I saw on a fellow blogger's tutorial list, many thanks and a big shout out to Joanne's Minis for providing such a terrific tutorial! It was so easy to follow the directions in Joanne's very well made and detailed video.

I enhanced the miniature dollhouse I got at Manor House Miniatures by adding tiny shingles for a more realistic effect. 

The tiny train came from Hobby Lobby. So cute!

Fresh baked cookies, and toasted marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars for S'mores!

A mini stove and cupboard ornament, for a very dear friend who helps me a lot with driving, errands, and just being there to listen when the going gets tough. :)

And one final old fashioned stove for another dear friend who helps me so much!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! <3 <3 Many mini hugs to all! :D