Bridle Tree Barn Raising Challenge 2023 - 2024

I just keep trying to raise a barn. The problem is - it's always COLD in December and I can never paint it. And I feel like I just can't seem to get it completed. So, I decided to build it in the spring and summer months and do the decorating piece for the actual challenge in 2023. We shall see what happens, as like other challenges, I don't seem to get things done.  

It took me most of the summer, but I was able to get the barn PAINTED and assembled!

Now, My Barn raising challenge will be to get it decorated - can't wait to decorate this year! We will see what I can do. I have a lot to finish for stuff in the barn.

Now to decide what my projects are and to do some fun pictures! The first picture set up is "CRISP."

Crisp Colorado morning in the snow chasing the donkey that got loose. 

I am still laying out plans for that image, but I have completed a TON of things for my barn! 

I am working on my grass base and a winter wonderland base and some gargoyles. AND I finally found the Christmas decorations for which I have to get a small tote to carry them in! 

Week 2 Photo Challenge - Squatters

Week 2 challenge

Little Barn Owls in the barn

Week three challenge:

Week 3

I also did some other Stablemate scale items for my barn. 

Week 4 Challenge: 

Mess - looks like my PORGS are making a mess of the barn. 

It's been fun. I am hoping to do the 2024-2025 event. 

December 2023 Crafting Month

 

The YMCA has a lot of crafting events that I hope to make it too this month, plus there are a few online challenges I am going to try for too! 

I have finished several things for my Stablemate scale barn - check out my Bridle Tree Barn Raising Challenge - HERE!

And the first night was WINTER CANDLES. 

Supplies

Wax

Dandelion and Cinnamon

Lemongrass, Lavendar and peppermint

The group of us

My two Tins

Completed Candles

I came home from the candle making and had some ornaments that I bought to paint and was inspired to paint ornaments so they got finished! 

Then on to CERAMICS night!

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in this ceramics night. In past events we could pick an item we wanted to paint from a certain price point. This one, it was MUGS only. Honestly, had I known that I would have cancelled my spot. I am jsut not a mug person. 

They took a couple days to get it glazed/fired but here is the result:

The next class is Necklaces - I do two of these classes this month. The first one I ended up canceling going to because it was snowing so badly couldn't see the road. 

I did make it to the soap making on Saturday, December 9, 2023. 

Supplies and molds

Supplies and molds

In the molds

I had to wait a couple days for them to be solid and pick them up - here are the results: 

Completed Soaps

The next class was necklace making. I had missed the first one and was so excited for this one. I have to say, this was the worst class I have ever been too at the YMCA. The instructor didn't really want to be there and the string that we given to use for the necklaces was too thick for the beads we were given. I did get to bring the beads home and will redo it on beading wire the way I want too. 

The final class was Christmas candles. The instructor from the Bead class was over this class - so it was pretty much - here's a tin, and here's the wax and color, pick them up tomorrow.  

Other than the not great instructor, I did have fun this month. 

November 2023 Crafting

 

This month I signed up for a few cute fall craft activities at the YMCA that they offer employees. 

First was Monday November 13 - Fall Sign making.

We were given a round wood sign, paint, and choices of stencils. I am very pleased with my first attempt at stenciling. 

The second class was Fall Soap Making and I wasn't able to make it to that class or the Wood burning class that I was hoping that was the third class I signed up for this month. 

So, it was a bit of a not so crafting month going to classes, but I was able to complete the ICEE Challenge and the Model Horse and Action Figure Monthly Art Challenges online. 

My ICEE Challenge was this little fellow:

And the November challenge for the Model Horse and Action Figure Monthly Art challenge was to complete and Exotic Equid - I actually completed 3!

Hopefully next month I can get a few more fun classes in for the holiday season.