Elf-ing

It seems like every year about this time I get the itch to work with wood. I don't know why I don't do it all the time, since I really love it!
3 years ago my crafty mama group got together and built these amazing toolboxes, the same year I tried (not so successfully) to make a bunch of wooden scoops to give as gifts with some homemade bath salts, and, come to think of it, that was the year of the bunk beds too.
I skipped the following year since we had our bathroom redone and I had probably had seen enough of woodworking for the time being...
Anyway, last year I made wooden ornaments for my annual swap and this year I am building a cradle for the Elder.
I posted about it the other day, and I did decide to make it over.
After I visited with my carpenter friend I looked up jigsaw prices online and found one for super cheap at a local hardware store.
Last night I grabbed my $7.00 sheet of plywood and went to work.
I decided not to bother my carpenter friend again, so it's not quite as plumb as the first draft, but it's serviceable and I had the satisfaction of doing it all myself with no help. (I'm forcibly reminded of some 2-year-old progeny of mine screaming "I DO IT" whenever offered help, hmm)

 Here it is primed, and ready.
The final product took a couple of coats of primer and a couple of coats of paint. I may still need to touch up the paint at some future date, but I didn't think it would dry in time if I made another pass before tomorrow.

 Next I practiced the rose decoration on a scrap, this one turned out a little nicer than the one that ended up on the finished product, but again, it's serviceable and I am pleased with the results.

My sister came over tonight and helped me put together the mattress, pillow and coverlet.
The blanket is made from a beautiful piece of embroidery that I found at a craft sale about 4 years ago. It was a little stained, so I got it very cheaply. I cut around the stains and my sis assembled the blanket (using the serger for the first time in her life) and it all came out rather nicely.

Merry Christmas!