Recent Projects...

 

{creating}

I have been working on projects in between everything else, which makes doing anything totally CRAZY!  Here are some of the projects completed... (Birthday party invites are good motivators!)

This bag was purchased as a 4 pack from Walmart most likely.  Kate picked out the font she liked and we used Heat-n-Bond to attach the letter on to the bag, then added a rosette.

I love composition books!  I would have a ton of them and ideally I would love to have one of these cute comp book covers on each of them.  Maybe some day.  Kate picked the fabric from Hobby Lobby.  We used Heat-n-Bond (great stuff ladies for those of you who don't sew...or like to cheat) to attach the ribbon and M.  The little girl was so excited and loved it!  

We added a few rosettes and I used some scrap fabric and hot glue to cover a pen to match.

For my SIL who loves a good cup of coffee I made this coffee cozy.  I found the directions online (thanks to Pinterest!) but since I did this last weekend I don't remember where since I didn't bookmark it.  This is seriously one of the easiest of all the sewing projects I have ever done.  I even hand sewed the button which I don't usually have the patience for hand sewing.  I made two of these.  She loved them!

This isn't a craft project and notice it is a comp book without a cute cover (which kills me because I so want to make one).  I found this idea on Pinterest and loved it.  I just started this with Anna.  She has so many words and wants to always be sure she is fully heard.  I introduced this idea to her.  She can write me notes, good or sad or bad, and I will write her back.  She can draw me pictures or whatever she wants.  I can do the same back to her.  So far, we are both LOVING IT!  It is amazing to see her so happy when she writes to me and then receive some love back.  I plan on doing the same with Kate but maybe with a twist.  Kate LOVES to read....but she is stuck in one genre:  MYSTERY!  Nancy Drew, Boxcar Children, etc.  So....my idea is for the two of us to read the same book, taking turns to pick, and write back and forth to one another about the story.  Hopefully by doing this I can also model to her how to think about characters, setting, plot, etc.  Our first book is going to be The Secret Garden.  She is familiar with the story line so this will help with understanding and interest...hopefully!  

Update on Chore Charts:  They worked AWESOME the first week!  Isn't that the way it always rolls?  Why is that?  ARGH!  So I still love the idea but am working to tweak it just a bit.  We'll see how it goes.  Chores definitely always keeps us well aware of our sinful nature.  HA!

A Mess of Encouragement

These are photos of Miss Mustard Seed's office.  

YES!!  YES!!  YES!!

Did I Mention...

My friend and I are trying our hands at a craft show.
It is this Saturday.
So...we have been "creating" all kinds of wonderful things.
More to come...
and say a prayer we aren't humiliated.
If we don't sell anything...
I've got Christmas covered!

{creating} with Anna

This past Saturday the Lord blessed me with an incredible opportunity to spend time with just Anna.  For the last few months I haven't had a lot of one-on-one time with each of the girls.  I don't know why exactly, it just hasn't happened.  So I was so excited that it was just going to be the two of us, at home, together.  She immediately asked if we could sew.  Oh yeah baby girl!  You bet!  Friday had been an especially gruelling day so I was mentally and emotionally exhausted so after I just completely chilled on the couch and we had some great cuddle and tickle time we got started on our project.  I had seen a few ideas I wanted to try from one of my favorite blogs, Joy's Hope.  So I showed Anna my ideas and we got started.  Have a look...

A lap tray and container filled with markers (ok, this one is empty but you get the idea) so she can be creative and draw on car rides!  The orange book with an "A" on it is a fabric cover to fit the black & white composition books.  It was sooooo much fun!!  We have been able to use the tray for spelling too.  I love it!  Now I need to schedule a date with Kate!

{creating}

I saw these picture frames at the Dollar Store a couple of weeks ago and although they are very ugly, I LOVED the texture and design.  I knew if I could get some great spray paint on them they would probably be totally awesome!  When I went to take the glass out of the frame so I could paint it the entire back came off.  Remember, you get what you pay for....BUT wait until you see the final product! 

Four frames $1.00 each @ Dollar Store

Gorilla Glue (but could also use hot glue gun) - already had

Spray paint $3.?? @ Walmart

I painted the frames and once dry I had to glue the backs back on. 

I used Gorilla Glue since it was handy.

I used paint cans as weights!

I cut some cute scrapbook paper to fit into the frame and used my "Alphadot" stamps and circle punch so each girls' frame was personalized.

Then I took these cute pictures of the girls with their friends.

Priceless for sure!

In the morning I had each frame sitting at their seat at the table.

This, along with the "fun glass", was the party favor for each girlie.

{creating}

For Kate's birthday sleepover I wanted to try a few projects and ideas I had seen or been inspired to try. 

Glass candle holder $1.00 @ Dollar Store

Silver tray $1.00 @ Dollar Store

Gorilla Glue - already had

Spray Paint $3.?? @ Walmart

Use the Gorilla Glue to glue the candle holder to the silver tray.

Spray Paint

Cute!

{creating}

This is something along the same lines of what I posted earlier this week.  I loved, loved, loved how it turned out.  I gave this to my sister-in-law for Christmas.  This frame was bought at Goodwill for like $3.  There were actually two, exactly the same.  In the other one I removed the glass, put in corkboard that you can buy at Walmart, and wa-la...a matching bulletin board to go with her menu board!  She was beyond thrilled! 

I am a little disappointed with the coloring in this picture but you can get an idea at least.  I spraypainted the frame, after using a little sandpaper on it, the aqua blue color (from Walmart).  I then used a walnut stain that I rubbed on and rubbed off, which antiqued the frame bit.  Like on my other project, I put burlap behind the glass, cut the word MENU from black flannel, and cut the typeset letters using this printable from my favorite blog, Under the Table Dreaming, from which this whole idea came.  I hope you feel inspired to make your meal prep or kitchen a little more exciting!  I now need to make one for myself!

A Simple Project...

This isn't my original idea but loved it as soon as I saw it on one of my most favorite blogs, Under the Table & Dreaming.  I bought several frames at Goodwill before Christmas.  This is one that I spray painted black, added some burlap as the picture, cleaned the glass, put it all back together and WAHLAA...I have a really cool dry erase board!!  I love that this particular one is an oval.  I love how it looks in my very rectangular kitchen.  :)  I wrote one of my very scriptures on it.  I deem this one of "thee BEST" projects I have ever done. 

{creating}

A very, very special little boy just celebrated his FIRST BIRTHDAY!!  To help celebrate I got my craft on!  Here are some teasers...

Stay tuned for the final reveal