I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar

Wake Up Wednesday

2012-05-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last week's challenge was to learn the names of a few people and to use them in conversation. I did it! There were a few people at church that I knew of, but I didn't really ever know their names. I learned their names and have been trying to use them in conversation. Using their names helps me to remember them as well.

This week's challenge is recycled from one last year, but I could stand to work on it a bit more.

This challenge may not even seem like a good deed, but it's something I'm trying to work on personally. The challenge is to listen. Sometimes I find myself saying, "I don't know" to my kids' questions because I'm busy doing something else. This week I'm going to try hard to give them my full attention when they are talking. This doesn't have to be about kids, though. It's a challenge to truly listen to everyone you come across. Maybe it's a stressed friend who just needs to know you care. Maybe it's someone who needs to vent. Maybe it's a person who feels alone.

[Source]

I know that this challenge is a hard thing to gauge, but I also know it's really important. I might write it on my hand to help me remember it throughout the week.

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.”

-Anonymous

Did anyone learn some new names this week? How did it go? Thanks for reading.

Vintage Clothespin People

2012-05-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

A while back I saw an image from THIS SHOP pinned on pinterest. She had painted clothespins to look like people. I thought it was really cute and wanted to try to make one of our family.

I had some old clothespin from the thrift store so I got out some paint and went for it.

Rex had to have a superhero look, so I just painted the white circle that Ironman has on his shirt. I have an outfit I wore probably ever other day last summer. My sister used to make fun of my for it, so I painted that outfit for myself. Baden got a "B" and Mr. Roar was painted in work clothes.

I had an extra chunk of wood in the garage that I spray painted aqua. Then I cut vinyl letters that "home." I hot-glued the clothespins to the board.

I have a spot planned out for it, but that's a post for another day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Once Upon A Thread

2012-05-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! I've over at Katy's blog, No Big Dill, sharing a sewing project inspired by this book.

Katy does a series called Once Upon A Thread and each blogger sews something inspired by a children's book. (She also happens to be one of the most amazing, creative seamstresses I've ever encountered.) You can find my post HERE.

You'll see what I made my scaredy squirrel.

Thanks for dropping in. See you tomorrow.

Sunshine Sunday - races and umbrellas

2012-05-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Mr. Roar had a bike race. The boys and I went to cheer him on. It was the first race we've been to this year. The boys even made signs.

Baden's sign says "Go Daddy" as well, if you can't tell :)

Mr. Roar will sometimes tell the boys that he "got smoked" in the race if he didn't win. Because of that Baden says, "Daddy smokes when he rides." Nice. We've tried to clarify that one for him.

We caught a little rain yesterday and I realized Baden had never really used an umbrella.

Can you tell he liked it?

One of the best parts of being a mom is watching your child do everything for the first time. I think it's better than doing something yourself for the first time.

Did you have any "firsts" recently? Thanks for reading.

Soapbox Saturday - Mod Podge Rocks

2012-05-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

While at Snap I got to speak on a panel with Amy from Mod Podge Rocks. She was really cool and I felt lucky to have the chance to get to know her more. She has a great business mind and a fun, laid-back personality. When I heard that she had a book coming out I was excited to review it. In fact, it arrived in the mail and then later that day I was at Hobby Lobby and I saw it there for sale. (Yes, I had a nerdy inward I-know-her moment :)

The book is packed with all sorts of projects that use mod podge. (Sidenote: Am I the only one who has always called it Modge Podge? I only realized I was wrong a year ago :)

I thought I'd give you a sneak peek of my favorite projects in the book.

The projects vary from home accessories and holiday decor to clothing and jewelry. The book also features projects from some well known crafters. There's a gallery section at the end that I liked because you can page through lots of ideas and inspiration.

You can find her fun book HERE on Amazon.

Thanks for reading.

Feature Friday - Knotted Headband from a T-Shirt

2012-05-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Before we get started, I wanted to remind you that if you are planning on participating in "For the Love" this summer, all entries are due by May 31st. I've already received some fun ones and I'm looking forward to getting it all scheduled and set up. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read about "For the Love" HERE.

Okay, on to today's post.

Way back in August, Mandy from Sugar Bee Crafts posted THIS adorable knotted headband. I LOVED it and meant to make one right away, but then I forgot about it until I needed to teach a group of ladies from church how to make something with recycled t-shirts. Bam. This was the project.

I ended up making several of them in the process. I really like them because they are so comfy.

I made one for the neighbor girl and one for my sister and one for my newest niece. I didn't take pictures of any of them. Whoops! So, I asked my sister to snap a few pics of her baby in them.

There's a thicker one.

Here's a thinner one. (Isn't she so stinkin' cute?)

If you want to whip one up they are fast and pretty easy (the headband - no the baby). You can sew them or hot glue them. You'll find Mandy's tutorial HERE. Plus, Mandy and her blog are both super cute - FYI.

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping in.

Silhouette deal AND a Dairy Man Tee

2012-05-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today I have a Silhouette promo for you and it's a fun one. Here are the details.

You get a Silhouette Cameo.....

....and their sweet tote to carry it....

....all for $309.99.

(Or if you already have the Silhouette, you can pick up the tote for $54.99.)

You have to go HERE to get the deal and then use the code "ROAR." The offer ends May 31st.

They sent me the tote to check out. I had only seen the pictures online, but I was really impressed by the quality of it. It's BIG and it has lots of padding and velcro inserts, much like a camera bag. It holds everything you might need - the Cameo, cutting mats, a laptop, etc.

It has nice wheels. That's how they roll :)

It kinds of screams "I'm ready for a crafting girls night out."

(Sidenote: I'm trying out fake glasses just because I think they are fun. I like them, but I'm wondering if I'm too old for this trend. Verdict is still out.)

Okay, I never like to post a promo without showing you something I've made recently with my Silhouette. I really use this puppy a lot. I just made this t-shirt for Baden.

This little guy would eat only cheese, yogurt, and milk if I'd let him. I actually grew up in Wisconsin, where the license plates say "America's Dairy Land," so I made him this shirt that says "America's Dairy Man." I used the Silhouette to cut freezer paper (which you can find the tutorial for HERE). Then I blotted on fabric paint with a sponge, to give it the aged look.

That's all for today. If you want to take advantage of the Silhouette promo go HERE and use the code "ROAR."

Thanks for dropping in.

Wake Up Wednesday

2012-05-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

First off, thanks for all your feedback yesterday. I really appreciate your input.

Last week's challenge was to pick someone and do something kind for them each day. I picked my husband. Nothing I did for him was huge, but I tried to do little things and think about him more. (i.e. letting him nap on Sunday, buying a favorite treat, etc.) It was fun and I think he might have been doing the challenge himself because he's been extra kind and helpful this week. It's incredible the difference that little acts of kindness can make in a relationship.

This week's challenge is to learn the names of three people and use them in the conversation. We did this one last year and it was fun. I think it's really easy to say, "Oh, I'm not good with names." Frankly, I think few people are really good with names unless they make a concerted effort to be. Learning names shows we care. Who doesn't enjoy hearing their own name? You could learn a new neighbor's name or even the kids in the neighborhood.

When we did this challenge last time I shared this story that I found. I thought it was worth sharing again.

During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. - Joann C. Jones

So, did anyone pick someone and do a kind act for them each day? I'd love to hear about it. Thanks for reading.

Kid Organization Wall (and Things to Come)

2012-05-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I showed you the new task board for my boys. Today I'll show you where I put it.

I had three frames that I wasn't using anymore, so I sprayed them all gray.

I hung the task board at the bottom so the boys could reach it. I took a picture of them for the middle frame.

Sidenote: Do you know how inexpensive prints are at Costco? Wow. $2.99 for a 12"x12" which is about 6 or 7 times more expensive at a normal photo store. I love that place.

I designed some art based on one of my favorite children's songs at church. Baden pumps his little fist in the air when he sings this song and I LOVE it. The first few lines are exactly what I want to teach my boys. "Dare to do right. Dare to be true. You have a work that no other can do." I didn't make the print in other colors, but if you want the file in these colors I'm happy to email it to you.

It's the wall they see on the way down the stairs, so I figured it was a good place for all of it. It's also where they put their dirty laundry.

It's the first thing I see when I walk out of our bedroom, which makes me happy.

And I thought I'd tell you what's in the future here on the blog. June we'll have hair week again. I have some great guests lined up. In June and July you'll see me decorate our bedroom - which I've never really shown here. There will be fun projects and with befores and afters.

I'm also toying with some other ideas. Would you be interested in a curtains week - full of different, easy types of DIY curtains? How about learning activities for your kids? (Whether or not I blog about that, it's something I will be doing a lot of in these summer months.) I'd love to throw in some boy sewing projects as well. Whew! Lots to squeeze in! Let me know what you're interested in.

Thanks for stopping by.

DIY Magnet Board

2012-05-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

A long time ago I posted THIS project - the What's Up Weekly Board.

Then a couple of weeks ago I posted THIS Task Board. Between the two posts I've had a lot of questions regarding where to find magnet boards. Well, it's actually crazy easy to make them, so I thought I'd give you a quick how-to today.

1) Find any frame you like and remove everything but the frame. Spray paint it if needed.

2) Head to a home improvement store. There are various types of sheet metal in the store, so I always bring a magnet to make sure I'm buying the right one. (Some won't hold the magnet.) I found mine in the plumbing section.

It was under $7 for a pretty big sheet of it.

3) Measure the part of the frame that the metal will fit into. I like to draw the measurement onto the metal with a Sharpie. My frame was 12"x12".

4) Cut it with tin snips. Be careful. Those puppies will cut through anything,

5) Slide it into your frame.

If you need it to fit more snuggly just cut cardboard to back it.

Now you have a custom magnet board for a really low cost.

I switched our task board to this smaller one because the huge one didn't really fit anywhere. This little board has helped out a lot.

I haven't had one fit from Rex about going to the bathroom in the morning. He understands that he has to do his tasks before he can have any sort of screen time and this just really clicked with him. Baden is still a little young to fully grasp the concept of the board, but he'll grow into it.

And the basic daily tasks associated with the pictures (because someone asked) are:
t-shirt = getting dressed
toothbrush = brush your teeth
bat sign = pick up toys
smiley face = do something nice for someone
book = read a book
toilet = go potty, obviously :)

Tomorrow I'm going to show you where I put the board and the little wall I created for them. See you then. Thanks for reading.

Sunshine Sunday - growing up, jammies, and wrestling

2012-05-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Lately these little guys seem so be growing up faster. Rex told me I didn't need to walk him into preschool anymore. He announced that he could do it himself. After he told me that I guess my face said it all because he asked, "Why do you look so sad, Mom?" Because you're growing up too quickly and I don't want you to go to college and get married and leave me, I thought. Actually, it's fun to see him growing and gaining more confidence.

Baden has officially hit the "asking why" phase. He's been following me around asking about everything. I enjoy his curiosity and his sense of humor. He is so easy-going and happy.

One of my favorite times of day is right before the boys go to bed. We whip out the in-your-face-character jammies. (I can handle them at night :)

Baden has the best belly and it tends to hang out like Winnie the Poo's. I love it.

Wrestling is a nightly event that can't be skipped. It's amazing how happy little boys get when you throw them around.

And then they go to bed. Then I get to hang out with my husband. I like him a lot :)

Thanks for reading.

Soapbox Saturday - Kiwi Crates

2012-05-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

We were recently sent a little package from Kiwi Crate to review. Kiwi Crate is a subscription that sends your kids a fun project in a package once a month. It's intended for kids ages 3-7.

The first thing they have going to them is the fact that they send your kids something in the mail. What kid doesn't LOVE mail? Rex and Baden were so excited that something had arrived for them.

The next thing I liked was that the package contains everything in it that you need for the projects. There is nothing required from your own supplies. It's really nice to have a fun activity for kids minus the planning and mess.

Our box had two little projects in it. There were tops with papers you could color to go on them. The boys loved it. Rex would color a bit and then see what it looked like when it was spinning. Then he'd color some more and try it out again.

Both boys got giddy watching their designs spin.

The activities come with pretty instructions, including things to ask your children to help them learn as they play.

The second activity was really cute too.

The kit was a hit here and I think it would be a really fun gift for any child to receive. You can find out more about Kiwi Crate HERE.

Thanks for dropping in.

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review, but just given the package to review. The opinions are mine.

Five Finds Friday

2012-05-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here are five things I loved in blogland this week.

1) Check out these Color Block Planters from East Coast Creative Blog posted at Infarrantly Creative. Aren't they so fun? What a great entry way look! Read more about them HERE.

2) And I can't help myself.

The same blog (East Coast Creative Blog) showed off THIS adorable room redo. The multicolored houndstooth is pretty fun. See more pictures HERE.

3) This one was a few weeks ago, but I forgot to share it. I blog over at I Love to Create twice a month and they have a line up of other crafters sharing ideas as well. These bleach art tees by Maya in the Moment were so fun I had to share them with you. It's not just bleaching, but dyeing them again with others colors. You can see all the fun ideas/combos she did HERE.

4) Did you know you can customize washi tape super easily? I didn't until I saw THIS POST (via UCreate) by Omiyage Blogs. My mind is whirling now :)

5) I am dying to try this baby out. This idea is from Hostess With the Motzes (found via Someday Crafts). We don't need one quite this big yet, but I think this idea is brilliant. No bikes come with kick stands these days and bikes take up way too much room when they are lying on the ground. Get the details HERE.

I love the blogging world. It's so fun to share ideas. Thanks for stopping by here.

The Office/Craft Room Reveal

2012-05-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Several months ago I started redesigning our office to be my crafting area. We moved the piano out of it and put the piano where the dining room table was. We sold the dining room table and I used that money as my budget to redo both areas. Well, you've seen the completed entryway, and today I'm showing you the newly finished office.

When you enter the front door of our home, the office sits on the left, with these french doors leading to it. I vowed to my husband that I would keep this area clean so it wouldn't be an eye sore to entering guests. So far so good :)

Here's the view as you walk in.

And here's the view as you turn towards the left. Now I'll break it all down for you.

The built-ins were already here when we purchased the home. They hold a lot, which makes it easier to keep the whole area clean.

This is where I blog. I finally bought a Mac again a little less than a year ago and I am in love with it. I gave up my old laptop and the freedom that went with it, but a desktop is always less expensive and has a way bigger screen.

The "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" sign was posted HERE.

I bought this little pen holder at a boutique in New York.

The decor on the high shelf is from a Utah store, TaiPan (though I think they've branched out to other locations a bit).

You might remember the framed objects wall from HERE. I did keep the red knob red. (Thanks for the advice :)

I also already posted about the embellished roller shades HERE.

The recliner was more about price than form. We purchased the least expensive one we could find (ShopKo). I selfishly wanted to buy one so that my husband would sit by me while I blog in the evening. It's fun to have him close by so I can get his opinion or show him things. He surfs the net or reads.

You saw the film projector turned lamp HERE and the painted doily nesting tables HERE.

As you turn to the left.....

...there's the desk I refinished HERE and my sewing area. My father-in-law had this awesome chair in his basement and he let me have it. I love it. I thought about painting it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it because it was in such great condition.

You saw the window-turned-picture-frame HERE.

My mother-in-law gave me these cool things (not sure what they are called) a while ago and I thought they looked pretty with thread in them.

I picked up the wooden box at an antique shop and the lamp is from Hobby Lobby.

The curtains were my sister's but she wasn't using them. Score. I added a stripe of black and taupe to the bottom to make them long enough for the room. I love the fabric. (If you're going to ask, she bought it for around $4 a yard over a year ago at a local shop here that doesn't carry it anymore. Sorry!)

And that's the new office/craft room! It's so nice to be on the main floor close to where all the action is. It's also been helpful to have everything in one room (computer and crafting). I'm really glad we switched it all up. It makes it really functional.

Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to Tatertots and Jello

Wake Up Wednesday

2012-05-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last week's challenge was to send some gloves to a brownie troop. (Read more about that HERE.) We gathered up some gently used ones, but we haven't sent them off yet because we wanted to buy a few more. I can't wait for those sweet girls to start receiving packages. They will be so excited!

This week's challenge is to do a small kind act EVERY day for someone in your life. It's meant to be an act to show that person you are thinking about them.

I am planning on doing this challenge for my husband. It's really easy for me to do little things for my boys and even for others around me, but I feel like my poor husband often falls to the wayside. Do you ever feel like that?

photo by Katie Dudley

It can be easy to forget the consistent pillars in your life. The act might not be huge. It might be a text during the day or picking up his favorite treat. It might be doing a job that he doesn't want to do. I'm excited to plan it out.

[Source]

So, did anyone get to send some gloves? I'd love to hear about your experience. These are always me most favorite comments to read. Thanks for being here.

What You Can Transform with Paint

2012-05-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today's post is a rerun, meaning it's something I posted on someone else's blog a long time ago, but never posted it here. I needed a little break, to be honest. It won't be a rerun week, just a rerun day. Thanks!

Today I thought it would be fun to show you some things you might not think to paint. Here are two examples.

Case #1: You fall in LOVE with this pillow from Ikea. It has the black, gray, and white you are using in your bedroom, but it doesn't have that mustard yellow you wanted to bring in as an accent. Bummer!

Solution? Paint some of it that mustard yellow. Get out a nice small paint brush and some acrylic paint and pick some of the shapes or lines to fill in. (Depending on the colors, it may take a few coats.)

Ta-dah! Now it looks like the pillow was made for this room, just like you wanted it to.

Case #2: You are searching for just the right rug that will bring all the colors together in your front room. You've found your dream rug, but it's $1800 and that's not in the budget. You see this really cute one at Target, but it doesn't have that main shade of dark blue that you're using all over the room.

Solution? Buy it and paint it. This rug has loops, so painting it will feel more like blotting on the paint with a brush rather than using brush strokes. Once again, pick a select area to alter and go for it. Pull back the loops you don't want to paint with your fingers as you go. If you need a specific color, you can get ANY color mixed as a sample for around $3. Or, you might have leftover paint from the walls you could use.

Can you tell which parts have been painted? No?

What if I give you a closer look?

It's the darker blue. You're probably wondering if it's going to feel a bit crusty. Well, if you rub the whole rug with your fingers you can feel a slight stiffness where the paint is, but I guarantee that you can't tell when walking on it with bare feet.

What else can be painted? Pretty much anything. My mom painted some floral-printed wing back chairs she had when she changed the decor of the room but didn't want to buy new chairs. Same method. She just changed some of the flowers' colors. I wish I had a picture of those for you, but they are long gone.

I've painted shoes, cardboard, and even undies. I once let my kids paint themselves. Yeah, I love paint. It can transform almost anything. So, take a look around. What is asking for a coat of paint?

Thanks for reading.

Mustache Baby Shower

2012-05-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I got to host a baby shower for one of my friends. I gave her a few theme options for the shower and she picked mustaches since she's having a boy. That was great because I already had some mustache things and ideas from when Rex had that mustache fetish.

She opted to have the shower be an open house, which I think is always nice for everyone. People could stop in when they wanted to. Because of the open house style, it was a little tricky to think up some games. I bought some butcher paper and drew this baby so people could play "Pin the 'Stache on the Baby."

I also surfed the net for some famous mustaches and put out this "Name That 'Stache" game that people could play at leisure. The red paper flipped up if you needed help guessing it.

I made mustaches suckers for people to take home.

I put floral foam in the bottom of this crate I have and set scrapbook paper over the foam. Then I just shoved the suckers into the foam.

I didn't take a picture of the food tables until most of the food was gone. Oops.

I went with red and turquoise, since I already had a lot of things those colors.

I also picked the wrong time of day to get a good picture here, but I strung up some onesies that I did freezer paper stencils and appliqués on.

And I had some brown vinyl, so I cut out a ton of mustaches on my Silhouette and stuck them on the cups for fun.

I wish I could show you pictures of all the people there, but I never want to just post pictures of people here without asking permission. I bought a few packs of mustaches at the dollar store. Even the older ladies were sporting them. It was seriously funny.

Lastly, the mother-to-be and her husband brought their computer and set up a photo both for the guests. They set it up in the entry way so people could take their pictures as they came in. It actually kind of doubled as a guest book, which will be so fun for them to have.

And there you have it. The shower was fun and now we just have to wait for her little guy to make an appearance.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sunshine Sunday - being called mom

2012-05-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today I am extra grateful to be called by "mom" by this little guy....

...and this little guy.

They are so different.

One would like to save the world and fight bad guys. One would prefer to be locked in a small room with only mommy and daddy in it.

One will snuggle me anytime. One will run every time I say the work snuggle.

One will do anything in this world for a toy. One will do anything in this world for food.

But, both were meant for me and bring me inexplicable joy. Both call me "mom."

Happy Mother's Day. Thanks for reading.

Soapbox Saturday - Cost Plus World Market

2012-05-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we took a little trip over to Cost Plus World Market to do a little Mother's Day shopping (for me!). It's a store I love because it has a huge variety of beautiful, unique things. And if you still need to get a mother's day present, it's the place to go. Here's what caught my eye. (Actually about 40 things caught my eye, but I deleted some so this post wouldn't be ridiculously long :)

They have really cute jewelry.

If my ears were pierced I totally would have snagged these.

I am a sucker for pretty scarves.

They have cute knobs just waiting to makeover a dresser.

I love this pretty mirror (and the man reflected in it and the kid in the cart with the fire hat on).

Aren't these baskets adorable? I just wanted to scoop them all up.

Look at this pretty, rustic table. Beautiful.

I think these poof things are so cute. They make great photo props.

My grandma used to have some towels like this. I am totally digging their vintage feel.

Still haven't found a mother's day gift? It's super easy to make a great basket there....

...and stuff it full of tasty, imported treats.

These glass cloches would also make a great gift.

And I love these classic dishes.

They even have really cute chalkboard labels and these other fun labels, too.

So, what did I decide to take home? The classic white dishes. (I know! It was really hard to decide.) The dishes we've been using since we were married are super heavy and really big. I decided it was time to consolidate and get some dishes the boys and we could both use. I am really excited to have something so timeless.

And they had these smaller bowls that I thought would be perfect for the boys' cereal.

So thank you Cost Plus World Market. I love your store!

And right now they are doing an awesome sweepstakes and the grand prize is a trip for 2 to Rio de Janeiro. It's ends in a few days. Will one of you please win and take me with you? :) Read more about it HERE. Plus, they are giving away a $100 gift card to a facebook fan each day. Find Cost Plus World Market HERE on facebook and HERE on Twitter.

Thanks for reading.

Disclosure: I was given a Cost Plus World Market gift card and no other compensation. The opinions are all mine and I just think this place rocks.

Five Finds Friday

2012-05-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Alright. It's time to spread the love as I show you five things I found in blogland this week that were awesome.

1) Heather from Dragonfly Designs made these adorable super hero beads (and even sent us some, which my boys were crazy about.) We made two into bracelets already and the boys have begging me to let them buy clay make some too. You can even enter a giveaway she has going on with them HERE. Thanks Heather!

2) Ashley at Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night (who I met at Snap and oh was she cute) had this cute and inexpensive teacher appreciation idea.

I really like ideas like this because you don't have to spend a lot, but it's also actually something a teacher can really use. (Random Sidenote: I'm not a big fan of things that are weird gifts, but have cute sayings to go with.) You can find her printable and read more about the idea HERE.

3) This awesome vintage sign that Char from Crap I've Made put on her daughter's pallet bed is so fun. I never really thought to paint on medal. You can read more about it HERE.

4) Sarah from Welcome to the Good Life dyed her jeans. You might have a great fit, but not the color you love, so dye them! (Sidenote: Sarah is an amazing seamstress and has some incredible refashions and creations. She has a really fun style too. Check her out.) You can find her post HERE.

5) Check out these time-out glitter bottles from My Crazy Blessed Life. When the glitter settles the time out is over. It's soothing to the child. Hmmmm......if this could make my kids quiet during their time outs instead of screaming that would be AWESOME. I might have to give it a try. Find the tutorial HERE.

Sweet stuff, huh? I love blogland. There's always something amazing to find.

Thanks for stopping by.

Scrap Garland

2012-05-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

This weekend I'm having a baby shower for a friend. I've tried to make some decorations without breaking the bank. Here's one thing I made that didn't cost me a thing and it was really quick to make. It's this scraptastic garland. (Sorry. I once worked as an office manager at a scrapbook company and we put the word "scrap" into every word we could think of. We had some time to kill :)

I was able to use up some scraps I had and create a colorful, fun decoration. I really like free.

I dumped out my scrap bin and tried to pick some fabrics that would kind of coordinate.

Then I cut them into different shapes. I used my rotary cutter and did it all quickly without measuring anything. None of it needs to be perfect, so no need to stress.

After I cut up all the pieces I saw how wrinkled they were. Ugh.

So, I ironed them and mixed them up.

The sewing is the fun part because you just run the machine and feed in piece after piece. I left a little space between each piece.

There's also no proper seam allowance. I did some closer to edge like this one and others almost an inch in. I liked the random feel of it.

Then just string it up. Voila.

I made a few chains of it. (If you're going to ask about the pantry doors go HERE.)

I should add that the garland can serve multiple purposes. If your child is misbehaving at the party, it can really come in handy.

So, if you have scraps to use up and a party to throw, you're set.

Thanks for dropping in.

Wake Up Wednesday

2012-05-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

It's Wednesday! Yay! (I thought we needed a logo for it, so I made one.) Last week's challenge was to report a job well done. I found an email address for customer service at Waste Management so I could write a thank you to them regarding our awesome garbageman. Hopefully it will be passed onto him, but if not we have other plans to say thank you to him.

This week's challenge is....

a very specific one. You see, there is a small group of little girls in Kansas and they are trying hard to to good things. Kayla is one of them.

She and her Brownie troop decided that they wanted to collect gloves for those in need. They have a goal to collect 300 pairs. They are collecting all types and sizes. They can be new or gently used. Her mother said this is a great time to buy gloves because they are on clearance.

So this week's challenge is to send some gloves to their troop. They have had some trouble getting their project off the ground. I think it would be pretty awesome to help them out. Wouldn't it be fun to help them see the power they have and the good they can do? Just check for some gloves at the store you're in or see if you have any your children have outgrown. It's a little thing, but I think it could make a big difference. Here's the address to send them to:

Good For Gloves
PO Box 23
Mulvane, KS 67110

(And if you have questions you can shoot an email to goodforgloves@gmail.com.)

So, did anyone get a chance to report a job well done? I'd love to hear about your experience. These are always my most favorite comments to read. Thanks for being here.

A Freezer Paper Stencil Party

2012-05-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

The other day we celebrated my niece's birthday. She's a crafty one, so I thought it would be fun to let all the kids make their own t-shirts. It was a little messy, but it was a real hit with the kids. I think freezer paper stenciling would be an awesome activity for birthday parties. Just cut some stencils ahead of time and purchase shirts for $3. It beats the little party favors that no one really wants at the end :)

I cut several kinds of stencils and let the kids pick. After searching around the internet for the best images of all the things they are into, I discovered something awesome. When looking for images, search for pumpkin stencils. Why? Because there are a lot to choose from AND they are all one-piece stencils. (That means there are no little pieces to fit into it like the circle in the middle of the letter "o" and all the little pieces you end up having to add on regular stencils.)

For example, here are some sweet ones I found that way. See? All one piece once you cut out the black. Love it.

If you've never done freezer paper stenciling, I have a video tutorial for it HERE that will answer all your questions. (Shortened version: Print out your image, use a craft knife to cut it out, iron it onto the shirt shiny side down, paint it, let it dry, remove the stencil, and heat set your paint by placing a thin cloth over it and ironing it for 30-40 seconds.)

If you do a party, you might want to iron the stencils down for the kids and then let them paint the shirt. To make things easier, I recommend using dark paint on light-colored shirts. If you use something light like yellow on navy blue, you'll need lots of coats. That can get tricky with kids.

After all the painting and fun, here are some of the shirts we made. My brother-in-law wanted this one. Hee, hee.

We had a lot of Avenger ones like the one I made Rex last week. I made Rex a Star Wars one.

We also did a robot.

And everyone was pretty excited about their new shirt at the end.

Thanks for reading.

The Newly Painted Faux-Armoire

2012-05-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

So I did it. I painted the faux-armoire. This is what it used to look like.

This is what it now looks like.

Here's how it went down. We removed the doors.

I sanded it down with 220 sandpaper, making sure that it didn't shine anymore.

Then I used Glidden's Gripper primer and gave it two coats.

Then I painted it what was supposed to be the final color and guess what - I hated it. Bummer. I was thinking a pale grayish-tan would be nice, but it was super pale and almost felt white. It wasn't that far off from the primer. I decided it needed more contrast.

The good thing was that I didn't have to go through all the steps again. I just added a layer of a darker color and called it done. The paint has a satin finish, which should allow me to wipe to clean when necessary. I did not do a coat of poly over it nor do I plan to.

The actual painting was done with a Purdy brush for the recessed areas and a foam roller for the rest. I wish I could have sprayed it, but taping off that whole area would just be too much. It turned out pretty well though.

Here's the wide view as you enter our home.

And if you're just joining my blog, here are links to the other things you see in the picture: faux armoire explained, stenciled wall (with a stencil from Royal Design Studio), grass is greener sign, aqua pew, front room reveal.

Thanks for stopping by. I have a few fun announcements tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Linking to Tatertots and Jello.

Sunshine Sunday - monkeys on the bed, my bum, and teamwork

2012-05-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

I love having a lazy Sunday morning. Last week these little monkeys put on a jumping show for me. I love it when they actually want me to take pictures of them, because it's so rare. They love checking out their poses and moves on the camera screen.

This week Rex gave me a great laugh. He was watching me as I was searching what had been pinned from my site. It was the day we posted the Avenger tee. I showed him the screen and explained that when people really like something they pin it. "See how much they like your shirt?"

(Sidenote: My most pinned post on Pinterest is THIS post about sewing elastic into the back of my pants to avoid the gaping back. It spread like wildfire and if I would have known that I might have picked a bum double :)

So, he's seeing all the pins of his shirt, but also noticing all the pictures of my bum. "So, why does everybody like your bum, Mom?" Ha! I'm not sure why, honey.

Lastly, I love it when my boys want to help out. Sometimes it takes a lot longer, but it makes me happy that they want to try. So, how many boys does it take to vacuum the back of a car? One to vacuum and one to sit close for moral support and cover his ears.

I hope you're having a great weekend. See you tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.