crafting

Christmas is a time for pulling out that machine of yours and making some goods!  Although, I'm loathe to admit I'm not making anything for my girls this year.  I am hoping ("hoping" being a key word) to knit this sweet blanket for my third-born.

**source**

 I imagine it in creams and blues and greys.  Does that say anything??  I have a wonderful boy name picked out... but, no girl name.  Sweet little Ruby (my fav) just got eternally x-nayed by Trav.  Boo.  Back to the drawing board.

Anyhow, I've been making some fun things I thought I'd share.  I just completed a beautiful nativity cross-stitch (that I began in August!) and am working on getting it matted and framed.  I spent a lot of time on this puppy, so I don't mind spending a pretty penny to have it nicely preserved.  Yet, when I got my first quote this morning of $220, I was quite taken aback!  I need to shop around some more, I see...  I'll share a photo soon of the framed piece.

This easy project is fun, fast, and personal.  I have three neighbor ladies that are dearer than dear to me.  We all live within four homes of one another and have the same aged children.  We watch each others' kids at the drop of a hat, trade date night babysitting, watch monitors, come over for no reason, share recipes.  These women are why I LOVE base housing.  We also all love our Canon DSLRs.

The camera strap tutorial I used is found here.  I ordered the hardwear off of Amazon for under $5.  I also purchased a quarter yard of fabric each, but you could probably get away with 1/8 of a yard.  Easy to make and fun to wear.

And what's that in the background??  Why, it's our felt advent tree!  The same pattern that my parents used as we children were growing up.  We use this fabulous book, Family Celebrations, as our guide through Advent.  Not only does the book have the pattern for the tree and each symbol, but it also has ideas on how to form family traditions for Valentine's Day, Easter, Pentecost, birthdays, Independence Day, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, and more Christmas.

The devotionals are short, yet Scripture-packed & very centered on Christ and why it is so necessary that He came into the world to save us.  True to my memory (as we did this very tree every year growing up), our little women love our family Advent time in the evening.

(Bottom (L-R): Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Word, He made all things,  our sinful hearts need Him, His sacrifice is why He came.
Top (L-R): He is the light of the World, God's greatest gift to us is Jesus, God's love is why He sent Jesus)

Welp, that's what I have for now, folks.  Must get on to dinner-making, and laundry folding.  Thanks, as always, for tuning in.  Love ya.

pretties

For my couch.

Very fall-y.

Big Bow pillow cover.

For my camera.

Very trendy.

(but who can resist the saffron chevron??)

Camera strap pattern.
Fabric from Hobby Lobby.

For dinner.

Very yummy.

Hummus Melts

I love to create.

But mostly, I love that other people let me borrow their

patterns and recipes.  Makes life so much easier.

sidewalk fun

I don't know about you, but I struggle with letting my kids craft - for a number of reasons:
(1) Summer eats crayons
(2) Summer eats chalk
(3) Summer eats everything
(4) Bella is clumsy
(5) I have carpet virtually everywhere in my home
(6) I don't like to clean unnecessary messes

The problem is: Bella is her father's child and LOVES art.  I usually limit coloring/painting to Summer's nap time, and if I'm in a good mood, I'll allow Bella to help me bake.

Yet.... I found a solution.  We tried it out today and it was quite the hit.  Of course, it also took place during Summer's nap time (see Reason #3), but it was pleasantly successful.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint.  Of course, I didn't make this recipe up on my own accord.  Pinterest is to thank.  Pinterest is ALWAYS to thank.  

The girl (and best friend neighbor) enjoyed herself immensely.  There was little to no clean up involved.  And now I have beautifully decorated sidewalks and driveway.  And I got a bit of a tan while watching the kids explore their inner artist.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup water

1 cup corn starch

food coloring

Mix the water and startch.  Separate into muffin slots and add food coloring.  Wa-la.

It's really kinda fun.  Go try it!

(My smiley face that Bella dubbed "Mama")

a lil' more of my home

Projects are a MUST when deployments are the thing.  They give me something to do in the evenings... something to keep my mind busy and engaged.  I've been making lots of changes in our little home.  We painted the green wall to a nice, calm blue - which, as I've slowly learned - is a good color for a wall.  Allows for more changes to be made when one decorates.

Decorating has never been my thing.  I'm not an owner of an artsy eye.  The internet is my sole inspiration.  That, and creative/artsy friends.  Some may call me creative.  I call myself a copy-cat.  And a person who just keeps going until I've got what I like... which may involve lots of "mistakes."

That said, here is my latest change: the "mantel" in our home.  We don't have a fireplace, so I like to use the top of our entertainment center as a decorating spot.  Previously here was a mirror and Easter decor.  The above pic is what it looks like now.  Here is where my inspiration sprung from:

The yarn-wrapped letters and painted ribbon: HERE

The yarn pom poms: HERE

(and old books from the thrift store have always been my go-to decor)

a favorite verse, gifted from my sister.  I believe her inspiration was from HERE.

photos in a mason jar: HERE.

All in all, I like my new set up.  I'll show more of another home project later this week.  After I figure out how to hang things straightly without another to yell: to the left!  No, more to the right!  Now, UP an inch!

two things

1. Bella gave me the greatest gift this past week.  Up until now, she's been potty trained for just over a year.  But not at night.  The girl has ALWAYS woken up with a sopping diaper.  None of this "half-dry" stuff... when she's out, she's OUT.  I had tried training her through the night about 6 months ago, but all that produced was lots of frustration for me, extra laundry, and an upset child.  I had decided I would take another go at it once Travis deployed (soon).  To say I have been dreading this step is a MAJOR understatement.

Until one week ago.  Bella came in our room in the morning and announced she "stayed dry!!"  Mm-hmm.  I've heard that before.  Lo and behold, the girl was correct!!  I was astounded.  The next night, the same result.  And the next, and the next, and the next.  Finally, two nights ago, I put panties on her.  Come morning, DRY.  I couldn't BE HAPPIER.  Trav doesn't quite understand my enthusiasm, but then again, he's never potty trained. Or cleaned pee pee sheets every night for 2 weeks in a row.  Bella June, this is the greatest gift ever given.  Thank you, Sweets.

2. I found some great fabric to make into new throw pillows for our couch.  The fabric was a steal of a deal!  Ready to hear where I purchased it??

for:

&

+

for:

 (each)

If you don't normally buy fabric, I would say $5/yard is a pretty good price.  I don't usually buy fabric full price, unless I absolutely need to.  Seeing these shower curtains and body pillow covers on sale at Target was perfect.  I loved all three fabrics and, if I'm doing my math right, each was about $2.24/yard.  That's a steal of a deal!!  Moral of the story: look for fabric deals in all the WRONG places.

The pillow covers I'm dreaming up will look something like these:

(1)

(2) I like the striped one.

I'll check back when I'm finished!!  Happy Monday to you all.

sew crazy

This time of year always gets a little crazy.  Lots of birthdays (10 from March til June) in our families and lots of babies being born.  One of my best friends just had her first baby on Friday the 13th... a sweet boy, Axel.  Sooo... I've been busy making use of all my scrap fabrics.  The more I sew, the more I love it.  Since my camera is lost... here's a board of some of the projects I've been gifting:

scrap dress, super-hero capes, appliqued onesies

I have WAAAY too many friends that own sewing machines, but don't know how to use them.  I'm thinking of hosting a Sewing: 101 class at my house for such friends.  Teach them the basics: how to thread a machine, spin a bobbin, sew a straight seam, etc.  Sewing can be such an outlet for creativity and then, when one becomes more adept, it actually is helpful in saving money (making gifts instead of buying!) and a very rewarding art.

What do you think?  Would you come if I hosted such an event?

sprucing it up for the girls

I had to go get Bella some new t's the other day.  I scoured thrift stores to no avail... practically NO 4T shirts.  :(  She was wearing mostly 2T with some 3T and, with the way she's growing... her cute little tummy was enjoying all it's "face" time.  I bit the bullet and headed to Target.  I RARELY spend full price on clothes for any one of our family members, but the girl needed shirts!

She LOVES Thomas...

I bought some plain ones and then we passed the more "expensive" graphic t-shirts (i.e. $8-$15/shirt).  She eyed this Thomas the Train top and went bazerk.  The girl LOVES Thomas!!  I gave in and bought it for her... and it's her new favorite.  I've been finding that most of the boys' clothing is more suitable to my taste.  The shirts don't have words like "Flirt", "Cutie", "Sassy" littered on the chest.  And they also don't have Dora, Barbie, princesses and the like sprinkled on every surface.  Sometimes it's hard to just find a good, plain t!!

Anyways, I wanted to make the Thomas shirt a bit girly for Bella... and it was simple!

Before shot.
She does the mug look perfectly.

I decided I wanted to feminize the sleeves a bit.  The sides would be cute altered, as well, but I was trying to get this done before Mom's Day Out, so I was short on time.

1. I simply sewed a straight line up the top side of the sleeve, matching with the shoulder seams.  You're going to be gathering this seam, so set your stitch length to the longest setting.  On my machine, it's a 4.

2. I stitched to about an inch from the shoulder seam.  Remember not to backstitch at either end!!  Looking back now, I'd probably sew all the way to the shoulder seam, but it's really up to you.  Once you're finished, you're going to gather the seam.  Gathering means taking the the thread at the bottom and pulling it softly, until the fabric gathers.  Once you've got the fabric gathered to your taste, tie a knot at the bottom of the sleeve to keep the gather in place.

3.  Set your stitch length back to 2 (or whatever is normal for you) and stitch OVER the gathered seam to set it.  Backstitch at both ends now.  Clip excess threads.

4.  You could end here, but I decided I wanted to add little red bows, too.

5.  Wa-la!!  A cutesy, boyish tee... perfect for my Belle...

who doesn't...

...want her picture taken...

...ANYMORE!!!

Finished product

one thing I love in my home

My brother-in-law looked at me quizzically, as I lovingly smoothed the puckered lines on my quilt.  "So you really like sewing and putting a quilt together??" his low voice boomed in my unequivocally feminine guest room.  I giggled as I looked at my quilts.  "No, I mean, wow... that's cool.  I would just think, 'What a waste of time!' if someone told me I had to make a blanket."

"James!"  Betsy protected my feelings.

Laughing again, I reassured him.  "No, I totally get it.  Just the same way I think your watching hours of basketball is a complete waste of time."  We all laughed now.  "Yes, I love sewing.  I love putting a quilt together.  Mind you, not every step is a dream come true.  The sewing is long.  The piecing is laborious.  But, the outcome is what I love most."

"Why?"  he probed, dumbfounded that anyone could love a silly blanket so much.

Hmmm... "I love unique things.  Homemade quilts are never something you can just run to Bed, Bath & Beyond and pick up for $50.  Each one is unique and special.  I love that they last - unlike a silly basketball game - and are handed down through the years.  I love the color, the feel of the fabric, the warmth.  I love the stories that they tell.  The memories that they hold.  See here?  This quilt that I just made already has memories..."

"This is a from a dress I made Bella for her 2nd 4th of July..."

"And this, from another dress I made Bella."

"And this, THIS needs no explaining..."  :-)

"The backing is an old Seasame Street vintage sheet I found at a thrift store.

I knew the girls would love it.  So soft and worn."

Quilts have a way with me.  They bring out my ever-hiding romanticky side.  My quilts are never perfect.  And some of them are tied with yarn because I simply cannot quilt with my cheap sewing machine.  But, each one is loved, used, and adds that bit of color I so love in a home.  

Random pieces, memorable scraps: a perfect red-and-white picnic blanket for the summer.  We can't wait to use it!

State canvases: revealed! and a tute

I finally finished touching up my state canvases and hung them on the wall this afternoon.  Bella and Summer both made me feel so crafty and proud of myself as we walked up the stairs to nap time.  Bella exclaiming, "Look Mom!  Look at the wall!" and Summer cooing, "Oooohhh..." while trying to knock every last one of them off.

These were so fun and super easy.  You don't have to be "crafty" to finish one, just be able to hold a paint brush and make some fine lines.  :)  Read to get started??  Here's what you'll need:

- canvas.  I chose 10"x10".  $5.99 + 30% off at Hobby Lobby.
- pencil
- scissors
- paint brushes/sponge.  Preferably paint brushes in varying sizes, especially a small/fine tipped one.
- acrylic paint of your color scheme.


Alright, first off, this could be used for any household, but it's special to us military folk since we move around so much.  The 4 states I chose are states that we've lived in together.  I did choose to leave out Washington state, seeing as we were only there for 3 weeks after we were hitched, and we lived in a hotel all the while.  Nevertheless, Trav thinks I should make one for Washington, so I'll humor him as I use it as a mock tutorial.

STEP ONE: get on your computer and google "Washington state outline".  Or whatever state you're choosing.  Find one that fits appropriately on your canvas and print it out.  My states are not all scaled to the same size.  I simply chose ones that were around the same size and went with it.

STEP TWO: once your state is printed, cut around the perimeter of the state, being careful to get all those river-y/coastal borders (or if you're choosing Colorado, you're spoiled).

STEP THREE: use a small piece of tape to position the state as you would like it on your canvas.  Then, trace around it lightly with a pencil.

I'm totally not doing Washington now JUST because of all those islands and inlets!!
Crazy town...

STEP FOUR: once you have your penciled state outline, decide what color scheme you'd like to use and paint!  I used my sponge brush for the majority of the canvas and then really zeroed in on the borders with my fine-tipped brush.  I also painted the states white, even though the background was already white, just to keep in accordance with the texture.

STEP FIVE: let dry and do a double coat/touch-ups with the paint.  One coat wasn't enough to give a full coverage, so I found that two seemed sufficient and made the states "pop" a bit more.

Where we both grew up and met.
Never stationed in CA, but it's our dream!

STEP SIX: place a heart where you live{d}/were stationed, etc.

Where Bella was conceived... :)

STEP SEVEN: I added the names of the towns on the side, just for kicks... feel free to personalize it any other way you would choose!

Where both our girls were born...

STEP EIGHT: nail a bracket on the back and hang for decoration!  As you can probably guess, my lines are not perfect, and I'm sure the shape of the states are a bit off, but with the bold colors, the white stands stark and you'd never know unless you looked really close.

Enjoy your new decor!

maps

I like maps.

The whole globe craze has become rather popular, but I love those too.

It's something about all the colors, the ability to see where/how everything is laid out across the world, the dreams of adventure...

+

I like Pinterest.

Betwixt the two, I've dreamt up many a good idea of how to add more map-like ideas into my home.  Here are some of my favorite pins, and my most recent project!

1.

1. Need some major art, but are low on cash?  Maps!  Such a great pop of color and I love how she added "Joy to the World" splashed across.  Beautiful.  

2.

2. A great way to reuse old maps!  Glue them to a magnetic back and create a fun magnet mural on the fridge.

3.

3. Another sweet way to reuse all those old, outdated road maps.  Glue them to some cork board.  Then pinpoint all the special places in the region.  Methinks I must do this...

4.

4. LOVE.

5.

5. This has to be one of my favorites... and another MUST do.  Isn't is grand?

My latest project stems from this sweet pin:

6.

I'd like to learn how to embroider, but until then, I did a variation on this theme... many of my military friends would love this idea as well!  

A teaser, cell phone pic

Come back tomorrow for the final reveal and steps on how to make your own...

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.