I’ve been feeling the craft bug lately. If I had my way I would let my kids destroy the house and gorge themselves on peeps while I sat happily crafting away. Luckily, Gideon will entertain himself fairly well, so I’ve been working on projects during Ashelyn’s nap time. Here are a few things I’ve been up to…
I made this wreath a few weeks ago. (Excuse the super saturated-ness… the sun was shining right in on it when I was snapping the pic) I just bought a foam wreath form from Michaels for about $6 and went nuts with the hot glue gun. :o) I bought the moss at Dollar Tree and it took about a half bag to cover the whole thing (only $1/bag… so $.50). The little roses are actually made out of streamers($.50/roll…I bought 3 colors.) I found the tutorial for those here. I had originally planned on doing the entire thing in roses and then quickly got tired of burning my fingers and decided any more roses would just be TOO much for me to handle. So I added the little frame (Also from Dollar Tree… it was gross bronze, I painted it antique white. $1) ripped off the back, glued on a piece of cute scrapbook paper and added some vinyl I cut out. (Everyone should have their very own vinyl cutter…I’m just saying.) Whole thing cost me $8!
Here’s a better view of the little flowers and the frame….
I had been wanting a new table square for in my kitchen. I wanted something simple and decided to choose two fabrics I love, sew them together and make a reversible cloth! Well, much to my luck, when I went up to the quilt shop to pick fabric, my fabulous mother in law (of youTube fame) just whipped it right up for me! So I got to come home and put it right on my table…. Thanks Jenny.
In case you wondered… I chose Anna Maria Horner’s Fortune for one side (pictured) and Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane- Swing Toss in Pink for the other. Love it!!! Then after making Jake’s congrats banner, I decided I’d make an Easter one.
Jake gave me a hard time since it’s not capitalized…
”So the resurrection of the Savior doesn’t call for a capital E?”

Honestly, I didn’t even notice until he said it, but now I sort of hate it because Easter certainly SHOULD require capitalization… What was I thinking?!

So now I’m trying to finish making Ashelyn a slip to go under her Easter dress, prepping all the stuff to dye eggs with the kids once Jake is home, and making lots of yummy Easter treats.

Happy Easter!!!

Here you are cousin… the Christmas Jammies!

Ya… I made those. I’m pretty awesome. :) I’m actually still finishing up appliquéing a T-shirt to go with Gid man’s little flannel pants. I have to admit I’m pleased as punch with these little jammers. And plus, they showed me that 1.) I can in fact read a pattern. 2.) I can successfully make a button hole when I read my sewing machine’s instruction book, and 3.) I REALLY REALLY love my new sewing machine!

Oh shoot, I never blogged about that! But, I got a sewing machine. It’s awesome and has flowers on it, not all over or anything, but umm, I’ll take a picture! I <3 it!

Hey all!

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! We sure did around here. Unfortunately, I now have to spend the EN.TIRE.DAY cleaning my house that was neglected over the holiday.

For a wrap-up: I bought something REALLY AWESOME... and we went CAMPING... and I have lots of great pictures to share after I finish uploading and editing.

Until then, here is my latest jewelry creation:

So this is as far as I've gotten on Ashelyn's room. I know, I know... So much left to do. I still need to hang her letters, and make something like this:
(only I hate the polka dots on the houndstooth... TOO BUSY.) to hold all of her hair bows. Also in the works is refinishing the crib, making a new pillowcase & quilt, spray-painting a lamp & revamping the shade, and I'm also on the hunt for a cool rug. Also, the flower thing that is dangling above her crib is going to be joined with more in various sizes and colors as well as a paper lantern or two for fun.

Gideon's room is about to be tackled as well! Jake is going to build him a loft bed and he's going to have an EXPLORER theme. It's gonna rock. I love projects!

So here's the deal... Ashelyn doesn't have a dresser.

The only drawers she has to hold ALL. HER. CLOTHES. are the two found at the bottom of the changing table that was given to us a few months after she was born. I didn't snap a before picture (Why? Because this happened during my no camera phase.) but let me lay it out there for you.

1. It was made of white MDF.
2. It had the most hideous gold plastic handles in the history of the world.
3. It was a giant blessing at the time.

How it stayed in it's original form until Ashelyn was 14 months old is BEYOND me. If anything I could have just changed those REDONKULOUS handles. But, I didn't. And that brings us to the present.

My sister in law Natalie stopped by to visit us one morning and Jake told her about my letters, so I led her to Ashelyn's room and showed them to her. She says, "Wow, I had that same changing table.... but I changed the handles." I'm internally bowing my head in shame while saying, "Ya, I've been wanting to paint it." and right here folks is when I realize that I have the best sister in laws a girl could ask for. Nat made a very good point... "So paint it. If you hate it now, how much worse can it get?"

Well, holy smokes. Why didn't I think of it THAT way!?

So you can bet your bums I went and did that RIGHT away.


And the projects continue....

I know, you guys probably thought I was lying about all those projects I've been talking about. It's TRUE. I swear. I'm busy. I have STUFF. I have an addiction. An addiction to paint. Mostly of the spray paint variety, but any paint will do. So, a lot of the projects have involved that. Anyways, let me begin.

My mom was gifted this lovely antique mirror from my Auntie Lynn. (That's what I've always called her and nothing else will ever sound right. None of my other Aunts are AUNTIES. And go figure, she's not even technically my aunt. I digress...) It sat prettily, propped against my Mom's wall for quite a while.
"I love that mirror, Mom," I'd mention.
"When you gonna hang that up Mom?"
"Hey, wouldn't that look ADOOOOOORABLE painted black and hanging in my daughters room?"

ahem... so I have no tact. I conned my awesome Momma out of her mirror and I don't even feel bad. I loooooooove it.
But looooooooooook at it!!! It's just overflowing with potential! So, while sissy was napping one day, Gideon and I headed to the yard to tackle the project that started it all. While sanding it down to get rid of some runny spots caused by that greeny color, I discovered that this mirror had been on quite a journey. It had started out gilded GOLD, been painted over with SALMON PINK, and then covered in that foamy green color. As I sanded I tried imagining where the mirror had hung before. But, I was too excited about it's future....
So we taped it off.... and took a few more pictures because I had the most adorable helper around. Who could resist?
And painted it enamel black. I'm in love. The final reveal ties in with my BIG project... so you'll have to wait to see!

Just a little peak at one of the things I've been working on....

Okay, Okay... here's the color of my kitchen.

I hate it.

It was supposed to be much less easter egg and much more beautiful muted teal.