Tag, You're it! Tuesday

So, I for any of you that have looked at my blog...ever and now, you can probably tell that I have been making lots of updates/changes/work work work on it! I am excited about some of the new things I am learning and about other plans I have in the works. Here is one of them! I will be starting "Tag, You're it! Tuesdays! Eventually I would love to have this be a link party on my site, but I think I need a few (haha) more followers first, so...for now it will be a collaberation of when I can feature YOU or others, can share things I have found from others, and  invite you to at least link up in the comments any new projects you have done. In the meantime, help me get more followers on my blog and I will keep working on turning Tag, You're it! Tuesdays into a link party. :) (As well as having some other fun days of recipe sharing and DIY projects and tutorials coming too!)

FOR TODAY...I have Valentines on the brain. Nope! Haven't got my kids valentines done for their classes yet. Surprise! Surprise! (Not really!) So, between selling girl scout cookies frantically this week (so we don't have many leftover), etsy orders, 5 kids and a husband who can't eat "regular" food, I need to come up with some easy peasy valentines. 

I have typically made mine in most years past. 

We have done:

1-little photo wallet ones (where I had my kids hang from monkey bars in the pics or look like they fell off a swing and wrote "I'm all hung up over you" or "I've fallen for you" or just "You make me smile"). 

2-We have done the "You're the bomb" with the suckers upside down and covered in black tissue paper to look like a bomb, 

3-play dough, melted crayon hearts (You melt my heart.) 

All kinds of them...but I don't have much time this year. 

This past weekend my daughter had to bring some to girl scouts and I had NADA!

Well, I found these cute bookmarks at a local craft store (20 of them for $1) 

and had already seen these great coupons at McDonalds:

Now, I don't know about you...but I get sick of McD, but my kids don't, and they are already going to get a LOT of candy, so I thought these little coupons were great! AND you get 12 of these coupons in a booklet for just $0.99!!! Can't beat that! They are even great for me to keep and use for my little ones when they need a little snack to keep them going while I run errands.

So...we just tucked in these little coupons into the bookmarks and the girls loved them! maybe not as cute and creative as past years, but hey...can't be supermom every year, right? I love that they can actually keep using the bookmarks and really I CAN make some and even personalize them for each child...IF I really want to stay up late some night  and I like that they get to take a special trip to McD with Mom or Dad and Mom or Dad doesn't have to pay! 

So, Tag, You're it! 

Link any Valentine ideas you have made in the comments.

Do-Over! of my Rustic Chunky Frame

Remember when you were a kid and you would call out "DO-over!" Don't you have days where you wish you could do that now? lol

Well, I mentioned a bit ago that this project was ok the way it turned out, but I kept thinking it needed something else. It is another repurposed item from old fence wood, but this time made into a big, wide, chunky frame.

So...inspired by the rustic trunk shown in the repurposes tab here, I decided to add some flourishes too it.

Before:

 After:

Then add some family pics around it and I am even more in love!

Before: Again, it's ok, but the frame is just...there...

After: Love what it adds!

 What do you think? I think I love the outcome! I think it adds so much. 

AND I love that I have a matching trunk in the same room in the corner. 

 And it really was so easy!!

Here's a really short, basic tutorial if you want to see how I did it.

I furst cut out the stencil I wanted to use on my SIL. OR if you have another stencil you already have, any stencil should work. I took it and placed it where I wanted it on my old wood. In order to get a bit tighter/cleaner look to it, I used some straight pins (or thumbtacks would work too) and tacked it down around the curves and edges. I had to cut it in places to have it go to a different level and just lined the design up.

Then, I took it out to my backyard and grabbed some flat black spray paint. I used short, quick, little bursts when spray painting it and held it directly over the stencil. You don't want it at an angle, because then it can spray under the stencil.

 Took the paper off and...wala! So quick and easy!

I'd love to see any stenciling projects you have done. Link them up in the comments! 

I just have to say that the wonderful photography on my wall was done by the wonderful Amy Casas Photography too!

Liebster Award!

I was nominated for a Liebster Award!  

Thanks so much to Heidi over at Polka Dot Pixies for thinking of me and choosing 

Create it. Go!

How fun!

Rules

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers...the award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.

{11 Random Facts About Me:}

1. I once graduated from clown school. :) True! hee hee

2. I love fried pickles!

3. I love barns and want to have some property and have a barn on it someday.

4. I love animals, but I have to say I loved them even more before I had kids. Now, unfortunately, the reality is that they mean more time I don't have.

5. I like to read, but when I start a good book, I can't stop.

6. I really don't like to shop much.

7. I am a photographer wanna-be. lol

8.I have had 5 c-sections. And the spinal quite work on the 4th. Eek!

9. I love being in the mountains or on the beach.

10. I gave birth to an 11 lb 11 oz baby! 

11. These questions made me feel boring trying to think about myself. lol

{I'm tagging these 11 lovely bloggers:}

1. Ericka at Rose Colored Glasses
2. Val at Homemade Modern
3. Mindi at My Love 2 Create

4. Daisy MaeBelle
5. Kiki's Korner

6. Alise at 2 Crafty for my Skirt

7. Kourtney and her sistes at Pile 'O Craft
8. Patty at Always Something

9. Brittney at Smart Girl Style
10. Alison at Pint Sized Treasures
11. Tammy at Made With Love

{11 Questions from Heidi:}
1. Do you have a nickname? Nope. Never really did and always kinda wished I did. :)
2. What is your favorite food? Hmmm...can I just say carbs? lol
3. What is your favorite color combo? prob light blue and red, or maybe coral and almost anything!
4.  What is your favorite blog to read? Hmmm...not sure I have a fav, but a whole lot I like!
5.  Do you collect anything? Kids? haha Craft supplies?
6.  Do you have a favorite tool you use when cooking/baking? my Bosch mixer!
7.  What is your favorite type of workout? If it is a dvd what is it? I wish I knew! I am trying to get more in that mode these days.
8.  What is your favorite scent? Oh! This one I know! (Don't think I'm weird!) sawdust, new bouncy balls, scotch tape, clean babies, and fresh freesia flowers
9. Favorite form of crafting? Hmmm...hard one...prob used to be papercrafting and stamping, but not so anymore...I am liking all kinds of things and wish I had more time on the sewing machine too these days
10. Morning or night owl? NIGHT!
11. Best love song of all time? Anything Chicago?

{11 Questions from me:} 1. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids or husband? 2. What is your most prized possession? 3. What item have you created that your are most proud of and why? 4. What is your best last minute dinner to make? 5. How much time do you spend on the computer each day? 6. Are your dishes done? (haha Mine aren't.) 7. If you could be anything, what would it be? 8. What is your favorite all time movie? 9. Do you play a musical instrument and if so, what? 10. Where is your favorite place to shop for craft items? 11. Why did you start blogging?
Thanks again Heidi at Polka-Dot-Pixies!  I am flattered you thought of me and had fun getting to know you better!

Believe There Is Good...Be the Good

A few weeks ago, I announced that I wanted to give this vinyl away. I am so glad I thought of it. It has been on my mind so much. All that is says. All that it means. All that it teaches. Teaches me. Teaches my children. Teaches anyone that comes into my home and sees it.

I think of all those LEO's and their families in CA right now that we are praying for as they continue to try and Be the Good out there even when they are in harm's way. I think of my children and what I want them to grow up to be like. I think of Sandy Hook. I think of that quote that has been going around from Mr. Rogers:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.” — Mister Rogers

(Story and picture from The Washington Post)

And then I happened on this great video tonight on FB, "Give a Little Love". It is exactly how I think of this quote, what I want it to do for people. For me. For my children.

Take a few minutes and watch this little clip. I absolutely love it! I think we might even turn a whole night in our family devoted to all of this.

Or you can find it here on youtube.

I am so thankful for all that DO good in the world. And we all need to keep the perspective to look for that good. It's there. We just need to slow down a little sometimes, to see it, to be it.

Winners of vinyl will be announced on Monday.
Have a great weekend and Be the Good in 2013!

Ice Cream Sundae Onesie Tutorial

Got a great onesie you want to gift? But want a cuter way to display/wrap it? After I came up with my line of onesies, I wanted a super easy and cute way to give them away, so I came up with Ice Cream Sundae Onesies! Or are you hosting a baby shower and want some great decoration ideas? How cute would a tray full of these be on the table?!!!

 The only supplies you will need are these:
1-Treat cups
2-Onesie
3-Tulle
4-Toothpicks and washi tape (for the flag) OR Cherries (Pom-poms on a stick OR you can attach them with glue dots if you prefer)
5-Your onesie

 So easy! Take your onesie and fold it in half long ways. (If you don't want the print to show, fold the print onto the inside.)

Then fold it in half AGAIN long ways.

 If you are going to add a toothpick, do it now as you start at one end (I like to start at the bottom of the onesie.). Start rolling the toothpick into the onesie.

 As you continue to roll the onesie, layer the rolls, so that you can see each layer and so that the onesie, starts to get taller.

 Next, you'll want to have a bit of tulle already pre-cut. I cut one of mine in a large square and the other was a roll that I used a strip of. It doesn't really matter. If you have a larger square (about 12inx12in) you can set your rolled up sundae/onesie in the middle.

 Then just randomly gather the tulle around it on all sides. (If you have a strip of tulle, I actually placed the rolled up onesie into the treat cup and then kind of stuffed the tulle into the cup around the onesie.)

 Then pop it into your treat cup! And top it off with a cherry! or a cute washi tape flag! So adorable! You could even add a plastic spoon to it and make it look even more fun!

 SOOOOo fun and sooooo easy! Why not make a whole tray of them?!!

Introducing Ice Cream Sundae Onesies!

So, I am lovin' the onesies, but just putting them in a gift bag with ribbon around them is not as exciting, so...my brain kept going...it doesn't stop. I wish it would when i am laying awake at night listening to my husband snore away! ;)

I have seen different variations of little socks and onesies wrapped up in cupcake wrappers to look like cupcakes, so when I saw these little treat cups on the clearance aisle at the store, I knew what I wanted to do! Make an Ice Cream Sunday Onesie....or a cupcake onesie...however you see it! 

It was sooooo easy and fun and I absolutely love the outcome! So fun to give away this way!

 Tutorial coming next!

Birthday Cards for Ethan

Please join me and so many others in sending bday cards this week to little Ethan!

Re: the hostage situation in Alabama:

Ethan will be 6 on Wed. He should be eating cake and ice cream not scared holed up in a bunker. I have an address for anyone who wishes to send him a birthday card. Lt. April McDaniel with the Napier Field Police Department, which is a few miles from where the hostage situation is happening with 5 year old Ethan, has initiated a birthday card drive for little Ethan's birthday which is this Wednesday February 6th. We hope and pray that #lovebug will be home for his sixth birthday and all of this ends peacefully. Please send birthday cards with your city and state written inside.

Napier Town Hall
c/o Lt. April McDaniel
400 Headquarters Street
Napier Field, Alabama 36303 

Thanks to The Police Wife Life FB page for passing along the above information.

Teen T-shirt Share

I didn't ever share this fun shirt I made for my niece this past Christmas. I thought it was too fun with the added little eyeglasses necklace. I have seen some fun ideas where you do something like this shirt with bleach too that comes with a faded look too. Have any of you tried it yet? I want to try it soon! I'll have to do a DIY tutorial for you if it works. :) 

(For this one I used my vinyl as s stencil and used fabric paint again.) 

See the tutorial on how to sue vinyl as a stencil here: 

http://www.createitgo.com/2012/12/using-vinyl-as-stencils.html

Rustic chunky frame

I've got another repurposed item to show you today. We actually made this last year but I haven't posted it. I have meant to add some more to it, and have never gotten around to it. BUT I plan on it soon, so that I would show a before and an after. This is another repurpose that cost us ZERO! Found some old fence wood on the side of the road and used it to make this frame around some vinyl on our living room wall. I was actually leaning toward another quote to put inside of it like "These are the days we'll remember forever." but that one didn't strike a chord with my hubby and this one did, so I went with his this time. I have also thought of changing it to "Together is OUR favorite place to be." and to put our fam pics next to it. We'll see. I do love the chunkiness of it, just thinks it needs.....? Something else....

The start of a new line...

...of products by me!!! Baby Onesies!!! Onesies are bought from the store, but are designed and painted or have heat transfer vinyl applied, by me. Because each is individual and made by hand, there may be slight variations or imperfections on them, but basically...they look great and will get you lots of comments!!! Not to mention they will look adorable on your little one!

Now I only wish I still had a baby to put them on! lol

 This one cracks me up!

 My kids all have this on a shirt. ha!

 One of my fav little boy ones!

 Another fav that is a GREAT gift for newborns! Custom made to include the mother and the father's names.

 And these always look so sweet on little girls. More variations of this design coming. (Two bead strands and varying colors and rosette clusters.) The rosettes are grouped together on a piece of felt and pinned to the onesie. They will need to be removed before washing.

And for the grand finale...drumroll please...

I am so in love with this last one. I may be a bit biased. hee hee  It even has the badge number personalized for a friend. :)

I was literally giddy today as I saw how they were all coming out all together!

 Didn't they turn out so fun?!!! Again, I know I am biased, but I am loving making these onesies. It's kind of addictive...I already have more cut out ready to do too. They all will be in my shop shortly and individually priced. You can look forward to seeing the boy and girl definitions on onesies and more!