A Little Project

So I have been wanting to make some floral arrangements ever since I saw Becky Higgens show some adorable arrangements on her blog. When I went to Tai Pan this last summer with the Huish girls I decided it was a good time to try.

This first one is in my bedroom. I love the cream/orange combo with a hint of deep purple. This is sitting in my room on my dresser. Got the sign in Utah from this last trip.
This next one I wanted in our main living area. I so wanted to do it in the creamy/orange combo, but I knew that it wouldn't go with all my red!! So, I did a creamy/red combo with a lovely blue dish. I love bringing those touches of blue into my home.

These were really easy to do!! My SIL Erin helped me figure out what/how/where and I just had fun these together!

Baptism Book

I have a neice and a nephew who have turned 8 in June and have been/will be baptized this year. The book below is one I made for my nephew. I kept is simple and basic. I used lots of white and one basic color. For my niece I followed the same basic pattern, it just had more frills (ribbons, a few more decorative elements.) These were fun to do and I'm hoping it will make it easy for them to record this amazing day in their lives.

Card Box

This one was fun to make. Lots of work to add on the detail. Each divider is labeled and cards just slip right in the box.

Photo Box

Here is another something from the scrapbook retreat. This one was also a favorite. Really easy to make and so fun!! When you take the lid off the sides collapse and you can flip through the photos. How clever is that??

I mentioned earlier the scrapbook retreat I went to this last weekend. We made a few projects that I wanted to share with you this week. I was determined to get them done at the retreat, I didn't want to bring them home and have more half finished projects that just sat around and added stress to my life. Well, there was no way I could do it, there just wasn't enough time! I did stay late and worked on the projects. The Sunday after I was inspired to get up early and finish a couple of the projects. I also stayed up late Sunday night (I took a late afternoon nap) and finished a couple more. I just have one more to finish and I'm excited to have completed projects and not to have these hanging over my head!

Below is a cute house that we made. This was probably my favorite project of the retreat.

My Desk

Look what I did a couple weeks ago. My first attemp at spray painting a piece of furniture.

Remind me next time to wear gloves and shoes, I was white for a few days. I also could have used something to help me hold the spray nozzle down. My fingers/thumbs hurt for a few days. Lessons learned the hard way.After two days of sanding and painting, 8 cans of spray paint, and lots of moving back and forth we had our finished project. I'm quite pleased. It is far from perfect but better then I thought it would look halfway through (it was touch and go for awhile with all the dead bugs, pine needles, and just enough wind to make it interesting.)

It has inspired me to get crafty. I'm in the process of moving my craft room into the basement toy room. The kids don't use it that much and I'm so uninspired to work in our cold, gloomy garage. Since I partially moved in this last week I have actually scrapbook! The kids have also played downstairs more this past week then I think they have the entire time we have lived here!

Calendar

Here is the calendar I made to put in my calendar holder. I have never been a big fan of any of the calendars you buy at the store, nothing has ever really appealed to me. One year I made a calendar and I just loved it!! BUT, it was way too much work and too hard to keep up with. So, I came up with a plan to make my own calendar where I could change the month below without changing the decorative page above. So, I can switch the month when I need to and switch the page above when I have the time to scrapbook something new. Love this solution!
This is on the wall above my desk in the kitchen. I'm working on finishing this corner. Trying to make it pretty and functional. I just bought a clock that I love and am considering putting some of my kid's artwork on the wall. I also have a Family Home Evening sign and need to get the letters for and put on the wall. One day it will be finished.

Photos Framed!

Is anyone like me?? Does it take you what seems like FOREVER to finish a project that has been in your head for the last few months? (Sometimes the last few years??) Well, this one I have wanted to do since we moved into the home. It included having my parents buy and transport the frame from Utah. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) After it arrived it sat downstairs while we waited for our kitchen remodel. It survived the dust and the moving it from place to place.
When the remodel was finished we had Christmas and New Years, having 3 family parties here at our house to celebrate! I was consumed with moving back into the upstairs and getting order back in our lives. Finally, this month I have had some time to do the fun projects! This was super simple once I made the time to work on it. Photos, paper, some embellishments. The M was an afterthought. Last Saturday Steve gave me a chunk of the day and occupied the kids. I was putting the frame together and thought it would be fun to add the big M I saw at JoAnns. I jumped in the car (something I just can't normally do with three kids in tow) and went and got the M. My handsome husband hung the frame and M on Valentine's Day (how romantic!). The photos look like the frame and M are lost on the wall. They really do fill up the space. I will get full room phot0s once the mantel and bookcase are complete. I love that feeling of accomplishment that I get when I look at that wall. Something that won't be undone in 5 minutes. Something that will stay for a long, long time!

So Very Easy!!

These were my valentines to the kids this year. They were seriously so easy to put together!! I printed the letters in the font I wanted off the computer, cut the fabric and the iron on stuff (at the moment, I can't recall the correct name), ironed them to the bags, and stitched around them. I bought the bags at JoAnns and the fabric on the bags is fannel. They turned out pretty cute! They are the kid's church bags. They will fit a Book of Mormon and other sacrament meeting kid's stuff. I filled them with some art supplies and a bit of Valentine candy. They were a huge success!

Isabelle is modeling the proper use of the bag. She is all dressed up pretty for church on Valentine's Day.

Been working on the bookshelves. Wow, do we have a lot of books!! I didn't think I would fill up so much so fast! BUT, there is still plenty of room for more. Just didn't think I owned as much as I own.

Oh, here is a sneak peak of a project I will show you soon. This one I'm super excited about.

Gratitude Turkeys

We did these turkeys in preschool. So easy and fun! I asked the kids what they were grateful for, wrote it on the feathers, and had the kids glue their turkeys together. Isabelle was grateful for doggies, cats, mommies, grammies, and pictures.

Must Haves!

Is there really anything that we have to have!! I mean really, we can do without so many of the things that we think that we need. I have tried to live this way throughout different times in my life, BUT it is quite fun to spend a bit on things that make us happy, inspire us, or just bring fun and joy to our lives. These books are ones I have been wanting to get for awhile now.

This just came out this last month and I just am so excited to get my hands on a copy!

Handmade Home
By Amanda Soule

These next three are ones I have had my eye on for awhile!

A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart
By Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes


A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table (Hardcover)
By Molly Wizenberg

The Best of Becky Higgins' Sketches (Spiral-bound)

By Becky Higgins

She was just on the local news the other day showing some fun ideas from her book below. It looks oh so fun!

Bend the Rules with Fabric: Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More By Amy Karol

This was her last book! So many fun ideas.

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew By Amy Karol

Well, I guess I just may have to come up with a reason to buy one or two books!! My birthday is coming up. Yep, I think I may get my hands on a couple of these soon.