The Girl's Bangs

These Days... The girl's bangs need attention. Daily. Otherwise they cover her beautiful brown eyes. 

Now that Sophie gets her hair done every day {and we have somehow managed to lose all 40 hair bows I made for her while I was pregnant} I have been browsing blog land for some new cute hair clip ideas. I have a basket full of clips, ribbon, flowers, beads, and a hot glue gun that need to be put to use! 

Some inspiration I found....

(click on image for source)

Hoping to get a little crafting done this weekend and make some new hair clips for the Miss!

P.S. Have you heard of The Barrel: Blogging Reviews. It is an online magazine that is gorgeous! Full of so many pretty pictures! You need to look at it!

And, another little tid bit... if I may....I just found out that the blog design I did for Emily got featured in the March issue! eeekk!
Page 18, right hand side, top.

easy holiday ribbon wreath

The other night I decided to make a holiday craft instead of doing my homework. Good choice, no. Fun choice, yes. I have noticed a lot of holiday wreath tutorials popping up around blogland but I particularly liked the idea of a ribbon wreath.

Here is my version.

Gather some ribbon. Doesn't matter the length, designs, or texture. Just make some sort of color pallet. You will also need a wreath frame. I found this metal one at a craft store for $3.

Then you will need to start by wrapping your wreath with ribbon. I used a clothes pin to hold the end down. I wasn't quiet sure what my plan was yet so I didn't want to glue anything. But go ahead and use a dab of hot glue to hold the beginning and end down.

Warning: dont glue anywhere else! You are going to have to slide the ribbon around a bit.

It's ok if you have a few gaps. Actually, its perfect if you have a few gaps.

Next cute a short piece of ribbon, 4"-5". Tie the ribbon in a knot, on the wire,  in between the pieces of stripped ribbon {in the gaps.}

hint: You may have to slide your ribbon to the side a bit.

Repeat. Tie pieces of ribbon on the wreath until it looks like you want! Then you can fluff, curl, and arrange! I think this sort of wreath would also look good in a blue & silver color combo!

Is it too early to hang up?

:: Now I'm off to do homework until Sophie wakes up. for real. I have basically a whole semesters worth of work to do in 2 weeks. Awesome right?

::this post is participating in the today's creative blog link up party!

birthday week.

Today is the beginning of B's birthday week. I am to blame for the "birthday  week"

tradition. What can I say other than I like to take advantage of my birthday.

 I love my husband and he knows that, but his birthday is a perfect time to show him in a million ways! To kick off his birthday week I made a "26 reasons I love you garland"

{inspired by inchmark}

Punched out 26 little shapes and wrote reasons I love him on the back.

Then I strung the shapes on the ribbon. I started the garland on the front door, with brian's picture and a happy birthday week message. The garland goes around the family room, onto the entertainment center.

26 love notes + a container of pineapple sherbet = the start of birthdy week

happy birthday week brian!

the door: part 2 + memories

Yes, my door is finally done and hung up!
First, I have to say that when I started this project I thought it was that, just another project.
However, this project turned into a memory keeper + memory talker.

It has 15 different pictures of {three of us} from different times in our lives.
The other night, after Miss Sophie had gone to bed, B and I were sitting on the couch. Just sitting there.
No tv. No internet. No music. Just relaxing.
We started looking at the "door" and talking about each picture.

We talked about how we met and how infatuated we were with each other
We talked about going to grandpa's cabin and the "secret" spot by the river
We talked about the horses we found while 4-wheeling at grandpa's farm.
On and On. We talked about Sophie and how tiny she used to be

And then Brian started asking me tough questions,

"Out of all these memories what was your favorite?"
"Would you do any of these things differently?"
"What is your least favorite?"

We had a memorable conversation about the memories in our door.
This decorating project turned into my favorite conversation. Who would have thought?

Even if you don't have a "door" that you are keeping your memories in get out an old scrapbook or look at old blog posts with your hubby! I promise you will enjoy it!

Okay a little about the actual door...
I printed my pictures 5x7 so they were a touch bigger.
Then I mounted them on plain old white cardstock.
Next came the tricky part, the background paper. The window pains were wide than 12 inches so I couldn't use a piece of 12x12 scrapbooking paper.
I came up with the idea of using wrapping paper. I got some sturdy wrapping paper at Ben Franklin Crafts {with a 40% off coupon of course}
I used tape to stick the wrapping paper behind the windows. I am sure there is a better option out there but I had tape and it turned out fine.
Next I had Brian get out his drill and hang it up. I don't really know what he did I just told him, "higher, no lower, no right, a little more right, a little higher now...."

 

Sorry the pictures are a little glary but that's what happens when you take a picture of glass!

At least with my photography skills.

What crafts have you made that help keep your memories alive?

I am always looking for my next project. :)

Family Room Re-do: Lamp

As I mentioned before, my family room needed a re-do. Or I guess I should call it a "do."
It didn't have a lot of decoration theme/matching going on before.
I told you about my door project. No, it isn't done yet. Pretty much, but not quiet.
Brian still needs to get out his power tools and hang it up for me.


However, I had a lot of left over paint from the door so I decided to try and use it somehow.
We have a lamp by our front door so I thought why not. Yes, I painted my lamp shade.
I had no idea how if it would turn out but to my surprise it worked great!


The lamp shade was some kind of canvas fabric, I'm not sure exactly.

You can kind of see paint stroke marks when the sun {or camera flash} shines on it,
 but overall I think it looks fine.
My family room doesn't have a lot of natural light so hopefully you won't be able to tell!

To make the white flowers I cut 1" strips of white fleece fabric.

Then pinch the ends together and put a tiny dot of hot glue.

wow, my finger nails look GROSS, sorry for that up close picture!

Then just start rolling the fabric around itself. Occasionally add some hot glue to hold it down.

And ta-da! Cute little rosettes that you can embellish anything with!

 Now I need to get going on my to-do list!

We are off to another family reunion for the rest of the week!

When you have a baby there are about

 a million more things to think about when packing! :)  

Old Door Decorating: Part 1

Our family room hasn't ever gotten a real "theme" or color coordinated... Just a few semi matching thing here and there.... So I decided to re-decorate my family room! This project is going to be a main part of the re-do.


I found my old door {you could also use a window} at an antique store for $28 dollars.
They even delivered it for free!


First thing, get rid of the old nasty varnish and all hardware. I used a palm sander with really gritty sand paper. {Sophie hated the sound of the sander so I had to work on this project while she was napping.}

Wipe down your door with a cloth to get all the sawdust off.

I painted my door next with Valspar La Fonda Geranium Red with an egg shell sheen.

I wasn't smart enough to use painters tape. I just tried to be careful and not get paint on the glass. Of course, I got it all over the glass so after the paint had dried I just took a razor blade {from a box cutter} and carefully scrapped it off.

The coloring in this picture isn't super accurate. My family room doesn't have much natural light for pictures. But I really like how the color turned out!

Now your door is all ready to be embellished with paper/fabric and pictures!

Part 2 of the tutorial will be coming soon!

...As soon as I can decide on what pictures to use!

dinner or dessert

Anyone want a burger for dinner dessert!

I saw these while I was blog hoppin and had to make them for a Father's Day Treat.

Everything is dessert!

Bun = Yellow Cupcakes

Meat = Brownie

Lettuce & Ketchup = Frosting

French Fries = Sugar cookies

Grease on fry bag = total accident but it does make them look more realistic :)

Instead of taking the time to do a whole big tutorial about how to make these I will just give you the link to the fabulous tutorial I used. They weren't too hard just a little time consuming but worth it!

Fast Food Fun

My Next Project

I recently found the Pleated Poppy . She has some fabulous craft and decorating ideas! She has a tutorial about how to turn an old door into a cute picture frame! Isn't it SO cute!

Obviously, I stole some pictures from her blog....

I really wanted to make one for above our couch! I found this door at an antique store for $28! I can't wait to start! Any color suggestions? I am having a hard time deciding....

I hope it turns out! :)

I will post a picture after I'm done!

Cupcake Topiary

My mom and I saw this Cupcake Topiary in the Food Network Magazine.

We thought it would be fun to make and perfect to give as a Mother's Day present!

What you need:

6" pot

12" dowel

6" foam ball

toothpicks

piece of foam to stick dowel in

about 30 mini cupcakes { We made Pink Lemonade Cupcakes}

Frosting {Buttercream or thick frosting is best}

grassy stuff

Assemble the tree part and bake your favorite cupcakes!

Once the cupcakes have cooled and been frosted

put them in the fridge for a while to make sure the frosting dries and won't drip off.

Use toothpicks to attach cupcakes on foam ball.

I used 1 toothpick for the cupcakes on top and

2 toothpicks for the cupcakes on the side and the ones facing down.

Happy Cupcaking!

Happy Mother's Day!