Art Display

Hi All!  Check out this great DIY board to display your kids artwork, papers and the like!  I gathered all my supplies this weekend and will be working on mine today!

http://naptimecraftmommy.blogspot.com/2011/03/super-easy-kids-art-display.html

thanks for the inspiration!!

check in a little later this afternoon for lots of pics of other projects..

ttfn!

sue

ps.  did i mention we close on our house this week???  yeh!  things are about to look so much better!!

letting go

“Letting go doesn’t mean we don’t care. Letting go doesn’t mean we shut down.




Letting go means we stop trying to force outcomes and make people behave.



It means we give up resistance to the way things are, for the moment.



It means we stop trying to do the impossible–controlling that which



we cannot–and instead, focus on what is possible–which usually means



taking care of ourselves. And we do this in gentleness, kindness,



and love, as much as possible.”



~Melody Beattie

 
 
I found this wonderful little manta on  Rhythm of Home which is a delightful blog celebrating ...well, you just have to go check it out.  It's chock full of insights and little ideas.  I found myself there this mornig, after sitting for a spell on my back steps watching the sun rise over the treeline. Observing the chickens pecking and scratching about in the yard.  Listening to the squirrel rustling around in the trees.  I remembered being small, the woods around my  house a mystical playground, imaginary friends and creative play.  It's so easy to get caught up in the busy world around us and forget connections to family, friends and nature.  But when you re visit it, it's inspiring and gives your heart a little more warmth.  Puts a smile on your face.  Makes you want to just stay there forever and explore.  Enjoy.  But yes, the world beckons you.  Jobs to be done, money to earn.  Responsibilities that maybe we don't need.  Or do we?  Differing opinions will always happen.  But for me , my rhythm will be in my heart and I will follow it.  And let go.  Let go of the things that just don't matter. 
 
 
Blessings...
sue

File folder mini's

Now, aren't these just the cutest little mini albums...well more of a tag album.  They are made of a folded up file folder...so cute and easy to make!  Since I'm all about halloween these days I made up a few of these to post on my etsy.  They are so simple.  You really just fold the bottom of the folder up about four inches then accordian fold and decorate!

I've added a ribbon around mine to keep them closed.  They make a great little table display

and are also a great little gift to share with family members who live far away!

You can add four to eight photos onto the tags and I just embellished the inside pockets with halloween die cuts.  I love how it turned out!

these remind me of vintage halloween!  Accordian folded flowers!  So easy to make and a great embellie.

Cut a 1.5 inch strip of patter paper and accordian fold tightly.  (think of those tigger tails you used to make using the straw wrap at the diner!)  Then fold it around and staple the edges together.  I added some cut circles and button on mine as well.  Stinking cute, eh?

I did a little painting on this file folder...how ingenious, the end of a wooden spool make great little lifesaver-y shaped circles! 

Have you made any of these mini's?  Would love to see yours!  Post a link in the comments!

**********************

My little helper....not!

dog days of summer....our pump went on our bigger intex pool so to keep the kiddies cool I picked up this little pool.  I actually think they have more fun in this one than the big one!  Madi can easily get in and out and the kids put their small slide right into it and had a blast slipping and sliding into the pool.  Easy to drain and easy to fill!  Best $10 I've spent in a while!

Cutest outfit ever!!!  India inspired from The Children's Place....so sweet.

poor Emmy got her earring pulled on and her lobe tore a bit, so she only has one little cupcake earring

dangling about while her little ear heals.  Poor thing!

This little meathead found his way into my room about, oh, say 3:26 am!!  Scared the be-Jesus out of me when he woke me up, appearing magically and a little lurky-like at the side of my bed in the dark of night!  He just wanted some milk and snuggle, so he went back off to sleep after dumping his milk right on me...grrr!!!  He's still snoozing...so cute! 

We started building the girls (chickens) house yesterday.. main frame is up...tweaking as we go....will be so cute when it's done!  Will post pics a little later on...happy day to you all!

blessings,

sue

thanks Goodwill!

Now, remember that white framed height measurer thing-y I found at Goodwill yesterday?

Well, today i spent a little time and used a little elbow grease to transform it into this....

I sanded down the main frame and removed the insert so I could paint both pieces.

Now, I am loving chalkboard paint, so when i saw this piece, I thought...hey!  that would make a great

piece to hang above my slider doors and each season i could change the message!

Well, it DID turn out to be a chalkboard, but I think it will be going in the boys room.

After sanding the frame and paint washing it with apple green acrylic folk art paint, I distressed it

with my much loved brown ink pad.  Another quick sanding to add some more distressing and the frame was ready to go!

It still needed something and since it was now going into the boys room, I searched through my scrap stash -and found these Mom-isms rub on's.  I had just enough to run around the whole frame. 

A little eye screw was added to hang the chalk from...and oh!  I forgot!  I sanded and painted the insert using chalkboard paint!  It took about 4 coats with a quick sanding in between coats to make it smooth.

Here's Ms. Emma trying it out!

She's such a super artist!

I really like how this turned out...and it just proves that you can transform even the simplest thing into something cool for your home!

I am linking this up over at THE SHABBY CREEK COTTAGE TRANSFORMATION THURSDAYS!

Enjoy!

Sue

transforming

Now, this photo has nothing to do with transforming crafting items, but well, she IS transforming into a little two year old!  So sweet, little MADI licking marshmallow off her fingers!

*********

Remember that box of granola bars?  Well, here it is...being transformed into a gift box..not quite done yet, it needs some handles and embellies, but hey!  You get the idea right?

******************

I just love banners and I've been busy making some for halloween (they'll be on my etsy).

They are quite easy to make and I think the more distressed and handcrafted looking, the better!

First, cut 7 6x6 squares, fold in half diagonally to make your banner.   If you want to double them like I did in the above photo,cut another 7 squares at 5x5 and layer them on top.  Next, I machine sew them together (saves glue!).  Then I use my crop-o-dile and punch holes in the top edges, set an eyelet and thread them onto some cotton twine.  Then, it's time to embellish, dig thru my stash for some letters and machine sew circles to layer them onto...Voila!

These will make great little additions to your halloween decor!

******

Goodwill find....$2.99

I'll post pics of what I'm planning for this later.....:)

____________________________________

If you know me, you know I drink coffee...alot of it.

So, I have coffee cans and well, I'm thinking these would make great little candy stash holders for halloween.

Step one:  Sand the whole thing to make it easier to attach your paper.

I'm loving this extra strength, super big glue stick!

I just goop up the whole back of my paper and stick it on.

This can will take one sheet of paper to cover, just split it into x 6x12 sheets and cover front and back

Looking spooky!

I used the Cricut and cut out some labels (4 inch) and switched the border for each to create a nice backdrop for my letters.

I glued them on, then decoupaged over the whole thing!

Paper is from K&Company...last year...love it!

I had these two soup or bean cans and altered them up as well!

I'm going to add some wire handles and some filler and these will make great little treat holders.

Don't forget to sand down any sharp edges on your cans!

You can paint the inside or line it wit more paper..your choice. 

**********

more banners!

Hope you have a crafty day in your craft room too!

Blessings!

Sue

Inspiration

Now, I've been bitten by the crafty bug and the desire to create something, anything!  Halloween at Hobby Lobby started it...and my desire to get my Etsy shoppe up and running again.  Last week found me in the craft room (whose floor is still NOT finished) tinkering about with some of this stuff...

upcycling fruit smilie boxes! 

re-working old book pages and a printed bag...

using up scraps!

I've had these in my stash like FOREVER...and didnt realize what there were until i punched them out and folded them up!  how funny...i actually found lot of stuff I forgot I had!

love these...found them on another site...backing is cardboard box and since I LOVE halloween so much,

I busted out my goodies and made a few! 

re purposed cookie sheet from Goodwill...drawings compliments of Emma.

this is Emma's backpack tag I made her so she has a super special

backpack!

mini albums...these will be on my ETSY...:)

gotta love clothespins...so many uses!

we'll see what this transforms into :)

Lots of crafty goodness going on and now since the kiddo's are back in school, I may get a little bit more done.  Seems like i always come up with another project before I finish the last one though!  I've also been checking out Pinterest...so much inspiration there!

What have you created? 

Sue

First Day of School

It's back to school time here in Georgia!  Hardly seems like we should be heading back to school already...I mean it's still so hot out and (as far as I know) summer isn't over!  August in the north is the hottest part of summer (and here too!)  the month when we go to the beach, and just revel in the "dog days"!

So, his morning at 6:30 am I had five kids up and getting ready for school...new backpacks, lunchbags, pencils and notebooks.  Emma declared that it was "still nighttime", and Jacob asked me several thousand times "why exactly do I have to go to school?"  Sam was mad because he wanted to go to school too! The bus came promptly at 6:52 am (which I was told it wouldn't even be here, but that's ok) but we didn't head out until about 7:10 to drop al the kids off.  Madi seemed a little surprised to be awakened so early...but just like always, she went with the flow of things!

Emmy looks mad in this picture, but she actually was super excited to go!

As always, Nick is thrilled at the idea of waking up early and going to school!

I dropped the first two off at Brooklet Elementary...met the teachers and got them ushered into their rooms.  Jacob seemed a little teary-eyed, but was happy to see Ms. Janda and Emma, well, Emma just bounded in and shared her excitement with everyone!!

Second stop dropped Nick off to meet his "chick"....and like a dorky mom I waved goodbye!  Hard to believe it's his last year already.   I can remember taking him to William Penn the first day of kindergarten...wow!

And now, I'm back home.  And guess what?  Its quiet.  Really quiet.  Sprouts on tv, Sam is playing his DS and Madi is lolling around with a bowl of cereal.  I texted Danny and told him the same thing.  He said he knew it would be.  After 8 weeks of a full house of children, its odd how it just stops one morning.  I'll enjoy it, but I miss them and their little quirky personalities.  I'll send them out to the world.... to learn, make friends and grow up.  Sad, but it will happen whether I want it to or not.  Maybe I could just delay it a little...keep them innocent and small for a little longer.  I know one thing for sure, there will be alot of hugs and kisses when the gang returns this afternoon. 

Blessings,

Sue