Canvas Quotes

A good portion of this weekend was dedicated to getting our creative juices flowing! It all started with this great desire within to do something different with our "kitchen table wall". I did a little searching on pinterest (surprise, surprise) and came across a really neat project which you can find here and once I got the husband on board I made it our weekend mission. Friday afternoon, we hit up JoAnn's and bought our supplies and Friday night once the little miss was slumbering, we got down to business! On a side note, have I ever said how much I l-o-v-e that my husband helps me with all these crafty projects of mine? ... Because I DO!!! 

Some instructions on 'how to' just incase you would like to give it a go!

Materials:

• canvas of all sizes
• acrylic paint
• vinyl letters - you can find them where they have the presentation boards, Walmart was the cheapest at $3.99 a pack
• scrapbook paper
• sandpaper
• sponge paint brushes
• mod podge 

The 'how to':

• apply mod podge to the canvas and adhere the scrapbook paper to it 
• once you have allowed several minutes for the mod podge to dry place your vinyl letters onto the canvas
• start painting the entire canvas with a light coat of paint (you want the scrapbook paper to lightly show through the paint)
• after the paint is dry you can then peel off the vinyl letters
• if the paint it too thick on canvas or if you want more of a vintage look then rub the sandpaper randomly over the canvas but be careful not to press too hard
• last apply a coat of mod podge to the entire canvas for a finished look

... and the finished product! 

What do you think?

Pinterest Project

I found this project on pinterest awhile back and thought it was the cutest idea for the expecting Mommy (Jackie)! Filled with all of the personal essentials (well most of them anyways) for a stay in the Labor & Delivery ward. 

The goodies:

snacks

gum

face cleansing cloths

hair bands

hand sanitizer 

hair brush

lip balm 

lotion 

I got the awesome template for the bag (here).

And so now you can make one for someone in need too! It doesn't have to be specifically for a friend going into labor, I think anyone who is in the hospital for whatever reason would greatly enjoy something as simple as a care kit.

Insta-Friday

It's been awhile since I last did an Insta-Friday (almost a month to be exact) ... so here ya go! What we've been up to around here over the last few weeks. 

Have you heard of Banana Grams? Well I got Banana Grams DOUBLE (oh yea!) in my stocking from the husband! Therefore, there has been many games played since Christmas. 

My handmade "thank-you's" sent to our loved ones for all those wonderful gifts we got spoiled with.

Milk drunk. 

Jason's cousin Megan came for a long weekend. After we picked her up from the airport we went and walked around the boardwalk -- the weather was perfect. 

Meg and B!

Megan and I spend almost all of Sunday making Blaykleigh some new headbands ... she was in desperate need of a few new ones. Aren't they cute?! 

Goodbye kisses. Tear. 

Snoozing on mommy -- L.O.V.E. those moments!

Blaykleigh went to her first birthday party! 

Brighton (the birthday girl) and B.

i ((heart)) fresh flowers. 

I helped throw a baby shower for a good friend.

Baby Scarlett is expected to arrive on the 29th of February (a leap year baby)! Hurry up little girl, we're all so anxious to meet you!!! 

ooooooo baby butt!!! 

This girl knows how to get her splash on!!!

Peek-a-BOO!

"You ain't got nothing on this hat Lady Gaga!"

My little lovebug. 

Sweet dreams little one. 

DIY countertop cleaner

Okay, I swear by this stuff. I pinned it awhile back and have been using it for the last few months and it is amazing!!! We have granite countertops in our kitchen and after I wipe them down with the homemade countertop cleaner, it's like the entire room sparkles. I have used it in the bathrooms too where there isn't granite and it works just as well. 

All it takes is about an 1/8 of rubbing alcohol, a few drops of Dawn antibacterial soap, a little bit of scented oil (I chose Lavender) and water. Then you shake it all together and done! Now you have a bottle full of what I would consider to be the world's best countertop cleaner. I promise, once you try this stuff you won't want to use the store bought cleaners ever again!!!

A Christmas Wreath

I am smitten over all the yarn wreaths on pinterest. 

And we were in desperate need of a little something over our fire place mantel. 

Sooo I found this pin and got to work. 
(had help from the husband - don't want to steal all the credit)
From start to finish the project took about 4 hours with only a few hiccups along the way.
Tell me what ya think?

We think it looks pretty snazzy. 

Just what the mantel needed.

** next on the list is Blaykleigh's Christmas stocking and to finish up the fabric balls for the tree. 

Pinterest Project

I have always wanted a cute spaghetti noodle jar or tin to store my spaghetti noodles. I have looked here and there but have yet to find one. On a side note, I did happen to stumble across a cute macaroni noodle tin at Goodwill awhile back and I love it but it's for "macaroni" and is too short for spaghetti noodles. So when I came across this pinterest post ... I figured, I, myself would make my own spaghetti noodle "jar" and I have to say, I am quite pleased! It was super easy, required minimal time and was pretty much free considering I had everything I needed minus the $.75 Elmers glue required for the homemade Mod Podge*.  

See:

easy peasy lemon squeezy!

* Homemade Mod Podge: 

1 bottle of Elmers glue

1 jar with a tight sealing lid (I used a salsa jar)

water 

Empty bottle of glue into jar.

Fill glue bottle with water and shake.

Pour water into the jar with the glue. 

Shake, shake, shake. 

And voila you have homemade Mod Podge! 

The Pinterest Project

I've had an obsession with pinterest.com since I first found out about it. I literally lose track of time when I am on there, Jason can attest to that! That website is overflowing with SO many neat ideas; ideas of which inspire my creative-being. Here is the first of many "pins" that I (with the help of my wonderful husband) recreated:

Pinterest pin:

Ours:

(just so you know, the walls really aren't this yellow) 

Yo-Yo bobby pins

I made these for a friend for her birthday! A cute way to spruce up any hair-do and super easy to make so I thought I would share. 

- First you will need some fabric (a great way to use your scrap fabric if you have any)

- Find something round to trace onto your fabric, I used a small bowl being that your yo-yo will be about half the size of your original piece of fabric

- Cut out your traced circle

- Then thread your needle & tie your knot

- Insert the needle along the edge of your fabric on the wrong side so that your knot will be on the inside of your yo-yo

- Sew a running stitch around the edge of the circle, turning the edge as you sew, stopping when you reach where you started

- Holding the thread that is still attached to your needle gently pull the thread to gather your circle

- Gather until your circle is closed

- Then stitch the center of your yo-yo closed, you can add a button or something of the sort like I did

- Get a bobby pin and sew that to the back of your yo-yo & you are done

*You can also add these yo-yo's to just about anything: decorative pillows, shirts, flip flops, headbands, handbags etc.

Happy yo-yo-ing!

Just for her!

A girlie hospital hat ... just for her! 

I wanted Blaykleigh to have a more "feminized" hospital hat for her big arrival, so 

I added a few extra touches to it. I think it turned out pretty cute if I do

say so myself!