Free artwork

There are so many choices out there for wall decor,  but none that showcase our family quite like our own art!  I picked a couple of my favorites then I scanned them into the computer and increased the contrast so they showed up darker when printed.  Then I took some mats and frames I had stashed in the basement and gave them a make over -  I covered the mats with some scrapbook paper and gave the frames a coat of black spray paint. 

The girls feel so proud that something they created is framed and on display in our family room! 

Fabric flower headband

With four girls, there is a crazy amount of bows and headbands around here.  When I discover a new style I tend to go crazy and make at least one in every color.  (I'll post more bow craziness later : )  For today, I've got to share these little gems!   If I didn't get so terribly overwhelmed in a fabric store I would make loads of these, but this is all I've got for now.  I have made quite a few as gifts for birthday parties, and they have been a hit!   Cute fabrics, endless possibilities, and easy to make!

 

We start with 7-8 large circles (mine are 3 1/4 in.)

and 7-8 small circles (mine are 2 1/2 in.)

I just traced the top end of a cup for the large circles and the bottom end of the cup for the small.

Then to make each circle a petal,  put a dab of hot glue on the wrong side of the fabric

Fold in half,

put another dab of hot glue,

and fold into thirds.

 It will look like this:

 Do this to each circle.  Then take a piece of felt cut into a circle and begin placing and gluing the larger fabric petals onto the felt going in a circle

 Until you get this:

Then just place and glue the smaller fabric petals on top

Add a button to the center (or a cover button, or jewel, or anything :) and hot glue the whole thing right to a headband. 

 Then grab the nearest little girl to put this on and admire! 

Tip: The Dollar Store sells great fabric covered headbands in a pack of 3.  That's where I get mine.  JoAnn's fabric store also has a big selection of colors and sizes.  They are $1.99-$3.99 each.

Have fun trying lots of combinations and colors!  I'm excited to make more!

Engagement secret photographer

Going backwards just a bit from my last post about the wedding plans:
This is such a fun idea!   Meckennas sweet guy, Zach, arranged for a secret photographer to capture the proposal. (Que butterflies in the tummy and a few "ohhh"s.)  Check out these cute shots, Meckenna didn't know they were being followed....

Zach pointed out the photographer here

Check out the leg pop

Aren't these two cute?  Secret Photographer!  So sweet and romantic and fun!

New lists to write! (the wedding planning kind: )

My gorgeous little sister got engaged about a month ago!  I'm so excited for all that this entails; a fabulous new addition to our family, life-long love and happiness for my sister....and lots of fun planning for the wedding and reception festivities!  Being the list-maker that I am, I have created a 3 ring binder filled with lists.  "To do" lists, timeline lists, idea lists, candy lists, stuff we have lists, stuff we want lists, budget lists.....oh the lists!  Rather than taking pictures of the list (heartbreaking right?)  I put together this little teaser board with some basics we've got going.

 Color scheme:  Gray, yellow, and teal; best colors ever probably : )  She wants vintage, shabby chic all around (so up my alley-we're totally sisters!)  We're doing old crates, old windows, pearls, lace, burlap, barn, awesome old trucks, all things vintage and shabby.  We have access to the truck you see just the tail end of- and it's the most awesome old truck in the world!  Color, shape, amount of oldness, seriously best truck ever!  I've got dibs to buy it if my neighbors son ever goes to sell.  I could probably become the most demanded photographer in the whole state just because of my prop truck......
Basically, I probably have an unhealthy obsession with it; but fortunately so does my sister; and so it's going to have a place at the reception!  Needless to say, this is pretty fun stuff for me, playing wedding planner and designer and all  : )
I'll keep you posted as we move things along!

Easy Easter centerpiece

Do you ever collect stuff from outside just because it's fun?  Remember as a kid we would pick dandelions or the newly bloomed tulips and give them to our mom?  Now my girls do that for me : )  I have managed to pass along my insatiable desire to take rocks and pine cones even though we have enough!  In this case, I used fun sticks!

I used plastic Easter eggs that have 2 holes in the top to tie some string through the egg.

Then I put those floral skills to use and arranged the sticks to my liking!  Simply hang the eggs on the branches.  This would be fun on a smaller scale too.  Easy, cheap Easter centerpiece!

Easter bucket makeover!

Rather than collecting a new basket every year on Easter, our girls put out the same basket the night before for the Easter bunny to fill and hide.  We have just been using those $.97 buckets from Walmart, and we thought it would be fun to customize them.  I rummaged up felt in Springy colors, fabric and ribbons, some puff paint, and of course the trusted glue gun.  I also found these fun dragonfly/butterfly felt stickers.

 Each girl picked their colors and I hot glued the felt right to the plastic bucket.  I cut out some eggs in white felt and the girls decorated them with the paint.  We wrapped the handles in fabric or ribbon too.  Now they are personalized and textured and colorful! 

 Happy Easter!

Easter egg topiary

This a fun Easter decoration I made a couple years ago.  (Okay, it's like my only Easter decoration that makes it out each year.)  Because it's a couple years old, I don't have step by step pictures; but I thought it might be share-worthy anyway.  It was cheap and simple to make.  I got the eggs and the pot from the Dollar store!  I think any eggs and any pot would work!  All you need is a foam topiary form from the craft store, a pot, some eggs, moss or Spanish moss (which is what I used) and of course, a glue gun!

Place and glue the eggs and then fill in with the moss until you've burnt your fingers enough it looks just right!  How do you decorate for Easter?