All the Small Things...

I Love You Because...

(click on image to enlarge)

If I do say so myself... I LOVE this craft!!!

It's so fun to be walking down the hallway, see the frames, think of something I want to say to the kids, erase the old saying with my finger and then, with a dry erase pen, write in something new!

Will the kids remember this 20 years from now?

I know it!

 

I seriously LOVE this and I can say that (without bragging) because I totally copied it from Becky Higgin's site, BUT for MUCH less and personalized!

 

Instructions:  

1) I simply printed out the 5x7 images on photo paper.

2) I placed the images behind $3 Target 5x7 frames

3) Then write on the glass with a dry erase marker whenever you want!

 

I know it's not personalized, but here is one I created for you... just add your own name-- or not!

Download Pdf i love you because

Enjoy!!!

Oh, and one more thing... think of this for Christmas gifts!!!

How AWESOME would it be to get a set of these for your family?!?!?!

Who wouldn't LOVE this!?!?!?!

This is probably now one of my very favorite things in my house!!!

Horton Hears a Who Wooden Blocks...

(click on image to enlarge, as usual)

I made these blocks for Michelle for her birthday.  Why Horton Hears a Who?  Well, her husband, Ken Daurio, wrote the MOVIE !  How cool is that?!?!!  Wasn't it GREAT?!?!?!

Obviously this movie holds a very special place in her heart, so I knew she'd love the blocks and she did!

Here are the instructions... make some!  They're so easy and fun to do!

Plus- tracing paper, pencil, sand paper and stamping ink

The last step is to add layers of Modge Podge to all sides of the blocks.  The key is to add a lot of thin layers and to have the bottom layer COMPLETELY dry before adding the next layer.  This is extremely easy, but will take some time to do because of the drying time.

Crepe Paper Fringe...

So last week I posted about a couple of fun trims I got in the mail... TRIMS.

They are by the AMAZING Bethany Lowe and I LOVE her!  BUT... her stuff is soooo expensive. At least I think it is.  

Anyway, one of the items I bought was a length of crepe paper fringe.  I love it and have it hanging in my front room above my fireplace. 

After putting it up, I was sad I didn't have more to make a banner, so I decided it was time to figure out how to make it. So, I headed to a party store and bought red, white and blue streamers.  $3 total!  Not bad. Especially when I spent $8 plus S+H for 1/10 of the length!

I then set about trying to duplicate my cute fringe and I did it!  Yeah!  Here are the directions...

Now I have TONS to make my banner... I'm excited!

Candy Jar Trick...

Okay, so I should have cleaned the containers before taking pics of them!  Water spots galore!  You get the point though...

Defeated...

Quite dramatic, huh?  lol

Anyway, my search for the elusive cookie tin has failed.  :(

Darn you Martha Stewart.  Darn you and your fabulous cookie tins!

A pipe dream...                                          :)

A Girl Can Never Have Too Many Shoes...

So the other day I bought these:

And today I turned them into these:

These were a little tricky to make, but after you get down a template, they are super easy!

Here's what I did:

• Buy some canvas sneakers... I bought mine for $5 at Wal-Mart!
• Take tracing paper and fold it around the front of the shoe as best as you can and trace the pattern of the shoe (since paper won't just lay nicely on a shoe, this can be tricky, so just try your hardest and make do)
• Do the same to the back part of the shoe
• Now take those patterns and cut them out
• Lay the patterns on the shoes and adjust as needed
• Now trace the patterns onto the back of fabric and cut out
• Using a fabric glue (I used Aleene's), glue fabric to shoes by starting to glue in the middle of the fabric and working your way out
• Because fabric stretches, you may need to cut some fabric off your shoes as you're gluing

And On The 7th Day I Crafted...

I LOVE some Sunday crafting.

Today, Operation Kung Fu Shoe. (I wasn't aware these shoes had a name, but apparently they are called Kung Fu shoes)

So, normally I think these shoes are kind of ugly (sorry for all you Kung Fu shoe lovin readers), but add a HUGE tacky plastic flower and now we're talking!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Scarlet LOVES them...

I told her that I planted her shoes in the yard and watered them and they grew flowers... she doesn't believe me.

I bought the shoes online here, if you're interested.  They are only $4.50 each, and I bought the flowers from Joann's summer clearance section for about $.70 each, so this is a super inexpensive craft and one that Scarlet ADORES!

Directions: (this isn't exactly brain surgery, but I do have a tip or two!)

• I cut the stem from the base so that the flower has as flat a surface as possible
• Now that the stem is cut, the leaves can be pulled apart very easily and this is something we don't want, so either sew a few stitches through ALL layers of the flower in the center (this is what I do) or with a glue gun, glue between all layers of the flower so it is held together
• Now sew the flower to the top of the shoe with a few stitches (I use embroidery floss because it is more heavy duty)
• Don't tie the final knot on the inside of the shoe because it will be an irritation while the shoes are being worn.  I tie the knot below the flower on the outside of the shoe

Okay, so that was Operation Kung Fu Shoe...