Finley's Blocks and Blanket

After Julie picked out her bedding, she decided pink and turquoise would be good colors for Finley's blanket and blocks.

Finley's Crib with bedding

Blocks, Blanket and hat

Blue Side with hat

Showing both sides

Close up of the hat.
I love these colors together!

Name Blocks

Close up of Blocks

 I love how the blocks, blanket and hat all turned out! The colors are so cute together. I hope Finley likes them. I'm so glad I finished them in time for Finley's arrival.

Organizing Michael's Artwork

Now that Michael is in a Sunday School class, and not just in the nursery, he comes home every week with some sort of artwork. As a sentimental mom, I would like to keep all of these papers. Just keeping them in a big pile, or a box didn't seem practical. I went to Pinterest for some inspiration, and found this.

You can find info about this project here

 

Michael obviously isn't in school yet, but it's the same idea as what I was looking for. So, here is what I came up with:

I used my Creative Memories StoryBook Creator program to make the front and the labels. 

                                  

 Now, on Sunday's I put the new artwork on the refrigerator and move last weeks into the box.

Once Michael is in school, I will make a different box for all of his school papers. But this works great for right now!

Canvas storage box

I found this idea on Pinterest, and loved it!

So, last week, I went to JoAnn's and found some cute fabric, so I could make some boxes for Michael's closet. This weekend, I made this cute storage box.

Since This Blog already did a great job with the tutorial, I won't post how I made it. Just follow her steps and you will be good to go.  

The only thing is, I should have got more fabric. In her tutorial, she said she was able to cover the box using 1/2 a yard of fabric. So, I got a whole yard, thinking it would be enough for two boxes and it wasn't. So, now I have to go back and get more for my second box. So, made sure you measure your box first, and measure the fabric you are getting, just to make sure you get enough.

But anyway, I love how it turned out, and I'm thinking about where I could put some more of these. They are great and so practical for storing so much!

I also have to give a big THANK YOU to my Mom, who helped me sew the lining. Thanks Mom, you ROCK!

Handprint Turkey Shirt

I wanted to make Michael a cute shirt for Thanksgiving so I started looking around and found this:
http://morganmoore.typepad.com/one_more_moore/2008/11/a-turkey-for-me-and-a-turkey-for-you.html
(sorry, blogging from my phone and I can't add link.)
I wanted to do it a little different so I searched how to appliqué, and found this great post. www.Girlythingsbows.com/applique_shirt.html
I knew I could do it, so I went to Joanne's to buy all of the needed supplies. I'm not going to write down all of the steps, since she did a good job of that already.

The hardest part of this project was getting a good handprint from Michael. It required help from Andrew to hold Michael still and his hand flat, while I traced it.

I love how it turned out and I can't wait for him to wear it on Thanksgiving day.

Michaels first piece of art

I know I will have tons of paintings and projects to hang on the refrigerator, but there is just something special about the first one.
I am trying to get a good hand print for a thanksgiving project, and while we had the paint out and paint all over his hands, I figured I would let him play. It didn't take long before he was trying to eat it though, so we quickly put an end to arts and craft time.
It's the little things that make me so grateful to be a mom. Like refrigerator art!

Coleman Blocks

Here are my latest name blocks I created for Julie's baby. I saw the paper at Hobby Lobby, and knew I had to make some blocks using it. I found some paint that coordinated well, and Voila! I am so excited with how they turned out. I gave them to Julie this past weekend, and she loved them.

More Name Blocks...

This past weekend, I worked on some more name blocks. I got the inspiration when I was in Hobby Lobby on Friday and was looking at the scrapbook paper. They has several different Black and Cream printed paper, and that got me thinking about how cute that would be as a background for some blocks, with some black letters. Then I went to the paint department and found some "antique black" and "buttermilk white" paint for the blocks. I had it all planned out in my head, and it came together perfectly! I am so excited about how these turned out! Right now, I have them on top of our TV cabinet, but I may move them to the mantel. I have so many more ideas, I can't wait to try them all out!

Wooden Name Block Tutorial

Here is how I made the Name Blocks for Lydia.
Step 1: Start with a 2x4.

Step 2: Cut the blocks to the size you need. I pre-measured the letters to know what size to cut the blocks. (My dad did the actual cutting. Thanks Dad!)

Step 3: Sand the blocks. Andrew has this power sander, and it got the job done very quickly.

Here are the blocks after I finished sanding them.

Step 4: Paint the blocks. I chose pink and green to match the nursery decor. I used just regular craft paint, nothing fancy. I did have to do 2 coats though.

Step 5: While the paint is drying, cut out scrapbook paper for the front of each block. I cut the paper a little shorter than the actual block. I just thought it looked better that way.

Step 6: Cut out the letters. I used my Cricut to cut them out. I actually did this first, to know what size to cut the blocks.

Step 7: After the paint has dried, glue the paper to the block and then glue the letters to the paper.

Step 8: After the paper has adhered to the block, use Mod Podge to seal the front of the blocks. Allow that to dry, and Ta Da! You are finished!

I am so excited about how these turned out! Someone else needs to have a baby so I can make another set.

Lydia Claire has Arrived!

I got a text at midnight on Saturday night that said Jessica's water broke, and that the baby was on the way! I didn't get much sleep that night, I was so excited! This is the first baby for our little group of friends. Not for long though, since Julie's little boy will be here in just a few months! Jessica gave birth to a 8 lb 10 oz beautiful little girl on Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon, Jennifer and I went to the hospital to meet Baby Lydia.
I can tell she already loves her Aunt Fer and Toot Toot!

The blocks I showed the other day were a gift for the new baby. Here they are displayed in the hospital room. I will give a full tutorial in another post.

Welcome to the World Lydia Claire!

Productive weekend

What a productive weekend!
First, let me tell you about how many miles I walked.

On Friday afternoon, I walked 3.7 miles.

Saturday I walked 2.3 miles.

Sunday I walked 2.3 miles.

Total miles walked this weekend: 8.3!

Miles left to Hilton Head: 264.7 - I'm on my way...
**Note*** I walked another 2.3 miles this evening, so the total miles left is even lower now!!

*****

Saturday was Charlie's Birthday Party, Pictures to come in a separate post.

*****

Also on Saturday, I worked really hard on a special project. Here is just a sneak peak. I can't show you the whole thing, since it is a gift, and I can't give it to the person for a few more weeks. But I will be posting pictures and a brief tutorial how to make it, after I have given it to the person.

*****

Sunday, I cooked something I have never cooked before: Pot Roast!! I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe, and it did not disappoint! Here is the link, in case you would like to try it. It was super easy to make, and very good. Sorry, no pictures. Pot roast isn't really that pretty, so I didn't take any pictures, but my stomach didn't care how it looked.

So, that was my weekend in a nutshell.