Cute as a Button or Project #4

Whenever I am with my wonderful sister-in-law Ellen, we craft (and cook and shop and play.... you get the idea). It is just what we do. So, I thought I would show you our latest project and my Valentine's Day gifts to some work friends and the women I visit teach. 

We made earrings by making our own buttons (covering buttons with fabric) and then we backed the buttons with earring backs. We got the idea from this cute blog. It is super easy to craft when someone comes up with the good ideas!

 

And what would Valentine's Day be without a little chocolate! Cute Valentine's Day bags from Target for $1. Easy and cute! (Did you count how many times I used the word cute? Sorry. 'tis the season!)

Speaking of cute, the other day I was leaving for work and Eric was staring at the computer watching PBS kids with his earphones on. I tried to get his attention by tickling his side but I just got a sour look. So, as I was walking out the door, I tapped him on the shoulder and signed (in sign language), I LOVE YOU! He just looked at me and said, "Me too." then he when right back to his show. It made me smile. I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Flowers or Project #3

As mentioned previously, one of my 36 New Year's resolutions is to complete 36 projects (old or new) and/or learn a new skill. My dear, wonderful friend Bling is getting married and I was asked to do the centerpieces/ flower arrangements for her bridal shower. Mind you, I have never done flower arrangements. However, with a little help from my friends (thank you R&R), the idea and creation were born. I "wrapped" the inside of all the vases with hydrangea leaves and put the roses in the tall vases and the hydrangea in the small vases. When I was looking for small vases, I stopped by goodwill and found six for $0.49 a piece. I think they are scotch glasses but they made great vases. I also bought eight small picture frames and filled them with pictures of the happy couple.

I was a bit stressed about not finding the perfect color of flowers (her colors are purple, silver, black and white) so I went with pink roses and hydrangea and I loved how they turned out. 

Check off another completed project! Yay!

Rack 'Em Up or Project #2

I told each of my nephews and niece that I live with that I would make them a surprise cupcake creation for their birthdays. I made Eric the race car, Jenna the butterflies and Alex the pool balls. I love how they turned out.

It is a relief to have the project done so I don't fell like I am behind the eight-ball (sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Butterflies in January or Project #1

It is freezing. It is so cold outside that it is hard to walk from the car to the house. I feel like my bones are frozen. I want spring to come and honestly I would like it to come really soon (like tomorrow). Spring to me is all about happiness, flowers, bees, sunshine, butterflies, etc. etc. So, in honor of the spring that has yet to sprung and in honor of my sweet niece Jenna's birthday, I made Jenna butterfly cupcakes from my cupcake book. The end result was great but making the chocolate butterflies almost made me pull my hair out. I feel that now that I have had some practiced, I could make the next batch of butterflies with a lot less stress. I bought the flower cupcake papers from Joann's but I am sure you can find them other places. I thought the flowers made a nice touch. (One of my 36 New Year's resolutions is to complete 36 new or old projects or learn a new skill. Here is project #1.)

Dear spring, please come soon.

Valentine's Day Project

One of my favorite activities is to walk through any and all craft stores. I love looking and envisioning my next craft project. To be honest, I have not had much time for craft projects but I still love to go and plan. So, when I went into AC Moore the other week and I found wooden hearts on a stick on sale, I decided to buy 40 of them and get crafting.

In December, a friend of mine from church showed me her family's Christmas service star: a wooden star on a stick. The star was painted gold with lots of glitter and ribbon. The idea is that one person does a good deed for another member of the family.  Then secretly, the wooden star is placed on the bed of the person who received the kindness. Then that person who received the kindness takes a turn serving another member of the family. The stick keeps getting passed from one family member to another as good deeds flow through the house.

I thought this was such a cute idea. And to be honest I really really wanted my own wooden gold star on a stick. But when I saw the hearts I decided to make my own service stick for Valentine's Day, Same idea, same plan, different holiday. So, I bought the sticks and headed home.

My friend and I were going to do the project together but with our busy schedules, we just divided and conquered. We bought cherry red spray and glitter spray paint and we went to work. I wanted to spray paint outside but it was so cold I thought I could just spray paint the hearts in my basement. I read the warning on the spray cans and opened a window and turned off the furnace. Well, that was an extremely bad idea. My house smelled like spray paint for days and the fumes were so thick that I did not turn my heat back on for 2 1/2 days. It was cold and a bit miserable but it was worth it! The hearts turned out so cute.

I tried to take the poem attached to my friend's gold star and rewrite it to fit Valentine's Day but it just didn't work. So I decided that I would just write my own Valentine's Day poem. I gave the hearts to each of my sibling's families and my seminary kids.

February fourteenth, it's the day
When your friends and fam'ly give gifts to say
I love you, I like you, You cutie pie
Some even write love notes up in the sky.

This red wooden heart is my gift for you,
Hoping you'll spread kindness and service too
'Cause love's not love 'til you give it away
With thoughts, in actions and the words you say

At least this month and perhaps even more
Give a kindly deed, no need for a store
Do it secret, keep your mouth shut tight
Quickly place the heart on their bed that night!

Then it's their turn to continue the chain
Feeling good inside brings secret acclaim
The heart will pass from one to another
Siblings, your dad, don't forget your mother

A domino effect of kindly deeds
Bringing smiles, and love, even meeting needs
Place this heart, they will surely wonder who
Spreading happiness, joy this whole month through

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Homemade

When I was in Israel on study abroad, I wrote my mom a letter describing all of the homemade food I wanted her to make me when I got home. The list included things like pumpkin pie and homemade rolls. As an adult, I realize that my letter had little to do with food and everything to do with what the food represented to me. I wanted to feel taken care of and I wanted to feel a bit babied. I like to think of myself as a strong, independent, single woman that can take care of herself but once in a while it is nice to feel taken care of and babied for a few minutes. About a month ago, my brother, his wife, and their darling six month old baby came to visit. They were only suppose to come for a weekend but due to a power outage at their home in Ohio, they came for 5 days. It was a wonderful 5 days for me as my family took care of me. I cannot list all of the things they did for me but I remember that they did my laundry, cleaned my house, bought my groceries, ran my errands, made my bed, cooked my meals, and let me cry on their shoulders. So, how do you thank people who spent their vacation taking care of you? Well, you give them a Hooter Hider! My sister-in-law was talking while she was visiting that she really wanted a Hooter Hider which is basically a covering to keep a mother modest while she nurses. I knew she wanted one and after they left I ran into a dear friend of my that just happens to make them. Erin was sweet enough and patient enough to help me make Ellen her very own Hooter Hider. When I told my sister Liz what I was making, I told her that we should think of our own name. She came up with Milk Masker and my brother Dan came up with my favorite, a Gawker Stopper.

Just a bunch of fabric and notions.

Super Nurser?!

A success, the Gawker Stopper to the rescue.

I think we all want to have someone show up make us homemade rolls and take care of us for a little while. Thanks Dan & Ellen...you were lifesavers!