Burlap and Vintage Button Wreath

This wreath inspired me...

TaterTotsAndJello

...so I decided to make my own!  With my own, personal twist of course!

And here is my finished product, now hanging proudly above our Master Room bed.  *smiles*  

(Walls are painted Silver Plate from Sherwin Williams._

Here's what I used/you need...

Wreath

5 inch strips of burlap (Aprox. 3 yrd. depending on wreath size.)

Hot glue and glue gun

Scrap material in the color of your choice

Extra burlap

Vintage buttons

Scissors

Chalkboard bunting

Twine

Lots of patients and strong hands!

To make...

Cut out circle, after circle, after circle, in various sizes using your burlap and material.  Hot glue circles together.  Hot glue buttons in the center.

(Instead of counting, I eye-balled, placing the completed flowers on the wreath without gluing them.)

Cut burlap into 5 inch strips - or use some of that amazing burlap ribbon!  

Wrap the burlap strips around the wreath, hot gluing occasionally to keep in place.

After all of your flowers have dried, hot glue them onto your wreath!  

It worked best for me to lay out the flowers on the wreath before I glued, 

to get a balance of colors and sizes!  *grins*

Use twine to string your bunting, and then hot glue to the back of the wreath.  I also used twine and hot glue to create a hanger on the back.

Honestly, the hardest part about making this is the cutting, and cutting out of the circle flowers!

Instead of "Luv" you could place your initials "A + B" or "Joy" or any other word you wish!

Christmas prep...

That's right!  Christmas is coming!  And with a child in the house, 

preparing to celebrate Christmas can be a whole lot of fun!  

Yeah, it typically takes longer, but it's so worth it.

We've let out daughter help us every step of the way.  

Here's a glimpse into what's been going on around our house in the last week or so.

Trimming the Tree

Peeling (and eating!) Pomegranates

Helping place the Baby Jesus and Angel Yard Art

What IS normal?

Stolen from a friend's Facebook

As a Christ-follower, mother and wife, sometimes I do wonder,

"What's normal?"

"Is there really such a thing as a "normal" marriage or a "normal" child?"

"Am I normal?"

Nope.

Each marriage, each family, each child is unique!  Instead of trying to cram our spouses, selves and children into a "normal" mold, a mold created by man and not by God by the way, we should step back and examine our situations.  Season our actions and plans with grace.  In the end, who cares what people think!  Honestly, your life and your family have only to answer to Christ - not to society, not to someone who wrote a best seller or to the pastor at your church.

Can you, at the end of the day, face your Lord, child and husband with a clear conscience and love?  Have you done your best that day with what that day brought your way?  Does your child know you love them unconditionally?  Are you willing to swallow your pride in order have a better marriage?  Are you allowing God's grace to minister to your heart?  

Or, are you so caught up with the "rules" you read in that book, heard on a radio program, saw on a Power Point at church or jotted down at a seminar?  Maybe you're supposed to "only" have one child instead of one thousand.  Maybe your husband is a better cook.  Maybe you're not a good house keeper.  Maybe your child is going to have a tantrum here and there.  There is no formula to a successful marriage.  There is no formula to raising a God-loving, well adjusted child.  There is no formula to being a content, happy individual.

But there is God's grace.  There is joy in your child's laughter.  There is love in your husband's kiss.  Get off the "normal" merry-go-round of life.  Appreciate today.  Be thankful for the good moments.  You're a square peg trying to fit in a round hole.  There is no normal!

Actively seek what God wants for YOU, the square peg!  What story does He want to write with your life and family?  Look for the square window that He has customized for YOU - between you and God, between you and your husband, between you and your child.

It's time to accept the fact that we're all different and we're all children of a loving, grace giving God.  Yes, there are absolute "right" and "wrongs" in Scripture that we all should live by.  We are all humans and all have the same Creator, that's what makes us "the same."  But there is no "normal" outside of that.

So, from now on, "normal" is just a setting on a dryer.  *smiles*

Become the lady, wife and mother God wants YOU to be.  And only that.  It's freeing.  It's fulfilling.  It's right.

Product Review - Kumon Write and Wipe

Image via Amazon

Another fun Goodwill find for me was this complete set of Write and Wipe cards!  

My little one is nuts about them!

Start at the dot, follow the arrow, end at the star!  So easy.

This cards keep her busy and holds interested for at least two times through the alphabet! 

On the flip side of each card is a coordinating picture and word.

Kumon's ABC's Write and Wipe gets a five outta five from me!

**I was in no way compensated for this review.

Coach Tennis Shoes - From Goodwill

Indeed, true, authentic Coach tennis shoes from Goodwill.  A steal at $14.99.

A little help from a Magic Erase and they look like new!

What have you found recently while thrifting?

Paper Scrap Letters - Cheapo Anthro

So I fell in LOVE with the Anthropologie letters.  Ain't they grand?  Each one is unique and they're $14 a pop!  (Unless they're on sale!)

While these are beautiful, quilted and quality, I didn't want to swing for 'em.  So I put on my thinking cap and camp up with the Cheapo Anthro version.  (It also didn't take very long, and was "almost" free - compared to $14 each.)

 

Here's what you need...

*Cardboard letter 

(Store bought or actually cut from a piece cardboard.)

*Scraps of paper 

(Could use old magazines, etc.)

*Tape or glue

*Scissors/paper cutter

All you have to do is wrap a strip of paper around the letter, cut to size and tape or glue on the back!  Voila!  You could add those cute cloth rosettes and even some bling if you want a fancier look.  

Your cheap (mine were $1 each) or free Cheapo Anthro letter!  Now you can afford to spell out a whole name, word and make some for gifts!

Girlie Curious George Birthday Party

On the morning of her birthday, we celebrated with a tradition that has been in my family for about 30 years - the red "You're Special Today" plate.  *smiles*

Gluten free blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and a new (Goodwill!) Princess birthday shirt.  Perfect start to any child's day.

For her party, we went with her current favorite cartoon - Curious George!  I tried to keep things simple yet a bit creative and lots of fun!  The typical red, blue, green and yellow George party wouldn't work for us, naturally.  So we chose purple, pink and yellow - now that's more girlie.

For party favors for the visiting kiddos I used buckets and filled them with these treats...

A Curious George Mask (from Party City)

A Curious George bottle cap necklace (PPPartyFavors from Etsy)

Squiggle straw

2 monkey erasers

Kite ($1 bin at Target!)

Baggie of banana chips

Picture of my daughter with her age and "Thank you!" printed (Made by me.)

and

A Curious George chalkboard mat (Nickle Pickle Quilts from Etsy)

As I said, I tried to keep the decorating to a minimum.  

Wal-Mart had these bright decorations for a $1 each in their party section.

I propped Curious George books everywhere, windows, mantel, etc.  

And that was it - favor, food and drink stations decorated and books spread about.

In our entry, I used this plastic back-drop with 

lips, glasses, hats and mustaches for the guests to pose with as they came in.

Later, I sent an email thank you with their photo!

Her gluten and dairy free Curious George birthday cake came from a local bakery.  

Somehow, they missed the multiple email memos about our color scheme.  *grins*  

Instead of yellow, they used green.

But we rolled with it, and I don't think any visitors noticed.

Outside we had a kiddie pool and sprinkler and ladder ball.

For food we opted to go with brisket on the grill, baked potatoes and baked and green beans in crock pots.

As adult visitors left, I gave them the Thank You photo of my daughter.  *whew* 

Saves on writing thank you cards later!

And there you have it!  This birthday party is now behind us.  And you know what, my daughter already knows what kind of party she wants next year.  *smiles*  

A blue princess party.  *sighs*

DIY Topiaries

So my friend and I were happily strolling through a fancy shop in the quaint, historic part of her town and we spied these amazing topiaries.  At about $65 retail price, I was shocked.  My friend mentioned how easy it would be to make them.  And of course, I agreed.  *smiles*

I'd been wanting to find something tall and "natural" for the dresser in our master bedroom.  The topiaries were the perfect idea!  I decided that I didn't like the clay pot look, and used some chalkboard paint I had purchased earlier.

A run to Hobby Lobby, a quick stroll around my backyard and voila!

(If you wait until each item goes on their 50% off sale, you can make these topiaries for about $6.50 each.  MUCHO cheaper than $65 per green thing.  Yes!)

Looks navy blue when you open the can!

One coat, with a foam brush, was all I needed.

I opted for the pre-made greenery balls.
There really wasn't much of a price difference.
You could make your own for a more custom look.

One package of moss covered the tops of all 3 pots.

Chalk markers, or pens, are simply amazing.
Favorite new find.

I can write whatever words I'd like - seasonal, some special note, etc.

Standing tall on the dresser.

Vintage Gun Cabinet to Jewelry Hutch

Habitat for Humanity has a great store not far from our house.  One time we just "stopped in" and this is what I fell in love with...it was only $25.

This cabinet was supposed to be for a spot in our guest bath, but at some point an idea jumped into my head...a jewelry hutch!  For years and years I've been trying to come up with some way to store ALL of my accessories in one place.  The jewelry chest my husband bought me a few years ago was nice, but all my chunky vintage pieces well, they didn't fit.  So I had the jewelry chest, and a hanging bag and a pile, and then another hanging bag...all in the same closet!  Nothing I have is valuable, so it's not like I needed a way to keep things "safe," but a way to keep all my pieces in one place would change my life!  *winks*

Original Hinges

Gun rack and support for old shelving.

DIY Chalk Paint via I Heart Nap Time

Paint will be very thick, keep stirring!

I just loved the swirls!  *smiles*

I chose a $3 Oops! paint for my shelf color.
(More coral than peach in person.)

The Vaseline trick via really works!

With the Vaseline, paint just wiped right off.  
(I did use a chisel to scrape off the old white paint in the places I wanted that chippy look,
so the  natural wood underneath would show through too!)

A good soak in hot, soapy Dawn helped the old paint peel off!

Hobby Lobby and their 50% off hooks afforded me a great vintage style look.

My husband is so handy.  He's helped me with every project I've ever wanted to do.  He's full of marvelous ideas.  *pats husband on back*  He knocked out the gun rack and extra shelf supports.  Put in another board on top for screwing the cabinet into the wall and well, everything!

Here's the finished product...I'm in LOVE with it!

My husband hung this massive cabinet on the wall - top hooks I can just reach.
An insane amount of bling fits in here!
(I will stack more of the wonderful bamboo cases on the 2nd shelf - after I go back to get more!)
When all my "jewels" are displayed, it's amazing!  *smiles*

Wood Block frame I made here holds a vintage Scripture found in an old house.
Hands business card holder serves as a great cocktail ring holder!

IKEA paper towel holder for bracelets - was on sale for .50 cents!

Oatmeal box  - headbands fit great!