Blanket Ladder

As I prepare to share the beginnings of my coffee table refinishing project - stay tuned - I thought that I'd post the pics of my Very. First. Ever. woodworking project. This heady attempt - and the several months cooling off period that followed - *may* have given me an inflated sense of handiness that prompted me to take on a project that I wasn't really qualified for . . . yet. That's how we learn quickly.

About 9 months ago, my very own mother sent me this Hallmark Channel "Home & Family" segment of a project-gone-right! I was smitten by the relative simplicity and utility of the project - give me all the blankets - and knew that I needed to make one! or two! I've painted small items but I'm going to go ahead and place this blanket ladder in the elevated category of furniture-making. Even with the excellent tutorial, (truly, it is), I had to ask a lot of questions and be a little bit patient with myself. I phoned more than one friend and relative to ask about pretty much every phase - sanding, staining, assembling and sealing. Also, I borrowed tools. 

 This picture illustrates what I learned about my first stain choice: multiple coats will not make it less orange.

 Although not a terrible hue, it wasn't quite the crowd-pleasing color that I was attempting.

 A second trip to Home Depot resulted in this Hail Mary attempt to color-correct my stain by layering a darker stain on top of it (to avoid having to sand and start over). It worked! Although, to be truthful, I didn't have time to start over anyhow.

 Here's the finished project, sprayed with a finishing coat of poly, drying in my garage. Pardon the lighting, there was no daylight remaining.

 Ready for blankets!

But, in the end, I ended up with a project that I was proud of contributing to my Annual Handmade Holiday gift exchange. And, I think, in lieu of a patch, I have earned a Furniture Camp shirt to add to my novelty tee collection. 

Tombstone Trophy Tutorial

I found these great tombstones in Bullseye's Playground at Target and immediately thought that they would make great (and easy) trophy's for the Annual Halloween Party and Chili Cook-off at my church. It's a really fun event - especially for children - with a costume contest, "trunk-or-treating" (trick-or-treating to various decorated car trunks), a pumpkin carving contest and a chili cook-off. Lots of opportunities to win a trophy! 

Last year, a friend and I made the awards together - and had a lot of fun doing it - but they were very labor-intensive. Since my bestie moved away, I came up with this far simpler idea that can be made in one evening! So, let's gather up some supplies and get crafting.

You'll need: tombstone figures (or another figure with a flat back), Halloween scrapbook paper (I used a 6 x 6 paper pad), foam brush, Mod Podge or glue (I used Mod Podge Matte), scissors, craft knife, chalkboard paper stickers, white Sakura jelly-roll pen. You may also want wax paper or a paper plate to protect your crafting surface and a cutting board or mat to go under your project when you're trimming with a craft knife.

Flip your paper over to the wrong side and trace around the tombstone. Cut it out just inside the line.

Using a paintbrush or foam brush, spread Mod Podge on the wrong side of the paper and the back of the tombstone. Stick them together, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles. 

Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes.

Place the tombstone on a cutting board and carefully trim any overhanging paper with a craft knife.

Fill out your chalkboard paper stickers and stick them to your trophy. 

Admire your work! 

Once Upon an October

Trying on Oliver's Garden Gnome hat for fit. I cracked myself up and *may* have sent this pic to more than a couple of people.

I love October. I planned for October in August and September. I still felt like this 👆 in the thick of it. It was altogether too busy. This year was a war between things I needed to do to and things I wanted to do. I should have given up on at least half of the things I wanted to do, sticking to the "should do"s, but that idea seemed so depressing that I trudged on anyways. Yes, clean underwear and meals and schoolwork and kids' sporting events and church service are important, but the "should do"s tend to be pretty thankless and not very fulfilling in the short-term. 

So, I said yes to all the Halloween costumes, sewing, parties, crafting and playdate-hosting. Please let my kids remember at least some of the things that I'm most proud of that came out of October and forget a few of the pizza nights and the time-and-a-half that I cried. They LOVED their costumes this year so that should help!

The Halloween quilt that I started in September, fueled by a great Jo-Ann sale that filled me with quilting aspirations. I don't really know how to quilt and was surprised when I got to the step in my beginner pattern that said "quilt as desired." Glad I could phone a friend about that bombshell. If I knew that, I probably wouldn't have needed a beginner pattern. Oh well, hoping to finish by next year!

Spooky orbs for a craft exchange. I like to think they were a little cuter in person. Tutorial here.

Wendy's Annual Witches' Tea! I have really fun friends.

A grown-up Halloween Party sans kiddos! Nick went as Luigi and I was a Strawberry.

Darn you Pinterest for making me think that these crazy trophies were a party essential! My friend, Terra, and I created these for our church's Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Party. I think the adults liked the awards about as much as the kids. Really great tutorial (as in we pretty faithfully followed it with great results) on Make It & Love It and her inspiration on UCreate.

Placemat Throw Pillow

For my crafty friends.  Because someday you will see a super cute placemat and think of this easy craft.  I initially got the idea from this great pin about using a fun, shaped placemat.

Take a placemat.  It *could* be one you found on sale at Target for about $3.  It should be cute! :)

Top stitch 3/8" around the placemat leaving about a 4" opening, or big enough to squeeze your hand through.  This will create a little border around your pillow, sort of like piping would.  I like that look but, if you don't, just skip this step and move on to the next.

Unpick the existing stitches that run parallel to your opening or 'gap' that you left so that you can open it up.  I had to do it twice because there were two sets of stitches on my pillow, front and back.

Open up the gap.  Insert stuffing.  I used Poly-fil.

Stitch closed.  Merry, merry!  Keep pillow for yourself so that your kids will stop telling you that you don't decorate the house enough for the holidays -OR- Think about all the people you know who need a happy pillow like this (and how brilliant they'll think you are).

Update, one week later:  I kept mine.  Currently, the kids have a rotation for who gets it during nightly story time :)

Mario (Pizza) Party 7

This year, we celebrated Oliver's 7th Birthday with a Mario-themed pizza party at California Pizza Kitchen.  The party started before the restaurant opened, so we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while.  It was perfect and allowed the boys to amp up the silly - chasing balloons and playing games - without disturbing anyone else.

One of Oliver's silliest faces.

When each boy arrived, we handed them their own Mario hat.

(Hat + Fabric Paint = Mario Baseball Cap)

We played a Minute-To-Win-It style game with ping pong balls and cups that was a HUGE hit with the boys and a party classic: musical chairs to Mario music.  Truthfully, we couldn't hear the Mario music well over the piped in music but our CPK host was wonderful and got all of the kids and parents to sing along with my iPhone speakers.

After the games, it was pizza time!

The kids loved designing their own pizzas.

Me, being goofy and modeling one of the extra hats.

Let the kitchen tour begin!

They must be very organized in the CPK Kitchens because it was small space.  The giant oven was the most impressive part, in my opinion.

 

Oliver seemed to enjoy the whole thing.

The pizzas were awesome!

Evelyn got one too!

Ice cream sundaes for dessert.

 

And a few goodies for the boys to play with at home:  bubble gum coins, fake mustaches, Super Mario fruit snacks, a marshmallow shooter and marshmallows (just because)!

 - GAME OVER - 

Handmade Party 2011

My lovely friend Brooke has hosted a handmade party every December for the past three years. Last year was my first year and I since then, I've been hooked. The party is done white elephant style. Draw a number, choose an unwrapped gift or steal one you've already seen. For months before this year's party, I found myself mentally grading the DIY items on Pinterest according to Handmade Party worthiness.

The year before set the bar pretty high and I realized that I might have to jump outside of my comfort zone to make something that would be "steal-able." I also realized that the most popular items were primarily accessories and home decor. Ouch, those aren't exactly my strong areas. I'm more of a little girl's clothing kind of sewer. Yeah, and many of the items were crafted, not sewn. Sometimes even with power tools. Double ouch.

So, you probably think I'm leading up to my awesome gift that blew the minds of all those who laid eyes upon it, right? Wrong. I had GREAT ambitions but at the eleventh hour, I ran out of time. The bag that I attempted (from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar's Tohoku Tote tutorial) was cute but I felt lame wrapping up something with an "I owe you a completed lining and handles." So, with minutes to spare before leaving for the party, I went with my plan B and gifted some wintery, silvery snow globes that I made with my sister-in-law over Thanksgiving. Only, I didn't have time to properly wrap them.

I replaced the tulle that you see, above, with a silver ribbon that can easily be removed.

I couldn't find tissue paper in the house so I ended up stapling the bag. STAPLING! This is the kiss of death for a white elephant gift. Nobody wants the lopsided, crumpled bag that is stapled shut. Who knows what's in a bag like that? My bag was chosen near the end of the approximately 40 person exchange and was only stolen once. Fail.

Next year! Next year, I will finish before December. I will finish even finish before the end of October when I am exhausted by Halloween costumes. And this mythical gift will have THE most dazzling gift wrap. Ideas, anyone? A beautiful bag? Lovely accessory? Maybe I'd better start now.

The (finally) finished bag made a cheerful Christmas gift for my mom.

It had handles AND a lining ;)

Day In Class

Oliver has a summer birthday just like his mama. Yes, there are advantages when you're little - no school - but sometimes you miss out on the special classroom perks or get smooshed into a really long rendition of the birthday song with all of the other summer kids. Ugh! But if you're in Mrs. Stephenson's kindergarten class, you get your own special day. Today Oliver's class celebrated his birthday a few weeks early and tomorrow another summer birthday kid will have his turn.

In lieu of birthday cupcakes, which students aren't allowed to share anymore, many of the kids bring something for the classroom. Oliver said that he wanted to bring a new "mascot" to share with his friends. What his class refers to as "mascots" are really canvas bags containing a book and toy or stuffed animal that each student gets to borrow for one night before returning to the classroom. We chose Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs And Ham" for the book - green is Oliver's favorite color right now - and I made some felt food to go with it. There are some really great examples here and here. We 'do so like green eggs and ham!'

Our inspiration . . .

All the elements for our "mascot," ready to be bagged.

I debated sampling them for breakfast but decided to send them along with my very own Sam-I-Am. Ultimately, he forgot to take the packet out of his backpack (What?!?) but he'll have a chance to share it with his friends tomorrow.

I embellished a little bag to go with it. Blue plate special!

A very, merry unbirthday to you!