Activity Day Girl Craft

Invited the Activity Day girls over today for a Winter Break Craft. (Only a couple girls could make it) The thread we used made everyone a little frustrated! Just call them "Bulgy Snowmen" ⛄ But they are cute!! Thanks girls for coming Quinn & Rebecca! {Funny side note- at 7PM- Kylie showed up. Her mom had read "@ 7....... Faith Lane and assumed it was at 7PM. Oops! Bummer!}

Liberty & Mom's Productive Week

While everyone else was gone to Scout Camp & UT- Liberty & I were busy!!!!

One night we went to the Discount Movie night. We enjoyed The Legend of Tarzan. We ate a quick dinner & enjoyed a gorgeous double rainbow. Then decided to stay for one more movie- the new Ghostbusters! Afterall, it is the discount night, right? And there is only 2 of us! Fun GNO (Girls Night Out!!)

I also took Liberty to Driver's Ed every day and she did lots of practice driving!!! Plus she worked a few nights as well. This girl's life is BUSY!!!

AND we were also very productive!!! We ended up painting all of her bedroom furniture! We worked on them every day. They turned out awesome!
Here's her Hope Chest:

Her Bookshelf:

Her Bed:

Reveal of her Amazing Finished Bedroom!!!!! Drumroll please........................

A little Craft Mojo

Not sure how I found a little bit of my lost Craft Mojo but I did. And it kind of exploded!!! I've created some super crafty things lately. I'm so excited about them. I forgot how happy it makes me to be creating! Love it!

Snowman Pillow made from flannel

 Carrot from straws and Easter Eggs from crochet thread

 I love this Sign!!! I painted it on a canvas to make it look like wood.

 My USA Map I did with my friends

 And of course my latest Make & Take Project- Risen Tile

 I bought this 2 items and then wrote on it. But it is so cute 

that several of my friends bought them and had me write on them as well. 

I am loving chalkboards lately. They make me so happy!

I'm collecting things to decorate my wall above my stairs. I finally printed off this family picture of when we did our own Groundbreaking Ceremony on our new house. Then I added a cute vinyl saying: "Wherever we are Together- We are Home!" I love it!

Yeah for Craft Mojo!

TOFW: Craft Night

What get together with my 2 best creative buddies would be complete without doing a craft project??

A couple weeks ago- Amber sent me an idea of this US map done with fabric that maybe we could do together while I visited her in Idaho. So cute! Let's do it!

So I started getting things together and deciding how I would tweak it to make it my own. (Cuz I'm a tweaker! LOL)
I have this frame that my dad gave me that I swapped out for one that went better with my decor but wanted to use this one as well since it was a gift from him. It seemed the perfect size to fit my new project. I visited my favorite little print shop and had them blow up a map for me that would fit. And printed a even bigger one for Amber.

I began by hanging my map on the window backwards so that I could trace it and make the "wrong" side of the states visible to trace later. Then I thought that if I just traced my pieces on wonder under- then I'd be ahead enough that I could help Amber with hers when I got there. It made me realize that we needed the maps printed backwards. So I made another trip to have them print them backwards for me. It saved tons of time!! Plus I numbered all of them in the order they should be laid on the background to make them all fit.

It was so cute sitting there all traced that it was practically begging me to find fabric for it! So I did. I was just going to pick out the fabric to take down with me.

But somehow my iron just needed me to put those shapes on the right fabric. LOL Besides can you imagine how much less stuff I have to pack if I don't have to take all of those piles of fabric down?? (that's what I told myself) Then it led to cutting them out so I could see how cute they were. Then that led to thinking- how would I get them all down there without losing some of the tiny pieces. That's logical, right?

Needless to say- I just couldn't help myself! I ironed them on. Then decided to just quickly sew around them all so they wouldn't fall off.

So.. yes! I basically just finished it before I even left for ID. Dang! I must have a disease. At least it's a "finisher" disease, right?
It did make me super excited to go down and see what my friends maps would look like. And in hind sight- it was way helpful to have a knowledge of what to do. Plus I was totally free to help them cut, trace, iron, etc. Super helpful since we are not the night owls we used to be!!!

Here's our little craft retreat in the basement of Amber's place. So much fun!!! I miss sewing and crafting with these ladies!!! SOOOO much! Love you gals! XO (Plus our little cooler buddy that hung out with us)

After returning home- I decided to add some words and get mine all in the frame! It turned out so darling!!! A perfect decor for July! Can't wait!!!

Make & Take Tiles

I had my 2nd Make & Take tonight. We made these 6 x 6 tiles for Easter. Not as many came this time because of other conflicts. But love getting together with these ladies. Fun times!

Black Hands

We have the Payne kids over every Wednesday while their parents serve at Church. The kids have a great time together! (except when barbie body parts start getting pulled off or fire alarms scare the crap out of everyone! LOL) Tonight, the kids helped me with a painting project. They got a little wild and painted more than my boards. Silly kids! Glad they were willing to help me though & had a little creative fun!

My 1st Make & Take

I have been tossing around the idea of doing a monthly craft night in my head for years. So... despite me playing single mom this week, the painter making a mess of my walls and a zillion other things bouncing around right now- I decided this was the time to make it happen!
I found a cute vinyl charger plate idea and then sent out a text to a few people to see if there'd be any interest. Well... there was. {Even more than I had supplies for} But with a little help from my kiddos to get the house ready, encouragement from my hubby to get my "business" up & running and an answered prayer to find the last 14 charger plates at a local store- it was a success! I think all the ladies had a good time getting together, visiting, snacking and crafting the night away. It stresses me out a little to do things like this but I do know that God has given me the gift of craftiness and party plannerism (Yes- I'm making up words now. LOL) and perhaps it's time to share those gifts. Now I just have to pray that ideas start to flow and I figure out how to fit all my lady friends in my basement! ;) Thanks ladies for spending the evening with me! You're the best! XO

Grammy & Grandpa Randy Visit: Painting

My Dad (Grandpa Randy) is quite the artist. I remembering him painting gorgeous oil paintings of Indians when I was growing up. [That reminds me- I need to figure out how to get my hands on one of those someday}
A couple years ago, he painted all the grandkids their favorite animal for Christmas.
People always blame (honor) my creative talents to my Dad. I think he is very talented and grateful he would share that with my family.
As a special treat, Grandpa Randy brought us up a fun way to express our creative energy! He brought us all canvas & we each did our own painting based off one he had done. [Acrylic not oil, this time] I loved how they were all so different. Even with a few getting frustrated (& NO for once it was NOT my Dad. Way to go, Daddy!) we are AMAZING!

Here's our finished projects:

Puff Balls

Ever since Liberty came back from Megan's party, she has been obsessed with making PUFF BALLS from every bit of yarn she can find around the house. Victoria joined in on the fun! Now we are infested with Puff Balls! Gotta love their creativity!

RS Christmas Expo

Our Ward Relief Society had a get-together today. They called it the Christmas Expo. I helped by doing a craft project for the ladies. I think they turned out way fun. I love how they were all different but everyone loved them! So fun!

We also had a Pinterest table where you could bring a few things you have been working on and share the directions with others. Here's a couple that I brought. Aren't they darling?

A Can of Paint

I've gotten a little carried away lately and a can of paint/stain has been my best friend. Here's a few of my projects I have been working on.
We have this outdoor storage bench that has been pretty beat up.

Well, I added a little primer:

And a special textured stone paint that I found. It is amazing!

 Here's the little bench that goes with it.

Remember our Eagle we got for Brett's birthday a couple years ago? Well it needs to be better protected with a coat of spar varnish. And we wanted it to look more like a Bald Eagle so I did a little stain magic. Wallah! We are in love with it!!!

 

I also went over one day to help a friend paint part of her house. They are changing it from blue with white trim to red with grey trim. Man! I love to paint!!!

I still need to redo my seats for my new kitchen bar but haven't got around to it yet.

Crafts for my new Home

I've been completing a couple crafts lately to put in my new home. That is- IF we ever get in there!! ;)
But I am way excited about my craftiness! Luv them!
1- Seamons Rules
I learned how to use vinyl and make the words different colors. I luv how it turned out!!!

2- Ironing Board Cover

Using the fabric for my new laundry room, I made a new cover. So excited!

3- "Wake Up and Be Awesome" Wood Sign
This is our new Family Motto. We found a scripture to go with it. I used an old cupboard door I got when the Burtons moved. It is so AWESOME!!!!

"Everything is AWESOME!" in Tie-Dye

For a fun Spring Break activity, the kids and I decided to tie-dye some shirts. Now all we want to do is color things! LOL It was a exciting, long and messy process.

Step 1: Wet your shirt

Step 2: Decide on your pattern and bind it up with elastics

Step 3: Add some dye and make your hands really colorful! ;)

Step 4: Stick it in a bag overnight

Step 5: Rinse out the extra color

Step 6: Check out your awesome design
Then throw it in the washer and dryer

Step 7: Look fabulous!!!

Step 8: Get all dressed up go to the Lego Movie. What a fun date!

KidWorks! Art Festival

There was a plethora of activities available for Helena residents today. Being an artist, Victoria wanted to attend the Art Festival. So, our family split up for a bit to allow her the opportunity to express her creative nature.
Victoria, Glory and I went to the Holter Museum of Art for the 23rd Annual KidsWorks! Festival of Arts. We created a lot of things and had a great time!

This year's theme for KidWorks is "Passport to Art" featuring art projects from around the world. Some of the art projects are printmaking from Japan, Australian dot paintings, Cartouches from Egypt, Henna hands from India and Stained Glass windows from France. All of the projects are adapted for children ages 3 and up to be able to complete them by themselves or (in the case of the younger kids) with the help of an adult.There will be face painting and lots of entertainment by local dance, music and theater groups. Cafe Yum offers lots of different food items, all for $1 each.Kids 3 and up are invited to attend with an adult.Tickets are $5 per child and $2 per accompanying adultPlease enter the museum for KidWorks through the Cruse Avenue entrancePlease join us for this wonderful art festival for kids -- the festival is heavily supported by community businesses and individuals who believe in the mission of the Holter educational program. All funds raised go to the Holter Art Museum's Educational program.