UPDATED ‘HOME’ AND PATRIOTIC SETS!

I am donating a “Home” set and a Patriotic set to a friend for a fundraising silent auction, and wanted to make it extra special for her, so I’ve updated some of the interchangeable pieces. I have to tell you, I am so excited about how they turned out:

This set is basically the same, except I add the Uncle Sam Hat.  I think it turned out cute!  I need to make one for me, too!

added the cupcake, for birthdays…

love the ladybug!

who doesn’t love a Hershey’s Kiss?

a new bunny for Easter…

an apple, for back to school time.

Of course, the regular pieces will be there too (you can see that post here).  All in all there are 12 interchangeable pieces to represent the seasons (and a birthday  as well). Who needs an ‘o’ anyway?? 

I really hope the auction goes well, and they raise lots of money! 

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a great day.

CLEANING THE SHOES!

Hi everyone!  This is one of those cleaners, that if I hadn’t tried it myself, I would NEVER believe it worked! 

I bought my little one a couple of pairs of cute shoes at a second hand store.  The bottoms were gross…really gross on one of them. But, I figured they were a good brand, and worth a couple of bucks, to see if I can clean them up.  And, if I couldn’t clean them, she could have them as play shoes.  I remember seeing a talk show or something, where they mentioned using toothpaste to clean the bottoms of the shoes.  Yeah, right.  (Or so I thought!). 

  The left shoe is before cleaning, the  right shoe is after!

Both shoes, bright and shiny!

I just used what toothpaste we had,  an old toothbrush, and some elbow grease.  I couldn’t believe how quickly it cleaned them!  This was not just ‘surface’ dirt…it was like part of the shoe! I had tried soap, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and comet. Nothing worked.  I really didn’t want her wearing them out in the condition they were in.  But, now they are awesome!  Love those KEENS!

So, I immediately ran to her room and found the other pair, not Keens, but still cute:

on this one, I tried to leave a spot that wasn’t cleaned, so you could see the difference.  I couldn’t get a great picture, because of the flash, but here  are a couple. The results were amazing!

These shoes were so dirty and disgusting…I had actually put them up in her closet so she wouldn’t wear them!  But once I saw how the Keens turned out, I brought them out, still doubting that it would work on these babies, but oh yeah!  It’s amazing. 

So, if you have some shoes that need a little love, try the toothpaste trick!

Thanks for stopping by!

The More That You Read…

When I was young, I loved to read.  Then I really don’t know what happened…there was about a 15 year gap in there (dating, marriage, babies, etc) when I didn’t read at all (except for new mom ‘How to” books!).  Then one day I decided to check out this book that everyone had been talking about (Twilight).   And that reignited my love of reading.  That was approximately 4 years ago, and since then I have been going through books like a crazy woman!  It’s amazing what can happen when you read a good book…you get transported to another time, another place, another life.  It’s magical.  I love getting lost in a book (sometimes I don’t want to come back home!).  So, when I saw the Dr. Seuss quote on Pinterest (here), I knew I wanted it in my ‘school room’.  We don’t technically have a ‘school room’ but our dining room is currently being rearranged to be more school friendly, and so that is where the new quote is hanging. 

I left it fairly plain, to emphasize the quote itself, and not the canvas.  At first I didn’t like it at all, it was just too boring.  But the more I live with it, the more I like it.  It’s simple.  Sometimes that can be a good thing, right?  I hope my kids will develop a love of reading, and find themselves always hungry for more.

Have you read any good books lately?  If so, please share! I feel a bit lost, trying to find authors that really pull me in, as an adult.  I’d love to hear about the books that take you to another place and time!

Thanks for stopping by.

Reversible American Flag 2x2 Stacker

I made this American Flag stacker with Fireworks for a new friend of mine.  Her and her husband have both served our country in the military (he still serves),and I wanted to show them a small token of appreciation…

and on the other side of the flag:

I love that it’s reversible, so she can change up the display when the mood hits

Are you ready for the 4th???  I can’t believe it’s almost here…where did the month go?  Have you made stackers or fireworks???  I’d love to see them!  Leave me a comment so I can visit you back and check out your creativity!

Thanks for stopping by.

Side Table/Dog Bed

 

Hi! Remember me???  Oh, come on, you know you do…the slightly quirky one who loves chocolate, and NASCAR, and chocolate?  Sorry it’s been so long…the break lasted longer than expected.  I’ve been crazy busy with school, Young Marines, birthdays, pets and all kinds of fun stuff!  I haven’t had much time for crafting (sadly), but here is one finished project (the bed I bought is a bit big, but the pups love it).  I had seen some very cute pet beds made from end tables on Pinterest, and quickly began watching the thrift stores and Craigslist.  Finally, one day on Craigslist, a lady was giving it away, for free!  She had already removed the doors, because she, too, was planning on making a pet bed, but just never found the time! Yay!  So I brought it home, fixed it up a bit, and painted it black on the outside, and a pretty turquoise on the inside (thanks to Ace for the free paint Saturday they had a while back!).  I made a stencil for the dog names and for Grimm, because he’s a St. Patrick’s Day puppy, I made a shamrock.  For Kloe, I made a little doggie bone. I think it turned out really cute, and the pups love it (the bottom picture is of them snuggling together). 

Thanks for stopping by!

SPRAY PAINT STORAGE

I have invested (heavily) in the spray paint industry.  They should really thank me, or send me free samples, or give me stock in the company…really. I have a lot of spray paint.  I like it.  It’s easy to use, no clean up and there are tons of pretty colors.  That being said, I have a spray paint storage problem.  Usually I stuff the cans into any open shelf space, drawer or cupboard I can find.  Of course, this creates a problem when I go to find a certain color, and cannot remember where I put it (yes, this happens A LOT).  So, one day I was trying to come up with a clever and cheap way to store my paint, in a space challenged room.  I thought I came up with a brilliant idea, and shared it with my sister (no, I’m not sharing it with you, because compared to her GENIUS idea, mine is not so brilliant), who just nonchalantly says, “oh I thought you could use one of those shoe organizers”.  Hmmmpphh.  Brilliant, I say!

oh, Hi KEVIN!

oops, there he is again!

Since space is a huge issue in my craft room, this idea really is amazing…why did she think of it?  She doesn’t even craft!  What a smarty-pants!  But, I guess that’s what big sisters are for, huh?  Anyway, this works perfectly. It fits over the door, and I can easily see each can, and I’ve organized them by color family, so they’re easy to grab and go.  LOVE IT!  Sadly, I need another one of these, because my stash of spray paint is so large, but that’s ok.  They’re pretty cheap, and I can even hang it in the closet, out of the way (for those funkier, less often used colors).  So there you have it!  If you have a spray paint storage problem (say that three times fast!), then here is a simple solution. THANKS SIS!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACKER AND CUPCAKE

I love cupcakes.  Not even the kind you eat, although those are wonderful, but I mean the ones that adorn your house, making everything irresistibly cute.  When I decided to make my niece a birthday set, I knew it had to include a cupcake.  I found some cute ones on ETSY (here), and decided to make my own.  Here is my version:

I apologize for the picture quality, but my camera is on it’s last leg and the colors are just not turning out properly.  The pinks are a super cute bubblegum pink and the other paper is black with glittered polka dots.  The top of the cupcake and the flame on the candle are glittered.  I love how this turned out!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE…

An awesome I-Spy Bag! 

This was such a fun craft to put together, and so very easy!  I made one for each of my youngest three kids, to keep them occupied during their brothers’ Young Marines Graduation ceremony. I first saw these on Pinterest, and there are a bunch of different ones, but this one gave me inspiration.  I had already purchased the pencil bags, on clearance at Walmart for about 17 cents each.  Then, I just started looking for fun things to put inside.  I already had the jingle bell, paper clip, bead, army guys, water balloons, legos, puzzle pieces and foam shapes. Then I just started looking for inexpensive fun little toys at Target and Walmart. I spent a total of about $4 on fun fillers, and if you split that between the three bags I made, it was a very inexpensive craft!  I just used rice as the space filler, because it was easy and cheap. 

It’s as easy as 1-2-3…

1)  Purchase (or gather) your pencil bag, fun fillers and rice filler.

2)  Make a list of fun fillers and put them into the pencil bag.

3)  Add rice, close zipper and hot glue zipper shut!

ok, so there’s more than three steps (did you notice how I bundled them together?)…but it really is easy.  I also hot glued a cute piece of matching ribbon over the zipper, so there would be no temptation to try the zipper…out of sight, out of mind (hopefully).

Here is the list I made:

and another picture of the bag (sorry for the flash glare):

I have to tell you, I give this craft an A+++++.  It was easy, fun, turned out cute, and best of all, the kids loved them!  I’m thinking about making some more, so there will be variety for our trip to the coast this fall.  It kept Zoya busy for a long time, and was a great quiet activity.  These would be perfect for taking to a doctor’s appointment, siblings baseball game, or during quiet time at home.

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment and let me know you were here.

I’m linking up, go check out the fun!

HOUSE OF HEPWORTHS

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest, and decided it would be a sweet way to show some love at breakfast this morning…the kids loved it!

 

I bought Pillsbury Orange rolls and unrolled one side a bit, then re-rolled it to the shape of  a heart.  After they were baked, I spread the frosting goodness on top. 

Now, I must admit, before they were cooked they looked so cute and I was really worried that they’d lose their shape once baked, but I think they turned out pretty cute!  They tasted just as yummy as ever, and were super cute and festive for this love themed day!  Thanks Pinterest!

Hope you’re having a great day!

BE MINE or KISS ME Reversible Blocks

Have you ever had a really ‘simple’ project, that should take about 5 minutes, but then it morphs into this evil craft that has a mind of  it’s own, and that mind is thinking it doesn’t want you to finish?  Yeah, you know what I’m talking about, huh?  I’m glad I’m not the only one!  THIS IS THAT PROJECT!  This should have taken about 5 minutes (give or take a few), but it turned into a 2 week project.  I have no idea why…but it did.   One thing after another, after another, after another, and, well, we’re finally done.  This will be one that gets the stink eye every time I walk by…I love how it turned out, but man it was a pain in the patootie!

Anyway, here we are: 

February’s side

And, March’s side

As I’ve said before, I love making projects reversible, when possible, so that they can be used for more  than just one month/holiday (especially since I have no storage in my house…we’re getting creative around here with the storage, but that is a story for another day!).  I have never particularly like Valentine’s Day, but since that is my anniversary (it will be 16 years), I thought maybe I should do something to acknowledge the holiday (we always do ‘anniversary’ cards and gifts, not ‘Valentine’s’).  I’m actually excited, I think it’s cute and it references the date, which can signify my anniversary, not the ‘holiday’.  The other side is one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day.  My son just asked why it say’s “kiss me”…clearly he doesn’t know the saying (Kiss me, I’m Irish), but since I am (Irish-just a wee bit), I love that saying.  Did you see the ‘u’ in ‘luck’?  It’s a cute little horseshoe!  I think it’s just so stinkin’ cute!  SO…even though it took forever and I’m still a bit angry with the whole ‘mind of it’s own thing, I still really love this project. To make your own set:

1) Lightly sand 3 pieces of 2x4 (mine are roughly 5”, 61/2”, 8”) and one 4x4 square (Home Depot can cut them for you, if you don’t have a saw).

2)  Paint your blocks, dry, then distress

3)  Add cute phrases and a lovely little shamrock and heart (these can be stenciled, applied as vinyl, or you can even use stickers).

4)  Add a protective top coat (mod podge for me).

5)  Sit back and enjoy (trying NOT to give stink eye when walking by).

Hopefully your project will cooperate, and it won’t take you 2 weeks!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave a  comment so I can visit you back!

I’m linking up:

HOUSE OF HEPWORTH’S

BABY GIFT (CLIPBOARD)

I love clipboards!  They are so versatile,and you can decorate them to match any décor or theme you want…the sky is the limit! 

Our good friend’s daughter just had her first baby (a boy) and I wanted to make her a unique gift.  I wandered around Craft Warehouse forever before I decided on a small clipboard.  It was only $1.00 and I knew I could personalize it, so I found some nice paper that was boyish (but not babyish) and headed home.  All I did was glue the paper onto the clipboard (with Mod Podge) and added ribbon embellishment.  Then I used my Silhouette to cut his name and some cute trucks out of vinyl, and added them as well. I absolutely love how it turned out!

I didn’t have a picture of him, but I wanted to put something on the clip (so she would know what I intended the clipboard for).  I think it turned out really cute, and I like that it will be very easy for her to change the picture as he grows…all she has to do is unclip it!  LOVE IT!

Thank you for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment and let me know you were here…I really do appreciate your comments!

I’m linking up:

HOUSE OF HEPWORTH’s

EASY DRY ERASE CLIPBOARD!

Sometimes, I just don’t know what gets into me…as a homeschooling mama, I used my (huge) dry erase board ALL.THE.TIME.  But then one day, I got a wild idea that I no longer needed said board, and scrapped it into another project.  Huh?  What?  Why in the world would I do that?  Like I said, sometimes I get a little cuckoo.  So this year, I have 5 kids who are schooling, and while the big boys don’t need me to use the dry erase board as much anymore, I have found it would have come in very handy with the little 3.  But, alas, I destroyed it.  And, since I am cheap thrifty, I won’t be spending big bucks on a new one.  I started scanning Craigslist and Ebay, but they were simply more than I was willing to spend.  Then, inspiration struck.  I remembered a roll of peel and stick dry erase paper I bought a few months ago at Home Depot…it was in the clearance section for $1.50, so of course, I snagged it!  Then it sat in my craft room…until now! 

I took an old ugly clipbard from Goodwill, added the contact dry erase paper, then added some cute scrapbook paper and embellishments, and voila!

I now have a handy and portable dry erase board!  It’s not as big as I’d like, but for now, it works perfectly (and, as a bonus, it’s cute!  I just think a little cuteness goes a long way to making our days a bit brighter!). This was super easy and super cheap! It hangs on the wall wherever I need it, and the pen tucks nicely behind the clip.  If you don’t need it for school, the clipboard could also be used for phone messages, weekly menus, chore charts, grocery lists…the possibilities are endless! 

I’m linking up at:

MY REPURPOSED LIFE

HOUSE OF HEPWORTHS

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment and let me know you were here!

WHAT’S MY NAME, AGAIN?

OK, I have to admit, I love this sign.  But, when I just looked at it, I thought “why do I need my name on a sign in my house?”.  Well, I don’t know why…I just do…that’s why!  I first made one of these for my good friend’s parents, for Christmas.  Their sign turned out so cute, I really couldn’t stop looking at it.  Sadly (for me) I finished it right before I had to give it up (it was Christmas, afterall), and I didn’t even get a picture (bad crafter!).

The other one I made is my favorite…it was so easy to make and the fonts looked better than these…but, that’s ok.  This one is mine     I am going to totally change the look of  my living room this spring (painting, changing furniture, etc), and I cannot wait!  It’s kind of scary, though…but a good kind of scary!  I have an idea of how I am going to hang this in the ‘new’ living room, so for now, it is stashed away.

This was my inexpensive ‘cheater’ version:

1.  Buy already painted wood sign at Craft Warehouse (around $3.00)

2.  Add vinyl (already had)

3.  Add mod podge top coat (already had)

4.  Hang on wall

5.  Stand back and admire

Hopefully this summer I will learn how to use my router, so I can make cute little wood boards all by my self…until then, this ‘cheater’ version is fine.

I’m linking up at MY REPURPOSED LIFE, so go and get inspired to try something new!

Thanks for stopping by.

Look Who Found the Lipstick!

Oh Zoya!  She thought she was doing such a good job, and was just walking around the house like she was all that…so I asked her if I could take her picture…of course she said “YES”!  Then, I told her to go look in the mirror…she did, and then promptly started wiping the lipstick off!  It was so cute.  She had no idea what her little face was looking like!  ( And, the lines going across her eyes and bridge of her nose were eyeliner!). So cute.  These are the memories I cherish! 

 

I hope it makes you smile!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

(This post is a bit late, but it has been crazy here! )

Eliana turned 9 on December 23rd.

She is spunky, funny, sweet and always tries to make you happy.  She loves to color, play with Barbies and help me in the kitchen.  She is growing up into a sweet young lady and I cannot wait to see where the Lord takes her.  She is the first girl in the family, and I always wanted my daughter to be named “Lilly” after my grandma…however, as I prayed during this pregnancy, I was led to the name “Eliana” which is Hebrew, and means “The Lord has answered me”.   She is such a blessing to our family!

Happy Birthday, Sis.

What is a RESOLUTION?

res·o·lu·tion/ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən/

Noun:

1. A firm decision to do or not to do something.

(I know, this a partial definition, but it’s the part that pertains to this post, so I decided it’s the only one I needed).

Hmmmm.  I wonder why I have such a hard time with this.  Every year, I make up this neat and tidy little list of ‘New Year’s Resolutions’, all typed and spell-checked, with cute little artwork printed on cute little paper (meant, of course, to encourage me through the tough times).  And, usually for the first month or two, I’m very diligent about it (usually my list is weight-loss or diet themed), and I appreciate the cute little list and it’s cute little artwork…and then my motivation starts to wane, and by April, I despise the list and deem it’s formerly cute and encouraging artwork to  be evil, mocking me every time I walk by… and so I throw the list away…feeling like a complete failure.  What is different this year?  Maybe me…maybe my fear of failure is subsiding a bit, and I won’t be so hard on myself…maybe this year I’ll make my cute little list printed on cute little paper (with art work, by the way), but I’ll actually keep it up all year, even when my motivation lapses…maybe, just maybe a ‘resolution’ should be an encouragement, a bold statement of what you hope for yourself, and a reminder that you want the best for yourself and your family…maybe it shouldn’t be a tracking device for, and ultimately a reminder of, your failures (which, sadly, is what mine had become).  When I had surgery in September, I lost a gall bladder, but I think I gained something infinitely more priceless:  perspective.  I have had such peace and strength since then, and  a lot of my former perfectionist ideals have fallen away.  I’m learning to accept myself and my life…I’m learning to accept my failures as opportunities to learn and grow (instead of validation that I am not good enough).  This is a strange road for me to be walking on…but, I hope that in the new year, I will continue this path, and see where it goes.  So, I am going to declare some ‘resolutions’ to the world (well, at least to the beautiful people who read this blog!).  Scary?  Yes!  But, again, this will be an opportunity for growth, not an invitation to fail.  I’m excited for the new year, and for my new attitude. So, here I am, taking the first step:

1)  I want to choose healthy foods more often than I choose fatty, sweet and just plain naughty foods.

2)  I want to read my Bible and Devotions more (like EVERY DAY).

3)  I want to go for walks with my kids (not to the park though, that is like punishment to me…I’m not ready for that one yet), and strive to see the world through their sweet, innocent eyes.

4)  I want to have self control over my spending (my love language is ‘gifts’ and I get a little out of control around Birthdays, Christmas, other Holidays, and pretty much anytime I can justify buying something for someone…ok A LOT OUT OF CONTROL!).

5)  I want to live a life of J.O.Y. : Jesus first Others next Yourself last (I saw that saying on the wall of Michelle Duggar’s house and loved it…I just have a hard time living it).

6)  I want to be an example to my husband and children.  A GOOD example.

Well, there are a million more ideas of what kind of wife/mother/friend I’d like to be, but for now, this is my list (and they are in no particular order).  This is my resolution.  I am hopeful for the upcoming year, and thankful for the year that has just passed.

So, how about you?  Do you make resolutions?  How do you feel when you don’t keep up?  Do you want to be a buddy with me and we can encourage each other, and see if that provides more strength and motivation? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you have a wonderful beginning to your New Year!

p.s.  I realize this post is a day early, but it’s on my mind, so I thought, “why not?”.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Hi everyone.  I hope you are all having a wonderful, peaceful day with your loved ones! 

Merry Christmas.

love,

Kelli

The Nativity I’ve Waited For!

I have seen this Nativity (or some variation of it) floating around blogland for awhile now, and I kept dreaming of the day I’d own a Silhouette, and could make one for myself.  Well, I finally have one, and here is my first project with the Nativity:

and I also bought the Wisemen:

I already had the tiles, so I just applied the vinyl and added Mod Podge to protect it.  Now I need to get one of those cool plate holders or something, so I can actually enjoy them!  Oh well, I got to use my Silhouette and I got to make the Nativity I’ve been drooling over! Yay!

Today is my daughter’s 9th Birthday (pictures to follow), and since Christmas is just a couple of days away, I will be taking a little break from the computer.  I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas and enjoy your friends and family

Thank you for stopping by.

Merry Christmas!

REVERSIBLE 2 x 2 WOOD STACKERS

Hi.  MY NAME IS KELLI AND I LOVE WOOD.  There, I said it.  I can’t help it…I go into Home Depot and love to just walk down the 2 x 4 isle and smell (and smell and smell and smell!).  Man, that is good stuff.  I know, to the ‘normal’ person, that probably sounds weird, but what can I say (I never claimed to be normal!).   And, really, is it so different than someone who loves the smell of coffee and enjoys the aroma at Starbucks?  Hmmm, I think not!  (ok, so wood doesn’t taste good, but it does smell oh so good…admit it, you know I’m right!). 

So here I am with another wood craft. This one is also so easy!  I bought a 2 x 2 at (where else) Home Depot, cut it to various lengths, sanded and painted it.  Then I added some words that I think represent the season (or Holiday).   I love to make my crafts versatile when I can, so I made this reversible.  One side I painted Christmas colors:

and the other side has Autumn colors:

I used my Cricut to cut the vinyl, but you could use stickers, rub-on transfers, or stencils to create your words. This is a very versatile, easy and inexpensive craft.  Also, you can personalize it for a special friend, or family member simply by adding words or phrases that fit their personality.  Again, Home Depot will cut your wood if you don’t have a saw, or,  if you’re ready to try it yourself, but don’t have a (big bad beafy electric) miter saw, you can actually buy a brand new hand saw and miter box (at Home Depot) for about $10, and it will work great!  So don’t be intimidated! Go out and make a stack today!!  (You’re probably looking at a $3 investment with a total time of about an hour…what could be easier?).

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment so I can visit you back!

I’m linking up at:

House of Hepworths

 

Everything Under the Moon