:::necklaces:::paintings:::cards:::

What a great verse!

Another good verse! I think if I did not have the Lord, I would not be able to sleep at night.

work, work, work is fun. Stephanie- we are making some progress!!

Here it is, Nicole! Never tried the musical notes before--let me know if you want any changes.


Look what happens when you organize--I found some old necklaces made from sculpey clay. This one had to be restrung. There was a little clay pencil and also a pair of scissors that had broken. I wore this when I taught kindergarten. It made the kids happy when I wore it today. I made this one summer when I was home from college. I can remember lazy days of crafting, painting and creating all day. I am a bit jealous of that time- but you know what? having the kids and the colorful chaos really seems to heighten creativity around here.


This might be the face my kids see when they are in trouble :) The stare.

I LOVE making these necklaces! Someone asked about them and I can't remember who. If you are interested in something like this let me know- there are so many possibilities- the top rectangle tile has paper decoupaged on and the bottom round disk is painted- then the backs are different so they are reversible!

Q & A

Sometimes people ask me questions. Questions about mod podge or scrapbook paper or painting or homeschool or books I am reading or parenting. It is not like I actually know what I am doing....but I would love to try and answer your questions! Also, if you have asked me something and I have forgotten to answer- please leave me a comment here and I will answer the questions in a future post.

:::organization:::

If you have been visiting this blog for any length of time you know my frustration with organization. You know that we will happily go about our life and craft& learn & read & shop at many thrift stores and yard sales & collect & create & put things on the walls & collect some more until BAM!!!! Sara cracks and goes crazy with all of the JUNK!

That is what happened today when I walked into the boys room and found dirty clothes stuffed into drawers and little piles of legos and trash stuffed behind dressers and in the closet.

HUGE goal for this summer- organize the boys (and girl) room and the playroom so that everything has a place to go...then (this is the REALLY hard part and something I have not gotten the hang of in the 7 1/2 years of parenting) we have to BE CONSISTENT with putting things BACK where they go!!

OH DEAR. It is so hard for me because I really want my children to be creative and to arrange their room how they want to, keep some art projects, etc, etc. But it has come to the place where I cannot function in the chaos. I cannot let then keep all of their projects. I cannot let them keep every lego creation set up in their room.

I am hoping that if I get things organized this summer and if I get everyone else to keep things the way they need to be- that by school time in the fall we will be able to maintain and not go insane!!! (that should be our motto- maintain and not go insane)

How about you? Are you able to keep the house organized? Does it take a once a year break down and day where you go crazy and throw everything away? Do you want to come and organize my house??

Happy Tuesday!

Seen on a church billboard today:

Get off facebook and get into My Book!

Seen in the Readers Digest -

Following a tough day of homeschooling her children, my friend was in the kitchen muttering to herself when her 14 year old son walked in. "What's going on?" he asked. "I'm having a parent-teacher conference," she growled.

Sorry no photos today. It's been a bit busy. We went to the library for homeschool story time and learned about falcons. I think the kids learned more in the car with their little friend who taught them how to say "you're a booger" in Spanish :)

Getting ready to paint! Not enough time to paint lately. Have a great Tuesday night.

Anita's Baby Shower: Noah's Ark Theme

Anita, my artsy friend (you saw her house here and her art here) is having a baby! We are so excited for her. The shower was very fun. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Cutesy little outfits!!! Can't wait to see the baby's face!

Awwww, Denise made the burp cloths and quilt- adorable!

If you look close you can see that the cheese is cut in little animal and ark shapes (Noah's ark is her theme in the baby's room). Tina found the little cookie cutters at Michaels.

Yes, that is supposed to be the ark. Chocolate on the bottom and angel food cake on top. The cupcakes were marching up two by two.

The punch turned out better than we hoped! Tina's blue punch recipe:

1 pack blue koolaid
1 bottle white grape juice
1 2L Sprite
1 cup sugar
vanilla ice cream (about 8-10 scoops)
That is supposed to be a little boat floating in there and I heard someone saying it looked like a cell phone got dropped in the punch :) Tina also made ice cubes out of blue koolaid- that was a good idea.

Don't you just love the rainbow?!?! Olivia made the best fruit dip- I think she used sour cream, cream cheese and sugar.

Denise gave a really good devotional. I am trying to get her to give me a copy so I can share. A lot of wisdom and verses for parents and especially some tips about raising girls. (hint, hint, Denise, you can e-mail it to me :)

Blessings to Anita and her family as they will soon be 4! We are praying for you!

a few pictures to bring a smile to your face

Guess what?!?! Only 18 school days left for us!!!! I am looking forward to ORGANIZING the whole house when school gets out- the closets are first- and then the kitchen drawers...and then the homeschool books and supplies. We have our work cut out for the summer!!! Anyone else have big organizing plans?

And there will be more time to practice making mom & dad's bed the right way :) What? Oh yes, they make my bed too- why not, I do wash their clothes. Something makes me think they might have put a pea under the pillows :)

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I had to show you this adorable bathroom!!!!! Thanks for letting me share this photo, Jerusalem- I want to steal the W-A-S-H idea!!! Love it! Check out Jerusalem's blog for more cute ideas.

And little Sadie with a doll diaper on and a skirt around her neck. Yes, we love you, Sadie :) Thanks for putting up with dress-up time.

groupings

My good friend from college, Wendy, put these framed papers up in her dining area. Don't they look great? I love the paper she used- gorgeous color and pattern. I think she did a wonderful job with the layout. Perfectly casually grouped. Good job, Wendy!



OK, here is an idea to use if you want to put up a group of paintings, art, or pictures. Trace around the frames onto paper (I used paper bags) and cut out the shape. Hang up on the wall with masking tape. Then you can look, stand back, move things around.


Otherwise you will have to have a friend hold things up for you to try and get the idea. (That's Jessie at her house...the paper bags helped a lot, although the paintings are in a different room now- but look good there as well :)

Here is a photo from the Martha Stewart site (more martha...) - you can see the directions here for putting fabric onto canvas.

Here is my one attempt at putting fabric onto a canvas. I just wrapped the fabric around the canvas and pounded in tacks to fasten the fabric to the back.

martha, martha, martha

Isn't this clock adorable?!! Martha has directions here to make it- it looks easy enough. (I saw this clock first at One Pretty Thing- a blog that finds projects all across the Internet and shares the links)

In most ways my style is very different from Martha Stewart. But she (and her editors) come up with really great ideas. Creative genius. I have enjoyed the Living magazine that has been coming in the mail to take the place of the no longer published Mary Engelbreit magazine (moment of silence....)

Here is a page from the latest MS Living- that green paint job with the blue speckles- wow- gorgeous. My kitchen cupboards would look cute with that paint technique.


Anybody else get this magazine? Do you use her ideas?

sadie's new look

OK, so she is still cute-and it was a good haircut. It is just that we had been so used to her little round teddy bear face- and now we have the snout look. You know how it is when you get used to how someone looks and then they change. I am not good at change! I remember when Dave first shaved off his beard- I took it really hard. (not that I am comparing you to a dog, Darlin' :)

love & patches

Love covers a multitude of sins......my poor husband experienced a lack of love today when he brought Sadie home from her first haircut.

The kids and I just stood looking with our mouths hanging open. I think the 6 year old started to cry......

Well- you would have too if you saw her leave as a fluffy little teddy bear-like puppy!

She is still her sweet self. And now we can see her eyes. So I am trying not to hold a grudge :)

Maybe I will show you Sadie's makeover--maybe not---maybe tomorrow when I can bear to take a picture :)

I love you, Dave, you know I do......

hand-me-downs

I really wanted to get a picture of this outfit. I am so happy with it. New sweater, new skirt, new shirt, new purse, new bracelet- all hand-me-downs!!!! These pics were taken by the 3 year old- not bad for her first try- AND at least you get to see what made me happy- the dots! the stripes!!

Thanks to all good friends who pass on hand-me-downs to the kids and me. We are blessed by it. Now lets see-- who can we find to give Dave hand-me-downs?!?!? :)

the only thing about spring that makes me sad....

....having to put away the tights...:(

spring cleaning & redecorating

BEFORE
This area needed a little help. I have wanted to paint the little shelf black. Today I got the chance. Several things were moved around and now I am happy with the new look.

AFTER

The canvas on the right is a new one. It had been a mistake canvas so I glued some paper on there to cover up a mess.

The little dishes pop out and show up better against the black.

I am not quite finished with this - I think it is screaming to have some buttons glued on there.

The fireplace got a much needed cleaning- winter ashes swept away.