Latest projects

I have added the kisses to my Valentine's board and it looks super cute!  I should have used a larger router bit as they aren't staying in as well as I would like.

Also made this family name board for a friend who ordered it for their anniversary!

5 months late

It only took me till this weekend to finish this fall wreath I planned to make in September!  I have had all the materials just teasing me to get it done.  I finally did it.  Now how to store it so that it stays intact until next fall?

Whipped it together

I whipped this together today (I love writing that.... because rarely can I just make something quick... but I did...really).  I had the board already cut/routered and painted.  All I had to do was a little modge podge, drill a few holes, cut some vinyl and stick it all on!  I love it, but there are so many flaws in it too because I haven't done something 'exactly' like this before and messed some things up!

found the tutorial/link for this project here

 Hershey Kisses will be put into the little number slots each day as a treat

I have never drilled little holes like this... and really wasn't comfortable doing it.  I should have waited till Ian got home because one of the holes went straight through when it was only supposed to be a partial hole.  I tried to solve the ugly/jagged hole by covering it with vinyl... which worked pretty well.  There will be hershey kisses in the holes anyways so it won't be seen (but I know it is there).

I also used the negative space on the vinyl instead of the positive so that I could have the black letters showing through the 'kisses' word. I modge podged the paper underneath a little crooked though and it went into the above space where it shouldn't have... and I can still see the other writing through the vinyl.  Guess it isn't thick enough vinyl to cover it.

Those are the worst of the flaws... which are bearable.  Maybe this will be a good Valentine's craft for our craft group to try?  I know what to do now so others look nothing but perfect!

I can't wait to get my chocolates and start the countdown!  It will also be the anniversary of Ian proposing 4 years ago (well it was actually on Feb 16th he did it... man was I ticked when Valentine's came and went that year with no ring ;)

Family Tree

OLD POST - was simply adding a label to it and it moved to the top of the pile!



I have been trying to come up with something to put on our massive, empty wall in the kitchen.  Lots of ideas passed through my mind, along with this massive tree that would fill the whole wall...  It felt a little too 'permanent' for me (no vinyl isn't permanent but what if I didn't like it? - and Ian wasn't for it).  So I opted for something a little smaller.

This was the first time I used canvas to put vinyl on.  I wasn't sure if it would work but figured it would be an easier medium than all the work involved with wood!

delicious dinner and dessert!

Ian made the most wonderful sweet and sour pork for dinner yesterday.  What a lucky girl I am to have him cook dinner 2 weeknights in a row :)  It was a real treat.  I felt useless not doing anything so I decided to make some Strawberry Shortcake for dessert.  Who doesn't LOVE fresh strawberries in the middle of winter?  It gave me hope that someday spring will come :)  It was tasty... and still is!

finished?

I have finished the fall blocks.... well, as finished as they are probably going to get!  The letters should be filled entirely with beads... but I was silly and bought really small beads.  It became very tedious and boring so I opted for just an outline of the letters.  Maybe in the future I will fill it in... but for now they will remain 'as is'.

If you make this project USE LARGE BEADS!  I still like it though and think it will be cute next fall up on our mantle with some fall leaves and candles :)

Soup Day

I found some great soup recipes online that I am going to try today!  First up is the Corn and Leek Chowder found on this blog.  

(oh, missing a couple ingredients for this one... it will have to wait)

Next is this Taco Soup that looks delicious!  Found on this blog

I'll let you know how fabulous they are after the taste test :)

Craft catch up

Since Thanksgiving I have had a lot of projects piling up.  I even have all of the supplies to make them with.  What am I waiting for then?  TIME!  I have only 2 precious hours a day while H naps to get things done (okay, after 8 pm too but I usually like to spend some time with my husband on a daily basis).  For the past 4 mths however I have needed to nap when Hailey does.  I think I am over the sleep slump and am determined to finish my fall/winter/Christmas projects before spring hits... Here is the list!

Fall Blocks

Almost complete... just gluing on the beads

Autumn Wreath

Yet to begin

Cookie Sheet Countdown Calendar

Almost done, just finishing the pieces to go on each day

Treat Jars

Need to start

Two other Christmas countdown calendars (one just needs a way to hang it and it is done, and the other has only the hanging pieces complete)

This is my motivation..... WORK JEN WORK!  I'm glad to have some crafty time to myself again.... SO FUN!  Also hoping to start the monthly craft group with friends so I can speak to adults once in a while.

Vinyl projects!

Here are a few projects I just finished working on for some friends!

Picture wall

I have been humming and hawing over what to do with this long empty wall in our kitchen.  The plan that has been going for a few months now was to make it into a 'family tree' / picture wall.  I knew I wanted to use the tree canvas' I had made a while back but thought it would be too many large items for the wall.  I found a way to make it work though.  This isn't finished yet as I have more 4x6 and 5x7 photos to add but this will be the centre of it.  I'll post when the rest get put up as well.

the photo is crooked, not the pictures ;)

I am going to add black/white/tan frames to keep with the colour scheme and once all the pictures are up I will be adding some vinyl wording.

I bet I finally get it done just before the baby is born then I will have to get new family pictures with the baby to make it 'up to date'.