Kid's room dinosaur painting in the works

This week I've been working on a "painting" to put into my son's room.  I'm not done yet.   It's not really a painting- it's more of a fill in the lines with paint.  And it is surprising how long it is taking me!  This picture from gracious home was my inspiration (more then I want to pay) but they have lots of cute ideas if you are working on a kid's room. 

I'm a budget kind of gal- even found the canvas at a yard sale :o)

Free Mother's Day Coupon Printable

If you need a free retro  Mother's Day Coupon to fill out for your sweet mother- just click here.

T-Shirt Sleeves and Collar Embellished

Here is how I added the cute fabric to my plain t-shirt.  Cut a 2 inch strip long enough to circle your collar with a few inches extra.  Fold and iron the strip in half- making a one inch strip. 

Starting at center back, pin to collar on right side of the t-shirt.  Because this is sewing on a knit I recommend putting the pins no farther than one inch apart (to minimize stretching).  I chose an existing seam line and matched the raw edge of my cute fabric to that.

 After making a 1/4 inch seam all the way around trim away the extra t-shirt fabric.

Fold over, pin in place and hand stitch to underside of the shirt.

For the sleeves I did the same thing, start at the underarm seam (do what I say- not what I did) pin strip of fabric and sew in place.

 Now remove pins and iron flat.  Top stitch a 1/4" seam catching the extra fabric underneath and thus holding the cute fabric in place. 

Enjoy!

Sewing Disaster

I spent most of yesterday making the world's ugliest dress!!!  UGH!  I should have just walked into Dillards and bought one (on sale of course)....

To try and make myself feel better I finished this embellished t-shirt (1.99 shirt + 50 cent fabric remnant= cuter shirt).  I didn't even take time to match the trim and sleeve seams- just that disgusted with sewing!

My husband has been trying to train the Australian Shepherd/ mutt to look at the chickens- not eat them (no other bird is safe in our yard, he hunts and gobbles them up).  When he is being watched he lets the birds walk all over him...

but when he thinks no one is looking he is on the hunt (no fatalities yet- or we'd have some sad little munchkins).

AMAZINGLY Delicious Salad

spinach picture from the web

My daughter found the most amazing salad recipe.  I think we have had it three times in the last two weeks- it's just that good!  She spread out all the ingredients and let us mix up our own- but really- put everything on.  The combination of flavors is AMAZING!  The dressing does require a fresh orange (don't substitute). I'd suggest doubling the dressing. She did make two substitutions.  One of the reviews on this salad said there was too much blue cheese.  I put shredded mozzarella cheese on mine.  I tried it with the blue cheese and that was good too.  And instead of walnuts we used fresh pecans (after all this is Texas).  Try it.  Ina Garten's Cape Cod Chopped Salad.  Sorry there isn't a picture of the salad- I just get so excited every time we have this that I forget to take one.

New Favorite Painting Accessory

My son's room has been painted- and this weekend my husband taught me how to use all the power tools while we made a bed for Jr. (still have all my fingers, too!)- and now if I can get all of the random stuff off of the floor and a few wall decorations up I'll take a picture.  In the mean time, I just have to share my new painter's love- FROG TAPE.  I know it has been around awhile- but I just have to say this stuff is excellent (not on bumpy popcorn ceilings- that's to be expected). 

My trim lines have never been crisper- this stuff is a million billion times better then the blue painter tape- Seriously!!!  I suggest taping and painting the same day because after a few days it does start to lift off.  Especially around windows when it is cold outside and warm inside.  But if you tape the same day you paint the seal is superior- NO paint gets under the tape.  Get the green stuff.  It's worth it!

Helping My Daughter Craft

4/17/2010 Yikes!  I just reread this post and I think I use the word "cute" 1700 times- guess it's time to break out the thesaurus!!  Sorry!

My married daughter (who is living with us while they wait for their apartment to become available) has been feeling crafty.  I watch and make some suggestions- occasionally offering a bit of help- but she has been on a roll this month.  She made this adorable ruffly apron for her mother-in-law.  We didn't use a pattern.    Sorry the picture is fuzzy- but didn't she choose CUTE material (from Hobby Lobby).

She made this cute and popular-with-the-little-guy mini snuggly.  She picked out fun fabrics with different textures and added lot's of bits of ribbons for him to grab and play with.

This week she made a necklace that perfectly matches my earrings - mmm, maybe I'll wear it this week.

If you are feeling crafty you might want to swing by Dollar Tree.  They have bunches of cute

ribbons right now and jute twine is found near the automotive section.

On the Back Forty

We don't really have forty acres- closer to 1  but here is the latest:

The chickens are almost full grown.  When we purchased the chickens the seller said to plan on a few dying- umm, we must be really good at raising poultry because all 25 (they sent ten extra as a "bonus") survived!!!  Gratefully we were able to give away 10.  And don't even mention eating a few because chickens are "friends (pets) not food".  Eggs you can eat.

The asparagus is growing like crazy- we are now in the "give a bunch to the neighbors" mode- not because fresh sweet asparagus isn't a family favorite, it's just that, well, you can only eat so much.  Besides, it's a great way to earn brownie points.

I'm getting ready to plant some honeysuckle and white jasmine (maybe my favorite smelling plant ever- mmm, I also really love the smell of lilacs.... and of course roses ...and gardenias, and .... hasn't our Heavenly Father given us an amazingly beautiful world?)!!!

Extra Quick Spring Skirt

My mom is cleaning and decluttering which is great for me!  She sent  a box of  fabric for me to use up.  In the box I found this adorable pink floral print.  I glanced at the tutorial over at Ruffles & Stuff before making this little skirt for my daughter (yes, it took me more then 20 min.).  I used to make skirts similar to this one in high school.  Gotta love quick and easy.

I've taped off most of my son's bedroom and am getting ready to paint.  The rest of our abode seems to be falling down around me (totally trying not to trip over laundry, toys, blankets, etc.) as I work on his room and continue to put some time in organizing the playroom... is that how it is for you?  Things look a lot worse before they look better?!  They better look better!

Doodling With Embroidery Thread

Do you ever doodle with embroidery thread?  I read a book about that once.  If you aren't worrying about the finished project it can be quite relaxing to stitch on a whim.  Here is a recent doodled piece- hopefully you are welcoming spring and enjoying the sunshine and the happy, hopeful songs of the birds (truly, they sound happy it's spring too!).

Children's Artwork Into Jewelry III

charm without dimenional glaze/ easier to photograph!

As long as we are talking about changing children's artwork into jewelry I thought I'd share one more idea. 

Purchase a charm in the scrapbook section that has an inspirational word on it.  I chose "family".  Look for a charm that has a simple shape and a hole for hanging.  On the back there will be some tacky stuff.  If it is flat against the charm just leave it.  If it sticks out at all you will need to scrape it off- carefully, don't cut yourself.  You can use a solvent like "goo-b-gone" if you'd like, just make sure to clean it all off!

Now scan your child's artwork and select one small element you love- maybe his smiley face or a heart.  Place your charm over the art, being careful to center it and lightly trace around the art with a pencil.  Remove the charm.  If your traced frame actually captures the work you want then cut out the picture.  If it's not quite right you can do it again :o) 

When you have your charm and paper charm carefully modge podge them together.  Brush very gently or your ink will smear.... let this get dry and then do one more coat of modge podge let this dry (2 or 3) hours.  Then come back, turn your piece to the word side and use a pin to carefully poke a whole where the jump ring goes.  Use a cardboard or foam nail file to file off any places that paper sticks out around the charm.  Then on the art side smoothly apply your diamond glaze.  Carefully spreading the glaze to the edge and removing any bubbles.  Let dry, following your glaze directions. 

Then using a tiny, tiny drill bit (found in the wood section of your craft store) -slowly twist it into the hole of the charm and through the glazed picture on the back- you don't need a drill just use your hands.  Add a jump ring and a chain and you're done!  Now when your charm doesn't have "back" so you won't have to constantly flip it over.

Children's Artwork Into Jewelry II

I originally posted an idea about making children's artwork into jewelry or key chains 4/23/09.  For those of you who don't want to mess with modge podge and dimensional glaze you can purchase these little glass charms, called Memory Frames, made by Ranger, inc..  Simply open them up and pop in your memory glass and your scanned, cropped and miniaturized artwork- add a pretty chain and you're done!  Oh, and I added a tiny bit of scrapbook paper to the back of the artwork so that the backside of the charm was cute, too.  One reader suggested using any jewelry type frame and sealing the artwork in with the dimensional glaze- good idea!

If you are making key chains you can purchase any premade- to-hold- photo- key chains. 

Again, prepare your artwork to the size you need and slip it into the key chain.  If your child is old enough you can give them a canvas already cut to size and even if their work is slightly three dimensional it will still fit inside most frames- so cool having the actually texture visible!  (However, I noticed that giving a small piece of paper to my five year old to draw on really cramped his style- keep an eye out for that).

This next idea I've seen somewhere before- but I couldn't find the link- sorry about that!  You can purchase acrylic frames with a magnet on the back.  These come in a great variety of sizes.  It is very easy to change the artwork in these frames too.  Once again, you can scan and crop your child's artwork and slip it inside the frame.  These are great for displaying on file cabinets and refrigerators.  Grandparent's love them, too.

Your kids feel like a million bucks when they see you using and displaying their work!

Tissue Paper Easter Eggs

For our craft project on Sat. the kids decorated these white plastic Easter eggs. I cut up a bunch of tissue paper.

They painted a layer of modge podge on the egg, working in small sections at a time, then put the pieces of tissue paper in place.

After much overlapping and several layers of modge podge they came up with a fun spring decoration for our family room.