Activity Day- Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

This is another activity day activity found on Sugardoodle.  The girls made banana splits (ours didn't look this fancy- I forgot to take a picture).  I had an ice cream bar set up with all sorts of toppings.  I included ketchup and mustard.  Then we discussed why the girls didn't put those toppings on their ice cream. 

We talked about some toppings are good on Sundaes and some toppings are good (on fries)- they just aren't right for Sundaes.  Then we talked about Sundays and how there are good activities that aren't quite right for Sunday (like athletic events)- and activities that can make our Sundays sweet (like reading Bible stories).

We talked about the ideas of appropriate things to do on Sundays on this handout- that link isn't working so hot- the handout is also found here.

For our activity the girls helped make sugar spiced pecans to share with their families (these are good on ice cream and also really yummy to munch on as is- and they make your house smell awesome while they bake).

Furniture Makeover Inspiring Blogs

If you're trying to decide about painting your furniture you might want to check out the following blogs:

Better After- even if you don't love the end style it is inspiring to see how much a coat of paint can change the look of a piece- and most of the makeovers I love anyway

Miss Mustard Seed- I've typed about her until I'm blue in the fingers- hah!  LOVE her stuff.

Dreamy Whites- I don't believe she paints her own furniture- but the photography is so pretty and she illustrates just how delightful aged, chippy painted objects can be

Jennifer Rizzo- she if fairly new to me- she has a variety of ideas- including some great makeovers

The above picture is from Blue Creek Home- complete with a tutorial- on how she achieved this fabulous look. 

Happy Painting!

Thrifted Metal Tray Makeover

I found this metal box that was missing the lid at Salvation Army for $1.50.  I took it home and painted it with a mellow yellow to match the walls in the Family Room. 

I also added some dark brown wax to age it a bit.  Now it has a home on the hutch.

Address Change due to Custom Domain

I've signed up for a custom domain name and I hope I don't lose any of you- I truly appreciate your stopping by and for joining me in my crafting adventures.

In a few days the transition should be complete and my new address will be:  http://www.scattersunshine-jana.com/   Hope to see you there!

Getting the Message- Chalk Paint on Magnetic Message Board

I'm having fun with the homemade chalk paint.  I found 14 x 14 ugly metal signs at Hobby Lobby on 90% clearance- so they were $1.40 each.  I used these before for some other projects so I was happy to find them again.  I grabbed all they had. 

Here is how you make the magnetic boards:

Using homemade chalk paint- paint one or two coats of paint on the metal- no primer needed.  Let dry.

Sand off any edges and areas that you want to show to "age" the piece.

Add a coat of clear wax covering the entire surface

Let that dry and then add a coat of dark brown wax. 

Let that dry and then buff gently.

You can also make coordinating magnets.  Just glue a magnet to any small object using E6000 glue.  Let dry well.  I used vintage buttons from my stash.

Now your message board is ready to go to work- it can be used for family messages, or for a rotating display of favorite quotes and scriptures, or to show off adorable family pictures, etc.

3/28/11  I've linked up with making the world cuter here

Recipe for chalk paint- great for painting furniture

I read Miss Mustard Seeds #1 and #2 enthusiastic reviews for Annie Sloan's chalk paint (not the kind for chalkboards or sidewalks- the kind for furniture, walls and floors).  I impulse shopped a quart of duck egg (a blue green mix)- one of my very favorite paint colors- it came- and it is gorgeous!  I also ordered their dark brown wax- I really like that stuff, too.  I ordered from the Southern Insitutue of Faux Finishing and they had two day shipping at no extra charge- very nice! 

Often when I'm antiquing I just add a top coat of a dark wood stain or glaze.  Then wipe away the excess- leaving behind traces of brown.  I tried using this staining technique on some wood that I had painted with chalk paint and the paint sucked it up the glaze so fast I couldn't wipe off the excess- I had to start over and repaint the piece!- So- make sure you use a layer of clear wax before adding the dark brown wax.

I was so excited about chalk paint I wanted to get more- but it is about $35 a quart- pricey.

So, I did what all good crafter/ thrifters do and I looked on the web for a recipe.... and I found one that worked!

I know these recipes say they are for chalkboard paint- but the paint looked really good on the metal I painted.  These are the recipes I tested  here.  You do need to stir these mixtures very well.  I painted some samples and the results looked very similar to the expensive chalk paint.  This paint didn't store well- so just mix up what you need for the day.

To purchase my ingredients I went to habitat for humanity restore and bought Sherwin Williams latex paint for $1.50 a quart in some great colors!  I also used keracolor-U unsanded grout with polymer from Lowes.  The chalk paint is supposed to be thick (kind of like thick cake batter)- so if your recipe turns out too thin just add a bit more grout- if your recipe is too thick add some water. 

Here are the steps for a nice finish:


Clean your wood
Paint with chalk paint
Cover with a clear wax
Antique with a dark wax
Buff and & enjoy


I wonder if I can make my own dark brown wax by mixing paint with clear minwax?
I wonder if I can use wood stain to antique a piece if I just use clear wax over the chalk paint first?
I wonder what would happen if I painted my bathroom cabinets in this duck egg color ? 

3/2012- If your unsanded grout is lumpy you may even want to sift it before adding the other ingredients- this will eliminate white lumps and clumps in your finished project.

Activity Day- Using Appropriate Language

This is a take off of the idea found on sugardoodles- using lollipops to remind the girls that their words should be sweet-

We read some quotes from Elder Holland's Talk, The Tongue of Angels from the April 2007 General Conference.  Then we made lollipops using the recipe here.  I purchased the LorAnn flavor oils from Hobby Lobby (tasted like yummy jolly rancher candy) - they have some fun flavors like rootbeer and butterscotch- the girls really liked the watermelon-  we added two drops of food coloring to each batch.  I found the candy molds and lollipop sticks online. 

One of the molds melted- causing a mess- but the girls didn't mind- that was just perfect for them to snack on while they waited for the other lollipops to cool.  The girls bagged their lollipops, tied them with a ribbon and added a little quote- we made two batches and the girls (4 of them) were tickled to have some to share with their siblings.  I didn't realize how easy it is to make lollipops- my kids have been missing out!