Friday Faves {April Fool's}

Can you believe it's already the first of April?  And since it is April Fool's Day, how about a Friday Fave collection dedicated to all you little pranksters out there?!

If my daughter weren't staying home sick for the fifth day in a row, I might've packed her one of these gag lunches from Family Fun!

photo credit: Family Fun

Maybe you'd like to fool someone with a little spilled coffee prank?  This is from Clumsy Crafter...

photo credit: Clumsy Crafter

Even Martha gets in on the fun... the ole rubber band around the spray nozzle trick!

photo credit: marthastewart.com

Or salt in the sugar bowl?  Martha, you are a naughty one, aren't you?

photo credit: marthastewart.com

Or my personal fave... saran wrapping the toilet seat.  Just be prepared for the, er, cleanup.

photo credit: EgoTV

Hope you're pulling some pranks on the ones you love today!  Happy April Fool's and Happy Friday!

We'll be busy with our neighborhood garage sale this weekend - maybe I'll finally be able to park in the garage!  And stay tuned... there's a tutorial headed your way!



Jersey Knit Bracelets via V and Co.

There is a great tutorial over at V and Co for jersey knit bracelets, a great flashback to friendship bracelet-making times of long ago... since I was at home today with the girls (big sis has a nasty tummyache), we decided to try our hands at this.  Here's mine...

I made some for the girls too but I couldn't get them to sit still long enough for pics... maybe another day.

Try the tutorial - it's fun!

Somethin' Bout Sunday...

Do you have a favorite day of the week?

Mine's Sunday. 

I know, most people would say Friday or Saturday, cause that's when the humdrum of the working world ends temporarily and your time is once again your own, to do with as you please, to wind down, to get your to-dos accomplished, to celebrate...

But I like Sunday, a day that clearly marks the beginning of every week, a chance to start anew, a day that is fresh with opportunities to make the week whatever you want.

It's a day that forces me to slow down a little and listen a little closer to how the Lord wants me to use the upcoming week, or rather, how He wants to use me in the upcoming week.  It's also a good reminder to reflect upon maybe how I didn't fit that intention so well in the previous week.

Grace is amazing, isn't it?

Just like Sundays, I get the chance to begin anew every week, every day, every hour because of a Lord that has shown amazing grace and accepted me for the broken soul, the impatient mother, the imperfect spouse, the sometimes less-than-trusting believer that I am... and blesses me each day with the opportunity to change and grow and love.

So this Sunday... I'm doing some reading, spending time with my sweet chickies, and preparing for a great week.  I know He's got big plans for me...

(Friday Faves) Color Me Happy!

I am loving all things bright and colorful right now; what a welcome change from the dreariness of winter and clouds and cold.  Today my Friday Faves is a collection of bright, bright sunshiny day items... enjoy and happy Friday!

This Fabric Necklace Scarf from estilapronto is making me wish I'd given up something else for Lent!

photo credit: estilapronto

I can't help but smile and think of my chickies when I look at this art print from shirae:

photo credit: shirae

My sister would dig on this cyclist tee from onegearclothing:

photo credit: onegearclothing

This "Happiness is Homemade" vinyl lettering from DesignDivasGallery will be in my craft space one day, bet on it.

photo credit: DesignDivasGallery

And finally, this print is a good reminder to be happy wherever you are; from HoneyBoo.

photo credit: HoneyBoo

What's making you happy today?

{Tutorial} Placemat Pillow

There's something about the newness of spring that always inspires me to renew and freshen up things around my house.  After a weekend spent mega cleaning, purging, and organizing, I was ready for some fresh new decor.  For a long time, I've been wanting to replace/update the pillows on my sofa but every time I found some I liked, I couldn't believe the price... $30-40 for a little pillow?

Yeah.  Some places are proud of their pillows, people.

Then, this past weekend, I found a gorgeous placemat in the summer section at Target.  It's a thick canvas material, double sided, and only $2.99!  Rather than see a placemat, I saw a pillow waiting to be stuffed... and thus the Placemat Pillow tutorial.

What You'll Need:

Double-sided placemat

Seam Ripper

Polyfil (or stuffing of choice)

Needle and coordinating thread (or sewing machine, if that's how you roll)

Step 1:  Take the seam ripper and open up about 4 inches along one of the sides.

Step 2:  Stuff to your heart's content.  (I know... ridiculously easy right?!)

Step 3.  Close seam with straight stitch on machine or backstitch by hand.  I chose to use my machine, so I pushed the stuffing to the far opposite side to help keep my seam line straight while sewing.

I also left the thread line from aforementioned seam-ripping as a guide so my new seam lines up with the previous one.

Step 4:  Fluff and enjoy your new $2.99 pillow!!

Now, go make one... and email me the link if you do so I can enjoy your fabulous pillow too~

Quilt Dreams

As a crafter, I've tried my hand in quite a few different crafting arenas.  One that I'm interested in, but a little afraid of, is quilting.  All those pieces!  Stippling - how do I do that?!  And four big edges of binding... holy moly.  Despite my fears, my eye keeps wandering to quilting blogs and sites... I'm really wanting to make one of these sometime soon.

Thimbleblossoms Picnic Rollup

photo credit: Camille Roskelley/Thimbleblossoms

Fig Tree & Co. Whimsy Fresh

photo credit: Joanne Figueroa/Fig Tree Quilts

Just Growing Quilt by Leanne Ballard

photo credit: LeAnne Ballard

A little ambitious dreaming, but aren't they magnificent?  I think if I can accomplish the quilt, I can do anything!  So whaddya think?  Which one's your fave?

Every Season

"And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring"       
~Nichole Nordeman 'Every Season'

{Easter Wreath}

I stayed up late last night with my glue gun and finished my Easter wreath.  I'm loving it this morning...

I recycled the grapevine wreath and white pom poms from my Valentine Pom Pom wreath.  Since the pom poms were tied on with string, it made for quick removal.  (No worries - all pom poms escaped unharmed!)  I was a little more committed to this wreath so I busted out the hot glue...

I mod podged some paper mache eggs with strips of fabric in gorgeous shades of blue and yellow.  These are from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane collection and Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet.

I then cut strips from some aqua Michael Miller knit and ruffled them with my sewing machine.  I hot glued the ruffles to the bare paper mache egg - I wanted it to look like a fancy sugar egg.  It's pretty close, albeit not edible...

Then I made some ric rac roses to match... these are super easy and so cute.  (I put the blue one on a clip so I can recycle it as a hair clippie for my girls.)

Hello there little rosebud.;)

An hour or so and a few hot glue burns later...

It just so happens that is goes remarkably well with my new turquoise door... not that I planned that or anything *wink*.

Welcome Spring, come on in!



{Friday Faves} Spring!

I can't help it... spring is on my brain!  And with the first official day of spring coming up next week, I thought it best to round up my favorite spring "to-make" projects! 

Love Aesthetic Nest's Ribbon Dishtowels - Simple and Sweet

photo credit: Aesthetic Nest

If your table needs dressing, how about Piece N Quilt's Simple Spring Table Runner?

photo credit: Piece N Quilt

Clare's Craftroom has an easy tutorial for these Easter Egg placemats

photo credit: Clare's Craftroom

And finally, pretty up your sitting space with some Scrappy Spring Pillows!  From Annalea Hart.  (Dig those pink curtains!)

photo credit: Annalea Hart

Aren't you ready now to get some fresh, spring colors in your home?  I am... and I'm hoping to show you some this weekend!  Dh is at the lake with the chickies so I've got the whole place to all of my crafty self!  Project number one began last night... here's a hint: it involves Mod Podge!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Is it Easter yet?

I know Saint Patty's Day is tomorrow and it's probably bah-humbug for me to be passing it over in my home, but I'm ready to get my Easter on.  I've started pulling out some of my decorations and I've got some other things up my crafty sleeve that I'll be sharing with you soon.  I've also found some great little DIY ideas that require minimal effort but have a great end result.  Enjoy!

Martha Stewart definitely has a good thing with her Crepe Paper Carrots

photo credit: Martha Stewart Living

Country Living has the most perfect Paper Mache Nest... aren't they pretty?

photo credit: Country Living

Or maybe some little pom pom chicks?  Again, from the domestic goddess herself, Martha.

photo credit: Martha Stewart Living

Looks like I'll be a busy chick (pun intended) pretty soon.

Givin' It Up for Lent

It's my favorite time of year.  Spring is around the corner, birds are chirping outside, buds and sprouts are a symbol of life renewed, and we celebrate the Lenten season before Easter.  Since I was a girl in a Catholic school, I've been giving up something for Lent, a tradition of abstaining from something you love before Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

This year, I'm giving up clothes-buying.  Ouch, right?  It's a reminder for me to think less of self and more of others, and also one that, by default, will force me to make do and mend and possibly refashion some things...

Here are some ideas inspiring me to alter what's already in my closet:

Made by Lex's Anthro Pratia Top Tutorial

Love this Ruffled Skirt from Ruffles and Roses

I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with this spring season!  Do you know of any great tutorials or knockoffs??

Belated {Friday Faves}!: Saint Patty's Edition

I'm finally recovering from this respiratory/sinus crap that has had me under the weather for the past three weeks... and although a day late, there is a roundup of some of my fave tutorials for March 17th!  Enjoy - be creative this gorgeous weekend!

This St. Patty's Bandanna Dress tutorial is easy and adorable!  Thanks Momtastic!

photo credit: Momtastic

Flamingo Toes has this great Lucky Clover Specimen Art for you!

photo credit: Flamingo Toes

icandy has a tutorial for this adorable Scrappy Shamrock tee shirt!

photo credit: icandy

And finally, in case you're hungry... how about some Shamrock Pretzels?  These treats from Hoosier Homemade look yummy in my tummy!

photo credit: Hoosier Homemade

Have you been getting a little green for Saint Patty's Day?

Have an issue? Here's a tissue!

I have been fighting off a nasty cold/sinus infection ever since we returned from Mexico, so pardon my absence on ye ole' blog.  I've been going to bed early, living on Sudafed, and blowing my nose... sounds exciting, right?!  In lieu of an exciting post, here's a little Etsy tribute to cute lil' tissue holders... I'd call it Etsy Nose Candy, but that just sounds wrong people.

Enjoy!

This is a two-in-one... holds your hankies and your powder for your nose!  I'm in love with the teeny hedgehogs too.  *cute*  It's from Etsy seller givegift. 

Tissues and hand sanitizer?!  You make an infection control nurse's heart flutter!  By itsthesmallthings.

I soooo have to have this.  A whale tissue box??  Shut.  Up!  From gnomesweeeetgnome.

This sewing pattern covers your tissues and adds pockets for extras, like lozenges... chapstick... chocolate.  You know, the essentials.  Hee.  From flowergirldesign.

And finally... for those runny noses who have some runnin' around to do!  This visor tissue holder is from nstitches4u.

Hope this post finds you sneeze-free and feeling well... but if not, you know where to go to hide your hankies!  Have a great week!

***  all photo credits to the original Etsy artists

{Friday Faves} Mardi Gras!

Since Mardi Gras is right around the corner, I thought I'd round up some of my favorite Mardi Gras themed posts... enjoy!!

I can't get enough of these Mardi Gras cookies from Sweetopia!  They're almost too pretty to eat...

What Mardi Gras celebration would be complete without a king cake?!  None, I tell ya!  This recipe is from Skip to my Lou:



Or perhaps you'd like to try out their printable Mardi Gras mask instead?

If you're at a loss on Mardi Gras decor, how about a snazzy little wreath?  This one is from Deep Fried Kudzu - now if that ain't southern, I don't know what is!

And last, but not least, my super fave of all:  these Mardi Gras cupcakes from Sweet Tooth are so fun! 

Have a great week and happy Mardi Gras!  Laissez les bon temps rouler!!

The Paxton Project

Right now, my church is in the middle of a series called The Ripple Effect - the ultimate goal is to invest in the children's ministry of our church, but the message is that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His glory.  Alissa from Rags to Stitches is one of those people doing extraordinary things this week through the Paxton Project.  Her friends, the Millers, are yearning to grow their family by adopting another child, but the expense of the adoption is hindering this from happening.  Alissa has put together a fundraising raffle, full of fantastic prize packages from various talented handmade businesses. 


” />

Each $5 donation earns you an entry into a drawing for a prize basket.  Want to win them all?  Donate more for more chances!  All of the donations will go directly to the Millers to help them bring Paxton home.  Here are the three prize packages:

For Your Little One

For Your Home

For the Fabulous Woman

Each prize basket is valued at $300 - that's $300 of cool stuff for you for helping a great family.

What would you do if you knew you could change this family's life forever?  Donate now!