Craft Camp: Day Three

Silhouette Book Bags.

This craft was the most time consuming of our creations. The prep work was insane. In fact, I was up until 2:00 am fighting with my printer trying to get everything in place.

You'll need:

canvas tote bag

fabric scraps

buttons

needle/thread

black craft paint

textile medium

freezer paper

iron

x-acto knife

foam paint brush

1. Take a profile picture of your subject with a digital camera.

2. Upload the picture to your computer.

3. Cut your freezer paper to 8.5 x 11 inches.

4. With an ink jet printer, print the profile picture onto the freezer paper (just load the paper into your printer like you would any other kind of paper) (make sure the image prints on the dull side of the paper).

5. Using the x-acto knife, cut around the printed image. You will be left with a silhouette template to use as a stencil.

6. Position the silhouette stencil onto your canvas bag. With your iron set to low, slowly iron the stencil to the canvas bag with the shiny side of the paper down. (the dull side of the paper is what your iron should be touching.) Iron until the paper is slightly stuck to the canvas bag.

7. Following the instructions on the textile medium bottle, mix your craft paint and textile medium together.

8. With the foam paint brush, apply the black paint onto your bag within the stencil.

9. Once your paint is applied and begins to dry, slowly remove the stencil. (it should pull up very easily)

10. Cut circles out of the fabric scraps.

11. Add the buttons to the fabric circles.

12. Adhere circles to the craft bag. I used a permanent fabric glue.

This project was a great way for the girls to acquire a few different crafty skills. They learned about stenciling and the techniques that go along with it. They also learned how to sew on a button, which is quite an indispensable talent, if you ask me.

The Fourth.

We love America.

Hope you enjoyed parades, bbq's, family, friends and sunshine.

We sure did.

Craft Camp: Day Two.

Memory Wire Bracelets.

One of the most fun things about hosting this craft camp was watching the girls create pretty things + then wear their creations the rest of the week. This little project was one of those.

You'll need:

Memory Wire

beads

wire cutters

round needle nose pliers

Simply cut your wire to the desired length. I cut the girls' wire so their bracelets would loop three times around their wrists. Then make a small loop at one end of the wire with your needle nose pliers. This will keep the beads from slipping off while you string them onto the memory wire. Once all of the beads are strung, make a loop on the opposite end of the wire and you're finished. Super easy.

Abby has worn hers everyday since last Tuesday. I guess that means she likes it.

Craft Camp: Day One.

For the fist day of craft camp we made these sweet cupcake planters.

You'll need:

1 terracotta pot

craft paint

wood ball with hole in bottom

wood dowel

paint sealer

plant (I bought Irish moss)

potting soil

I followed Nikki's tutorial. She has great pictures and easy to follow instructions.

The girls really loved this craft. It was easy enough for them to do on their own and they LOVED that their little potted plant resembled a cupcake.

Kindness.

Does your neighbor ever show up with a lovely arrangement of hydrangeas?

Mine does.

Thank you, kind neighbor.

Father's Day.

Kristin gave me this great idea for Ryan's Father's Day gift. You could use it for birthdays and graduations as well.

You'll need:

6 pack of IBC Root beer

card stock

twine

Print out some "IBC" tags and a little sign that says "Incredible Be Cause"

On the back of the "IBC" tags, the children and I expressed reasons why we think Ryan's incredible.

I packaged it all up in this little chrome basket found at Wal-Mart for $10.00

Ryan LOVED it.

Mmmm...Root beer.

Photography Packaging.

I just completed some pretty photography packaging for Tara Kuhlow Photography. Tara was a dream to work with. If you live in the lovely state of Wisconsin, hire her quick! If you're a photographer and would like to know more about my packaging services, email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com.

First Days of Summer.

Summer is here. Hooray! To celebrate, new library book bags are the order of the day.

One down. Two [much more masculine] ones on the way.

Oliver 11 weeks.

oliver.

smiling. sleeping. sweet.

and patient.

Craft Camp Full.

The June Craft Camp for Girls is now full. If you have emailed me, you're in. I will be sending you an information email later this evening. If you missed out and would like to be notified of the July Craft Camp, please email me and I will add you to the top of next months class list. Thank you all for your kind words and enthusiastic response. We're going to have so much fun!

Craft Camp.

I have been searching high and low for some fun summer activities for Abby to enjoy. Since I keep coming up empty handed and thought that perhaps some of you dears may be experiencing the same frustration, I'm happy to announce...



This week long camp is a must for your little lady. Everyday the girls will make pretty things to take home and enjoy. All materials will of course be provided as well as a healthy snack. Email me quick, space is limited.

Violin Recital.

Abigail started taking violin lessons from this sweet and talented cousin a few months ago. On Saturday, we were able to enjoy her very first recital.

Look at that focus! Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star never sounded so good.

{I may be a little biased}

In other news, I have been super busy working on some projects for an exciting announcement that I'll be making tomorrow. Be sure to check back and have a happy Monday!

p.s. Thank you, dear Lyndsay for another fab banner!

Brinner.

Some days, making dinner bites. Especially days when the baby is sick and wants to be held and won't let me put him down to. save. my. life. On those kinds of days, when 5:00 rolls around and people start asking about dinner, I make an executive decision and prepare Brinner. Which is Breakfast foods for Dinner. Sometimes it's pancakes. Sometimes waffles. Some days we eat eggs + toast and hash browns [yum!]. But it's always delicious, fast and easy. Which is the best kind of dinner after all, no?

Does your family ever eat Brinner?

Shameful.

My craft room just threw up all over the floor.

Please excuse me while I go clean her up.

Happy June!

We're all set for summer. Are you?

Sunday.

Question.

Have you ever...

taken a picture of someone without them knowing?

put your children to bed at 6:42 because it was one of "those days"?

spent too much for a haircut?

been drunk with sweet baby love?

watched hours and hours of AFV?

eaten a heaping spoonful of peanut butter?

wished you could dance?

prayed for patience?

craved an otter pop?

ran too far and ached the next day?

missed your blog and all of your kind bloggy friends?

me too.

Lily of the Valley.

Having a baby with colic is hard. The smell of my favorite flower, Lily of the Valley wafting through the cozy brick house made today a little easier.

I wish I could send each of you a little bundle to enjoy.

Mother's Day.

My Mother's Day started like this...

and ended like this.

What could top such a sweet day? Mr. Oliver slept FIVE consecutive hours last night.

He must love me after all.

Pretty, Pretty Please?

What was once thought to be gas, has now been determined as a bit of Colic in this sweet babe. Would one of you local dears mind letting me borrow your baby swing? I really don't want to buy one since there's the chance Oliver might hate it. I'll come and retrieve it from your attic and bring you a plate of cookies if you let me.

Baby Shower Cookies.

I love parties. And parties for babies are pretty much my favorite. Something about welcoming a new babe into the world makes me incredibly happy. Ryan's little bro and his wife are expecting their first wee one in about a month, so the whole family gathered to shower the soon-to-be mama with gifts, treats, and some yummy brunch.

I was in charge of the shower favors and kept it simple with chocolate chip cookies. Of course I gussied them up a bit in some white paper sleeves and large round labels from my stash.

They came together pretty quickly and were so easy to make it was almost a crime.

Oliver's Blessing.

Oliver received his blessing yesterday at church.

The poor babe was so tired from all of the crying he has done the last couple of weeks, he slept through the entire thing.

It was an especially happy spring day.

Grass.

The cozy brick house has been all spruced up with a fresh new lawn.

Wanna come roll around in it?

Growing.

Proof that Oliver isn't the only one growing like a weed around the cozy brick house.

[Owen- 4 years. In desperate need of a shopping trip with mom.]

Carrot Cake.

Our amazingly talented Aunt Phyllis brought our family a delicious dinner last week. For dessert, we enjoyed these pretty little carrot cupcakes. They were so good in fact, I have been dreaming of them since. Would you like the recipe? I knew you would.

Aunt Phyllis' Carrot Cake

2 eggs

1 C. oil

2 C. brown sugar

2 C. sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 C. grated carrots

1 C. or 5 oz. crushed pineapple; drained

1 C. chopped nuts

Mix together eggs, oil and sugar. Add brown sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon. Blend in carrots and pineapple. Mix well and add nuts. Pour into 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 35-45 min. Frost when cool. Adjust cooking time for cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz pkg. softened cream cheese

1/4 lb softened butter

2 lb powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Happy Baking!

Four Weeks.

This little babe of mine has already reached the four week milestone. We've spent an awful lot of time this past week testing anti-gas remedies. Leg pumping, tummy rubbing, dairy intake reducing, and snuggling. It has been hard. And sweet. All at the same time. What have you been up to, friends?

Good News.

Thank you for the amazing advice on poor Oliver's gas. I'm happy to report that things are moving more smoothly now thanks to a late night talk with a pharmacist and some simethicone drops. Other good news: Audrey and I are friends again. Happy day!

Gas.

Oliver has gas. Bad gas. The kind that causes him to make faces like the one above and pull his knees to his stomach in discomfort. And although he is my fifth baby, I have never mastered the mystery that is baby flatulence. Tips welcomed, friends.

GIVEAWAY!

My dear friend Marilyn is hosting a week of happy giveaways. I realize this notice is slightly late, but I'm in the throws of diapering and nursing and I know you'll forgive me. Click on over to her blog and sign up for a chance to win. The lovelies pictured above are Wednesday giveaway items. Aren't they fab? I wonder what she has up her sleeve for Thursday and Friday?

My Love.

So thankful for this man. He makes me happier than words can express. He is selfless, thoughtful, genuine. Not to mention what a fabulous husband + father he is. My heart has been pondering the inspirational messages given at General Conference, and right now I'm feeling so happy that this little family of mine will be together forever.