Bean bag fun

I bought Logan some bean bag things for his first birthday and he absolutely loved them! So, I had some extra fabric from the letters I did for Liam and thought I would attempt to make some bean bags for Liam. I must first say that I am not a sewer by any means. They are definitely NOT perfect, but they were free. I just used all the stuff I had around the house- the letters would look much better in a darker color, but again that is what I had on hand. So, here they are...

They are a little full (of beans) so that is mostly why they look crooked- plus I cannot sew very straight. 

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Mine is on the left and the ones I purchased are on the right. Not too bad- mine are a little more full seeing as  the other ones have had almost 3 years to stretch fabric, etc. 

Randomness

This week has been surprisingly Ok with William being gone- except for a little interruption that I had to leave work Wednesday to take Logan to the doctor but all is good. His appointment was in the morning so I was only at work for a couple hours and we had SOOO much fun the rest of the day. It was like I was in a dream- just being able to be with him, do fun things, and be apart of his life. It was such a blessing. After the doctor, we went and had a bite to eat at Sonic. We both are in love with corn dogs. Then, we went across the street to the library. We both got library cards and I was so disappointed that their children's section was closed for remodeling but the silly thing is that they had NO children's books out. Wouldn't you just put some on one of the 5 empty book shelves sitting in the lobby so that kids can get some books while you are renovating? Made no sense, but luckily someone had returned a couple books so we were able to get the book that someone had just returned. After the library we went home. I have been doing some serious cleaning/ organizing. The weekend before William left we rearranged the 3 rooms upstairs. It was crazy. We first had to clean up/ organize the "fire" room which has now become William's leather working room. After that was cleaned up we moved the bed from Liam's room, my 2 scrapbook tables and ALL of my craft stuff into the "fire" room. So, it looks ok in there, it is just a random assortment of different spaces. There is his workbench for leather, a bed/ sleeping area, craft area and a tiny guitar/amp area... After that was finally arranged, we were able to put the crib up in Liam's room, move 1/2 the furniture from Logan's room into Liam's room and then start to get the bins of baby stuff out of the bonus room attic area. So, it was a lot. We have a ton of piles of stuff to give away/ sell. Like we will ever get around to a yard sale? Who knows- that is William's thoughts. So, the bedrooms are pretty good for right now. Next, I have to find a spot for the papazan chair because the crate needs to go on the landing. I am getting EXTREMELY irritated with the dogs. It is best for everyone that they go back in the crate. So back to the point- after going through all the baby stuff, I had to then start organizing the kitchen/ cabinets for bottles/ formula, etc. So I did that yesterday while Logan "rested" and watched a movie. We then went to the park and played for a bit and I was able to finish Liam's letters when we got back from the park. Then it was time for dinner, then bath then church. It was such an amazing feeling to be able to get Logan fed and bathed before church so he could just go to bed when we got home. Again, it was a huge blessing that I ended up begin off most of yesterday, I think we both loved it!

Here are some pictures from our day:

At the park

Eating at Sonic

He made this for me at church! Mrs. Mary said that you could put your ring or whatever in it... without me asking, Logan said, "Look- you just put your keys in it or something- that's it. Ok"

Nighttime pictures to send daddy- he says he is blasting off like MegaMind but I don't remember this part from the movie. 

My cute little blessing

Letters I made for Liam- I think I like them, we will have to see how they look on the wall...

Craft day part 2

This cost $1. I put it in the cabinet so when you open it you see everyone... clears up the fridge from little hands pulling pics off. 

$1 pan from dollar store

spray paint from garage

ribbon, magnets, 3m strips

Saw this on pinterest. First thing that has really failed me from pinterst. It was much harder and irritating than they led on...

$1.50 canvas from hob lob

logan's crayons (free)

hair dryer, knife

 And, this is how it turned out... (forgive the lighting, it was not so good)

                                                           This cost $1 as well
                                 board I had in the garage (free), $1 store sticker thing, paint in garage

Craft day!

Inexpensive Father's Day Craft

I am sharing this in hopes that no man reads this blog... I am quite confident of that... If not, hopefully it will be brought to my attention because I would hate to ruin their father's day present. Anyway, I saw this neat craft idea on Michael's website and thought I would give it a try... Usually not a Michael's fan but spending every day there this week getting one letter per day per their SILLY rule on coupon usage (don't mind paying full price for some special person's letters for their soon to arrive special little guy, but if I can get them 1/2 off, why not? So, I will be at Michaels every day this week, one day *hopefully* dragging along a co-worker because Hunter has 6 letters and the week only has 5 days... wow that was a side note) ANYWAYS So I am at Michales and so this idea and their frames were on sale for 66cents (my kind of price!) and all you need to make them is scrapbook paper (I had everything else). And since we are a LOT bit tight thought this was a good way to go so that they would get something instead of nothing! So, here is what you need:
Frame
Scrapbook paper of your choice
Exacto knife
Mod Podge
Foam Brush
Ribbon
Whatever Picture you want to use

 Start out with the wood... on a mat (yes, Elmo place mat was harmed in the making of this project) Put scrapbook paper underneath and just trace inside and outside with exacto knife...

 Turn over and hope you did a good enough job... mine was ok... I have like Parkinson's shakes so it was just ok...

 Hope that your MOd Podge is not glued shut... if it is go to the kitchen and get the "fish de-boneing" knife that you never know what to do with... perfect moment to put it to use... pry that bad-boy off. Don't let the glue-stuff win. You are stronger. Don't get fingers in the way. This weird looking knife has some kick.

 After removing lid, put a thin layer down on wood, place paper, put another thin layer on top. If you put a gloppy layer, paper will bubble.

 It dries pretty fast. Once dry, fire up the glue gun and put ribbon around the edge.

Place picture in the frame... Yay.. easy project completed while little yelling, fussy creature takes a nap or goes to bed!!!! All in all I paid $1.45 each for the ones I had to print a picture. The pictures are taken with my phone so I think they look better in person...

The Fingerprints of God

Last night I threw together a picture or piece or whatever you want to call it while dinner was in the oven. I just put Logan's hospital picture in the middle and his very first footprints on the side. I love it. I wanted to add some "artwork" to the pictures going up the stairs. So, I figured his very first piece of art would be perfect to go first! I love the part of the song "I can see the fingerprints of God, when I look at you" so I added that on there. I want to add that and parts of the song to his room but haven't figured out how I am going to do it yet (I have some ideas, but with me / Logan going to probaby move furnitue, I don't want to do it on the walls). So, here is the horrible phone picture...  

Then, last weekend, Logan and I wanted to do an art project so we did these... very easy and I loved it! His palm/ arm is the tree / tree trunk and his fingers/ toes are the leaves. He did get a little ill becaue it was nap time and I did make let him do 6 of them (well, all the family members will get one!)... so, that is why the dark green accent leaves went to the toes... he was in the highchair at that point so that he would cooperate better be more comfortable!

Camera Strap Love

Well, this was my real first sewing endeavor! It turned out ok! It has two of my favorite things, PINK and PAISLEY! Well, paisley and argyle tie for second! Anyway... I made the camera strap and am happy with the result and it has a little detail that I want to add, but will get to it when I have a chance, I know "haha"...

First, I just laid out the strap on some fabric and traced it...

Then, I just pinned everything about a couple cm away from where I traced... (everything is inside out)

I started stitching on the ends so that the ends/ bottom would be creased/ sealed with a stitch when I stitched down the sides. So, I just fliped over the end, ran a stitch (two flaps for each end)

Then, just run down the sides! I was excited at this point, because the ends were the teadious parts. Also, keep in mind, I am just winging it here and have no idea what I am doing besidea just trying to use my "problem solving skills" to make this work! So, I ran a stich down either side and cut the excess. I stayed a little bit away from my trace of the strap figuring I would need a little room for the strap.

And, 11-enty billion hours later once your pudgy finger and thumb with a VERY technical rubbing method get the silly thing turned inside out, then get the thing on the camera strap, it looks something like this... except my camera didn't want to shoot it because it was too close, because your's truely put the strap back together before getting an "after" shot and the little camera's battery was not charged. Nonetheless, it is on there and I don't think it is going anywhere! Once I do the little design, I will update it!

Jewelry Organization!

First, I must say I LURVE the bracelet/ necklace holders... to me, they serve as organizational pieces and artwork for my VERY BARE walls. The earring holder I LOVE (and yes there is a huge difference between LOVE and LURVE) and I will go back and tweak it to my liking later, but I really wanted to be "completed" with this project, even if it was just for now! AND, I must say that the necklace/ bracelet projects were COMPLETELY FREE! AND, POST SPENDING FREEZE! The earring project was PRE-spending freeze so I think I spend around $6 for the frame at Hobby Lobby and $2 for the wire, plus your 40% coupon coming to a total of $5.60 total for the earring holder project (I had all the paint, hot glue, sand paper, etc.)

Oh look at my model... SO handsome! This is the first frame... procured from my mom's house. In a pile, just waiting for me! See the FUH-GALY Gold trim... Yeah that took 5 billion coats!

This is the second frame I stole, I mean vacationed at my house. What a wonderful picture inside that my dear mother at one point must have liked!

                                                            LOTS of brown paint!

Then, I had some cork squares from my loverly college days, so I cut them to fit the frames. Then taped them with what I had... which was painter's tape...

Then, found these old valences that we will never use again.. cut them with the scalpel/ exacto knife thing (that crazy thing is sharp)...

And, poped it in the frame! VIOLA!

Hung it on the wall where I wanted it... and pushed in clear thumb tacks. Some really cool hooks would look better, but the jewelry pretty much covers it up and they were FREE!

You may remember this piece from this post... well, I finished it, for now... I love the hanger, the idea, but don't love the paint.. so whenever I get around to it (I know you can stop laughing now!), I will tweak it to my liking!

And, here is my side of the bed, the bracelent, necklace hangers on the left and the earring hanger on the bedside table! Again, the pictures were taken at night, so they are not the best... but you get the idea... they look better in person!

Jordan's shelf

I somewhat recently painted a shelf for Rachel to match Jordan's letters. What I thouht was going to be an easy task turned in to a BEAST! It was a shelf that Kyle and Kenny had as kids and now Jordan will have, so it was "weathered"... 2 coats of Kilz primer and 2 coats of the actual paint (and touch ups) and the paint for the ABC 123 part and here is what you get... it is NOT perfect, but I think it works. Please excuse the pictures it was nighttime when I took them and lighting was horrid!