Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

My baby boy is 3 today. I really can't believe how time flies. He is the most wonderful, loving and caring little boy. He tells me everyday that he loves me "so, so much". He is my biggest fan, always interested in what I am making and doing. Always wanting to help- art, dishes, cleaning, all of it. He is a wonderful big brother- watching out for Zoey {most} all of the time. He starts pre-school a week from today. He is all ready to meet new friends and to learn new things.

I love you so much, my little peanut. I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are.

Still Looking...

Like I mentioned before, I am having a bit of a creative lull. I have so many thoughts and ideas and things that I want to do, make, try, mess with, etc... but I have no spare time and no extra energy to do them. It is becoming frustrating because if you are a creative person, you really NEED to have that outlet. I need to get into my craft room and get some stuff made before I explode. Or before I drive my husband nuts with little projects around the house.

I got 'the talk' the other day. The one where I am banned from starting anymore little house projects until his big house projects are done. Ugh. Too bad, cause I still have some big plans for the living room. Maybe next year. Well, speaking of little house projects, here is the finished kitchen!! It turned out so nice, I am so happy with it. Thank you SO, SO much to my Dad for building and Scott for assembling and helping me turn my vision into reality. I love you both more than words.

You know you have your man trained when he comes home from a daily visit {yes, we visit daily} to the Home Depot with this:

That's right!! He found it along side the road, out for the trash & KNEW I would want it. He picked it up & then called to tell me how much more I will love him :)

It stands about 4' tall and has even another part that sits on top that makes it stand a little over 5' tall. It had all the broken pieces and parts in a drawer like someone had every intention to fix it, then ran out of time. It was all mildew-y and dirty and gross, but we wiped it all down and my sis and I polyurethaned it and it will be good as new (soon, as I think this might qualify as one of my little projects). It might get done sooner than expected because our basement is beginning to look like a used furniture store!! I have an old armoire and an old buffet down there, too- all waiting to be restored & updated. But, for now- I want to focus on Halloween & maybe some craft shows.

I started some banners. 'BOO' banners. They still need a bunch of work, but I like them so far. I have a LOT of ideas for some Halloween stuff right now. I just have to find that silly missing muse. OH, where has she gone... maybe to Jake, here's his current project:

He's always making something, that boy. Good for him. I am jealous...

Wedding Bells...

I have been busy the past week or so working on some wedding programs for a friends wedding. It is this Saturday and I just finished up the programs today. I am pretty happy with how they turned out and she & her fiance liked them a lot!! I did my own wedding programs very similar, loved them, too!
So, after we received the invitation to the wedding, I immediately thought of this ETSY site! I have been admiring her work for a long time and was just waiting for an occasion to buy one! Well, I should have just ordered it then, because on Monday, this Monday, I remembered that I wanted to get them one. Oh, how I procrastinate. Again, working best under pressure & with a deadline- I made my own. Not as fancy as the ones at A Simple Impression, because those are vinyl letters. Mine are painted. I really am so please at the end result, and I hope they will be, too!

I decided to make this into a tutorial because I also host a monthly craft group & this very well may be out next months project!! So, here goes- my first tutorial. {At least I know my sister will proof read this for me & call right away with any errors. She'll be such a great teacher!!}

STEP 1:
Have your adorable husband cut a board to length and route the edges out nice and fancy {I can totally do this myself, but he doesn't like me playing with his tools} .


STEP 2:
Paint your base color in a fast drying acrylic paint. This is the color that will show through the cracks.

STEP 3:
Paint the top with a crackle medium. I use DecoArt Weathered Wood. Let it dry.


STEP 4:
Paint the top coat over the crackle medium. Use a lighter color than your base so that you have a nice contrast.


STEP 5:
Print out your template and trace the last name with an exacto knife on clear contact paper.


STEP 6:
Gently tear back the contact paper and center it onto your board. Use a brayer to make sure no paint bleeds through.


STEP 7:
Use another color paint that is darker than your top coat {I used a water-based walnut stain}and rub over the contact paper with a paper towel. If this coat is too dark, your other words over it will not show up well. This happened to me, and I watered down some ivory paint and brushed it over the whole thing to dull out the name.


STEP 8:
Lay down carbon paper and gently trace your wording.

STEP 9:
Using a very small brush, fill in your wording in a dark color.


STEP 10:
Mix a dark brown acrylic paint with some glaze {I use Behr Faux Glaze} and rub it over top of the whole board. I try to concentrate on the edges and corners more. If you get too much in the center, just wet a towel and gently rub it off.


STEP 11:
After it is all completely dry, use a spray polyurethane to protect your artwork.

STEP 12:
Sign your art!!! Be proud of what you created!!

That's all for today- heading to sleep now :)