Busy as a Bee

Yikes...I was afraid to see when my last post was.  March 10th?  Seriously....over 2 months ago?!  

I am working my last few weeks until summer vacation.  My third graders have blossomed all year long and have developed into incoming 4th graders.  So proud.

My personal life is screaming "Tiiiiiime Offfffff" and it can't come soon enough.

Not sure I'll have time for any posts in the next few weeks, but I know what my next project is.

Bunk Beds!

My daughter has recently entered into the world of American Girl Dolls.  This month she received a second doll for her birthday and I thought these bunk beds would be perfect to make for them...with the help of my husband, of course.

Stay tuned!

Cheerful "spring-y" Wreath

Last spring I made this wreath.

It was all good until the weather got warmer and the afternoon sun beat on the door day after day...and well, the moss faded.

So this year...no moss.

I love the combination of colors of mustard and turquoise.  It was my inspiration for this year's wreath.  After a trip to Hobby Lobby, this is what I came home with:

I go for this type of wreath as opposed to a styrofoam wreath because I think they are more forgiving when wrapping yarn around them. 

When choosing yarn for this type of project I usually go for something with a bit of texture so that it's easier to wrap--like the wreath, it's more forgiving.  This color is "Robin's Egg."  LOVE!

I also picked up some yellow roses, a couple of sprigs of greenery, and some ribbon.

And so, I wrapped and wrapped the yarn.  Then I cut down the flowers and greenery and glued them into place.  Done!

Shamrock'n Shirt

Next Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, I will be participating in a half marathon run called the Shamrock'n.  I haven't participated in this particular race, but from what I've heard it's a fun run with a great atmosphere....and it's on St. Patrick's Day this year.  Festive!

To join in on the "party" I wanted to dress in something special.  I've been hunting for a green tank top, but haven't been able to find one in the color and style I want.  I was losing hope after shopping at many stores until I went to Target.  Good ol' Target.  I found THIS SHIRT in the perfect green color and for only $8.99!

I got home and immediately got on YouTube looking for a DIY racer back tank top.  I came across this link and followed it pretty much exactly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXU3qXBfGHA

After cutting the shirt up I used some multi-colored sparkles to add flair.  To begin, I printed out a shamrock and traced it onto the shirt as a pattern.  Then, I put the shirt over a pillow as a form and  placed a paper plate in between the shirt and pillow so the glue wouldn't get on the pillow.  Using a pair of old tweezers, I dipped each sparkle in fabric glue.

For some more glitz I added some clear sparkles of a few different sizes on the back.

And why stop at a tank top?  I also bought some white wrist bands a dyed them green (since I couldn't find those in green either.)  And to match the shirt, I added some colored sparkles.  Not sure if I'll wear them on my wrists or ankles.

Ten Thoughts This Thursday

1.  I wish...I could hang out with P!nk.  Saw her in concert...amazing.

2.  I want...a product that will make my hair shinier.

3.  I think...Keith Urban's hair is ridiculous.

4.  I might...lose it if my daughter who's almost eight, sometimes melts down like she's three.

5.  I appreciate...a well-balanced meal.

6.  I enjoy...Starbucks iced green tea, unsweetened.

7.  I struggle...to find time to be as crafty as I'd like to be.

8.  I feel...fortunate to be able to take a dance class once a week.

9.  I recommend...Becca (brand) face primer to diminish the T-zone shine.

10. I hope...I feel strong on my 11-mile training run on Saturday.

Thursday Thoughts

Ten Thoughts This Thursday

1.  I wish...I could afford a laser treatment for my eyebrows so I'd never have to tweeze again.

2.  I want...a personal shopper and a whole lotta money.

3.  I think...that Turbo Tax is a great invention.  Sure beats paying $375 for someone else to do my taxes.

4.  I laugh...at my son's invention.  His latest:  The flopsock (socks that can be worn with flip flops)

5.  I appreciate...the parents in my classroom that volunteer and organize our special events.

6.  I enjoy...music from the 1940's.

7.  I struggle..with getting homemade well-rounded dinners on the table with our busy schedule.

8.  I feel...blessed that my kids go to bed and fall asleep when asked, ages 7.5 and (almost) 11.

9.  I recommend...adding protein into your breakfast in order to keep you fuller, longer.

10. I hope...Pink is as good in concert this time around as she was a few years ago.  Going to see her on Monday night and can.hardly.wait!

Valentine "Gumball" Machine

I originally saw this idea here.  One thing led to another and I eventually stumbled across many Valentine's Day Gumball Machines on Pinterest, such as this one.

Easy enough, right?

I hopped on over to Hobby Lobby and picked up some materials.  I'm pretty sure everything I bought was either 40% or 50% off.  In total, it probably cost $10 a Gumball Machine.

Ok...so let's talk about spray painting the terra cotta pot and saucer.  Not easy.  It took a ton of paint!  I even primed everything.  If I were to make this again, I would try acrylic or regular house paint.  However, in the end, after many coats and a lot of patience, the paint job turned out well.

I used E6000 glue to adhere the glass bowl to the pot and the wooden ball to the saucer.

I made 2 Gumball Machines.

First...

Second...

Gratitude Jar

Not long ago I stumbled across this on Pinterest:

It's a gratitude jar.  The idea is to begin in January, and write down good things that happen throughout the year.  Then, on New Year's Eve, you open the paper slips and reflect on all the good things that have occurred throughout the year.

This idea isn't something I could keep up year after year, but is certainly something I'd like to give a try for 2013.

I took at look at the selection of jars at Hobby Lobby and decided on this one.

Of course, then came the brainstorming...what will my Gratitude/Good Things Jar look like?  I had envisioned the glass being spray painted.  Glass...it can be spray painted.  I've done it before without a problem and I'd do it again.

NOT!

OK...so I started with a primer, which went on beautifully.  Then came the color, a celery hue, that I used on this lamp.

Ugh...not much luck.  It immediately started to shrivel up.  The weather is pretty cold here right now and that might be why it did that, and this is what I ran into.

Ugh...now what?  Well, I pulled out the steel wool and tried to rub it to a smooth surface.  It worked out all right so I tried adding another coat of paint.  No luck...still had the shriveling problem.

BACK TO HOBBY LOBBY 

This time around I changed jars and chose this style instead.  I liked that it could be placed upright or tilted, as it is in the picture.

Obviously, I wasn't going to paint this jar.  So what now?  I strolled down the aisle that had all the different do-dads for scrapbooking and decided on these things.

I sat in my kitchen and started to arrange the flowers on top of the lid of the jar.  They ended up being placed too perfectly, or too spread apart, and nothing was working.

I headed out to my craft cabinet in the garage and came back with this, to add some texture.  I ended up gluing it on the entire outside of the lid.

From there I started (hot) gluing the flowers.  Once the lid was finished, I looked through my old scrapbooking paper and cut out a couple of circles to make a tag.  I added some sticker lettering and ta-da...finished!

 

I look forward to adding memories to my jar this year.  Bring on 2013...we're ready!