Modge Podge Bucket

For maybe three or more years I've seen these cutesy buckets at the teacher stores.  From camouflage to ladybugs, they have all kinds of themes to them and they're, what? $30?

PFT!  To the dollar store!

Bwahaha!  Alright bucket, let's make you pretty.

I like the yellow top lip.  Let's try purple with it.

Hm, not sure how I feel about that shade.  Let's modge podge some scrapbook paper on there and see if it doesn't fix how I feel about it.

I'm not sure how I feel about that purple still...

Naw, toss on that top coat of modge podge and change that purple.

Much better!  Now off to take it to Open House for my daughter's teacher.  Every teacher wants a cute bucket.  Add some fabric bits and a touch more paint before we're done.

Travel Shadowbox

About a year and a half ago, my husband and I went on a vacation to Blue Ridge Mountains.  I loved the trip so much!  We stayed in an adorable cabin on private property, went gem mining and fishing and putt-putt golfing, and even bumped into a college buddy and her now-husband on happenstance!  

We came home with lots of gems from out gem mining experience.

Now, we want to keep all of these beauties but don't want them mixed with other gems.  These are special from our vacation.  I finally purchased a shadowbox to place them all in.  This one I did not print a background picture, but painted it.

Then, using a hot glue gun, I stuck some of the gems to the board in the shaped of a heart.  I recommend not gluing your fingers like I did for this step.

I know, a little wonky looking but they're gems.  You end up the best shape that you can.  Dump the remaining rocks freely into the frame space.

Write in there when and where these gems were acquired and then frame it all together prettiful!

SHINY!  To the wall with you!  I'm thinking the hallway would be a nice home for this.

Ticket Shadowbox

I've been holding on to my daughter's first movie ticket and every ticket since for this project.  It's a TICKET BOX!

I purchased a shadow box, slapped in a cute background picture, and then filled it with her movie tickets, play tickets, circus tickets, and park tickets.  We've only been to a few things but I think it's a great thing that can be added to as she grows.  She loves it, I love it, and my husband thinks that I'm a nut.

Diaper Cake

I love making a good diaper cake.  I thought with this upcoming baby shower that I might try a diaper caterpillar or train but after being asked by the expecting daddy if I would make a diaper cake.. Well, it's like getting expecting parents something not on their registry.  They asked for diaper cake and I'm more than happy to deliver that to them.

My bestest friend went in on helping to supply things to the diaper cake so that it could be really nice but didn't break the bank for either of us.  

First, the prize center.  I love this part the most.  It's like opening a present because there's always something neat inside.  This base item gives you something to build around so that you aren't trying to hold up a million diapers to each other for the base.  My last diaper cake had the lavender bedtime bath set of lotion, shampoo, and powder.  SPOILERS: this one has three hooded towels inside.

Then you roll and roll and roll diapers then band them all together.  And you keep going!

And you cover it in layers of diaperness.  I found a super cute "diamond" teether ring/rattle that I had to have to top this bad boy off.

Oh no!  The expecting momma is worried about not having enough diapers?  Throw some diaper towers up and decorate this pile of awesome!

EXPLOSION OF DIAPERS!  

Friendship Bracelets

Using the tutorial found here, my daughter and I are making friendship bracelets for all of her new friends when she starts kindergarten!

I'm thinking to make some for the students in my classroom as well but we'll see how I feel after making about thirty and go from there.  I really like how they're turning out.  My daughter has been packing each finished bracelet in her new bookbag that she and her Nana picked out.  

It's exciting helping my own little girl get ready for kindergarten this summer.  I was a bit shocked when school ended and she had no interest in moving up from pre-k.  As the summer has worn on and we've discussed the transition more, she's become more excited for the upcoming changes.  Even when we discovered that one of her best school friends had moved and won't be attending her school anymore, she was very rational about it. "I'll still have Byron and Paulina and my new friends."

Update! Finished 27 to take in! 25 for her classmates and two for her teachers.  Printable found here.

Nanami Cow

Something that you should know about me: I friggin love Utena!  I'll watch it so many times I'm stupid about this show.  Anyway, so for years I've always thought the idea as dressing like Nanami from the episode "Cowbell of Happiness" would be awesome for Cow Appreciation Day at Chik-Fil-A.

Nanami is your typical spoiled popular girl and a party she threw was "spoiled" by another character coming in wearing designer jewelry given to her when Nanami receives a Sebastian Dior cowbell that she refuses to take off to show how awesome she is.  It turns out, it's really a Cowstian Dior cowbell for another character's cow (also named Nanami).  Her stubbornness turns her into a cow.  It's kinda of like that old tale that if you make a silly face that it will freeze that way but SERIOUSLY exaggerated.  At one point in the show, she even starts wearing gym clothes in more of a cow design which is what I went with for Cow Appreciation Day. 

Has it been done? Yes, but not that I know of for Cow Appreciation Day. 

While my cowbell might now be Cowstain Dior, I'm pretty content with the end result.  I didn't bother with bleaching my hair to match Nanami, but it was a fun project nonetheless.  Now instead of thinking about doing this, I've got it on hand.  Maybe I'll keep adjusting it to perfection over the years.  It maybe that I'll just leave it be.  Point is, I did it.


UPDATE: Please vote for us in the Chick-Fil-A Cow Contest.

I Am Successful

Being successful is not the end destination, but the journey.  Some people might not agree.  Some people might find success measured by monetary strength or how high one is on the corporate ladder.  Those people will never see my success.

I can see my success in my students.  I can see my success in my daughter.  I can hear of my success from coworkers and colleagues.  I can hear of my success from my friends.  I can live my successes with my husband.

But you don't measure success like that and that's okay.  No one is asking you to change.  But also, no one is changing themselves for you.  Here I am, at another celebration of success with those that can see it.

Coffee and Canvas

So tonight I tried one of those canvas painting classes to see what it was all about.  I had some awesome people join me for the experience just in case it was horrible, we at least had each other.  Overall, I had a good time.  My friends made some beautiful pieces, and then there's mine:

I think that I have to admit, I prefer to paint a canvas of my own design than being told what to paint. I'm debating making some tweaks of printing some song lyrics over it.  Or I'll pull out my own canvas and start with a lyric base and go from there.  Definitely an improvement over the last painting I saw of mine that had flowers and a vase which I think I did in third grade.  My daughter loves it. Or in her words: "Is it a.. A ladybug?"

I love how she asked what it is as though my picture was unclear of what it could be.  

I think that this piece should go to my parents to partner with my last painting of flowers in a vase.  It feels right for them to be together like that. 

Summer Wreath (Crafting is Not For the Weak)

This summer I made up a calendar of things to do. We've gone on field trips, played in the sprinkler, and we've made some crafts. Oh, the crafts..  How hard can crafting be? Let's look at today's craft: a summer wreath.

First, I took down a noodle from the water wall, hot glued a dowel rod in the openings then duct taped it into a circular form (for a how to on this, visit here).

Then began the yarning of the noodle.  I twisted and knotted and spun and wove.  "This will look nice, summery, and cover the noodle," I thought as I doomed myself to more work than necessary.  (I used a chinese staircase wrap, how to is here but you can really use any style wrapping that you prefer).

It was about here that I started hating what I was doing while my daughter gave up watching me to go play teacher instead.  So much noodle to cover!

After an hour and twenty minutes, we see it is only half done. Half done. Not how long I intended to be making a wreath today.  Well, lunch pause for beef stew and then let's knock this out!

And the joys of getting caught and tangled in the process. I just want you to be pretty! Stop fighting me on this!  Release me so that I might complete my task!

About here your arms start asking you if you're done yet. You lie to tell, telling them you're almost done but you know after it taking an hour and twenty minutes to make it go halfway around that they really have probably 45 minutes to an hour left of work. They don't know that, keep lying to them.

Then you finish wrapping it as the last ten minutes of wrapping your daughter has come to cheer you on "Do it, mommy!"  And I did. I finished what I set out to so today.

Throw on some tiny umbrellas and you did it! Maybe you'll take it down later and make it look even better but for now, you've accomplished your craft. Reward yourself with a nap.