Project Number 2940384

Done!

I got the idea for this project from a wonderful blogger when she did her own bed like this.

Here is the before...

And the after!!

I've always wanted an upholstered bed....

I'll wait for the ooo's and ahh's to stop....o thank you, your too kind.....Aaaand now to the steps it took to make my boring, very dark bed into this cute, exciting, inviting new bed!

First I measured the inlaid parts of the headboard and footboard, and how deep it was to see how thick of plywood I would need. Next, I measured again, and again, and again. Seeing as how I wanted to do this all on my own (which I did, minus some touch up sawing by my step-dad, and tool borrowing from my dad) I did not want to make any glaring mistakes!

When I finally had the measurements, I headed to Lowe's and decided on the 1/4" thick plywood, I didn't want it too heavy to stay put. I had them cut it and brought it home and tried it...It didn't fit, so my step-dad cleaned it up for me.

Next, I got out my batting, put a double layer in between the fabric I chose and the wood, and wrapped it around the back and started stapling it on. The only problem I found with this step was that most of the staples went through the board and poked through the fabric, so I just hammered them down so you couldn't tell where the staples were on the fabric side.
This is the finished product of one of the 4 panels. :) I also realized this would make for a perfect "tack" board (the ones with the ribbons tacked on and people tuck pictures in it....anywho....)
And to put the panels in place I got some of the Command strips from Staples that are for hanging picture frames, that way I don't damage the wood (hopefully...), and I used the handy trick of toothpaste! You put the strips where you want them on the back of the panel then put a small dab of toothpaste on the strip to mark it then put it where you want it, and the toothpaste marks the perfect placement for the matching strip! It saved me a HUGE headache!

The footboard I did not however use the command strips because I made sure to make all four panels fit VERY snugly in place so I really didn't need them but I used the strips on the headboard so they wouldn't by chance fall on anyone's head while they slept. (My mother laughed at me as I put in the footboard panels because they were a bit too snug and I had to push them in sort of...shall we say....awkwardly. :) but let's face it. I'm awkward.)

And there you have it! All in all that project cost me about $50 for everything. Not too bad for a seemingly brand new bed!

I can't stop staring at it...

The Reveal

Well my diligent followers here it is...
My chair that started out like this...


Not really knowing how to get the ideas from my head to the chair it came out like this...But that was a little too child-like for my tastes. So I spray painted it white and started over. It sat like this until inspiration struck...

And then it did :)This is a celtic tree of life symbol, and I. Love. It!!!

And here is the finished product!

I used acrylic paint, which I wouldn't choose to use again, it streaked a lot, it didn't cover very well, and it got scratched too easily. After the final coat of paint I let it dry completely and applied a varnish with low shine and now I am currently sitting on it! :D O and the design I found online, printed it out, colored in the back with pencil and drew over the lines with pencil so it transferred beautifully, and then filled in the lines with a permanent marker! I tried paint but it just didn't create those clean lines.

I absolutely LOVE this chair! I can feel many creative things coming to mind while using it :)

More Projects AH-HAHAHAHA!

So during my week long media black out I spent a lot of time doing/finishing projects :)

Like an apron... (actually 2)

(I found an awesome tutorial on how to make a bandana into an apron and after I made that one Aiden stated he did not like that color, so I used it as a template for something I knew he would like)

And a new nursing cover!

Again used my old, very used one as a template.

Crocheted a coin pouch...

Started a granny square to make a clutch and got tired of crocheting so I quit early and thus the coin pouch was born...


And whipped this baby up in about 30 minutes!

I found the idea on pinterest from an etsy shop, and I thought 'Hey! I could make that!'

I'm starting to think about starting an etsy shop for the finished products....what do you think? Would people buy this stuff from an amateur like myself??

More to come :D

O by the way....I made ALL of this with stuff that I already had just waiting to be used... O except the nursing cover....but it's been sitting on my desk for ages just staring at me...FINISH MEEE...FIIIINNNNISSH MEEEE.... (enter zombie voice)

Let me know what you think!

Media Black-Out

For the past week my sons and I have undergone a feat. A feat of large proportions if you know me at all.

I have a problem.

With TV, Facebook, and now Pinterest.

And Aiden has been absorbed into the TV and playing on my phone lately.

So I decided to shut down the system and have a reboot.

Last Tuesday at 9pm we did it, turned off the TV, I deleted all apps from my phone that I've been overusing and said good-bye to the social media world for one WHOLE week.

And don't you know my pastor was right at one of his recent sermons....when you're doing something right there will be opposition.

Not only did everyone get sick, even my cat!! But tons of people said "Huh?" "What?" "Why?" But I just kept explaining that I was tired of being sucked in, and most people finally understood and gave me praise for doing it. :)

So what the heck did we do all week?!

We played. I read. We talked. Ate dinner at the table. Took Tristan to the doctor. Accidentally consumed fries contaminated with gluten, then proceeded to fight off the symptoms for 3 days....and I started and completed many, many projects!

(O by the way, I used to think 'O maybe these food allergies are just in my head'
They aren't. Not at all.
O and cats are expensive...like $200 for shots and to find out he has pink eye...awesome.)

I signed back on to Facebook last night, and really wasn't that impressed so I think I'll forever delete the app from my phone. And I remembered just how annoying technology can be when it doesn't work like it's supposed to. It was so nice not to be tethered to my phone...*sigh*

Mind you I'm writing this after hugging my computer.... :) I'm happy to be back writing.

Adventures in WeekendLand

So Aiden has been sleeping in his bed pretty often all night long

(pause for happy dance....o yeah.....raise the roof....o wait they don't do that anymore....
ok I'm done, return to blog....),

so I decided to take him to the zoo as a "Yay You"

(I don't like "rewards" persay because we are not dogs.)

and as a special surprise, just because I love him so much,
I took him on a real train ride on a real Thomas train!

At the zoo, which was also Tristan's first time there,
we got to see the new elephant enclosure and we got to feed giraffes!Right before feeding the giraffe.Right after...see the leaves in her mouth :)He was skipping along merrily, ecstatic that he fed a giraffe :)
I'm so happy I could give him that experience!

And I am so thankful that Littlest was completely content to people watch the entire time!




Next up, we went to see Thomas the Train.
Aiden was so excited he could hardly sit still :)
He got a balloon animal, a 'James' tattoo (which he is still proud of),
and best of all was the ride.
I can't begin to describe the light in his face when that train started moving.
I am just thankful I was mindful enough to catch every moment.

Another successful adventure was had. And many more to follow!

O and I just have to say my kids crack me up! Aiden learned how to use his new toy to turn on my dome light. And Tristan is learning that he can spin on his belly and squirm all over the place. And likes to pretend to drive.

T-Shirt Scarf

Just in time for football season!!

I found this idea on Pinterest (evil pinterest)
and followed it to a blog which I now cannot find....

It calls for 4 old t-shirts of your chosen color
(I chose orange, black, gray, and white...Go Pokes!)
And since I'm running low on t-shirts as it is I went to Goodwill
and picked up some in the right colors for less than $4 :)

And it only takes about an hour or so to do depending on if you have children that is....
it took me about an hour and a half broken up to get mine done.


So first you cut off each bottom hem and set it aside-you will be using it later...
Then you cut 8 strips about 3/4 or 1 inch wide from each shirt.
You should have 32 by the time your done cutting
(ha imagine that 8x4=32, math does come in handy!)

Here is my pile.
Next, you stretch each strip one good wide stretch,
then wrap it around your hand-like so...

Here's the almost-there look.
Alright you know those hems you cut off and saved? Time to put them to use!
Cut them in about 5 inches pieces,
I ended up having to cut a couple of hems off the sleeves of the shirts to have enough,
so I think it depends on the size of shirt you're using.
Next you'll use those hem pieces to tie it all together!
Simple, yes?
I can't wait to wear mine to football homecoming!

Let me know if my instructions were unclear,
this is the first time I'm writing out instructions :)

Well, Hi There!

This is the new and improved blog of yours truly. Hope you like the changes!

One of the projects that I have been o so diligently working on is this....
I searched high and low for just the right chair to inspire my crazy creative mind.

I paid way too much for a beat down chair but I had had enough of back breaking work--meaning carrying around my now 22lb 5 month old...

So I started sanding...
And sanding.
And sanding.

And finally I got started painting it just yesterday,
which I will take pictures of when it's all done for 'the big reveal'.

I'm pretty excited about it.

Ready, Set, Go! to bed.... :)

Projects

I've been busy with new craft projects, which I'll be posting pictures soon :) But my most important project is myself.

I've been discovering who I lost 4+ years ago. The woman who was confident, creative, imaginative, and positive.

I have new dreams of raising my boys in a cottage filled with projects I've completed (for once), with eclectic furniture, and driving a car I bought with my own money.

I'm sure of myself again. I feel good about who I am and how I look. I have a renewed look on relationships--I don't need them (with boys that is...). And even more importantly I have a renewed thirst for God again.

I still have down days but they are fewer and farther between. I finally have control over my emotions and my life. And it is ah-mazing.

I love my new life. I'm enjoying my projects. And I'm enjoying being me again.

I can finally smile without faking, and I can finally be free.

What A Wonderful Lady

My 5 generation of women photo shoot :)

On this past Saturday, late at night, a wonderful soul departed this world to be with our Heavenly Father.

She left behind slews of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and many more family and friends.

Right up to the very end she kept everyone on their toes with stitches in their sides from her sassyness.
She even had even umph left in her to pop her 40+ year old son on the arm and told him to get going!

My wish is that somehow we can carry on her legacy and that maybe I can be a little like her one day.

Great Grandma, I love you and I'm sorry I couldn't get to know you even more because from what I hear you were one hell of a lady. :)

Sacrifices

We mommies get a bad rap. We are disciplinarians, chore-assigners, meanies, and giver of unwanted life lessons. But mommies give up so much to do what we know is right for our children.

Sacrificing for mommies start from the very beginning of life-pregnancy. Man, it does one over on us. Not only are we giving away our nutrition, blood supply, and energy to form these mini-me's but we're also giving away our freedom of movement and comfort and sometimes our health itself to house them.

We sacrifice our "perfect" boobs to feed and nourish and grow these little babes and as a result we get perfectly-life-giving boobs that most can see as imperfect in this shallow, image obsessed world.

Instead, we should look at our stretched out tummies, stretch mark covered bodies, and sagging boobs as a complete and total sacrifice we chose to give so that our children can have life.

This is real life people. It is messy. It is beautiful. No matter the shape, size, or look.

Mommies sacrifice "being cool" by choosing to do what is best for their children-not letting them have whatever they want and sticking to their guns. Choosing to nurse-on-demand rather than have their social life immediately back. Choosing to alter their diet so they can nurse for as long as their babe needs. Even choosing to know all the characters on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the songs, and the Hot Dog Dance in place of knowing what is happening on True Blood this week.

Mommies even sacrifice their own needs/wants/desires for the sake of their children. I've put more food on my son's plate than my own when we're running low, I've put aside my tears to put a smile on his face, I've said no to dating to make sure I give my sons the attention they deserve, I've even put off fixing my own emotional downfalls to protect their own.

Time, energy, bodies, sanity, good furniture, nice "stuff", pets, travel, clean cars, dreams, and ambitions all have different meanings when you become a Mommy to someone.

These are the sacrifices we make but we make them in hopes that we are bringing up children that are just a little better off than we are.

I am not a good writer, although I dream one day my words will affect someone positively but if you get one thing from what I've said today its this--If your a mommy reading this...GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. You are an amazing woman and an amazing mommy. That little baby that you gave life to looks to you for support and love and many many other things that we don't even know we can give until they require it. You can do anything! No matter how tired you are or stressed out---take a deep breath, now look at your child. Look at the features they got from you. Look at their smile. Look at how amazing they are. Look at what you did! YOU GREW THAT BABY!! You are awesome.

Now go out with your head held high with that baby in tow and give another mommy a hug, they might be having a rough day too.