Easter Wreath

Wow Easter is late this year! I feel like we need it for Spring to officially start!  

But I am ready with this cute wreath ;)  

Super Easy.. here ya go!!

Supplies:

Wreath form, Burlap, Eggs, Easter grass, Ribbon to hang and a glue gun! 

I chose this thicker, more boxy type.  I thought it might be better for placing the eggs... but I am sure you can use a rounder wreath form as well.

The burlap I had was cut into strips from a previous use... so I just took each strip and started wrapping.   I didn't wrap it tight so it would look full.  As I wrapped I just turned the burlap a little so it would give it different dimensions.   I hot glued (on low temp) the ends to the wreath form.

I added some Easter grass, hot gluing it on.

Side note... Does anyone else notice that you find Pine needles till Easter and Easter grass till.. 

oh say Halloween!?  geesh.  ok... rant over.

This little doll dressed in her matching dress to take a pic.. how could I not include!? 

I finished it off with a loop of a ribbon to hang :)  

Here is a picture of some of my dearest Navy wife friends in our squadron.  I love these ladies!!!  They have helped me oh so much through this first half of deployment... Laughs, Babysitting, Hanging Out, Wine Nights, An Encouraging Word, Late Night Texts and Drying Some Tears.  Deployment is only possible for me through Faith that Jesus holds me and Friends like this... and not to forget my awesome family and civilian friends too!!!

We made burlap wreaths back in the Fall and said we were going to do it again this Spring... it seemed so far away then... and Here. We. Are!!!!

Also love the uniqueness to them .. the wreaths and the friends!

Wreath Making Night.. SPRING 2014!

Vino and Candy

Two of my favorite things…  wine and candy :)
ok, really i think the candy hearts are gross and taste like chalk.. but they are cute for decorating!

So i put my kids to work…  and YES my 2 oldest kiddos can use a glue gun!!  i believe in teaching life coping skills.. and who couldn't fix the world with a glue gun!?

Well… let's be clear here.  I shared the wine with my girl friends during the bachelor!  (not the kids).  And i wrapped them with the yarn (quicker than the kids).

Little guy decided he wanted to do one.. so i came up with his "special" project :)

.. and he came up with his own "special" project!

Addie's master piece… "Fun and Whimsical" 

Garrett's masterpiece… "Love thought out"

Micah's masterpiece… "I'm just too cute!"

I just love these little buggers!!

Hearts and Art

 Working hard on Valentines... 

... Hard work paid off!

sweet

 This lil back packer got to visit the big kids at school, and Had to be prepared.

can i hang here?

DIY Decor.. "LOVE"

I had the best week last week with my sister and her family!! The cousins had a grand time together!!  And Oh MY! When they left.. It was February!  How did that happen??  

I had a plan for a Valentine's mantle.. Simple. Pink. Soft. 

& that's exactly how it turned out.  LOVE!

Speaking of {LOVE} .. my favorite part of the mantle turned out to be a sign, with LOVE on it.  

Garrett had been collecting treasures (read also: dumpster diving) and found some great pieces of pressed wood.  He claimed the larger one for the fort (of course!) but said I could have the other piece.

I should probably interject that the dumpster is next door.. a site of new construction..mostly full of pallets and other home materials that 8 year old boys find amazing and essential to build a fort! ;)

Here's the finished sign.

the awesome wood Garrett found

<------------- before

after --------------->

painted with a sample of "Hot Stone"

by Valspar

I stenciled LOVE with Benjamen Moore - Pink Moire

pallet table.. not quite ready to completely share. <in progress>

Coffee beans make the perfect vase filler for Valentine's

 dot dot dot... in sparkle.

Here s the mantle (rather, my faux one above the TV). 

a little tule for a soft look

old halloween candy (pink nerds) also make a good filler

LOVE ... XOX

I am enjoying this mantle.. Simple. Pink. Soft.

and I love the gray walls!!

Do you do a Valentine's Theme in your home?

Linking:

Power of Paint Party 
Transformation Thursday

It was Christmas

Time escapes us when it is the Christmas season. Some time flies because we are enjoying time and fellowship with family and friends.  Some time flies because we are so busy getting ready for those times. Attempting to keep that balanced is hard for me.. actually doing it is even harder.

To be honest I have a difficult time during the holidays. Fuses are short and tempers ignite quickly, erupting into full blown fires that never really get put out completely.  The embers are hot the whole season long.. waiting to engulf a spark needed to flare up again.  Sometimes it is just easier to speed through, put the checks in the box, and wait for it to burn out.  But each year I join many well intentioned moms in saying "I'm going to enjoy this year and not get caught up in the craziness."  Honest... Did you say that?  Well, I can't say that there weren't times of getting caught up and or stressed out.. It happens. It just does.  And if you never had that happen to you this year... Wow!

I do think, however, that by just being aware of the way this time of year can affect me really helped.  Striving not for a "perfect holiday season", rather, an enjoyable one. A real one.  Taking with it the stress that is rushing to get gifts bought and wrapped in time,  but remembering to pray for the special person it is for while doing so instead of complaining about it helped keep my mind on the reason we celebrate. Trying to take things one day at a time, having small goals to accomplish, helped move me through all the To Dos.  Taking time for myself and working out we're also key... Even if I was going over lists in my head!

It was a fast month of preparation and decoration.  There have been Christmases in the past that have flown by and after I ask, "what just happened?" Only to realize... That was Christmas.   This year I didn't place specific expectations to leave me feeling let down.  I tried to just take it as it was.. And you know,,, it now answers the question with "it was Christmas!"

Silver bells... Silver .. mason jar!

I made this quick centerpiece a few weeks ago (yes! i did it early!) ... but haven't gotten the chance to share it (or much) on here.  I know it's a little late to inspire Christmas decorating.. so Pin it for next year :)  lol! 

Of course It started with spray paint!  I sprayed a mason jar silver. The sleigh bells were from the Dollar Store .. and already silver. I had the red sprigs and the faux cranberries.  Add some cotton balls and a dish lined with silver from my Grandma... and there it is!  A statement of a centerpiece, I think!

To get the red sprigs to say put.. I cut a Styrofoam ball in half and stuck them in.

I am Loving the turquoise and red!  So Festive!!

linking:
Whatever Goes Wednesday 
Christmas Categorically Crafting

Glass Glitter Trees

"Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy" as Addison would say... and that is exactly what this project was. 

I found these glass Christmas tree jars at Walmart.  I didn't know what I was going to try with them, but they had potential & clearly needed a makeover.

Glass Tree... less than $2

I decided that since i loved how the Glitter Bulbs turned out, why not try the same technique here.

Here is another set of the glitter bulbs.. so festive!

We whipped up thees trees in no time for an after school project one day on our back porch.  Yes, I am rubbing it in that we were on the porch in tees in December :)  sorry. 

Pour the Mop and Glow inside the glass jar and rotate it so that  the entire inside surface is coated.  Drain the excess.  Then sprinkle the "Extra Fine" Glitter inside and tap the sides to get it covered. (see post on Glitter Bulbs for extra fine glitter info.)

These would make great gifts... teachers, neighbors, friends :)  Who doesn't love a little glitter?!

Ta-Da!  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

I don't think the project took quite long enough... after was homework time!

linking...
Craft-o-matic Monday
Get Your Craft On