do you scrap?

Almost all of my friends have immaculate scrapbooks. The pictures are carefully cut with straight edge cutters and placed in just the right spot. The stickers and embellishments are breathtaking. It's a little bit disgusting. Perhaps I need these orderly people in my life. So, people are always asking me if I "scrapbook," and I always shrivel up and say "sort of." My scrapbooks are SUCH a perfect representation of my life... miss-matched, chaotic, hilarious, exciting, bunch of orderly disorder... if that even makes sense. I rarely show my scrapbooks to people (even my friends), but today I have the urge to reveal a little peek into the mess. This is a page or two from the scrapbook of all my running adventures. I like documenting my races and when I get into a running "funk" these pages motivate me to push harder. Enjoy...

fabric necklaces

I made these necklaces for a nice girl named Carrie who is working all summer at a camp in the middle of nowhere. I thought she might need a little "happy." Now I might need to make a few more of these little "happies" for myself and other nice people. You can make some too! All you need is fabric, scissors, embroidery thread and needle, buttons, 30 minutes. I didn't use a pattern for the little hoo haw on the side. Just cut however you feel led and attach it when you get done. Good luck!

face painting

I remember Vacation Bible School as a child. It was a fun filled week of singing, relay races, Bible stories, glue, popsicle sticks, kool aid and flower-shaped butter cookies with a hole in the middle... anyone with me??? Now, however, it's bar-b-q dinners and dance moves and balloons and bird houses and face painting... it's marvelous. So I was recruited to do the face painting booth on this hot Baton Rouge Wednesday. It made my heart so full! There are times when I know that I am using my talents only for the purpose of serving the Lord. This was one of those times.

One of the teenage boys from church sat down and told me to paint "whatever I wanted." So I painted a picture of the girl he likes... for all the world to see. I love people.

recycled painting

Today was a painting day.  Some days it is worth every bit of the hassle it takes to paint with the kids.  They adore making art. I adore making art with them... the clean up afterwards would be whatever the opposite of "adore" is. So anyway, I purchased some pre-cut wood from our local craft store (40inches x 40inches... big). Instead of canvas I used an old curtain that used to hang in my college dorm room which got demoted to a table cloth, then a drop cloth for painting walls, then Lord only knows what, and now... a work of art!  I stapled the fabric around my wood with a small upholstery stapler and let the kids have at it!

I turned on some quiet classical music and they spent a whopping 45 minutes painting a beautiful background. We took a break to run around in the sprinklers and eat lunch, then back to work. I drew a fleur-de-lis with chalk and they filled it in (sort of) with paint. I did some touch up work around the edges and there you have it! 

This project cost me $4 (only the cost of the wood... if you have your own wood it's free!) After I spray it with some clear acrylic finish, it will find a home... maybe above our red sofa. What can you recycle into a work of art?

on this day in history

Exactly nine years ago today I went on a very romantic, well thought out, hilarious, interesting date with a guy who I had been secretly adoring for months. He then became my friend, then my boyfriend, then not my boyfriend, then my boyfriend again, then my fiance, and now my husband and the father of my children and my favorite person in all the land.  I made a painting that is almost as bright and comforting as the feelings that come from remembering these little "anniversaries." Sometimes I get an image in my head and I spend all afternoon getting it out on canvas... this was one of those afternoons. Enjoy!

coffee filter flower

It started harmlessly enough. Just a simple crafting project to pass the time with Millie G. We wanted to make a flower... and so we began. An hour later, it was time for Millie G.'s nap and I... well... I couldn't stop! I was glittering and glue-ing and twisting and sprinkling... sad really. Anyway this glittery flower came from coffee filters and simple around the house crafting supplies. I thought it would be nice of me to share with all of you about how to make one for yourself... incase you might ever need a glittery coffee filter flower for any reason.

Here are a few supplies that I used. Feel free to incorporate anything else!

The MUST-HAVES are: coffee filters, spray glue, tape.

Begin by flattening out a coffee filter until it looks like a circle. Then tear or cut other coffee filters... each one will be a gradually smaller circle than the last one. Decorate each coffee filter as you see fit... paint, marker, pens. Cut some petals from cute wrapping paper or scrapbook paper (I used a light peach-y color) and glue 'em down. Then place the largest filter on the "stem" (I used a dowel rod) by sticking the stem through the center of the flower. Hold in place with small amount of tape. Do the same with remaining filters... some on top and underneath the largest one... holding each in place with small amounts of tape. I added some curling ribbon between some of the layers for a little pizzaz! When it looks like a flower you can start spraying the heck out of it and shaking glitter here and there. Add a little note to the stem and DONE!

Our flower's final destination was in the hands of Ms. Jordan Smith who swept the title of George County's Jr. Miss last Saturday night. She happens to be my cousin and Millie G.'s hero. Everyone loved the flower and the trail of glitter it left for miles around. Good thing a little glitter never hurt anybody!  Make a mess with some glitter today!

easy bear

This little felt bear was a project for my RVA "pretty" class. It was super easy and perfect for little girl snuggling. Take some time to make a panda today!

It was supposed to be a scrapbook

The first project for the class I'm taking with the Red Velvet Girls was to make a scrapbook. Mine somehow (around 11:30pm... when the sweetest of all the creative juices begin to flow) turned into this book about Mille G. (Millie Jee). She is now totally obsessed with the book. We read it four times before bed last night and twice during breakfast this morning. So have a great day. Do a photo shoot and make a book already! It will be precious. Love, Love.