Butterflies on the Loose!

I was inspired by this picture I found while browsing for inspiration:) And decided I would take the same idea into my girls room with the butterfly wall stickers we found for $9 at Target...so I found a great frame at a local thrift store, gave it a quick whitewash, hung it, and arranged the butterflies so they looked like they were escaping and there it is. It just says so much without saying anything ( I guess that would be why  the old adage, eh?) I love how it turned out, and with the large frame being a thrift find for $10. A great project to give a room some character, spunk, life...and what not:) for under $20 greenbacks, not bad for a weekend!

Old Book turned NEW Journal for 2011!

She's found her "RE:purpose"

Ragged pages!

Found the "Ex Libris" in another old Reader's Digest book, and had to cut and paste! 

My lovely mess...

Original book

I have seen a few different ways to re-purpose an old book into your own blank journal or sketchbook. I really like to look of keeping the cover intact, and then finding a great cover! We'll today I struck "gold"! God Bless the Vets! I found a cute mid-size hardcover book, that was simply titled "Prayers". PERFECT! I love to write my prayers so this was a find! I cut out the exsisting pages, used scrapbooking paper to redo the cover, made the pages all jagged by just tearing the outside edge, then used an awl and "yarn darner" needle with some white embroidery thread to sew the binding. I am pretty sure there are some better "techniques" out there. For me it was starting and finishing a single project at once:) (the little thing, you know!) So 2 hours, and a fantastic mess on the kitchen counter later....here it is!! Now I just have to remember what I did to show some great ladies in our Craft Group how !!! hahahahaaha:)

Happy Re:New Year!

The holiday bustle has ended, the tree is out by the dumpster for recycle, new toys and clothes are scattered happily about the children's rooms, Auld Lang Sine has been wildly sung at midnight and I smile and sigh as it was all so wonderful! I am learning to listen to God as I mother my children, cook (learn & try to cook:) for my family, arrange my home, and reach out to our neighborhood. I feel like I am in Kindergarten all over again, with so much to learn when it comes to being "in the world but not OF it":) To create a Godly home environment, to be vulnerable and honest about my flaws, and to heartily grab hold of the challenges and plow forward in God's grace everyday. I am almost 30 ( 10 days and counting...) and I can say with confidence I am so thankful I am where, and who I am today! I am tapping into "my music" my gifts that God gave me, and the "good works" he's designed me for...after much striving, time, $$ (personal growth type books, precision schedules, writing down goals, working, talking traveling with a business) and effort...trying to CHANGE myself, and coming up exhausted (and the same) I've accepted the gifts, the ideas, the place I am and what a wonderful gift God gives when we "Cease our striving and know that HE is God."  (v.s. us and our lofty plans for a "Good life") God is renewing what I once knew about myself, renewing my dreams (his dreams) and renewing my passion for the little things in life (like a tasty dinner on time for my family...which as I blog is close to getting a "little too done":) hang on a sec...
Okay, pork chops have been smothered and "crocked" in the crock pot for dinner (gotta love the crock!) 
I am challenged to find my MUSIC my PASSION this new year, and trust God thick and thin. So glad I am not walking this mothering road alone He is with me, day in and day out. What a rich heritage to be a daughter of the King! I love motherhood. May God RE-new the promises, desires, ideas, dreams, passions hidden in the deep of your heart this year. A very happy RE-new year to you my friend!

Decking the Stairway!

I don't know what it is about a stairway all decked out for Christmas, but it definitely gives me the warm fuzzies:) I grew up in a Folk Victorian with an enclosed stairway (no banister...more like a stair/hallway) with 17 steep stairs I know because I hit all of them multiple times tripping and falling down them as a kid:) So now, we are living (and loving!) our new/ old historic house, and it has a lovely stairway, that has fulfilled a long-time wish in my heart. Last night we bought some "pine" garland and red ribbons, and wrapped the railing, and hung it from the banister. It feels like my very  first Christmas all over again! (we do have a new baby girl celebrating her very first Christmas this year in this house, so it makes it all the more magical!) I am overjoyed this year for all of the wonderful gifts God has given to our family...and after a challenging 2 years trying to sell our yellow house in the country, finally it sold, and here we are basking in a wonderful Christmas FULL and thankful. (and the stairway is all decked to prove it!) Wishing you and yours a JOYFUL Christmas time this year!

No-Sew Burlap Christmas Pillow

I've seen ideas like this around blog-land. I used left over pieces of Burlap, used Aileen's No-Sew, cut out 2 equal pieces, glued 3 sides, glued on the ribbons, and cut out a heart in a lighter color of scrap burlap and glued it. Then stuffed it with plastic grocery bags (great re-use + waterproof if I decide it needs to live out on the porch chairs to welcome guests this Christmas!) I glued the top together and used clothes pins to hold it for about 5 minutes while it dried. Love the festive simplicity!

The Simplest MESS-FREE ornaments EVER!

With some of the left over Burlap from our stockings, we got to gluing some cute little ornaments that my 4 and 7 year old enjoyed.

                                                
And also I would have to say the EASIEST and MESS-FREE ornaments EVER!
Candy cane pipe cleaners!!!! 'nuf said:)

Burlap and a Little Compassion.

I have been "tuning" the ears of my heart lately. Listening to hear God, to feel his promptings, and see where it all takes me. I have been crafting like a wild woman lately, a daily project for me and the kids:) I have some Burlap set aside with high hopes of making Christmas Stockings for my family (the first time in 8 years that we will each have our very own stocking!) Seriously, it's time:) I sensed God nudging me to make more stockings, not just for my family, but to be a way to encourage someone else and remind them that they are loved and that they matter. I am not a seamstress, and do not own a sewing machine, so this will be a "no sew" adventure! I am thinking of one gal I met that will get a stocking, but I am open to wherever this burlap compassion project goes!

Here are some pics from some great blogs that I am using as inspiration: the pic above is an idea from HGTV (always a source of inspiration)
Below is from Susie Harris... love her blog and ideas: Susie Harris No-Sew Christmas Stockings

Another favorite, and the design that will probably be like the ones I will be making...

the cuties below from the blog Tattered & Timeless

Would love to see what stockings you have "hung from the chimney with care" :) this Christmas!

MY RENDITION...Alright...need to have a pattern:) this is the first one, and without a pattern the next 5    I make will all look different, so...yeah...making a pattern...live and learn!