The Last few Months....

These last few months have just flown by. In that time, we have lost a beloved pet, packed up over 10,000 pounds worth of our belongings, drove 400+ miles to our new duty station, unpacked nearly 10,000 pounds of said belongings, celebrated our 14th Anniversary, celebrated our son's 13th birthday, and begun to settle into our new home located in a beautiful area that reminds us of Germany. I have not had much time to dedicate to my blog. I have many things on which to blog! Several pictures to post! A few new recipes to tempt your tastebuds! So, check back often because...I'm back in the saddle again.

As always, thank you for joining me

as I blog along!

Initial Frames For Your Little Musician

Yesterday, I created some initial frames for my son. I wanted something that would fill the blank space above his piano.

After school, my son and I went to Hobby Lobby in search of musical decor. We were not too happy with the decor selection and prices. We needed to stay within a small budget. Sooo, being the "Martha Stewart" that I am, I decided to make it myself! I purchased only a few materials. Some I already had on hand from previous craft projects. I apologize for not taking before pics. I was so anxious to get started that I forgot. I'll remember next time....maybe! :o) For this project I needed:

Plain Craft Frames

(we purchased ones with a 4x4 opening)

 

Modge Podge- Matte Finish

 

Black Craft Paint

 

 

 

3 Sheets Scrapbooking Paper

(we chose antique sheet music)

 

 

Paint Brush

 

Sponge Brush

 

Printer and Computer

(I used Printshop, but you can use something as simple as MS Word)

 

Directions:

 

First, paint the frames using the black craft paint. Allow to dry completely. During that time, create the initials using a software program. I used Printshop, CloisterBlack BT font, sized to 300. Print the initials onto the scrapbooking paper. Center and cut the initials to a 4"x4" size (or the size of your frame opening). Spread a thin layer of Modge Podge onto the center of the frames. Place the cut-outs into center square. Apply pressure and smooth paper several times to prevent bubbling. Voila! Easy Peasy!! 

 

 

Yes....I had bubbling on the J and a smudge of wet paint in the bottom corner of the R. Apparently, I am not the Martha Stewart craftinista that I think I am. I forgot to check the corners for wet paint and did not smooth the first paper before starting on the next! So....please make sure your paint is dry AND that you smooth...smooth...and resmooth. :oD

 

And now, here is a little treat from my little pianist....

 

 

Thank you for joining me as I blog along!

 

With love, from my home to yours....



TOO OLD FOR TRICK OR TREATING (a COOL homemade costume)

 

"I'm getting too old for trick-or-treating", said my eleven-year-old son last Halloween. I asked him to indulge me just one more year. "Fine! But I'm not wearing one of those little kid costumes," he exclaimed. We brainstormed for a bit and then he asked if I could possibly create an iPhone costume.

 

Whaaa??? Was this child of mine doubting my awesomeness? ;o)

 

I mean, I'm no McGyver......but I'm pretty sure that given the right circumstances, I could make a Halloween costume out of a paper clip and some string!

 

 

 

 

I knew, despite my brief delusion of SUPER MOM grandeur, that producing an iPhone costume from paper clips and string would fail epically. Soooo....off to Hobby Lobby I went in search of "realistic" materials. I was excited to create this one-of-a-kind costume for my kiddo. Mostly, I did not want to fall short on his idea. It was, as he so proudly declared, his LAST halloween.

 

For this costume, you will need:

 

*Black Cardboard*

*Silver Poster Board*

*White Paint Pen*

*Silver Paint Pen*

*Black Sharpie*

*Sticky Tack*

*Black Spray Paint (small can)*

*Velcro Strips (hook and loop)*

(long enough to go around the arms near shoulders and attach to the board)

*Glue Gun With Sticks*

*Black Duct Tape*

*Printed Images of Apps/Widgets*

*Scissors*

*Box Knife*

 

 

 First, cut off about 5-6 inches lengthwise on one side of the black cardboard to make it more narrow. Next, round the edges off using scissors. This creates the shape of the iPhone. Then, spray paint the back of the black cardboard with the black spray paint if needed (the back of mine was regular cardboard brown...smh). Let this dry completely before continuing. From the computer, print out images that your child wants displayed on the "screen" and images for the "home row". Try to space the screen images evenly and attach them with sticky tack to keep in place. I made adjustments on size until I could fit 9 images with even spacing on the screen. Use one of the images to trace a space in the center. Then, cut out that area with the box knife to make a face hole and label it "facebook".  Apply the home row images with sticky tack onto the silver poster board along the bottom. Using scissors, cut the silver poster board following the line above the images. Here the glue gun is used to hold the silver band in place. Use the black sharpie to make a circular on/off button below the silver poster board. Also use it at the top to create a long, slim line similar to speakers. The silver paint pen is used next to make the square on the on/off button. Then, the white paint pen is used to write the names of the apps/widgets on the screen. To create the edge around the iPhone, color with the silver paint pen. While your child holds the iPhone with his/her face in the center hole, mark the spots where velcro would go below his/her armpit areas and two more near the rib cage (dad or an assistant may need to help mark areas for the velcro placement). Attach a good-sized strip of hook velcro to these areas using the glue gun. After the glue dries, have your child hold the iPhone again in place and attach him/her to the hook velcro by using the long strips of loop velcro around his arms. On the top velcro sets, use the black tape to secure the hooks and loops from pulling apart. Your child can get in/out of the costume using the bottom sets of velcro or by sliding them off of his/her arms. Make sure to measure them exactly before gluing. It is trial and error getting them placed perfectly to keep the iPhone from sliding down making his/her face off-center. You may come up with a better way of attaching it to your child. I needed something that my child could easily get in and out of. We had to get into/out of our car repeatedly for our trick-or-treating route. 

 

 

 

 THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

(he was holding it in this pic because we had not yet attached the velcro)



 

 

 I wish you the best in creating this costume for your
not-so-little-anymore
trick-or-treater!

With love, from my home to yours...

 

 



From Facebook To Blogging: Making the Transition

I recently decided to attempt blogging. I figured since I was pretty much already doing it via facebook on a much...MUCH...smaller scale, why not make the transition into writing something more in depth than statuses and comments. It seemed to be the next logical step for me. I have a great many passions: 

                       My Army Husband

My Pre-Teen Son

   Cooking

Photography

 Traveling

 reading, crafts, shopping, decorating, horses, etc, etc. I figured that I could scrounge up enough subject matter from which to pluck a blog post or two. As never having done this before and not being the tech-savvy person I think I am (according to the aforementioned pre-teen), I ask for your patience until I get my bearings. Thank you and many blessings!