Bunting Wall Art

This project was very easy and definitely cute, colorful and on-trend for a little girl's room!

I started with a 12x12 colored canvas.

Then I picked out colorful scrapbook paper.

Then I created a template, which I'm sharing with you!

Bunting Template

I used this pattern to cut out the bunting and then I used double stick tape to attach each piece to the canvas.  

 

 

Thrift Store Score - 3 Tiered China Stand

I'm trying something new - every Thursday I'm going to share something I found at a thrift store, Goodwill or garage sale and share why I believe it was a good find.  These posts will all be titled: Thrift Store Score!  

I bought this at Goodwill for $9.99 (which is more than I normally spend on one item at Goodwill) because I just redecorated my living room in blue and because it is such a unique piece.  

When I got home and started looking at comparables, I discovered it was a good price!

Let me know what you think of these new posts!

String Art

I've been seeing string art everywhere!  I wanted to try making a piece and I thought the perfect place to test it out was in Hadley's room with a little heart.  It adds amazing texture to a gallery wall.  

They're pretty simple to make.  You figure out your base.  (Determine the size and color of wood block you need and paint/stain/cut to get it prepared.)  I started with a pretty thin piece of wood and it split in a few places from the nails, so I had to get a thicker piece.  I painted mine white with spray paint.

Then you create a template using Word.  

Then you just put your paper over the wood and start nailing.  I used white paneling nails from Walmart.

Then you begin stringing.  The first and last piece are tricky because they need to be glued.  Before the randomness, I went around the outline of the heart.  After that, it's just random stringing!

Quiet Book Part 7 - Turtle and Cover

For the cover page, I knew I wanted Hadley's name and colorful bunting but then I felt like I should add something to the middle.  I'm not sure I love the beaded stars, but it does add some sparkle.  

This page was so hard to figure out!  I saw the idea on Pinterest, for a turtle who can hide in his shell, but there were no instructions and it took me forever. 

I ended up connecting the head and tail with a ribbon that can be pulled either direction, to make the head hide or to pull it out.  The problem is that if the ribbon is pulled too hard, the turtle could come all the way out of his shell!

Upcycled Agate Coaster

 

 

While shopping at Goodwill, I found this:

My mom was with me and assumed it was a gag gift!  I saw past the dated look and hoped I could upcycle it.

I've seen agate coasters for sale everywhere and they're pretty expensive, so I knew exactly the look I was going for.

I used a flat head screwdriver to pry up the very-securely glued dolphin.

Then I also used the screwdriver to chip away at the pinkish glue residue.

Then I cleaned it up  and used my gold leaf pen on the edges.

"For the Love" by Jen Hatmaker Book Endorsement

Important Fashion Advice

"The first is a specific tragedy I call Leggings-As-Pants/Tights-As-Leggings (LAP/TAL = no). And don’t make me delve into the crisis that is Tights-As-Pants (TAP = seek professional intervention)."

Here’s Jen to explain this herself:

For the record, she's also against Manpris.

Practical Advice For Everyday Life

"Cooking is not an affliction, and we aren’t incapable women who can’t crack eggs. We should disregard those commercials and remember that feeding people real food has always been a good, noble task."

"You can’t do everything perfectly.  You don’t have to live up to an invented standard of perfection.  You can choose what to be involved in and when to say no to things.  Choose the things you find life-giving."

Laughter

"I just saw a commercial for mousse that will not only battle this Texas humidity and make me a hair model but also make people laugh hysterically at my wit! WhoknewIcouldbethatfunny? It seems my new hair will attract young, good-looking, multicultural friends, and we will run through a field laughing over our shoulders while our hair bounces and shines. Well done, mousse!"

Tears

Her wish for her children:  "I pray for your kindness more than your success, because the latter without the former is a tragedy. God measures our entire existence by only two things: how we love Him and how we love people. If you get this right, you can get a million other things wrong.  Have the courage to be exactly who you are.  Love God and follow Him. Really, nothing else matters.
Be kind.
Be you.
Love Jesus."

Pop Culture References

I love seeing these all together - doesn't it make you want to read the book, just so you can figure out how she worked all these in?!

Tina Turner, Coach and Tami Taylor, high-waisted jeans, Netflix, Olympics, Paul Rudd, Shakira, Young Jedi, Annie Leibovitz, Instagram, Aerosmith, HGTV House Hunters, US Weekly, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Friends, Maya Angelou, Annie Dillard, iPhones, Buzzfeed, Target, Jessica Alba, Mason jars, Garanimals, Gatorade, Mary Janes, American Idol, Alex Preston, Will Ferrell, Young MC, like a boss, DeLorean, Jennifer Lopez, L’Oreal EverSleek, Halle Barry, Maybelline, Walgreens, Sarah Jessica Parker, Garnier Nutrisse, Eva Mendez, As-Seen-On-TV Products, EZ Egg Cracker, Gwyneth (Paltrow), Ben Howard, Cameron Diaz, Ina Garten, HGTV, Jimmy Fallon, Thank-You Notes, Spanx, Jell-O, Children of the Corn, Disney-Themed Slanket, Amazon Prime, Ann Voskamp, Nickelodeon, Dynasty, Pinterest, Game Boys, So You Think You Can Dance, William and Kate, March Madness, Scrabble, Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester, Third Day, Aquire the Fire, MercyMe, Xbox, Angry Birds, Minecraft, Madden NFL, Facebook, E-Readers, Hamburger Helper, Food Network, Wolfgang Puck, Justin Bieber, Phil Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, the Bieb, Sandi Patty, YouTube, Top 40, Kidz Bop, Bruno Mars, American Idol, Ke$ha, FloRida, Melissa McCarthy, The Tom Green Show, Punk’d, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, Twitter, Siri, Autocorrect, Mark Zuckerberg, Tinder, Bluetooth, (President) Obama, Spotify, Jock Jams, Subway, Sandwich Artists, Gru, Despicable Me, Justin Timberlake, Disney, Mowgli, Taco Bell, Dane Cook, Circo, Taylor Swift, fist bump, Ovaltine, Tim Riggins

Thank You Notes

"Thank you, Person Having a Cell Phone Conversation in the Public Bathroom Stall Right Next to Me at Target, for the reminder that nothing is sacred (or sanitary) anymore. Not only do I know your digestive habits now, but I also know that your cousin Lucy is marrying a loser the whole family hates and you are “not about to pay $120 on a dress for a lame wedding.” Good talk."

"Thank you, Taco Bell, for knowing one hundred sauce packets and zero napkins are the perfect number of things to put in my bag."

Truth and Wisdom

"Annie Dillard was right: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”  You decide your days should contain laughter and grace, strength and security."

https://instagram.com/p/06yAQlv2mf/

"If we tell the truth in the small things, our honesty is well-practiced when stuff gets dire. This creates a sincere community for which the earth is starving. In a world full of the fake, artificial, pretend, and superficial, we have the sustenance to nourish our starving hearts."

Old School Twitter

If Twitter were around back then…

"@JenKing—April 13, 1989—Haysville, KS  Had the best time at youth group! #WednesdayWarrior Won the skits with my Paula Abdul imitation. #StraightUp"

"@JenHatmaker—December 31, 1993—Wichita, KS  Our wedding was DREAMY! Colors: forest green and burgundy, of course. Tea-length bridesmaids dresses. No alcohol at reception. #Baptist #AlsoIAm19"

Use of Capitalization

I love her use of capitalization. I don’t know why, but I Love It.

"Sure, I planned on being a Darling Lamb Wife, but I accidentally got a fiery personality and forgot to be darling."

"When I was a kid, I thought my parents knew everything because they were parents. I was unclear how information about All The Things had been transferred to them, but I was certain they were in possession of it."

My Endorsement

Here's the one that didn't get picked at all:  

Like chips and salsa, Jen’s sense of humor and authenticity are an irresistible combination.  For the Love left me feeling refreshed, restored and energized to love people.  I can’t wait for everyone I know to read this book!

~ Lyndi; INTJ, Aunt of Hadley and Henry, Diet Coke Drinker, Wichita, KS

Here's the one on the website:

This book is So Good. I laughed and I cried and I identified with so much of what Jen said. Reading this book felt like a weeklong vacation with my best friend. I want everyone I know to read this book.

~ Lyndi; Paralegal, Photographer and Craft Blogger, Wichita, KS

As a member of the #LaunchTeam and one of the #500 – I’ve read through the book more than once and I’m telling you – it’s good.  

Read it.  

(And look for my name!) 

Quiet Book Part 6 - Igloo Puzzle

I used these two blogs as inspiration for the page:

I liked the puzzle idea from this blog:
http://quietbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/magdas-christmas-quiet-book.html


This blog gave me a good template and I loved the idea of adding a constellation of stars:
http://www.imagineourlife.com/2011/09/19/penguin-igloo-quiet-book-page/

I cut out two igloos.  The first one, I sewed to the page and the second one I cut into puzzle pieces.  Then I sewed with a thick zig zag stitch on the base around each piece (as a guide to where the pieces go) and added velcro to all the pieces.

This is the cute penguin that lives in the igloo.

The snow at the bottom of the page forms several pockets, where the puzzle pieces can be stored.