DIY photo clocks

Now that their bridal shower has come and gone, I am so excited to share my latest project that I made! Earlier this week when I made the two canvas prints, I also made a fabulous photo clock for our friends Ryan and Alyson for a bridal shower gift to celebrate their upcoming wedding in September! I had emailed Ryan asking for a jpeg of some of their engagement pictures and he got them to me in record time - so thanks for being a big help, Ryan! This project was very easy and quick (and affordable!)....with a really awesome final product! I am already thinking of what picture I want to use to make one for myself to have at our place! Anyway, here is what you will need and how to make your own photo clock:

- plywood or MDF board (I used 1/4 Oak pinewood from Lowe's)
- mod podge
- paint brush
- acrylic paint color in whatever color you choose
- numbers (I used scrapbook numbers but you could place them on before printing the picture by using PhotoShop or some other photo editing program)
- clock parts
- battery
- easel/stand
- matte sealant spray 

1. order your picture and make sure it is a true .jpeg or formatted nicely...downloading one from Facebook won't print out nice at all! I ordered mine from Staples in a 16x20 and am very happy with the print quality!

2. get your plywood or MDF board. I knew I wanted the clock to be 16x16 so I had a guy at Lowe's cut the board down to 16x16 so now I have a left over piece...perfect for making a second clock! You can obviously choose whichever size you would like depending on where you plan to put the clock!

3. once you have the board, cut the picture down to match its size.

4. put a layer of mod podge onto the plywood and then starting with one side, align the picture and swipe across it slowly to make sure there aren't any air bubbles and to help keep it aligned on the plywood.

5. place the numbers onto the picture. I did this by measuring across creating an X and then down the middle and across the middle to essentially create a pie. I placed each number on and then measured to make sure then were all equally spaced. You could also get a clock template and mark on the picture where to place the numbers if you don't want to measure it out yourself.

5. **this is optional** on a few of the edges, just barely, the plywood was sticking out because the edges weren't perfect cuts and I wanted to edges to have more of a paint brush effect/look to match the background of the picture. So all you do for that is, get the paint color you would like, just dab the tip of the brush in the paint and then make quick/short strokes along the edges. There's really no right or wrong way to do this and you can make the strokes as thick/heavy as you would like. **this is optional**

6. once the paint has dried (or if you skipped that), paint a thin layer of mod podge over the picture including the paint and the numbers. Be careful going over the numbers so you don't peel one up but if you do, just stick it back down and make sure it is secure! This is just like painting over the picture with mod podge when making a canvas picture so it will look white/glossy at first, but it dries clear! Make sure to keep it a thin layer and if it bubbles, that means you have too much so spread it out evenly.

7. now it is time to drill the hole for the clock parts! I measured the width of the clock "hole" from the old clock that I took the parts off of so I knew what size of drill bit to use. Then, I measured an X across from each corner and marked the center so I knew the clock parts would be centered. Once you have the correct size, drill the hole .

8. **this is optional** I sprayed the matte sealant spray on top of the picture and along the edges to completely seal it and help protect it from sun damage and fading. I did two coats of this and it gave the clock a nice matte finish! **this is optional**

9. insert the clock parts along with a working battery then set the time and admire your new personalized photo clock! I found a nice picture stand for the clock but you could attach some poster hangers on the back of it if you would prefer to hang it up instead. 

"together until the end of time"
Congrats to the future Mr. & Mrs. Nelson!
We are so excited for your big day!

(more!) DIY canvas pictures

The crafting bug hit me again and I whipped up a fabulous wedding picture display that I love! And I did it super cheap and quick too so for anyone who is still afraid to take a stab at making their own canvas prints, don't fret any more! Canvas prints are a huuuge thing right now and as most of you know, they are also a huuuge expense. They are just plain crazy expensive! And you really have to commit to the picture that you decide for them since unlike a normal picture frame, you can't simply swap out the picture and update it as the times change! Which is why I knew I couldn't go wrong picking out some wedding pictures because those are ones that we will always cherish and I want to have on display to share and remember our special day! So, let's get down to business! Here is what you will need:

- blank canvas (I got mine from Hobby Lobby in an 11x14 two pack for $5 on clearance!)

- pictures of your choice (I got three 11x14 prints from Staples for $20! and they are awesome quality!)

- mod podge

- brush

- paint (if you want to paint the edges of the canvas instead of leaving it white)

- matte spray sealant (completely optional but since I already had this, I figured I'd spray on two coats to completely seal the final picture and protect it from fading)

1. paint the edges of your canvas whatever color you would like. I chose black since I had printed out and white pictures for mine. 

2. let the paint completely dry before moving on! I painted these at night and then finished the project the next morning so the paint wouldn't run or get on the picture. After the paint is dry, add a layer of mod podge and align picture onto the canvas making sure to do it from one edge to the next to help eliminate air bubbles.

3. ok this is usually the scary part of making a canvas picture and working with mod podge that people don't like and I was leery of it at first too (but I tested out the mod podge on a smaller picture just to verify and had proof it would dry clear and not ruin the picture!) Once the picture is set on the canvas, take the mod podge and put a thin layer across the picture and make sure to get all of the edges done too - this will help seal it entirely to the canvas and prevent it from trying to peel away. The picture will look sort of "milky" while the mod podge is still wet but I promise it will dry clear and leave a perfect matte finish! 

4. once the top layer of mod podge is dry, your new awesome and original canvas picture is done! After this, I sprayed two layers of the matte sealant spray onto mine but that is optional and not something you necessarily have to do!

Here are the final products up close:

I also picked up this float frame I found on clearance at Gordman's and used the extra set of vinyl letters I got when I had ordered them for our wedding mailbox to make this center picture:

And here's how they all look put together and hanging up to help decorate our bedroom. And of course there's Paisley, being my shadow and helping to model the complete look! I love it and even Jordan was completely impressed with these pictures! I wish I wouldn't have waited to long to make these but I see some being made in the future for gift ideas for people - they are cheap, quick, and easy plus such a great keepsake!

Double-Sided Headbands

Tonight I whipped up three of these double-sided headbands and they were SUPER easy to make and a quick project! I had plenty of scrap fabric left over from covering the rocking chair cushions and making a dress last year so that's what I used for all three headbands since two of them are going to my girlfriends to have! I followed this tutorial and free template from Happy Together Creates Blog and she gives step-by-step directions along with pictures! She also has several other fun projects, ideas, and tutorials so be sure to check out her website! I made all three headbands in about an hour and a half...it was just a matter of getting my assembly line in order which including tracing, cutting out the fabric, and pinning...then sewing it all together! You'll only need some scraps of fabric, some elastic and an hour (or less depending on how many you're going to make) of free time for this quick and easy craft! I love headbands and am ready for some summer up-dos now with this fun print headband!

bringing an old rocking chair back to life!

While we were all in Madison a few weekends ago, us girls spent an afternoon out thrift shopping. I love that  our form of quality time is going thrift shopping to see what kind of good bargains and old deals we can find....we usually find some pretty awesome and quality things which I'm always impressed by! So I was just browsing when my eyes laid upon a cute and perfectly old rocking chair. It was screaming my name actually. I promptly walked over to it, made myself comfortable and immediately claimed it as SOLD to ME! I just knew that I had to have it for Peanut's nursery. What kind of nursery doesn't have a classic rocking chair?! The cushions were definitely outdated so I knew I would want to do something about them but for the cool price of $25, we could not pass the beauty up! It was in great condition with no big knicks out of it anywhere or broken off wood pieces! Score! Thankfully my parents were coming back to stay at our place in North Liberty so we managed to fit the chair into their car so we could bring it home with us that weekend! I have been surfing the net for nursery ideas and I think we have it narrowed down to what we like and what we want to go with...I really like the ones with neutral colored walls and then bright vibrant colors paired with several mix-n-match bold patterns. Modern but still classic and so cute for a baby! With that in mind, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby last week to find some fabric to update the chair cushions and was pleasantly surprised with what they had in store....sooo many bright colors, fun patterns and awesome designs!!!! Perfect! I picked out the aqua chevron that was "duck canvas" fabric because I thought it would be more sturdy and hold up better for chair cushions! I scoured the website for a tutorial and how-to for recovering the cushions and couldn't find any that I really liked so I basically did my own thing. I didn't measure anything (sorry Mom, I completely ignored your tip of "measure twice and cut once!) and I didn't make a pattern...just winged it and thankfully, it all worked out! All in all, the chair only cost $40 total ($25 for the chair, $10 for the fabric, $5 for the batting) which is a steal considering how much a brand new rocker or glider would cost! I think I will still keep my eyes out for a bigger lounge type chair for the nursery too because Jordan says the rocker is too small for him...perfect size though for me and Peanut!

Paisley being no help whatsoever...
she kept trying to fluff up the batting and would lay on it!

the finished project! the bottom left is what I started with...
and then I redid the cushions and squared them off!
I also added arm cushions and side pockets!

Arm-Knitted Scarves

While on Spring Break, I learned the VERY easy and VERY quick way to make a beautiful, warm, big, cozy and snuggly scarf! It is called Arm-Knitting! Before this, I have never knitted before or even attempted it...I've heard a few too many horror stories from people about it all just unraveling and falling apart when they try to take their project off their needles so I've stuck to crocheting for now. But! With arm-knitting, it made for a really simple project and by using really thick/chunky yarn, the scarf (or whatever you're making!) builds up fast so it makes for a super quick project that can be finished in under an hour! I watched this video, How to Arm Knit from Simply Maggie Blog and that's all I needed. She goes through each step very clearly and slowly then does it several times so you can get the hang of it....and of course, you can watch it as many times as you need to (I watched it quite a few times for a few clarifications here and there!) and she has more tips/hints on her blog. Also, there are several other fun projects as well on her blog!

Here are the two infinity arm-knitted scarves that I made while on Spring Break: The yarn I used was Loops & Threads Cozy Wool. It is SO soft and SO thick! When making these scarves, you can use super chunky yarn like I did for a perfect winter scarf OR a thinner yarn for a scarf that would be perfect for the spring when it's still a little chilly but not cold enough for a scarf this big and chunky! Happy crafting! :)

solid purple

grey and teal

an icy day means it's time to refashion a dress!

before and after
frumpy to fashionable!

It has been a cold, wet and icy day here in Iowa which means that we have spent the day inside finding ways to keep busy. Jordan is taking his Praxis Exams tomorrow and Tuesday so he has been studying up all day for those...I didn't want to add to his distraction (because studying with a golf tournament and basketball game on always helps) and be watching a movie or TV show so I quickly knew how I would stay busy and out of his way. A refashion project!!!! I picked up this dress from Goodwill last week when I was on a hunt for a blazer and button down for my interview. Which, I found a perfectly new blazer for $4 and a purple button up to go under it for $2. Awesome! AND then I spotted this dress just in a blob hanging by its lonesome....and it happened to have a blue tag which meant it was only $0.25. Yes, a quarter!!! I sized it up and figured I really had nothing to lose since it was only a quarter! It was a 16 so I knew I would have to size it down quite a bit, like 12-14 sizes, and that it would be my first time sewing with silk. 

But! Nonetheless, I stuck it out and completed my project! I took it from ankle length to right above the knee. Then with the scrap material from the bottom that I cut off, I made a sash for around the waist and had a perfect oval jewel ring that I used to secure the knot around to keep the sash on! I took in the sides under the sleeves and then put darts down the back in two spots to take it in a little more. And that was it! I love cowl necks so I left the neck line as is but after taking it in, that helped pull it up and together a little bit more. I got some much needed practice sewing with silk, perfecting a hemline and making something out of nothing! All in all, I would say it was quite the successful little project and now I have a new Spring dress to wear... I can't wait until it warms up so I can wear it! 

sash with the jewel ring 

faux (and cheap!) "Canvas" Prints!

After doing a lot of Pinteresting and blog surfing, I have came across several tutorials on how to make your own canvas print. I love the look of the canvas prints but I really hate the price! I am too cheap and too crafty to pay a price like that for one print! So I have been determined lately to make my own "faux canvas prints" and combined a few tips and tricks from various tutorials I read and came up with a system that worked out great for me and the results are awesome!!! Even Jordan stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he walked in the door today from school and was awe struck. His response was, "wow! Those are really awesome!!! When did you get those?!" To which I was happy to respond with, "I MADE THEM!" It's days like today when I am extremely grateful to have my mom's crafty and creative genes!

Here's what you will need:
-foam board (I got mine from Lowe's and they will cut it down to the size that you need so they cut a whole board into 16x20 pieces so one board gave me 15 totals pieces!)
-spray adhesive (I used Loctite spray for general performance/ lightweight bonding)
-engineering prints from Staples and the sizes I ordered were 24x36 so I had enough overlap to fold and cover the sides of the foam
-packing tape

1. spray the foam with the adhesive and then wait 5-10 seconds for it to get a bit tacky **otherwise it makes the ink smear when you wipe across it to smooth it/get the air bubbles out** Also! Make sure to not over-do-it with the adhesive because otherwise it can soak through the prints since they are so thin and that's when it will smear...so definitely wait the 5-10 seconds!
2. flip it over and fold up the sides making sure you have sharp corners like wrapping a present and tape the folded edges across the back with packing tape!
3. And that's it! I used some Command strips to hang them since they are so lightweight and definitely do not need to be hung by nails!

the final products!!!
I got the quote canvas from Janelle for Christmas
And two of our favorite wedding pictures perfectly compliment it!

Definitely loving our new wall decor and happy to finally have some awesome wedding pictures up! We have a digital picture frame that we got as a wedding gift and have it loaded with wedding pictures as well which I love seeing them change but these big 16x20 prints look awesome and for the price, that makes them even better! 

Glitter Wine Bottles...and a very lazy Sunday

What quickly went from being a very productive day between crafting, decorating and grading papers, has now turned into a very lazy Sunday. I'm not sure what just hit me but damn, it does not feel good. There's been a stomach flu bug going around work and in the office and I think it finally caught me. Woof. I'm glad I got one craft in and finished earlier though so now I can be posted up on the couch in the fetal position the rest of the night between trips to the bathroom. Here's what I made for my first Christmas craft of the year! I have been saving wine bottles each time I finish one and waiting to use them for various crafts so I finally decided it was time to put some to use! This was a very easy, quick and cheap project that turned out really cute!

Glitter Wine Bottles!

so festive for our mantle!

Here is what you will need:

-wine bottles of any shape and size

-mod podge

-loose glitter of any color

-sponge brush

cost: about $4.00! I already had the wine bottles and brush along with the mod podge but it is usually $4.99 at any craft/hobby store (and always make sure to use a 40% off coupon!)

Directions:

1. soak the bottles in hot soapy water for about 30 minutes to remove the labels. This took the labels off entirely for the most part then I wiped them off with a sponge where it didn't come off. Dry bottles entirely.

2. mix mod podge with loose glitter. Make sure there is plenty of glitter in the mod podge (pour in so much that you'll almost think "wow that's way too much glitter!") You want to make sure it is heavily concentrated otherwise you'll end up doing ten layers!

3. paint on one layer and make sure it's even other wise it will dry and cause bumps and clumps of glitter

4. I rotated bottles so I painted one layer of gold, then moved onto red, and then green...and just rotated them around. I ended up doing two full layers and then touch ups where necessary!

I can't wait to try out some more Christmas crafts and projects that I have seen online and obviously on Pinterest! Maybe this year everyone will be getting homemade projects for presents...made with lots of love of course!

DIY flannel infinity scarf

I've spent the day lounging and fighting off what I hope is not about to be strep throat and/or double ear infections. Sucky. My immune system chooses to fail at the most inopportune times but what can ya do. Between naps, studying, reading and hacking up some nasty stuff from my lungs, I couldn't stand just laying around anymore. Which led me to Pinterest of course and I saw some pictures of flannel infinity scarves made from old flannel pajama pants! Every year on Christmas Eve, Jordan's family has a cool tradition of giving new pj's to sleep in and then everyone spends Christmas morning kicked back in the new pj's while opening presents. So I figured Jordan would have a few pairs of flannel pants that he doesn't wear anymore or that have shrunk so I started rummaging through his closet...and low and behold, I found two pairs he was willing to let me refashion into an infinity scarf! Good thing Christmas is less than two months away so he can get a new pair of flannel pants (and hopefully I don't shrink them...whoops, my bad. I dry things just like my Dad...) Anyway, this project took me only 30 minutes to do and the result is a fun, flannel infinity scarf that will keep me nice and cozy! And even better, I can wear it on game days because it is black and gold! I combined a few different tutorials that I read through and came up with one that worked the best for me so here's the directions!

frumpy flannel pants before...
fun game day infinity scarf after!

start by cutting the inseam of the pants to the top.
do for both legs.
this works great if you have a puppy staring at you who wants
your attention instead of a another craft....

cut off across the top where the inseam ends.

next, open up the two pant legs and lay them on top of each other
wrong-side out (so the outer seams from the original pants should be facing out)

pin the bottom end together and then sew.

after sewing the ends together, that doubles the length of your fabric!
now, fold the fabric long ways (hot dog style) with seams still wrong side out.
basically, you should have a tube formed
then pin the sides and sew up the long side.

once the long side is sewn, turn the tube right-side out.
then take the two ends (cut off one of the hems because this makes the fabric really bulky and hard to sew through)
and feed one side into the other just like a half inch or so.
Then pin and sew the ends.
Since it has the original hem on it still, this makes for a clean seam!

And that's it! A very easy peasy project! And probably free for most people because who doesn't have a pair of flannel pants stored away somewhere that you can't quite part with yet?! Well, now you have reason to and give them a fashion upgrade! I love the new combination of two of my favorite things for the winter: flannel and scarves! 

first (of many!) refashion project: frumpy sweater into fun cardigan

What is a "refashion project" you might ask? Well, it is taking something old, used, recycled, worn out, too big or too small for you clothing or whatever it might be....and refashioning it into something fun, fabulous, new and totally usable again! It reminds me of the concept of an old book that my mom used to have that I was obsessed with and it was called "From Trash To Treasure". I loved looking at all of the projects and pictures wondering how they took something as simple as empty pop cans and turned them into a Halloween wreath! And after all of the pinning and Pinteresting I've been doing, I needed to take my turn at refashioning and I think I found a new favorite hobby!

What sparked this project was a trip to the consignment store that Kat and I made over the weekend when they were here. Which by the way, the weekend was an absolute blast. The Hawks won and we had a great time with Scott, Kat, the kids and our friends! Lots of laughs, good chats and talks with one another and an overall, fun time! So like I was saying, Kat and I made a trip to Stuff and we hit the jackpot! We each got a ton of awesome items, some still with tags, and some looked barely used! And as always, we got it all for one hell of a price! Several things we bought were only a quarter...yes, only $0.25!!!! And the rest of it was pretty much all $2.00 and under with a few exceptions! Kat had originally pulled this sweater off the rack but then saw the size and said it'd be way too big or could be paired with leggings, boots and a chunky sweater. But then I had a lightbulb go off in my head.....my first refashion project! I snagged it up and said, "I'm going to attempt to make this into a cardigan..." And that is exactly what I did!

I successfully turned this size XL sweater from H&M, which was originally priced at $38.00 and I got for $1.75, to a size M cute and cozy cardigan! The project only took me about an hour total! And that's because I added 8 buttons and button holes....some of the holes aren't 100% perfect by any means, but since it will be buttoned up anyway, I wasn't too worried! And I had thread that perfectly matched the sweater so it helps to disguise some of the crooked stitches around the button holes! I can't wait to find the next sweater at Stuff or Goodwill that is waiting to be refashioned!

I've got spirit...And a post wedding chop!

SURPRISE! My post wedding chop has officially happened!!! And I love it! It feels 100 times better, lighter and healthier. And now that I cut off all the length, it made it look even more blonde which means I can put off highlights for a little while longer...I definitely like the length/cut on me the best because I think it suits my face well and makes me look more my age or least "older" without aging me toooo much! haha if that even makes sense?!

AND it looks like the crafting bug is here to stay! And with football season around the corner, I sewed myself a new Hawkeye dress just in time for tailgating season...who says football and cute dresses can't be paired together?! I got the inspiration from some pins on Pinterest of course and decided I needed to make myself one! Why spend $50-60 on one from Scheels or on-line when I can craft one myself exactly how I want it?! Yay for having the crafty gene, thanks Mom! To make it, I used a shirt of Jordan's that he never wears anymore then bought the black and white polka dot fabric for $4.00....I already had the elastic and black thread so the total project cost was $4.00, whoop whoop! Another successful DIY sewing project in the books!

Updated TOMS

I love my TOMS and everything they stand for. It's an amazing company and the guy who created it well, job well done sir. The shoes are super comfy, fashionable and affordable. AND every time you buy a pair, a pair is donated to kids who don't have shoes. Awesome. I'm all for it. However, because I am so obsessed with them, I wear them very frequently....maybe a little too frequently. So much so that I wore a hole right through them on each shoe where my big toe hits! I didn't want to part with them and since I had some extra fabric left over from another dress project, I made two patches that fit the front portion of the shoe! I used some fabric glue to attach it then pressed in along the seams and put a few stitches around the corners to secure it. Now I have my own personalized, refashioned and still comfy TOMS! I love easy DIY projects!

It's a mailbox...No, it's a cardbox!

Is it a cute decorated, personalized mailbox?? Is it a fun, unique cardbox? Yes and yes! It's actually BOTH! Today I got home and ran to check the mail, just like I do everyday because I'm obsessed with checking the mail (or so Jordan says...) and today I was pleasantly surprised and beyond excited when I saw a big envelope and I knew instantly it must have the mailbox decals I had ordered from Etsy! It is only fitting that for our cardbox at the wedding that we use a mailbox! There were several options and people to go through on Etsy and I'm so SO happy and 100% satisfied with the shop I ordered from. First, I browsed all of the items at Marley In The Middle and sent Marley a message. She replied within the hour, was beyond helpful, and she even provided me with several proofs and different options to look at and choose from BEFORE I ever even placed the order and paid her anything. I could tell she was interested in providing good business, great customer service and amazing personalized products. I had ordered our last name and Est. 2012 in plum and the E monogram in light lavender, but when I got the envelope opened, Marley had included a note saying that she made a mistake and printed a set of decals in black too and included those as well at no extra charge! I ended up going with the black decals instead and I plan on using one of the extra plum decals on a glass backed frame with an enlarged wedding picture...also, something I've seen on Etsy and pinterest before but now I already have the decal to do it! The decals were super easy to apply and then I added the extra ribbon around the flag. It took me about half an hour in total. I ended up getting 2 sets of our last name/Est. in plum, 2 sets of our last name/Est. in black, and 2 E monogram decals all for $19. Now that is a bargain! This turned out SO cute and looks awesome, I'm happy it is the same on both sides! And big shocker, it has a monogram E on it...at least I'm consistent with my theme! Even Jordan is really impressed with it and excited that we'll have it at our wedding because it's so different than just a typical "cake style cardbox" and plus, I can't wait to use it at our first home! Yay for dual purpose wedding items that are so worth my time and money! I would highly recommend this Etsy shop for any personalized items and/or decals that you may need for a fun special occasion or anything else! Thank you Marley for helping add to our special day and creating these beautiful decals for us!

Sending Love Letters
To The Mr. & Mrs!

And finally, I can't stand secrets!! And right now, I'm keeping a BIG one in and it's killing me! Before we go any further, no, I'm not pregnant and no, we're not eloping or anything else crazy like that! But since I know Jordan from time to time reads this blog, I've been keeping this secret underwraps and trying to not even mention it because it's hard for me to not spill the beans. I don't know what is harder for me....trying to keep a secret to myself to not ruin a surprise? Or trying to get the secret out of someone, even if that means ruining a surprise for myself? Either way, they both frustrate me but I'm excited to be on the other side of it this time for once! I think tomorrow will be a good day to announce the big secret! :)

Bridesmaids bags, bags, bags.....

Time to cross another big to-do off my wedding list and mark it to-done! Over the weekend, I painted the rest of the bags for all of my girls in the wedding. While in Milwaukee, Janelle had painted the bottom 3/4 of the stencil onto 7 of the bags then when I got home, I finished painting the top design onto each of the bags along with the last three bags. They turned out way cuter and awesome than I had even planned on! I love when that happens! My mom also helped with the project by finding the monograms for each of the bags and she gave me the carbon paper to trace them on. Yay for teamwork and having an awesome crafty Mom and sister! This is my breakdown for these fun and easy DIY bags!

Here's what you'll need for the bags:
-plain canvas bag
-stencil of your choice
-paint
-paintbrush
-tape

Total cost of the project: $40.94. I made 9 bags and one mini bag for my niece, Teagan. I used a 40% off coupon for everything that I purchased (Jordan and I made several trips to Hobby Lobby....) and that saved me an extra $25!

Total time: 6-7 hours. It was time consuming because I had to be careful with the stencil as some of the dots on it were really small and close. Also, tracing and painting on the monograms took about 30-40 minutes a piece. Slow and steady does it for this project!

1. Start with a plain canvas bag of any size you'd prefer!

2. Align the stencil between the handles to get it centered on the bag.
Tape it down so it doesn't move while painting.

3. Use a short and stiff bristle brush and minimal paint!
Also, I worked my way around each pattern by pressing down on the stencil and
only dabbed at it to ensure it only filled the stencil and so no paint got underneath
(otherwise, it just makes the whole pattern run together and that doesn't look good!)

4. Once the paint dries, use carbon paper to copy on the monogram.
I used a fine point pen to make sure it would press hard enough and copy onto the bag.

5. This is how the bag should look with the stencil finished
and monogram copied on.

6. The end result!

7. All of the bags finished! I hope my girls love them as much as I do!
And they can use them after the wedding too which is fun...yay for multipurpose wedding stuff!
(that doesn't scream it came from a wedding!!!)

Close up of my niece's  flower girl "mini tote"
She's only 4 so I thought the curly-cue letter was perfect for her!
I'm sure she'll fill this with her barbies, hair clips, and shoes!

I can't wait to give these out to all of my girls...but first, I got to keep gathering the "stuff" that's going to be inside the bags as part of their wedding gifts from me. But that I'll have to keep a secret so I don't ruin all the fun for the girls! These are so much more personal than ordering a bag and having it embroidered or something...and it was so much more cost effective as well! Just another successful DIY fun and affordable wedding craft for the books! I wonder what my crafting instincts will lead me to next!

down time

Happy New Year's from (in 214 days!)
The future Mr. & Mrs. Easton :)

Well our New Year's Party was a complete and 100% success.....minus one minor accident. Apparently, I was "standing like a ballerina" and so Jordan tried to mimic how my feet were, leaned towards me for balance which then made me step backwards and I stepped into the corner trim around our floor/wall in the kitchen. And it instantly sliced my heel open. Just split right open. Yep, nasty. Ouch. F bombs were dropped, as well as my drink, and blood pooled on my heel. However, we got it cleaned up and bandaged though and the party went on. As annoyed as I was during the day while I was baking/cooking/cleaning (and watching Jordan play xbox and test out our new surround sound system AKA not helping me at all) I loved having all of our friends there and "hosting" the party. Makes me feel like a real grown up and all like a housewife. Even Paisley loved all of our friends there because she got belly rubs and treat all night like it was her job.


Now that New Year's has come and gone, Jordan is already back at it for school for his J-Term class. Boooo. While I'm still on break until the 17th, yikes. At least I start back at work this week, finally. Jordan and I have spent the past few days on the couch snuggled up with Paisley and alternating between watching the college football bowl games or some new movies that we each got for Christmas. I love our families and our friends but damn, I also love the peace and quiet of it being just the two of us and now that the holidays are over, it's nice to have this time together. I mean, just because we live together, doesn't mean we really get that much down time or "us time" together! And for how stressful and down right upsetting/frustrating/annoying the first few weeks of our engagement were, I'm so happy that we're both back to who WE are as individuals and as a couple. 


I have a lot on my to-do list to accomplish over the next few weeks....it includes finishing our photo guest book, making the table numbers, and finalizing the design for our mailbox-cardbox. As of today, there's 214 days until the wedding and tomorrow will be exactly 7 months! Ahh!!! So happy to have lots of things knocked off the to-do list and I'm ready to tackle this next bunch of crafty DIY's!! Today I also kicked off my own "Bridal Bootcamp" and did my first kettlebell workout. HOLY SHIT!!! People who swear by these babies really weren't lying....my heart was pumping and I was sweating like whoa. I didn't get bored with the workout at all, which is usually my problem so hopefully these DVD's keep me entertained and sweating! I'm constantly paranoid about my dress fitting and have already had a few nightmares about it not zipping up....Jordan laughs about this. And I don't find it funny. one. bit. Hence why I made the resolutions I did: more sweating, less sweet eating.  


Well I hope everyone's New Year's celebrations were wonderful and that 2012 was welcomed with open arms! Hopefully all of those resolutions haven't been given up on already! As for me, guess I better get back to my to-do list for now!