Lasso The Moon

Hands On

My kids were itching for a project last week.

At the grocery store, I requested paper, not plastic.

Got out the sharpies (they are like the holy grail of craft supplies to kids.)

Cut the paper bags into flat sheets.

Told the kids to see if they could cover the whole sheet with lines that don't cross.

Mine:

Emma's:

Ethan: But Mommy, I have to have a cross, because that's what Jesus died on...

Ethan's:

That kid can argue about anything.

Skills used:

following a specific direction

fine motor skills (it's hard to keep those lines apart!)

working with supplies that are not washable

 linked to:

keepingitsimple, makingtheworldcuter, boogieboardcottage, embellishinglife, wearethatfamily, sewmuchado, momnivore'sdilemma, firefliesandjellybeans

Artichoke Bruschetta

I don't really cook, as I've mentioned before...

But I do like to throw groceries together.

And this week I got some good groceries.

Set oven to broil.

Thinly slice a roma tomato.  (They are the perfect size for the little bread.)

Top small rounds of french bread with artichoke spread, tomato, and parmesan cheese.

Pop under the broiler for 2 minutes (2 minutes!!) and enjoy.

We made a whole meal out of this.  Yum.

Linked to: aroundmytable, mysweetsavory, diningwithdebbie, firefliesandjellybeans

Rain

This has been the hottest summer in Texas since 1980.

It rained last week.

We were pretty excited.

what the...?

This is what happens when you are supposed to be brushing your teeth...

but make a detour to jump off of Mom's bed instead.

Emma: hey, mom.  there's something wrong with Ethan's face.

 

"New" Amoire for $23.04

I'm sure I'm not the only one with a tight budget when it comes to decorating the house.  So I thought some of you out there might be interested in how I took Esther's armoire from this:

to this:

for just $23.04.  Actually, it was less than that, but that's what the cost would have been without waiting for the right sales at hobby lobby!

Here's a list of supplies:

scissors, measuring tape, 12-15 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper (with no obvious border), 4 knobs, glue stick

ruler, pen, scotch tape

Step 1: measure area to be covered in paper.  This will tell you how many pieces of paper you'll need for each panel.

Mine were 13.75x31 and 13.75x12

Step 2: match up patterns in the paper to make one continuous sheet.  glue together with the glue stick.

a couple tips on this one: 

    a) line up an entire strip before gluing anything.  then hold in place while gluing a couple inches at a time.  this will keep you from having to readjust after the glue has started to adhere.

    b) glue all pages together in one row first, then the second row, and then put the two rows together.  the shorter the joining pieces, the fewer mistakes down the line.

Step 3: Flip the sheet over.  Mark panel measurements. Cut out. 

Step 4: On the back, place rolled tape around the edges.  You could make this more permanent by using wallpaper paste or mod podge, but I like to keep my options open.  Double stick tape might come in handy, too.

Step 5: fit paper to the inside of the armoire panel.

Step 6: Repeat for the rest of the panels and install new knobs.

That's all there is to it!

Cost breakdown:

12 sheets of paper @ $.59 each =  $7.08 (I got them for half price. $3.54)

4 knobs @ $3.99 each = $15.96 (Mine were actually $7.98)

Everything else = free from around the house

Total $23.04 (or on sale for $11.52)  You can't beat that!

Linked to:

craftskeepmesane, boogieboard, craftomaniac, embellishinglife, thriftydecorchick, shabbycreekcottage, somewhatsimple, aglimpseinside, momnivore'sdilemma, smallfineprint, findingfabulous, creationcorner, joyfulstamper, bluecricket, eisymorgan

 

 

Girls' Room Progress

Sometimes I watch those home makeover shows.  Sometimes they spend whatever they want on a room, and sometimes they have a tight  budget.  Like a $2500 tight budget.  What?!

My budget for home decor is whatever I have squirrelled away at any given time.  Usually this is in the double digits.  The LOW double digits.

But even though it happens slowly, things still come together gradually.  And even though I haven't done much since I painted Esther's room, it still makes me happy every time I walk in.

Right now it is working double duty as a guest room. (And inventory storage--all of my rope fabric is stowed under the bed!) The bedspread is one I got from the goodwill outlet in Indianapolis.  I planned on cutting it up for projects, but after I washed it, I realized it was in near-perfect condition.  It works well for this room.

I made the crib bedding while I was pregnant with Emma.  The fabric is one of Amy Butler's first designer lines.  Money was so tight back then, and I remember what a splurge it was to buy nine yards of fabric at a quilt store--instead of the Joann clearance rack.  I'd been saving for months from items sold on eBay.

The "artwork" is just a couple of paintings I did.  Emma was obsessed with blueberries (boo-babies) when she was very small.  And the tree is a prayer piece I did.  I had a cousin fighting cancer, and instead of writing down prayers for a her in a journal, I wrote, painted, and collaged them onto this canvas.  Layers and layers, hours and hours spent praying for her.

This is my favorite corner.  I love using vintage suitcases for storage.  The blue and green one is from a thrift store, and the brown one was a gift from Donnie for Christmas one year.  (He gives the BEST gifts!) The globe is broken and sad, but the colors are so good I can't throw it out.

The armoire was a freebie from a friend-of-a-friend, and tomorrow I'm going to show you how I gave it a little face-lift.  I think this piece of furniture has been in every room of the house.  Twice.  It's meant for a tv, but it has more than enough room to hold everything we need for the baby--and more.

There it is!  I'd love to be able to shop for everything and whip the room together in a weekend, but I kind of like the way it's happening little by little.  There's a lot of history---and a lot of love---in this room.

 

Baptism

 Emma is 6.

Last Sunday she got baptized in front of a congregation full of family, mentors, and peers.

She stood up there, braver than many twice (and beyond!) her age, and said that she wanted to get baptized "so that everyone would know that I trusted Jesus as my Savior." --her words.

We don't believe that baptism gets you into Heaven.  It doesn't save you from your sin.  Jesus does that--without any help from us.  We just have to accept it.

We get baptized because Jesus told us to.  When we are lowered into the water, it signifies that we identify with Christ's death and burial.  And as we are raised back out of it, we are the symbol of His resurrection.  (Yes, we believe He actually died and came back to life on the third day!)

Baptism was Emma's way of telling the rest of us that she wants to build a life on the principles of Jesus.  I know I wasn't the only one inspired by this 6-year-old this week.