Friendly Design...

Not sure what you call these prints, but I am learning to make them. They are fairly easy and so far have used my phone to design them. Nothing fancy...downloaded some phone apps. One I use is called Phonto. And I also purchased a pack of images from Rhonna Farrer website. Wow her stuff is really fun and if you are instagram follow House of Smiths for some great inspiration with pics!

Today's Spring Hailstorm

Jack did not like the storm...but he did like the bowl of hailstones I let him play with.

Kool-eggs

Saw this on pinterest and thought I'd give it a try. Actually, I had thought of it before, one look at your fingers after making a gallon of kool-aid and you gotta know this stuff would stick to eggs! I used strawberry with about 1 cup water.  This turned out to be a very bright coral. Which is good since it's such a popular shade this year!

1 cup of cold water and 1 pack of strawberry kool-aid.
I left it in for about 5 minutes.

Turned out to be a bright coral.

I diluted the second cup with more water and ended up
with a light shade of coral.

Third egg, another shade lighter by adding even more water.

I am buying more kool-aid to try other colors tomorrow.
I was surprised at how bright they were in so little time.
I love how they are lighter shades of the same color.
Try it, fun for the kiddos!

Thank You...Thank You Very Much

 I love buying pretty cards.  But cards are a great impulse purchase right? I mean they are cheap, (if you know where to shop) you don't have to worry about them fitting, (one size fits all right), they make you feel better, (but less expensive than a new pair of shoes!)

Found these 3 boxes in the last few months and so glad I thought of them tonight. You see, I have the best co-workers in the world. And after opening a "happy retirement" card from our Regional staff with this tucked inside, I was certainly in the need of some serious thank you notes!

Never expected this!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

Latest card purchases. Love to buy something really cute for less then
3 dollars. As Martha would say, "Thats a good thing!"

Cards with envelopes to match...ahhhhh....

TJ Maxx find. I always look in the stationary there.
You can find the cutest things. These are blank cards but
wouldn't they be cute to put in a frame!

These Hallmark Thank You cards were
only 1.99 at Big Lots.
The stripes on the envelopes are just the right touch!

Craft Tape Cupcake Toppers

I've wanted to make something with craft tape for a long time. Found this tape at Michaels, thought it would be perfect for my first try.  Made these for a shower but would be so cute to use just for a fun afternoon with the kids.

I forgot to get any pics of the cupcakes so just use your imagination for the final look!

I used toothpicks but I did line them up
like this and snipped the very tips off.

The blue tape was already the width I wanted.
Just cut for the length and wrap around your toothpick. 

You can snip the ends into any shape you want.
Just press the tape together. Easy as pie.

Borrowed this cupcake stand for the shower.
I wanted to add a little color so this scrapbook paper was a nice touch.
I used a paper punch from Jack's birthday party last year.
Turned out to be the perfect size!

Old Picture = New Chalkboard

I found this old picture while cleaning out the basement at my dad's old house. It's a large rectangle, I am sure my mother bought it years ago to hang over the couch.

I almost tossed it out, but then the thought struck me to just paint it...with chalkboard paint. And that's what I did.

Now it leans against the wall in our living room where its available for little hands or big hands.

Try it, it's a fun thing to have around...

Glad I didn't toss it out!

I didn't even take the picture out of the frame.

There are lots of different chalkboard paints.
This was a quick and easy one to get.

After the first coat of paint. I think I painted 3 coats and it
dries really fast. Just painted it on the kitchen table.

It's lightweight so I just leaned it against the wall.

Joy to the World!

"Quick and Cute" 

LOVE!

When I want to take a pic its so easy to lay the
chalkboard in the floor. Ignore the foot in the right corner :)

Before and After.
Well worth the effort!

St. Patty's Day Ruffled Skirt

Well.... I'm baccccckkk.
Maybe.
After months of putting it off, I finally downloaded the app to connect my android phone to the old mac notebook computer. And it took me another couple of hours to get the old mac to like the samsung android phone.  Just another reason I should have switched cell phone service to Verizon and bought the iphone.

Another something I finally did was start sewing for Mallie. It was so much fun, but I have gotten a little rusty, or my fingers have!  We bought her a little St Patricks day shirt and Jessie mentioned she'd like to have a ruffled shirt to wear with it. And now she does!

It's really cute, and I didn't use a pattern. Just kinda went by memory of sewing and just a wee bit help from pinterest :)

Here are the pics, I didn't want it to be "matchy matchy" and I plan to make her another shirt to wear with it.  Now I have a very loonnnnng list of sewing project for Mallie...and me!

I just sewed a little straight skirt and added elastic.
The ruffles are sewn to the top of the green skirt.
Was pretty easy. But I didn't snap any pics.

A little green peeks out underneath.

The mint green blends really well although the pics do not show it.