Writing on the Wall...the good kind

Rarely do my hubby and I get to sneak away just the two of us to a luxurious hotel for the night, so I wanted to give our bedroom and bathroom that feeling of a peaceful retreat. One night, way after bedtime, I decided to add a little hotel character using my black paint pen.

Sorry for the blurry picture....need to work on my skills. Anyway, I printed out the words "his" and "hers" in a script font that I liked and the size I wanted. Then I used transfer paper from Hobby Lobby to trace the words onto the wall using my pencil. When you pick up the paper, the outline is there on the wall. I just used a black paint pen to fill in the words.

It takes a little time, but I love using transfer paper. I am not good at freehand and I am too impatient to make stencils. If you don't have any, head over to Hobby Lobby with your coupon and pick some up. You can reuse it over and over too, so it lasts forever!

Linking up to Life Made Lovely Monday at Blessed Little Nest

Lazy Days of January and some Fabric Flower Pins

Wow! Someone actually asked me to update! It is good to know that someone reads my little blog. Comments make my day, by the way, so if you stop by, I'd love to hear from you! It has been a lazy January and I've been a lazy blogger. The kids had almost a month off of school with Christmas break and a week long snow break.

We had so much snow that we even had to shovel our sidewalk. Crazy for our area! That, my friends, is the southerners version of the snow shovel. It worked though, and it kept my son busy for quite some time...

We have baked and baked around here...not good for the diet, but the kids enjoyed decorating some cut out cookies.

Then they put them in their "candy shop" and sold them to their cousins and little brother. I love their imagination. They totally kept themselves busy while we were stuck in the house. They did not say, "Mom, I'm bored" even once. It was kind of nice!

Here is their little store. They found my fabric scraps to jazz it up a little.

Snow days are great for hour long afternoon baths too!

I have been working on a few projects. I have been dying to buy one of these fabric flower pins off etsy, but did not have the money, so I used this tutorial and used some felt I had. They were so easy and only cost me 25 cents for the piece of felt.

You can pin them on anything really....a sweater, headband, lampshade, pillow, scarf...They add just a pop of color and interest. I am going to make one out of canvas next.

Makenna has been wanting to wear hers every day, so I am going to buy some stretchy headbands and make some more colors for her to wear.

Brayden even likes wearing it around the house.

Some other happenings around here are...we are replacing our hardwoods because of a water leak and I am trying to decide whether to go light or dark. I love the look of the dark, but don't know if I can commit to it long term. Any thoughts??? I am also repainting our living room. I just took the pictures off the wall and really don't feel like painting it, but right now the walls are 3 different colors, so I guess I have no choice. Off to do lots of painting!

Merry Christmas from our Home to yours!

This is our annual trip to visit Santa in front of the tallest Christmas tree I have ever seen.

A rare pic of just me and my handsome hubby.

I got to be in the Santa picture this year. Brayden did not want to get too close, but wanted to say hello. Makenna asked Santa to bring me a purse this year since mine broke at Target a while back....so sweet of her! He brought me one and I LOVE it! I'll share a picture later...

There is nothing better than excited kids in their Christmas P.J.'s on Christmas morning!

We got an extra special surprise this year...a WHITE Christmas! It is beautiful outside! We don't see these things in my neck of the woods. Supposedly this is the first Christmas snow with accumulation since the 1890's. So cool!

Makenna even brought baby Frosty to life.

This one word describes our Christmas day. It is such a blessing to celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, with my family. I feel blessed beyond measure by the grace He pours out on my life daily. Merry Christmas!

Fleece Scarf Tutorial - need a last minute gift?

First of all, I am terrible at tutorials and this one is no different! I don't plan very well when taking the pics...

Step One: You will need two different colors of fleece (1/4 yd. of each) Joann's has a great selection of fleece. Hobby Lobby also carries it. (Ignore the cuts in the fleece. I did not get a before picture.)

Step Two: You will then lay the two pieces on top of each other wrong sides together and sew a zig zig stitch directly down the center of the fleece long ways. (Yes, this picture is of a different scarf- I told you I was bad at this :)Your stitch will look like this down the center.

Step three: You will then lay out the scarf and cut slits to make the tassels on each side. The slits should be about 3/4 inch wide and 3-4 inches long. You do this all the way down both sides of the scarf.

Step four: Give it to a cute girl in your life and it will keep her toasty warm this winter. Just a few things I learned... I made the tassels a little thinner on the others and I like it better that way, so maybe cut 1/2 inch wide slits if you want to. Also, the thinner the fleece, the better the scarf hangs and feels. This project cost me $2.60 per scarf because the fleece was 50% off. My daughter loves hers and gets lots of compliments on it.

Happy sewing! I would love to see yours if you make one!

Linking up to Momnivore's Creative Juice Thursday's

4 More Days!

Still lots of baking, crafting, and wrapping to do! Ready or not...

Personalized gift tags

I wanted our Christmas gifts to be extra special this year, so me and the kids have been making gift tags with the specific name of who it's for. We just have been stamping the name on the tag, and adding a picture stamp or two.

Here is what you will need. I bought large shipping labels from Staples and soaked them in coffee to age them a bit. One batch I did not soak long enough so they are lighter. Then you will need some alphabet stamps, ink pads, and decorative stamps of your choice. I get most of my stamping stuff from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Even Target has $1 stamps in their dollar section sometimes.

Just get creative and stamp the name and then add whatever stamps you have room for. You can write who it's from on the back.

You can change out the natural twine that comes on the tag and add a small colorful ribbon and tie it to the gift that way. This is fun and easy and makes the gift extra special. The kids love to help with this too. You don't have to use shipping labels. You can even cut out your own from card stock. This is just my easy, simple way. I would love to see what you come up with, so send me your creations! Have fun with it!

I am linking up to Kate's Christmas craft linky party and Creative Juice Thursdays.

A Christmas Vignette on a shelf

I added some Christmas cheer in my dining room on the shelf I made from a bifold door a few years ago.

I used what I already had up there, but switched a few things around and added some more tree clippings, burlap garland from Michaels (that stuff is hard to find right now!), and some snowflake ornaments and balls.

My rusty "peace" sign is hung on my mirror with care...I have been collecting some milk glass lately. I love it with some simple greenery stuck in it. "Easy" is my decorating theme this year (and cheap).

These snowflakes are glittered, but it's hard to see in the picture.

I am hoping this might work through winter so I can enjoy it longer! Hope you are having a good week and checking lots of things off your list!

I am linking up (late) to Rhoda's Christmas Vignette party.

My Nature-Inspired Christmas Mantle

Tis the season for filling the house with the scents of the pine and evergreens! It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I spent no money this year on my mantle. Just used some Christmas balls and sparkly pine cones that I had bought on clearance last year after Christmas. Here is the finished product minus the stockings that I am still working on...

I used wooden white candlesticks that I have collected here and there and some big, shiny ornament balls. Then I filled in with Christmas tree clippings. I picked a few bundles up from the local tree farm for free.

I wrapped candles in vintage sheet music tied with twine.

I filled some big mason jars with snow, pine cones, a crocheted snowflake, and a book page bird. I used the jar as another candleholder too.

I love sheet music! So pretty on anything!

Here it is all lit up at night. So magical! I love being home at night at Christmastime.

I painted the mirror that was in my bedroom with metallic spray paint. I have a new one that needs painting in the garage for my bedroom now. Another project for another day... I made this wreath last year and got the reindeer at Target. I tied cinnamon sticks onto it with fabric.

I love how it turned out and it makes me in the mood to have a Christmas party. I am loving seeing all the mantles over at Layla's party, so I am linking up too!

http://theletteredcottage.net/holiday-home-linky-party-our-christmas-mantel