CRAFT MORNING!!!

I'm surrounded by all kinds of lovely women.  Our lives don't let us enjoy each other often though.  Schedules and taking care of children limit when we can get together.  I also am surrounded by lots of craft supplies.  For many many years, I've been collecting it like it's my job.  I say collecting because it's not often I actually get to use it. Pretty ribbons, shiny tools and a myriad of other glittery beauties stacked around at my disposal with no time set aside to use them.  Thanks to pinterest and the many craft blogs I visit, I'm also surrounded by a catalog of awesome projects to try.  I cut them out of magazines, I pin them to my board (TryThisAtHome) and I bookmark the links to things that tickle my fancy.  When oh when will I ever have time for this growing list of craft ideas.

I was pondering about how these three things together could be a grand time indeed.  So late one night, I picked a few projects I'd been dying to try and punched out a little invite on photoshop.  I attached it to the event I created on facebook and BAM....Craft Morning was created.

My sweet friends all trudged through the snow that never melts and we had a fun ole time.

Here was our space (a.k.a. my dining room) to craft.

 It felt so good to use so many supplies that hadn't been touched in a while. 

I did purchase just a few things that we had to get for the projects we had in mind.

 Everyone that came had a little gift bag and a folder of ummm...nothing.  

It was supposed to be a folder of instructions, but didn't get printed. 

 I found these chalkboard tags at HobLob....they were soo cute!

 I also loaded the middle of the table with paints, tools and other supplies.

 Their bags were complete with Target dollar aisle goodies as well as a few things put together from HobLob.

 The letters took us the longest. We wrapped them with scrap fabric.

 Everyone picked their own word.  Some choose LOVE,  PLAY and HOME.

 It was really neat to see fabric scraps from other projects being used.  It made me a tad sentimental.

 This was the only boy and kid allowed! : )

 We also made chicken wire frames. 

 Another project was etching letters to our glasses. 

It didn't take too long and we found it was pretty easy.

 We just used stickers and sticker paper to make a frame. 

Painted on the etching cream.

 Here was Nina's finished glasses. 

 We ate a lot of yummy food. 

 People brought some to share. Seriously, every single thing was soo yummy!

 Here are my letters.  Love how they turned out.  Going to redo my mantel with them soon. 

The project that took hardly any time were these nest pendants made from wire and beads. 

All it took was a picking a place and time.  Everyone brought $10 to cover the cost of supplies.

The best news is that one of the girls has already planned next months crafting get together. 

I can hardly wait!

Get some of your girlfriends together and do this soon.  I promise you won't regret it!

Valentines Re Cap

Well, Here is just a few things from our Valentines fun.

My Decor:

These were a sweet bouquet from my man!

This is just stuff I've collected over the years and pics of my babe.  I did add that canvas this year. I just redid an old one to be Valentinesy!

My Gift:

We made these at MOPS and I loved how they turned out.

My only suggestion when using sharpies on plates or mugs is write dark because my faded some. 

The dates are our first date, engagement date, and wedding!

My Valentine:

This was taken at a Sweetheart Supper a couple from our Life Group at church does every year. We all gather in the back room of a local restaurant (yum, Colby's!) and have such a fun time.

I look forward to this every year. 

Lately, as in most of this year...we've been sick.

Like at least one person every week has had some ailment. 

I'm tired of it.

I'm SOOOO OVER it!

So today during this long deserved, quiet nap time...I'm ignoring it.

I'm remembering one of the happier afternoons we've had.  

Crafting and painting. 

awww....bliss!

 My children beg for me to do "art time" with them.

Sometimes, as much as I love it too...I don't have the time (mainly for the clean up).

 But on the this cloudy winter, afternoon...I rolled out the craft paper and let them go to town.

 I had some wooden hearts that I'd never finished long ago.

I let them re do them. 

 They had way more fun than it looks here. 

 I love how they look nothing like Valentines day...I might even find a spot to put them up all year long. Maybe add their birth dates and weight.

 I like to see where their minds and imaginations take them. 

Unlock the stories and dreams they've been having.

It's good to remember how important those are to them even at the ages they are now.

 I want to nurture their creativity.

 Challenge them to dream.

 Not to forget what incredible things that lay ahead for them.

 I of course, did a little crafting myself. I had a few projects I'd been storing up. 

That is what sometimes pushes me over the edge to say yes to "art time".

 I can't help it...I'm a little selfish like that.

Paint squirted everywhere and brush to form something that only existed in my mind before....that my friends is therapy to me.

and it's cheaper : )

 Even little Miss Liv got in on the action!

Photo Credit: Leland, 6 yrs.

 She is like, what is my Mom thinking...giving me a brush with paint on it.  She's crazy!  

Why, yes, Liv...I am! 

 So if you are like me and a little a paint mess doesn't bother you and you are tired of the winter blahs...

break out the crafting supplies.  Then let your mind run free and CREATE something!

but just remember you'll have to clean up afterwards.

: )

What I know I'm good at.

There is a lot of mommyhood that causes me to feel like a big fat failure.

Being ahead of the game for school activities, fine tuning play date plans and meal planning for the entire month... not going to win a blue ribbon for any of these categories.  

Don't get me wrong.  I try. HARD.  But more often than not, I fall short. 

That's ok.  I've learned to find a happy balance between not being too hard on myself for the very makeup that make me me and not trying to do my best for the glory of God.

I do know that God has made me really good at some things. 

I'm super flex, I can sing & apply choreography to most any normal daily childhood activity (i.e. brushing teeth) and I'm a lot of fun to do art with.

I love Crayola. They aren't giving me anything to say these things, but that would be nice too.

This was actually the day after Christmas.  We were enjoying doing nothing in our pj's all day long. 

We had a few new toys to check out.

A new dry erase board and the color wonder finger painting.

 We took turns between writing with pretty colors

 and getting our fingers a little dirty. 

 Oh wait, that's the beauty of this product.....there is no mess.

 It even had a little pad to wipe off the clear finger paint.

 It's fun, they can make and create. 

 The kids are happy and even the best type A mama will be happy too.

It's really good for a quick art project since there is little to no clean up.

But it still feels more than just coloring with crayons.

(which I'm pretty happy with a big box of pretty shades)

 Here's the other half of the fam...

watching basketball and keeping the native from getting to restless.

 I love watching them create.

 

 It's fun to see them explore colors, shapes and the images in their minds take form on paper.

 Evy was ready to jump in too.

 This is honestly, the one who makes the BIGGEST messes when we craft.  She can't help it. 

She naturally touches EVERYTHING and with the Color Wonder finger paint, I don't worry.

 He is really getting into drawing.

 Little Miss didn't want to spread out the paint and therefore it dried really cool.

 I like when they end up with cool techniques I'd never even try.

 Love the colors she created. I'm shocked at how they blended so easily.

 He is really into copying text these days.

Thanks Crayola for always making life colorful and letting show off some of my good sides! : )