Shop Update + A Giveaway!

A few new treats are now in the shop! I'll be listing more throughout the weekend, so check back often friends. And because I love you dears, I offered up a little goodness in giveaway form over at Lyndsay's blog for her week of giveaways. Go here to enter. It's just my way of saying thanks for being so kind. For your sweet comments and emails. And for making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Now go. . . hurry. . . you won't want to miss it!

Happy Friday!

News.

Growing.

This boy of mine is growing. And growing. And growing.

Yesterday we spent two hours at the eye doctor learning the ins and outs of contact lenses. Two. Full. Hours. The woman who was helping us was an angel sent from heaven. She was patient, kind, and encouraging. Just what Easton needed her to be. Just what I needed her to be. When we left that office, my growing boy could put in and remove his lenses, no big deal. His chest was puffed out and a new found confidence was beaming from his smiling face. In those two hours of learning, Easton wasn't discouraged, but motivated. He was determined.

And my heart was growing. And growing. And growing.

Friends.

You can buy Sophie for your little one here.

Sometimes.

sometimes i get internet overload.

sometimes i crave wedding cake.

sometimes i pretend i don't hear the phone ringing.

sometimes i let the children go to bed without brushing their teeth.

sometimes i wish i had a fab wardrobe.

sometimes i listen to this song and get all teary.

sometimes i'm too lazy to capitalize.

but only sometimes.

Testimony.

In our church, the children have the opportunity to give a brief talk in front of their peers at the end of Primary. Abby wrote this on her own and delivered it beautifully. Or so I hear. I missed it. At least I have the paper to save among my most prized possessions.

Craft Camp: Day Five.

Watercolor Fun.

Watercolor painting is one craft Abby is constantly asking to do. I figured if she loved it, chances are the other girls would like it too. So, day five of craft camp was spent painting. Each girl painted three masterpieces and a frame.

You'll need:

Watercolor paper

Watercolor paints

Brushes

Frame

Hooray for Craft Camp!

Craft Camp: Day Four.

Fluffy Fabric Flip Flops.

I could tell from the giggles and smiles that this craft was a favorite for most of the girls. It was simple, fun, and made them feel like mini fashion designers. In fact, most of the girls showed up to the final day of camp proudly wearing their creations, feeling such a sense of accomplishment. I really loved that.

This is the tutorial that inspired me.

This is where I bought the flip flops for $1.

And this is the pretty fabric we used.

Abby uses hers as slippers rather than flip flops. They're the first thing she puts on in the morning.

Craft Camp: Day Three

Silhouette Book Bags.

This craft was the most time consuming of our creations. The prep work was insane. In fact, I was up until 2:00 am fighting with my printer trying to get everything in place.

You'll need:

canvas tote bag

fabric scraps

buttons

needle/thread

black craft paint

textile medium

freezer paper

iron

x-acto knife

foam paint brush

1. Take a profile picture of your subject with a digital camera.

2. Upload the picture to your computer.

3. Cut your freezer paper to 8.5 x 11 inches.

4. With an ink jet printer, print the profile picture onto the freezer paper (just load the paper into your printer like you would any other kind of paper) (make sure the image prints on the dull side of the paper).

5. Using the x-acto knife, cut around the printed image. You will be left with a silhouette template to use as a stencil.

6. Position the silhouette stencil onto your canvas bag. With your iron set to low, slowly iron the stencil to the canvas bag with the shiny side of the paper down. (the dull side of the paper is what your iron should be touching.) Iron until the paper is slightly stuck to the canvas bag.

7. Following the instructions on the textile medium bottle, mix your craft paint and textile medium together.

8. With the foam paint brush, apply the black paint onto your bag within the stencil.

9. Once your paint is applied and begins to dry, slowly remove the stencil. (it should pull up very easily)

10. Cut circles out of the fabric scraps.

11. Add the buttons to the fabric circles.

12. Adhere circles to the craft bag. I used a permanent fabric glue.

This project was a great way for the girls to acquire a few different crafty skills. They learned about stenciling and the techniques that go along with it. They also learned how to sew on a button, which is quite an indispensable talent, if you ask me.

The Fourth.

We love America.

Hope you enjoyed parades, bbq's, family, friends and sunshine.

We sure did.

Craft Camp: Day Two.

Memory Wire Bracelets.

One of the most fun things about hosting this craft camp was watching the girls create pretty things + then wear their creations the rest of the week. This little project was one of those.

You'll need:

Memory Wire

beads

wire cutters

round needle nose pliers

Simply cut your wire to the desired length. I cut the girls' wire so their bracelets would loop three times around their wrists. Then make a small loop at one end of the wire with your needle nose pliers. This will keep the beads from slipping off while you string them onto the memory wire. Once all of the beads are strung, make a loop on the opposite end of the wire and you're finished. Super easy.

Abby has worn hers everyday since last Tuesday. I guess that means she likes it.