Tutorial for Kids Valentine Day Project

This is a great project to do with kids.  I'll admit, I really wanted to take over and make it more, um,  perfect, but I let them them do most of the work.  It would be really cute to do yourself too, if you want it to look more perfect :)

 You can get all of your supplies at the dollar store.  A $1 wreath, and a bag of candy hearts.  You'll also need some white material or muslin, scissors, and a hot glue gun.

 Aren't the colors pretty? 

 Start by cutting strips of white material.  Use hot glue and keep wrapping it around the styrofoam wreath.  Use your hot glue gun to secure it every other wrap.

 While you're handling the hot glue, allow two of your kids and three of the neighborhood kids to join in.  Have them sort all of the hearts by color. 

 Here is the wreath completely wrapped.

 Let the children tell you where they want the hearts.  The ones I had weren't old enough to use the hot glue gun, but some older kids would love this.

 I hung it with another strip of the white fabric.  By the time we finished the front, the kids were done.  If I was doing it myself, I would have covered the outside and the inside of the wreath as well.

 Now let them share if there is any left over.

If you decide to make one let me know.  I'd love to see some other versions!  :)
xo,
Chrissie

I'm linking up to Today's Creative Blog

CSNstores review

I've received great products from CSNstores and had an awesome give-away experience here on my blog last year.  So I jumped at the chance to do a product review for them this time around.  My favorite products are the kitchen & dining and decor, particularly the modern rugs.  I really love these two:

I would love a white room with orange and turquoise accents:

 or a white room with gray and yellow accents:

I don't know what I'm going to choose yet, but I'm looking forward to doing a review for them!

A Matter of Perspective

The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

~Henry Miller

Every photo here is of the same mosaic bird that I completed this week.  Every photo has a different perspective. 

I think they are all unique in their own way.  I'm sure everyone has a preference of which way they like it the best.

It's all a matter of perspective. 

Like in life...it's all about how we look at things.
Some days I remember that, some days I need reminding.

 We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~Anaïs Nin

Some days with our kids are overwhelming.  Like, stomp-my-foot-Mommy-is-running-away-from-home days.  And then I remember I am living my dream. No, it's not a perfect life, but it is mine.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Is there something in your life that could use a change of perspective?

I'm linking up to Life Made Lovely Monday :)

Wow, I'm early again!

I can't believe I've been able to keep this resolution of mine...  I'll admit it's really the only one I've been consistent with so far.  I have been so inspired to work on my weekly art scriptures that I've really enjoyed every second of it.

I've received quite a few emails this week wondering if I'll be listing my new works for sale.
I've decided I will!  But I need a couple more weeks to get things together.  I'm actually really excited to re-open my etsy shop.  I have some ideas of donating a portion of the profits to a local cause...I'll share more about that with you when I work out all the details.  It's been super fun daydreaming about all the possibilities.

So, until Monday peeps!  Have a Fantastic Weekend!!
xo,
Chrissie

Scrapbooking 101

I consider myself to be pretty well rounded when it comes to different types of arts and crafts.  But there are two in particular that I have trouble with.  The first is any sort of flower arrangements.  The second is scrapbooking.

I don't know what it is but I feel like my pages are always a little awkward.  I made a few for Logan when he was a baby and then went straight to photo albums.  A couple of years ago I started making the kids digital albums from shutterfly.

All of my kids really enjoy looking through their albums.  After Ava saw the few that I had made for Logan, she told me she really wanted one like his.  So I've decided for her next birthday I will make her a scrapbook album celebrating her fourth year.

This is the first page.  I'm not totally in love with it.  Like I said, it feels a little awkward to me.  But...I think she'll like it and that's what's really important to me.

So, I went to Michaels this morning to get some more scrapbooking supplies.

Wow, talk about overwhelming!  There are soooooooo many scrapbooking supplies.  Stickers, and paper, kits and stamps, embellishments, accessories...rows and rows of it.  I went in to get supplies for three 2 page layouts and spent $20.  Scrapbooking supplies are expensive!

Are any of you scrapbookers?  Can you recommend a good site for page layouts?  I want this to be a very special gift for her.

Happy Hump Day!
xo,
Chrissie

Oh, and I when I'm done with this, I plan on trying Sarah's method.  These look awesome and very do-able!

Bird of Salvation

I had an idea this weekend that I would love to make a small scale mosaic, because it's been so long!  I went out to the garage to get some wood and found these wooden birds that I had drawn but never cut out.

I picked a muted palette for this one, which is unusual for me.  But it felt calm and serene to work with these colors.  I'm so happy with the result.  With mosaics, it's usually a very long process.  I love working this size because it's a smaller gratification period! :)

 It wasn't until after I was done that I decided to put scripture on the back.  I am envisioning making a lot of these birds.

 Here is a sneek peek of one I'm working on right now.  Totally different color palette!

I'm linking up here:

Happy Monday Friends!

xo,

Chrissie

Isaiah 43:19-a

My Sunday scripture art, a little early.

I started this last piece on Monday.  Little did I know that it would fully fit my blog post yesterday.
I'm taking it as a sign from God that I made the right choice.
I'm still feeling a little trepidation for putting such a personal issue out there for the whole world to read, but based on your comments and emails, I'm glad I did it.
Thank you for your support.  I was in tears today reading your response.
Have a blessed weekend.
xo,
Chrissie