put Sufjan Stevens on, and we'll play your favorite song

I have a short list of things I still need to get done before Christmas.  Unfortunately one thing is to ship.  Yikes!

I was scouring my craft supplies for something quick to make and noted that I own 3 sets of Scrabble.  I kept one in tact (otherwise I'd be deemed sacrilegious by my board game fanatic family) and attacked the letters in the two other sets.

I whipped up a set of these.

I have had them pinned for an eternity but I never got around to making them. Since finishing this set I decided to make a baseball themed set (bunt, runs, home, ball, foul, save, bomb, gone, game, outs, heat, balk etc) for my brother to accompany his Christmas gift basket (of spirits).  

So easy you barely need a tutorial.  

Supplies

Scrabble tiles

Cork (self-adhesive or not)

Strong glue (like gorilla or E-6000)

Sealant (I used a Mod-Podge)

Exacto knife

So so easy to line these up, glue them, let them sit overnight, trim excess cork with an exacto knife and seal them with a thin layer of Mod Podge. 

They look pretty cute.  I had all the supplies on hand besides the cork which cost me about 5$ at Hobby Lobby.  So much thriftier than paying for them online and they look adorable bundled in baker's twine. 

I think I may be picking up orphan scrabble games at thrift stores and garage sales...now I need a tutorial on how to utilize excess game boards.

title courtesy of Snow Patrol (remember them?): Hands Open

Linking up to Sugar & Dots & Ginger Snap Crafts & Whimsy Wednesday  

hahaha bless your soul, you really think you're in control?

It's December...technically it's practically mid-December.  When did that happen?  Maybe it was during the plague that took hold of my entire family the day after Thanksgiving (more like black-lung Friday).  

We have a couple of huge projects to finish in December (let alone how I just adore making little handmade touches with all my gifts screw that ...which I fear I may not have time to finish this year.  

Huge project number 1-- the child we had turns 2 on Friday.  We will be having her birthday party on Saturday evening.  The second birthday party doesn't feel like as much pressure as planning that classic and perfect 1st birthday party does.  In fact the second party feels as though it should really be an homage to her father and I as we are about to embark on the cliche that is (REALLY TRUE)-- the terrible twos.  

Sloane always likes to be early to things. For her own birth she was 5 weeks early.  She started her terrible two phase at about 18 months.  Joy -- extra time in the terribleness.  I know, I know, as my friend Kate will remind me, I have always loved the age 2-5, as a mental health professional I wax on philosophically about how interesting their brains are at this age, that their personalities are forming, that they are learning things so quickly it is hard for us to keep up with what they know and don't know....I said ALL of these things, BEFORE I had a kid that was 2, heck before I had a kid at all.  And now I tell you all of those things are true but this stage is damn hard.  

A rational human being (as I like to fancy myself) has a difficult time guiding their child (which really seems like running and screaming NO from every corner of the entire house all day long so that said child doesn't electrocute, poison or choke themselves or somehow otherwise need stitches or emergency medical attention) through the day when they are dealing with a complete and utter psychopath  irrational human torpedo being. 

I am truly beginning to understand the meaning of "ignorance is bliss" as it applies to raising a two year old.  It literally translates to: "if your kid doesn't know about _______ (ipads/pods/phones/books/tunes, shopping carts with the cars attached, ice cream) they cannot tantrum over said item, and the lack of a tantrum is BLISS my friends (sorry to shout about bliss, but it's hard to come by these days and excites me).  

Which leads me to, big project number 2 in December.  The "Santa gift".  As you can see above Keenan and I are not wanting to introduce another tantrum-invoking item into our daily lives. So although she is asking for LOL Elmo (a torture device that would not make anyone over the age of 3 laugh out loud) we are compromising with putting batteries into her ("broken") Let's Rock Elmo (thank you K's mama) and getting her Potty Time Elmo book and then giving her something that has no whistles, bells or touch screen.

Enter stage right the thing I found next to an apartment house dumpster in August:

Santa's elves are very busy sanding and painting and hammering and accessorizing!

I loved watching Mr. K sand this to see all the different colors it has been for different kiddos (it's been pepto pink, country blue, and primary yellow) for Sloane it will be Overalls Blue by Valspar

We found this at Lowe's...Blue is her favorite color

This is Dylan Velvet, it looks a little too gold on my screen, but it's for the accents

I also found a large tool bench/area at a garage sale for 5 bucks, which will serve as her sink and counter.  I've had a lot of fun designing and working on this for the tiny terrorist tot.

Go to amazon they have lots of M&D 25% off today!

We've themed most of her presents around the gift as well.  Including some swag from Melissa & Doug, I really don't think anyone does it better when it comes to play food.

Hopefully this gift will be one to carry her all the way through the terrible twos into a more serene state of being (of course she's my first kid. translation: I don't know anything).  One can only dream.

title courtesy of lyrics by CeeLo Green: Crazy (or the toddler-parent's theme song)

Linking up to Sugar & Dots  & Ginger Snap Crafts & Whimsy Wednesday & Apron Thrift Girl & Sir Thrift Alot

a material, a material, a material girl

I have been scouring for all the perfect last details for the wedding...One thing I really wanted was a sense of vintage on the tables, I have borrowed some plain white tablecloths from my cousin but it just wasn't the effect that I wanted.  Then I saw this while browsing the net.  And fell in love...

via

So I began my own search to mix in with the plain white...and I found these, and since this picture was taken about a dozen more.  Hooray!


Vintage sheets & a tablecloth 1.00 each

And a few other finds as well...

Yard sale finds-- 10 cents each

vintage spools, stamps and lovely little milk glass

1969 Southwestern Bell logo cup... I can't resist weird orphans

linking up to Apron Thrift Girl

title courtesy of Madonna: Material Girl

You finally took my hand, it took a nip of gin

I found this little guy at my local Goodwill for .49...but I knew he had the potential to become a lovely cake stand.  For the reception I am hoping to have a fabulous dessert table full of vintage and vintage-inspired serving dishes filled with family favorites.   This isn't my first rodeo  DIY-cake plate.  They are so easy.  I sanded and spray primed and used some heavy duty glue and viola!

finished product, ready to hold delicious desserts

Another recent decision concerning the reception was barware.  Although I live in Kansas, and my reception is in a tent, I didn't want the environment of my sixties inspired soiree being corrupted by the "red solo cup".  For one, red is not in the color palate and two I am not a Toby Keith fan.  Therefore, I used some time to online price plastic barware and realized using real glasses would be more cost effective and that they could be kept, gifted or resold.  Then the great glassware hunt began.  I found these two gems. 

Vintage lowball glasses with a strange character, (anyone know who?)
these will definitely stay in our family bar cabinet --.29 each

I couldn't resist stopping at a few yard sales this weekend and found 3 pairs of shoes for Sloane.  Those gold Trumpette mocs are my favorites (they retail for 26$).  Total cost- 2.00 for the lot of these. Her feet grew recently so I was happy to add a few choices to her shoe supply.   






linking up to Her Library Adventures, Apron Thrift Girl and Cap Creations

title courtesy of the anti-Toby Keiths themselves: The Dixie Chicks: White Trash Wedding

They chalk it up to my anger, / And never to their own fear.

I picked up a couple of things at the thrift store recently that I will be using for chalkboards at the wedding. All of these were possible with a lot of masking tape and Krylon chalkboard spray paint. 

I got two of these for .49 each



These frames made perfect chalkboards!

I had seen vintage suitcases used for all sorts of things on Pinterest for weddings recently, but I thought why not tear our the lining and make a chalkboard in there as well?

going somewhere?



isn't she divine?  this will house the wedding programs...after: chalkboard vintage suitcase

 linking up to my Wednesday favorites: Yesterday on Tuesday Ginger Snap Crafts Family Home & Life  My Girlish Whims  Sugar and Dots Crafty Texas Girls and The Sasse Life 
title courtesy of ani difranco, not a pretty girl

And washed it away down the kitchen sink

Sigh, I have such plans for these two... 

I would have bought them while thrifting, but I scored them while just driving by the old houses downtown in my city.

They are renovating an old house and there was a pile of wood at the curb. I spied these brightly colored vintage kitchen drawers and just had to make a (legal) U-turn. I wanted to dig through the pile a little more, but Sloaney was watching from the backseat so I was a little hurried in my choices, but I still feel that I got the two loveliest. I have cleaned them up and am just trying to narrow down the perfect project for them. I think they will be used as serving trays at the reception and then I will re-purpose them for home use as well.

price tag:  FREE (plus the nerve to scour through a pile of junk on the curb of someones lawn)



Here's a look inside my head to see what may be next for these finds...

via





via

via

The possibilities are so exciting! 

Linking up to Her Library Adventures: Flea Market Finds.

title courtesy of Florence and the Machine: Dog Days are Over

sit down and write me a letter

Between yard sales and thrifting recently I've added a few new pieces to my growing collection of milk glass, and I picked up a little sugar bowl for the reception dessert table. 

The compote dish with the flowers is my favorite.  Each of the pieces were three dollars, with the exception of the pitcher, which I found for a dollar. 



I am already loving this one to store my washi tape



I have an idea for these for the reception/dance area...love the titles that I scored


I also got the invitations ordered for the wedding. This is the photo of the listing on Etsy...however I made quite a few customizations. Can't wait to see the proof!

via

title courtesy of Ryan Adams: The sun also sets

linking up to Her Library Adventures

I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it

It's wedding Wednesday and I got a lot checked off of my list today.  The most important being the tent-- the tent is reserved and ready to go up (in roughly 99 days). 

I ordered a striped one-- dark purple. Think less like circus and more like Jacqueline Bouvier & John Fitzgerald Kennedy's reception.

via

If I only had the Kennedy budget so I could swing that flooring. 

A few weeks ago I ordered some adorable vintage labels from WonderlandRoom on Etsy. I just couldn't figure out how I would incorporate them into the wedding.

Then I thought of putting them on baby food jars.  I saved all of Sloane's because I made my own food for her, so if you do have a baby before your wedding, or know someone with a baby this can be the perfect size little favor jar.

The etsy labels were self adhesive so that was easy as can be, I took the food labels off with Goo Gone spray gel and adhered the new label distressing it a ltitle bit with my paper folder to make them look a little more authentic. 

I plan to fill each of them with something that (loosely) corresponds to the label and let people carry home one that strikes their fancy.  I bought the mini dominos at an antique thrift market and the war bonds jar has some pennys in it. 

I have been enjoying finding little treasures to fill them, like these vintage match books. 



Some of these beauties will fill the jars, and some of them will be stored in an ash tray near the candy cigarrette station. 

Next up on the list, another brilliant idea from my bestie (seriously, I can't think of anything on my own, that's why I have Pinterest and Breann). 

When my sister found out she was pregnant last fall we realized we would need to change our wedding date, I had already ordered my save the date postcards and was just about to recycle the whole lot. But instead Breann suggested I use them for confetti or a garland. So I put my circle punch to work the other night while watching the new HBO series The Newsroom (I'm gonna give it the old college try). I plan to mix in the new ones as well since I have the sihlouette on a peacock blue background and the LOVE is printed in bright gold.  Can't wait to grab some twine and ribbon and make this up.  Stay tuned.

linking up to: Ginger Snap Crafts Family Home & Life  My Girlish Whims  Sugar and Dots Crafty Texas Girls and The Sasse Life  and Her Library Adventures 

title courtesy of Snow Patrol: Hands Open

step by step, heart to heart...

It's wedding Wednesday-- this post is brought to you by the local thrift store where I picked up an ugly old brass candle stand for 99 cents and I found the most lovely orphaned Homer Laughlin plate for 1.99. 

I know it could be considered criminal to apply glue to a vintage piece of Homer Laughlin, but there was only one of them (I scoured the entire dish section for more than an hour trying to find more) and I just knew I could make it into a lovely cake stand. 

So some Krylon ivory spray paint and a thin ribbon of E6000 glue later I have this romantic little beauty for the reception:

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

Also crossed off the proverbial list...we hired a photographer.  And Keenan bought his suit. 

Lately while mommy crafts, and prepares for a yard sale the little one does this...



In a row


Wednesday is a popular day around the blogosphere for crafting.  Although my craft is less than original (you see these cake stands everywhere these days, I do think mine is particularly lovely) I am linking up to a few places that are full of inspiration:  Ginger Snap Crafts: {Wow me Wednesday}, My Girlish Whims, Sugar & Dots , Crafty Texas Girls and The Sasse Life.

Also I wasn't too late to the party to share this on Family home and Life: Wow us Wednesday!  Thanks Connie!


title courtesy of Toy Soldiers: by Martika

that's my fun day

Wedding Wednesday this week was sadly preempted by migraine Monday (which lasted until this morning). So this weekend the agenda includes deciding the fate of our honeymoon and working on our budget.  

Speaking of budgets, a few weeks ago I was so happy to find all of this stuff on a Tuesday at the local Goodwill.  I have plans to include the milk glass in the wedding decor.  I spray painted the glass bud vase and made another Valentine mailbox for a coworker.  The lamp will be spray painted plum for Sloane's impending transition from nursery to toddler room and the apron (fabric on the left) and vintage jewelry box (sunny yellow hard hinged box on the right) are just adorable things to keep.  I always think the best things are found at the thrift stores on Monday-Thursday. 



I have plans for the lot of you






title courtesy of Ms. Lauper: Manic Monday

remember this in your heart

I started with 3 mailboxes from Target's One Spot plus these three relics from the Goodwill



Then I spraypainted the candlesticks and used my gorilla glue to adhere the mailboxes



Now there are little places to put notes and sweets for Valentines Day

This is one of the easiest and cheapest little DIYs I've done lately.  I orignally found it on The Anderson Crew blog, but I've seen it cropping up on Pinterest a lot too.  

The total cost for the project was about 2-3 each.  I had to go back for more mailboxes because my mom wants one of her own, and because they are only a dollar!  I love that tourquoise one!   

title courtesy of the Indigo Girls: dead man's hill 

give me your green eyes

Here's a quick and dirty little frame job I did for an etsy print I ordered awhile ago.  I got this little beauty at a Kansas City thrift store for 99 cents.  The frame is solid wood and heavy.  It says 1979 on the canvas under the artists name, which I cannot really make out. 

I never liked the ship and always intended to alter it, I just didn't know how I would do it.  Then inspiration arrived: our light grey and emerald green bathroom! 

A little double sided tape and I have my lino print on a canvas that matches the colors in my bathroom.  Quick and easy.  The whole project cost me about 7.00 (with shipping). I love that I can see the message (albeit transposed) behind me as I try to tame my cowlick and pluck out invading grey hairs each day. It inspires me that my messy pony tail and dry shampoo are really something to be embraced rather than eschewed. 

tempest tossed ship

new piece <3

title courtesy of the counting crows (really, who else?): have you seen me lately?

loves babies and surprises...wears high heels while she exercises

little beauties I picked up for 3 dollars

Just some little lovelies that I found last week before leaving for my hometown for the Smoky Hill River Festival.  I had a vintagey week last week.  I love all my little finds. 


I seemed to be drawn to this color scheme this weekend
vintage apron (5$) tiny bumble bee box (.75) little plate w/ owl impression (1$)
vintage copy of Gone with the Wind (1$)
decanter for mama (3$) wedgwood cup & saucer (5$)



a better look at the perfect wedgwood (1973) I don't collect it but I can't pass it up for only 5$

a better look at that decanter- a little gift for my mother's august birthday

linking up at her library adventures

title courtesy of a vintage Train hit: meet virginia

they love to tell you stay inside the lines

my newest little stack of vintage (50's & 60's) bookish goodness (the bottom one is The Secret Garden)

a little toybox bench for Sloane, skirt for mommy & cup for the nursery

isn't it precious?

Lately I've been fighting my urge to join pinterst, as I know I will get addicted to it and I don't have enough time as it is...but it's oh so lovely there. 

Browsing a few new blogs I <3

• aiming low
• studio calico
• lunch break

• oh happy day

Doing a little scrapping in honor of my sister's graduation.  So proud of her.  She will be attending nurse practitioner school next fall to earn her doctorate (I am jealous as I used to be the sibling with the most education). I thought she looked adorable in her little old school nursing uniform.  Isn't it a great tradition that they still take these photos.  Apparently the little hat indicates the degree of BSN and the white scrubs indicate her being an RN.  Her little nursing lapel pin is on her left shoulder and they said the pledge of Florence Nightingale at her pinning ceremony.

I did a little arrangement of candy in apothecary jars with handmade Rx labels for her table.  I didn't snap a picture but I did snap a pic of the sample bottle I made to show my mom (those are yellow mini m&ms).  It turned out pretty cute, I will have to track down a photo.  The Rx labels were things from my sister's life.  One of them was an Alice in Wonderland theme "drink me" and one was a Breakfast at Tiffany's homage: "to cure the mean reds".   We did get a pic of my mom's amazing nurse cake though.  Too cute.  (the bottle collection is right to the right of the photos of my sister and her friend (they had their reception together at a hotel). 

So ready for the weekend.  Can't wait to see what the days will hold, hopefully some relaxation and lovely weather. Hope your holiday weekend is all you want it to be!

title courtesy of John Mayer: Real World