My Top 5 Blog Posts.

I know I'm not a professional blogger or even considered "good" when it comes to blogging...I'm a totally sporadic blogger who had visions and ideas of this blog that just didn't manifest how I thought they would {no biggie}.

Regardless...I still enjoy checking my "stats" once in a blue moon and am totally surprised by the amount of views and visits that this little idea of a blog has gotten.

What really makes me chuckle though is what by "stat" numbers {post views, comments, Pinned projects, etc} are considered my best/most popular posts...wouldn't you know they are all the ones that I put little to hardly any effort into, or they didn't cost hardly a handful of loose change to produce!

Here's the rundown of my top projects...

no. 5
F-U-N Addressing Cards...  If I had a dollar for each notification I receive when this little things gets "Pinned", momma would be sporting a nice new pair {or 2 or 3} of Frye boots this fall.


no. 4
Fire Cracker Hair Bows... really they were a last minute "whip up", but apparently have been a hit.


no. 3
Mod Podge Fun {Pretty Little Notebooks}... practically free to make {they are pretty cute if I do say so myself}.


no. 2
Z-Gallerie Inspired Eye Chart Artwork... seriously a few minutes on the computer.


and...

no 1.
Made Fall Fashion {Girls Boot Socks}... made from the scraps of a sweater and a few buttons on hand - they were pretty cute {maybe it's the chubby knees I love}.


A big "THANK YOU" to you who have featured, Pinned, and shared these posts!  Have a great week!

DIY Typography Word Art

I currently have a "crush" on Typography Word Art.  There is so much of it out there, and it's so dang cute!

There are oodles of shops to purchase different pieces on Etsy {you can even buy some at Target these days}.  It's fairly inexpensive to buy too...but it's even cheaper to make!

I wanted a few pieces to hang in the kitchen, but I knew I didn't want them forever {or maybe not even very long}, so I didn't want to spend much money on them.  Hence the decision to just make my own.

After a few minutes on the computer I was able to whip a couple of these up...

Now I just need to stick them into some fun frames & hang them up.

Initial Name Sign

Don't you just love inexpensive crafts?  I sure do!

I decided to whip this up as an extra little gift for my sister {and her hubby}.

{The "finished" sign actually has their full last name on it - just above the EST. 2008.}

In a previous post I mentioned that I picked up some {mdf} pictures/wall hangings at the dollar store for a quarter each.  {I picked up a handful of them...they were too cheap not to.}

I painted over the entire piece with black craft paint that dried with a matte finish.

Next, {just from Microsoft Word} I printed out the lettering that I wanted on my sign.

I positioned the paper on my board where I wanted my lettering to be and traced the lines on my paper pressing hard enough so that it left an "imprint".

I then went in with a white colored pencil and colored in my letters.  {The white pencil makes it look like it's chalk.}

15 minutes later...done!

 It's no "Pottery Barn" decor, but it's just a little something extra.

F-U-N Addressing Cards {Mail}

Being on top of my game this year {getting to my Christmas cards with more than one day left until Christmas}, I decided I was going to make addressing my Christmas cards a little more "F-U-N".

Why not bring the "beauty" of the card to the envelope too?  I figured there's so much envelope...why not use it?

I gathered my supplies...cards, envelopes, and my trusted Sharpies.

I just l-o-v-e Sharpies...don't you?

I sat down in front of the television after the kids went to bed and got to "work" on addressing...

It's all free hand.  Nothing too fancy or professional, but it adds a little "flair" to the envelope.

Now I just need to get myself one of those "cutesy" return address stamps!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you are having a peaceful and joy filled Holiday season!

Kid Crafting. Felt Christmas Ornaments & Gift Toppers

Previously I mentioned that the kids and I have been Christmas "crafting" and decoration making nearly daily.  Their new favorite craft is sewing felt ornaments.

They have diligently been busy creating felt ornaments and gift toppers for everyone.  It's quite cute and sweet of them.

{Plus...it keeps them "busy".  Which we mommies need sometimes, right?}

They're so simple to do...they've done so many that they can completely do them on their own now.

We bust out the felt.


Grab the embroidery thread.

Cut out a couple felt circles {we are now "graduating" to hearts}.

Cut out our "embellishment"...usually initials, hearts, or stars.



And away they go...sewing to their heart's content.

We stuff them with a little "stuffing".

Stitch it closed, add a little hanging loop...and voila!


The result...simple, inexpensive projects that make great gifts or gift toppers.

Quarter Craft {Wall Art}

I live in Minnesota, and well...


I love a good deal, don't you?

Ever since we took our financial class this fall and put ourselves on a "budget", good deals have become that much more of a thrill.

We don't have an abundant stock of Christmas decorations {I purged many of them when we moved - I had grown tired of the decorations we had}.  Since I've been in a word art phase, I was thinking I could make some signs with "cutesy" sayings.

While shopping at the dollar store for craft items for the kids, these wooden {mdf} pieces caught my eye...


Not because of their design, but for their "bones".  I picked a couple of them up because $1 each was a good deal.  When I got to the register to pay for them they were only 25 cents each!!!  A deal at the dollar store!?!?  Score!

With this one I did no prep work at all.  I painted a couple coats of black craft paint on it.  When the paint dried it had a very matte {almost chalkboard} finish.


At first I thought that I might actually try to chalk my design on it...but couldn't find any chalk around the house.  So then I thought white paint, but in looking for the right brush, I stumbled across a white colored pencil and decided to give it a try...and it worked perfectly!

The end result...a cute little "wall art" piece for only a quarter!!!


The price was so inexpensive, and it took so little effort that I won't feel bad or question myself if I want to repaint or redo it.

Olympic spirit {rally gear}

Whew!  Did you see the opening Olympic ceremony?  What a show!

We are super excited to watch the Olympics.  While we {of course} cheer for the USA {cuz that's where we live}, we enjoy watching and cheering on all the athletes regardless of where they are from.

Do you have your Olympic rally gear? So, there is a site where you can buy team USA gear...let me tell ya' it is super cute stuff.  Unfortunately, there is a price to match the cute duds.

We decided to improvise and make our own {or in some cases, reuse some of the red, white, and blue gear we already had}...you can too!

How about a stamped star, three tier, simple skirt...

Or how about a freezer paper stenciled top...

{freezer paper stenciling is an awesome way to "fight" a stain that you can't remove...just paint over it!}

It's even a great craft to do with your kids...

How about some easy hair bows...

These are just some quick and easy crafts to do {in between or even while watching your favorite Olympic events}...what will you make for "Olympic fun"?

Linking up to:

destination craft

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!

-R.

Fire Cracker Hair Bows {a mini tutorial}

The other night when I stopped at the dollar store for organizing bins, spools and spools of ribbon caught my eye.  They had 6 yard spools of ribbon for only $1 {imagine that}.

I picked up a few spools to make hair bows for my girls.  I decided to "copycat" a hair bow that I had bought a while ago at Gymboree {I'm ashamed to admit that I paid $8 for}.  It was simply a hair elastic with multiple  pieces of ribbon attached.

I've turned to making hair "stuff" for the kids because they are notorious for losing their ribbons, bows, and headbands, or simply giving them away to friends...wouldn't you know the $8 Gymboree bow is of course one that is MIA.

These were super simple to make.  I finished three of them in 15 minutes.  {one escaped before I could get it in the photo...kids!}

Here are the supplies you will need:
ribbon
hair ties {ponytail holders}
scissors
needle & thread
fray check {I suggest using for the ribbon ends}

I started out cutting a number of strips of ribbon each 12 inches long.  I did about 7 to 8 strips for each hair bow.  The more strips of ribbon, the more "full" it will be.

I divided my ribbon strips into two piles, and found the center of each pile by folding it in half.  

I then simply laid half of the strips across a hair tie {ponytail holder} and hand sewed around and around to attach the ribbon.  Then I took the other half of the ribbon strips {turning them to make an x with the other strips} and hand sewed to attach them as well.

After attaching all the ribbon, you're done! Now if we can just keep them in our possession until the fourth...

I appreciate you stopping by!

-R.

Linking up to:

Happy Hour Projects     Polkadots on Parade      Grits & Giggles      
Here Comes the Sun

Crafting with the Kiddos {freezer paper stenciling}

My little "chickens" love doing crafty stuff.  I love that they're so creative!

This summer, once a week, I plan a "special" craft for them to do beyond their buckets of crafts and ideas.


The project this week...freezer paper stenciling! 


If you recall from this post, I recently freezer paper stenciled for the first time and loved it.  It was easy enough so I thought it could be a blast for my 6 and 7 year old.


I picked up some cheap shirts at Walmart for $3.47 each.  I already had the freezer paper and fabric paints.


The original plan was for the kids to draw out their design ideas on paper and then I would make them on the computer or "tweak" them a bit.  But, I decided why "tweak" them or try to make them look "neater".


The girls each drew their design on the freezer paper.  {They chose to make 4th of July designs}


I did the cutting out of the design as well as the prep work.

I gave them the quick "low down" on stenciling...set them up with paint and brushes...and let them go to town.

My opinion is that they turned out really cute {I especially like that they're very "kiddish"}.

They've already asked to do it again sometime.


Thanks for taking the time to stop by!  I'd love for you to "follow" my blog along!
-R.

Linking up to:

Grits & Giggles: I Made This     Polkadots on Parade     Sew Can Do    
 Ginger Snap Crafts     Handmade Tuesdays     Making the World Cuter Monday
Happy Hour Projects     Here Comes the Sun