Window Pane Project

Last month I noticed that one of our neighbors whom I had never met before was getting new windows.  As I saw the contractor take the old windows out I found myself wondering what they would be doing with them.  So I called the company and learned that they have to destroy them if the owner doesn't want them.  The thought of those beautiful windows going to waste broke my heart.  So I contacted the neighbor, who was thrilled to find out that I wanted to reuse her windows, and got these six beautiful windows.  

I have been wanting some old windows for a few projects that I have had tucked away in the back of my mind.  So these beauties were going to be perfect.  I knew right away that I wanted to use of the panel windows and one solid window as chalk boards so I went to Lowes to pick up some paint.  While I was there, I decided that it would be neat to color the chalkboard paint to have it match the rest of our house.  So instead of buying the chalkboard paint I picked up some grout and a paint sample.

I got home taped off the windows, mixed 2 TBS grout with 1/2 cup paint and started painting (I ended up needing a full cup of paint).  It took a few coats to fully cover the windows so in the mean time I jammed out to Michael Buble.  Then I let the windows dry over night.

When I woke up the next day, I realized that the paint color I had chosen was brighter than I had expected.  But once I added white chalk to the board the color was toned down, making it the perfect shade of gray/blue.

Here are the finished products!

I plan on using the  panel window as my weekly planner, I will most likely write our meal plan on it.  The other full panel window I plan on using for FHE.  We are going to pick out a weekly inspirational theme and write it on the window to help us remember it throughout the week.  I love how the windows turned out.  Now I just have to decide where to hang them.  Stay tuned for my next project.  I will be recycling some picture frames for our play room.

A Tree Just for Kids~!~

A friend of mine told me about this great idea of putting a felt tree on the wall for children to redecorate.  The idea is that the little ones will play with the felt tree and leave the real Christmas tree alone.  I thought the idea was wonderful.  Every holiday I try and come up with activities that Elai and Josie can do relating to each holiday.  Well here it is!

Elai loves the tree.  As soon as it was up he started playing with it.  The best part is that it only cost about $3- $4 to make (thanks to Joann's black Friday sale.) 

 I started by cutting out the tree.  I used a piece of felt that measured 3/4 yard and hand sketched a tree.  Yes hand sketched, that is why it looks so horrible.  I have never claimed to be an artist.  There was a template online for ornaments, however I didn't want to waste the time or energy to print it off so I used some ribbon to trace the circle.  I had five different colors of felt squares and traced three circles of each color.

 This is Elai helping.

 Next I cut up the circles and decorated some, Elai had a blast helping with this part.  Next I used bonding tape to stick the felt pieces together. 

 Then it was time to hang the tree.

We are going to have a great time with this tree.  The best part was that it only took about 20 minutes to put together.  The idea for this tree along with ornament templates can be found on this site.

A Little Dress

From the time I found out Josie was going to be a girl I have wanted to sew some dresses.  However the thought of button holes and elastic scared the life right out of me, and I found myself putting it off.  Well here she is she almost 10 months old and I have finally made her a dress.  And it turned out very cute I must add.

 

 Of course Elai needed to jump in front of the camera as well!

Oh my what am I going to make next? 

Girls Day~!~

Yesterday was a very eventful day. It started out by me being in charge of our enrichment meeting. There is a lady here in Pocatello that makes these temple pictures that are so gorgeous and really reasonably priced. So I decided to do a temple mod podge activity. All the girls loved how there pictures turned out. Here is what mine looks like.

After enrichment a friend and I took a trip down to the local scrapbook store. It was her birthday and the store was having an anniversary sale so we had to go. While there I saw the cutest necklace. I knew instantly that I had to have one so I picked out some bead and made my own. What do you think?

The best part is that I used lobster claws to hook on the beads to the chain so they are interchangeable! I can't wait to go back and buy more beads!

I also made these earrings! The bottom ones are made out of the leftover chain that I used for the necklace.

This treat box was a make and take. It definitely put me in the Easter mood!

This scrapbook page was another make and take. We used the new cosmo cricut paper line. It just came out, I loved it so much I bought all of it.

Over all I would say we had a great girls day out. There is nothing better then spending the day making things.