Creativity

Bryson is really getting into "coloring" these days. Watching him discover how to hold a crayon and scribble all over the page is just adoable! I can't wait to see his creativity start developing as he continues to grow. :)

Our fridge was getting pretty crowded with all the pictures he's colored at home and at school. A while back, I saw the cutest little art board at Swoozies (which has the cutest things ever!) however, I didn't want to shell out 60 bucks for the thing! So, I grabbed some supplies from Hob Lob and Office Max (for the clips) and went to work making my own board!

It was super easy! All you need is:

a board (use a 40% coupon that they have regularly, it's only $5.50!)

paint for the background

paint pen for the words (I started with a paintbrushon the octopus and then got smart and got a paintpen from the closet)

clips (I could only find ones that had suction cups attached to the back, so I bought those and then ripped them off)

screws (I had to use the absolute shortest screws we had because the board was so thin)

picture hangers (And I could only hammer the nails half way in the board for the same reason)

To make:

1. Paint

(we have baby bags coming out our ears, so why not use it as a paint plate?? haha)

2. Write

3. Screw in clips

4. Nail in Picture hangers (halfway)

5. Hang artwork and find a nice place for it in your home :)

No Froo Froo Wipes Here

I pulled a case of baby wipes out of the closet to take to the lake this weekend and they happened to be a little, well...girly.

One of my kids gave them to me before I had Bryson, which was soo sweet!!

Michael wasn't a fan of the froo froo case. He asked if we could bring a different one instead...but I had a better idea!

I got some scrapbook paper and Mod Podge and made a cute new personaziled wipe container.

Tah dah!

I love it! (and Michael approves!) Ha!

30 Weeks!!

What!? Already?? Oh, I forgot to post last week? Yeah, time is flying by so quickly, I completely missed last week. Oops!

I had my 30 week check up today and everything is still going wonderfully. I passed my glucose test "with flying colors" and am still measuring right on target. Bryson is actually in the right position as of now, but it's still pretty early, so we're hoping he decides not keep flipping around in my belly. I'm feeling awesome still! I have been beyond blessed with this pregnancy. In fact, my doctor even mentioned today that I have had such a "by the book" pregnancy that they should study it for research for future pregnant girls. HA! We realized that we probably jinxed the rest of my pregnancy by talking about it. Hopefully not though! :)

Me at 30 weeks!

My belly is getting so big that iits barely fitting inside my t-shirts, as you can tell from the picture. I've had to raid Michael's closet several times to get some of his Medium t-shirts! (Thanks baby!)  :)

This past weekend, Michael was in College Station for the A&M game. I pretty much had an "all baby" weekend. I went to a sweet friend's baby shower Saturday, another friend had her little baby boy Saturday morning, I had a lot of time to work on B's baby book, and I made a Blessing Ring for Bryson.

 I saw the Blessing Rings on another blog a while back and thought it was such a sweet idea. (But, of course, I had to make my own :) ) You punch a hole in the corner of the card, picture, paper, etc and then string it on the ribbons. That way you don't have to keep all the cards stuffed in a drawer and you can be reminded of all the wonderful people that are praying for and thinking about your new little miracle.

I'm so excited about this coming weekend!! I have my first shower this weekend! We also have some friends flying in and will be staying with us for the weekend and I am SO excited to see them!! It's just going to be a wonderful time of celebrating and I CAN'T WAIT!!! :)

We're Woodworking Elves

I've been in a huge decorationg phase lately and I have really wanted to make a little art table fo Bryson, but I didn't know how it was going to turn out since a) I don't have any tool/saws and b)I've only used a saw once in my life. But for some crazy reason, I have had huge desire to make it!!

So, Sunday night, we were sitting around after lunch and I asked my Dad if he would show me how to use his saw and he graciously offered to go to Home Depot with me and help me make the table!!

I had the table pictured in my head, but really hadn't thought of how I was going to make it. That's where my Dad came in!!!

We got all the supplies together (we used stair spindles for the legs and I love them!!)

Then my dad showed me how to use the saw


Once the table top was cut, we put the wooden supports on bottom part and then put on the legs

Then, 4 1/2 hours after our Home Depot run, the table was finished!!



These are the stools that I had already painted to go with the table.

--I still need to paint the table, but I'm waiting until it's not rainy outside. Also, I don't know if you can see it, but my Dad cut a small slit in the top so I can slip the roll of art paper through it so Bryson can color right on the table. Once it's finished, I'll post pictures!! :)

It was so much fun being able to do this with my Dad. Bryson is going to have a special table for years to come that his Mommy and Papaw made just for him with lots of love!! Thank you Dad!!!

Summer Crafts (Part 1)

If there is such thing as a "Decorating-Nesting" stage, I am so in it right now! I've been going crazy with projects. Most of them are only half way finished right now because I need to know if the baby is a boy or girl first :) I have either seen these projects on other blogs and I feel like I need to replicate them, or I wake up at 3:00 AM (wide awake, ready to start the day) with a brand new project in my head. These are the couple that are actually finshed right now.

These are the stools for the art table I mentioned I wanted to make a while back

This is a picture frame I made for a friend's precious new baby boy (I plan to make another one for Fantlet!)

I saw these shelves at a house I went to for a baby shower a while back and just couldn't get them out of my head. I haven't put any pictures in the frames yet, but there will be some in there soon!

That's it for right now. I'm sure Michael is somewhat scared to come home every day because he has no idea what I've decided to paint/make/mod podge/etc. It's just so much fun though! T minus 8 days until we find out if we're having a baby boy or baby girl!!!

P.S. What should my next project be?? I've thought about busting out my sewing maching and maybe starting to make a bib or two...I'm not quite sure about that idea though :)

Martha Who?

I have always been a crafty girl, and I LOVE to make things. I would rather make something myself than buy it off the shelf. (Maybe that's why I like to cook, too!) Well last month, Michael and I went shopping in Downtown McKinney and I fell in love with everything there! I found some candles that were super cute and I really wanted them, but they were pretty expensive. ($50 to be exact) I thought to myself, "Why would I buy them when I could make them way cheaper and cuter?" So I did and this is how they turned out! (Mine were $22)




I also had been looking for a tall lamp for the kitchen, but again, all the ones I liked were $90-$150 (Yes, even at Steinmart and Tuesday Morning!). That wasn't happening either, so I made my own!! All you need is a candlestick, a drill, lamp making kit, light bulb and lamp shade. This is the finished product. ($37)




I am now on a mission to find a new project. I really want to make something with tools, like a bookshelf or something, but you need too things that we don't have for that. I'm up for ideas...what should my next project be?