Wednesday, March 30, 2011

What I needed to hear....

This is what my heart needed to hear as I come upon living without my mother on this earth for 1 year on Thursday, March 31 and what would have been her birthday on Sunday, April 3.

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace, or our tight grip of control. -Crazy Love

For the LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
-Psalm 6

My enemy (stress/sadness) this week will turn back and be put to shame. The Lord has heard my cry, and felt my ache. He has accepted my prayer and will sustain me. He will hide me and cover me cause I know can not do this without Him.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Easter Egg Wreath

I have always wanted one of those cutesy egg wreaths for my front door. However, every time I am at the craft store they are too pricey for my taste. I am also one of those who gets the great idea to make it myself right before the holiday and never get it put together in time for a lengthy display. I am changing my ways this year. However, I did fail with my Valentine Day wreath, and it will be stored until next year :(.

I could not find a great tute for this wreath, so I am offering my so-so tute for ya. I know that it is kinda easy to do, but I always like references.

So, gather up some supplies:
1. Round wreath form - I just got the cheapest I could find. I did not like using a grapevine wreath for this, but you could if you want.
2. Felt - in varying colors. Again, this is personal preference. I had some scraps to use up so I covered the form in all shades of pink felt. You could also use ribbon for this step.
3. Lots of plastic easter eggs. I saw the pastel speckled ones, I really liked those, but couldn't justify the cost. I went to the dollar tree for the ones I used. I think I used almost 40 eggs.
4. Hot glue and hot glue gun
5. Ribbon - I just used some I had in my stash. This will be to loop around the wreath so it can hang from the door.

Now, here we go!
Cover your wreath form in your felt, fabric, or ribbon. This does not have to be all snazzy cause you barely see it since the eggs will cover almost all of it. Only upon close inspection will you see the felt.
Next, start gluing on the eggs. Be sure the eggs don't pop open! My dollar tree eggs held up well to my high temp glue gun. :) I did not do a pattern or place them all in the same position. I just wanted to cover as much of the form as possible. So, in this process my wreath would look lopsided, so I would just adjust by adding more eggs until the whole thing looked uniformly round.
How cute is this chick??!! I saw him at the craft store and he had to come home with me. I wasn't sure what to do with him until I started this wreath. Now he has found his home!
Here is the finished wreath on the door. I just tied the ribbon in a simple knot at the top and hung it on the door hanger. See the chick? So stinkin' cute!

Here it is in full view. I am very happy with the way it turned out and it only cost about $7. AND Caleb helped me put on the eggs. So, this little wreath has some precious memories in it's making. For example, to choose which color would go next, Caleb decided he was an egg machine that popped out the next egg. You can only imagine the laughs we got out of that one!
I just wanted to add this in. I made this wreath for someone in our family. I didn't think they would like the one that I made for our door so I did this instead. I was happy with the way this came out too. Happy Easter (decorating!)!

Monday, March 7, 2011

What I Was Going To Do Today....

I was going to clean the house.

I opted instead to take my 3 hours that Caleb is in preschool and visit a widow that goes to our church. She is teaching me to crochet. Even though I know the basics, I sit and enjoy her sweet spirit and patience. She made me rip out my work 3 times! I loved every minute of our conversation. I am going back on Wednesday.

I was going to wash the dishes in my sink.

I went outside with my 4yr old. I am watching him drive his truck through the yard - backwards, ride his bike in the cul de sac, and chase the dog. He is arguing with me now about wearing shorts, but I won't let him cause it is cloudy and chilly. And now he is listening to the birds in the trees and trying to find their nests.

I was going to do the laundry.

Instead, Caleb and I made an Easter Egg Wreath to go on our front door. He handed me just the right egg to be placed in each spot.

I chose to leave the chores today cause sometimes it is necessary to savor what you got. Those things that are not expendable, or could be gone in an instant. That sweet widow will not always be on this earth to teach someone to crochet, and my sweet 4yr old will not always be 4.

I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. - Psalm 26:8

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Celebrate the Boy

I have boys and I love to craft. Finding cool designs for boys is a little tasking cause sooo much out there is for girls.
So I always look forward to "Celebrate the Boy" month on the crafty blogs.

This is one of my fav websites to check out: MADE

Right now she has this retro duffel bag tute (from Saltwater Kids - another fave website) that would make great gifts for sons, nephews, and in the right colors the girls of the fam too. Have their name embroidered on the side and voila!

Anyway, I love celebrate the boy! Go BOYS!