Paint Chip Spring Ornaments

I have this little tree that I decorate in different ways each season and it either sits on the side table in the living room or on the mantel. I didn't have any spring "ornaments" for my little tree so I decided to make some. 

I have quite a pile of paint chips building up. I don't know why but every time I am in a store with paint chips, I grab a couple. My stash is quickly growing so I decided it was time to use some of them. (And that photo is only a very small sampling of my collection!)

I got out my Silhouette machine and found a couple of springy shapes I liked; a flower, a butterfly, and a bird. I placed my paint chips on my mat and cut out a bunch of the shapes. Even though my mat was plenty sticky the paint chips were sliding around so I put a little piece of re-positional tape on the back of each paint chip and that held them in place perfectly. 

After all my shapes were cut, I just took some white twine and glued it in between 2 of the shapes. 

It was a easy and pretty quick project and now my tree is good to go for spring and early summer!

This post is part of a monthly Silhouette challenge created by Lauren at The Thinking Closet. Check out the links below for more projects by some talented crafty ladies using their Silhouette machines.

Budget-Savvy Spring Sihouette Make - We Love Cards

D.I.Y. Canvas Date Art - The House on Hillbrook

D.I.Y. Vertical File Folders (Martha Stewart Home Office Knockoff with Free Cut File) - Whole New Leaf

Anchor's Away! A Fabric Applique Silhouette Tutorial - Lil' Mrs. Tori

D.I.Y. Subway Art Canvas & Free Cut File - The Thinking Closet

"Different Is Good" Autism Awareness Tee - Tried and True

A Gift! - For 'Just a Little Nutty' - An Elegant Touch

Mother's Day Celebration - Creative Turn

Interested in joining us for our group posting event next month?  We'd love to have you.  Simply contact Lauren from The Thinking Closet by email.

We're Still Here!

I promise we are still around! I actually have a couple of posts in the works for you guys. 

I think I am coming out of the slump! I am feeling better mentally and although it's really cold and rainy outside at the moment, spring is on the horizon  At any rate there is more sunshine now that the time has changed and I can see a difference in my mood. I'm entering my busy season as we plan for the annual BirthMom Buds retreat. 

It's spring break this week. We are surviving. Noah's had some meltdowns and really rough moments but there have been some good moments too. Noah has some big things coming up: baseball, JOY prom, and Special Olympics. 

For now, I thought I'd leave you with a collage I made of Noah and Granddaddy dyeing eggs on the Saturday before Easter. 

Pinch Proof Shamrock Pin

We don't really do a whole lot for St. Patrick's day. But I decided that I needed a little something green to make me pinch proof on St. Patty's Day so I whipped up this little pin.

I started out by downloading last week's free shape from the Silhouette store. I un-grouped the file so that I could use just the shamrock.

Then my Silhouette machine cut out a perfect shamrock out in both the patterned paper and the green cardstock. I then glued the patterned clover on top of the green clover just to give it a little extra support and weight.

Then I used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to give it a dimensional glazed effect. Tip for working with MP Dimensional Magic: Start from the middle of your project and work out. Keep a straight pin handy to pop out any air bubbles that may appear.

I let it dry overnight then attached a pin back to the back of it with hot glue and voila! A cute shamrock St. Patty's pin!

This post is part of a monthly Silhouette challenge created by Lauren at The Thinking Closet. Check out the links below for more projects by some talented crafty ladies using their Silhouette machines.

Gender Neutral Onesies & Free Cut Files - (The Thinking Closet)

Personalized Kindle Fire Cover - (Daily Dwelling)

Vintage Numbered File Organizer: Office Organization - (Whole New Leaf)

Make Montessori Sandpaper Letters with Silhouette - (Tried & True)

Steampunk Lime Fog Plus Free Stuff - (Creative Turn)

Their WORD for 2013: A Gift - (An Elegant Touch)

Lucky - (Sugar Bee Crafts)

How to Not Lose Your Sunglasses - Silhouette Style - (Crafty Jac)

Interested in joining us for our group posting event next month?  We'd love to have you.  Simply contact Lauren from The Thinking Closet by email.

Spring Definition Tile (and free printable!)

I'm really wishing spring would hurry up and get here. Slowly, I'm trying to get out my spring decor and came across my spring definition tile. The writer in me loves anything with quotes, definitions, or words really so thanks to Mr. Webster I used the definition of spring on this tile. 

Items Needed:
6 x 6 inch Ceramic Tile (You can find these pretty inexpensive at home improvement stores.)
Spring definition file (I'm sharing mine here.) 
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Scrapbook paper of your choosing
1-2 Decorative flowers 
Rhinestone or pearl (for the center of your flower)
Sanding block or fine sandpaper
Glue gun
Acrylic sealer (optional)

What you'll do: 
1. Print out the definition on the scrapbook paper of your choosing. 
2. Center the definition on the tile and then using the tile as your guide, cut it out. I always leave a little extra which we will take care of in a later step. 
3. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the tile. Smooth your paper down on the tile and press down firmly with your fingers to get rid of any air bubbles. Let dry for awhile.
4. Using the sanding block or sand paper, sand off any excess paper. You could omit the sanding step but I just like the more finished, adhered look that it gives to it. 
5. Glue on your flower and the rhinestone center with hot glue. I used two flowers to give it more fullness and a pink pearl center. 
6. Spray with acrylic sealer for added durability. (You also use additional coats of Mod Podge instead.)
7. Sit it on a stand (or add ribbon and hang it somewhere) and admire your pretty work! 

Linking up to the linky parties listed in my sidebar 

Hope Quote Plaque

One of my very favorite quotes is this one by one of my very favorite poets, Emily Dickinson. 

"Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without words

and never stops at all." 

That quote just screams spring to me so I decided to make something for my spring mantel featuring that quote. I started with an old tacky plaque from The Dollar Tree. I think these make the perfect base for projects like these. 

I created the quote in my Silhouette studio software and simply printed it on some paper that I think sorta resembles the sky. Then I purchased an awesome spring tree cut and print file in the Silhouette store by Lori Whitlock. I just re-sized it a bit, printed it out on white cardstock, and then I let the Silhouette machine cut out each individual piece. I used a glue pen to adhere the tree to the plaque first. Then I ran all the flowers, leaves, and birdies through my Xyron machine and stuck them on the plaque. 

I love how it turned out! 

 (Linking up to the parties listed in my sidebar)

Bird Cage Wall Hanging

I spotted a wooden bird cage at Michael's recently and picked it up thinking it would be cute for my spring mantle. I painted it blue and then added a cardstock yellow bird to the middle. 

It's cute but needed something. Then I remembered the yellow frame I used around my Easter wreath. 

Ah, much better!

So Springy!  But not so springy that it can't carry me into early summer too! 

Linking to the parties listed in my sidebar

Play Ball!

The Spring Season of Miracle League has started! 

I think my favorite picture from the collage is probably the one of my Dad and Noah with their hats backwards. Too cute!

Linked to Special Exposure Wednesdays at  5 Minutes for Special Needs

Wooden Egg Wreath

This past weekend I made a couple of more Easter decor items. Today I'm going to share a simple wreath I made to go above the mantle.

I started out with 12 wooden ovals from Michael's. I chose some different pastel patterned scrapbook papers and complementary solid color pastel paper from my stash. I traced the ovals on the back of the paper and then cut them out slightly bigger than what I had traced.

Using Mod Podge, I glued the papers to the ovals and then let them dry. Then I sanded the edges. (If you do this be sure and sand down, away from the paper otherwise it will rip.) If you just cut your paper ovals the exact size of the wooden ovals, you could omit this step, but I really like the look sanding gives it.

Next, I laid down my covered ovals which now look like eggs in a circle alternating between patterns and solids. Using hot glue, I glued the eggs on top of one another. Then I glued a bit of ribbon to the back of the wreath as the hanger. 

Lastly, I cut out "Happy Easter" with my Silhouette machine and glued it down using Mod Podge. 

It turned out pretty cute and I hung it above the mantel but it looked kind of blah. 

It needed something to help it "pop." I grabbed a thrift store frame out of my stash, painted it yellow, hung it up around the wreath and loved it! 

Linking up to the parties listed in my sidebar

Bunny and Chick Silhouettes

I realized that Easter is going to be here before we know it so I started working on a few new things so I can get my Easter mantel decorated this weekend. Last night I made simple little bunny and chick silhouettes. 

I used two 4x6 picture frames I already had and just framed a piece of patterned springy scrapbook paper. I cut a chick and a bunny out using my Silhouette machine and then I glued on a white pom pom for the bunny's tale and I added a wing with a pop dot to the chick just to give it a bit of dimension as well. I put those on the glass with removable tape (I like Elmer's best) and that way when Easter is over, I can remove the bunny and chick from the glass, clean it off with soapy water, and use the frames again. 

   

They were simple to make, turned out cute, and cost me nothing since I already had everything on hand! 

Now I gotta get the rest of the Easter stuff up!

Linking up to the parties listed in my sidebar

Weekend Wonders: The One with Spring Stuff

Spring is almost upon us and find myself wanting to decorate for Spring so I have been browsing blogs and Pinterest looking for some spring projects. Below are some of my favorites. 

Cherry Blossom Wall Art

I love this cherry blossom wall art created with an empty soda bottle over at Alpha Mom. 

Spring Printable

I love printables. You just print them, pop them in a frame, and you have easy art to display in your home. This spring printable by Landee See, Landee Do features a fun spring quote.

Spring Button Art 

This button art at The Freckled Nest is adorable. 

Spring Egg Art

I'm digging this egg art over at Thrifty Parsonage Living.

Spring Art

This spring art at Jessica's Paper Petals is just beautiful. I love the nest with the tiny eggs and butterfly. 

Grow Banner

This "grow" banner at My Blessed Nest is cute for spring.

Spring Banner

Nanny Goat shares  how to make this cute spring banner.

Have you seen anything super cute for spring or have you created anything for spring yet? Leave me a link so I can check it out. 

Wordless Wednesday: Easter Morning

Noah wasn't really in the mood for pictures Easter morning but I took some anyways. 

Of course he is smiling in the pic with Granddad and Uncle Andy!

You'll notice that J isn't in any of these. He was having some problems with his shoulder and back and wasn't feeling well.

Linking to Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs

and Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Moms

Happy Easter!

Just wanted to take a minute to wish all of you a 

Happy Easter!

Clemson Spring Game

On Saturday, we decided to take Noah to the Clemson (a college that is about an hour away) Spring Football (scrimmage) game. We are always a little hesitant to do these type of things with Noah and don't do them frequently because he tends to get over stimulated and it just turns into a disaster where he is frustrated, upset, crying, yelling, and sometimes hitting. But we decided to give it a try. I'm happy to report that Noah did really, really, really well. J and I were both VERY impressed at how well he handled everything. 


They had a "Be a Tiger Field Day" for kids before the Spring game so we decided to get there while that was going on and see if Noah wanted to participate in any of it. They had different stations set up where the kids could do different activities (like a bean bag toss or drawing a picture to send to children in Japan). At each station, they got a tiger paw stamped on a little card and at the last station they turned in the card and received a t-shirt.


After Noah went to all the stations and got his t-shirt, we needed to find some lunch. We were (walking) and about to head in one direction when Noah heard a live band outside of a restaurant in the opposite direction playing a Beatles song. He asked to go there. We explained that they probably wouldn't be playing Beatles music the entire time and he might have to hear other songs he didn't like. (Noah is very sensitive music -  he loves some music but sometimes music - mainly slow songs - really upsets him even to the point of tears.) But he still wanted to go so we decided to give it a try and headed in that direction. We found a table outside and sat down and listened to the music. 


We ordered lunch and continued to listen to the music. I was shocked that Noah was tolerating it so well. They did play a slow song that he didn't like but we just reminded him that it would be over in a minute and he did OK with that. We just hung out there for over an hour until it was time to head to the stadium for the spring game. 


Noah did very well with the game too! He got so excited when the team ran down the hill, which was very near where we were sitting. He yelled and clapped at appropriate times. Towards the end, he did start to get a little antsy but never got out of control. 


It was a really good day and I'm really glad we decided to give it a try.


And now some pictures......

At one of the stations at the field day

Ready for the game to start

 Looking at the program book with Daddy

Posing by the rock that all the players touch for luck as they run down the hill to the field

He even sported his orange shoes and Clemson socks!

He now has a tiger tail. :)

Watching the game

Worn out

(on the ride home)

Miracle League Spring Season

The Spring Season of Miracle League baseball started last night. In case you are a new reader (and I know we have several) let me explain what Miracle League baseball is. It is baseball for children with special needs and they play on a special field that wheelchairs and walkers can easily maneuver on. Every child had an able bodied "buddy" to help him play and it's purely for fun. There are no strikes, no outs, no losers - only winners! 


I grew up playing softball off and on over the years and my brother was always playing baseball and quite good at it and I just enjoy baseball games and always dreamed of my children playing baseball. Then there was a period of time I thought that dream might never come to fruition since Noah could not walk. And then, Miracle League baseball came to our area and now my heart soars every single time I watch Noah (and all the adorable kiddos) excitedly play. 


As I mentioned, every Miracle League player has an able bodied buddy helping them out. Most of the time they are youth groups from churches or a local high school baseball or softball team volunteering to be buddies. But, Noah has a special buddy; his Grandadddy! He just plays and behaves better when Granddaddy is his buddy. And I think Granddad probably enjoys it as much as Noah does! 


Noah has been counting down the days until the first game of the season. He was SO excited. In fact, you can watch this short little video to see his excitement! He did great playing and was thoroughly enjoyed so now I'll bombard you with pictures because I just got SO many good ones I can't narrow it down too much! 

In the dug out waiting on their turn to bat - is that look 

he is shooting me not priceless! 

On deck waiting on their turn to bat

Getting ready to bat

(They always step up to the plate. My Dad then takes the bat and knocks the dirt off Noah's "cleats" and then they take a practice swing.)

Look at that grin on his face!

And their off! 

This is my favorite from last night! 

Just look at that SMILE! If that doesn't scream happiness then I don't know what does!

On second base