Texas Rangers Faux TOMS

Over the last few months, I've been too busy or exhausted to craft, create, paint, bake or even really cook for that matter.  But I did find some time to make my mama a gift she would love for Mother's Day.

I used freezer paper as a stencil so that I could get that Rangers' "T" just right.  Have you ever used freezer paper before?  It's super easy.  You just cut out your stencil and iron it on to your fabric causing the plastic side to stick allowing you to paint without worrying about your stencil moving.  When the paint is dry, the freezer paper peels right off.  Here's a tutorial from Make Myself at Home that was really handy.

I free handed the baseball, so it's not as perfect as I wanted it to be, but it think it turned out alright for my first shot! 

Mama wore these to the Rangers game that we went to as a big ole family and she loved them!  She said that they were really comfortable too!  I was thinking of making a Mean Green pair for myself just in time for football season!

Photo Ribbon

I've been making these photo ribbons as gifts and everyone has been loving them so I thought I'd share them with you today. 

via pinterest

I found the idea on Pinterest but made it a little easier on myself by using coasters as the photo tiles rather than canvas.  

The first one that I made was in black in white and I love it.  But the colored photo tiles look really great too!

With each new one I make, I think of something more or different to add to it to make each ribbon unique. 

I can't wait to make my own!

Revamped Stool: A Special Gift

I found this stool in my parent's shop when we were going through all their old junk one day.  It was my Pa Pa's and it had been sitting out there for years just getting dirty and falling apart.  I asked my Mama if I could have it and she told me no.  Then I asked her if I could take it and refinish it for her.  After thinking on it for a while, she reluctantly gave it to me.  I know she didn't want to give it away.  I could feel it. She made up some lame excuse of how she didn't have room for it in her house even if I brought it back to life so I should just keep it.   After I brought it home with me, I started scheming.  What if I refinished it such a way that if I gave it back to her, she wouldn't want to part with it again? 

DIY Ornaments

I have been making homemade gifts like crazy! And it has been so much fun!  I believe that it's better to give than receive.  So that's why I decided to give myself this ornament ;-)  In the middle of making gifts for others, I made a little time for myself and made an ornament of my own.

I don't have a tutorial for you today, but  you can check out this tutorial when I mod podge a picture frame and follow the same principle.  I just mod podged left over wrapping paper to an "H" chipboard, painted the sides and the back, and distressed the edges.  Then I wrapped twine around the top so that it could hang from the tree.  Isn't it lovely?!

I also made something special for someone else.

If your name is GRACE HARMON then stop reading now or your will ruin your Christmas.

If you read any further it'll be like sneaking into the living room when you were a kid and cutting the tape on the presents under the tree, carefully unwrapping the paper, and taking a peek into the boxes to see what awaits inside.  I did that one year and Christmas morning stunk for me.  There was no eager anticipation to see what I got, because I already knew.

So you gone now, Gracie?

I hope so 'cause here we go....

 Grace is my sister-in-law and just married into the family in October.  I made her this sheet music ornament for one of her Christmas gifts.  Decor made with sheet music is super popular right now.

 At first sight, it doesn't seem all that special.

But it's the lyrics on the sheet music that really make it unique.

"Wondering where would I be without you in my life"

 "But you brighten up for me all of my days"

 

Can anyone guess the song?

 "How sweet it is to be loved by you"

And it was Grace and Jason's first dance song at their wedding.

 I love this so much it makes my heart hurt.  

I'll be making one for Justin and I to hang on our family tree.

I cannot wait to give this to Grace!  I hope she loves it as much as I do!

If you'd like to see my inspiration for this ornament, check out my Pinterest pins here, here and here. 

DIY Tile Coasters

Source: stylemepretty.com via Jordan on Pinterest

I've been seeing these tile coasters everywhere and they are so pretty!  We have a couple sets of decorative coasters and I love them both, but they don't really go with the decor of our living room.  So I thought I'd give these diy tile coasters a try and see if I could make some!

I deviated a bit from the directions of the common tile coaster.

  I'm such a rebel. 

Here's what I did:

Back to School!

stolen from my SIL's facebook ;)

 Our nephew, Jax, is starting pre-k this year!  Isn't he a handsome devil? 

I wanted to do something special for him to celebrate his first day,  so Justin and I filled this cool Crayola thermos with goodies!  Along with new pencils (I found the free pencil tags over at eighteen25), we stuffed some Toy Story magnets and skittles in it.

Then we wrote a note on the back of a free back to school clip art that I printed out.  He was so excited to get his present!  I think I just started a sweet, little, back to school tradition for him =)

DIY Scrapbook Paper Wall Plaques

My sister, Em, is moving into a new apartment this semester and she doesn't have much of a budget to spend on home decor.  I told her "No, problem!  Let me make ya something!"  Big sister to the rescue! ;)

Can't Afford a Canvas Photo Print? Try This Instead!

This past Christmas, the Harmon family got together and took a big ole family picture.  I think we look rather dashing don't you?

Marisa Swarbrick Photography

We have a long wall in our house that creates a "hallway" between the front of the house where the formal living and dining room are to the back of the house where the family room is.  I have high hopes for this wall but it's going to be a LONG work in progress.  Here are some ideas that I have for it.

Rosette Necklace

 
I whipped this out a couple of Saturday's ago.  I had seen one similar on Made it on Monday and thought how easy it would be to make!  I used ribbon as the ties to make it adjustable so that you can wear it with any shirt.  It looks really great with a scoop neck shirt or tank top!

 I love the yellow mixed with the burlap.  It says, happy, sunshine, summery, laid back, and casual.  The pearls give it just enough daintiness to make it girly.  I've got some pink fabric that is whispering in my ear.  I wouldn't be surprised if I make a pink and a yellow just for me sometime soon!

Father's Day is Sunday!

Any of you have any special plans with your dads?  I spend father's day last year with the Harmon family, so this year I'm making the trek to my parent's house so I can spend time with my daddy!

I've been roaming around the internet for free printables and have found some cute stuff!

Source: inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com via Jordan on Pinterest

 I found this cute printable that you can use for a diy card, tag or decoration!

Love DIY Gifts? Check This Out!

I'm always in need of a quick, last minute gift.  Since I'm on this crafting kick, I'm enjoying making these frames as a special way to say "happy birthday!" "thank you" or whatever else I need to give to show my token of appreciation.  I made this frame and gave it to the student that I mentor at Calhoun Middle School.  It was just a little something I wanted to give her to say "Adios!  Have a great summer!"

 I thought it turned out really cute! The flower is made out of tissue paper with ribbon glued underneath. 

It's so easy to make these.  Here's how you do it: