Birthday Wreath

Tomorrow my son, Nick, will celebrate his "Double Digit" birthday! I can't believe I just wrote that. 10 years old....already! He's gone from this.....

 To this....

We are so thankful that God blessed us with such a fabulous son! We love you!

Now on to the Birthday Wreath...I decided to make a Birthday Wreath that I can hang on the bedroom door of whoever is celebrating their special day. Nick gets to take it for a test run.

I combined my three favorite wreath elements...fabric, balloons, ribbon. I started with a straw wreath, first adding a pipe cleaner hanger. I used fabric squares in shades of red, yellow, blue. I poked them into the wreath with a small Phillips screwdriver. You could add a dot of hot glue to the tip before poking it in for added holding power. I then added the balloons (from the Dollar Store!) using floral pins. I finished by filling in the gaps with various shades of colorful ribbon, also attaching those with floral pins. The embellishment at the bottom of the wreath is a birthday table decoration from the Dollar Store. I cut it into pieces and hot glued it on to the wreath. The metallic party horns were also a birthday find from the Dollar Store. I covered up the hot glue with a fabric flower. The flower center is a Nerf disc that happened to be laying around. I love the limey green against the red!

Balloons, fabric squares, ribbon strips

So colorful!!!

There are several tuturials online on how to do fabric wreaths, balloon wreaths and ribbon wreaths which is why I didn't go into too much detail. 

Tissue Paper Flowers

Last summer I was the set coordinator for a women's event. When you only have a budget of $250 you have to get creative. These little beauties saved my life! When you can get a variety box of 450 sheets of tissue paper from www.nashvillewraps.com for about $30 you know you can count yourself among the "Frugalistas!"

There are several tutorials online for making tissue paper flowers so I'm not going to go into the basics. However, I will tell you how I made the cocktail umbrella centers.

I had a box of these cocktail umbrellas lying around. I have no idea where they came from but they were exactly the colors I needed. I knew I had to think of a use for them so after a couple of days of mulling it over in my head...SHAZAM!...centers for the tissue paper flowers!

Step 1: Turn on a good movie. Step 2: Open an umbrella, apply a tiny bit of Super Glue to the center "pole." Even though the little rubber ring helps to hold up the umbrella, you will need the glue. It makes them all look uniform and even. Step 3: Hold for a few seconds until it adheres and won't slide back down. Step 4: Let it dry. Step 5: Cut a styrofoam ball in half. Step 6: Using only one half, poke the umbrellas into the rounded side of the styrofoam, arranging them so you have full coverage and can't see much of the styrofoam anymore.  Step 7: Push back the tissue paper layers from the center of the flower. Step 8: Glue the styrofoam down into the center of the flower.

The more I made the more creative they became. Just by rounding the edges of the petals or by cutting them into a point you can get all kinds of different looks. The top picture shows one where I alternated layers of light pink/dark pink.

Here are a few pics of the set elements. I love the color explosion!

The centerpiece of the stage...a giant mirror! The theme was "Reflecting God's Glory."

There were two smaller oval mirrors on stage left and stage right

Found these glitter butterflies at Five Below

Valentine Fabric Wreath

Can you say "Valentine's Day" or "New Baby Girl"??? I had a straw wreath lying around my craft room looking all lonely and naked so I raided my fabric cupboard in search of pinks, whites and fuchsias. I didn't have any fuchsia so I headed on down to the Dollar Store. SUCCESS! I found these cheap little fuchsia tulle dress-up skirts in the kid's section. They even had little rhinestones glued to the skirt.

Here you can see some of the fabrics and textures. Fuchsia and pink tulle, white tulle, pink satin, a swiss dot, and a sweet girlie calico. Vary the shades of pink as well as the prints (bigger, busier prints vs. simple, "open" prints). It looks great when they all come together!

I cut approximately 4" squares out of each of the fabrics using pinking shears. Then came the part that gives the palm of your hand a workout. Poke the fabric into the straw wreath using a small screwdriver (right side of fabric facing you so when it's poked in you it folds up and you see the right side of the fabric). I actually put a dot of hot glue at the tip before poking it in for added holding power.

Keep poking until the front and sides of the wreath are filled in. You don't have to insert the squares right next to each other. Once inserted the fabric spreads out at the top which provides coverage. To finish it off I used a pink satin ribbon to make a hanger.

Pasta Garland

Here's a great holiday decorating project to do with little ones. I made these pasta garlands with my daughter about 9-10 years ago and they have survived remarkably well. The spray paint must have really strengthened the pasta because very few pieces have broken over the years.

I chose Rigatoni and wheel shaped pasta for my garland but there are so many shapes to choose from. Pick one you like. I spray painted the rigatoni with gold paint and chose traditional jewel tones for the wheels. I think the spray paint even had glitter in it. Spray paint one side of the pasta, wait until it dries, then flip the pasta over and spray paint the other side. I bought a gold string at my local fabric store to string the pasta. Tie a knot in one end and start adding the pieces. When you get close to the end of the string or decide its long enough, tie off with another knot. So simple, so easy!

Because of the variations in pasta and colors, you can really get creative. You could spray paint rigatoni in white and red, then alternate them on a white string to make a candy cane stripe. You could even spray paint pasta in black/orange and make a garland for Halloween. How about pastels for Easter?! See what I mean? Go crazy!

"Twas the Night Before Precept"

I've been teaching a Precept Upon Precept Bible study on Revelation for the past year and a half. Next week we will begin Part 4, the final installment. It's hard to believe that by the time we are done we will have spent two years on one book of the Bible! It has been an amazing experience. For the last class before the holidays I decided to write my own version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Twas the Night Before Precept

'Twas the night before Precept
Laundry, homework begun.
Days Three, Four and Five
Were still left to be done.

Colored pencils lined up
On the table with care,
In hopes that some study
Would soon go on there.

The children competing,
Playing games on the Wii,
While my husband watched football,
Green Bay vs. the Chiefs.

I poured me some coffee,
Got a tasty snack,
Settled into my chair,
Put my things in a stack.

Observation worksheets,
A commentary book,
Booted up the Bible
Downloaded on my Nook.

I began asking questions,
"Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?"
The truths I discovered
Made me, out loud, shout, "Wow!"

Because in that very first verse
I observed, took apart,
God's Word came alive,
Went deep into my heart.

I read and I saw things
I'd never noticed before,
Because I was usually in a hurry
To get out the door.

I had no idea
That I was missing so much
Of what God wanted to teach me
From His amazing Book.

So I will keep studying,
Do my best and work hard,
Because the Messiah is worthy.
His hands bear the scars.

When the Lamb's book of life
Is opened that day
I'll know it was worth it
To study this way.
     Kristin Pearson

A "Whoville" Christmas

I had the privilege of being able to work on the set/props/decor for Northside Christian Church's 2011 Christmas production of "Whoville", an original musical production telling the story of the Grinch in a new way. I had a blast creating "Whoish" style props. It's not often that you can decorate for Christmas with such bright colors, crooked lines, and tons of glitter! I'm just going to let the photos speak for themselves.

Bunco Wreath

For the past three years I have hosted Christmas Bunco. I always go "all out" to try and make it a special occasion. I saw the YouTube video below which inspired me to make my own Bunco wreath as a statement piece to hang on the front door to greet everyone as they came in. It was a huge hit!!

For my wreath I purchased an inexpensive 24" green Christmas wreath, covered it in white deco mesh, then began to build it with different textures. Hot pink deco mesh ribbon, hot pink jingle bells, hot pink tubing, silver glitter picks, hot pink sequin picks, pieces of a black feather boa, and a fabulous ribbon bow. The fuzzy dice came from a local auto parts store. The wooden letters were spray painted black, covered in black glitter glue, accented with rhinestones and then hot glued to the wreath. Voila! An over-the-top wreath that you couldn't help but notice!

Back To the Future

Last Thursday I went "Back To the Future." That is, back to studying and teaching Precept's Parts 3 & 4 of the book of Revelation. For me it is the single most fascinating book in the Bible. It lets us look into the future and get a glimpse of God's incredibly detailed plan for His creation. We see a God that is in absolute control. Not one thing happens unless it is ordained by His hand. We see unprecedented judgment in cataclysmic events never before seen nor that will ever be seen again. But we also see a holy God who in the midst of that judgment, still loves, still woos, still seeks, still desires that His creation acknowledges Him as their Lord and Savior.

He is not our Santa Claus in the sky who is merely there to cater to our whims. He is not an old, crickety Father Time figure that is too tired to listen. He is the Creator of this universe! With His breath He creates life. With His words He speaks things into existence. He is the only One who is worthy of all our praise! How do you see Him? Who do you say that He is?

Read Joel Rosenberg's message from September 11, 2011 if you have a chance.
http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/four-reasons-why-god-is-shaking-america-the-world-text-of-wake-up-call-sermon/

Grilled Pizza

Tonight we made Grilled Pizza, a favorite of the kids. I make my own dough, roll it out, grill it for a couple of minutes to firm up the dough, then let the kids "decorate" their own pizzas. Then it's back on the grill to finish cooking! It has a wonderful flavor.

Let the Games begin!

5...4...3...2...1...RELAX! I am in Texas for my annual Girls Weekend with friends that I have known for 20 years and I couldn't be happier. We get together on the same weekend every year and I always look forward to it. It's hours and hours of talking, eating, cooking, movies, reading, sleeping, photo-taking and best all, LAUGHING! I am so thankful for these women who love the Lord and faithfully serve Him. They are such an inspiration to me! My life is so very blessed for knowing them!

"I have thoughts..."

I had to play for worship team yesterday so I made chocolate covered strawberries to share with everyone in honor of Valentine's Day. Yummy!

I love the line from "Julie & Julia" where Julie is talking about starting a blog and is defending her intentions to her husband when she says, "I could write a blog. I have thoughts." Classic! So anway....the cold weather this winter is starting to wear on me. I keep hearing from the locals that this is the coldest winter they can remember. Well then, I'm so glad that I could be here for it! Yes, I grew up in North Dakota but somehow that hasn't endowed me with the super power of internal warmth. I'm ready for spring!

The Sound of Silence

I always enjoy Monday mornings because of the blanket of silence that falls over the house after the kids head off to school. The effect has only been magnified after being housebound with said kids for the entire weekend. My nerves have been stretched like rubber bands from listening to "I'm bored", "He's bothering me", "He won't let me play the Wii", and the inevitable bumps and bruises that come from rough-housing. Calgon, take me away! I'm off to drink a cup of coffee...Mommy's little helper!

Overwhelmed!

My brain hurts! I am trying to get a blog up and running but I am so overwhelmed by all the details. The longest journey begins with a single step so here goes.