Chalkboard

I needed a chalkboard for my salon.
So I made an exciting trip to Goodwill and bought a hideous tray for about $1. (if you own one like this I'm not sorry I'm making fun of it but I AM sorry if I hurt your feelings. But it IS hideous)
I taped off everything but the bottom of the tray.

Spray with chalkboard spray paint

I had the 'brilliant' idea of using MOD PODGE and tissue paper to cover the 'frame'

Took forever, looked stupid, got mad.

2 wks later I started cleaning my house for a party and  came back to my project because it was taking up too much space. I HAD to finish this thing.

Taped off the bottom and spray painted the frame with silver paint.

Apply hardware for hanging on the back.

Done.

Fall Garland

My daughter was stir crazy today. 

 I've got a headache knocking at my door and the baby wants to eat and my house is screaming CLEAN ME!!!. . . but I know what the word 'priority' means. 

  I dropped it all for awhile and found some supplies

 and sent "AJ" into the backyard to collect some leaves. 

Here's what I used: Construction paper,scissors, glue-stick,yarn,hole-punch,water color paints

-Cut out a few pumpkins and stems

-Cut leaves out of construction paper
-AJ used the glue-stick to put the stems on the pumpkins
-I Set up AJ with the construction paper leaves and paints (I told her to paint the colors that she sees outside)
-Punched holes in leaves and pumpkins

AJ threaded leaves and pumpkins. (Tip: Tie a little knot in the end of the yarn so it doesn't fray)

"Mommy!  I just LOVE painting leaves!  They make me happy!" -AJ  

"I just love my Mommy, you're a good Mama" -AJ

 We hung them up!

Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our 'To Do' lists that we forget how simple 

                                        it can be to spend time with our little ones.  

She was so pleased that I took the time with her to make something pretty.  

           We were both refreshed from our creative venture 

and we successfully used up some more craft supplies!

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Our lil Fall Wreath

My daughter (she's 4) and I had some free time today and I want to teach her about fall.  We're going to try and make something a couple times /wk.
I decided our front door needed a wreath and ran around the house gathering up random supplies.  I just kinda made it up as I went.  (also I am having serious issues with figuring out the spacing of this blog interface so bear with me!)






I started with a hanger and an old stained hanes t-shirt.



I bent the hanger into the shape of a circle leaving the hanger part in tact at the top for hanging the wreath.


I ripped strips of the t-shirt for my daughter to wrap around the hanger- we tied the t-shirt ends to the hanger.








Then ripped strips of fabric to tie around the t-shirt covered hanger. (tip: to make ripping fabric easier start each rip by cutting into the fabric first with scissors about and inch or so.)
My daughter had SO much fun learning to tie knots.  We're that much close to shoe tying!

To finish we added some embellishments-  fake glittery leaves I had from some other arrangement project I had.








More of my supplies have purpose!

Here's another wreath I made using up the rest of the fabric, added the phrase with a piece of cardboard covered in paper, then printed and taped. 

Here's the Deal

Hi! My name is abbEy and this is my first blog!  I have no idea what I'm doing so go easy on me. :)

I have piles and piles of crafty stuff.  It's all tucked away in closets and crates and baskets and drawers.  Cluttering up cupboards and hallways and corners and tables.
Every time I start to purge my home and I come across this stuff I just can't seem to let it go.  I think "what if I need it some day?"
So, I've decided to challenge myself to using as much of it as possible over the next year.  By way of craft projects with my daughter, art for my home, Bday, Baby, and Christmas gifts. . . and maybe a few 'Just becauses.
Feel free to stop by often to be amused, grab some ideas, drop me some feedback, or just to witness me shamelessly promote myself in hope of some encouragement ;)
"USE IT UP ABBEY!"