Hope you all had a super weekend. I had a really busy week so this weekend was really great. I also spent some time finishing or nearly finishing some of my projects. I finished decoupaging the little chair. I still need to go over all of it with Mod Podge and then I am going to seal the whole chair with a Poly Acrylic. I also have the other chair to do, but it should be easier since I know a few shortcuts and better ways to do things.
I’m almost done with the other school desk, I should be able to finish it tomorrow or so I hope. Then I have to start on my 3rd one and also the antique desk for my studio/office. Oh and I am going to do that stair painting too I told you about for the basement stairs and the stairs to my studio. Cannot wait to start that! All I need is time. I also have to decide whether I am doing the table that goes with the little chairs in grape or turquoise paint. I am also toying with the idea of decoupaging the table top but I don’t think I will to break it up. We shall see I guess. Below you will find the chair which is all covered but like I said I have to Mod Podge seal it and then Poly Acrylic is going on. Let me know what you think.
Wow, we have had a busy few days and going headstrong into a busy week. So many projects and so little time seems to be my mantra. I am going to give you a visual at some of the things I have been up to and will be bringing you upcoming posts on.
I am almost done with the school desk you will see below. The little chair you see is a chair from my table and chair set as a child I am redoing them again. The picture with the blue paint is when I ripped of the old decals I had on them. I am going to decoupage fabric onto both chairs and then paint the table either a turquoise or grape and put it up in my studio/sewing/craft room.
We also had to take time to play and play we did, I am not afraid to let my kids get dirty climbing and jumping on our land. It’s nothing a hot bath can’t fix. Of course it’s great to end the day as a family seated around our fire pit with our dogs, husband playing the guitar and lots of smores. Truly just a few of my favorite things that I am so blessed to be a part of. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. What have you been up to?
One of the larger school desks I had as a kid that has suffered and needs a new life. Don’t worry already looking much better.
Priming the metal, don’t mind the huge mess I work in with all my stuff. I also recycle old tablecloths as drop cloths.
Still has the glaze on from the Modge Podge.
Partially done
The woodpeckers are back in full force and it sounds like a housing development is going up. We got to see some of their reno work up close and down low.
I know it may seem like I am slacking with the reviews/giveaways that you have come to expect, but I promise I have definitely not been slacking. I have great reviews and giveaways coming as always but also some great DIY projects I can’t wait to share with you. I wish there were more hours in a day because I just can’t seem to finish fast enough.
Some of the things I am going to be sharing in the next few days:
Turning an antique vanity into a great sewing table for my studio/sewing/craft room
Refinishing 2 more vintage school desks
Transforming an antique desk into a new timeless treasure
Decoupage crafts and accessories
Decoupage on a children’s table and chair set with fabric
Painting and decoupaging the stairs leading to my studio
Painting our basement stairs in a fun family project
I really like to craft, unfortunately I do not have as much time as I would like to do it. With a slight addiction to Pinterest that I can guess that many of you may have as well, it gives me lots of inspiration. I was just saying to my daughter the other night, if they had Pinterest and You Tube tutorial videos years ago I would have tried and attempted so much more. I think it’s wonderful how these sources have inspired us and given us the confidence we would not have had just reading it in print form. This year I made a lot of salt dough ornaments. What I did was make enough so that they kids would have their own advent tree that they would hang the handmade ornaments on each night. I wrapped them all and then pasted numbers on the packages. It was really nice that I got to make the ornaments with them. I also made Christmas tree salt dough ornaments with the fingerprints of all 7 of us. I then made some adorable and keepsake hand-print salt dough ornaments for the little guys. Helping me with my crafting this year was Elmer’s.
Elmer’s sent me a spectacular Craft It kit full of $150 of their great products. I mainly used the Paint Pens to embellish the salt dough ornaments and other crafts like the coasters and the glass Christmas ball ornaments. The paint pens are super easy to use and come in different point size tips so you can use fine when writing and for detail work and larger sizes for other paint crafts. My next project to use them for are river rocks. I have collected an entire huge bucket of river rocks and plan to apint them and of course I will show you the results.
The X-ACTO products I plan to try by first using them to cover some wood letters for the kid’s playroom. I also want to do some type of door decoration with scrapbook paper and wood hearts for Valentine’s Day. The next big project I want to try is cutting fabric to cover some kid’s chairs and decoupaging it. I have seen this done and it is gorgeous and the X-ACTO products will come in so handy for cutting the fabric pieces.
Elmer’s Craft It Kit–$150.00 Value Includes:
FOAM AND DISPLAY BOARD:
9” x 12” Mini Bi-Fold Foam Board
X-ACTO:
Designer Series Gripster Craft Knife
Designer Series 12” Metal Ruler
Designer Series 12” X 12” Self Healing Mat
Designer Series 8” Scissors
Designer Series 5” Precision Tip Scissors
Designer Series Basic Shape Templates
Designer Series Decorative Shape Templates
PAINTERS:
Painters Bright Colors
Painters Sherbet Swirl
CRAFTBOND:
Dot Runner
Foam Mounting Tape
Thin Medium Glue Spots
All Purpose Glue Stick
Quick Dry Dual Tip Glue Pen
Elmer’s Designer Tape
Elmer’s is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings and one lucky blog reader will win an Elmer’s Craft It kit just like I received worth $150.00!!! Thank you Elmer’s for the kit of inspiration and tools and for sponsoring this creative giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Elmer’s Craft It Crafting Kit ($150 Value) Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter to win the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Do you want to do more crafts with your kids but get overwhelmed when thinking of what to make, then shopping for supplies, getting everything together and then actually starting the craft? If you do, you will be interested in Create Abilities For Kids, Developmental Art Kits for Young Children. Their art kits are geared toward a holiday or time of the year and come with talking points to enhance your child’s learning and development. I received a set for November that contained a turkey craft and another about the invention of flight. Everything was packaged neatly with a page of instructions and talking points for each craft. It even included craft paper to keep the work surface clean. I did use my own because I had some large pieces that I needed to use and recycle. The instructions were easy and the tools and supplies included worked well. Luke made the turkey and Ethan did the Flight craft. The crafts were easy for the to do with a little instruction on my part and they were proud of their finished creations.
Create Abilities For Kids’ team has many years of experience in child care, education and related fields. Their staff has found a unique way to combine their love for both art and children into one.The kits are designed for ages 3, 4 and 5 and you can have them delivered to your home each month. This way you can make sure you are crafting with your kids and don’t need to worry about planning, shopping and prep work. You can read below some information right from their website about the subscription service they offer.
Create Abilities For Kids offers monthly subscription packages containing your choice of two, three or four art kits for your child. These kits are delivered to your door each month containing the project, art materials,
and resources to further develop your child’s learning.
All pricing listed below includes all kit materials and shipping and
handling charges.
Two Kits Delivered / Month – $14.85
Three Kits Delivered / Month – $19.85
Four Kits Delivered / Month – $23.85
**We also offer discounted subscriptions for households purchasing kits
for multiple children shipping to the same address.
Create Abilities For Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a box like I received with 2 craft kits. Thank you Create Abilities For Kids for the review kit and for sponsoring this creative giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
When I see the words paint chips, I think of the scary public service announcements showing a toddler playing in an old house by a peeling windowsill. Paint Chips though are not scary on Pinterest, in fact they are the stars of some really great craft projects. Of course I am not talking about peeling paint but of the sample cards you use to select paint. After seeing some of the great projects, I was intrigued but I did wonder, what stores thought of these now countless women marching in and leaving with stacks of paint chips and no paint. Would stores soon be locking up the paint chips behind the counter? Would paint chips start to be rationed? If so, I better get some while I can.
So, in the store the other night passing by a very colorful selection of paint chips; I decided to take a few samples. I had my 3 and 5-year-old with me and my 3-year-old was generously helping but mainly picking out the same color and then handing them to me saying, “Look Mommy, I got these for you.” It might have been my imagination because the store was relatively empty, but it seemed like a manager was watching me and every announcement I heard was, “Security please go to the paint department, there is a woman taking paint chips.” I worked through the anxiety and knew that other pinners had to have done the same thing and they not only lived but created something useful and pinned it. So I took my paint chips and put them in the pocket of my purse and continued shopping. Now I need to find a project.
‘Tis the Season for crafting and baking with your kids!!! I recently received “Holiday Crafting & Baking With Kids to review. This book by Jessica Strand is full of all kinds of crafts and baking for the holidays. Children ages four and up will love selecting their own materials and digging into these cheerful projects. There is something here for everyone and every winter occasion—Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s, and Boxing Day! Step-by-step instructions, helpful templates, and color photos make it a cinch for little ones to follow along. Best of all, the materials and ingredients for these projects are inexpensive, easy to find, and even easier to turn into amazing gifts, decorations, and treats.
One of the first crafts we decided to try was the shimmering snowflakes. The directions were straightforward and you could improvise on them creating larger or smaller snowflakes. I really like that since snowflakes are unique, that this did not have to be a “perfect” craft. You can definitely let your kids add their own spin on them through colors, size or shape. This is a very fun craft to do together. It may be harder for 4 and 5 year-olds to do unassisted since there is a bit of intricate twisting but I think it is great for older kids. When you are finished you can hang them up around the house and you have a festive start to your holiday decorations.
Chronicle Books is sponsoring a give-away on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of “Holiday Crafting & Baking With Kids.” Thank you Chronicle Books for the review book and for sponsoring this great give-away on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Mandatory Entry- Visit Chronicle Books, and let me know another book you like. Leave your answer in a comment on this post. (If this entry is not done, all others will be deleted)
Extra Entries: (make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry or they will not count)
2. Like Chronicle Books on Facebook, and leave a comment on their wall about Mommy Ramblings and this give-away. Then leave me a comment here that you did that.
5. Follow Mommy Ramblings by email, and leave me a comment here that you did.
6. Vote for Mommy Ramblings on Picket Fence Blogs (Button is on the side of our blog, “We’re on the Fence) and leave me a comment here you did. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
7. Rate Mommy Ramblings on Top Mommy Blogs (button is on the side of our blog) and leave me a comment here that you did. (Can only be used as one entry per give-away.)
8. Tweet this give-away on Twitter and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
10. Write a review for Mommy Ramblings on Alexa.com (button is on our blog right under the We’re on the Fence button) and leave me a comment here that you did. Can only be done once per give-away.
Good Luck Everyone!!! Give Away Ends December 11th at 12am EST. Winner will be selected by Random.org.
‘Tis the Season for crafting and baking with your kids!!! I recently received “Holiday Crafting & Baking With Kids to review. This book by Jessica Strand is full of all kinds of crafts and baking for the holidays. Children ages four and up will love selecting their own materials and digging into these cheerful projects. There is something here for everyone and every winter occasion—Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year’s, and Boxing Day! Step-by-step instructions, helpful templates, and color photos make it a cinch for little ones to follow along. Best of all, the materials and ingredients for these projects are inexpensive, easy to find, and even easier to turn into amazing gifts, decorations, and treats.
One of the first crafts we decided to try was the shimmering snowflakes. The directions were straightforward and you could improvise on them creating larger or smaller snowflakes. I really like that since snowflakes are unique, that this did not have to be a “perfect” craft. You can definitely let your kids add their own spin on them through colors, size or shape. This is a very fun craft to do together. It may be harder for 4 and 5 year-olds to do unassisted since there is a bit of intricate twisting but I think it is great for older kids. When you are finished you can hang them up around the house and you have a festive start to your holiday decorations.
Chronicle Books is sponsoring a give-away on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of “Holiday Crafting & Baking With Kids.” Thank you Chronicle Books for the review book and for sponsoring this great give-away on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Mandatory Entry- Visit Chronicle Books, and let me know another book you like. Leave your answer in a comment on this post. (If this entry is not done, all others will be deleted)
Extra Entries: (make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry or they will not count)
2. Like Chronicle Books on Facebook, and leave a comment on their wall about Mommy Ramblings and this give-away. Then leave me a comment here that you did that.
5. Follow Mommy Ramblings by email, and leave me a comment here that you did.
6. Vote for Mommy Ramblings on Picket Fence Blogs (Button is on the side of our blog, “We’re on the Fence) and leave me a comment here you did. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
7. Rate Mommy Ramblings on Top Mommy Blogs (button is on the side of our blog) and leave me a comment here that you did. (Can only be used as one entry per give-away.)
8. Tweet this give-away on Twitter and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
10. Write a review for Mommy Ramblings on Alexa.com (button is on our blog right under the We’re on the Fence button) and leave me a comment here that you did. Can only be done once per give-away.
Good Luck Everyone!!! Give Away Ends December 11th at 12am EST. Winner will be selected by Random.org.
Have you seen all the great patterns and colors Duck Tape makes? Far from your universal gray roll, there are now sheets and rolls of brightly colored and printed Duck Tape. This stuff is the newest craft sensation. You can browse all the great craft ideas and categories on thier Website. Have the Ducktivities left you inspired to create? I was recently sent an assortment of colored and printed rolls and sheets of Duck Tape to review. I could not believe all the ideas that are on their Website. I really like some of the Christmas ones. The way the Website is set up, it is really easy to navigate and find just the kind of craft you want to make. Also, it tells you the skill needed to do each one. In addition you can view their videos on YouTube through the link on their Website. Duck Tape has certainly come a long way from just the big gray rolls that we are all so familiar with.
Duck Tape Sheets!!!
If I have sparked your creative nerve, then you will be very excited. Duck Tape is sponsoring a give-away on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win the same gift pack that I received. Thank you Duck Tape for the review pack and for sponsoring this creative give-away on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Duck Tape Gift Pack of Colored and Printed Rolls and Sheets Give-Away on Mommy Ramblings Rules!!!
Mandatory Entry- Visit Duck Tape Ducktivities, and let me know one of the craft ideas you like. Leave your answer in a comment on this post. (If this entry is not done, all others will be deleted)
Extra Entries: (make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry or they will not count)
4. Follow Duck Tape on Twitter, and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name.
5. Follow Mommy Ramblings by email, and leave me a comment here that you did.
6. Vote for Mommy Ramblings on Picket Fence Blogs (Button is on the side of our blog, “We’re on the Fence) and leave me a comment here you did. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
7. Rate Mommy Ramblings on Top Mommy Blogs (button is on the side of our blog) and leave me a comment here that you did. (Can only be used as one entry per give-away.)
8. Tweet this give-away on Twitter and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
10. Write a review for Mommy Ramblings on Alexa.com (button is on our blog right under the We’re on the Fence button) and leave me a comment here that you did. Can only be done once per give-away.
Good Luck Everyone!!! Give Away Ends November 25th at 12am EST. Winner will be selected by Random.org.
Serif recently sent me their Craft Artist Platinum Edition to review. This great set of 5 discs allows you to create millions of creative projects. You can use it to make scrapbooks, invitations, certificates, cards, party kits, posters, favors, labels, photobooks, table decorations and more. In 3 easy steps you can create a stunning project. Just choose your project, personalize and embellish it, and then share it. The pack includes, 5 discs full of stunning, high quality graphics, templates, and the CraftArtist Professional Program CD.
I was able to just load the discs and immediately start creating fun projects. There are so many templates, graphics and ideas that it can be quite addicting. One of the first things I made with this was my blog signature, which was so fast and simple. I love making scrapbook pages that can be printed and framed to commemorate a special day or event. It is so easy to embellish and personalize the templates and in mere minutes you have a beautiful creation.
This software is so great because at any time you can create a great project. I love to be able to make my kids special certificates to celebrate special events like the first day of school, losing a tooth, being potty trained, and more. Also, great to make little special cards to tuck in your children’s lunch especially for those just starting school for the first time. The possibilities are endless.
System Specs
Windows-based PC with DVD drive and mouse
Microsoft Windows® XP (32 bit), Windows® Vista, or Windows® 7 operating system
512MB RAM
266MB free hard disk space (program only)*
1024 x 768 monitor resolution
* Additional 4.3 GB is needed for all 4 content disks to be installed, but these can be on any available drive.
I am thrilled to let you know that Serif is sponsoring a give-away on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own CraftArtist Platinum Edition. Thank you Serif for the review software and for sponsoring this creative give-away on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US Residents.
Mandatory Entry- Visit Serif,and let me know another product that you like. Leave your answer as a comment on this blog post. (If this entry is not done, all others will be deleted.)
Extra Entries: (make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry or they will not count)
4. Follow Daisy Trail on Twitter, and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name.
5. Follow Mommy Ramblings by email, and leave me a comment here that you did.
6. Vote for Mommy Ramblings on Picket Fence Blogs (Button is on the side of our blog, “We’re on the Fence) and leave me a comment here you did. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
7. Rate Mommy Ramblings on Top Mommy Blogs (button is on the side of our blog) and leave me a comment here that you did. Can only be done once per give-away.
8. Write a review for Mommy Ramblings on Alexa.com (button is on our blog right under the We’re on the Fence button) and leave me a comment here that you did. Can only be done once per give-away.
9. Tweet this give-away on Twitter and leave me a comment here that you did with your Twitter name. You can do this once a day, just make sure and leave a comment each time you do.
