Creating with Kids: Life Size Cutouts

I haven't shared anything in a couple of weeks because things have been so hectic! 

VBS is just around the corner and I have also been doing a lot of babysitting lately

with my most favorite little people.

This week I am in Sacramento to stay with 3 cute kids while their mom 

takes a trip to Victoria with her mom. I checked the weather and when I saw that it

would be in the 100s, I packed some craft supplies to take along.

The favorite thing we did was life size cutouts:

I had them lie down on a roll of paper and I traced around them.

Then we drew in the clothes and facial features and they painted.

(the older ones could do some of it, I drew for the 2 year old, but she did most of the painting)

 They worked so intensely on them!

Then I cut them out and we put them up in the hallway 

where they usually hang their artwork.

 It was super easy and the kids loved it!

We also got inspiration from Pinterest and did a lot of paper plate projects!

Family Room Update: Progress!

You remember a few weeks ago when I wrote a post at 3 in the morning because I just couldn't stop thinking about swapping out the living/family rooms? And the next morning, I began the process of moving furniture, rugs, nic-nacs, ...

Well, I finally got the family room painted, curtains and pictures hung.

There's still more to do, like paint that big, white armoir!

 But I am very happy with the results!

 The room is so bright and cheerful!

The armoir doesn't even bother me too much (although I will get around to it eventually).

Next, some before and after shots so you can see the difference!

Kitchen Island Leads To So Much More!

Did you ever start one project and it lead to others? Happens all the time, right?

My helpers were visiting last week and I let them pick the color to put on the kitchen island (my plan was to paint over it later in a different color).

Turns out I really like it. I had been thinking something safe, like grey or white. Something that would actually match the kitchen.

And there's the problem.

 It doesn't match. My kitchen is black and white and yellow with pops of red, just like my old kitchen. But this is a different space, so maybe I should take this as a sign to make a change.

 So I lived with it for a few days and decided I liked it well enough to redo the cabinets.


I really like the black and white toile, but I have begun to notice that when you walk into the kitchen, the first thing you notice is the black and white pattern, not the dishes.

 

 I painted some cardboard pieces and put them on some of the shelves. The dishes became the stars instead of the toile. You actually notice them because the background becomes just that: background.

So, now I have a board that looks like this, to make sure I get the perfect shade, and soon I will be painting...again.

Guest Post...Almost

Today I am going to showcase my daughter's apartment. Caitlin shares a cute townhouse with her friend, Alyssa, and the two of them have decorated it with a lot of diy.

Here are just a few things they have done.

They both love Shakespeare, so they made art for their dining room wall using pages from an old book and a favorite quote from "As You Like It"

 Caitlin wrote out a favorite poem on this lampshade.

 Clever towel holder--it's intended use was as a desktop paperweight/holder.

 A basket full of pillows.

We found this chaise at a yardsale last summer, it did not look like this!

 I inherited this cupboard from my great aunt and now Caitlin owns it. It has been many colors over the years. It looks good in white.

Inside, she painted it blue to show off some of her owl collection and dishes.

There's Will Shakespeare again!

Another yardsale bargain: $3! I already had the paint and fabric, so that was the final cost.

This table is one of my favorites.

They took a $2 yardsale coffee table, painted it a pale blue, then put lace over the top and spray painted it white.

I think the girls have done a great job with this apartment!