Proud to be American Wreath

I love the 4th of July!!! 

Seriously, it's one of my favorite holidays. Probably because my parents turn it into a huge event. A huge event. Like having 60+ people over for a barbecue and the fireworks that my Dad, brothers and other various males from my family light off. It's always tons of fun, especially because everyone is having a good time. 

Since my parents like decorating for any holiday, especially when they have people over, I decided that I was going to make them a wreath for the occasion. 

However, I've been a little overzealous about crafting for the 4th, and got this wreath done a little early. (Okay, really early.) I wanted them to be able to hang it up for awhile so I added a cool feature. 

A chalkboard sign so they can change the greeting!!! 

so it could say this...

or this...

but right now, it currently says this...


I know, I'm a genius!!!





I'm sharing this project at the following link parties: 

What Have I Done?!?

I have come to a conclusion: 

 

I am a glutton for punishment!!! 
 

The other day, I was looking at my to-do list that I carry around in a little notebook. 

my cute little notebook that I couldn't live without

page 1

page 2

It just about gave me a heart attack. Or maybe just a panic attack. 

Either way, notice that it's quite a list. Two pages! (Okay, just one page front and back but still!) That's because in the next month I have projects that must be done for: Father's Day, a bridal shower, two wedding gifts, a bunch of decor for one wedding, two good friends' birthday presents and the 4th of July. Currently, it stands at 24 unfinished projects.

Make that 25.

Because I just signed up at Craftaholics Anonymous to participate in the summer gift exchange. 

Why would I do such a foolish thing? 

For the following reasons: 

a. I love getting things in the mail. 

b. I love making things for other people!

c. I think this is an awesome way to meet other bloggers and maybe make a new friend

d. the button was just so darn pretty that I wanted to display it on my blog
e. I just really wanted to

f. Did I mention I LOVE getting things in the mail?!!!

Now if any of you awesome people want to sign up for this awesome exchange and get a pretty cool handmade item in the mail, just click on the really pretty button and go sign up yourself.

Cancer Can Kiss My Butt!!!

I've shared with you guys in past posts that Amazing Boyfriend has cancer. If you've missed these posts you can read about them here, here or here. It definitely has changed my life, but it has inspired a few different ideas for projects such as my big girl panties. 

Now I have my newest idea, which I made for Amazing Boyfriend for his birthday. 

Fabric Painted Boxers 

With a pretty funny saying, if I do say so myself...

 

Come on, that's funny! 
 

Now some people might not think it's as funny as ABF and I do, but one thing that I've learned through all of this is that you HAVE to be able to laugh about it. You can't take it all so seriously, otherwise you won't survive it.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Amazing Boyfriend!!! And wishes for many more! 


I'm sharing this at the following link parties:
  

NO, I Don't Want Cheese With My Whine...

  

I feel like such a slacker!!! 

I was looking at my blog today and noticed that for the month of May that I have less blog posts then I did in April. 

For some reason this made me feel bad. Like I'm a big slacker. Like I've been ignoring this little bitty blog and I really haven't. Or at least I've tried not to. 

I do projects all the time. Some of them are slightly different versions of things I've shared on here already, so I don't want a lot of repeat posts. Some of my projects that I've finished I am waiting to share because they are for events that haven't happened yet or are gifts for people that I know read this blog (yeah, Brandy, I am talking about you!) and I don't want them to see what I made them before I give it to them. 
 

The other reason that I've been such a slacker this past month is kind of a good reason. 

For those of you that are new to this blog, my Amazing Boyfriend was diagnosed in February with cancer. He's currently being treated at the VA hospital in Portland, Oregon, which is about an hour drive from where we live. We moved in with his Mom and StepDad, who graciously offered to give us and our dog Luna a free place to live while we are dealing with this whole ordeal. 

Although his diagnosis is terminal, chemotherapy has been going well and ABF has been doing a LOT better then when he was first diagnosed. He's starting to gain some weight back and has been a little more active. He also gets bored being at home all the time, and since he voluntarily gave up his driving privileges because of all the medicines that he's on, I drive him wherever his little heart desires. Lately, he's been wanting to get out of the house whenever he has a chance, so I spend a LOT of time driving him all over the place. I am also a main source of his entertainment, so between working, driving him to appointments and running errands, and making sure he, our dog and myself are taken care of, something just get put on the back burner. 

Like this blog...
 

And I feel really bad about that. Because I feel like in the short time that I've had this blog I've learned a lot. I've met some really cool people. I love sharing some of the projects that I've done and I love getting inspiration from other blogs. I love all the sweet comments and positive reactions that I've received. I try to respond when people leave me comments, but I don't always have a chance. I apologize for that and hope that no one thinks that I don't care, because I do. 

So thank you to everyone who reads my blogs. Thanks for all the sweet comments. Thanks for following along with me through this journey. And thanks for reading this really long ranting post. 

P.S. Tomorrow is Amazing Boyfriend's birthday and the post about the present I made him is scheduled to post just after midnight. I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda excited about it. 

I've Been FRAMED!!!

Well, maybe not me, although I am in one of the pictures.


I've see some adorable frame ideas lately floating around blog land and of course I have to be a total copy cat I wanted to make a few frames myself and maybe borrow a few of their ideas. 

The first picture frame idea that I had to copy wanted to make is a moss covered picture frame that I first saw here on Not Just a Housewife (and if you haven't read Stacy's blog you are missing out because she's AWESOME!!) I was so happy for the inspiration, as well as a project that I could use my left over moss from my moss wreath that I made. 

Then I saw this awesome American Flag picture frame on Evelyn Kate Designs and wanted to make something similar, since hers turned out so cute. I've recently fallen in love with crackle finish on paint and thought that it would be perfect to try out on this project.

I saw a tutorial on Paper, Plate and Plane on how to make roses out of crafting foam. I thought they were so cute but I thought they would be awesome glued onto a picture frame. I was just going to use white foam, but Amazing Boyfriend suggested that I make them a few different colors so I got some pink and lavender as well. I'm glad that I listened to him because I think it turned out pretty darn cute! 

 

one of my favorite pictures of my parents!!!

 

  I stocked up on unfinished wood frames at Craft Warehouse because they were having a 40% off sale. Score!!! Plus they had some really cute frames that had scroll edges, which I thought would be perfect for making a Chalkboard Painted picture frame.

I also had an interesting idea while working on these candle holders that I copied were inspired by Rebecca at My Girlish Whims. I used a shaped punch to cut out a bunch of tissue paper shapes and modge podge them to a pair of glass candle holder. Since I had the butterfly shaped punch I thought it would be cute to cut out more shapes and modge podge them to a picture frame. 

My Mom and I recently threw a baby shower for my brother, Jonathan and his girlfriend Sarah, who are having a baby in June. Amusingly enough, I had some of the most fun making the prizes that we gave for the games we played at the baby shower. One of the projects that I made as a prize was a pair of modge podged picture frames with vinyl quotes on them. It worked out perfectly since the winner of the game was two people, so they each got one.

 

We do not remember days, We remember moments.

Life gives you many blessings the nicest come as FRIENDS

 

Didn't they turn out cute? 

Of course, I had to make at least one for myself. At Christmas time, I made a few of these and gave these to my favorite girlies with a favorite picture in it and I figured it was about time I made one for myself. 

The quote is "I get by with a little help from my friends." - John Lennon

As you can tell, I went a little crazy with the picture frame embellishing but it might be that extra motivation I need to get some of our pictures hung up.



P.S. I want to wish my parents a happy 31st wedding anniversary!!! 

"What Did You Just Say?"

The title of this blog post is a direct quote from Amazing Boyfriend as he was unpacking our shopping bag from the store. Most of the things inside it was his, so I left the unpacking of everything to him. 

 

While we were at the store, I bought a reusable coffee cup, very similar to this one that I got for my Mom for mother's day. Except mine if bigger, and blue. I bought it with the idea to put a vinyl decal on it, or vinylize it, like I did with my Mom's. 

 

When ABF unpacked my coffee cup, he made a comment about it. I told him that it's fine because after I vinylized the cup it would be really cute. 

 

"What did you just say?" was his response. 
 

"Vinylize it. You know, with vinyl." 

 

For some reason ABF thought this was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. I guess, vinylize sounds a lot like vandalize and somehow that's the correlation that his brain made when I said it. I guess, maybe it was a "you had to be there" moment. 
 

So here is my new coffee cup, all cute and VINYLIZED!!!

I think it turned out pretty cute!

I was having trouble coming up with what I wanted to put on my cup (because oh the possibilities!) but "Find Beauty In Every Day" has become a new manta for me lately, and I think it's a good one. 

P.S. Boys are silly