Jewelry Tree

I wanted and needed a way to display all of my earrings and I wanted it to be pretty.  Time to call on Mr. Magillie.  Jake really is such a good sport about all of my projects.  I had admired some metal trees by this etsy seller but being a frugal I wanted to do it  on the cheap.  A little bit of a different look but still pleasing… I got my idea here.

You can make one too—it is easy! 

1. Locate a good tree branch on the ground or prune your trees a little. :)
2. Get a piece of scrap wood for the base and make it a pretty shape.  Sand and smooth as necessary.
3. Drill a hole-roughly the size of the tree branch.
4. Fit tree in the drilled hole.  If you have extra space you can secure with wood glue or putty.
5. Spray paint with color of your choice.  ( I used with and then coated with a glitter layer of spray paint.  I thought it had a nice winter (ie) feel.)
6. Arrange earrings on your new display piece!  So easy and pretty!!

  

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Before and After…

Caleb got his first big boy haircut.  I can’t believe how much he looks like a little man—Jake in particular.  Love – Love- Love!

This Cold Weather…

 is for the birds!  I am desperately hoping that Puxatony Phil’s prediction is correct and that spring will be on its way—pronto!  Here are a few bird houses that Lil and I made out of an old orange juice container and an old milk container.  I rinsed them out and let the Goose paint them up and voila!  The birds were certainly pleased and we loved watching our “bird t.v.”.

   

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*Sigh*

Have days when you are tired of parenting?  I know I do.  Well, a few weeks ago I threw in the towel and let my daughter take a bath…in her Halloween costume.  At least she was a Mermaid.

 

 

 

 

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Picture Perfect Portrait…or not

Before embarking on the whole stay-at-home gig, I taught art at a local middle school.  I love it and miss it and was reminded of a lesson the other day.

Portraiture.

A hard beast to tackle ,I think , even for the best portrait artists.  I would practice with the children how the face is divided down the middle for symmetry.  The face is then divided into thirds and then we would place the facial features.  It was always fun,and all were great, although none were “perfect”.   Myself included!  One of the hardest habits to get the kids to kick—eye placement.  I would joke—“move the eyes down-ya need room for your brains!”  Eyelids would also go to the wayside.  “Are you surprised in your portrait?”  “Be sure to include eyelids.”  They usually show almost all the time—surprised or not.   Right??

Perhaps I should take a look in the mirror.

 

 

Where the h- e- double toothpicks are my eyelids?  Seriously.

 

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New Year’s Resolution…write in blog more often

Oh dear.  Resolutions are already slipping and Christmas was over in a flash.  Like all, we had a bustling Christmas and New Year.  The dust had finally settled and I thought a break would be given before Goose turns 5.  No such luck.   Parenting skills are currently being tested with a round of the stomach flu.  Yee Haw.  But in all seriousness—life is good and I have many new projects to share.  For now, I will back track and finally post some holiday pictures.Lillie and Caleb’s photo taken for the o-so-standard Christmas Card.  Are you happy Gammie??  Ha ha!  To see a past (and way more fun) card click here.

Time to open stockings.  Great Eva knits every family member a stocking with lots of  TLC.  After Caleb was born—his stocking arrived in a flash.  I wish I could get things done like that—wowee! *On a side note*  Perhaps I should put a new robe on next year’s list?  New sheets too—less pattern.  Oh the glamour of being Mom.

  Lots of gift opening and even a “jewel” from Santa!  What girl doesn’t want some bling for Christmas?

                                       Patient…very patient cousins.

Caleb hanging out with Papa.  He is wearing the bib G.G. made for Lil.  I love it!!  He must have just had a bottle-has those glazed over, calorie-coma eyes. 

Lastly…a picture of me opening my gift from Jake.  More details on that in a later post.

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Reindeer Cupcakes

Simply a must this holiday season.  I saw these little gems on the cover of Disney’s Family Fun.  So Lil’s cousin came over one afternoon and we decorated away.  The cupcakes had to dash off to preschool the next day.  I didn’t want all those little reindeer faces staring at me…beckoning-with their siren song.  Make it easy on yourself this holiday season and use a mix.  Shhhhh I won’t tell anyone.

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