Outdoor pillows

Whoa. It's been a long time. Did you think I disappeared? I did. You know when you are so busy with life that you kind of forget who you are sometimes? Yep. That's me. I've been able to interject some little things into my life here and there, such as cake decorating classes at Michael's (love them!) - but sadly, there has been no time for scrapbooking this year and barely any time for crafty things.

But, now that my youngest is getting a bit older and I am now able to leave him 'alone' (read: without being in my arms) for a while, I can do a few things. I have done a few things while away from blogland, and will post them soon. But what I wanted to share with you the most are my new outdoor pillows!! I am so in love and so proud of myself! lol! My mil helped me make a pillow last week, and then I remembered that I had saved a tutorial called "Sew" easy 10 minute pillow cover from Thrifty and Chic. Ok, it didn't take me 10 minutes, but it didn't take a lot of time at all! I went to Fabricland and got some gorgeous fabric (50%) off and pillow forms (40% off) and away I went! So fast, so easy, so simple - and so beautiful!! Next up, a runner for my new patio table. :) Don't they look purty???




Linking to:

Fabulous Find

Well, I am back to the land of the living - back from the land of the...well, you know. :)

The first term of school has been a crazy one. Coming back to work after 14 months of maternity leave, teaching 19 four year-olds, coaching soccer (a sport I know nothing about) 3 times a week and getting home at 6:30 those nights, then needing to tend to my own four year old and his very active one year old brother...etc....etc.

But here I am, and I think I will start slow. Will I remember what parties to link up to? lol It feels as though it's been forever since I have been here, to be honest, so bear with me. :)

I hope that everyone is having a lovely Fall - we have raked up 12 bags of leaves so far and there is tons more to do, but we love it. Fall is my favourite season, so I am in my element, but I am sure getting excited about Christmas, my favourite holiday.

Back in September, I found these lovely Ironstone plates, four of them. Did I know what Ironstone was before? No, but I know that I thought these were super pretty. They are exactly in the colour I love, and that I am decorating with. They were a bit more money than most plates, but at $2 a plate, it was still great for me. I used them for Thanksgiving dinner and they were beautiful. I only wish I had 4 more. :)




Linking to:

I'm still here

I'm still here. I think of blogland often, but I am so busy at work these days, I barely have time to breathe. Between starting back at work, setting up my classroom, planning and throwing birthday parties for my two darling sons (they turned 4 and 1), and coaching the Under-10 soccer team (a mandatory thing), I barely have time to spend with my family, let alone do anything for me.

Oh, this is not a pity post, but just in case you guys were wondering...I am still alive - and kicking - mainly soccer balls. :) I hope to have a post in a week or two, but we will see. It might just have to wait until after Halloween, when I am done coaching and have more time in my life.

Hope everyone is doing well, I look forward to seeing you again!

Chalkboard Shape Labels

Is it just me, or have you seen tons of chalkboard projects out there? I am loving it! Chalkboard plant pots, chalkboard plates, chalkboard on mirrors, and chalkboard on paper. Beth over at The Stories of A 2 Z just had a chalkboard paint party a while ago and I wish I knew about it! I would have submitted my vinyl chalkboard! Anyway, there are tons of cool ideas for chalkboard for you to find there.

Since our move to this house I vowed to be super-organized. Well, at least semi-organized. In my quest for that goal, I wanted to organize my teacher resources before I head back to school next week after 14 months of mat leave (boo). A few years ago I had organized my resources by month, because our JK classroom runs on themes. But, all those resources were stuffed into random cardboard boxes. Blech.


So when Canadian Tire had a sale on some bins this week I went running out and bought 8 - just enough for each month of teaching. Yes, I teach more than 8 months - but June doesn't count (lol - we are so busy with swimming, reports, and finishing up May stuff), July and August is Summer (yay) and we combine February and March for our extensive dinosaur theme (also taking into account we have a 2-week March Break). I digress. Sorry about that.

So I got my bins, took out my chalkboard vinyl (which cleans up in a breeze, by the way, with a damp cloth) and cut out some labels. Oh no, not just any old labels! If you can cut regular vinyl on a die-cut machine like my Cricut (or a Silhouette), then why not chalkboard vinyl? Seemed so simple, but I had never thought of it before. Baby brain? Does that count? My son isn't 1 year yet, so maybe I'll chalk it up to that. Ooops, no pun intended. Really.

I measured out the size of label I wanted for my bins (I wanted them big - 3 1/2") and started cutting. I chose a lovely shape for them, and am so happy with the results!! Isn't it great? I am so happy with them! Now, if our theme changes, so can the label. If I move grades, the label can reflect that change! Or, if I choose a different system altogether, labelled bins always come in handy!



But that's not all! Nooooo, my fellow bloggers, there's more! If you can use regular spray paint on paper (I've seen it done, have you?) then why can't you use chalkboard spray paint on paper? Yes, seen it done - Jess at Frugal with a Flourish did it on cardboard! I kid you not!

So....I went out and bought some sticker paper - plain white sheets of adhesive paper to make your own stickers, etc. I ran some through the Cricut, choosing different shapes (if you do this, try to choose a 'chunky' shape so the label doesn't get too flimsy - also, if you use the 'blackout' option in Cricut it will give you a nice big shape as well). Then, spray painted them and voila! Different shapes of labels! Here are a few small ones I did for you to see. Aren't the school bus and apple labels cute?


I am in love with my new labels, I hope you like them, too!

Linking up to:

Too many projects, too little time

I've gotten myself into the predicament of too many projects on the go and too little time to complete them. I so badly want to post something new for you guys - and for me - but I just can't. Here's a list of some things I have on the go:

- playroom wall
- bathroom art
- chalkboard labels - 2 different kinds!
- desk/vanity table re-do

It may not seem like a lot (but I think there are more, to be honest) - but with 2 kids (and yes, I know there are many supermoms out there with even MORE than 2 kids who can do plenty more! lol) - 1 who is very active and the other (almost 1 year) is very needy and FAST-MOVING - and a crazy dog at home and one week left before I go back to work after 14 months of maternity leave, I find I barely have the time to do anything that is not a necessity, let alone do anything crafty.

There are still tons of projects that I would like to start as well:

- beadboard in the powder room
- laundry room re-do
- stencil front entry wall
- make a table skirt
- paint the kids' and the master bedrooms
- revamp our mirrored closet doors

...so many more!

Oh well - I hope you can bear with me as I try my hardest to complete even one. I know I need to dedicate the time and effort and finish just ONE thing. I've always had that problem, too many things on the go!

Hope you are all having a wonderful start to the weekend!

50 Followers!

Woo hoo! Who'd have thought that 2 months ago when I started this blog, really without much planning or thought, that I would have 50 followers! Thank you so much to everyone, it really makes me happy!! :) I really started this blog because of all of you - you are all so very creative and inspirational, I just couldn't help myself!

Hugs!

Found the inspiration for my "Photography Art!"

As it turns out, today I noticed in one of the link parties that Carolyn at My Backyard Eden posted a piece of super-cool art that she created using Picasa. SHE was inspired by Amy at My 3 Monsters when she did a guest post at Under the Table and Dreaming. It was the very same one that I was inspired by! So thank you, Carolyn, for reminding me of my inspiration, and thank you, Amy, for being the one to inspire my Photography Art!