Mama's birthday gift--silhouette's (with tutorial)

When I say "Mama's gift", I mean my mama. Although, I will now be making some for me in the very, very near future.You need:
-little cute canvases (4"x5") $3.99 at Michael's
-paint...and brush, of course
-scrapbook paper
(one dark color to be the silhouette color, the other non-distracting pattern to be the background)
-AND Mod-Podge
Paint edges of canvas making sure to go along top edges as well in case your cuts of paper don't hit the edges perfect. Also, I had brown paint originally, but found it didn't look good unless the paint matched the silhouette color...so I added some black to my brown to darken it. So much better.
See what I mean by going over the top edge. No need to do the middle, it'll be covered. I did 2-3 coats. If you actually wait a bit between coats it won't need as many. haha

Once again, I stopped taking pictures...

Sorry.

Cut patterned paper the same size as top of canvas. I couldn't fine my cocoa bean stamp pad, so I dry brushed the edges of the paper to make the edges more finished prior to putting on the canvas.

Brush mod-podge on canvas, place background paper on canvas and coat again with mod-podge. Make sure to get side of painted canvas so the entire thing will have the same finish.

Now, print out some profile pics of the kids. I used Picasa to do this: I cropped with a 4x6 size getting the hair and nose very close to the left and right sides of the portrait crop. I then printed that crop in a 3.5x5 size. I know, doesn't make sense, but it worked perfectly to get the size just right. I also used fast normal printer setting to not use too much ink. The fast draft made it a little difficult to see the edges of lighter hair. Now, cut out your profile very slowly and carefully.

Get a white colored pencil, freshly sharpened ready. Turn silhouette paper over so front will be facing down. Depending upon what way you want the silhouette to face, place the cut profile down and carefully trace around the profile onto the backside of the silhouette scrapbook paper. Slowly and carefully cut out silhouette. Try to open your scissors fully prior to each cut for smoother cutting. Small snips leaves sharp edges.

Turn cut silhouette over and hold up to light. Check for any imperfections. I often had to snip a tiny tiny piece off the tip of the nose. Probably due to the sharp turn.

Now, mod-podge again on top of paper covered canvas. Place silhouette on top and mod-podge again. I then did two or three more layers, letting dry between coats.

Last thing!

Turn canvas over, measure 1/2" from sides and 1" from top and put a mark on each side at that position. Take a 24" piece of coordinating ribbon and knot the ends. Keeping in one piece, staple knots at your markings. Now, cut ribbon in half. I touched ends of ribbon to mod-podge to prevent fraying. Tie a bow that is centered well. That's it!

I'm doing more of these for a friend soon, so I'll try to post better step by step pics.

DON'T FORGET: for posterity, make sure to label the name and year on the back of the canvas. You want people to know who this is in the distant future.

Neck wear for a baby boy

Well, my little nephew, who is "oh, so cute" needs a little gift from Auntie. My intentions were to show a little tutorial, but as you get into the process, you start forgetting to take pictures.Start with some cute fabric. I found this in the remnant bin at JoAnn Fabric ($2)
Cut strips. Sorry, I didn't write the measurements, but I think it was two inches. I then cut in half so I had two 24" lengths of the two inch strips.
Iron the overlapping fold along the entire strip. (Only do this to one.)
Do you get it?

OK, I guess it was 2", so now I feel better knowing I provided you with accurate info.
Other strip: bring both sides to the middle. So,now the strip should measure 1" wide with the ironed folds.
Cut an 8" length of the 1" folded strip.
Loop the fold as pictured, making sure that the fully flat side are facing out. (ends meeting in middle should be on the inside of this loop.)
Hand sew through ALL layers in the center of loops. Make sure to fully knot one end so you'll be able to pull the thread to pucker the loop. Once puckered to your liking, sew a few more stitches to hold your bow in place.
Now, wrap a small piece of the smaller folded strip around the center of your bow. Sorry, I don't remember how much to cut off the smaller strip, but you'll figure it out. Pull the small strip nice and TIGHT around the bow. (As tight as you can get it.) Hand sew the strip together being sure to catch the main bow in your stitches, but not going through to the front.
Measure child's neck and add 1" (for overlapping velcro). Cut small (thinner strip) strip to that length plus about 1/2" for seam allowance.
-1. sew close to edge on both sides of long edges, entire length of cut strip.
-2. fold over short edges 1/4" and sew in place.
-3. cut 1" to 1-1/4" sew-in velcro, round edges, or just cut corners off.
-4. place tooth velcro (the scratchy stuff) on side the will be away from neck (outside). Sew in place.
-5. place fuzzy velcro on inside edge, and sew in place.


This is where I stopped taking pictures...

Add bowtie to outside middle of neckstrap. Sew through from backside only. Sew as much as needed to keep in place.

Here we go:

(no tutorial for necktie...so many folds and cuts to share. If I do it again, I'll have it down a little better and maybe post something for that then.)


Close up of bowtie.

I think my cutie nephew Drake will love it.

We're getting rabbits!!

Have you ever had rabbits? I haven't. My next door neighbor growing up did for awhile, and I always LOVED holding and petting her sweet rabbit. Well, we had already decided when we moved that we would be getting chickens, and when we went to check out the local feed store to see what the chicks looked like, etc., they had rabbits. Olivia asked if we could get some pet rabbits, so I deferred the question to Dale. Dale said, "sure, after we get back from Utah."Wow, Olivia got that answered easy. We're actually leaving for Utah on Thursday to attend the sealing of Dale's brother Paul to his soon to be wife, Rebecca (actually known as Becca, but that will be hard since Dale's little sister is Becca).Anyway, at the time of the decision we had about two months before rabbit day. Uggh. The kids were still excited. We needed somewhere for the rabbits to live though. The hutches at the pet store were out of the question. $300-$400 for a small-med size hutch seemed overboard. I then checked on Craigslist and didn't have much luck so finally decided that we would build it. Dale went to Eureka for work (He was there a week), and I started building the hutch. No plans, just ideas. No decisions, just make-do's. Wow, did it ever work out.
I should probably add that I did this in the unsafest of ways. No safety glasses, crossing the cutting arm, sitting on my wood while cutting...just bad example. So, that being said, don't copy any of my pictures. Dale got back in time to help me with the ramps that I couldn't make work for what I wanted. He fixed it to what I needed and it turned out beautifully. He then helped with all the doors as well. Actually, I think I made one door, but Dale wasn't impressed. Haha.
Well, the time came, and it was done, so all five of us got to painting the hutch a nice bright barn red. I absolutely LOVE it!
What do you think?

We are getting rabbits on Tuesday after we get back from Utah (on Monday, Lauren's birthday). We are so excited. We actually met a breeder that lives next door to Dale's uncle that is giving us a tremendous deal on show quality bunnies because we talked about the option of having the girls go into 4H and doing shows. So excited. We planned on getting 2, but just might come home with 3. Don't want to leave poor Julia out. ;)

OK, a little frustrating because I can't get the pictures to move around where I want them unless I want to delete and re upload...and that's not happening. So, guess what the order is and you'll eventually figure it out. Sorry.

apology

Yeah, yeah. I know I haven't been here for a very LONG while. After a death in the family, very soon followed by the passing of a friend, deciding to move, moving, packing, packing, and more packing, add in homeschooling and church. I think it is now understood why such a long span in between posts.

I have a few posts ready to show off. :)

What I'd be good at...

I guess this whole staying home thing isn't too impressive to Lauren because the other day was the second time in a week that she told me what I should "do". This newest job advice was not given after I assisted someone in a store, instead I was lounging on the couch watching tv. Hmmm, maybe that's the less than impressive lifestyle to her.
Who knows?

So, here is Lauren's IDEA for job that I'd be good at.

Well, since not everyone travels to the store with one of these:
and actually since most people don't even have one to do this:


Lauren believes I should be a "Reacher". Apparently that is the name of a store employee that reaches the items for people without long arms, which usually means they don't have long legs...which in turn means they aren't well...uh..TALL.



This is what one might look like performing their job duties:
Yes, I'm sure I could perform my job duties well, as I've practiced many times.

I have gone about it a few different ways.

If it's a nice looking, well-accepting looking person (usually not a man), then if I see someone having trouble reaching a high item, I'll offer to get it. You need to be careful with this way because some people may be offended because you're assuming they can't do it because, well, like I said, they just might NOT be tall.

Some people may ask for help, which I am more than willing to oblige. This never happens on the health care aisle because one might be a little embarrassed when I have to ask from my high altitude, "do you want the cherry or orange flavored anti-diarrhea medicine?" Have you ever notice that the health care aisles have all the "embarrassing" items a little lower? Well, that's why. I have actually been sought out to reach a high item. Last year a middle aged, very "not-tall" woman, turned around an aisle in the grocery store and asked me if I could help her reach something. I said sure, and then she goes on to say, "follow me". Oh, it was two aisles over. She needed the french fried onions, and they were on the top shelf.

I haven't done it before, but I've thought about this one. Many times men are a little more sensitive about their height, so I don't offer my long arms usually to help. I've thought about pulling down an item and just setting it on a lower shelf as if I were to buy it, but decided not to. Then I'd be one of those annoying customers putting items not in their proper place. The manly man could get his item all while thinking I'm a rude customer that doesn't care about putting things in their proper place.

What could fix all of this?

A professional REACHER, then I wouldn't need to feel bad about asking people if they needed help because that's what I'm there for. Hmmm, do you think Lucky or Safeway need anyone in this department? Hopefully they have free daycare in the breakroom.

Have a great day!

Star Struck

Ok, so I don't see celebrities everyday. Well, let me correct that...I don't remember the last time I saw a celebrity. I know it was when I was with my cousins in LA, but don't even remember who. Well, while at the Capitol building yesterday, this is who I saw: Robert Downey Jr.
That's it...nothing big. I just saw a movie star. :D

Shannon

Goals are being set higher

Troops to Troops
Lauren and Olivia originally set a goal of 100 boxes to send to the military troops overseas. That goal (in 3 days) has already been surpassed. Help them reach their new goal of 500 boxes to military troops overseas. You'll receive a tax-deductible donation receipt and know that you helped. You can't ship a box overseas to the troops for the cost of donating boxes through Girl Scouts.

We've been fortunate enough to have four individual donate an entire case (12 boxes) to this cause. Join in the effort to boost morale and get a little bit of "home" to our troops fighting overseas.

Thank for your help. Leave a comment or contact me via email if you'd like to support Lauren and Olivia in their goal.

We passed it---SORRY!

While waiting for Lauren to get out of a Girl Scout class yesterday, we were sitting parked along the side of the road. Julia climbed into the passenger seat and says loudly...for Olivia...

"Look, a zebra! Uh, passed it. Sorry!"

If only you could hear the tone in her little two year old voice when she said it. It was her being a stinker. I'm sure it was brought on by the countless times Olivia and Lauren say they see various animals (mostly dogs) out the windows, and poor Julia not being able to get a look due to the restraint of her carseat. I hear it often:

Olivia: "Look at that cute little dog"
Lauren: "Awww, that is cute"
Julia: "Where is it? Where is it?"
Olivia: "Passed it, Sorry"
Julia: "Awww" usually accompanied by a little frown

After seeing how much I laughed at her little zebra joke, she decided to go on and on with various exotic animals, which included:

a "yion"


a "panda bear"



and a "Ho-Ho"

uh, maybe I shouldn't show that...
Well, actually, that's the name of a monkey on one of her favorite shows:
"Ni Hao, Kai Lan". Now all monkeys are "ho-ho's".

From the mouths of babes. :D