Refashioned 4th of July girls T-shirts.

Cici and Nini ready for the concert.

These festive 4th of July shirts were refashioned from a boys plain white T-shirts (3 for $8.99).  Each year Cici and Nini have had a wonderful singing concert at their school for Memorial Day.  I enjoyed making dresses for them last year out of the same material in I used in the shirts (recycle!).  This year, since they insist they are getting too old for festive dresses, I opted for a more low-key solution -just trying to help them be as cool as they can!  Here's how I did it (keep in mind I'm not a seamstress and am still learning all the sewing terms!):

1.  I cut two T-shirts using the diagram below and saved the third T-shirt for the ruffles around the neck.

2.  My next step was to work on the neckline and make it smaller.  I cut two strips from the extra tee in the width I chose. Next I stitched with my sewing machine down the center of the strip.  I made the ruffles by pulling the threads and gathering them into two ruffled strips.

3. I pleated sections of the neckline to make it smaller and more fuller around the neck.  I stitched over each pleat and then went to work on pinning the ruffles around the neck.  You may have to make more strips into ruffles if your neckline is larger.  I sewed down the middle of the ruffle over the gathered fabric.

4.  The sleeves are capped flutter sleeves and do not meet under the arm pit.  I did puff the sleeves by making pleats and then sewed them into the shirt, making sure each sleeve was even.

5.  Make sure to hem the sleeve before sewing it to the shirt - much easier!

6.  Cut your stars first before sewing the two sides of the shirt together.  I gently traced and then cut the star pinning whatever fabric you desire underneath - to keep the stars shape, use lots of pins!  I stitched the star from the right side of the fabric.

6.  Sew the open sides together but be sure to measure arms first so that it's not too big or small around.

7.  I cut the fabric from the underarm to the bottom of the shirt in a diagonal cut to make the shirt look more of a bell look.

 8.  My last step was to trim off all the extra thread and then embroider the star shape onto each shirt.

I really enjoyed this project!  I hope this helps and inspires :)

Love, Michelle

Love At Home Valentine Countdown.

Love at Home Countdown "home"

There is beauty all around when there's love at home.  This song is one of my absolute favorite church hymns.  When sung, it creates such a feeling of love, it's hard to ignore it's message (link here).  Inspired by Cristin @ Serendipity's "count your many blessings' house (link here), I put together this little house by converting a birdhouse into a representation of our home.  I have a few more things to do to it, but I'm not sure I'll get there before next Valentine's Day!  Eventually, I will have a hook at the top of the roof's peak where we can hang our Love At Home countdown.

Countdown felt envelopes.

Each day, a red felt envelope will be pulled out of our little Valentine mailbox.  In each envelope are words to the song There is beauty all around, when there's love at home.  I separated the three verse texts into phrases and put them on printable tags.  The idea is that we'll read the tag and talk about it's message and why it's important to our family.  I hope to make this a joyful experience for our family!  

fireplace mantle "Love at Home"

I purposefully made only 10 tags and didn't number any of them.  Sometimes life gets busy and I always hate getting to a countdown, two or three days late!  This way there is room for error and no room for trying to catch-up!  The printables will place easily into your Word document and fit easily on two pieces of paper.  Click the image below, right click, and push save as.   The file should be a high resolution jpg image.  Let me know if you have trouble and I can send you the individual image.  My email is shecalledme@gmail.com.

printable #2

Printable #1

Do you have a valentine countdown?

Have you heard There is beauty all around?

9 good things.

A Spelling Bee good job cake!

There have been so many good things going on in our neck of the woods lately.  My girls, Cici and Nini, took part in their first ever spelling bee contest this week!  I am so so so proud of them (did I happen to mention how proud of them I am!?)  This was one of those things they could choose to do or not at school, but at home, I felt that it was something they had to at least try to do.  They didn't object, making our decision to have them try, a lot easier!

Saying goodbye to Bessie

We said goodbye last month to our dear beloved mini-van - lovingly named Bessie. We traveled over 125,000 miles in her, in two countries, and at least 15 states.  She survived two accidents, two sets of twins, too many stops to McDonald's, and all the abuse a family of six could throw at her!  Our new mini-van hasn't been named yet, we love her, but we need to wear her in a little more to give her a name.

Ice Cream cone balloons with party hats.

Dixie cup and pom pom yarn sundae's and envelope lanterns.

 My calling as RS 2nd counselor has taken me through many activities.  We don't quite have an activities leader yet, so I and the 1st counselor are charging-up the activities for now.  January was something we named The Visiting Teaching Banana Split Event!  I loved the Ice Cream Cone Party Hat Balloons and the Dixie Cup Yarn Sundae's as decorations!  I don't have time to give all the details, but if you are interested in this idea for your ward, email me at shecalledme@gmail.com!

Hawk loving his Thomas PJ's

Christmas seems like ages ago!  We had a lovely and relaxing Christmas with Mr. C staying home the entire week.  We ate, wrapped and unwrapped presents, took drives, ate, watched movies and all that really good relaxing family time.  Mr. T and Hawk got into the spirit of opening presents this year.  Hawk's favorite were these Thomas Train Engine PJ's - he truly couldn't wait to put them on!

Nini's best hug!

This photo reminds of the great joy I am having at watching my little girls grow-up.   They are so incredible!

Favorite Christmas Photo

 Honestly, this photo is my absolute favorite!  The look on Nini's face and anticipation at what her sister would think of the gift Nini bought Cici - is just beautiful!  I love these girls :)

Smartie Pants teacher gifts.

You are "Mint" to be our teacher gifts.

I couldn't help myself this year!  I had to put together some of those cute pinterest teacher appreciation gifts.  I put a ton of smarties into a clear jar and put a little sign on the lid Thanks for turning ___________ into a smartie pants!  The Junior Mint appreciation gift we gave to the girl's piano teacher!

Me and Loan!

 Our sweet friend came from Virginia to see our family again!  We love Loan and have enjoyed her sweetness in our lives since Craig met her on his mission in Washington DC (she was 5) and later I met her when she was 11.  We are very grateful she still loves us after all these years!!!

 Here's the big questions:

Do you name your cars?

Quiet Toddler Activity



Match the shapes!

Pin It



Match cut shapes to shapes sewn on fabric.

So excited to tell you about this handmade embroidery hoop shapes activity for toddlers.  I have been searching for a quiet activity I can do with my boys during our one hour and fifteen minute church service.  While our church lasts longer than this, it's the time in which everyone gathers together and it's very quiet (except for my boys!)  This particular activity I put together using my felt, material, and an embroidery hoop I already had at my home.

I cut the material and fastened in the hoop.  I used pinking shears to cut the extra fabric.  The rest was about cutting out the shapes and sewing one square, one circle, and one triangle onto the hoop.  Posting more toddler activities next week!

What is your favorite activity with your toddler?

Little Blue Truck Playset.

Hawk with his Little Blue Truck set!

Our home has been brimming with sounds from Alice Schertle's children's book Little Blue Truck.  Mr. T and Hawk are big fans!  For Christmas, I took a large round decoupage shirt box and began painting it copying Jill McElmurry's gorgeous Illustrations.  I didn't come close to her work - but at least at this age - it didn't really matter to the boys!  Craig went about finding a blue truck and dump truck and animals to put in the box.  We found all of the animals, unfortunately - I couldn't find them all for this photo!

I loved that everything that recreates this book is contained within the box.  Around the outside of the box I painted the words from the first page Horn went beep.  Engine purred.  Friendliest sound you ever heard!  It would be fun to see what other books we could put together. 





I am hoping that this will be something the boys can keep and pass on to their children.  Let's hope that it makes it that far!

Have you heard of this book?

What do you think of it?

What is your favorite animal children's book?

9 Little Clay Russian Dolls and a bird.

This Christmas I discovered a wonderful medium in natural air drying clay.  It's one of those products you wish you would have found earlier!  These nine little Mytryoshka dolls were sculpted from stone clay and air dried.  I made sure to put wire in the sculpted doll before it dried to hold the ribbon that would eventually allow it to hang on the Christmas tree.  The paint I used went on perfectly with no issues and I finished the ornaments with modge podge.  These ornaments were for a handmade ornament exchange I attended, so I can't wait to make some for me and the girls!

This bird was my first try at using the stone clay.  I tried stamping the wet clay first, but it didn't dry the way I was hoping.  I sanded, painted the bird when finished and found it a nice little home with a special friend.

Here's the clay I used...

do you work with clay?

Is there a better product available?

Tell me about your homemade ornaments!

Happy New Year!

Michelle :)

Tree lighting and Advent Calendar.

 

Tree lighting 



Life in New England right now is pleasant and on the warmer side.  We had a huge winter storm right before Halloween, but you wouldn't know.  All the snow is gone and we haven't seen much of any snow since (which I am more than OK with!)  We headed down to our town's common area for our annual tree lighting ceremony.  Apparently, the pine tree they planted long ago is now too big for the town funds to handle, so they are asking for donations! I'm not sure I'm telling you this, but it was just an interesting anecdote to add! 



All-in-one advent Idea.



I have been searching and researching various advent calendars.  There seems to be one for every theme: scripture advent, Christ advent, candy advent and so on.  I decided that instead of using one of the advent calendars this year I would combine the ones I liked into one.  I picked a scripture advent, service advent, and gift advent.  We have a scripture we read and a service we perform almost daily.  I say "almost" because the ages of my children don't always allow us to "enjoy" the advents contents.  I am hoping someday, we will be more active on the service part of the advent, listen and discuss the scriptures, and enjoy the little presents inside.  Someday, is more like some-days, but it's still fun to have choices. 

 I used a target shoe organizer for the advent.  The red leaves were stenciled on randomly with fabric paint.  I used magnets to secure the little number tags (one inside and one glued to the number tag).   It was pretty simple, just time consuming!  Would love to hear more about your advent ideas and let me know if you decide to use the all-in-one concept!  Email me if you would like the word created tags at shecalledme@gmail.com.

What advent do you use?

What is your favorite advent memory?!

    Family Update:    

The boys are now two years old!
We just put up our Christmas Tree

and

Michelle just finished putting together

her last RS activity of the Year! whew!

Time to decorate the rest of our own home :)

Forget Me Not Photo Block.



Black-painted 2x6 block with decoupaged photo.



I was called to be the counselor in our Ward Relief Society over the activities.  It was a shock, since my little twin boys were still wreaking havoc in our RS meetings.  I wasn't sure if they were serious or not about me being put in this calling!  Thankfully, I work with a wonderful sister who is crafty and funny and is full of fun ideas...it makes the work, a whole lot more fun!  As part of a winter activity, we put together a "Homemade Christmas" night.  One of the crafts was this Forget Not Photo Block, inspired by Dieter Uchtdorf's talk in general conference called Forget Me Not. 

The photo image can be found over at sweet Abby's blog called A Feathered Nest.  We used a 2x6 cut into 8" each pieces, then sanded and painted them black, decoupaged the photo onto the block, and hot glued ribbon around the block.  It sounds easy, because it was!  This activity could work on a large or small scale. 

Things we learned:  The blocks were cut, sanded, and painted (using prime+paint black paint) BEFORE the activity.  The decoupaging and hot gluing were completed during our two-hour activity.  We printed our photos @ the Target fast print station.  Make sure the photo is saved in a higher dpi setting so you can preserve the photos quality.  I used Adobe up the dpi setting. 

I just love how this activity came together with so many talented people.  From Uchtdorf's talk, to Abby's photo, to my husband's sawing efforts, and Shannon, Aimee, and Becky's painting! 

Leave your questions in the comment section if you have any! 

Chalkboard Mantle Sign.

My Halloween Mantle!

Two days of pure fall, beautiful weather has inspired me to finish a few projects I started, but didn't finish.  I needed a day of no rain so that I could paint - but honestly, there hadn't been any for a long time!  This is my mantle right now, real time!  I know every place I've purchased each of these items; from Utah to California to Montreal and now here in New England.  It's really fun to remember each place we've lived and where we purchased these fun holiday decorations - it's a little like christmas ornaments!

The mantle sign I made with an old antique board and chalkboard spray paint.   I didn't prime it, which was on purpose.  I wanted the imperfections of the wood and grain to show through.  I did spray paint over it several times to make sure I could write over the paint.  Once dry, it was ready for whatever I wanted to write on it!  I even hung it up myself :)

Here's the project in Pinterest fashion:

Do you find holiday decorations to bring as many memories as ornaments?
What is your favorite Halloween decoration?  From where?

Are you having b-a-u-tiful fall weather?

Happy Birthday Nini and Cici!

Waiting, to blow out their birthday candles while we sing to them!

I can't stop thinking about two fantastic little ladies that graced my life eight years and four months ago.  They were the sweetest babes I had ever seen, they were Ninia and Cici.  We had a pre-milestone birthday this year.  That year that comes right before a child's age becomes a double digit.  Thankfully, my 9-year old sweethearts still have one more year before the tenth birthday. 

Their 9th birthday lasted the weekend!  We had their friend party, a friend who had a birthday party, and our family party - all in three days.  They had a wonderful time at each event and are enjoying their each one of their birthday gifts.  Their favorites included the outfit that Cici has on -the scarf and headband!  A friend gave this to her and she just loves - so much so, she won't let me borrow that scarf!  Nini has been enjoying a couple lego kits she got and her very own cans of sliced olives! 

We also purchased a the new credit card monoply game.  Who has this?  You'll never go back to the "old" way of dealing out the money and sorting it!  I would have played monopoly a lot more if I had this version as a kid.



As some point during our family party, Cici opened one of those cards with a recorded song.  It was of Ariel's, Part of your World song from  Little Mermaid.   Hawk was so entranced by the music (he and Mr. T watch this all the time - it's their favorite) that he just stood their - like the photo- with his little hand on Cici's shoulder staring at the card.  It was a good five minute episode of pure cuteness!  

  

Treat and trinkets bag for party.

The girl's friend party was at a local movie theatre where they and six of their friends got to see  A Dolphin's Tail.  They also had cupcakes and pizza in the theatres movie room afterwards.  I personally, could not handle an at home party this year, and I am grateful for this option we had.  As a parting gift, I put together these bags with some fun candy and trinkets in it. 

Have you seen a Dophin's Tail?

Have you played the new monopoly?
Do you have like birthday parties away from home?

Chalk-board serving tray.





Vintage Tray painted with chalkboard paint and used to announce your yummy goodie!



Originally, I used this tray painted on the flat oval part with chalkboard paint, as a wall decoration.  It never quite found it's perfect place in our kitchen - until now!  When the idea came to me - out of the turquoise blue - to use it for our annual library bake sale as a tray - I knew it had found it's purpose.  Sometimes it's good to feel a little clever (even if somewhere out there on pinterest must be this idea!)

Do you love Turquoise?

Box or from Scratch Cupcakes?
Sprinkles or none?!

Our Savior Collage.

Our Savior Collage
by Montreal Ward Primary

While visiting our old ward (church) in Montreal, Quebec last week, I stumbled upon this very sweet collage of the Savior.  It was sitting gently against the wall in the primary (children's) room and was beautifully put together with clipped magazines and photos with a final touch of glitter in between any gaps.  I love it because of where I found it, that it was most likely made by the primary children,  and because it depicts so many beautiful stories centered around Christ.  I am hoping that someone from Montreal on facebook will tell me who came up with this fantastic idea and who created it.  So beautiful! 

The original is in full color, but I played with it a bit in photoshop and love the black and white.  I am having this printed and framed.  Good way to reuse all those old church magazines too!

Window repurposing project.

Old Window awaiting repurposing.

High amongst the bats and dust, on the third level of our New England barn lay 20 something old wooden windows.  This one was like a lighthouse in a storm standing out among all the others.  Now, it is being washed, scraped, sanded, and painted and awaiting finishing details; like, corkboard, and fabric.  This old window is to become my office cork board and dream board.  This was just peek -more to come!

Any projects in the works?

Wordless Craft.

Beaded handrafted paper flower necklace.



I have an afinity for paper.  I love the paterns and colors available today and have been working at finding a way to use paper as jewelry.  The pliability is good, but it's the durability that is the main problem when using paper as a wearable item.  Probably nothing new to anyone!  However, this hasn't stopped me from creating a way to use paper in making some handcrafted jewelry.  The paper flowers were made using a simple chnique of cutting a circle out of paper and then cutting it into a spiral.  You can twist the paper around the tip of a pencil to get it going and then wrap it around until you can continue wrapping by hand. 

I used a glue stick or even a dab of hot glue to keep the flower from untwisting.  To make the flowers sturdy enough to be worn by a woman with four kids- I used two coats of modge podge and waited until they dried to apply them to my necklace. 

The paper necklaces I've made in the past wear easily unless being pulled or sucked on by little babes.  Which is how my past necklaces have ended their wearing days.  Try it out if you time!  It was a lot of fun!

Do you like to dabble in making your own jewelry?

My own writer's block.

I am in a writing block.  I am certain it comes from having too much to say and not knowing what I should write about first!  Here's everything I can think of that I've wanted to write about but haven't:

1. I am turning 38 on Thursday! 
2. My parents come into town next week for a much anticipated visit.  They haven't seen the boys since November - they've grown a bit since then! 
3. Nika is signed up again this year for our local college's basketball camp.  She's hoping she won't be the youngest this time.
4. Elise is signed up for Ballet camp and will be performing her first big stage performance in June.  She is just a little bit excited!
5. Our home is under a mass regorganizing and orderizing process.  We felt bogged by the way it's been organized, even the way the furniture has been laid out.  With the boys a little older, it was time to really get things under control inside.  It has been wonderful - it really makes a difference :)
6.  We are almost done selling Acorn Cottage.  We've been carrying two mortgages and are grateful to finally be able to have just one.  We are going to miss it though.  The sale of it, really is the last thing left from our time in Montreal.  It was so wonderful to have it.  I have some great posts from their.
7. I finally finished the boy's room. It's been over a year since we intended to get it finished, but with wallpaper and sanding and filling all the holes - it took a year...I am going to make a full post on it soon.
8. I've been doing some sewing and alterations to the clothes I have to refurbish them and try to make some of them more modest.  I am loving upstyling and recycling right now.
9. I still feel great about going private.  I do, however, wish my years of posts about crafting and other things I want to share with the public could be available.  Other than reposting all of it - I think it's staying put.
10. We just got a new bishop in our ward.  Our RS presidents husband!  This means my calling as 2nd counselor may change and the boy's are now in Nursery!  Can you believe it?  They are now 18 months.  Life is flying by.

I hope to come to your blogs soon- thanks everyone for your support :)

Here are some photos of what we've been up to:



Nika at our town's garden club sale hanging with the Llama!



The boys in my favorite PJ's helping Craig get their wagon built.



This is my modest dress project.  It's an old navy dress cut below the bustline,
then sewn together with a shirt I had.  I have more details on it here.





There it is!


Do you like to repurpose clothing?