Magnetic Paper Dolls and Backgrounds

Ok so I am super duper excited about this project that I created for Ashley.  It has taken a good part of 2 days to create it.  Several months ago I saw on Make It & Love It blog where she bought paper dolls and made them into magnets.  I loved the idea and kept it in the back of my head to someday create.  I thought how nice it would be as a quiet church activity, but I thought bringing a huge cookie sheet to church might not be ideal.  So I created a carrying case. I am by no means a seamstress, but sometimes what I make comes out doggone cute!

This is the outside. It ties at the top to keep it shut.

When you open it you will find 4 metal pages (8 front and back).

This is the front page.

I found the metal sheets at Home Depot.  However, it took me asking 5 people before someone knew what I could use.  I first found sheets of aluminum which is not magnetic.  Then I explored painting with magnetic paint.  The paint was something like $36, which I wasn't willing to pay. (But later I found a smaller amount in a spray can for $11 at Hobby Lobby.) Anyway, I then thought I could cut a cookie sheet- which is actually what I tried to do the night before but couldn't cut it.  So I asked at Home Depot for something that would cut a cookie sheet.  This is the 5th person to help me and he asked me what I would be cutting.  I told him and told him what I really came in there for and he said he had something and took me right to it. You can get a cookie sheet at the $1 store, so that would be the cheapest route if you had the tools to cut it.  But the metal sheet I bought were a little less than $5 each.  They were huge though.  So I cut them in half.  The sides could be sharp so I covered them with pink Duck tape. 

Outside backgrounds

I found different pictures on the internet to print for the backgrounds. I printed some at home on photo paper- which is what I recommend.  I had Greg print me some on legal size paper, but when I put those pages on they wrinkled badly.

I ModPodged the pages onto the metal.  Now she can put her dolls right on the page without them sliding around.

The ballroom

The bedrooms

And the playroom.

On the back page I created a pocket where she can keep the dolls and outfits while she is not playing with them.

One thing I would like to do but I really don't know how, it to create one more page of pockets.  The pockets need to close.  This little set came with 100's of pieces.  I would like to create a pocket for shoes, dresses, pants, crowns, wings, winter coats, etc.  That way it would be easy to find what you need.  I still have to figure out how to do it, but I will probably make one at some point.

I just love how it turned out and Ashley loves it too.  She does say it is a bit heavy to carry though.

Spring Break Begins- Day 1

It seems like it has been forever since I blogged.  I have been super busy.  This week is Spring Break.  The kids are going to a music camp and I'm crafting like a mad woman!

My little art class that I teach on Fridays to K-2nd graders had a lot of supply money leftover so I've decided to have fun these last few weeks. We are not allowed to keep the money for ourselves. So I decided we will make these magnetic calendars out of cookie sheets.  I got the idea several years ago and I even made myself a Christmas Advent calendar.  So this is one that can be used all year round as a regular calendar or an advent calendar.  I needed an example so I let Ashley make it. I of course helped her quite a bit.  But she picked out the papers and the doodads and arranged them the way she wanted them. And she painted the sides of the cookie sheet.  We will probably do this craft in 4 weeks in my class.  I think I have everything bought for it.  Each person's will be different.  I'll let them pick out all the stuff.  I'll have to prepare the cookie sheets for them since I think they are a bit too young to do it themselves.

Ashley's friend is having a birthday party Sunday and Ash wanted to make one for her too.  I made a "happy" mistake.  I accidentally glued everything to the wrong side.  But I think I actually like it better that way and will probably do the art class that way as well.  With her friend's calendar, Ashley chose all animals since her friend likes animals.  We printed several animals off the internet and laminated them. We are not completely finished with it, but here's how it looks so far:

The cats have been less than useful! I have one kitten who will, I think, intentionally step in paint every time we have it out.  Now sometimes she gets her little paws on our project, but most of the time she just leaves footprints on my Kitchen floor.  Anyway, it has been quite difficult with them getting in the way.  But here is a time they weren't in the way and we had to capture the cuteness of Izzy in the box.

3 weeks from now I'll have the kids in my art class decorate their own bag.  I'll keep them for the following week so they can take their calendar home in them.  But again for practice I had Ashley create one for herself.  As with hers, I will put everyone's name on their bag.  I'll let them choose the fabric they want for their names and I'll use my Cricut to cut out the letters and I'll iron them on the bags.
Here is what Ashley created:

Oh wow, I'm so tired and I haven't even shown you what I'm super excited about!  I'm going to put it in its own post.

Pretty girl and more cats

  

Just a couple pictures of my daughter.  With her new haircut, the hair gets in her face.  So she likes to put barrettes or headbands in her hair.

I finally took the tape off of my toes.  The toe still feels funny, but it doesn't hurt anymore.  

Greg is not feeling well tonight.  He thought it might be allergies.

Believe it or not we might add another cat to our family.  I'm not sure I want one.  But after church on Sunday we went to this cat store that was right next to where we ate.  The owner rescues cats off the streets.  There has got to be 20 or more in her store.  She takes them in, gets them their booster shots and takes care of them.  If you adopt one, she just asks for a donation to help with the vet costs.  Anyway, she was talking to Greg saying she always recommends kittens by 2's.  But since we have an older grumpy cat and a spunky kitten, she thought if we had another kitten that the 2 kittens would play and groom each other and leave the older cat alone.  The boys want this black cat that has a scarred eye.  I think it looks creepy.  I don't want that cat.  Greg told the boys we would talk about it.  He has yet to bring it up with me.  I'm not sure where this will end up, but the kids haven't forgotten and they continue to bring it up to me. Like I need another cat.  Good grief!

Hard Sad day

Today was a hard day. Over the past 48 hours I had been reading updates from various sources on how our young friend was doing.  This morning before church I learned he has gone home to meet our Lord.  I didn't know Ty very well, but I knew his family.  I hurt for them!

Ty Osman was a Freshman at Harding University.  He was traveling to Texas for Spring Break with 5 other students.  When a jeep in front of them was in an accident, he pulled over to check on them.  He was out of his car when his truck was hit causing it to hit him.  He was life lighted to a Texas hospital in critical condition.  His parents and siblings made it to Texas from Tennessee before he died.

Today I sang on Praise Team.  As much as I love to sing on Praise Team, this was a hard hard day.  Our whole congregation was sad.  We cried. My eyes hurt.  But I prayed.  I prayed that even though I didn't want to be singing at this moment that God would sing through me and He did. Then He gave me a gentle reminder that let me know that He was there for me and He did just as I asked.  We sing for 2 services.  In between the services and immediately after the 2nd service I lost my voice.  But when I had to sing, I sang. It was beautiful.  Even the 2 songs that I didn't know before coming to church this morning and the duet- God sang those songs through me. I am blessed.

Now as I try to process all of this, I'm trying to prepare for another consignment sale.  I need to drop off the clothes tomorrow morning. I'm more mentally exhausted than I am physically. I hear the cold rain hitting the window, the wind blowing, the loud snoring from the above bedroom and I am just somber. My eyes are worn. It's hard to be motivated. I just need to sit in the quiet- for a moment- before I can start tagging these clothes.

Just trying to stay awake

I'm. just. trying. to. stay. awake!

Ugh, last night I went to bed in plenty of time to have a good night's sleep and get up early and teach today.  Before I went to bed I learned that terrible storms were going to hit today.  Storms from Georgia to Ohio with the worst hitting in middle TN and KY.  Weather.com said from 1-10 the tornadic activity was a 9. That made for a rough night.  I tossed and turned and could not sleep well at all.

Today when we got to school, they told us that they are closing at 11:30.  So I only had to teach one class today.  I'm not sure that I mentioned on here that I am taking over the rest of the year for a friend who moved to Georgia.  Today was my first day.  It went well, but the class was longer than I expected.  I need to have more planned for next time.

Many schools around town closed early.  Most banks and many businesses shut down early as well.

We got home and prepared our safe place.

We were very lucky.

All we got was 2 minutes of pouring rain.

But my friends on Facebook have other stories.

People were reporting pancake sized hail.

Friends showed pictures of hail the size of their palms.

Many were stuck in places other than home.

2 cars that I know of had cracked windshields and hail damage. One family was in their car.

There were at least 3 pictures of tornadoes around town.

On TV they reported seeing a tornado at Hickory Hollow- which is in the town I live. My friend about 5 miles from me had lots of hail.

I prayed a hedge of protection around us and I believe it went completely around our house.

Also tonight I have learned of a young boy from our church was in a bad car accident.  He goes to Harding and was life lighted to a hospital in Texas.  He is having emergency surgery now.  His parents are trying to make it there from TN, during all these storms.  Please pray for this family.  His name is Ty Osman.

I am emotionally and physically tired.  I am attempting to do anything to stay awake until a decent time to go to bed.  If I go to bed now I will wake up at 3AM.

Oh crud, I just thought of something.  Tomorrow is the first Saturday of the month.  If Ashley remembers she will hound me in the morning about going to Home Depot.  

Maybe I should go to bed now.

My thoughts on Lent this year

What is Lent?

I used to think it is only what the Catholics do.  It's not something I grew up learning about.  But a few years ago I realized that many Christians are observing it as well.  It is certainly noble!  Lent is a time of soul-searching and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection on Good Friday and Easter. (I read that in a devotional and thought that pretty much sums it up.) During this time many people go into a fasting period and give up something.  For some it may be food and for others it may be a time to give up a bad habit.  A few years ago I gave up playing games on Webkinz.  I was so addicted and it was quite hard for me to do.  Last year I don't believe I did anything.  But this year instead of giving up something I just decided to get more in tune with God.

What does that mean exactly?  Well for me it means getting back on track with my Bible reading.  I'm reading the daily Lenten reflections that are emailed out by my church. You can read them online here as well. And I decided to go to church tonight.  I stopped going to Wednesday night church when my kids were babies.  It was right at the time they needed to go to bed. One crabby baby is bad enough but when you have three it gets a little crazy.  And it was hard for me to get them ready and get there by myself.  So during this Lenten season, I think I'm going to try and go every Wednesday night.  I'm not going to hold myself to it, but I certainly will make an effort.

Now, I said I wasn't giving up anything, but yesterday God talked to me.  I know many in my faith find it strange that I can hear God.  It seems Pentecostal or something.  But I do.  I hear him.  It's a voice inside my head that I know in my heart is from God.  I've also had experiences where God took over what I was saying.  The words that came out of my mouth I would have never thought of on my own.  Anyway, on to yesterday. I've become quite addicted to the game Angry Birds.  I've downloaded and won Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio. Now I'm going back and trying to find all the hidden eggs and get 3 stars on every level before advancing to the next level.  Well I've gotten stuck on one level.  For the life of me I can't get 3 stars on it.  I found myself praying that I win this level and getting frustrated that I wasn't.  Well yesterday, I picked up my phone to play the game and I heard God say... I want your attention.  I must have hesitated or thought I'd just play a little, because I heard it again.  I want your attention!  OK God I heard you. I put it down and didn't play.  It's one thing to hear God, it's another to obey Him.  I still think it may have been a one day thing, but I didn't play it today either.

This is something I read in one of the daily Lenten reflections that I would like to ask you to join me in doing. Spend some time in prayer asking God for strength to reveal what needs to be revealed, and courage to remove what needs to be removed during this Lenten season. Next ask God to fill the void that will be left, and thank him for what you are becoming.  Brilliant!  I've thought to ask him to reveal what needs to be changed, but I never thought to ask him for courage to actually do it or to fill the void!

Are you observing Lent?  What are you doing during this time?

Locks of Love Again

Ashley did it again!  She donated 10" of hair to Locks of Love.

She loves her new hairstyle and so do I.

I meant to get a better front picture today but forgot.

Today seemed to be a pretty busy day.  After church we had to pick up my clothes from the consignment sale.  We tried out a new restaurant, Pie in the Sky.  It was OK, but way too expensive.

We had to hurry out of there because we had to pick up the clothes before 2:00 or they get donated.  Our waitress was in no hurry, despite us telling her we needed to go.  We did make it in time and it looks as though I did really well.  I'm actually a little nervous.  We dropped off 4 basketfuls and picked up only one, which is super!  But it also makes me wonder if we missed a section when we were gathering the clothes.  Let's hope that I did really well.  We could use the money.  Greg has some car repairs that need to be made, and the kids want to participate in a drama camp over spring break.

Then when we came home I've been running the laundry non-stop.  I also took this time to go through the boys closet and get things organized for the next consignment sale.  I love how I'm doing this now.  It used to be so stressful.  But now I hang up the clothes as I get them.  That way all I need to do is put the description and print the cards.  So much less stress!  I found several more items that didn't make it into this sale that I plan to do another one soon.

I got my annual doctor report back.  My iron is slightly low.  I already take an iron pill.  So I really need to eat more red meat and green leafy lettuce.  I also am extremely low on my vitamin D.  He requests for me to get that vitamin and start taking it.  It couldn't hurt if I actually drank some milk.  Tonight I made me a big cup of hot chocolate.  Adding chocolate is the ONLY way I can drink milk.

I feel like my toe is FINALLY healing.  It still hurts a bit, but I'm walking normal and can get around much easier.  I was able to wear my normal black shoes instead of my Crocs, which is nice. When I broke my toe my house went to pot.  Everything was put on hold.  It's really frustrating as I was doing so well and it is so hard to get it that way.

I'm so behind on my Bible reading.  Maybe I should pick up where I'm supposed to be instead of trying to get caught up.  But I hate the fact that I don't like what I'm reading/listening to.  It doesn't make me want to read it. I'm just being honest.

Friday, I start teaching at co-op.  A lady is moving and they needed someone to take over.  I will be teaching K/1st grade Science and Art.  I wasn't prepared for how much stuff she gave me.  It filled up my trunk and side passenger seat.  Certainly, I won't need all that stuff and then when the class is over I will pass it onto whoever teaches next year.  But I will finish up the year, I think it is 10 weeks.  I so enjoy my time off, but I also know that I am really good with this age group.  I need to plan my art project.  I'm not sure what we will do.  I know that in Science we will continue with her lesson plan of learning the 5 senses.  They have completed the eye and ear.  This week we will learn about the nose.

Alrighty, now it's time for me to figure out tomorrow's lesson plan for my own kids.  Talk to you soon.

Need some major Mojo!

Today has been a bust.  I could not get motivated for anything.  It's really hard to get back into a routine after, Pacific Overtures, Grandparents here, weekend, holiday, etc.  Don't get me wrong, we really enjoyed all of those.  (OK well maybe I didn't enjoy my husband being gone for 3 months but the musical itself was quite enjoyable. )But wowzers! I was struck with the I don't want to do anything today!

Yesterday, we took off for President's day only because my friend Doris and her son had off school and they invited us over.  I got to scrapbook.  I completed 4 layouts too. I suppose I should share them.  Off to take pictures...be right back.  I'm back, hardly missed me didn't you?

I had a hard time getting in the groove.  I don't think any of these are spectacular.  But I had fun and that's all that matters.

Luckily in my laziness today, I did manage to run a load of dishes and 2 loads of laundry.  And I didn't have to cook dinner with it being Tuesday night- Chick Fil A Family night!

Now I'm going to get prepared for school tomorrow and write out our schedule.

Wish me luck!