Recycled Headboard

Last week Dan and I made an upholstered headboard for our daughters bed. Isn't it cute? The best part, it only cost us about $12.00



The absolute best part of this headboard is how cheap it was. Yes, VERY cheap! First, Dan took an hold headboard and used it for our base. It was a simple, basic, ugly headboard we were just about to throw away. We had a piece of plywood leftover from the play kitchen we made (My S.Y.T.Y.C. entry) that we cut to cover the front of the old headboard. You can kind of see what I mean from the picture below.

Next, we needed padding. We quickly learned how expensive high density foam was and scoured our house for alternatives. Dan had an idea... we had bought these little foam mats for camping.

These things are supposed to help prevent you from feeling sticks and rocks while camping. We bought them for the kids because they were cheaper than air mattresses. Well, the kids kicked us off the mattresses and Dan and I were left on these stupid things. Now, I'm not old, but at the age of 27, I woke up ridiculously sore. useless. I guess that's what I get for making them sleep on this instead of something comfortable. Needless to say, we were NOT planning on using these again. But, that's when it dawned on us... padding for the headboard. It isn't as soft as we would have liked, but it worked and it looks great. Once we stapled the pads on, we put quilters batting over the top and then attached the fabric. Once that part was done, it looked too plain. So, I added a pop of color with some coordinating fabric. I sewed two simple hems down the sides. Then we centered it and attached it in the back. Easy.

The only things we purchased for this project were staples, fabric, and quilters batting. Totaling about $12.00!!! I had a coupon for the fabric! Awesome, right?!?!?!

Alanna's bedding will be done in the polk-a-dot fabric and two other coordinating fabrics as well. We will have pillows, curtains and lampshades coming up soon. Stay tuned for that!

out of my rut... maybe???

I can't believe how hard it has been to get out of this rut! But, I think I might be ready to dive back in. Over the last week I made an upholstered headboard by recycling an old one, for my daughters room and made some beanbags for the little ones. Nothing crazy. Nothing extravagant. But, I have so many ideas floating through my head for fall/winter clothes for the kids. FINALLY! I know.... winter clothes in this head? School starts in 3 weeks, though!!! I need to be prepared! My husband will be out of town for the weekend so I think it might be on to recycling some clothes for them. Stay tuned on that!!!

I have some photos to add for the headboard and beanbags, but am having trouble uploading them. I'll add them tomorrow though. Until then, goodnight everyone!

Desperate for crafting

Since my husband lost his job two months ago, life has been sooooo stressful and frightening. We've been in a similar situation before, but we didn't have 4 children then. Scary.... that's the best word to describe this. I'm desperate for crafting. I haven't had time because I am doing everything in my power to push my photography business in every way possible.

That is the exact reason I seriously need to start creating something other than photography. It calms me. It gives me peace. I need to.

So, besides being busy, why am I not? Well, besides being broke, I don't have the creative juices flowing much at all. I think it might be time to force myself into getting myself back there. Hopefully I come up with something soon!

In the meantime, we are currently up for Best Milwaukee Photographer and would appreciate your votes!!! http://ctvr.us/realife Thanks in advance for taking time to do so!

I leave you with one of my latest favorite photo from a recent session. Well, it is actually three photos.

Getting back to the swing of things

After a week of craziness, I'm getting things back to normal around here. Last week a friend of mine miscarried what would have been baby number 5, on a rainy day. It was so emotional and difficult to watch her go through it. I wanted to give her something just to let her know that I was there if she needed anything. However, I'm not a fan of real flowers for a moment such as this... they die. How sad is that? I just don't like to give them as a gift for a sad situation. So, I made some that would last! This was our "rain" themed craft for the day as the kiddos helped me with it.

I simply used a similar process as that of the flower party lights and attached them to floral wire. I then arranged them and stuck them in a small bud vase. Nothing big. Just small, pretty and sweet. I snapped this picture in my car before I dropped them off to her. Don't they just brighten the sad, dreary sky behind it?

And on the light side, the other day I opened my cupboard and this is what I found.

This is what happens when you are a mom of three little boys. "Scary" things find their way in little cupboards and corners to frighten Mommy. It just made me smile and I had to share. So adorable.

Sky

Yesterday we savored the time thinking about the sky and the beauty of it all. Seriously, isn't it gorgeous? After we talked about it for a few minutes, we dove right into a craft.

Paints were the kids medium of choice. I don't always let them paint (I hate the mess and desperately need to get over it!), so they took the opportunity to do so!


My oldest, Caden, decided that there definitely had to be a sun on his picture. He used the cardboard tubes and his fingers to paint it. I loved that it wasn't perfectly round. His response, "the sun shines everywhere."


My daughter, Alanna, immediately thought of the blue sky and the clouds. She loves to look at the clouds and find shapes, so that was inevitable. Her sense of color and adventure when it comes to blending is amazing.


The best part of Alanna's art was definitely her hands! If you get past the mess, isn't it really pretty? The shades of blue that she managed to get all over her hands (front and back) all from two colors just amazed me. beautiful.


The end result of their pictures. Love them.


My third child, Abram, sat back and colored a picture while Eli, the youngest, sat in his highchair enthralled by what the others were doing. He was so content just sitting there. So cute.


Today's theme is rain because it is raining here in Wisconsin. We're going to make the best of it and make something having to do with rain. I also have a few things I'm working on that I will be posting soon.

The Beauty Around Us

I went out to the craft store tonight without kids or the husband, more for a break than anything else. On my way home, I was pondering the idea that Dan and I feel God wants us to learn contentment. That's a rough lesson when Dan is out of a job and my photography business is slow this year. I have been handling it very well, but contentment seems kind of far off. Then, I looked up to something as simple and every day as the clouds. They were big and puffy. The ones you just want to fall into. Beautiful. Peaceful. Isn't Gods creation just gorgeous? There is no better artist.

That's when I decided on a new plan for the week. Taking time to enjoy the simple things with my children. I want them to grow up and be content in the things around them. So, this week you will see lots of crafts for children to help them savor the beauty around them. What a great lesson for us as well! It might get messy, but isn't it worth it?

Care to join us on our adventure this week? Tomorrows theme is "the sky" because that was my inspiration for the week.

A Very Busy Week

This was such a busy and exciting week! Remember the carseat cover? You know, the one that I was going to have finished last weekend? I ran into so much trouble with it. I didn't take proper notes as to where some of the elastic was originally attached. So, I had to track down a friend who had the same seat and ask her to take photos of the specific piece of elastic so that I can finish. Needless to say, I will be finishing that (or at least working on it) tonight, even after getting up at 5:30 to go to my nieces dedication. Hopefully I can keep my eyes open for awhile.

While the car seat cover was on hold, I did manage to do a few other things. It was my sons 6th birthday recently and we had a bowling birthday party for him. Now, those of you who know me at all know that I go all out on birthday parties. The big, elaborate, handmade cake. The decorations, invitations, games, and party favors are all planned out. Not this year. Caden wanted it to be simple. Me. Simple. It was a challenge for me, but a much welcomed break. So, I made him the cake he wanted, invited the friends with a phone call as it was last minute, and managed to find cheap bowling party favors at walmart. wow. easy.



I also found some time to make some new curtains for the bathroom we are redecorating. Rather, decorating. We are renters. Not home owners. Renters. Much to our own dismay. I have refused to make this place home because we have dreams of buying our first home. Now that my husband has lost his job, I figure it just might be time to settle in and get comfortable for awhile until my photography business gets rolling full time.



I just made simple curtains with a ruffle sewn to the top, just near the bottom. I did so by cutting two strips that were double the width of the curtains long and simply hemming the edges over with a double fold and then gathering both sides of the strip. Then, I top stitched both sides of the ruffle down. Easy and very cheap.