Sew Many Adventures This Week!

In keeping with my recent decision to start checking items off of my "one day" list, I spent the last couple of weeks scouring the internet for a cheap sewing machine.  Learning to sew has perhaps been on my "one day" list longer than almost anything else.  Of all the feats I have wanted to accomplish, sewing is by far the most intimidating and scary.

But...I am happy to report that I am no longer afraid of sewing and I have actually crafted a couple fun items with my new sewing machine!

My very first creation...a super easy summer skirt with elastic waist band!

       

With the help of two great tutorials found here and here, I was able to figure out exactly what to do to make this skirt with ease!


I loved my first skirt so much that I decided to try a second style :) Which is absolutely amazing by the way!

This skirt is made out of a recycled men's dress shirt...courtesy of my husband's closet!  This one required more skill and precision, but I think it turned out pretty well for my second sewing project ever :) So many thanks to the inspiration (and incredible tutorial) I found here!

I can't wait to wear these babies and experience the unique joy of wearing something crafted by my own hands.  It is moments like this that remind me that slow and simple can often be so much more rewarding than quick and easy.  

It is just one more way God reminds us that we are made in God's image.  We are created by the ultimate artist and we too have the desire and the need to create with our own hands.  We often forget this, but this week has shown me how important it is to use my creativity.  

I am excited to mark one thing off my "one day" list and plan to keep expressing myself in the future. Creativity and imagination are wonderful gifts from God...may we never squander them!

Shoe Box Repurpose

I love re-purposing...or perhaps more than anything I love the idea of re-purposing!  I have a tendency to hang on to items that have potential...but don't always make it a point to actually do the re-purposing.  Consequently, most of the items on my to do list are re-purposing projects. Here is one of the quick and easy projects I tackled earlier this week :) 

I love boxes! All shapes...all sizes..they just make me happy!  I have been hanging on to several shoe boxes (once home to some very cute shoes I love!) to decorate and use as additional storage in my closet.  

I decided to go with a sophisticated black theme to spice up my otherwise boring closet.  I took a trip to my local craft store to pick up some scrapbook paper and get to decoupaging.  

As you would expect, very few supplies are needed.  All it takes is some boxes needing a new lease on life, modge podge, scrapbook paper and scissors.  

  

Once your supplies are gathered, begin cutting your paper to fit your box size.  I found it best to put the decoupage on the box and then carefully place the paper...making sure to smooth out any wrinkles.  Then quickly add a thin layer of modge podge over the paper and continue on.  

This project went off seamlessly...my only real frustration was figuring our what to do on the corners.  I couldn't decide whether to overlap on a couple edges...create corner pieces for each side...or have them meet at the point of each corner.  I went with the option to have the paper meet at the edge of each corner and added an extra layer of modge podge to make sure it remained together.  

**Note: I was so excited to see what they looked finished that I put the tops on before the boxes had dried overnight.  They stuck a little bit and ripped one of the corners when I took the top off the next morning :(  Fight your natural urge and make sure they are fully dried before you put the top on!

Here was the final result...I love them!  It makes organizing my closet a much more exciting prospect!

Apparently Ziva thinks cute boxes are more exciting to lay in then plain old shoe boxes!

You know a great thing about small projects...it motivates you to tackle the bigger ones!  On to the next item on my to do list...the ceiling fan!

Celebrate Freedom!

As a child, the 4^th of July was always one of my favorite holidays because of picnics, family and of course fireworks!  However, it has only been in the last few years that I have truly come to appreciate the full meaning and message behind the 4^th of July.  In 2009 I began working at a church in Clarksville, TN.  Clarksville is home to Fort Campbell Military Base and the church I worked at was blessed to have many military families as a part of our congregation.  It was my first real experience being close to those who serve in the military and seeing the incredible sacrifices they and their families make.  We had several parents in the children’s ministry who raised families of 2 or 3 kids for months at a time while their spouses were deployed.  We had fathers who were not able to meet their newborn children until they were almost 6 months old.  We had families who were always afraid to put down too many roots, because they never knew how long they would be in one location.  Growing close to these families I realized how passionate our military personnel are about the work they do and saw that evidenced in the many sacrifices they and their families make to serve and protect our country. 

As a way to remember, honor and offer up prayers for those in the military as we approach the 4^th of July, I would invite your family to take the time to write, draw and decorate thank you cards that will be sent to those who have served in the military both past and present.  Also, I would invite you to spend this week offering up prayers each night for those in the military and their families.  I have included guidelines below for the cards...you can also go here for more details.  Thanks for your support and prayers for our troops as we approach a celebration of our freedom and many blessings! 

Guidelines:

1. Do not put letters in individual envelopes. Send multiple letters together in the same envelope or box, but please bundle the letters in stacks of 50 with rubberbands to keep them together.
2. Do not send edible items.
3. Do not use loose glitter, confetti, or anything that is not attached to the letter or card.
4. Only include positive messages. Any negative messages will be discarded.
5. Be creative! Draw pictures, talk about you, and let them know their service does not go unnoticed.
6. Include your address or email address if you wish. Most military will write back to you!
7. *Attention parents and/or teachers of young children: We ask that if children are too young to include a message of thanks, please write one on their behalf so our service members get a message along with a drawing.

Letters can be sent to the address below: 

A Million Thanks
17853 Santiago Blvd. #107-355
Villa Park, CA 92861