DIY {sharpie} Coffee Mug

I've seen these DIY Coffee Mugs floating around Pinterest for a while and I thought it was time to make one. 

In case you didn't know, there are a TON of Pinterest Fails in regards to the sharpie "wiping right off", so I decided to ask a friend who makes them regularly.  She told me that sharpies didn't work for her and to use Ceramic Paint Pens.   

Now normally I would have run down to the craft store to by some paint pens BUT those who know me personally, know that I'm a MAJOR procrastinator.  Unfortunately,  I had planned to give this gift to my mom... who I was going to be seeing in a few hours... eeeckkk!  

I thought... it only needs 30 min in the oven, I can do it the morning of... no such luck!

On to plan B!

I scoured the internet looking for Pinterest Success with regular Sharpies and luckily I found a bunch!  Here are a few things I learned:

* The type of mug you purchase makes a difference.  The cheaper the better.  Why?  Well it seems that cheaper mugs don't have as strong {or nice} of a glaze ---> which means the sharpie actually adheres to the mug better.
* Everything I read says "30 min at 350°" so most people would preheat oven, then put mug in - which is WRONG.  You want to put your mug in the COLD oven and then turn it on to 450° and bake for 30min.  Then let your mug cool completely before removing from oven {crack the oven door to help the speed up the cooling process}.  
* The colors will change.  So don't get upset when your red sharpie turns pink :)
* Handmade = HANDWASH.  I thought this was kind of a given, but it's amazing how many people thought they'd be okay in the dishwasher... hand wash only
* Pure dumb luck - even if you do everything right - it still might turn out wrong.  

Luckily my mug turned out perfectly - hahahahaha - except for my terrible penmanship, but heck, it give it character :)

I did a simple design  ------>  Madison + Riley = Happiness for Nana

See the date?  My momma's birthday {well minus the year}....  and here is a picture from April 16, 2014 {almost 7 months later} via my mom's FB page

I must say that it still looks pretty darn good!  Hopefully you'll have the same dumb luck as me :)

HAPPY CRAFTING!

(to see where I've linked up - click here!!)

Photo Flower Pots

Being a blogger can be very frustrating.

I spend a lot of time taking photos, editing photos and then writing posts and I sometimes wonder if anyone is even reading what I'm writing?!?!  Getting people to visit your page is tough work and getting them to come back is even harder!  I seriously think my sisters and hubby are my only true followers - haha.  

So last week when I received an email from Parenting.com saying that my blog had been featured on their website I.WAS.ECSTATIC!!!  I couldn't believe that a website {who's magazine I subscribe to} featured my blog!  

Click here to see ---->  Colorful Initial Art - Parenthood.com

It was such a nice confirmation that other people {besides my family} actually read my blog AND that they enjoy the content I provide.  So if you're reading this, please remember that blogging can be very time consuming with little rewards, so spending an extra minute to leave a comment or share a link, really REALLY makes us bloggers happy.   

{okay, stepping off my soap box now}

Onto today's craft - this lovely little Photo Flower Pot I made for Mother's day - for the grandmas - to go along with my craft from yesterday {click HERE to see it}

This was really easy to make, however I apologize for not taking ANY photos of the process.  I made these 2 years ago, about 2 weeks after my daughter was born... I had to make these in between feedings and after I was done I looked at my hubby and said, "Ahhh, I forgot to take pictures!!"  I blame pregnancy brain - hehe :)

Anyhow, the process is very simple.
1) Spray paint a ceramic pot {any color}
2) Print photos from a regular printer on regular paper {NOT photo paper}
3) Place the photos on pot and cover with 2-3 coats of Mod Podge {let it dry in between each coat}
4) Spray with an acrylic sealer - which makes it water resistant
5) Plant a pretty flower

Here is a picture of all the pictures :)

I think what made this gift so special was that my sister-in-law & I both had babies born only a few weeks early {my daughter was 2 wks old and her son was 3 wks old} and I was able to include a few photos of all our kids together.

These turned out so cute and I love how versatile this gift is.  You can make one for your kids teacher or give one as a house warming present, the possibilities are endless :)

HAPPY CRAFTING!
(to see where I've linked up - click here!!)

Family Hand Tree

I can't believe how fast these past couple of weeks have flown by!   I didn't mean to disappear but it's been CRAZY around here.  First I was up to my ears in Minnie Mouse decor {post to follow soon} for my little girls 2nd bday party.  Then I got this cold... ugh... I hate being sick... especially when it's sunny and 90° out.

Anyhow, I'm so excited to share this easy and cute Mother's Day craft with you.  I made these a few years ago for our moms "the grandma's" and they absolutely loved them!  

Here is how you can make your own Family Hand Tree :)

First cut out the tree from brown paper 

Time to add your hand prints.  

Instead of making a tree from MY family (me, hubby & kids), I chose to make a tree with my hubby's family {for his mom} and a tree with my family {for my mom}.   

This was my mom's tree.  We started with our hand prints {me & my girls... my littlest one was only 2 weeks old, her hands were sooooo little!} and we added my 2 sisters later.

Then I added the wording "Other things may change us, but we start and end with Family"

Next was my MIL's tree {hubby family}.  The hubby & kids did their hand prints first, then we added his sister & her son {who was also only 3 weeks old}. 

Let me tell you, trying to get a 2 & 3 week old to cooperate with painted hands was NOT easy, but they turned out pretty good, considering...

Since both our moms live over an hour away, we weren't going to see them on Mother's Day, so I drove up the Friday before to surprise the moms "grandma's" with their gifts.  Both moms absolutely LOVED them!! It was a hit :)

 {Do you see the flower pot?  I'll be sharing that Mother's Day craft later this week}

HAPPY CRAFTING!
(to see where I've linked up - click here!!)

Pintastic Friday #8 {Muffins}

Welcome to Pintastic Friday!! 

For those of you here for the 1st time, here is a little recap...   I share a few of my favorite pins each week and then pick one to make.  Last week I selected a few favorites and the "goal" is to share my completed pin with you the next this week. So here is the big question... did I actually complete anything?    {drum-roll please....... }   

Sadly, I didn't get my pin done this week {technically it was last weeks}, but between my cold, Easter and planning a Minnie Mouse birthday...  I just couldn't get around to another craft.  Now that I'm finally feeling better, I hope to have my blogging back on track!

********************************************

My whole family loves muffins, especially the hubby.  So I love coming across a new recipe for us to try out.  Here are a couple of delicious looking muffin recipes that I've been dying to try out.

Best Blueberry Muffins

 by Cooking Classy

Coffee Chocolate Chip Muffins 

by Inside BruCrew Life

 

Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

 by Life in Pleasantville

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

by Cookies & Cups 

Pancake Mini Muffins

by Pioneer Woman

Zucchini Carrot Oatmeal Muffins

by Yellow Bliss Road

I have a feeling my family will LOVE whichever one I decide to make!

HAPPY CRAFTING!
(to see where I've linked up - click here!!)

Spring Decor & Easter Bunny Sign

My kids have been so excited for Easter all month!  When we decorated our front porch, my little ones thought that the Easter Bunny was coming the next day.... 

 

That was 2 weeks ago.  

So every morning we go through the same routine:  They wake up and ask "Did the Easter Bunny come?  Did he hide the eggs? " Then they proceed to look the window at the grass in the backyard.

We've tried to explain that Easter is in a "few weeks", but our 2 & 3 year old have no concept of real time.  They associate everything with, today, tomorrow or yesterday.  So it looks like it's gonna be Groundhog Day around here... until Easter Sunday finally arrives! {luckily we only have a few more days left. haha}

I wanted to make this Easter Bunny sign last year, but never got around to it.  So this year I was determined to make it.  It cost me nothing {since I had all the supplies on hand}, but even if you had to purchase them, it couldn't be more than $5-7 and it turned out super cute!

This is pretty easy to make, especially if you have a Silhouette or Cricket.  I created my design on my Silhouette and then cut everything out on vinyl.

 Got all my vinyl onto the transfer paper

Time to line everything up.  

I used a canvas {because there was a great sale at Michael's and I stocked up!}.  However, you could use poster board, a piece of wood or even cardstock.

 Tape everything down

Time to start pressing the vinyl onto the canvas.  I started upside down, so I could get into all the areas around the wood edges

For the top, I placed a thick book under, so while I was pushing, there was something hard underneath {since the wood edge creates a gap between the canvas & table}

Peel off the transfer paper

Next cover your letters in Mod Podge.  The reason is when you paint over the letters, the mod podge will create a barrier, so the paint won't bleed/leak under the vinyl.   You could bypass this step, but I recommend that you don't :)

Once it dries, get your paint out

Did you notice that I used an egg dying cup to paint my Easter sign? hehe.  Just trying to stay with the Easter theme :)

Start covering the canvas completely. 

Don't forget the sides {I used my thick book again to hold up the canvas so I could paint the sides} 

Now I forgot to take pics of this part... but once it's dry peel all the letters off carefully.

Here is how it will look!

 It was the perfect addition to my Front Porch Spring Decor! 

Don't you just LOVE that bunny vase?  My MIL gave it to me a few years ago and it's probably my favorite Spring/Easter decoration!

 

Having kids reminds me how magical holidays can be.  Believing in the Easter Bunny is such a fun tradition that I love getting to experience all over again with my kids!

HAPPY EASTER!
(to see where I've linked up - click here!!)

       

More Easter Ideas:

{free} Easter Printable

Easter Mimosa Bar

Easter Onesie - Boy 

Easter Onesie Girl

Jelly Bean Flowers & Candy filled Eggs

 Happy Easter Banner

 Egg {Pom Pom} Egg

 Spring Flower Wreath