Wrap Around Bracelet

This month Valerie made a wrap around bracelet with silver oval memory wire and beads she purchased at Michaels.

Upcycled T-Shirt

This month Allison made a reusable shopping bag from an old t-shirt.  She cut off the sleeves, bottom hem and collar.  Then she cut 4 inch strips along the bottom through both sides of fabric and slid a bead onto a strip from each side all along the bottom.  The the strips were tied together to secure it.

Navajo Necklace and Earrings

This week I was on a mission trip with my church to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.  While there, one of the teachers at the Rehoboth Christian School (where we were staying) offered a little jewelry class with classic Navajo beads.  I made the above necklace and earrings.

Durable Paper Dolls

 This month we did some traveling and to keep my oldest busy in the car I made her a travel binder with some road trip games with dry erase markers.  I also made her these Paper Dolls.  I found the dolls online in the Silhouette Shop .  I used the Princess, Cowgirl, Ballerina, and Hawaiian dolls.  This used the print and cut feature on the Silhouette.  After the shapes had been purchased and downloaded I set my registration marks and sent it to print on card stock.  Then I ran it through the Silhouette to cut out all the shapes.  Next I warmed up the Laminator and ran the pieces through.  I hand cut the shapes out of the laminate paper.  Then I took Mini Velcro fasteners and attached them to the doll and to the clothes.  Now we can dress and undress the dolls as many times as we like and they will hold up to 4 year old fingers better than straight paper.  This worked so slick I am working on some more.

Stick Ponies

 This month Vicki made stick ponies for the grand kids.  They were a hit!

This pretty pony was inspired this blog post!

The pony head was free handed and sewn.  Ribbon was used for the bridle as well as a mardi gras beaded necklace.  The mane is a feathered boa ribbon.  Check out the rainbow eyelashes!

Glass Etching Pyrex Pans

For this month, I decided to try my hand at glass etching.  Something I've wanted to do, but keep putting off because I don't know how to do it.  Also, I didn't get pictures taken of just one project, so you'll have to give me a little leeway.  I designed what I wanted my pan to look like in my Silhouette software.  I decided to go with last name instead of "made from the kitchen of...", since both Brandon and I cook.  Then, I cut out a mirror image of what I wanted on my Pyrex pan in vinyl and attached it to the bottom side of my 9x13 Pyrex pan.  I made sure that there were no air gaps and that the vinyl had a good seal.

I poured etching cream all over the design, making sure to stay on the vinyl around the edges.  Etching cream is an acid, so you have to make sure you don't get it on ANYTHING and that you are wearing protective gloves.  It also says that it doesn't work on Pyrex.  From what I've researched, it won't work on really old Pyrex, but it should work just fine on most.  If it doesn't work, then it won't really matter.  Just wash your dish off and it'll be as good as new (or old that is...)!  I have since learned that you can put a lot more etching cream on and when you are done just put as much back into the jar as possible.  Just leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes.

Wash it off, and you are done!  Now I'll know wish dish is mine at potlucks!

Summer Wreath

Saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be a perfect touch of summer to add to the house!  I got the wreath at Michaels and regular drink umbrellas at Party City and then just stuck them in around the umbrella.  I liked it with some of the wreath showing but after the next four people that came to the house asked me if I ran out of umbrellas I decided I had better fill it out ha!

Kids' Father's Day gift

My daughter colored a picture and then I used the Silhouette to cut the picture into puzzle pieces. We put the pieces in a tin with a tag that said "I love you to pieces!". Happy to say I came up with this on my own!

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Father's Day Gift Box

I found ideas for this Father's day super hero gift box on Pinterest. It was comical and my husband enjoyed reading the treat labels and sampling them. You can google it or look for it on alphamom.com.

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Repainted Frames

 Kelly started a project this month that she hopes to continue.  She is on the lookout for fun frames and as she finds them she is spray painting them white to create a floating frame wall.  Off to a good start!