Crayon Art

This is one of those projects I did before I started my blog. There aren't a lot of pictures, but I LOVE how they turned out! We gave these to A's preschool teachers in 2010.

Overall, this project was not a very expensive one. I had a few leftover boxes of crayons from back to school shopping (when they were like $0.10 or $0.25 each) and the canvas was on sale at Hobby Lobby.

I'm sorry, there aren't a lot of pictures (I was only thinking finished project, not a step-by-step at the time). We did 2 different designs - one vertical, and one horizontal. It was a super simple project (because I love quick and easy and cute things)!

1. Hot Glue crayons to canvas (I used a cool-temp glue to not melt the crayon first). It works best to put the glue directly on the crayon paper then put on the canvas. The glue kind of squished out in between, but it worked out ok since the crayons were pushed together (it also helped "hold" them together).

2. Once all crayons are attached & dried onto the canvas, break out your hair dryer! We started with a high heat, low force setting to prevent splatter and get the "pool" effect. Once we got the "pool" big enough, we switched the dryer to a high force setting to make it splatter.

3. For the second canvas, we used a high heat, high force setting right away. The result was less pooling, more splatter.

** Side note: beware of splatter!! This is what my toilet looked like after the project! Very colorful!

I think A's teachers enjoyed their art work gifts. They would make great end of the year presents too!

Makes me Giggle

While shopping at our local bookstore before Christmas, I snapped this picture because it made me laugh. E is 13 and this kind of "marketing" even made her stop and go "what?!?!" The Teen Non-Fiction actually starts on the very bottom shelf with a total of 2 titles...

{Sorry the picture is so bad ~ it was taken with my cell phone.}

Have you ever looked at something and went WHAT?!?!

Feed Me Friday: Chili & Corn Bread

This week I wasn't feeling the greatest, but for some reason chili & cornbread sounded good! One of my customers turned me on to Stonewall Kitchen's line of products. Oh. My. Goodness. YUM!!! Their products taste *AMAZING*! And are SUPER easy to use as well. If it helps me put a good meal on the table quickly without sacrificing flavor - I am ALL for it!

{sorry for the crappy pics - I can not, for the life of me, find my camera cord...}

All I had to add was 1 egg, oil, and milk: mix it up and bake it in a 9x9 (box says 8x8 but all I could find was the 9x9).

It was super yummy!! Just the thing on a cold night!

Notes

I am a paper person. I like lists and making myself a note helps me remember what needs done, whether it's at home or work.

I wanted to make something to keep by my bed to jot the last minute stuff down on to help clear my brain before sleep. I might make one for my desk at work too!

I used some scrapbook paper from my endless supply, a clip, clear acrylic frame, and a pack of post it notes. Everything used for this project I already had on hand.

I LOVE easy projects! This was super simple to put together and turned out really cute. Just cut the paper to fit the frame, slide in, then stick the post its to the frame and add the clip. Put a pen along with it and that's it!

I joined the weekend wrap up!

Stop over at Tatertots and Jello to check it out!

http://tatertotsandjello.com/

Happy New Year!

A new year means new goals! One of my goals this year is to pay a little more attention to my blog. Another is to cut through some more clutter and "stuff" in the house and simplify. Always on my list is making my family a priority.

One of the tools I am going to use for this is this fantastic weekly calendar E made for me as a 4-H project.

She took a multi-picture frame that we found on clearance at Hobby Lobby (it was pretty scratched up and missing 1 glass pane). All other materials (paint, paper, cork, and stickers) were things we had in my stash of crafting supplies.



Here is how she completed the project:

1. Remove glass panes from frame. Paint frame.

2. While paint is drying, wash glass. Choose paper to go under glass and cut to fit backing. For the piece that did not have glass, she cut a piece of cork to fit.

3. Add second coat of paint & touch-ups when dry.

4. Replace glass and backings (with paper) into all openings.

5. Add Day of the Week stickers (she found these in my massive stack of scrapbooking supplies).

The glass can be used as a dry erase board and the cork will allow me to hang any notes/papers I need to help me complete the goals (along with birthday invites for the kids or other planning things). I can write down which day I plan on doing what (for example on Tuesday evening, I can organize the bath closet). She didn't use Saturday/Sunday because the hope is that we will be having fun on the weekends rather than working all of the time!

Happy New Year!!