tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72093141656674582742024-03-19T03:20:22.290-07:00Mama Do ThatA do-it-yourself blog from crafting to home decor, not to mention home schooling...and all on a budget.Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-8436842878896085322014-02-11T17:22:00.000-08:002014-02-11T17:22:57.424-08:00Owl and Fox Valentine TutorialHere are a few of the Valentine cards we're making in our house this year. <br />
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<b>Owl Valentine</b><br />
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Materials: Tools:<br />
Paper Scissors<br />
Glue Pen<br />
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<i>Step One</i><br />
Cut out three hearts of different sizes. <br />
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<i>Step Two</i><br />
Glue the smallest heart in the upper corner of the largest heart. The smallest heart will be the face of your owl.<br />
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<i>Step Three</i><br />
Glue the medium sized heart right in the middle of the largest heart. This heart is the wing of the owl. It's okay if it slightly covers the face.<br />
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<i>Step Four</i><br />
Fold the heart in half and draw the owl face on the smallest heart. You can also add details like a little love note. <br />
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<b>Fox Valentine</b><br />
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Materials: Tools:<br />
Paper Scissors<br />
Glue Pen<br />
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<i>Step One</i><br />
Cut out three hearts of different sizes. Cut the smallest heart out of white paper and the medium and large hearts out of orange paper.<br />
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<i>Step Two</i><br />
On the medium sized heart, cut two fox ears at the top of the heart and round out the rest of the heart just a bit. You might have to practice this one a couple of times to get it right.<br />
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<i>Step Three</i><br />
Glue the smallest heart onto the medium heart (the one that has the fox ears) and draw on the face for the fox.<br />
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<i>Step Four</i><br />
Fold the largest heart in half and flip it upside down. This will be the body of the fox. Glue the head of the fox on to the tip of the largest heart. You can add detail like a tail or a cute little note for the one you love. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-2630797656858759742014-02-10T14:51:00.002-08:002014-02-10T14:51:47.386-08:00Heart Pancakes for Valentine's DayWe started off this Valentine's week with healthy, oatmeal pancakes. <br />
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The trick to get this heart in the middle of the pancake is to cook the heart first. Put some of your pancake batter into a frosting bag and gently squeeze the batter right out onto your hot griddle in the shape of a heart. Let it cook a little, then ladle pancake batter right over the top of the heart. Cook as directed and enjoy.Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-65658930147064239212014-01-31T13:28:00.000-08:002014-01-31T13:28:00.621-08:00Chinese New Year Tiny Lantern TutorialHappy Chinese New Year! Today we celebrated by making tiny, paper Chinese lanterns and dragons. <br />
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To make your own Chinese lantern you will need<br />
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Paper<br />
Scissors<br />
Glue or tape<br />
String<br />
Stick (optional)<br />
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Step One:<br />
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Decide how big you want your lantern. I wanted mine about 2 inches tall. Cut your paper into a rectangle. For my 2 inch tall lantern I cut a rectangle that was 2 inches by about 5 inches long.<br />
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Step Two:<br />
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Fold your paper in half length wise. Along the fold, cut slits perpendicular to the fold every quarter inch. Remember not to cut all the way through to the top of the paper or you'll cut your lantern into little pieces. Leave about 1/4 inch at the top of the paper.<br />
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Step Three:<br />
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Open up your folded paper. Bring the two shorter ends of the rectangle together. Glue these ends together to form a tube with your paper. Push down gently on the top and bottom of the tube. This will push out the sides of your tube and make it look more like a lantern. And you're done. <br />
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You can attach string to your tiny lantern and hang it from a stick if you'd like. <br />
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I wish you good fortune and happiness in the upcoming year!Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-20189267382234281082013-11-21T12:59:00.001-08:002013-11-21T12:59:28.226-08:00Pinecone and Sparkle Tutorial for KidsThis pinecone tutorial is super easy and fun for kids. You can use your sparkly pinecones as bowl fillers or attach a ribbon on each pinecone and use them as Christmas tree ornaments. Your kids will love to hang ornaments on the tree made by them!<br />
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You'll need:<br />
Mod Podge or glue<br />
small paintbrushes<br />
pinecones<br />
Sparkle Flakes or glitter<br />
plastic grocery bags<br />
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Place the plastic grocery bags down on your work surface. These bags will make clean up afterward a breeze! Help your child to dip the paintbrush into the Mod Podge or glue and paint the Mod Podge on the pinecone where she wants it to sparkle. <br />
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Once your child is satisfied with the amount of glue that is on her pinecone, use your fingers or a spoon and sprinkle Sparkle Flakes or glitter onto the pinecone making sure to do this over the plastic bags. <br />
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Let the pinecones dry for a few hours and you're done. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-24852430236130709602013-11-14T13:29:00.000-08:002013-11-14T13:31:22.406-08:00Embroidery: The French KnotThe French knot is a simple knot that will lay flat on your fabric. Often a small, open circle on an embroidery<br />
pattern indicates where the French knot should be placed on your embroidery.<br />
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1. Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the long tail of the thread.<br />
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2. Poke your needle through the back side of the fabric and gently pull the thread through until it<br />
is stopped by the knot at the end of the long tail of your thread.<br />
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3. Starting with the thread on the left side of the needle and wrap it around the needle twice.<br />
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4. Poke your needle into the fabric slightly left of where the thread originally came up through the<br />
fabric.<br />
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5. As the needle goes through to the back side of the fabric, gently hold the knot (the thread that<br />
you wrapped around the needle) in place, against the fabric and carefully pull the thread all the<br />
way through.<br />
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I had to practice a few time to get it just right. With a little practice you'll get it in no time!<br />
<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-80277369124270779942013-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:002013-11-12T14:00:11.649-08:00A Grand Birthday Crown for My Grandma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is perhaps the most important birthday crown I will ever make!</div>
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My grandma is turning ninety this week. She is a beautiful woman with so many strengths. I do wish I could see her in her birthday crown! <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-91935928938621190212013-10-28T21:35:00.000-07:002013-10-28T21:38:16.235-07:00Spider Web Embroidery Tutorial: A Perfect First Embroidery for KidsThis Halloween, teach your child how to embroider with this super simple spider web embroidery. The huge stitches on this embroidery gives kids the feeling of immediate success.<br />
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When teaching your child how to embroider, it's important to be right there with your child. This will minimize potential frustration on your child's part and keep him safe from the sharp point of the embroidery needle.<br />
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So if you have 30 minutes to an hour, you and your child will love doing this project together!<br />
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<b>Let's get started</b>. <br />
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Before getting your child for this project, get all of your supplies ready. This was Micah's first embroidery project so I wanted to make sure I had his full attention. He's only four years old, so if I had him gather materials with me and get the embroidery hoop ready, I think he would have been done with the project before we even started sewing. <br />
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<b>You will need</b>:<br />
cotton fabric (preferably black or white)<br />
cotton embroidery floss (use black floss if your fabric is white and vice versa)<br />
embroidery needle<br />
embroidery hoop<br />
scissors<br />
transfer pen or pencil<br />
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<i><b>Get Your Embroidery Hoop Ready</b></i><br />
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Unscrew the embroidery-hoop fastener and take out the inner hoop. Place the inner hoop under the fabric and place the outer hoop over the fabric around the inner hoop. Gently pull on the fabric until it is taut. Secure the fabric into place by tightening the fastener.<br />
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<i><b>Make a Spider Web Guideline</b></i><br />
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Now you are going to draw dots on the fabric with your transfer pen or pencil that will be a guide for you and your child when sewing the spider web. <br />
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Each spider web is unique, but a similar method for the dot guideline is used for all of the spider webs. Decide if you would like a full circle spider web, or a portion of a circle. Place one dot where you want the middle of your spider web to be sewn. This dot is the origin of your spider web. The origin of my spider web is on the edge of the embroidery hoop. Place the other dots around the outer edge or what would be the circumference of your spider web 1 to 2 inches apart. <br />
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I decided not to make my spider web a perfect circle. So when placing the dots around the circumference of the spider web, I purposely misaligned several of the dots. <br />
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<i><b>Thread your Needle</b></i><br />
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Thread all six strands of embroidery floss into the needle and knot the end of your thread. I recommend using a long piece of thread (2 feet at least) because your child's stitches will be so big. <br />
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<b>Now go get the kiddies!</b><br />
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<b><i>Time to Sew </i></b><br />
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Have your child push the threaded needle up through the origin or center of the spider web and gently pull until the thread is stopped by the knot at the end. Choose one dot on the circumference of the spider web and have your child push the needle down through the marked spot and gently pull until the thread stops. That is your child's first (huge) stitch. Let's call these stitches the "runner" stitches.<br />
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Your child will now bring the needle back up through the origin pulling gently until the thread stops. Choose another circumference dot and send the needle down through the fabric at this spot. <br />
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Help your child repeat this process, sewing large runner stitches from the origin outward until all of the spider web guide dots have been used. <br />
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When your thread runs out and you cannot make another stitch, just tie off your thread close to the fabric on the underneath of your embroidery and trim the extra floss. Re-thread your needle and start your embroidery where you and your child left off.<br />
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Next, make <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/tutorial-backstitch.html" target="_blank">back stitches</a> with your child, going from one runner stitch to the next, starting on one end of the spider web. Make several rows of these stitches across the runner stitches all at about the same distance apart. Repeat this process until your spider web is complete.<br />
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And there you have it. In just about 30 extra large stitches your child has completed his very first embroidery! Hooray for kids!<br />
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If your child is not quite ready to embroider, you can still get him involved. Have your child pull the thread through the fabric after you have make the initial poke with your needle. Keep practicing until he feels confident to sew right along with you. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-20646988385146608312013-10-15T08:03:00.000-07:002013-10-15T08:03:39.220-07:00Homespun Homeschool: 3 Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice Their InstrumentI've heard a lot of moms complain about their child's instrument practice. Sometimes it's hard to motivate a child that just doesn't want to practice. Here are three things that work for us in motivating our children to practice their instruments.<br />
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1. Make it fun!<br />
Making instrument practice fun, especially for young kids, is a great way to keep them practicing. Sometimes we turn practice time into game time. We use spinners with different dynamics on them. If Ev spins and it lands on "forte" she'll play the next song loud. We use rhythm dice to switch up the rhythm of the songs that she plays. We also have Ev draw the song out of a bag so the order of songs that she practices is different each time. <br />
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2. Practice with your child<br />
If you are lucky enough to have two of the same instrument or can somehow practice with your child, this can be motivating. My kids get a kick out of teaching me a song on the violin or guitar. They are pretty good to remind me that my playing is getting a little rusty and that I need to practice more. <br />
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3. Occasionally a little prize or treat can help<br />
Our kids are usually pretty good to practice their instruments without complaint, but there have been times when practice seems like a punishment (for everyone). I've found that a little prize or treat once in a while for a great job practicing can be really helpful. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-52816096235198973722013-10-12T07:32:00.002-07:002013-10-12T07:32:39.865-07:00DIY Halloween and Day of the Dead Bunting TutorialWhen you decorate for Halloween don't limit yourself to just black and orange decorations!<br />
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Think "Day of the Dead." This Mexican holiday seems to have been pulled into Halloween traditions, most likely because of the use of skeletons during Day of the Dead celebrations and the close proximity in Holiy dates. Did you know that the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st?<br />
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Day of the Dead is not so much a morbid holiday as it is a celebration of loved ones who have passed. So it makes sense that tons of colorful flowers are used in celebration on this day.<br />
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This year, I chose neon colors to add to the classic black and orange used at Halloween. Here's how I made a bunting that combined traditional colors of Halloween and bright colors of Day of the Dead.<br />
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I started out by cutting strips of black and orange card stock. I trimmed these and cut decorative edges on the end of each strip of paper. The papers were cut symmetrically so that they could be folded in half over ribbon or cord and look the same on both sides of the bunting. <br />
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There was no order as far as the way I placed my paper flags on the cord. I just grabbed from my pile of paper flags, placed the flag over the cord, and put a dot of hot glue between the two sides of the flag. <br />
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The Day of the Dead skulls were made from felt. Each one was drawn free hand with neon fabric markers. The skulls were also made to be folded over the cord just like the flags. After every five or so flags I placed a skull over the cord and secure it by hot gluing the two sides of the skull together.<br />
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I repeated this until I reached my desired length of bunting. <br />
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So when you decorate your home for Halloween this year take a lesson from this Mexican festivity and include all sorts of colors in your Halloween decor. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-85815190749115375412013-10-11T11:59:00.000-07:002013-10-11T12:02:02.649-07:00Dog-Themed Birthday PartyMicah requested a dog-themed party for his birthday this year and so we delivered (all on a budget of $20 too). <br />
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Since our party guests were all four years old, we decided to start the party right with some simple coloring. When guests arrived, we directed them to a table with dog coloring pages and a box of crayons. After a bit of coloring we headed over to the next room for some fun doggy games. With a pile of balls, a dog obstacle course, and some play tunnels, the party goers got all sorts of wiggles out. <br />
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This dog party also included a version of pin the tail on the donkey, but instead of tails on donkeys we were trying to get dog bones in the dog's mouth. <br />
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Our games didn't end there! Each of our party guests attended doggy obedience school before having their dog treats. The kids had a blast eating Cocoa Puffs out of real (new and clean) dog bowls. <br />
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After opening presents, we sang to Micah and he blew out his candles on his dog-food cake. For this cake I used one chocolate cake mix, divided in half and baked in two pans. One layer of the cake was placed in the bottom of a large dog bowl with wax paper underneath. The other layer was turned into cake balls and made to look like over-sized dog food. <br />
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Each party goer was given an assortment of delicious dog treats for being such good dogs including a sugar cookie dog bone, Scooby Snacks, and chocolate cake balls. <br />
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And the guests left with their own bag of dog treats and a ball so they could practice their dog tricks at home!<br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-79911517202626350162013-10-07T12:08:00.000-07:002013-10-07T12:08:08.722-07:00DIY Preschool Halloween DecorationsLet your preschooler run wild with this paper folding activity that you can use in your home as Halloween decor. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHtWPeu73RRVgjA2UMgktMsGEkSAn182niPncTd3X4CkpUp8ypgFZBF-E6-ym3uZILti_sC0DzI0erTtZehws4DrARN4yiL4CcX-0WsAKjAzcNkL1t-INyZT1zaa5HDRxGvP5mGwca-g/s1600/2013+10+04_3459_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHtWPeu73RRVgjA2UMgktMsGEkSAn182niPncTd3X4CkpUp8ypgFZBF-E6-ym3uZILti_sC0DzI0erTtZehws4DrARN4yiL4CcX-0WsAKjAzcNkL1t-INyZT1zaa5HDRxGvP5mGwca-g/s1600/2013+10+04_3459_edited-2.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's as easy as it looks. Cut different lengths and widths of orange and black paper. Show your child how to fold a fan, making their first fold across the paper starting about an inch away from the bottom. Flip the paper over and help your child make the next fold about an inch away from the last fold. Show your child how to repeat the process, flipping the paper over and folding, until your child runs out of room to fold. <br />
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You can hang your child's folded masterpieces by threading white embroidery floss through a needle, tying a knot at the end of a piece of thread, and poking a hole with the needle at the top of the folded paper. Bring your thread up through the hole in the paper until you reach the knot at the end of your thread. <br />
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I used adhesive putty to attach the thread on the ceiling. You can use tape or whatever you have. Let the paper hang at different lengths for a great Halloween decoration made by your kids. Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-74919461117728967392013-10-05T16:54:00.000-07:002013-10-05T16:54:59.114-07:00Leopard Print Wall MapNeed to spice up a dull wall in your home? Leopard print will do the trick. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGEoYTGcx5Hf-UT2HAE_Ctk_mitYAjoV56cKdhxCv_iV397Gu4WA9Bo1ARGmd7KcFFEeWxcPQaA0SLl1x-PXdkrpAInDHvIYOGmif7vZat8bTLbyEhj2WvwSgR8mCbBXoWJgkYL7BuxE/s1600/2013+10+03_3416_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGEoYTGcx5Hf-UT2HAE_Ctk_mitYAjoV56cKdhxCv_iV397Gu4WA9Bo1ARGmd7KcFFEeWxcPQaA0SLl1x-PXdkrpAInDHvIYOGmif7vZat8bTLbyEhj2WvwSgR8mCbBXoWJgkYL7BuxE/s1600/2013+10+03_3416_edited-1.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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To make this leopard print wall map, I used an outline of a map I found online. After printing, I cut out the basic shape of the map and traced it onto the back of this leopard felt. You can find this kind of animal print felt in most craft stores. I found mine next to the sheets of craft felt. This particular felt was thicker and more firm than craft felt so it held its shape nicely. <br />
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Once my map was cut out, I attached it to a piece of white cotton fabric that I had previously stretched across the back of a barn-wood frame and secured with staples. I just had to center my map and hot glue it onto the fabric. <br />
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For a personal touch, I added heart-topped pins to the map in places that are near and dear to our hearts. For the heart-topped pins I just hot glued tiny wool felt hearts to each pinhead. <br />
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If you feel a little nervous about putting something as wild as an animal print on a wall in your home, don't worry. I heard that leopard is a new "classic" print. Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-58802759213794116462013-10-02T22:14:00.000-07:002013-10-02T22:36:32.659-07:00Free Fall Pumpkin Embroidery PatternI stitched up a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/162393282/fall-home-decor-embroidery-pumpkin-and?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">fall embroidery</a> for the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/mamadothat?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Mama Do That shop</a> and decided to make a free fall pumpkin pattern similar to the embroidery that I am selling. Want to make one?!<br />
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Just print the pattern at the bottom of the page and transfer it onto fabric using a transfer pen or pencil.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqa-7fRJXZm63IVG9YwOZsEMyqA1a5YJM6Np4nFS1yI12S9YcRaftDWVvTP_EeEihCs1hfXpiJZZcWw2mk3z5Cwz17jPyOR6smuOLyKsoo4Rl5CMH4RbbOxvxzELUrtMHSaW0rGjm5I08/s1600/2013+09+11_3081_edited-2.jpg" height="320" width="313" /></div>
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Place your fabric into an embroidery hoop and start stitching! If you need help getting started on your embroidery, you can follow the instructions on this <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/tutorial-backstitch.html" target="_blank">backstitch</a> tutorial.
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<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/172869476/Fall-Pumpkin-Embroidery?secret_password=1gschr0u3xltalb64hs" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Fall Pumpkin Embroidery on Scribd">Fall Pumpkin Embroidery</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/AsiaCazier" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View AsiaCazier's profile on Scribd">AsiaCazier</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.33234859675037" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_42217" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/172869476/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-a2oeht5wyh6u1f05kfz&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-89060394994110476712013-10-01T16:48:00.000-07:002013-10-02T11:02:06.367-07:00Homespun Homeschool: 3 Reasons Why We Don't Have a TVWhere we live we seem to be an anomaly. We choose not to have a television. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6rzgWsGfxOiKKRyHmqGK7zCmwPKXH7_DsKobf_5JiJJB5mbqgE2COGF1hir9QV9Q3mkN49ovpnzaqH_2VC_o8nregbufCGvSSdHEvJsU50dGMWXJjDPJu3CbDXMze93LPGQWM1utL34/s1600/2013+10+01_3387_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6rzgWsGfxOiKKRyHmqGK7zCmwPKXH7_DsKobf_5JiJJB5mbqgE2COGF1hir9QV9Q3mkN49ovpnzaqH_2VC_o8nregbufCGvSSdHEvJsU50dGMWXJjDPJu3CbDXMze93LPGQWM1utL34/s1600/2013+10+01_3387_edited-2.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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Here are three reasons why we don't have a TV:<br />
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1. <b>Exposure: There are things on TV that I just don't want my kids to see or hear. </b><br />
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We recently went to the dentist. Our dentist, like most, has televisions on the ceiling to distract the patients while getting their teeth cleaned. I was asked if Ev could watch TV while getting her dental work done. I said it was fine, so the hygienist found a cartoon for Ev to watch. That didn't seem like a big deal to me. We don't ban TV altogether. <br />
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However, in the 10 minutes that she watched TV at the dentist's office, she was exposed to about twelve words that we don't use in our home. They aren't horrible words, but words that we don't want our 7 year old and 3 year old saying. <br />
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I want to be the one that filters my kids' world experience right now. They are little and I want to protect them. <br />
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That being said, I do see the importance of my kids gaining their own filtration system. What I mean by that is that I would like my kids to govern themselves when I'm not around. When there is something on TV or on the computer that is not appropriate, I want them to choose to turn it off.<br />
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We work on this skill right now even though we don't have a television. We are honest about what is available on the Internet (I do let me kids play games online). We have told them, even though they are young, that some people put inappropriate pictures, videos, and stories online. We have also discussed with them that if they happen upon these things they close the computer, walk away and come talk to us (their parents). <br />
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<b>2. Time: There are too many good things to do besides watch TV.</b><br />
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Television can be a huge time waster. Believe me, I know. I have been caught in the TV trap. You sit down to watch TV just for a few minutes. You just need a little break from reality so you can conquer the rest of your day. Before you know it, the rest of your day has been conquered by the four reality TV shows you just finished watching. Oh boy. <br />
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Especially now that I am a mom, and a home-school mom at that, there are too many things to do in the day to include television into my schedule. And there too many fun things for my kids to do and experience to have the TV going all day long.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, my husband and I will watch movies three or four times a month, but having some sort of show running half the day seems to fill life with unimportant things. <br />
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<b>3. Guilt: It's too much for me.</b><br />
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I won't lie, part of this no-TV thing is kind of selfish. I feel so much guilt when my kids waste the day away watching TV or playing games on the computer. If TV is not even an option on our home, then I don't have to feel an internal struggle wondering if my kids are rotting their brains out watching the adventures of a yellow sponge in short shorts. <br />
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So there you have it. I'm not sure how long we'll go without a television, but we have lived without one for the last three years and have not missed it.<br />
<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-8951694874735688162013-09-30T15:09:00.000-07:002013-09-30T15:09:08.307-07:00Custom Peg People EmbroideryI've been working on a little project for the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamadothat?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">Mama Do That Etsy shop</a>: custom peg people embroideries and embroidery patterns. I guess I just wanted to have something available at the shop that could be used for memorable events and be given as a unique gift. <br />
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One couple wanted to get a custom embroidery in celebration of their second anniversary. I thought this was a cute way to celebrate since the traditional material for the second anniversary is cotton. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vYGBrXYFoan1xFvJqBXiZOitwQXvVDxgJYKgmufwhoiUSC3jJeni6J8rqOmRko0E9mchxg1R6yPE2Z4JjlfgegW1jqozqp0SxIH0Ontv9ORMwnov8I0bw84wW67Mczl5IdCfnjkNjK0/s1600/2013+08+20_2780_edited-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vYGBrXYFoan1xFvJqBXiZOitwQXvVDxgJYKgmufwhoiUSC3jJeni6J8rqOmRko0E9mchxg1R6yPE2Z4JjlfgegW1jqozqp0SxIH0Ontv9ORMwnov8I0bw84wW67Mczl5IdCfnjkNjK0/s1600/2013+08+20_2780_edited-3.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-54867855287817051992013-09-27T20:30:00.000-07:002013-09-29T07:27:49.780-07:00Personalized Ribbon Bookmarks <div class="MsoNormal">
These little bookmark people are easy to make and can be a
lovely gift. Set the bookmark ribbon
over the page you’d like to keep marked and the bead people on the end will
hold your place. These bookmarks can be
fun because you can personalize the bead people to look like anyone you’d
like. </div>
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To make these bookmarks I painted hair, eyes, and pink cheeks onto wooden beads using acrylic
paint and strung them on the ends of a piece of ribbon. I measured the ribbon by doubling the length of a standard size book and adding a few inches for the bead people. Immediately after each wooden bead, I strung a glass bead for a tiny body.
I secured these beads in place by tying a
knot at the end of both sides of the ribbon. </div>
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You can keep the ribbon from fraying by melting the ends carefully using a match or candle or by painting clear nail polish on both ends of the ribbon.</div>
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Can you guess who I patterned my little bookmark people
after? My kids, Micah and Ev, of course!</div>
Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-70998337125413001912013-09-25T08:12:00.000-07:002013-09-29T07:31:07.228-07:00Wool Felt Acorn TutorialI started making felt acorns seven years ago. I was living in an area with a plethora of oak trees and there seemed to always be hundreds of acorns on the ground. <br />
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I made these little felt acorns to pass the time. I was far away from family with no car and no television. I also made these felt acorns to share with family members. My mom and her side of the family have a connection with acorns. Along with other reasons for the connection, their high school mascot was the 'mighty acorn'. You can't beat that for a school mascot!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufLDOD7I1Frl5C8i4woS2xZYTAZeC_VSLDtZJfpWDxNz8G_fkWwy6pEMjfVmaYaIAMkQnVtAALrOrHb39qn557EAXlDAt7ZbFbrsMM1fTheeF3n8-A5iyA36WLN22RtKguKSahVlzGKo/s1600/2013+02+08_2302_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufLDOD7I1Frl5C8i4woS2xZYTAZeC_VSLDtZJfpWDxNz8G_fkWwy6pEMjfVmaYaIAMkQnVtAALrOrHb39qn557EAXlDAt7ZbFbrsMM1fTheeF3n8-A5iyA36WLN22RtKguKSahVlzGKo/s1600/2013+02+08_2302_edited-1.JPG" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Felt Acorn Tutorial</span><br />
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<b>Materials: </b><br />
Two small pieces of wool felt<br />
Embroidery floss<br />
Wool roving or other stuffing<br />
Real acorn caps<br />
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<b>Tools:</b><br />
Scissors<br />
Embroidery needle<br />
Hot glue gun<br />
Hot glue sticks<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9gQXxxe_hSJiMPcXyKjysH3riFuPShpyLSJ_Sg37TITsls3QmdTAjDWMABg1e98D4hIPX3mul0y9p7-GRuIvAnBxA66UU6oRdjjRsO6mASUXZtGhyphenhyphenkAOF39I_XXiNQlgTgQycRvQr7Y/s1600/2013+09+23_3306_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9gQXxxe_hSJiMPcXyKjysH3riFuPShpyLSJ_Sg37TITsls3QmdTAjDWMABg1e98D4hIPX3mul0y9p7-GRuIvAnBxA66UU6oRdjjRsO6mASUXZtGhyphenhyphenkAOF39I_XXiNQlgTgQycRvQr7Y/s1600/2013+09+23_3306_edited-2.jpg" height="283" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 1: Cut the felt</b><br />
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Cut two pieces of felt to 1 square inch each in size. In this tutorial I use two different colors of blue wool felt so it's easier to see how I make the acorn. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZjqZxdRmZVvC763IcK1UFpBTwlID8rTA0zSehZrXRtWlfxKMhx-D5jAPOaIj0EnD195xPStZhx3xnnxtlkCFa8zbRGyYN1yAtZCrYm7IpzFnqnUX6a64tY8CSDBF23VGY0hyRZqAGs4/s1600/2013+09+23_3308_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZjqZxdRmZVvC763IcK1UFpBTwlID8rTA0zSehZrXRtWlfxKMhx-D5jAPOaIj0EnD195xPStZhx3xnnxtlkCFa8zbRGyYN1yAtZCrYm7IpzFnqnUX6a64tY8CSDBF23VGY0hyRZqAGs4/s1600/2013+09+23_3308_edited-2.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
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Place the felt squares together. Using your scissors, round off two corners of both of the felt squares. This makes your basic acorn shape. The rounded corners are the bottom of the acorn nut.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOf7Bn1tHLCXs2H5dmBkCTg7oBvLmv_KX-BbZfdbyE_1TK4NC79MF6R3xn-C9FRSm-jExO_QIDSrgS25HCorPvEpDCGFuaT3FJzyu8IG3Cu3hqsRF6chyphenhyphenUBz9NennMhvkKbtnPdPFDwA/s1600/2013+09+23_3309_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOf7Bn1tHLCXs2H5dmBkCTg7oBvLmv_KX-BbZfdbyE_1TK4NC79MF6R3xn-C9FRSm-jExO_QIDSrgS25HCorPvEpDCGFuaT3FJzyu8IG3Cu3hqsRF6chyphenhyphenUBz9NennMhvkKbtnPdPFDwA/s1600/2013+09+23_3309_edited-2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Step 2: Blanket stitch</b><br />
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Thread your embroidery floss through your needle. Choose how many strands of thread you will use based on how much you want your thread to show. I chose to use a contrasting color of thread and use two of the six embroidery-floss strands. <br />
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Place your two pieces of wool felt together so they are totally lined up. Starting at the top corner of the acorn, blanket stitch around the edge of the two pieces of cut wool felt, sewing them together. When you finish, you should have something that looks like a tiny pocket. Trim the extra thread.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLAO7ljwL5D59tOpbqToHrQZfjEQ_i8RpIb2NRsWBzf_AFglCEQSYVsObP9Pk3lwar6PZKTjoQ5wGQkoq9w4r-pEYyyar7h9BIWuHs0ezGeHaoCkbFULpUB8PClvjEVa8R_JuMYMY6Aw/s1600/2013+09+23_3310_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLAO7ljwL5D59tOpbqToHrQZfjEQ_i8RpIb2NRsWBzf_AFglCEQSYVsObP9Pk3lwar6PZKTjoQ5wGQkoq9w4r-pEYyyar7h9BIWuHs0ezGeHaoCkbFULpUB8PClvjEVa8R_JuMYMY6Aw/s1600/2013+09+23_3310_edited-2.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3drksOPjn9BJaCZ8rsi1wOVV_4n8kK5-3PMzzOXifB-oc7eY5CQBQ0HVegQiHjcVlbpjEXbUXZgkwYI-24YPQHY1N-DKrCjTGSkE3vqZ18xegL_XQ7odFfhJqHobA4YN6ZdbQDuCccr0/s1600/2013+09+23_3312_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3drksOPjn9BJaCZ8rsi1wOVV_4n8kK5-3PMzzOXifB-oc7eY5CQBQ0HVegQiHjcVlbpjEXbUXZgkwYI-24YPQHY1N-DKrCjTGSkE3vqZ18xegL_XQ7odFfhJqHobA4YN6ZdbQDuCccr0/s1600/2013+09+23_3312_edited-2.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 3: Stuff and Glue</b><br />
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Stuff your felt acorn with tiny pieces of wool roving until it is firm. It will be helpful to have several different sizes of acorn caps at this point. Try different caps on your felt acorn until you find the perfect fit. Once you find the acorn cap you are going to use, flip it over and put hot glue around the inside edges and in the middle of the underside of the acorn cap. Gently push the felt acorn into the underside of the cap, open side up, and hold until the hot glue has cooled. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKf9Z8NgrbGQQ7ynnGYniee66qzqmXT75FdQP6VDExHXfMpv0K_-t_0KYFPZLoIoeGDvK6x1BrU4nKItCh8gXmm1tKMqDtkqpEZtt7ZA3gk9eoZc1mL-GXenpDMYEgUsBjQFOoJGGLf4/s1600/2013+09+23_3315_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKf9Z8NgrbGQQ7ynnGYniee66qzqmXT75FdQP6VDExHXfMpv0K_-t_0KYFPZLoIoeGDvK6x1BrU4nKItCh8gXmm1tKMqDtkqpEZtt7ZA3gk9eoZc1mL-GXenpDMYEgUsBjQFOoJGGLf4/s1600/2013+09+23_3315_edited-2.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62A2a4S8E19ldlxrdKpWn3JR7TOqea_Ckc5MOjNZW8G646RSx71CujpbFcaCYL46M53QWtNjFukfEuOMYmhNb8HNGQRcSu-m-e9_KQQV_0xK6LGzdf_tnmb-Uv1BDyHXORH1txTEsB54/s1600/2013+09+23_3316_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62A2a4S8E19ldlxrdKpWn3JR7TOqea_Ckc5MOjNZW8G646RSx71CujpbFcaCYL46M53QWtNjFukfEuOMYmhNb8HNGQRcSu-m-e9_KQQV_0xK6LGzdf_tnmb-Uv1BDyHXORH1txTEsB54/s1600/2013+09+23_3316_edited-2.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIz7_jXCcYGGmqdvDdEoXTMEJwD8zHs3XMl8WhdzdosCTNe8tUlXdP7lkF4DTw2hzjibHSE-XgA0IKfYpuGwt3tn3kFQsVMBIeLrsKfbJM9MwIl7HHMRscsp4sIOFsPWWUpWOFrO6FzQ/s1600/2013+09+23_3318_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIz7_jXCcYGGmqdvDdEoXTMEJwD8zHs3XMl8WhdzdosCTNe8tUlXdP7lkF4DTw2hzjibHSE-XgA0IKfYpuGwt3tn3kFQsVMBIeLrsKfbJM9MwIl7HHMRscsp4sIOFsPWWUpWOFrO6FzQ/s1600/2013+09+23_3318_edited-2.jpg" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>
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And you're done!<br />
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It was this little acorn that I crafted seven years ago that got me thinking about sharing my crafts with others. Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-87583894058226688942013-09-24T13:35:00.000-07:002013-09-24T13:35:07.098-07:00Homespun Homeschool: Stringing Beads with Preschoolers <div class="MsoNormal">
Stringing beads can be a fun activity for kids, but
sometimes it’s hard for little hands to direct the beads onto a floppy
string. We've found the perfect solution
for preschool kids who want to participate in bead stringing, but can’t quite
get the hang of working with the string. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDuuhw6GG4z3ellSVfNSUECSSzTuPUvVSF6o1zlST9UoItQReznhS7_RbdV4w527_SGogDlTSOEvH8ZwZjTuXLw74_iQEo_V1kbhAn5f4bwjPhU5FiVNuQc2wB-H5ZvqO66Ce2SGlka8/s1600/2013+09+23_3303_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDuuhw6GG4z3ellSVfNSUECSSzTuPUvVSF6o1zlST9UoItQReznhS7_RbdV4w527_SGogDlTSOEvH8ZwZjTuXLw74_iQEo_V1kbhAn5f4bwjPhU5FiVNuQc2wB-H5ZvqO66Ce2SGlka8/s1600/2013+09+23_3303_edited-2.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pipe cleaners are firm enough so little hands can control
them, but flexible so that once the beads are on the pipe cleaner, it can be
bent into bracelets and crowns. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaY5tuf3oQrSf4OgESdIuKJfx0z1TnmRtYdEcLp8Fyj2tUTdDC1vFRJCmiQEtG6G7W0a3Lrh4YhRzP5k3O5wBYiZlwJ-yWVYxTfdmyvihqz4jqK3v8-wASClkLVj-wrvDz4BcbKYhPZw/s1600/2013+09+23_3305_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaY5tuf3oQrSf4OgESdIuKJfx0z1TnmRtYdEcLp8Fyj2tUTdDC1vFRJCmiQEtG6G7W0a3Lrh4YhRzP5k3O5wBYiZlwJ-yWVYxTfdmyvihqz4jqK3v8-wASClkLVj-wrvDz4BcbKYhPZw/s1600/2013+09+23_3305_edited-2.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
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Micah spent almost an hour making all sorts of pipe-cleaner jewelry
including bracelets for me, crowns and anklets.
</div>
Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-8801301675629930722013-09-23T12:40:00.000-07:002013-09-23T12:40:19.118-07:00Primitive Wool Felt Acorns<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the first day of fall yesterday and the weather here
didn't let us forget it. There was a
brisk wind in the air that made me want to put on a sweater. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlncV6OpnEyrqyy4BrLPU4TLU45-wPZx-vP1bwvekTHbDhGhQNn-X11mOS7Wvztsq-k4k7isJtVs7vzVVvF_aLyUQIjeASeqhd4UaGwv5p_Qvhf7QLUzIf994hNRczaoHuQ6RJ1eeTOA/s1600/2013+09+11_3083_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlncV6OpnEyrqyy4BrLPU4TLU45-wPZx-vP1bwvekTHbDhGhQNn-X11mOS7Wvztsq-k4k7isJtVs7vzVVvF_aLyUQIjeASeqhd4UaGwv5p_Qvhf7QLUzIf994hNRczaoHuQ6RJ1eeTOA/s1600/2013+09+11_3083_edited-2.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTStSBoDDk1srtTj_N7v7fN8jMLSV0RtLJr2f_eXbSaH-q8LAqxZm-V2g_4ZD8slRnZ-M5YNxa5H29bse6tBc95SjA4KrbNyJMptFFh_Dg0hrHEHRdNQhtiPo5N6b8lPUUl_79vInEGzI/s1600/2013+09+11_3082_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTStSBoDDk1srtTj_N7v7fN8jMLSV0RtLJr2f_eXbSaH-q8LAqxZm-V2g_4ZD8slRnZ-M5YNxa5H29bse6tBc95SjA4KrbNyJMptFFh_Dg0hrHEHRdNQhtiPo5N6b8lPUUl_79vInEGzI/s1600/2013+09+11_3082_edited-2.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This year I plan to keep these hand-sewn, fall acorns out the
whole season long to celebrate. As far
as I’m concerned they can stay out from now until Thanksgiving. These primitive acorns are made of wool felt
and stuffed with wool roving. It warms
me up just thinking about these fall, felt acorns. Autumn is a beautiful time
of year. </div>
Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-65737249582877230832013-09-19T21:24:00.000-07:002013-09-19T21:24:31.283-07:00Tutorial: The BackstitchJust three years ago I was admiring a friend's hand embroidery work. The tiny stitches looked so perfect. I commented that I could never embroider. I've tried before and it always ends up looking like a mess. <br />
<br />
Enter the backstitch. <br />
<br />
I'd love to share with you this free little tutorial on how to embroider using the backstitch. If you don't know this stitch already, be prepared for your life to change. <br />
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<b>Backstitch</b>: It's exactly what it sounds like...an embroidery stitch that moves backward. A backstitch is quite simple and has helped me improve my embroidery a ton!<br />
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Here are the steps:<br />
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1. <b>Thread your embroidery floss</b> through your needle and tie a knot at the end of the long tail of the thread.<br />
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2. Poke your needle through the back side of the fabric you are about to embroider. If you have a pattern transferred onto your fabric, start your needle right on the pattern line and gently pull the thread through until it is stopped by the knot at the end of the long tail of your thread. Poke your needle back down through the fabric one stitch length away on the pattern line. Pull the thread through and <b>make one regular stitch</b>.<br />
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This picture shows about three completed stitches.</div>
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3. Here’s where the term backstitch starts to make sense. To make your next stitch, <b>poke your needle through the fabric one stitch length ahead of your last finished stitch</b>. Gently pull the thread all the way through the top side of your fabric.<br />
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4. To finish the stitch, <b>poke your needle back down through the fabric at the end of your last finished stitch </b>and pull the thread through. You are stitching back, one stitch at a time.<br />
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Keep it going all the way around your pattern line until you finish. You got it!<br />
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And what I mean by "be prepared for your life to change," is that after this tutorial, you might know how to do a backstitch. Enjoy.Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-87915824733983007202013-09-19T09:50:00.000-07:002013-09-19T09:50:04.593-07:00Lemon-Themed Children's PartyEv's lemon birthday party was a success. With some planning and organization, I was able to entertain 13 kids for an hour and a half by myself and all under $25. Sweet!<br />
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How in the world was I able to do it, you might ask? Let me tell you.<br />
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Right next to the front door I had a craft table set up with a simple color, cut, and glue lemon-tree craft. Upon arrival, every kid had something to do. No one was getting squirrely, waiting around for others to arrive. This type of activity was a go-at-your-own-pace, start-when-you-get-there activity. </div>
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For those who finished the lemon tree craft early, the next activity was ready to go and also self directed: cereal necklaces. We bought yellow cereal to go with the lemon theme. Green ribbon was cut, tied and set out ready for kids to get started. Each child strung as many pieces of cereal on the ribbon as they wanted. </div>
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When the kids finished this activity, they went right onto the next. Our version of a clothespin-in-the-bottle game was set up in two stations. For this game, instead of clothespins we dropped green and white striped straws into mason jars. </div>
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Just around this time the party goers were finishing up with all three activities. I gathered everyone together and had them sit on the floor while each person had a go at the pin-the-lemon-slice-on-the-lemonade game. It was great fun and clean up was easy because I used adhesive putty to stick everything to the wall. After one more party game, the kids wanted cake. <br />
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Cake they had! I had no idea this cake would turn out so huge! It's a yellow cake with a yummy lemon butter-cream frosting. And let me tell you, I rejoiced when I was able to get away with a semi-frosted cake. I am loving this trend of not frosting the sides of cakes. </div>
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After cake, Ev opened up her presents and thanked everyone graciously. We sent our guests on their way, but not without stopping by <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/small-drawers-diy-orange-ombre.html" target="_blank">this treat drawer</a> for some Lemonheads and picking a lemon balloon from the ceiling. <br />
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The $25 was mostly spent on treats and lemons. The birthday decorations were homemade, like the <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/lemon-birthday-decorations-made-from.html" target="_blank">felt lemon ornaments</a> on <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-branch-on-my-wall.html" target="_blank">this yellow branch</a> , a <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/grey-and-yellow-birthday-banner.html" target="_blank">birthday embroidery</a>, and a lemon tree <a href="http://mamadothat.blogspot.com/2013/09/lemon-tree-felt-birthday-crown.html" target="_blank">birthday crown</a>. The party games and activities were practically free. Kids know how to have fun without all the fancy stuff. <br />
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After our guests all left I heard Ev say to herself, "This is the best day ever." <br />
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Job accomplished.<br />
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Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-15248806984888381462013-09-18T20:06:00.001-07:002013-09-18T20:06:48.740-07:00Small Drawers, DIY Orange Ombre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I received this small chest of drawers as a gift. The front of each drawer had the same three decals on it: a crown, a meter stamp, and a saying right in the middle. The quote on the drawers went a little something like this, "If all of your actions are measured in gold, then this quote is way too long for anyone to remember."<br />
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I could have been okay with the meter stamp and maybe even the crown, but the quote had to go, especially since it was repeated on each drawer. <br />
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So I did a little ombre paint job that seriously took me about 30 minutes. I used white acrylic paint on the top drawer. The only orange paint I had was bright orange so I toned it down a bit by mixing in some white for the bottom drawer. I added a little more white paint to the orange/white paint mixture for the middle drawer. A couple of coats on each drawer with a clear coat of gloss and the project was finished. Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-63247971182868668392013-09-17T17:46:00.000-07:002013-09-17T17:46:06.467-07:00Homespun Homeschool: Petroglyph Field TripWe took a little field trip to visit the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/more/cultural/archaeology/places_to_visit/parowan_gap_rock_art.html" target="_blank">Parowan Gap</a>, a nature-made passageway between two large mountains. The Parowan Gap is known for its petroglyphs or ancient Native American carvings into the rock mountainside. <br />
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After exploring this awesome location where both nature and humans have made their mark, we decided to create our own rock art. <br />
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We carved using the tip of long screws. It was hard and helped us better understand the work that must have gone into the actual petroglyphs.<br />
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Here is Micah's rock art. You can barely see the little guy he carved. One of the carvings we saw at the Parowan Gap was a little man that looked like he had mouse ears. Micah decided to do his own interpretation of that carving. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdSfQRoJsxQ88kRgpFXDBGE3dAdjuj1eQhawcJ66CaKtdSFynxyQLC5R_MFQo4fec4MYzDCuItIuJ9GA9ltHNaxSxmlFHu0Er0LRO4pHvxt-xiGQ7ljXs3mdXqpxynCwFJ9v4WNFbaLE/s1600/2013+09+17_3110_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdSfQRoJsxQ88kRgpFXDBGE3dAdjuj1eQhawcJ66CaKtdSFynxyQLC5R_MFQo4fec4MYzDCuItIuJ9GA9ltHNaxSxmlFHu0Er0LRO4pHvxt-xiGQ7ljXs3mdXqpxynCwFJ9v4WNFbaLE/s1600/2013+09+17_3110_edited-2.jpg" height="301" width="320" /></a></div>
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And Ev decided to use a piece of rock art that we have at home as her inspiration for her own rock art. </div>
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-54539574750242996972013-09-16T15:15:00.000-07:002013-09-16T15:15:27.835-07:00Lemon Tree Felt Birthday CrownI made this birthday crown for Ev. It goes along with her lemon party theme. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWYuRFyhpb3_P-UzV02qTrYD80nk_9nRg0jh9YwuHsUBCkPRdSSTrEEFRdXEzsVM-5SmhA1hfGZxdf52lk1uCBoABbOJL2ykrK9qgM0Iz83nMPTLfKVoRP9J3-AavMvkqyESvIcp95Q4/s1600/2013+09+16_3105_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWYuRFyhpb3_P-UzV02qTrYD80nk_9nRg0jh9YwuHsUBCkPRdSSTrEEFRdXEzsVM-5SmhA1hfGZxdf52lk1uCBoABbOJL2ykrK9qgM0Iz83nMPTLfKVoRP9J3-AavMvkqyESvIcp95Q4/s1600/2013+09+16_3105_edited-2.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I finished her crown I felt gratitude and not because I was done with this project. In fact, I enjoyed this project. </div>
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I felt gratitude for another reason. While sewing I thought to myself, if I were to purchase a crown like this I might spend between twenty to fifty dollars. I felt gratitude because I have the ability to give my children gifts that I would want them to have even though our budget doesn't include a fifty-dollar felt birthday crown. </div>
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If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. </div>
Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7209314165667458274.post-51006618267852696892013-09-16T13:49:00.000-07:002013-09-16T13:49:55.848-07:00Wood Board Wall Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY04LS-AY6BB80_M6ZxcvK4RiIZRyTn_sM2VwRa2VG2CbMiNU3s-zIPgW2Zs3G7udwQ8GkFNdxZdMIwULPWLTqAZdQL2op5nkEj4AEYHgkpTXGszuoX9dIIYfZtxXA94N79fMvAVCRG_8/s1600/2013+09+16_3100_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY04LS-AY6BB80_M6ZxcvK4RiIZRyTn_sM2VwRa2VG2CbMiNU3s-zIPgW2Zs3G7udwQ8GkFNdxZdMIwULPWLTqAZdQL2op5nkEj4AEYHgkpTXGszuoX9dIIYfZtxXA94N79fMvAVCRG_8/s1600/2013+09+16_3100_edited-2.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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We stopped on the side of the road a while back and did so for two reasons. First, there was a hiking trail that looked like it could be pretty cool. And it was cool. We even saw a jack rabbit while on our hike. Second, I spotted this piece of wood in a pile of dirt and weeds and knew I could do something with it. <br />
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The wood sat in my laundry room for a while and finally this project idea came to me. It was a simple project. I just painted the word 'love' in black acrylic paint on the board and did a coat or two of clear gloss over the top. It hangs by two saw tooth hangers in the master bedroom of our home. <br />
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<br />Asiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05040737781160207528noreply@blogger.com2