.diy hair bow holder.

It has been so long since I shared anything on here! I've definitely done a few projects here and there over the last few months but I've also been focusing on family time and other fun things. I'm super excited to share this project I just completed though. A hair bow holder for Little T!

I found my inspiration, of course, on Pinterest. The pin was from Pretty Prudent and you can find her tutorial here.

My plan of attack was essentially the same, with a few additions of my own. The wood I used was actually the front of an old drawer. You can find some like this to up cycle, or simply buy a piece of plywood in whatever dimensions you desire. The fabric I used was brown and white gingham from JoAnn's, half a yard. This was the perfect amount for my drawer front, but depending on what you use you may need more or less. I also got quilt batting, brown ribbon, pink buttons, furniture tacks and a staple gun.  I already had a glue gun, scissors, etc.

From there, I simply went with it! I put the batting on the wood, covered the fabric over it and made sure it was smooth on the front. Flip the wood over and get ready to feel tough. Something about handling a staple gun just made me feel like a badass. I put a few staples on each long side, making sure the front of the fabric remained smooth. Then it got a little tricky handling the short edges and the corners. I used this tutorial on youtube to figure out how to maneuver the corners.

From there I arranged the ribbon how I wanted it and placed a furniture tack in the cross sections. I then flipped it and tacked the edges of the ribbon down, checking with each ribbon that it looked good on the front. I then used to glue gun to glue the buttons to the front tacks.

Then it was ready to be hung up and filled with bows! I used Command hanging strips to hang it but you can attach hardware to hang it with nails, if so desired.

So, the whole thing was really super easy. And I love how it turned out! I managed to get it done at the tail end of nap time and then as Tyler was eating lunch. As for Tyler, she also seems quite enamored with her new organization. Now if only she would keep the hair bows in her hair for longer than 5 minutes!

XO

.2012.

This has been an amazing year for me and my little family. We have truly been blessed this year and I just wanted to take a little time to recap some of our highlights.

Halloween 2012

Starting back in January I was able to really start taking charge of my mental and physical health. It's still a work in progress but I feel like I've come a long way from where I was 12 months ago. This also lead me to meet some of the most amazing women ever, who have all touched my life in ways I couldn't even imagine.

Mo, Elyse, myself and McKenna

I did my first 5k, with the afore mentioned women! It was my only 5k of 2012 but it will not be my last, as I hope to do many more in 2013 and possibly even a half marathon!

Ms. Purple pants was my amazing trainer, Miki! 

I have fallen even more madly in love with my amazing husband. He has supported and motivated me in all of my crazy ideas and efforts this year. We will have some tough times in 2013, courtesy of the  military, but we are ready for it! I'm looking forward to all the great memories we will make this next year!

Tyler has grown in leaps and bounds. It's been amazing to see how much she has changed this year. She has started walking, occasionally sleeping through the night, saying a few words, signing and is just so full of spunk, sass and life.

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2012

She traveled to 21 different states, most of that during our 2,700 mile cross country move from Georgia to Washington, but some of it to Virginia and Texas to visit grandparents and other family! She flew on four airplanes, three of those trips went awesome and the other one.... well we won't talk about that one! Haha.

Visiting Nana and Papa, May 2012

She went hiking for the first time. She went to her first zoo, in Atlanta and then her second zoo here in Tacoma. She saw Mt. Rushmore, one of her mama's favorite places! I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for the little peanut!

Mt. Rushmore in August 2012

So, all in all it's been a wonderful year for us. I'm hoping 2013 will be just as blessed!

November 2012

XO

.diy card holder.

This year we have actually done some Christmas decorating! It's pretty exciting. We have our cute little (fake) tree. Some things on the mantle. I'm loving how festive it makes the house!

One thing that I was missing, however, was a Christmas card holder. I looked around and found a few but none really caught my fancy. I was talking to le man about it and he suggested just putting up some twine that he already had and clipping the cards on to that. I kind of took the idea from there and got some clothes pins and glitter. Bam! Super easy and inexpensive card holder.

I love the way these turned out. I simply painted some mod podge onto one side of the clothes pin, then dipped it in super fine red glitter. Let it dry overnight, then they are ready to go! I might go back and glitter the whole clothes pin later, but that will be a lot messier so for now one side looks pretty awesome!

XO

.baby's first shadowbox.

For today's edition of nap time crafting, I bring to you the shadowbox! The idea came from, of course, Pinterest. I saw, and pinned, two great inspirations. This one, from a frame shop. And this one, from The Mama Dramalogues.

I kept all of the little momentos from the hospital and have had them stored away in a little box just waiting for this project. I used those, her going home dress, and a photo from her first night (I order my photos from Snapfish and love them!). Everything else I got from JoAnn's. I used 3 pieces of scrapbook paper and some scrapbook embellishments, the paper flowers and glitter buttons.

I have to say, I am extremely happy with how this turned out! The great thing about this project is that it is 100% customizable. You can put whatever keepsakes you want in it, whatever pictures, cute little decorations, etc. This is going to look awesome in her nursery!

Also, just a reminder, if you do this project and have a blog you put it on, make sure to blur out any information you don't want the whole world to see on the hospital bracelets and things.

XO!