Mama Comes to Town

Sorry I've been a little spotty with blogging the past couple of days - my mom arrived in Chicago on Monday night and we've been blowing up the town together :).  We're making the most of the time that she has here and not wasting a minute which means that I have little time to blog, but also that I'll have plenty to blog about later :).
I'll be back lickety splickety!

Buttoned Monogram Pillow

If you remember from a couple of weeks ago, I shared with you here many different crafts I was hoping to dip my feet into this summer.  One of them (the most time consuming project) was one that I finally tackled this past weekend.

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Introducing the monogrammed button pillow!

It was easy to make, just very time consuming...

Here's what you need to make your own:

1. A pillow form (I went with the 12x16 form)

2. Fabric (for my size pillow I went 3/4 a yard)

3. Buttons (I got mine off etsy)

4. A print out of the letter you're going to be monograming 

5. A washable fabric marker

6. Thread and a needle (I used an embroidery needle)

Now the how to...

1. After cutting your fabric (I do the envelop pillow sham so I cut 3 pieces of fabric), take the front piece of fabric and using your print out and your marker, trace your letter onto the fabric.  It should look like this when you're done:

2. After you've traced your letter, take your threaded needle and begin arranging and sewing your buttons onto your fabric:

3. After you finished sewing on all your buttons, take a q-tip and some water and rub it onto the fabric to wash off the marker you used to form your letter.  It should easily come off with a little scrubbing.

4. If you're making an envelope pillow sham cover like I did, you should have cut your fabric into 3 pieces.  I cut mine into the following sizes: 13x17 <--front, 13x13 and 13x9 <--- the 2 back pieces that make the envelope sham.  I then hemmed the 13" sides of the 2 back pieces to finish them off.  

5. I took all of my 3 pieces and pinned them together right sides facing each other:

6. After pinning them together I sewed a 1/2 inch seam attaching all three pieces together:

7. After you've finished sewing the pieces together, turn it right-side out and admire your work:

Can you do this?  YES!  This was NOT hard and I have complete confidence in you! :) If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!  I can't wait to see your very own monogrammed pillow!

I've linked up to:

The Girl Creative; The DIY Showoff; It's So Cheri; Keeping it Simple; Southern Hospitality; Between Naps on the Porch; Tools Are For Women Too; Under the Table and Dreaming; Craft-o-Maniac; Making the World Cuter; Mad in Crafts; Sumo's Sweet Stuff ; Simpsonized Crafts; Sew Can Do; Skip to My Lou; C.R.A.F.T.; Hope Studios; New Nostalgia; All Thingz Related; Tip Junkie; Coastal Charm; Craft Edition; Sew Much Ado; Me and My Bucket; Trendy Treehouse; It's So Very Cheri; Blue Cricket Design; Someday Crafts; Tea Rose Home; Twin Dragon Designs; Bargain Shopping Paradise; Life in the Pitts; Night Owl Crafting; The Thrifty Home; Organize and Decorate Everything; Somewhat Simple;  Cheap Chic Home; Fireflies and Jellybeans; Everything Etsy; Life as Lori; Tools are for Women Too; Tales from Bloggeritaville; Seven Thirty Three; Crazy Domestic; Finding Fabulous; Remodelaholic; Fingerprints on the Fridge; KoJo Designs; Tidy Mom; Simply Designing; My Romantic Home; The Shabby Nest; Fun to Craft; Chic on a Shoestring Decorating; A Few of My Favorite Things; Punkin Seed Productions; Amy Lou Who; A Vision to Remember; Tatertots and Jello; Craft Envy; She Wears Flowers

Magnificent Mondays: Magnificent Blogs 23

Maryann is here to help us feel a little bit more domestic.  This blog is a little hodge podge of all things wonderful!

This sign makes me laugh and could be personalized to say anything you'd like.  What an easy and neat idea!

I LOVE these for summertime and there's no need to spend a fortune at Pottery Barn on them when you can make them yourself!

I love this desk that she refabbed for her house!  You can check out all the cool things that she showcases at her "Power of Paint Parties".

Go hang out with Maryann at Domestically Speaking and become more domestic!  Make sure you stop by here and let me know what you love about this blog!

Recovering a Lampshade...it's as Easy as Typing a Blog!

Back in October, Stephen and I purchased a generic lamp set from Target because we had no light sources for our family room.  You know what I'm talking about, the very simple and basic box of 4 lamps in it that come with the plain, white lampshades.  Ever since I saw this I wanted to add just a simple finish to my lampshades.

So when Amy and I decided to do our craft days, this was one of the first projects that I wanted to do.  I actually struggled with finding a simple fabric that I wanted to use, and even bought one that I later changed my mind on.  Good thing that Amy had some leftover burlap-ish material leftover from some pillows that she made as I was able to use that to bring some pizazz to my lampshades:

They went from this:

to this:

And from this:

To this:

The best thing was that it was super cheap and easy to do!  You can do this!  Just go here and follow the step-by-step pictures and tutorials that Suzanne at Just Another Hang Up gives you - it's a little time consuming but so worth it.

p.s. have you checked out your new pottery barn catalog???

                                              $49-$69                                          $39-$59

You can do this yourself for WAY cheaper...I think mine cost me somewhere in the ballpark of $7???? (mind you, I already had the shade).

I hope you're having a fantastic weekend!

10-4, over and out...

I know you get so sick of hearing me talk about how I had a hard day regarding being in Chicago and not in KY with my close friends and community, but {unfortunately} Thursday was one of those days...again. I don't know what it was but I was just really missing the fellowship and just the company of my dear KY friends.  I prayed and talked with God about my feelings and ultimately went to bed sad.  Wouldn't this story stink if that's where I left it??? :)

So I woke up on Friday and I hadn't been up too long when an Illinois phone number called my phone.  This may drive you nuts (as it does my husband) but I didn't answer it - I tend to not answer calls that I don't know who they're from and just hope that if it's important enough they'll leave a message.  Fortunately, this time it worked and a message was left that I listened to.  It happened to be a lady calling from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) which I will be attending this upcoming fall.  I promptly called her back and immediately felt God speaking to me through this lovely woman.

Number 1: Talking with her was such a relief, as if I had known her for sometime - she really reminded me of someone that I hold very dear to my heart, my old Bible study leader, Frankie (I'm a Franklet for life!)

Number 2: She spoke with me regarding BSF and that immediately made me so excited for September to get here so that I can dive into this amazing study.

most importantly...
Number 3: She spoke with me about how I had recently moved.  Now, mind you, this was a short conversation, I didn't get into anything regarding my feelings or anything of details except for just facts: I moved here in October from Lexington, KY.  But what she said in response to that really touched my heart, she said, (I'm putting quotes around her words although I do not remember them word-for-word) "moving can be such a challenging thing, I know, as I have moved a lot in my life.  However, moving can also be such a blessing.  It's in moving that we see who our true friends are and it's in moving when we're blessed with even more friends...I know that you're experiencing that right now..."

I just wanted to say, "Thanks God, for listening to me, and for giving me a random conversation from a woman I have never even met before to speak Your words to me....I hear 'ya loud and clear!"

He hears you.  He loves you.  He knows what's best for you.
Kari!  Are you listening to yourself???

God is our refuge and strength, 
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Come and see the works of the LORD,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
    he burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

              -Psalm 46  

Retro Kitchen Towels

Per my husband's request, I've discovered how to sew something else besides pillows :).  My sister shared with me the blog/website sew4home a couple of months ago when she was in Chicago visiting and while I bookmarked it, I didn't really dive into the possibilities that this site has to offer a novice sewer, like myself.  The other day I got lost on their site and found myself loving SO many projects, including these:

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Were these hard?  Hardly!  Could you do them?  Of course you can!  The cost of these awesome towels?  I went to Target and bought 4 bar mop towels for $3.84 and then I got my fabric from JoAnns - I got 1/4 yard of the yellow lemons and the green polka dot and I think it cost me a total of $4...the yellow gingham I already had.  So, needless to say, these were NOT expensive!

Go here to see the tutorial and then make 'em!  And then send me a picture so I can see how cool they look!

(Christmas in July: these will make GREAT Christmas gifts, which I think is exactly what I'm gonna do!)

I've linked up to:

Sew Can Do; Tools are for Women Too; Simpsonized Crafts; Between Naps on the Porch; Keeping it Simple; It's So Very Cheri; Sumo's Sweet Stuff; The DIY Showoff; Skip to My Lou; Under the Table and Dreaming; Making the World Cuter; Mad in Crafts; The Girl Creative; Hope Studios; New Nostalgia; Silly Little Sparrow; All Thingz Related; Sugar Bee; Lucky Star Lane; Today's Creative Blog; Night Owl Crafting; Life in the Pitts; Bargain Shopping Paradise; Tea Rose Home; Someday Crafts; Blue Cricket Design; It's So Very Cheri; Trendy Treehouse; Me and My Bucket; Sew Much Ado ; We Are That Family; Life As Lori; Everything Etsy; The Shabby Chic Cottage; Fireflies and Jellybeans; Cheap Chic Home; Somewhat Simple; Tales from Bloggeritaville; My Romantic Home; Punkin Seed Productions; Chic on a Shoestring Decorating; Tidy Mom; Home is Where My Story Begins; A Few of My Favorite Things; 504 Main; Simply Sweet Home; It's a Hodge Podge Life; The Shabby Nest; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Tater Tots and Jello; Craft Envy; A Vision to Remember; Funky Junk Interiors; I Heart Naptime with Chocolate Sundaes; Kuzak's Closet

Light at the End of the Tunnel

This is my last week of summer classes.  If I could add music to this post, I would appropriately add Handel's Hallelujah here.  Unfortunately, I have no time to try and figure out how to do that because I have homework I must complete.  I know you're bummed...sorry! :).

Expect a more present me in the days following, as I'll have a MONTH off of school :).  See you on the flip side!

Magnificent Mondays: Magnificent Blogs 22

Amy's blog is exactly what the name of it says: it's a room full of ideas!  Perfect for all you little thirsty bloggers desiring good ideas :).  You'll find craft ideas, remodeling ideas and more!

What a cool idea to make for your home or as a house warming gift for a friend?

This is a great idea to mix it up in your house (just like my bff Katie!)

And here's a great idea for a gift for that special little one in your life!

Go straight to the Idea Room and get filled with great ideas for yourself!  Make sure you skip on back here and let me know what you love about this amazing blog!

Place-mat Pillow

A couple of months ago I was perusing around blogland when I came across a pillow that someone had made out of a Target place-mat.  I thought to myself, "I don't need to mark this page, I'll remember how to make it..." While that is true, I would like to give credit to this blogger for inspiring me, so hopefully you guys can help me find her :).

Here are the supplies you'll need:

1. A double-sided place-mat (the blog that I was inspired by used the exact same place-mat from Target so if you've seen this blog and you know what I'm talking about, please send me the url - thanks!)

2. A bag of pillow stuffing

3. A seam ripper

4. Embroidery needle

5. Floss to match your pillow

First things first, start ripping out your seam that is holding the front piece of your place-mat to the back piece.  You'll rip enough out for you to stuff the pillow.

Here is where you can start filling that bad boy up with some pillow stuffing.  I worked with the stuffing while I was sticking it in the pillow to try to even it out as much as possible.

Once your pillow is as stuffed as you'd like it, then you can take pins and secure the front piece to the back piece almost in the same location where you'll hand-stitch up the hole.

Once you've pinned the front and back together you can go through with your embroidery needle and hand-stitch up the hole you were using to stuff with.

And viola!  Step back and enjoy how beautiful your creation is!

Lastly, you'll have to figure out which room in your home will be graced by this beautiful little pillow's presence...I'm having a hard time with that as we speak :).

Thanks for listening to me pretend like I know what I'm doing!

Etch It Up!

A couple years ago for Christmas my sister recognized my deep desire to etch some glass ball ornaments and she gave me some stencils and some Armour Etch Cream.  Due to my lack of time (and fear of the cream itself) I never actually etched the ornaments or used the cream at all.  Have you ever been at the craft store and looked at etch cream/read the back label on it???  It's really intimidating..."Do not come in contact with your skin; if comes in contact with your skin first aid is needed immediately..." Uh...YIKES!  This summer, my friend Amy and I decided that we were going to get together once a week and partake in a "craft day".  Our husbands were way sad by our decision because they really love to join in on our craft projects...yeeee---aaaah riiiiiight!!!  :)  Our first project that we decided to tackle was etching glass.  It was super easy, just a little time consuming but the outcome was worth it!  I plan on etching a vase later on this week :).

Supplies Needed:

*Roll of Contact Paper - $8

*Foam Paint Brush - $.99/bag

*Etch Cream - $8.50/3 oz bottle

*Thin Tip Sharpie - $2

*Exact-O Knife - $4

*A print off of what you want to etch - Free (assuming you have a computer and printer at home)

*Something to Etch - (Mine was a picture frame from the Salvation Army - $1.50)

Step 1 - Trace your design onto your contact paper...make sure you have your paper facing the correct way and don't be like me who traced it and then spent time cutting the entire design out only to realize that it was backwards...doi!

Step 2 - Use your Exact-O Knife to cut out your design

Step 3: Wash and dry your glass surface to prepare it.

Step 4: Peel off the backing to the contact paper and carefully adhere it to your glass surface.  Be sure you work out any seams or bumps in it that could allow the cream to seep under.

Step 5: Generously apply the etch cream to your glass in an up and down motion until the entire design has been filled in.

Step 6:  Wait 5-10 minutes for the cream to attack the glass.

Step 7: Run your glass under the faucet until all traces of the cream have been rinsed off.

Step 8: Dry off your surface and peel off your contact paper.

Step 9: Admire your work :)

I added some scrapbook paper to my frame to make the monogram pop - obviously, you would skip this step if you were etching a vase.

Go get your hands on some etching cream and a glass piece you want to personalize!  You can do this, it's super easy! :)

I've linked up to:

Sew Can Do; Tools are for Women; Between Naps on the Porch; Simpsonized Crafts; Southern Hospitality; Keeping it Simple; It's So Very Cheri; Sumo's Sweet Stuff; DIY Showoff; The Girl Creative; Making the World Cuter; Mad in Crafts; C.R.A.F.T.; Lucky Star Lane; Sugar Bee; Coastal Charm; All Thingz Related; Silly Little Sparrow; Hope Studios; Today's Creative Blog; Night Owl Crafting; Life in the Pitts; Bargain Shopping Paradise; Dragonfly Designs; Tea Rose Home; Someday Crafts ; Blue Cricket Design; Trendy Treehouse; Me and My Bucket; Sew Much Ado; Somewhat Simple; Fireflies and Jellybeans; The Shabby Chic Cottage; House of Hepworths; Everything Etsy; Life as Lori; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Shabby Nest; It's a Hodgepodge Life; No. 504 Main; Fun to Craft; A Few of My Favorite Things; Home Is Where My Story Begins; Tidy Mom; Chic On A Shoe String Decorating