Light-up Cutout {Nativity}

Its not really looking like Christmas yet.... but we're hoping for snow soon :)

I made a new Nativity this year I wanted to share!

So it all started with a broken table in our garage... my youngest helper sanded the one side of the top and I was going to cut out the nativity silhouettes and stain them... (I've been planning this since last Christmas)

But when it came time to measure and cut... I saw a silhouette picture of Mary, Joseph and Jesus cut out in the middle in front of a Christmas tree... and that sparked a new idea!

...So I went back to my computer and re-designed my template so Mary, Joseph and Jesus would be cut out of the stable. 

... And I decided if I was going to have them cutout then I didn't want the wood very thick... so I went and bought a 2'x4' sheet of 1/4" plywood. 

(So now I have to think of another project for my broken table!)

I printed my template on regular paper... taped them together... and cut it out with an X-Acto knife. 

(the shelf I'm setting it on has only 18" clearance... so I had to adjust my printer settings to print just right)

I drilled a few holes and used my jig saw to cut out Mary, Jesus and Joseph.

(it worked pretty good, but the plywood chipped a bit on the edges...

cutting tip- cut it out from the back so the chips are on the backside)

I hadn't originally planned on putting extra pieces on the sides...

but... I decided it would look good to add some depth...

I used scrap wood to cut pieces for the sides and back

then glued it all together.

(these clamps from Harbor Freight are AWESOME!)

When I got everything glued... I had a crack between the top two boards...

so I added a star.

(you can definitely see the chips)

Stain combo:

whitewash 50/50 (water & white paint)- brush on and wipe off

while its still wet...

Minwax Dark Walnut- brush on

you can let it sit for 1-15 minuets depending on how dark you want it, then wipe off.

(the more porous the wood the darker the wood will be)

You can see the plywood sucked up more stain and is darker than the edges.

I bought fairy lights from Amazon (30 ft, battery powered with a timer... so it will turn on and off each night at a certain time)

I glued a command hook at the top to hang the battery pack...

then used clear tape to stick the lights on...

I just kept going around and around with the lights.

I had some moss ribbon so I glued it to the top...

(I thought it looked great, but my girls didn't love the moss... oh well)

It turned out GREAT!!

I'm super happy with how it turned out!

I love it!!! It's beautiful!!!

(I love how it lights up these special people!)

Merry Christmas

Gratitude

{This is everything I've ever wanted!}

When I saw this saying... I loved it!

I wanted to make a sign so I could always be reminded of what I have!

Everything!

Its so easy to be tossed about by our emotions and forget what we've been given! 

When I think back... as a kid, as a teenager, as a young adult, as a newly married wife, as a new mother... to all my hopes and dreams... what I wanted to achieve and have in the future... 

... they've all come true! 

Nothing worth having has come easy, but through hard work and love ... I've been so blessed!

So as I look at this sign... I'm grateful! 

I have everything I've ever wanted!!

Have a wonderful day!

And remember to be grateful!

Metal Wall Baskets

I love to decorate... and I love metal wall baskets! 

(there are no affiliate links in this post but I did include the ads where I bought so you can see the size and price)

We always have a hundred papers laying around that don't always need immediate attention but something we need in the future, so they need a place in view but out of the way.

So when I decided this space needed a little more storage I knew exactly what I wanted to use....

I bought two wire wall baskets from Amazon. 

They don't take up to much space but they are big enough to keep our papers off the countertop. 

They have hooks which are nice for hanging keys or whatever you need to hang. (they could hold something pretty heavy but if you want to hang something heavy make sure to secure the basket into the studs in your wall so whatever you hang doesn't pull the screws out of your wall.)

They are super handy and look nice as well!

I'm very happy with 

how they turned out!!!

(I'm thinking I need another one 

to hang my calendar on... 

it will need a bit of reconstruction 

but that shouldn't be hard)

2nd Basket

I also had a couple things outside that I needed to keep out of the way but in easy reach and use. 

So I ordered another basket to keep our bug spray and sunscreen handy but somewhere the wind couldn't make a mess of it. 

This vintage basket is super cute and a good size for these bottles but it didn't come with hooks on the bottom. 

So after a little research I found some metal hooks that just clip on. They worked AMAZING! They are heavy duty but you could bend them with a little muscle if you needed them slightly different shaped.

I just love when a project comes together 

and makes my life a little easier!!!

Good luck with your next project!

2024 LDS Youth Theme (Window Cling)

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. My calling at church is a youth leader for the Young Women ages 11-18. The youth theme this year is:

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ                     3 Nephi 5:13

(It’s from the Book of Mormon,                               just in case you were wondering)

I love my calling! We have so much fun!!!

This summer was very busy with Stake Young Women’s camp and Youth Conference camp, but I loved both!

For youth conference camp, we were asked to be a host family. So 5 beautiful young ladies from our Stake, came to stay at our house and we were able to chaperone them to all the activities for four days…and our two beautiful daughters were each hosted and chaperoned by different families. It was a wonderful experience!!! 

We all made some wonderful memories!!

As a host family we were asked to do a morning and evening devotional centered around our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the kids we had at our house. 

They asked us to make sure that the youth participated and we were to help out as needed. I decided to give the first devotional, so the girls could get to know us, then they would be in charge of the rest. 

For my devotional, I wanted to give them something that would remind them of the Savior and to help them remember this Youth camp. As I searched, I found the CUTEST window clings in the shape of the youth theme for sale on Etsy. 

But I had a problem… I waited too long to order them so they wouldn’t be here in time. So I did the next best thing…

I made my own!

I hurried to order the window cling and vinyl from Amazon & Walmart, found the clipart online, cut them out with my cricket, and my girls helped me put them together the day camp started. For me, it was a tiny miracle! And our sweet girls loved them!!! 

These window clings are great as a reminder because you can put them on your bathroom mirror, bedroom window (or any window) or in your car. 

They are good to remind us Who we are and Who’s we are!!!

I hope this gave you a little inspiration!!! 

Have a great week!

More {DIY T-shirts}

 
I can't get enough of all the cute shirts I want to buy and make!

There are so many cute shirts out there people are selling. I think I could buy and buy and not have enough!

I like to design my own shirts so they say just what I want... but you can buy so many cute svg files to make your shirts. 

There's so many options!

I've bought my fair share... but my favorite is to design my own and I make a handful of these each year... I just can't get enough of how fun and easy they are to make.

They make great gifts for grandparents as well! 

I've spent years making grandkid t-shirts for my Dad and he loves them! He wears them until they turn into rags and then he informs me its time for a new one :)

When I turned 40 I wanted one that said "40-licious"... its one of my favorite shirts!

.....

Instructions:

#1:  pick a t-shirt or sweater

#2:  buy or make your template by using a Cricut, Silhouette, or print it on cardstock and cut it out by hand with a X-Acto knife.

I use a really old Cricut and the cheapest removable vinyl to make my templates.

#3:   you can use iron on vinyl or my favorite method... craft paint. With paint you have so many color options to choose from or mix to make a custom color. The fabric will absorb some of the paint so you might have to do a couple coats. (make sure to put cardstock or something inside the shirt because the paint will bleed through and could get on the back without something to stop it)

#4:    peel off the vinyl and wear... or wash to soften the paint just a bit

It's that easy!

A bit of work, but easy to make!

They always turn out cute...

and the possibilities are endless!

Happy Crafting!

Self-Watering Planter for Back Porch

Self-watering planters are the best thing to happen to outdoor gardening!

When I first learned about these I was so excited but also a little skeptical that they would work where we are because we live in the mountains at a very high elevation.  

But I built one last year that worked perfect and the strawberries I had in it came back and grew wonderful the 2nd year.... so far so good.

And... I've been wanting to try a blackberry bush in a planter.

Our dryer went out a year ago and my husband, being the conservative that he is, thought the tub would make a good planter... and I agreed because it would be covered with pond liner on the inside so no yucky leftover chemicals bothering out plants.

It is the perfect size for our back porch!

I bought cedar planks and cut them in half... screwed them on and added a piece of metal strap to the top and bottom just to help hold the boards on for a long time... hopefully.

Once the outside was all ready... I drilled a hole about 10 inches up from the bottom for the drain pipe which is just a 1 inch black pipe 5 inches long.

I used leftover pond liner I had from last year... it was just the right size, but putting it in a round container was a bit challenging.

Once the pond liner was all in I poked the drain pipe through the pond liner and side of the tub and siliconed it into place.

I used leftover plant buckets for the reservoir inside and drilled holes so the water wouldn't be blocked.

I put all the plant buckets in and made sure my drain pipe wasn't covered

I used a container lid for the shelf on top of the buckets and cut holes for the wicking containers. I also used a 2 inch pvc pipe for the fill tube and drilled holes in the bottom so the water could fill the bottom of the tub (reservoir).

I also drilled holes in the wicking containers so they could suck up the water, lined them with cloth barrier and filled them with soil, then placed them in their spots I cut in the shelf.

I used the cloth barrier to line the inside of the tub on the shelf and around the sides to keep the soil from falling down in the reservoir.

Once everything was in the right place, I filled the planter with soil and soaked it really really well with water and filled the reservoir so the wicks could start pulling water up, then I planted my blackberry bush and a few small flowers. 

I am loving these self watering planters!

They are a little more expensive to build but I wouldn't do another planter without because I don't have to babysit them and water them non-stop.

I only water once or twice a month!

It's great!!!

Good luck with your next gardening adventure!

Mini Picture Frame Magnets

I make and collect magnets...

(there are no affiliate links on this post but I did include product ads so you can see prices)

The magnet collection was never intentional... it just happened:)

.....

My collection started because I had a jar full of stuff you collect as a teenager...  and as an adult I didn't know what to do with them besides throw them away. 

But before I tossed them... I had a great idea...

I could make them into magnets!

(I had sea shells, stones, marbles and coins)

They turned out great!!

.....

As an adult I've also collected a few small objects from trips we've taken as a family... 

and they make great magents also!!!

But my favorites are the mini picture frame magnets!

They have pictures of my favorite people and 

they are really nice because I can change them out if I want.

.....

It's sooooo easy! 

~ buy a large package of magnets from the hardware store or you can order           them

~ use your favorite craft glue... 

~ glue a magnet (or a couple) to the back of whatever you want

~ let it dry approx. 24 hrs to harden completely

~ put it on your magnet board... or large tin letter

I found these little frames on Amazon and I thought they would be perfect for photos of our parents.

I used 3 magnets because the frames are a bit heavy and I want them to hold well without falling off my large tin letter H. So depending on how heavy your object is you may want more magnets.

Another great project finished!

They turned out beautiful and so simple!!

Happy crafting!

DIY Wheelbarrow

 If you're looking for a fun easy little project, here it is!

This wheelbarrow is so cute and it was easy to make!! 

I get in so much trouble when I scroll through Pinterest!... but there are so many good ideas on there. 

So one day I came across instructions on how to build this cute small wheelbarrow. The instructions list all the supplies and cuts that you need to make. 

I already had some of the wood so I only needed to buy the crate which I ordered on Walmart.com for I think $18 and a large carriage bolt.

With the great instructions it didn't take long to cut my boards and put the wheelbarrow together. 

Here's the website I used...

PneumaticAddict.com

Then I stained it with my new favorite color 

I love this stain!!!

(it is brown with just a bit of gray to make the wood look rustic)

This wheelbarrow was a fun project and I love how it turned out. 

I used pipe insulators as a filler and then bought fake greenery from Dollar Tree.

I'm excited to use this for fall and fill it with pumpkins

and flowers in spring!

Happy Crafting!

my NEW Rocking Bench

 I love living in the country!

We live in a sweet little spot three miles north of a tiny little town. There are wild turkeys along with other wildlife and mountains in our back yard. 

With all of this goodness to enjoy, I decided to indulge in a new glider bench for our back porch. 

It fit perfectly and because its made of metal and trex it should last a very long time through our long sunny summer days and harsh winter storms.

It's perfect!

Evenings are sweet...

and now we have the best place to sit and soak in the last rays of each day!

Happy Spring!

Crochet Shawls

Spring is cold here and we still have a month or so before we can plant anything outside... so its nice to have a project to pass the time. 

I learned to crochet as a teenager in our Young Women's group at church and I really enjoyed it. We learned how to crochet borders on baby blankets and I started to make a blanket that I'm still not finished with (25 or so years in the making... that one started out as a queen size and I've changed my mind to just make it a baby blanket). 

Sometimes I do a lot of crocheting and then I'll go years without touching it.... I guess it all depends on the season of your life. 

So, I started making a few dish clothes just to make sure I still knew how to make all the different stitches.... then I got a crazy idea to make shawls for my girls and I (for the Fort Bridger Rendezvous we participate in each year in the fall)

I picked up some yarn at Walmart and Joann's. 

(the purple shawl took a little more than 1 roll)

(the cream shawl took about 5 rolls, because the rolls aren't very big)

(the blue shawl took 10 rolls of yarn)

I found my patterns online. 

The cream shawl was a free pattern on

Pinterest.com

 

The purple and blue shawls are the same pattern I bought on Ravelry 

https://www.ravelry.com

I started with the cream shawl. It was easy and super fast to make. 

The purple shawl was a bit more challenging with a lot of different stitches but I still really enjoyed making it and it didn't take too long. 

I made the blue shawl last... I thought I would try a smaller weight yarn so it had more detail but I was in for a harder longer project than I bargained for. It took a long time to finish... by the time I was done I didn't want another project!

But they all turned out beautiful!!!

I still love to crochet and I'm even thinking of entering a project in the county fair.

Good luck with all your projects!

Happy Spring

I LOVE my Mini Printer!

 Mini Printer Product Review (this is my personal opinion)

I LOVE my little printer!!!

This little printer is the best tool I've found for scripture study!

I've wanted a mini printer for a long time... I looked at the more expensive color ones but couldn't bring myself to spend the money, but when I saw this one which was cheaper... I thought I'd give it a try. 

...And I'm not disappointed!

It isn't colored, which would've been nice BUT it works really really well for study and printing small notes that you can easily add in the margins. 

I use it daily as I study my scriptures.

I love how easy it is to screen shot the scriptures or quotes I want and then print them from the app.

It makes it so much easier to add extra to my studies and takes up a lot less space than trying to write it all (especially since I write so big)

It bluetooths to my phone and connects really good!

I'm very happy with how this little printer works!

It's not perfect picture quality... but its clear enough for notes and small pictures.

Overall a good product!!

Happy Studies!!