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

Small Wood Sign Frames

I love wood signs with sayings for life and all the seasons...

I've made and bought so many signs over the years, and I keep getting more!

I decided that instead of buying a single sign for each saying... I would have frames with interchanging sayings.

I just don't have enough storage space for so many signs! :)

 I bought these little signs from Ebay... popped the middles out and cut multiple pieces to make signs that I can change out. 

I also bought the coolest tools so I can make my own little frames!

I love working with wood and building things! 

And since my husband bought me a new miter saw for mothers day a year or so ago, 

making these little frames is so easy!

These are the tools I bought and they work great!

I glued some little knobs on the bottom of the littler frames.

(I like the way it adds a little character)

(I love it when I finish a project)

...now what color to stain them...

These sign frames turned out so cute and I can easily change out the signs.

(MDF board works great for the signs)

or 

(print a picture, poem, or saying and use cardboard to hold it in place)

Whatever you do... have a great day!

Old-time Window Frame Mirror

I love old things!

I've had this old frame for years and years. I actually bought 2 when I got them. They were covered in paint and kind of dirty but nothing a little scraping and sanding couldn't fix. 

The first one I fixed, I decided to paint and glued a mirror on the back. I had it hanging in our kitchen in our old house for a long time but when we moved I decided to give it to my Mom. 

 This second one, I painted white at first but I really loved the wood grain so I sanded the paint off (mostly) and left it. 

... at one time I had some chicken wire stapled to the back and had stuff hanging on it. 

But when I decided to hang it in our new kitchen I didn't want much on it, so I took everything off. 

It has hung plain for years...

But this year I decided I wanted to turn it into a mirror like I did my last one. 

It took a long time to figure out where to get a mirror.

The other frame I had... I took the measurements to a local company and they cut a custom mirror for me at a very affordable price, but they aren't there anymore.

So after a bit of measuring and checking... I finally had the solution...

I ordered 2 long skinny mirrors from Walmart...

pulled the frames off the front...

cut them both to the right length (30 inches)

(the width was already perfect)

laid them on the back of my window frame...

siliconed them on and waited overnight...

It worked perfect!!!

I'm very happy with my new mirror!

Happy Fall Y'all!

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!

Powdered Foundation (product review)

My two cents...

I don't usually ever do product reviews like this... only for the crafts I make but I wanted to brag on this foundation!

(No affiliate links)

I've never loved foundation!

For me it's always cakey and doesn't work well on my very porous face.

I've tried almost all of the brands and spent way to much money on foundations through the years... always going back to the same brand I've always used but still not loving it because it was cakey and felt gross. 

I wasn't to sure about the powdered foundation. 

I was worried it would make my face break out like every other new foundation I've tried...

but I thought 'what the heck' I'll give it a try.

WOW, was I surprised!!

This powdered foundation was amazing! It wasn't cakey at all! It had some coverage, was light and looked natural! AND I didn't have any breakouts!

Needless to say...

I will never go back to liquid foundation...

AND I plan on sticking with this foundation forever!

Have a great day!

Wood Vinyl - Shelves

 
I put these shelves in years ago...

They have worked great to store all of our bathroom essentials and also keep everything off the counter.

I originally painted them white and they still look okay but the paint is sticky. 

No matter how many times I clean them the dust sticks and the bottles stick. 

It's rather annoying!

I didn't want to refinish them... so I found some vinyl shelf covering from Amazon that looks like wood.

I was a little skeptical because of the reviews but...

it is amazing!

here's the shelves painted white...

(they have worked so good... but I hate the sticky)

The vinyl was so easy to cut and it sticks to the painted shelves so good. 

* I did clean each shelf with rubbing alcohol 

so there wouldn't be anything to prevent the vinyl from sticking.

My favorite part about this vinyl is it's textured!

It feels like wood but smooth.

And the BEST part...

the shelves aren't sticky!!!

I love the color and the feel of these shelves!

They look nice and they stay cleaner!

IT'S A WIN!

Solar Jack-O-Lanterns {UPDATE}

Its October!... there's a scare in the air.

These solar pumpkins are one of the coolest projects! 

We love carving pumpkins and lighting them for All-Hallows-Eve but we only get to enjoy them for one night... all that work for one night. 

So when I saw this project on the internet I was online ordering some solar lights so I could make some solar pumpkins.

As soon as the solar lights arrived I got started.