Car - Bus - Truck Themed Bedroom

Just before Sammy turned two, I was busy painting and decorating a new "big boy bedroom" for him.  He got a space-slash-robot bedroom, which left the bug room vacant for baby #2 to move in. Well, it's hard to believe my baby boy is now two already!  And, now that we know just how much he loves cars, trucks, buses, and anything with wheels, we decided to give him his own themed room.

I found an image of an old VW bus online and projected it on the wall to draw the outline, then painted it with acrylics:

I went over the whole thing with some clear poly to protect it.  To an adult the perspective is a little funny since it's not full scale, but from Toby's height it's perfect!

Of course I couldn't stop at just the bus...

I added a street sign on the opposite wall with his name which was really fun.  I also got him a really cool flashing street light that I mounted on the wall.

Here are a couple fun thrift store finds that I added to the room...

Memo board, $2.99 at Goodwill!

Target clock, brand new in the package at Goodwill for $5

We had a really nice wool rug in his room but it was all bug theme.  So, we swapped it out for these cool foam tiles.  Some time when he's older we'll probably get another carpet, but this was a really great and economical floor covering for the time being.  We used two sets to make a large area....

 

The first couple days Toby had a blast disassembling all the circles that Mommy had so diligently coordinated.  But, luckily that didn't last long.  I'm just glad he didn't start biting chunks out of them!  We'll see how long they last!

DIY Kids' Art Gallery Wall

Over the past couple weeks I decided to make a little art gallery wall in our home for the kids' art.  I remembered seeing some ideas for organizing and displaying jewelry via framed pieces of cork board, and thought that could work well for the boys' artwork too.

I picked up a few frames from thrift stores, and specifically looked for ones with unique shapes and/or ornate textures.  I probably spent around $15 total on all of these frames.

I took out the glass and spray painted each frame with some cheap, matte black spray paint from the hardware store.  Then I cut pieces of cork to fit each frame (I had a stash of cork squares and old cork boards that I had also purchased from thrift stores in the past), and put a couple coats of white paint on the cork.  I just used some left-over white wall paint from a previous house painting project.  (A little tip, use the glass or the cardboard backer from each frame as your stencil to draw the shape you need to cut out of the cork.)

Once all the paint had dried on both the frames and cork, I re-assembled them (minus the glass) and arranged them on the wall.  It turned out pretty cute, and now I can easily rotate the kids' work on display, and give it a little bit more noble display area than the fridge!

Trying to Re-Enter "Normal" Life Again!

I'm BAAAAAACK!  I recently got sucked into the whirling vortex that is "August" for face painters...the last month of summer where everyone crams in their events!  I have emerged, though teetering around a bit with a kink in my back and my previously broken wrist throbbing again, to live to tell about it! 

Well, okay, so August isn't over yet.  We're only a couple/few weeks into it.  But, August marks the Dakota County Fair week for me. This is the only county fair that I paint at, and for good reason...the 12 hour days painting coupled with over an hour's drive one way makes for a very long and tiring week!  This year was my 14th year painting at the fair, and I believe the 8th (?) year that my most fantastical and talented mom has shared the booth with me!

Our whole family at the booth!

2011 turned out to be a good year, especially when compared to 2010, which was my 2nd least profitable year ever.  So, that was pretty awesome. The amazing weather every single day played a big role too I'm sure.  This is the first time I can recall making it through the fair without a massive and dangerous storm!  (making me most happy to say the "whirling vortex" is completely figurative!)

It was a really fun year!  I added a book of full-face and hand/arm designs which were a lot of fun to do, and I took advantage of any "down time" to paint up my own arm and get some fun photos for my work samples which I hope to post up soon. I think my favorite this week was this chicken I painted on my hand.

buck. buck. BUCK-AWK!

If you'd like to check out more photos from the fair, check out my latest Fair Recap post on my Paintertainment blog.  I've also recently shared a few more fun hand designs.  I'm working on a book right now that will show step-by-step photos to paint 18 really fun hand designs, and hope to have that published very soon!

So, that's what I've been up to lately.  I still have several face painting gigs in the next few weeks, and more requests coming in through September.  But, for now, I'm enjoying getting back to "normal life" again for a while!  And VERY excited to receive the fruits of my summer labor, my new Macbook Pro, just ordered today by my Mom (yup, that same "most fantastical" woman mentioned earlier), who just so happens to be an Apple Specialist at the Mall of America's Apple Store.  Now that's one cool Gramma if I do say so myself!  Thanks, Mom!

Sammy loves his Angry Bird!

Creativity in Overdrive!

I have learned over time that when I find myself in a very stressful time in life, I tend to bury myself in my work and various creative endeavors.  It has become obvious that trying to get our house sold with two little kids, two dogs, and a traveling husband has unleashed the obsessive creative monster in me.  So, I have decided to channel this energy into something positive...making Christmas gifts!

 I just finished making this serving tray out of an old Scrabble game for my Scrabble-loving Grandma.  I think it turned out pretty cool. My favorite parts are the handles, replaced with pieces of the little trays you set the letters on.  You can check out the whole project step-by-step on my Junk Mail Gems blog, here!

I've also tried making some soldered glass pendants that I hope to attach to some sort of charm bracelet down the road...

...have been turning old records into bowls...

...and have recently taken up needle felting.  I've always wanted to try it, and when my husband gave me the opportunity to leave the house kid-free and go wherever I wanted, I went to a local yarn store.

I picked up some colorful wool roving (loose wool fibers...before they've been spun into yarn), and some felting needles.  (needles with little barbs on them)
 

I've been wanting to make some felt beads, which I did do (above), but once I got into it I realized how fun it is to make pretty much anything you can imagine. Just do a Google Image Search on "needle felted" to see what I mean!

....like this jack-o-lantern pin above, or this little robin below (the first thing I made!)...

There is just something so therapeutic about repeatedly stabbing the fibers into submission with a barbed needle until they become the shape you want! It's also the type of project that requires all of your focus to avoid turning your hands into a finger-ka-bob with those Medieval torture devices they call "felting needles."  So, it's a great way to take your mind and eyes off of everything else. I am already trying to figure out which yarn store to hit up next for some more colors.  I will try to post more about how to do this in the future if anyone is interested!

Of course I can only work on this stuff when the kids are sleeping or playing, my freelance work is caught up, and I'm not preparing the house for another showing, which leaves not a lot of time.  But, I have really enjoyed making stuff over these past couple weeks and hope to emerge on the other side of fall with a sold house and a pile of great Christmas gifts to give! In the meantime, if you don't hear from me much, I'm probably off brutally stabbing my aggressions out on a ball of wool until it turns into another cuddly wittle birdie...

ID Mommy Projects: Recycle Happy Meal Boxes into Toy Houses!

I must have paper crafts on the brain, because last week when I treated Sammy to a McDonald's Happy Meal for lunch, my warped mind saw a little toy house.  It wasn't long before I had created a pattern to color, cut, and glue on to his Happy Meal box to turn it into a little cardboard house.

Luckily for all of you, I've just uploaded the pdf patterns for you to download for free, at my design site!  Like the road construction playset, I have it available in black and white (for your little Picasso to color), or already in color if you just want to get straight to playing house.

Here's how we did it...

Supplies: Happy Meal box, scissors, glue, scrap cardboard, printed pattern
Optional and very nice to have: X-acto knife

Step 1: Print out all 4 pages of the pdf and cut them out.  I did the already colored one here...if you do the black and white version, let your kids color it in before cutting it out.  On the front and back pieces, fold the side flaps back, as they will wrap around the corners of the house.  It also makes the whole thing bend easier if you fold along the dotted lines once to make a crease before sticking it to the box.

Step 2: Apply glue to the back of the pieces.

Step 3: Glue the front and back pieces on, making sure those white side flaps fold around the corners and stick to the sides.

Step 4: Glue the left and right sides on.

Step 5: Let the glue dry. (or the pages will easily tear when you do this step) Flatten the box, slip a piece of scrap cardboard inside to protect from cutting through to the other side...

...and cut out the windows and around the three sides of the door.  This is where an X-acto knife comes in handy.  Scissors are tougher to use here but they work too.

...and, you're done!  

This is a great little toy to take on-the-go, being that it has built in handles.  It also folds flat for storage, which is a big plus for us grown-ups.  Sammy calls it his "cheeseburger house!"

This also would make a great project to bring with on that road trip to the cabin or Grandma's house.  Just print out the pdf and bring it with you. The kids can color it in the car, and when you have to stop for a drive-through meal during the trip, keep your box for a fun project ready to assemble upon your arrival!

Fun Friday Finds

Just a few cool things to share with you today!  While I try to share things that you would be interested, I have to admit I use my blog just as much as my own list to record and keep track of all the projects I'd like to try, toys I'd like to get, products I'd like to review, and websites I'd like to explore more!  Today's post is no exception...

Check out this creative twist on block puzzles.  Designed by a Swiss toymaker, Naef, "Colorem" allows your kids to draw their own puzzle images with chalk.  Your kids can decorate all sides for 6 different puzzles, then simply wipe them clean with a wet cloth and start all over!  This seems like something that would be fun to make too, with some wood blocks and chalk board paint. They come with some chalk crayons, which I'm assuming stick better than your standard chalk...otherwise it would likely be a huge mess.  Looks like a blast!! (via Inhabitots)

Here's a fun way to use some of those little toys you have all over the house.  A whole lot better than stepping on them in the middle of the night...use them to light your path instead! Designed by Ryan McElhinney. (via LikeCool)

These shadow boxes by Peter Slight are so awesome.  When I was little I made one of these but it was a carnival scene with a merry-go-round and ferris wheel.  I still have it hanging on my wall.  I love the illustrations of these! Okay, more things for my creative to-do list... (via Drawn!)

You Don't Need to be an Artist to Creat Amazing Wall Art!

I'm in the middle of an extreme bedroom makeover right now...on an extreme budget as well.  I'll share it when I'm done, hopefully soon!  Anyway, that got me interested in these nice, simple ways that anyone can create modern wall art for their home, even if you're not an artist.

Somehow I got myself on the DIY Ideas magazine's e-newsletter, and after finding so many cool ideas, I just bought a subscription.  But, here are just a few of their fun wall art ideas that I found today...

With some canvas, paint, and a little masking tape, you too can create this simple piece:

This one is done by laying some clothespins on your canvas or paper and just spraying over it with spray paint.  This would be such a great piece of art to hang in your laundry room!  There are a lot of fun things you could use in place of clothespins too, such as kitchen utensils, keys, etc...

This would be great in a bedroom.  I love the idea of turning these hangers into frames!

This is such a neat, modern twist on shadow boxes.

Here's a really pretty way to recycle those little cardboard jewelry boxes into a piece of nature-inspired artwork:

Okay, now my creative project mental to-do list is overflowing even MORE!!  So many projects, so little time... sigh.

MoMa's Modern Play House & Modern Family

I've been reading about this for a while now online, but it's finally available for purchase, so I had to pass it on!  I love this cute "Modern Play House" from MoMa.  The six cardboard walls nest together, and your kids can assemble the reversible furniture pieces and lay out their own house with included vinyl cling accessories.

Don't forget the family! Sold separately for $12.99, it includes 5 people, a cat, a dog, a dog house, and over 150 vinyl cling clothes and hair styles!  I just might have to get a set for myself...the paper crafter in me loves these little cardboard cutout people and furniture!

ID Mommy Project: Make Your Own Crayons!

A while back I posted about this great etsy shop full of fun homemade crayons, and making crayons has been on my mental to-do list since.  I figured since it's supposed to be so hot and sunny today, at least here in Minneapolis, I'd post this one today.  Here's how we did it...

1) Gather supplies: Old crayons, candy mold, knife, cutting board, scrap of cardboard

I went to Michael's and used a 50% off coupon for a whopping $2 candy mold, shaped like stars.  I picked up a jar of beat up old crayons at a garage sale for $0.10 cents.  So, the whole project cost me $1.10...

2) Remove Labels: Here's a little tip I learned the hard way...tearing off old wrappers can take forever as they continuously rip into tiny pieces.  While you may want to let your kids help tear off the paper, while they have fun doing that, try taking a knife and slicing the length of the wrapper.  It'll be much easier to pop off all in one piece.  Just be very careful not to let the knife slip and cut yourself!! I also read online that someone else tried soaking them in water to soften them up for easier removal.

3) Chop chop: Chop up the crayons, or make shavings, with a knife.  Tip: Put a piece of scrap cardboard over your cutting board to cut on, unless you'd like a rainbow colored cutting board.

Another tip: If you fold the cardboard in half, it's easier to dump your shavings into little containers:

 
4) Fill the Mold: This is another step your kids can do.  I wasn't sure mine would have the steady hands to do this at age two, but he did a great job filling each star with a color.  We made one with mixed colors too.

Nice job, huh?!  (If you're a parent you probably recognize that brown stuff in the corners of his mouth as being the Oreo cookie goo that somehow continues to ooze out of a child's mouth for hours after lunch, no matter how many times you wipe their face.)

5) Melt: To make it easy to transport, I set our mold on a small cookie sheet.  I put a piece of black construction paper on the bottom.  Not sure if that helps at all, but I know black absorbs the heat in the sun, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Now set it in the sun!  As you can see, Sammy opted to take the extra cautious route and put on his safety goggles.  Such a responsible young man!

Wait....while you're waiting, since it's a sunny day, why not try playing in the sprinkler, painting with water, making dandelion curls, or making a nature collage! Who needs ovens and microwaves when you have plenty of other fun things to do while you wait?!  Tip: Don't get impatient chasing the sun across the yard and stick it in the microwave after your kid goes down for a nap...you'll warp your mold.

Eventually my shady yard won, and they didn't finish melting...I moved them from the back to front yard to get them back in the sun but by then it was too late in the day.  The next day I tried another idea...I took this clear plastic lid from a takeout meal and set it over the crayons.  This really helped speed things up!  The clear plastic still let the sunlight in, but helped to build up and trap more heat over the crayons.  I bet you could put some plastic wrap over it too, if you put them in a deeper pan, box, or food container.  Maybe even try lining it with some tin foil to help bounce more sun around.  Now you can learn from my trial and error and probably have a set of crayons done in a day!

 I'm not sure why ours ended up with this weird top layer of clear wax...somehow they separated I guess. Maybe because we took SO long to melt them on multiple attempts.  Or maybe these were cheap knockoffs of the "real" Crayolas.

6) Cool: Let them cool in the shade, in the house, or in the frig until fully set.

7) Remove: Pop 'em out of the mold!

8) Create: You just made your own new art supplies!  Now go make some art!  (Or, wrap them up...they'd make a fun gift or party favor too!)