Liam's Third Birthday

My little boy is turning THREE, and I've been planning for months in my mind. Not that it's going to be a huge event (seriously, he's only three); I just LOVE childrens' parties and thinking about them. Here are a few things I've got up my sleeve:

I finished these invitations yesterday:

I saw a similar one at Tiny Prints and fell in love so I made my own. Here's a copy of the image without our info so you can make one for your little (or big) one too. I'm not sure if the jpg image will be large enough for you...so the links to the pdf versions are below:

Single Invitation PDF
Sheet of 4 Invitations PDF
Download Adobe Reader Here

Then, I saw these cupcakes (from Trophy Cupcakes) on Be Different...Act Normal and fell in love again. What can I say? Love was in the air...or space.

All this was in preparation for moving Liam to his space-ship themed "HUGE boy bed" from his "BIG boy" toddler bed that will soon need to be converted back to a crib. I was hoping to have time to finish making his new bedspread inspired by this one from The Land of Nod, but...I guess the big move will just have to wait a little longer:

I love these pillows too. Especially the round "Pluto" one...it has the date Pluto was retired on the back.

I thought a couple of personalized posters in this vein might be fun too. Maybe with Liam's or the baby's birth info. (They'll be sharing a room.) It'll say something like, Liam Pettit, blasted into the world on (his birthday), weighing such and such pounds, yadda, yadda minus the Velvet Lounge part at the bottom! (If I hadn't mentioned it, would you have noticed?)

Fabric Flowers

My MIL is the mother of all gift-givers, and boy, is she a good one. (Both MIL and gift-giver!) I always want to do something for her to show her my gratitude, but what do you get a person who has everything? I've finally decided that the best thing to give her is something homemade. Something cute and classy. Something she can't buy anywhere else. Something with a little bit of me in it.

She comes in a few days, and these are the little flowers I've concocted for her:
(You can make your own too! Here's the tutorial from Wise Craft.)

I thought because she is such a good gift giver she might like to attach one of these an impeccably wrapped present (as they all are) or a plate of goodies for a neighbor. They'd also look good attached to a clip secured in a little girl's hair, pinned to a cute bag or hat, or a multitude of other possibilities.

The tutorial is really easy to follow, and they work up really quickly. Love that. I need a project that is easy to finish every once in a while...something to finish and check off my beloved never-ending list. I get a little bogged down by projects that take forever. Not that that keeps me from doing them, just ask the stack in my kitchen...that will have to be moved to my bedroom when my in-laws come. Add that to the list...

I made a few variations to the original pattern. I got the idea from Cristina to blanket stitch around the edge of a circle of felt and place it on top just under the button. I also tried the same idea with a yo-yo (a circle of fabric sewn around the edges and then gathered, secured, and flattened; pictured upper right corner). I also added a third level of petals on the four on the left hand side above. I used the same pattern but just reduced the size of the smaller flower to about 75% or so.

Green

What is it about green that I just LOVE?! Every time I consider redecorating it's the first color I think of. I've even considered it for the new bathroom color, but my eat-in kitchen already called dibs on it.

Greens like this darling room from Wee Wonderfuls:

...and this fantastic bedroom from Sugar City Journal. How could you not have pleasant dreams in a bed like this?

(Kid's rooms are on my mind right now as I try to finish a few bedroom redo projects in time for Liam's birthday in a couple of weeks.)

I've also always loved these Jadeite dishes. Someday, I'll have a set...and a large kitchen to display them! (Image courtesy of Country Living.)

Maybe it's the snow falling outside just two days after a jacket-less trip to the zoo, but I'm really craving a little green right now.

Bathroom Update

Although the weather keeps telling me that spring has not quite reached this valley, I feel it in my bones, and my bones are telling me to get moving. I've been listening and now after painting and bending and squatting for a few days, my bones are telling me something a little different. It sounds a little like, "Ooo, ow, yipes." Thankfully my eyes and my mind reassure me that it was all worth it because here it is...your next installment in the bathroom redo saga:

Before/After

Finally, something to cross off my list! Down below you can find the inspiration for what will become new items on said list.

This is my fourth successful attempt at repainting cabinets/furniture. Here are numbers two and three.

Here are a few little tips I recommend:

First sand to smooth out the piece a little, and then apply a high adhesion primer. I used a Zinsser brand one from Lowes. I like to use a cabinet roller and a corner brush. They're just made for all those tight cabinet spaces. (I got my little cabinet roller from Lowes too. I think the brand was "Whizz." It's just little sponge roller with rounded edges so I didn't have to worry about corners or streaks.)

I recommend using a latex enamel paint on cabinets. (I believe latex enamel is different than normal latex paint but don't quote me.) I used Valspar brand (java brown) this time, but I've also used Rustoleum brand which is also lovely and wears quite well. Both came in little quart cans found next to the spray paints at Lowes. I used a normal latex paint on my kitchen cabinets, and either I needed a higher sheen (like a semi-gloss vs. the satin sheen that I used) or a latex enamel paint instead because it does not wear as well and is now in need of a touch up. This project used only one quart and also included a linen closet door not shown in the above photos.

Use painter's tape for those straight lines/edges. The blue tape is way easier to take off than normal masking tape. I actually found a little normal masking tape still attached to my light fixture from a previous owner's paint project.

So, quick helpful product recap, these are all wonderful:
High adhesion primer
Latex enamel paint
Cabinet roller
Corner brush
Painter's tape

Now on to the newest inspiration:

I love this bathroom created by Angelo Surmelis on Rate my Space on HGTV. My bathroom will be a little more understated and frankly...under budgeted. I thinking more "Design on a Penny."

I love these colors, but I don't think my little, yet still long cramped bathroom is right for the stripes however much I love them. Wouldn't I love to have that mirror too?!

Those curtains have solved my bathroom curtain dilemma. I love the black and white stripes which will tie in well with the black and white artwork I plan on hanging.

And do you not just LOVE that beaded crystal tie-back!? Unfortunately my bath with it's peeling paint and my pride will not allow me to tie back my shower curtain in such a lovely way. (Yes, you read that right...my bathtub is painted, and I do not recommend doing the same. I think a previous owner painted over it as a cosmetic, money-saving repair for a quick sale. It's white paint is chipping more and more these days to reveal it's true GREEN nature.)

Wait! I just got a great idea. What if I had two layers to my shower curtain and tied back the top layer only? Could I do that with the bottom layer still closed or would the fabric not reach far enough? Maybe if the top layer were in two panels, I could tie back both. Sorry, that's just me thinking aloud...in type.

P.S. The inspiration pictures are from Angelo Surmelis' blog. Who knew celebrities had so much time for blogging?

The Slacking Monster!

I'm finding it hard to get anything done these days. Maybe it's being pregnant, maybe it's the snow outside when I just want sunshine, or the fact that Liam has missed nap time for a couple of days. I don't know, but I'm working half-paced. The good news is...I'm fighting back! This is the third post in three days! Take that you slacking fiend!

I may not have time to create new projects and tutorials all the time, but I can still find them! Like the ones on my new favorite site, mommyblessings.com! She finds and writes some fabulous tutorials. Like the one for these fantastic crowns. I think I know what I want to be for Halloween!

Check her out and stay a while. She has such great ideas. Like the ones about men's shirt repurposing and wand making.