Painting cookies

  I now feel like I am finally coming out of the new baby phase.......baby girl will be 4 months the 11th and is now sleeping between 8-12 hours....HALLELUAH!!!! Now if I could just get her brother's to cooperate this Momma would be completely refreshed but alas I doubt that will happen for awhile.  During these past few months, I have done a few small crafts mostly for Olivia's room (blogpost coming soon on her room) but have no desire to do anything else. 



My sweet Olivia.  Love those smiles!

Since I am feeling more normal, I have been dying to get back to crafting.  My oldest son, Jonah, would draw, paint, or do anything crafty all day long if i let him.  My youngest son, Tucker, will do it for a few minutes and he's done.  It may be because he is only 2 1/2 but he would rather tear the paper off of crayons than draw with them. Jonah also loves to help me bake/cook in the kitchen so I try to think of fun stuff we can make together.  I honestly don't let him help me as much as i should in the kitchen because I already have so much to clean but I need to.  I want my boys to have a love for cooking like my husband.  I love that husband loves to cook for us and he is amazing at it. 



Jonah and Tucker.  They drew mustaches on themselves with markers.  Ugh at last it was just on their faces!!!

I had this craving for a frosted sugar cookie last week and went ahead and baked some.  I wanted to do something Easter themed as well so I dyed the frosting with the only colors I had...yellow, blue, and green.  I used the Firecracker cookie recipe from the Martha Stewart Living magazine.  I found the recipe here: http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/06/furecracker-cookies.html and used this recipe for the royal icing:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Glossy-Royal-Icing/Detail.aspx.  I only made half of each but wish I would have made more! While I was baking the cookies, I was trying to figure out how the boys could decorate them without too much of a huge mess.  They have a little frosting decorating kit with a few piping bags and tips but I really wasn't sure where it was so I thought what about using paint brushes and painting them.  It worked great!!

All you need is a few never used or really clean paint brushes, frosting....divided into your colors if desired, and your cookies.  I would also suggest some coverings on your table like a paper towel, wax paper, or a plate.  I sat the boys down beside each other and gave them each a cookie on their paper towel.  The paints were right in between them.  I also had a cup of water to rinse the brushes from each brush in between painting.  It's basically just like painting a picture just using food! 

**I apologize for the blurry pictures: I didn't plan on blogging about this and only had my phone available for pictures.**

Jonah with a few of his painted cookies.  He painted all except for one.  He painted each cookie for a different family member. I didn't have the heart to tell him we wouldn't be seeing any of them before the cookies were gone.  He was so proud of his work!

All the finished cookies.   A few of them looked like the earth with the blue and green. I loved how Jonah did them.  We had more to paint but Tucker kept eating them. :)

I love watching Tucker concentrate on his work.  He gets so focused he doesn't have a clue what's going on around him.  But since he's 2 it doesn't last long.  The cookie in this picture was the only cookie he actually painted.  He ate a few but that was enough painting for him.

After the cookies were painted, I just let them dry then we enjoyed them.  This was such a simple and not too messy edible craft/activity that we will definitely be doing it again.  I didn't get a chance to paint any but want to try it the next time we do it! 

Let me know if you try it and like it! It really is fun and easy. Have a blessed night!

I am linking up to: 

Recent Projects 2

So I started this post over a month ago.  Being 34 weeks pregnant with  my third baby, trying to keep up with 2 very active little boys, cooking, cleaning, crafting, making Christmas gifts, getting ready for baby girls arrival in a few weeks, trying to be a great wife, and somedays just trying to survive have been taking up my days.  Top all that off with not feeling the greatest all the time and you have one exhausted Momma.  I do not mean for this to come off as complaining.  I am super thankful for all God has blessed me with for I know it can all be taken away in an instant but responsibility comes with work.  Not all bad work but work none the less.

 

Anyways, I wanted to share some projects I have been working on.  Hopefully one day I will have time to sit down and actually do some tutorial posts for some things but for now pictures of my completed projects will have to do.  I have a list of things I want to get done before Olivia arives and I am almost done.  Here's a photo of my list with things marked out that are completed:

This picture was taken a month ago.  I have since completed the diaper bag and crib comforter.  A few things got marked off since I found them in thrift stores or I had them given to us from friends. 

 

Here's the completed items for Olivia:

 

 

Portable changing mat.  Top picture is folded.  Bottom is unfolded.  One side is a terry cloth towel and the other is decorative cotton fabric.  I saw one like this online, can't remember where, and like the towel backing for easy cleanup. The strap has velcro for easy closing to store in the diaper bag.

Terry cloth towel:  $1 from the Dollar Tree

Decorative fabric: 1/8 of a queen sized bed sheet about $0.75

Velcro: Already in my stash

Total: roughly $1.75

Stretchy monogrammed blanket.  It is just 2 yards of fabric cut in half and sewed together.  The fabric is a jersey cotton knit that is stretchy but since I did it in two layers it is not that stretchy.  I found the fabric on the clearance rack at my local Wal-mart.  I used a loose zigzag stitch to sew around the letters.  I love how it turned out.

Leopard jersey fabric: $3 for 2 yards

Pink material for letters: Already in my stash

Total:  $3

Little tanktop dress.  This is a size 3-6 month so I will need to put a long sleeve onesie and tights under it.  It turned out really cute and I can't wait to see her in it!

3-6 month tank top:  out of 3 pack of tanks I bought and made for a gift. About $0.83.

Purple skirt material, O material, Purple ribbon: Out of my stash

Total: Roughly $0.83

Hair clips.  I whipped these up in less than 10 minutes using materials I already had.  I bought a white stretchy headband and little pink bow from a local crafter over the weekend and was inspired to make more clips for the headband.  I love how all of these turned out and can't wait to make more!

Total: FREE

Winter carseat cover.  Outside is the same material used in the portable changing mat.  Inside is a soft white fleece to keep Olivia warm when walking to and from the car or on trips outside.  It can also be used as a plain blanket.

Fleece material and velcro on straps: out of my stash

Decorative material: 1/4 of a queen sized bedsheet, about $1.00

Total: Roughly $1.00

 

Going home outfit.  I saw something like this in an Etsy shop but didn't want to pay $35 for it plus I knew I could make it with a onesie I already had.  I am planing on making her a hairclip to go with it.  I may add a pink ribbon around the waist but not sure yet.

Onesie: already in my stash

Decorative skirt material:  Material remnant from Hobby Lobby, $1.50

Total: $1.50

 

Little sister onesie.  I am loving how this turned out!  This was another onesie I already had.  Also used the queen sized bedsheet for this one. I like to use every piece of fabric I buy. :)  I sewed the polka dotted material on but used permant Heat Bond for the letters and little flowers.  The letters came out smaller than I anticipated so I was too nervous to sew around it.  I need to figure out what to pair with this to make an outfit. 

Onesie and all materials were in my stash: FREE!

 

Two different taggie blankets....O shaped and a square shaped patchwork one.  These didn't turn out perfect but I know she won't care and I will know I made them with love.  I love the patchwork one the best.  Can you tell I'm enjoying using pink material?!

All materials were in my stash:  FREE!

 

Cloth diapers.  Top are regular sized.  In the bottom picture, are newborn diapers.  I tried a new newborn pattern and didn't like it so I went back to my old pattern.  I used recieving blankets from the thrift store and a pillowcase to make the diapers in the top picture.  The diapers in the bottom picture were made out of 4 tshirts. 

2 tie-dyed tshirts: $2, Goodwill

2 striped shirts: FREE from my MIL

9 recieving blankets & a pillowcase: about $6,  Miracle Hill thrift store

Elastic for leg parts: already in my stash

Total for 17 diapers: about $8

 

This is a quick baby sling I made.  This was really simple to make.  I didn't read the instructions well before I bought the material so I was able to make 2.  I am not sure if I will like this kind of sling but a friend of mine is letting me use her Moby wrap.  This material was also on the discounted racks at Walmart.

Total:  $3 for 2 slings

 2 pretty bibs.  The backs have terry cloth for easy clean-ups.  I love how these turned out and used all materials I had on hand.

Total: FREE

 

Olivia's diaper bag.  I have used the same diaper bag with both my boys and loved the way its made.  It is a Vera Wang that I got from a consignment sale really cheap and it has served its purpose well.  As much as I love it, it is very stained now and it is green and blue.  I saw some cute ones on Pinterest but nothing I truly thought I would love so I had this thought of trying to make one just like the one I used with the boys.  I am super impressed with myself on how it turned out especially since the whole thing was made completely from scratch using just my brain. :) It has 3 outside pockets on one side and one big pocket on the inside.  This was my first time sewing with batting and sewing on a zipper but they turned out great.  The material was another discount find at Wal-mart....2 yards for $4.  I didn't use the whole two yards.  The zipper was from my stash. 

Total cost: about $3.50

Front of Olivia's crib comforter/quilt.  I LOVE how this turned out.  I wanted her room to be very colorful and girly but not just all baby pinks.  Below is a picture if how it looks against the crib bumper that a friend passed down to us...which I love too!

 

 

The bumper has small purple, pink, and light green flowers on it.  I was going to make her bumper but when my friend showed me this one that she was getting rid of I absolutely loved it.  I wasn't sure about what to do for her blanket and crib sheet.  I was browsing some of my favorite blogs and came across a quilt that one of the ladies made for her new baby that will be here any day now.  Once I saw that I knew that is what I wanted.  So I raided my stash and went at it.  I did have to buy batting but used a coupon at Hobby Lobby so it wasn't bad at all.

Total cost:  $3 for batting

 

 

I had a few pieces of the rectangles I cut for the quilt left and wanted to do something with them.  I had seen this idea for embroidery hoop art using fabric and really like the idea so I decided to do that. 

Total cost: $4.56

 

 

--I haven't forgotten my boys in all this fun baby girl stuff. :)  Here's a few things I have made for them:

 

Big brother shirts for both boys.  I wanted the embroidery on these to be kinda rough and I really like how these turned out.  The number part I added at the last minute but I just think its too cute. 

Total cost: Free.  Used all materials that were in my stash.

 

Tucker's new bag for church.  I am hoping to have him potty trained in the next few weeks but I don't know if that is gonna happen with the way I have been feeling.  We'll see.  It would be nice to not have two kids in diapers at one time.  Anyways, I wanted to make him a new bag for his church class since the diaper bag I use is pretty big.  I made it just big enough for a few diapers, wipes case, and a sippy cup.  He loves it and can't wait to go to church even more now!

Total cost: FREE using materials already on hand.

 

Jonah's birthday shirt.  I whipped this together the morning of his party! We were out of town that week visiting my parents until the day before and I honestly forgot to make it before we left.  Once we got back I wasn't going to worry about it but I found this plain shirt in his dresser and made this in less than 5 minutes.

Total cost: FREE

 

--I also made a few things as gifts for some friends.  Here they are in no certain order:

 

2 bibs, a paci clip, and portable diaper changing pad.  I made this for a friend's new baby girl who is due to arrive a week before Olivia.

Total cost: FREE

 

Another portable diaper changing pad, baby blanket, and taggie blanket.  I made this for a good friend and bandmate of my husband whose family just had  little boy. 

Total cost: FREE

 

Little girls art smock.  I made this for a friend's little girl's 2nd birthday.

Total cost: Free

 

 

 

 

 

Reversible apron, fabric basket, pretty washcloths, and fabric coasters.  I made this for a friend and her husband's house warming party.  I wrapped it all up and labeled each one with pretty little gift tags and placed it all in the fabric basket. 

Total cost:  FREE

 

Apron. This was a requested item made for a friend of mine.  She saw one I made for the house warming gift above and really liked it.  I'm not going to include the cost in this one since she paid me for it.

 

Well that is all I have to share for today! I do still have a few projects to finish but nothing major left.  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

 

These little boys of mine

So after yesterday's venting post to clear my head I wanted to bring some more cheer to today.  You see I have been blessed with two of the most awesome little boys anyone could ever ask for and I don't appreciate them enough.  I just want to take today to brag about how wonderful they are! So here goes!!!

Touch a Truck event.

Sullivan's Island

Dirty feet after being at Daddy's work for awhile.

Sullivan's Island

My oldest amazing little boy is Jonah.  He just had a birthday last week and is 5 now.  He is 46 inches tall and about 40 lbs.   He wears a size 4 in shirts and 5 in pants since he is so tall.  He wears a shoe size 12 or 13.  He can count to 30 and say/sing his alphabet.  He loves to draw or do any kind of art and I love that about him.  He is an awesome big brother most of the time but in a snap can instantly turn to being mean to him.  He is in the Treehouse class at our church, Newspring, and LOVES it. He is very shy around strangers but since he turned 5 he is starting to talk more when someone says hello to him. I love that he is coming out of his shell! He is an awesome sleeper and goes to sleep quickly but usually ends up in bed with Jeremy and I because he gets scared.  I hate that he is in that scared of ever noise stage and hope he gets out of it fast.  He LOVES doing anything with his Daddy but his favorite right now is fishing or playing video games.  He loves all of his family and loves going places with them.  Overall, he is just an amazing little person.  I love that I get to be his Mommy. 

Enjoying Grandma's bbq chicken legs.

Playing in the rocks outside.

Playing with shaving cream.

On his 5th birthday.

My youngest amazing little boy is Tucker.  He turned 2 at the end of June and is growing and learning like crazy.  He is about 35 inches tall and about 30 lbs.  He wears size 2T/3T in shirts and pants.  He wears a shoe size    .  He still has a blanket he sleeps with and LOVES milk.  We go through almost 3 gallons of milk a week sometimes.  He is still in diapers but I hope to have him potty trained soon before Olivia is born.  He is in a racecar toddler bed and sleeps well once he goes to sleep but takes awhile to fall asleep.  I have tried to cut out his naps but he usually gets so sleepy in the afternoons that he passes out wherever he is playing. He is starting to count and can pretty much count to 10 but also knows some other numbers.  He is starting to learn the alphabet and can sing it almost all the way through.  He is still struggling with colors but knows his body parts well.  He is in Pop's Garage at our church and LOVES it.  I love that both our boys love church!  He loves playing with Jonah and has to do everything he does at least once which is good and bad.  He loves to do anything with his brother and Daddy.  Every morning he still has to cuddle with Mommy with his milk and blanket which I love. He doesn't meet a stranger and will give anyone a smile.  Overall, he is another amazing little person.  I love that I get to be his Mommy too!

 

Playing at Toys R Us

Handsome blue eyes playing outside

Showing me he's a big boy

Cuddling with Mommy

 

These little boys of mine are one of the most precious gifts I have been given from above.  They teach me new things everyday about myself.  They show me what unconditional love is really like.  They teach me how to forgive quickly.  They show me how to forget housework and focus on playtime.  They challenge and bend me in so many different ways that I never knew possible.  I have truly become a different person since having them and I am so thankful.  They are alot of work but its also very rewarding work.  They drain me everyday of almost all my energy but I thank God they are healthy enough to do so.  

With Daddy at the Greenville Zoo

Making a bubble hat

Sitting together at Gran Gran's house

On a bear at the Greenville Zoo

I pray Jeremy and I raise them to be Godly men who love and respect themselves as well as others.  I pray that they grow up to be best friends who look out for each other and Olivia.  I pray that they grow to be:  kind, loving to others, tough skinned, slow to anger, quick to forgive, quick to seek God for all answers, merciful to others, helpers to all, and many more things.  I pray for their safety and well keeping everyday.  I pray they continue to grow and have healthy bodies.

Handsome smiles while playing outside

Being silly together

Reading Bible stories before bed

In front of helicopter at Touch a Truck

These little boys of mine are just precious to me and I hope I show them that.  I am trying to take more time with them everyday and show them how wonderful they are.  I love watching them grow and develop personalities.  I know I am blessed to be their Mommy and can't wait to continue to watch them grow.  I am thankful God chose me to be their Mommy!