Weekend Progress

I've been super busy at work all week so have not yet had a chance to post on my weekend progress.


Task ONE - Twin Sheet TeePee tent for Dean: Check!



I'd still like to make some cute flags for the tops of the poles. I also missed the note on the pattern to make sure that the sheet is the same on both sides. You can see above that the left side of the flap opening is the backside of the sheet and it is lighter, but I'm guess Dean doesn't care too much.



He got right in it when he saw it (right after waking up - hence he still has his paci... and he does prop the 'handle' of it up under his nose like that... always) and it's big enough for all 3 kids to squeeze in if the want to... although Paige can't stand up in it.

The kitties play with it too... to the point of skewing all the poles as they try to attack each other - one inside and one outside the tent...





Just hanging out in the teepee...





So... Task TWO - Girl Scout Tablecloth - did not get done. It's in progress and I'll finish it up this weekend. What I did spend several hours on Saturday doing, though, was building something Paige has been wanting to work on since October.


We got two new kittens last October and Paige really wants one of those cat tree climber/scratching posts. If you've ever priced them at Petco or Petsmart, though, the nice sized ones are upwards of $100... much more for multi-level ones. I told her I thought we could build one.


So we found some particle board left out on the curb for trash day at a neighbor's house. It was intact sheets, they were just moving and didn't want to take it I guess. So we started with a box:





We cut a hole in one side and then carpeted the inside before nailing on the top. We got involved and didn't really get too many in-process shots, but here's one:

It's not finished either - we ran out of carpeting and still want to add one more upwards level. But for now, it's got three posts and a hidey box. Total cost was $0 because we already had nails and staples on hand, 2x4's (posts) were leftover from another project, and the carpet scrap was also a curbside find.

The cats have already been on it constantly and play in and around it. Often, there's one on top batting at the one inside the box.

Here's Kitty in the box playing with Opie down below...

I must say, I think Kitty approves. She's saying "Thank You" - see it?

And lastly... a quick ModPodge project. We discovered two landscape canvases in the back of Yvonne's closet when we were cleaning out her room. Paige really needed some art for her room, so we just painted over them in brown paint (same used for the dresser furniture redo several months ago) and then printed letters in cute fonts, cut them from scrapbook paper, and ModPodged them on.

Up close, a few brushstrokes are visible from the previous landscapes, but they're cute and fun and take up some nice space on her wall.

While I didn't accomplish everything I planned, I did have a productive weekend and am pleased with everything we did.

Commitment-phobe?

Do you think making a formal proclamation of something you want to / plan to accomplish actually commits you to completing said task? I hope I'm not alone as a crafter who has many... many unfinished projects. I have 'parts' for projects I bought and then never did anything with. I have piles of supplies and materials and loads of PLANS! I need to get off my butt and get some stuff DONE!

So, here on the 'internets'... for anyone who's reading... I'm going to commit to 2 (count them, TWO) projects this weekend!!! Do you think that means I'll really get them done?

Blogland is absolutely SO inspiring. It's almost dangerous for me to make the rounds of the crafty linky parties because I start mentally making those plans... maybe even start assembling materials at home.. for that NEXT project... the one that never comes.

So I saw the TWIN SHEET TEEPEE at Obsessively Stitching and fell in love!

It's the perfect project for my little guy and it sounds really easy to make. I picked up the PVC last night on my way home... already have a twin flat sheet I can use... so that is PROJECT #1 for the weekend.

For project #2... there's a little history to tell...

Our Girl Scout Troop does "Cookie Booths" every year in February and March. We stand out in front of grocery stores and the like peddling those yummy-can-only-get-once-a-year boxes of goodness. We have several tables that we use for these booths and they are functional but plain. I really have been planning (see?) for the last few years to make some tablecloths for them. It will make them more eye-catching, I think. I've just never gotten around to it.

But now, it's almost National Lemonade Day!!! The girls have decided to run a Lemonade Stand on Sunday, May 2nd so maybe this is just the right motivation to get one tablecloth made.

I have yards and yards of khaki twill (I used it behind the glass of my memo board) that I could use - cost: FREE! I had a 'brainstorm' moment a couple of weeks ago to put our troop number on there in the same 'style' as in on their uniform:

See those numbers on the left - green rectangles with white letters? I thought that would be cute across the front of the tablecloth so I've already picked up several sheets of dark green and white felt. As another 'decoration' on it, I was thinking of putting random 'extra' badges and patches along the bottom. We sometimes get extra patches from events or duplicates so I have quite a stash.

So my goal for this weekend is to get JUST the tablecloth made. Here is my 'mock up' vision I put together this morning:

Next weekend I'd like to figure out how to rig some sort of PVC frame to the table and make a slip on banner to go above the table. I can make different banners for different events..... but that is a project for another weekend. As are tablecloths for the other 2 tables we use at Cookie Booths.... hahaha

Happy Weekend everyone! I'll check back in on Monday and update you with pictures of what I get accomplished :-)

Easter Pictures

Can a 21-month old help dye Easter eggs? Well... we gave it a try.

Got one colored... let him help dip it and remove it. Then.... this...

Which led to this...

And then this... (so at least it wasn't a total loss)



And the smile makes it all worthwhile...

Paige and Blake shared in the fun....

Oh, just ignore the scythe on the floor in the background of that picture...

We baked traditional Easter Egg Bread... but didn't have time to manhandle it into a lovely braided wreath.


Our annual tradition - a Bunny Cake. I made several of these in my youth and have made one with the kids each year for several years now.

We headed over to Kim's where Paige enjoyed some obese-guinea-pig bonding time.




We had a wonderful dinner (yum!) and then the 'guys' headed to the school playground to hide 14 dozen eggs for the kids to hunt! Yikes! We had 6 kids hunting, though, so that's just over 2 dozen per kiddo. Paige and Blake waiting patiently...

To make it 'fair' (doesn't it HAVE to be with kids?) we were lucky enough to find bulk packages of eggs with SIX different colors. So we just assigned each kid their own color to find. That way, I could also make sure Dean's eggs had fruit snacks instead of all the candy in them ;-)

Blake (below) - has this boy forgotten how to smile? Is this typical 7-year-old boy behavior? I do not have a single picture of him where he's just looking normal... smiling at the camera.

Hunting...

And once all the eggs were found... some playing as well...

Oh please ignore the snot running and the black... um... I don't know... smudge on the nose. He was playing and having fun and that's all that counts, right?

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with family and friends!