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Well hello there! This is the place where I share my crafts, recipes, knitting and crochet projects, photos, and moments of family life in the Midwest.
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Wednesday, February 05, 2014

All you need is...


Love - isn't that what we all need right now? Winter is really hanging on hard here in the Midwest and my family has been fighting the flu all week. (Not fun!) Also my family is going through lots changes right now which makes me need a good cheering up. I saw this pin on Pinterest and I absolutely knew I had to have a marquee LOVE sign. I have been wanting to make this for a while and February seems like the perfect month to finally do it. Lights always make me happy! 

First I bought some cardboard letters at Jo-Ann fabrics. 

I cut out the back of the letters and removed the inside cardboard support. Note that MOST letters are the same either way - L is not one of those letters!
Then I figured out where to place the lights evenly across the letters. I used two packages, with 20 lights each, so 40 lights total. My lights use battery packs and LED so they are not a fire hazard. 
To poke the holes was actually quite easy. I used a nail and hammer to make a tiny hole, then enlarge the hole with a pencil, and then even larger with a paint brush handle. The holes were just large enough for the lights to fit through.
I used some cardboard poster sheets cut into strips, 1 1/2 inch wide, glued around each letter. Just plain Elmer's school glue worked the best, and the clothes pins held it while the glue dried.
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Once the glue was dry, I painted the letters with white craft paint, let that dry, and then spray painted them gold for the final shiny finish. 
I pushed the lights through the back and hid all the cords inside the pockets of the letters. I really like the way it looks when the sign is all lit up. Right now I have them hung on the wall, but you could also place on a shelf or mantle since they do stand up on their own. What would your sign say if you made one?

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Cold Weather and Hama Beads


2014. We have been off to a slow start this year. The weather has been frigidly cold in the Midwest with the Polar Vortex holding us in the negative temperatures for weeks. Since we have been stuck inside I have been going through closets and trying to cull the hoarding. Usually at this time I set goals/resolutions, but last year was a tough year for us so I am struggling to set goals that wouldn't just be a repeat of last years goals or even find a goals that I might actually want to accomplish. Unfortunately this year looks like it will be as unpredictable as last year. 2014 looks to be the year to "keep calm and carry on". 

If I had to make a resolution it would probably be to make more art and finish all the unfinished projects I started last year. Max got some Hama Perler beads for Christmas and we have both been having a lot of fun being creative with those. I also want to get more plants indoors and outdoors this year. Maybe try some new plantings I haven't tried before. Mostly I want to spend more time with my family and friends and less time at work. Last year we didn't get much of a family vacation time and this year I really want to have a whole week to ourselves. Life does not always bring you roses, sometimes you have to make them yourself.


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