Inspired You Conference and a Valentine's Encyclopedia Banner

I had the privilege to attend Miss Mustard Seed's Inspired You Women's Conference this past weekend.  Marian's story of why she started her business and all of the emotions and fears associated with it really resonate with me.   Hearing about how a teary-eyed breakdown when her youngest son was only a few months old led her to start a business makes me smile.  Not because I enjoy other's suffering but because my youngest was about 5 months old (his big sister 2 years) when I did the same.  I realized I needed to be doing something.  God created me to create and I wasn't doing it.  Obviously, picking up a paintbrush or dusting off my sewing machine wasn't going to resolve all of my "issues" but it certainly would help me to start feeling a sense of accomplishment again.  Not to mention using my talents, admiring colors and textures, being creative, finding inspiration in God's creation and in the work of his creations (us people) is when I feel closest to him.  I am filled with awe and wonder at his mighty works and all the tiny details he put in to place.  I was so excited to be able to hear more about Marian's journey and how God has guided her through it all to places she never would have imagined.  In addition to Marian's speaking sessions we were led in musical worship by Shannon Wexelberg.  I had never heard Shannon's music and count it a huge blessing to have been introduced to her.  Not only is she a phenomenal musician but her songs have a way of piercing right into your soul.  I felt like Shannon was singing straight from my heart when she sang a song she wrote about joining in with all of God's creation and worshipping him through her music.  Oh how this applies to anything we do.  I will use my creativity, my small handiworks to join the song.   I've been meaning to write up a proper "about me" page and I haven't done it yet because I haven't been able to formulate the words.  I have written down tons of scripture and songs that speak the words my heart longs to share.  I promise with this little push from Shannon's beautiful song, I will do it soon!

We ended the conference with some time to craft and create.  I took the opportunity to exercise my creativity.  We were given instructions and supposed to make a garland that looked something like this crumpled paper garland.

But an encyclopedia landed in my hand and after scouring through I had a different idea!  Marian must not have been too upset that I canned the original project because she shared my banner with the ladies at the conference. ;) Earned me the title "rebel" from Stacey.

I found entries with my maiden and married names, heart, Valentine's Day, and Saint Valentine.  I cut out each entry to make squares approximately 3"x3" then gently folded the bottom corners together and snipped off a triangle to create tails.  Next, I used the center line to cut half a heart shape.  When opened you get that lovely heart shaped window.  I poked 2 holes on each banner and hung them on so the twine would be on the back.

I think it's the perfect sentimental addition to my new kitchen shelves.

Thank you Marian and Shannon for letting God work through you to encourage and inspire others.

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Design Dining and Diapers
http://www.bowerpowerblog.com

Valentine Nail Polish HeART

"Mommy, I'm going to paint your nails".

Most days of the week these are not the words I want to hear coming out of my 3.5 year-old's mouth.  While I love that she wants to do this for me, I don't really care for the outcome...if you know what I mean!

So I came up with a way for my little darling to practice her painting skills.

Polish, paper, and supervised craft time! 

This is also a great use of some of your thick or clumpy polishes on their way to the trash bin.

Proper ventilation or fruity scented child polishes are best (and safest) for this project.

Protect the work surface, open the bottles, and get to painting.

You will need to try and cover a large section in the center of the paper.

Once the painting is dry you are ready to create the heart overlay.

I used my Cricut machine to cut a heart near the center of a 6"x12" piece of cardstock weight textured scrapbook paper.  The front of my paper had a purple pattern but I flipped it over to have a clean white linen textured surface.

After the heart is cut center the heart on a cutting mat and trace vertical cut lines at the width of your frame.  My frame held a 4"x6" photo so I centered it on 3" and drew my vertical cut lines at 0 and 6".

Repeat the same process to center the heart from top to bottom.

Next, lay your heart overlay over the polish painting and move it around until you have the part you want framed by the heart. 

Trace around the overlay and cut out the painting.  Layer all of the pieces and place them in the frame.

Now you just need to find the perfect spot to display your lovely creation!

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Design Dining and Diapers http://www.bowerpowerblog.com

Ramsign Giveaway

Let me just start out saying, I love enamel!  Pots and pans, colanders, table tops, tea kettles, vintage coffee pitchers, you name it.  There is just something I love about the colors and the sheen.  You may have seen a sneak peek of my newest enamel coffee pot in my side kitchen reveal and  DIY curtain rod tutorial posts.

When Ramsign contacted me about hosting a giveaway it was a no-brainer for me to offer up one of their beautiful porcelain enamel signs to one of my readers!

Engelhardt

Ramsign is a small Danish company that specializes in manufacturing and selling classic enamel signs (house signs and house numbers) based upon original designs and techniques.

The winner can choose any house number sign with 1-5 digits (not name signs or address plaques) in any of Ramsign's 5 design styles.

 

Metropolitan

Highlander

Lighthouse

Arrowhead

 

For your chance to win one of these beautiful porcelain enamel house number signs leave a comment telling me which type of sign you would choose and enter in the Rafflecopter widget below (I will be verifying the winning entry).

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post but I think these are truly beautiful signs and thought my readers would like the opportunity to win one! 

Kitchen Redo: Part Two {DIY Curtain Rod}

The curtains are hung and I'm quite proud of the rod we made ourselves!

Here's how it was done.  We started with two large antique glass furniture knobs.

We made a trip to the hardware store and picked up one 3/4" x 10' Metallic Electrical Tube (EMT) Conduit ($3.98), a pair of curtain brackets (the plastic ones are around $5.00/set), and a 3/4"square dowel.  Making the total cost of this curtain rod project around $10.00.

We painted the conduit (cut to size) and brackets with Pure White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint we had on hand and sealed it with wipe-on poly we also had in our paint stash.

before

during

By taping the brackets off with Frog Tape we were able to paint them right on the wall and keep the new paint job clean.

Next, drill a 2+" deep hole the size of your knob hardware into the dowel.

Cut off an approximately 1.5" chunk of the dowel.

Thread the knob through the dowel and use the nut to secure.

The 3/4" square will fit perfectly and snugly inside the ends of the 3/4" round conduit.

There you have it. 

A perfectly customizable way to make a curtain rod in the color and style you desire!


Feel free to visit the other posts in our kitchen makeover series:
Painted Cabinet Reveal
Hardboard Plank Wall
Side Kitchen Reveal

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Six Sisters' Stuff