MAP it...

This is a project my mom bought the supplies for and I went ahead and did it for her while she crocheted my some slippers when they were here visiting in July!  Ben Franklin Crafts had it on display, so we recreated it.

Here's what you need:

Canvas

Map

Paints

Stickers

Wire

Needle

Glue

Wire picture thingy in any shape desired

Here's what I did:

-First, I traced the wire map shape onto a regular paper map (another reason why beign a AAA member is worth it...free maps for...your travels or crafts!)

-Then I painted the background to kind of look like water.

-Then I glued the map down.

-Then I placed the stickers all around the map where appropriate...for example, one said Grandma's something or other, so I put that one about Montana, the peach one I put by Georgia, Iced tea by the South, etc...
-Then I mod podged the entire top and let it dry.
-Then I wrapped wire tightly around the edges and center of the wire map to hold it down, just in like 6 places.

-This is the finished product.  Mom's gonna hang it in her motor home and put pics & postcards from places they visit.

  Fun, huh?

The 4th of July/ Fireworks Stand

Well, this 4th of July was different than any other I have experienced as an adult.  First, I am working a job where I don't have vacation days let alone the whole summer off, so it was weird to not be on vacation.  

But, we also were deeply entrenched in our church fundraiser fireworks stand.  We unloaded all of these from 4 semi-trucks, organized, unpacked, priced and sold all of this stuff.  It was insane, but pretty fun and a great fund raiser!  We spent most of the weekend before the Holiday here working away for the Lord.

On the actual holiday, we went to Bothell's parade and then had a BBQ with our good friends, the Dockters.  Here is a pic of us gals at the parade.

And, Matt and I here at the parade.

This was Matt's favorite firework.  It was a 500 gram cake that had lots of fun shots and color.  I don't feel like the "redneck ruckus" name was justified.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did...

jewelry this spring/ summer

I've been on a pink/ coral kick lately...and I have been loving COPPER, so here are some of my latest creations.  The far right are wire-wrapped peacock feathers and they are a hit!  So many compliments.

GO TEAM!

I've been looking for a way to celebrate our favorite teams here in the Konrad household...and I think I found it!  As many people know, my husband is obsessed with Alabama Crimson Tide Football.  We named out dog after their head coach!  But, I am an huge Seattle Seahawks fan, so I decided to make a half and half wreath!

I used the idea of the fabric strips, but I only used ribbon.  Here are the ribbons I used, plus some organza shiny stuff that I found in the cheap bins at Joanne's.  I cut each ribbon into 7 inch strips and tied them around a metal ring.

Then, I painted the appropriate letters to say which teams we love (BAMA and HAWKS).

Then I carefully adhered the letters to the matching side of the wreath.

And, this is my finished product.  I didn't have a wreath for my wall for the rest of the summer, so this is what we will be using to get us excited about the upcoming football season and who knows...maybe it will go somewhere permanently.

I am pretty proud of how this one turned out.  I was a little leery with the two color schemes and the fact they they kind of don't go, but my Christmas decor at those colors too!

More B-Day Reminders

So I made myself a birthday reminder earlier in the year and I thought it would be a nice gift idea.  I made our moms each one for Mother's Day.  My mom has roosters and chickens in her kitchen, Matt's mom likes sunflowers and yellow!  On theirs I put a lot more dates than mine.

"pillow case/ table cloth/ whatever fabric you have laying around" shirt

I have seen so many options on Pinterest for altering old ts or making cute tanks...however, for us big girls, it is hard to find stuff that fits.  I decided to try the traditional pillowcase shirt, but I just used fabric that I had lying around.  I've made three!  They are a little funky, but they fit and I like 'em!

Here's what you need:

about a yard of fabric

thread

ribbon

sewing machine

scissors and cutting utensils.

Here's what I did:

1. Take the yard or fabric and fold it in half...the other direction than the direction it is already folded.

2. Then sew up the sides. (at this point it is like you have a pillow case, but my opening is on one of the long ends) 

 3. Then cut at a diagonal the corners. (to make an opening for the arms)

 4. On the other open end, hem all the way around the bottom. 

  5. Fold in the edges in the arm holes, where you cut on the diagonal and sew a "hem".

 6.  Sew along the bottom of slit, to ensure the fabric will not fray, and double up at the bottom of each side of the arm area of the fabric.

7. Cut a small triangle out of one of the sides. (This will form an eyelet opening for the ribbon to be strung through)

 8. Fold in and sew and then fold down about an inch and a half around the entire top and sew all the way around. (this is to form your tube that the ribbon will be threaded through.) 

  9. Thread a safety pin with your ribbon/ sash and thread through the opening around the top.

  10. This is what it looks like when it's done!

They are pretty baggy, But I wanted something that didn't hug my mid-section like everything off the rack.  I put pleats in the front of the shirt along the bottom hem to make it a little more fitted, but I left the back alone so that it hangs and covers my bottom well!  I think it looks cute and I got some compliments that they would have never known it was home-made.

Green thumb?

I think not!  

However, I have had some success.  I got this one beautiful rose from my rose bushes.  I planted 4 bushes.  One got eaten by something.  I don't know.

Then, my vegetable garden looks beautiful, but it hasn't produced as much as I had hoped.  Soil Ph must be off?  We have tons of lettuce and peas.  And one pepper with lots of buds for more!  I have some starts to cucumbers and zucchinis as well!  We will see, crossing my fingers.