Valentines Kids Craft

Lately I have been trying to find activities to do with Calvin, and get him to explore his different senses. This one explores the sense of touch.  This craft is a fun activity to do with any child as long as you are willing to let them make a mess.  I have a HUGE pet peeve of dirtyness. I struggle watching Calvin eat sometimes because of how messy he gets ew i just squirm inside, I just want to do it for him, but I have to let him be a kid and learn to do things so I'm getting used to it. Weird. I know. BUT paint, now that's a different story... I was so excited to do this with him and watch him react with paint on his hands.. I wanted him to get messy, feel the paint ooze between his fingers and toes, but he hated it. LIke his dad---hates anything on his hands. He had more of enjoyment putting and taking things out of the bowl.

Project: Heart Stamp Picture --- perfect for Valentines

Here's what we did --- Take a toilet paper roll, bend it to make a heart shape and if needed use tape to hold it together. Dip in paint then stamp on paper. I used yellow and green paint (obviously it wasn't around valentines day) and thought it was so cute I decided to frame Calvin's first art project. I of course had to help him a little bit. 

And VOILA a fun easy peasy Project.  simple and messy but oh so Cute. 

We also tried making hand christmas trees... didn't work out so well. 

Making the Frame. I bought a frame from Good Will for .50 (steal deal) Rip up long skinny pieces of any old book and mod podge them onto the frame to your liking. 

Hutch Refinished

 This is a late post and I've been meaning to party it up with my sisters blog.... I finished this a couple months ago, but failed to post when it was finished. This was a super fun project I tackled. When Calvin would go down for a nap I would go to my workshop (aka daniel's Parking spot in the garage) and let loose.  I love to paint and I love creating something beautiful out of something ordinary or plain. This is what I came up with.  

I bought a kitchen table and this came with it all for $80. I think I scored big time. Wish I had a before picture. It was plain wood stain brown. Sanded it down, painted, distressed to my hearts content, and added an aged look around the edges with Minwax stain, lastly finished it off with a semi-gloss. 

 The top piece I sanded down the base boards on the back (should have stripped it) and stained each board with the same Minwax stain, giving some additional coats than the rest to get this beautiful and unique result:

Side note--- Almost each of these objects has very sentimental value to me

Heart vase: made this in my high school ceramics class (thought it was going to be hideous but turned out to be a keeper) 

Flowers in vase: Wedding Bouquet. Best day of my Life.

Mason Jar with Walnuts: picking these with my sister Kelsi in P-twon (yup i still have them)

Smoke Pipes: These belonged to my mother, who got these overseas (forgot where) they remind me of my childhood.

Wooden Balls: Shelby and Brandon made these for us for Christmas. 

Books: Russian Books from Ukraine. Memories of living there. 

Picture Frame: First craft project with Calvin (tutorial soon to come)

Red Books: My grandpas shortstory books. 

Each bring back so many fond memories. I cherish items such as these to remind me of wonderful times I had and to continue to make great ones.

Now it's your turn to party and link up to share it with the rest of us. 

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Past Little while...

Hello fellow friends. I haven't posted since Halloween and SO much has happened. In a nut shell here is what we've been up to:

Thanksgiving we flew to Arizona. Dan's brother and fam live there. His parents, sister and other brother met us there. It was a fantastic get away and great to spend Thanksgiving with Family. He got his first haircut there too. it was a sad day for me and him. 

First Airplane ride

classic face

A couple weeks later we flew back to Utah for Grandpa Stephens Funeral (bitter sweet vaca)

we were only there for a few days. We surprised my parents.. you should of seen the look on their faces--- priceless. Mom "what the... what are you doing here!" 

Don Aldo Stephens (Dan carries his Name -- Daniel Aldo Stephens)

not best photo but that's Dan's dad playing tabs for his Dad (very touching)

Flew back to Texas and Calvin and I played while daddy worked long hours.

Loves to get into all my cabinets and take everything out for me. 

Two favorite things swinging and swimming. 

We even got one last swim in

Saw santa

Flew Back to Utah for Christmas Vacation

Saw friends and family and had way too much fun.
This is my favorite time of year like everyone else... I love the spirit that is felt.. the joy and happiness that everyone has.  I love being with family and spending so much time with them. It doesn't matter what we do i just enjoy being together. So thanks for making our holiday trip one to remember. I only have one regret Which is not taking more pictures..

 Dan stayed for a week but had to go back. we were apart for 2 weeks! Missed him terrribly but happy to be with fam.  When I came back to Houston It was sad to be in an empty house and not be with someone everyday.. until next time. (we look forward to it) 

1 week apart.. best buds

Thanks for a white Christmas. I was able to get my snow fix for the year. 

First Christmas understanding :Opening presents

Loved Emree's stroller (kept stealing it from her)

Calvin trying to catch the snowflakes.. he would giggle and try to catch some more than giggle again. 

Arg matey (daniel) 

His favorite Uncle! Sorry but it's true

HE'S HOME!!! so good to have him back

Laser Tag CHAMP! Ya that's right don't mess. oh and JD came in second 

Always knew they'd be best buds! 

Celebrated Moms BDAY!! LOVE YOU!

Technology is WONDERFUL.  Face time is the best thing EVER!!! We could talk and see daniel and he see us. It was like he was there.

 Thanks for a wonderful Holiday! Hope yours was as fun as Mine!

Refinished kitchen Table

When we moved to Texas we didn't have a kitchen table so we went weeks without having one... and if you've never not had a table it can be a pain. I found myself standing a lot more and not thoroughly enjoying the meals I made. 

 As we searched high and low for a table I found my dream table at place called Star Furniture. Unfortunately the price was a little too high for us 1600. Yikes. wasn't about to fork out that much for something I know would get mangled with kids to come. So my search continued. Until I found this beauty on craigslist.

I love white/cream colored furniture. So this is how I transformed this old piece into a brand new one.

I sanded the chairs with 220 grit just enough to take off the finish. make sure to wipe off twice to get rid of all debris. Then add your primer (I used Kilz oil-based) it doesnt need to be perfect just make sure not to leave drip marks. Sand again to get a smooth surface. Make sure to clean your brush immediately if using oil-based.. it will ruin your brush if you don't. I recommend buying Mineral spirits and alcohol to remove paint from brushes. Read the Directions on your paint clearly. I then mixed a satin blue with sparkling lake turquoise color and put a light coat on the chairs. After that dried I sanded lightly again to get a smooth surface. Next I used just an off white paint. I did 2-3 coats. Sanding in between each coat. I distressed more heavily on certain parts to get that aged look and for the blue to show through. You can't really see the blue in the pictures but its there.  I also added to the chairs  minwax stain to produce yet another aged effect. Just simply apply with brush and wipe away with lint free rag. The finish I used a polyester semi-gloss. As reupholstering the chairs: 

I removed the hideous seat covers and added new ones. I learned the hard way and had to make two transactions on the foam. I didn't measure correctly the first time so they ended up being too small. Lesson learned always ask someone to check your measurements. Even with all the purchases I made to redo the table and chairs it still cost so much less than buying my dream one. And I actually love this one more. 

As for the table I should have left it the way it was but I started sanding without thinking and created huge dent marks and sanding marks so I had to sand it all the way down to the wood and stain it again. The stain had too much red in it but I still like it.. maybe in a few years i'll redo it to the stain I like. 

 Here's the complete finished project!!