A Pinteresting Wednesday: Stick With You Valentines

Two out of three Little Man Valentine's done.

And on this A Pinteresting Wednesday I am sharing the second set of Valentines with you.

This idea is not of my own making. I came across this idea on Skip To My Lou. Anders Ruff offered this "Let's Stick Together" gum wrapper download. I pinned it on to my Valentine's Day board thinking that it was a good valentine possibility for Oldest.

He is of the age where the cutesy stuff is pretty much just oh-so-lame.

As I searched a little more I just kept coming back to this idea as the best one for my 8 year-old going on teenager.

The wrappers downloaded easily. They printed off nicely using the best setting on my printer. I used cardstock which worked lovely.

I will be honest, folding them was a teeny tiny pain, but I was still done pretty quickly.

Then I simply hot glued the wrappers in place.

The most difficult part of making this valentine is finding the gum. Regular grocery stores do not sell this size of gum packages anymore. Big Box stores do have them. However, you might have some packs left over. Still, it is pretty reasonable.

In hindsight I should have searched for Big Red, but our store didn't have that so I went with a cheery yellow Juicy Fruit. Even though the yellow didn't match, I still thought it coordinated well.

Oldest saw them and said that they were "good", which in 8 year-old means "awesome mom, thanks!"...at least that is what I like to tell myself.

They are pretty cute.

I also did a small Little Man Valentine Round Up for you.

These are some of my favorite Valentine ideas. If you have boys and are not sure what to do yet, maybe some of these ideas will strike your fancy.

1. How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Valentine's Day?

2. Paratrooper Valentine

3. You Rock Valentine

4. Nacho Average Valentine

5. Printable School Valentines for Boys

6. Heart Race

Pinterest is a great source for Valentine's Day ideas. What have you pinned for Valentine's Day?

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Open Wide Zipper Pouch

Sorry I am a little late getting this week's A Pinteresting Wednesday up. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth...in other words, our internet was down and when it came back up our decrepit computer was having problems coming back to life.

But, sweet Methuselah (aka our computer) woke up from his nap and now it is time to share with you my Pinterest project this week.

This week's A Pinteresting Wednesday project is this Noodlehead Open Wide Zipper Pouch.  

I actually made two. The first one I made for a quick birthday present. I made it from an old shirt and some gingham fabric. Gotta love gingham.

It was so easy to make. Anna's tutorials are always easy to follow. Plus her projects are always sewing eye candy. I did misread the instructions, completely my bad, so the bottom of my first one didn't taper as much as it should have. I still loved it, but I really wanted to make one with the tapered bottom.

I knew right away who I wanted to make one for. 

I have this lovely baby sister who has decided to volunteer 18 months of her young adult live and go serve the Lord on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is currently awaiting her assignment.

Isn't she lovely?

While we are waiting to find out where she will go and serve, I decided she could use a little gift for her mission.

This pouch is the perfect size for holding a little notepad, some scripture pencils, pens, or anything else a missionary might need handy.

The open wide feature makes it easy to see everything in the pouch. Nothing is hiding or getting lost in there.

Another feature of Anna's tutorial I love is that the zipper is meant to be over-sized so that you can add a coordinating zipper pull.

Her two-tone bag was a little different than mine, but for my bag I just wanted a hint of a contrasting fabric on the bottom. This tutorial is really easy to play around with. In fact, I used old jeans for the bottom of this bag.

Now it is kind of like I am going on this journey with my sister.

I used fabric that reminded me of her. Lovely. Playful. Cheerful.

This is one of my favorite new sewing projects. All I need to do now is stock up on zippers.

Now we just wait to find out where this zipper pouch and my not-so-baby sister will be going.

How has your pinning gone this week? What has been a favorite Pinterest project of yours? What Pinterest board to you pin or use the most? I would love a link to your favorite pin board and would love to see what you are pinning.

Follow along on Pinterest.

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Rice Heating Bags

Welcome back to A Pinteresting Wednesday, where I share something I accomplish from one of my pin boards. You know whittle the project list down one at at time...we won't mention that I add to my pin boards daily....oops. Pinterest how I love thee.

It has been awhile, but now my friends A Pinteresting Wednesday returns.

For Christmas I was really struggling with what to make for my boys' teachers. I try really hard to think outside the box for teacher gifts. 

Almost right away I recalled V&CO's tutorial for making a rice bag feet warmer. That brilliant girl is always good for an fantastic project.

Thanks to her tutorial, I was able to make a lovely stack of Rice Heating Bags for all the teachers.

I was gently reminded that Hubby had been asking me to make him one FOREVER. I feigned apologetic and pretended to yet again forget about it.

Bwahahaha...but I had other plans.

I actually made one for Hubby for Christmas too. He was really rather pleasantly surprised.

He has also been more than generous in sharing it. He is such a gentleman.

A ladies toes can get ever so chilly.

One of the great things about this specific tutorial is that there is a rice bag AND there is a cover. This way the outside cover can be washed if necessary. The cover can even be changed if you grow weary of it.

The cover simply slips off the plain rice bag.

 

 

Then it slips right back on. After warming it up in the microwave for a few minutes I am ready...

...to grab my current favorite book...

...cover my chilly, yet lady-like toes and settle down for a little fanny time on the couch.

I would not be surprised if I made more of these very soon.

I would love for you to visit my Pinterest boards and follow along with the pinning adventure.

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Comic Book Letters and An Eye Update

Welcome to another A Pinteresting Wednesday!

T minus three days.

Then we are going to be getting our party on, Avengers style.

My to-do list is about one third done, but a couple of late nights and we'll git er' done.

When I saw this etsy shop, I knew I wanted to add this idea to my Avengers Party Pinterest Board.

                              

via HERE

I loved the idea making letters decoupaged with comic book pages.

However, it was quite a bit harder to find comic book pages than I had anticipated. Short of buying new comic books, I realized using actual comic book pages might not be possible.

With one last effort I decided to look at JoAnn Fabric.

BAM! Found what I wanted.
 

Fabric that looked like comic book pages. PLUS I am pretty sure I spent less money on the fabric than I would have on an actual comic.

Love it when I save money.

I loved how the letters turned out.

 

Using some handy dandy Mod Podge, I glued on scraps of the material on to paper mache letters.

I actually think that the fabric was easier to work with than paper.

After the party, Middle is excited to use these letters in his room.

I am freaking a little bit about how much more I still have to do to make this party happen, but what will be will be.

Now a little update on my sweet cross-eyed Little.

His glasses came, and it is official...

He is the cutest Smarty Pants ever.

These new glasses will be a pretty permanent fixture in his life. For who knows how long he will have to wear these all day long. For two hours of those days he will also have to wear a patch over his good eye under the glasses.

So far he has been a trooper. He wears his patch happily. See-

Wearing his itty bitty glasses I know will be hard for him, but I am sure soon enough they will be such a fixture that he probably won't even notice them.

Thanks for all of your kind words and well wishes for Little in his new adventure.

A Pinteresting Wednesday: My Fav Fall Look

On this A Pinteresting Wednesday we have something rare.

Rare, I tell you.

What is rare?

Nope not my steak.

Not that piece of literature nestled away on my bookshelf.

Not even a sighting of Big Foot or Loch Ness.

Rare would be an outfit/full body photo shot of myself.

I just don't do 'em people.

I am a little cooky about seeing my WHOLE body in a photo, especially in jeans. I have a history of loathing jeans. LOATHING.

I also always think I am rocking the posing thing. In my head I am the best stylist/photographer/model ever.

"Turn to the left."
"Pop that heel."
"Pouty face."
"Happy face."
"Serious face."
"Look off into the distance."
"Toes in."
"Potty stance."
"Stick Fanny out."
"Stomach in."
"Drop a shoulder."
"Don't look fat."

That is a lot of direction to take, especially when it is going on all at the same time in one's head. So while I may think I am rocking the posing, history has proven that I am really more like NOT rocking it. More like Gregorian Chanting it.

So yeah, no outfit posing for me.

However recently I gave my fashionista self another go.

For two reasons.

Reason one: This outfit was a Pinterest inspired outfit. I might have been super excited when I was able to recreate one of my most favorite Fall outfit pins. I just had to share my new favorite Fall inspiration.

I know, a little over the top for clothing. I am just a little excited to have some new pieces of clothing in my closet. My closet basically consists of mostly hand-me-downs from my sisters teenage wardrobes (they are now in their 20's).

Reason two: These jeans. Remember earlier how I said I hate jeans. Well that was before I met these jeans. NOW, I know I am never gonna look like an Olsen twin in skinny jeans or for that fact in any piece of clothing; however, I wanna feel what I imagine an Olsen twin feels when she puts on a pair of jeans.

Thin, comfortable, and glorious.

Check. Check. AND check.

So, yup. The above two reasons are why you get a rare (like unicorn prancing under a rainbow rare) outfit picture.

Thanks Pinterest for the great PINspiration. Hahaha, man I kill myself.

The Look that started it all 

PIN

Pinterest is crazy with all kinds of clothing ideas. CRA-AZY I tell you.

It is really easy to take an idea you see and to recreate. Mix new with old. Add your own personal touch. The possibilities are endless.

Instead of the cardigan I added a sweater. The orange of this sweater is also a little brighter.

I simplified the necklace idea and added my very favorite simple gold one. I also got rid of the belt and added some flashy gold bangles (my new favorite accessory).

Oh leopard print shoes.

How I love thee.

One complete outfit that I love wearing. I feel Fall-ready and quite fabulous.

shirt: JCPenny

sweater: JCPenny (not online)

jeans: JCPenny

necklace: Forever 21

Bracelets: Target

Shoes: Target

Everything but the necklace in this post is current. Did you notice that JCPenny is bringing their A game in style now? Seriously people. Lucky me that I had a gift card there.

What is on your Fall wardrobe wish list? Do tell!

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Planning an Avengers Birthday

Idea from Here 

Have you missed me, er uh I mean me blogging?

Just humor me and tell me that you have. Humor me and tell me that I am a bright and shiny spot in your day and that you have missed my wit and effervescent personality.

Needy much?

Yup, it is the truth.

Today I am not even sharing a completed Pinterest project for this A Pinteresting Wednesday. Shock. Gasp.

I feel like I am in the beginning/middle of a hundred different projects. Not a single one of them are complete. Ugh.

The majority of my projects right now are all about The Avengers. Very fitting don't you think since the movie just came out. LOVE hunky superheros the movie.

In a few weeks there we will be calling the Avengers to assemble out our house for the celebration of Middle's birthday. This theme was a last minute change and I am loving it.

I had a couple of ideas, but when I needed some more I knew right where to go.

PINTEREST, the party planners friend. Not only can I search for ideas, but when I find ideas on the internet I can pin them to my Avengers Party board. I add to this board quite often.

 Thanks to my board I am in the process of making some Avengers felt masks, popsicle stick bookmarks, and a puzzle. I also am now really trying to justify why I need to buy the full-sized cut out of Captain America. Plus I am pretty sure I have to buy several sets of the Avengers Pez containers.

I am also working on the decorations. I grabbed some of this really fun fabric.

I am deciding on which colors to decorate with, you know how I like good color themed decorations. I am excited on how all my ideas are going to play out...the ones that get done anyway...hahaha.

I have a whole list of party games in my head. Now all I need is a BUNCH of cardboard to make it work. Anyone want to give me some???

That last thing I am contemplating for this party is if I should do lunch. This add in my Sunday mailer may have sealed the deal. Do you think I can buy them now and freeze these for the party?

Could you just die??

I am super excited. Hopefully I will get everything in my head done. I have a lot of projects to do and a lot of things to show you...not just all Avengers.

Thanks for hanging around. I sure appreciate every single reader.

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Magnetic Fridge Puzzle

Between the hours of 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm in our house is a period of time I like to call the witching hour.

Does this happen in your house?

About 4:30 the natives come up and are a little restless. They are carrying pitchforks and torches...okay more like Nerf guns, but you get the picture of insanity I am painting.

In the Chaos I have to repeat the same conversation over and over and over and OV-AH again.

Middle: "Mom I am starving!"
Mom: "Great! I am making dinner right now."
Little: "I need something to eat with my teeth."
Mom: "Perfect. Making dinner."
Middle: "Mahhhhm. I am STARRRRRVING! I need food now."
While climbing through the panty Little: "I want a treat."
Mom: "Nope. Making dinner."

Repeat conversation.
Pulling my hair out.
Repeat conversation again.

So when I came across THIS PIN while searching my For The Kiddos pinboard for this weeks A Pinteresting Wednesday candidate, well let's just say there was some major celebrating. By celebrating I mean, clapping my hands ever so quietly since Bean was asleep.

So the project seemed easy enough.

Take a puzzle. Luckily we have several sitting around.

Grab some sticky back magnets. Again, lucky me I had some laying around.

You will probably want to make sure all the puzzle pieces are there. That is some kind of miracle at our house.

Cut up the magnet strips, one for each puzzle piece.

Peel the paper off the magnet pieces, adhere to puzzle pieces by pressing the sticky side of the magnet to the back side of the puzzle piece firmly.

I was prompted to take the whole project a little further when I had the sudden horrifying image of puzzle pieces scattered about and sliding under the fridge. Poor puzzle pieces. In my head they had no home to go to.

I am not sure why it became imperative for magnetic fridge puzzle pieces to have a home, but it did.

So I made them one out of their existing box.

I cut a rectangular chunk out of the top, so the picture is right side up and facing the front.

Then I took the bottom of the puzzle box and cut it in half.

I hot glued the bottom into the box top like so.

Next I rounded up some stronger little magnets.

Then I hot-glued them to the back.

Then I stuck it strategically on the fridge to snare all ravenous natives.

And what do you know?

Victory. It worked.

Food-seeking rampage averted.

One pretty fun activity completed.

The Magnetic Fridge Puzzle was a hit. The only slit bump in complete puzzle fun was that sometimes the pieces were hard to get together without the piece popping off the fridge. That is when a little Momassistance was needed.

When the puzzle was done, dinner was pretty close to being done as well.

Plus Middle was so happy with finishing the puzzle by himself he didn't even notice he was STARVING anymore.

I am thinking there will be more Magnetic Fridge Puzzles in our future.