a project for rosie

Last year as we packed away any decorations from any holiday I would put most of them aside and give them to the women's shelter. We had way too many and frankly I didn't care for most of them, they were just tacky and yuck.

As I was reading Lil Blu Boo  a week or so ago I realised I needed to do her Halloween project with Rosie. She gave a full tutorial. If it were up to me I wouldn't have followed it step by step I would have walked my own path but Rosie is 9 and she follows directions well!! (sometimes).

I have to add that my Michaels didn't have anything listed, not even the paint colours so we dashed all over town and went to various stores. Thankfully as you know I have a massive spray paint collection so that was lucky.

I love how this turned out and even Lily got involved and painted a couple of pieces herself. Rosie has chosen a tin to keep everything in and is looking forward to seeing it again and again.

I had to cut my own houses.

we sprayed then sanded and sprayed again. 

Paint pens.....magic

coming together

I love it.

I might have to plead temporary insanity on this one:

a Halloween tree. OMG I love it. I already had the tree and who could resist those little pumpkins?
If it didn't make me so happy I might just be ashamed.

autumn

Rosie spends so much time doing things for her sister whether she wants to or not so when I can I like to spend time with just her. It sort of works out that way anyway since if the other girlie isn't at the pool she is doing homework. College classes warrant a tonne of homework.

Rosies choice for one on one time of late has been to do crafts together which I love. I try so hard, so sososososos hard  not to make them mine and not to be obsessive about how perfect they ought to be. I am getting so much better about that. On Sunday we made an autumn wreath for the front door and today I had to take it down so that it won't blow away during Hurricane Matthew

all up to her

I do the glue gun

your project, you hammer away

trial and error

ta da

crafty

I am not a crafty person. Give me a can of paint or a piece of wood and a saw and I am all over it but give me something fru fru to do and I will not make it happen very well. The other day I was reading a DIY blog and the lady made some pillows/cushions out of place mats. It seemed reasonably simple so I headed out to Target to see what festive place mats I could find. And then I gave it a whirl with Rosies help.

my favorites

place mats? Hmmmm

stuffing them

practising on some scraps

Had to put the pedal on a tiny stool as her feet don't reach the floor

she got it and was off

the finished project

Whilst Rosie and I worked on the cushions. Lily had her own ideas. She made ornaments out of buttons and they are so cute.

contents of the button tin

She had a plan

christmas tree

snowman

And Santa

They are so cute and since she did these she has made many more and each time little details were added

She really went to town on the ornaments to the point that I had to go to the craft store and buy a bag of buttons. After the ornaments she started designing jewelry and made some things for her sister for Christmas.

 Rosie and I were not quite done. I saw some pegs in Pier 1 with some little Santas on them. They were to hold your Christmas cards on to a ribbon. I thought they were a great idea and also a great craft project for Rosie.

This was all we needed so it couldn't be hard

Rosie had a great time doing these. Now I am looking forward to the cards arriving as I have a plan for them

The final thing we did was buy a plain old sad and sorry wreath at Michaels and a few bits and bobs to decorate it with. I have always wanted a big and beautiful wreath but have never purchased one. This was an obvious choice for us. I thought Lily was going to do this herself but she was making more ornaments. LOL

I love it

I had fun doing all of these so I might look and see what else I can find.