Thanksgiving Onesie

If you have found me on Pinterest, you can find the inspiration for Kid's first Thanksgiving onesie.

I would have liked to have this post up before Thanksgiving. That would have been nice. Except, I didn't decide to make a Thanksgiving onesie until about 9pm on Thanksgiving eve.

Last minute. That's how I roll.

I made my way down to my craft room and found an old pair of brown corduroy maternity pants that I ripped mid-pregnancy. I also found an orange plaid shirt that was going to be worn by the ring bearer at my wedding. The shirt didn't get worn. I forgot to return it.

First, I grabbed a stack of printer paper to make my templates. I do them all by hand, and I'm also a perfectionist. I knew I wouldn't get it right on the first try. And I didn't. But, after a few tries, I had the perfect turkey body and feathers.

I should have pinned my patterns to the fabric, but I didn't. I held it in place with my fingers and cut away. If you do this at home, pin the pattern to your fabric and then cut. It will keep you from being annoyed.

I then cut a triangle from the orange shirt for a beak, and took two buttons for the eyes. I then added a little fray check to each piece and allowed them an hour to dry.

Next, add the beak and buttons to the turkey body.

Now, I could have used a sewing machine to sew on the feathers and turkey. But, we were going to be spending a few hours in the car to deliver Thankgsiving meals. So instead, I opted to sew by hand.

I'd say it was a success!

Mason Jars

Okay, I didn't really use Mason jars for this project.

(They're actually pickle jars)

I cleaned them, and washed them twice, so I promise that they don't smell like pickles!

You've seen the pins, right? The ones with the paint being swirled around a Mason jar?

That's exactly what I did ... and, man. It uses a LOT of paint. I had a few half-full craft paints, and that just didn't cut it. My plan was to have a pink jar and a turquoise jar. But I didn't have enough turquoise paint to cover the entire jar.

Bummer.

So instead, I have a pink jar and a yellow jar.

And I plan to throw the yellow one away. I just don't like it. It's rather transparent. I could add another coat of paint...but the yellow just isn't my style.

Do you like the fake wood desk and fake wood paneling?

I bought more pickles, though. So I can choose another color, and actually like the project.

I guess I'd kind of consider this pin project a bit of a fail. I wasn't happy with the result. Both of the jars have some marks on the inside from clumps of paint. BUT, I will be trying again. With colors that are more my style...

My tip for you, though, should you decide to do this project is this:

Use new paint.

My paint was at least 2 years old. It was all gloppy and gloopy. Please. Use new paint.

Step By Step Nursery: Storage

Slowly but surely, the nursery for my little guy is coming together. Today, we completed the pegboard storage system. I couldn't be more excited about it! This, of course, was a Pinterest inspired project.

My husband is somewhat apprehensive about making changes to our home - mostly, with putting holes in the wall. When I brought up the baby's nursery (at about 20 weeks along), I could hear the concern in his voice while listening to my thoughts. I knew that, since we knew a boy was on the way, I had to choose the right "theme" so the hubs would go along with the idea. In the end, there isn't really a "theme." It's a few random ideas thrown together.

I think the idea that the husband likes best was the pegboard storage. He was so excited when we finally installed pegboard in the garage - I knew he'd go for it in the baby's room. And he did. While he was at work, the baby and I took a trip to the Home Depot to gather our supplies. I was so excited to have a storage system in place. We had been using the ugliest pink basin to store diapers, wipes, and butt cream. It came home with us from the hospital, and worked, it just wasn't attractive!

I got the pegboard up during nap one afternoon, and put some baskets up as well. And it sat like that for about a month. Maybe two. Then, I cut and hung the trim. That took place during another nap time. Then, today, during yet another nap, I completed the pegboard (by painting the trim, hanging the G and putting the baskets back).

What do you think?

Finalmente, the pegboard storage is complete. Another step toward finishing Kid's room.

At this rate, the room will be complete by the time he graduates high school!

Linked up here and here.

Canvas Art

Kid's nursery is slowly coming together! Being that he was six weeks early, we didn't have everything all set to go when we got to bring him home from the hospital. Day by day, we add a little more. Hopefully it will be done before he's a year old!

A few weeks ago, I decided to hang the canvas art I had mad for his nursery. It looks wonderful!

I wish I could link to the pin that I used as inspiration, but I guess it was one that I didn't actually pin. Whoops! I'm sure you've seen them, though, if you peruse the DIY & Crafts boards. You know the canvas art I'm talking about? Where you paint a base color, add some stickers, paint again and then peel the stickers off?

I was totally going to do that.

But. I couldn't find stickers that were big enough, in a font I wanted.

Plus. The saying I chose was long. I would have needed a hundred packages of stickers.

Maybe I exaggerate.

Instead, I decided to buy some stencils (in a font I liked) from Michael's and go that route. It worked so well!

At first, I was going to do "You are my sunshine / My only sunshine / You make me happy / When skies are gray." That was when I was convinced we were having a girl.

But. Kid is a boy. I could have done the same saying, but a friend gave me this book by Robert Munsch. And then, I knew. I knew exactly what saying I was going to use for the art in Kid's room.

"I'll like you forever

I'll love you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be."

It doesn't get much better than that, now, does it? I had the book growing up. I remember reading it to my little brother. When my friend gave it to me at one of the showers for Kid (the one that happened 5 days after he was born), I knew I wanted that saying somewhere in his room.

Cucumber Vodka

Ah, Pinterest.

I spend many an hour on Pinterest.

This cucumber recipe is probably one of the first Pinterest "projects" I have completed.

I finally made the move because I bought these fabulous Weck carafes from Crate & Barrel. They've been sitting on my kitchen counter, waiting to be used. I had re-pinned a "recipe" for cucumber water and decided that'd be perfect for the carafes.

Okay, side note. When I find something on Pinterest, am I supposed to make a link to the pin, or go directly to the original site and link to that? I just don't know... Anyway, this is the website of the pin. If I'm supposed to link to the pin, let me know!

So, I sliced my cucumbers (well, I peeled them first) and loaded them up in to the two Weck carafes. I filled one with water and stuck it in the fridge.

I went a little crazy with the other one...and filled it with vodka!

Supposedly the water will be ready in 2 to 24 hours....I'm excited!

Everything I've read about infused vodka says to wait 3 or more days. We're having some friends over for dinner on Thursday. I think that is the perfect time to try the cucumber vodka with a little tonic and lime.

What do you think?

this one is vodka -- the cucumbers
floated in the water

Linked up here.

*UPDATE* The cucumber vodka was delightful! I maybe left the cucumbers in the vodka for a day too long, but it was still a refreshing drink! (7/26/2013)