Scrapbook to Artwork

I've been tweaking different parts of the house, including the family room.  Since we rent I can't paint the walls, change the brick on the fireplace, or color of the woodwork.  Between the couch, curtains, fireplace, and woodwork there is just too much red and brown tones.  Not too mention this house doesn't get a lot of sunlight.  I've been wanting to add a splash of color to brighten and liven up the room, because it's dark and drowning.  I've been on the look out all summer for the perfect touches.  For a little sneak peak...here's an easy way to add inexpensive artwork using scrapbook paper.

Before

These two frames are just adding to the overwhelming red and browns in the room.  One is an espresso, the other a mahogony brown.  First I painted both frames black.  Then I cut out and framed two sections of the scrapbook paper ($0.79) I chose.  Now I have a splash of color that makes a bolder statement while being classic and elegant.  

After

Look out for future posts as I make simple changes to transform the room.

Halloween Treat Bucket

For Halloween I want Hannah to have a treat bucket that will match her costume.  A girl must always have matching accessories.  This week I was on a mission to find one.  I did find a couple online, but it was too late to order.  Nor did I want to spend a lot of money.  Everything in stores was pumpkins, skulls, and ghosts.  So I bought a jack-o-lantern bucket at Target for a $1.  Pictured below (modeled by Hannah).

I then used acrylic paints I already had to transform it.  The face was already part of the plastic molding, so I couldn't just cover it up.  As you can see, even though I painted the teeth, they still show from the molding.  Which isn't ideal, but hey it only cost me a $1.  After a few coats of red, black polka dots,  eyelashes and some bows (from ribbon I also already had) we have a Miss Lady Bug.

You could also use felt to glue wings on or put a cute little red and black tutu skirt around it.  Which would help to cover that giant pumpkin grin.  But being resourceful, I used what I already had.   

By the way ladies, all those ribbons that come on baby packaging, DON'T throw them away.  I've found so many great projects to use them for, including the bows for this one.  And makes for extra special sentiment in a nursery, knowing that the ribbon was part of a gift baby may have received.  Like  Hannah has letters above her crib that are hung from satin ribbon that was tied around a gift we received.  And her curtain ties, were from ribbon that came with a blanket packaging.   

Fun in the Sun and a Dinner Date

Where is fall!?! Well at least Hannah's summer clothes are getting more use.

Practicing her Trick-or-Treating

Although this picture is out of focus I wanted to share because I love it.

 Dinner date with Grandma.

I miss you too, Grandma!

Muah!

Wallpaper Time To Go

Knitting isn't turning out quite the way I'd hoped.  Oh well.  So I decided to take on another project.  Our downstairs bathroom.  I'm tired of the outdated, drab wallpaper.   Before moving in the owners gave me permission to strip the wallpaper and paint.  But after moving in, I lost wind and decided to just leave it since we plan on moving come spring.  But now that I have time to fill in the evenings, I decided I don't want to live with it for another 6 months.  So down came the wallpaper.  Just removing the first wall, I immediately saw the bathroom grow in size.  I have a little bit of paste to still scrub off tomorrow.  Then paint. And am already loving it!!!

My little helper...

isn't she cute!?!

Quiet and Slow

Quiet.  That's the sound around here.  Well when I pause and think about it, actually no it's not.  Hannah plays, plays, plays.  And the dogs, well in a nutshell, haven't been getting along and are running up a vet bill.  But even in the midst of life, it's been very slow with Sergio so busy with work.  After a few nights of watching movies and channel surfing, I decided I need something to do in the evenings.  And yes I could file papers, organize photos, finish other misc projects, or read a stack of parenting books.  But no instead I went to Michael's and bought crafts.  I'm feeling crafty.  I wanted to make some fall crafts, but instead came home with Christmas stuff.  I've always vowed to not start the Christmas season till after Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't help myself.  For one of the crafts I'm going to be using some of the pine cones from our trees, since we only have thousands on the ground.  And I found these adoring balls of garland that I just had to have.  You'll have to wait till after Thanksgiving for photos.  And then I decided I'd like to knit.  So I bought a knitting kit that supposedly will teach me how.  Happy knitting I go!    

Smiles of the Day

Hannah moments of the day:

While at Johnny Rocket's she dropped her spoon and said, "uh-oh"!

She tumbled off the bottom of the slide.  Then a little boy came down the slide behind her, and gave her his hands at the bottom to help her up.

She wanted to cuddle on the couch when we got home, so I looked for something kid friendly on, and only found the Barbie Channel preview.  It played the same 7-10 minute preview over and over since I wasn't going to subscribe to the channel.  There were 2 scenes that she would giggle about every time it played.  When the kitty would "rawwwrrr" as it fell off the roller skate, and when the dog would say "owwww" after running into the rose bush.

Making Daddy kiss all her stuff animals goodnight.  She went around the crib getting one at a time, and holding their faces between the rails, several times each animal too, for him to kiss.  And then she'd stick Hubert's head over the top of the crib, and then place him back down between the railing.  She loves giving goodnight kisses through the rails.     

The Climb

Mt. Trashmore is a local park that is 60 ft in height.  For a little 17 month old, it is quite the mountain.  And of course she chose to climb the steepest part. This first photo reminded me of the Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) song, "The Climb".  Corny I know, but sometimes a song can unexpectedly touch you.  I played it for Sergio, and he said every time he hears this song, now, it'll pull on his heart strings. Our little girl is growing up so fast.  (Play the video link to hear the song).

  

What's Orange and Round?

Pumpkins!!! Last year we went to a farm where you pick your pumpkins right out of the field.

We wanted to make it a family tradition.  After a little googling, I found a local farm where the pumpkins are even still attached to the vines.  Then afterwards we went to lunch the next farm over at their bakery.  They even make homemade ice cream, very delicious!

   

Photographer Hannah

I looked over and spotted a little someone across the house with my camera.  She's quite the sneaky one. I couldn't resist how adorable she was looking through the eye hole, taking pictures of her world.

Say Cheese Mommy!

Reviewing her work...

Eek...Maybe a better angle next time, please!

Fall is in the Air

The end of summer flew by along with September.  There's nothing like a seasonal change than coming home from a shorts and flip flops filled vacation to jackets and Uggs.  And I could not be more excited.  I'm ready for fall leaves, pumpkins, hot chocolate, and bundling under a blanket.  Hannah tested out her new rain boots and jacket outside this afternoon, while I raked and swept pine needles.  And did she ever have fun.

The rain boots did not stay on for very long...

 Running and playing as fast as she can...

Exploring...

Hannah is in a new phase with her foot wear.  She loves socks, likes her animal friends to wear her slippers, and dislikes shoes.  She even took a bath with her socks on tonight!  

Other new things she enjoyed over the last month are singing and dancing while playing the guitar.  She even gets low and dips.  Coloring, stickers, and writing.  She loves to read to Hubert her duck.  And falls asleep with a book at night.  She's also very nurturing of her babies and animals.  She rocks, kisses, hugs, feeds, and pats them over the shoulder.  And she loves to talk, talk, talk and carry on a conversation with us.  She points at objects around that she wants to know what they are, and tries to repeat the word.  She wants to know the names of our eyes, noses, mouth, eye brows and even eye lashes.  A game we play repeatedly, daily.  And her favorite game is ET.  She sticks her index finger out for you to touch it with yours.  Then laughs and laughs after each time.  She even tried to do it to the gorilla at the zoo.  Which amazed me that she knew he was different in his hands, than other animals paws.