monograms

I've had a Silhouette for 5 years or so...I remember saving up my money so I could get it for myself!  It had so many possibilities and I wanted to do so many different things with it, but once I got it, I was too scared (or lazy) to try any of them out.  I cut some stuff for Ryder's birthday parties here and there, and made a couple of banners, and book marks, but nothing crazy.

I had gotten some vinyl with my starter kit, and had created a few things, but then I guess never thought about it again...because all I could remember was "it was too hard, and too complicated and not worth the time it took to do it". 

A local Etsy shop owner who happened to be my 9th grade math teacher, posted some polka dot cups with a gold monogram on FB and she only had four...and I snagged one up for an amazing deal of $7.00.  When I got it, my mom was like, "Oh, did you make that?"  I told her no I bought it...and she said, "Kati Renee, you shouldn't be paying for that, you have a Silhouette, you should be making them!"  I realized she was right.  It was time for me to put my big girl panties on, and give the whole "vinyl" thing a try again!  I ordered some vinyl online, and bought up as many cups as I could in preparation for Christmas gifts.  

I quickly learned it is WAY easier than I was making it...and I've been on a roll lately! ;)

Dad was going to put his initials on his YETI with a sharpie (like he does everything that he takes to the farm, so it doesn't get mixed up with someone else's)....understandable.  But a SHARPIE--on a YETI?  No sir, I was NOT gonna let that happen!  So I ordered him some black vinyl, and printed him and my brother their initials to tat up their coolers!  So...monograms aren't JUST for girls after all huh!? ;)

This little circle monogram fit perfect on mom's new phone case...

Target dollar spot notebook turned into fabulous-ness!

I added a little pretty to my Chromebook as well!  Love how it turned out!  I'm really digging the circle monogram, rather than the fancy curly-ques!  Much easy to cut and place as well!

All of this to say...if you have a Silhouette or Cricut machine--do NOT be afraid of it!  You bought it for a reason--USE it!  You will be so glad you did!  My last minute gift options are endless now and I am so thankful!

Christmas Card Blessing Ring

I wanted to share a quick & easy little Christmas craft with you guys!  I first saw this on Katie's Keepers after Katie made one for all the cards that they received after the passing of their daughter Reese.  I made one with all of Ryder's baby cards that we received & have a stack of birthday & holiday ones waiting to be made into another special blessing ring!

It's quite simple & all you need is a 5" metal necklace from the jewelry department at Hobby Lobby that snaps closed at the ends with two hooks.  Looks like I got this one for $1.47.  You'll need some ribbon of your choice to go along with the season/occasion of the pictures/cards of your choice & the pictures/cards you want to hang on your blessing ring.  

{necklace}

{super cute Christmas cards of friends & fam}

{Punch all of your cards/pictures with a hole punch from where you would like them to hang.  PS aren't Sarah & Greg the CUTEST lil couple!?}

{I slipped all of my cards/pictures onto my ring, but you can still tell it's need a lil something more!}

{I just took random left over ribbon from my ribbon stash that were Christmas colors & tied them on my ring every 3-4 cards & WAH-LAH!  You have a super cute blessing ring!}

I think I'm going to try & make one for every year & keep in our Christmas decorations & pull them out every Christmas to look back on!  How fun!?

Here is Ryder's baby blessing ring that still hangs in his room today...

These can be made for any occasion & is such a better way to keep cards, then throwing them all in a box! Happy blessing ring making friends!  =)

I bought my baby boy some paints today...

Fridays are me & Ryder's one day all week to be together all day & do whatever we want!  I needed a few random things from Target, so we ran across town to get those things & I decided I wanted to buy Ryder some paint so he could paint some people we love pictures!  =)

We got home & I striped him down & he got after it!  He knew what he was doing, because he has done it before at school, but it was neat to get to watch him do it & enjoy it so much!

That is some serious concentration right there!

He had a great time, & I am so thankful & blessed for days like today where I get to make memories with my sweet boy doing fun, memorable things with him!

Random Phone Pics!

{I made these with my new Silhouette for mom!}

{I let Punkin' "color" the other day with a pen in my new agenda!}

{The kid LOVES shoes!}

{Look at those BIGGO Patterson theighs!  :P}

{Why are they so sweet when they sleep?}

{My bro & his sweet g/f}

{He came out with his baseball glove on like this the other day!}

{My first vinyl project with my Silhouette!}

{He did this to himself!}

{Loves to say the word "duck"!}

{Crazy Christmas lights!}

Kitchen Table Re-do...

I had an older kitchen table that was my Papa John's while my dad was growing up.  It worked for what we needed it for, but was just a little too small for my eating area.  A lady at my dad's work was selling this one for a super good deal.  Yeah, it's much older, but who said I couldn't make it a lil more contemporary?!  & who doesn't love a good project?!  I did this months & months ago, just forgot to blog about it!

It's a rather odd table...these are the two "legs" that go on each end that prop the table up.  I knew I wanted to paint them black, as well as the apron of the table & all the chairs.

I was going to spray paint everything except for the apron, because it was just going to be too difficult.  So I bought the can edition of the spray paint I was using.  It took a GAZILLION coats of black paint, & STILL didn't do as good a job as I was hoping, so I eventually had to spray paint it outside....VERY carefully!

Here it is after a few coats of paint...

The chairs before...

& the chairs after!  I LOOOOOVE them!  =)

Comparison of the two...

& this is the only picture I have of it completed, & it's from my phone...but it'll do!  I was very pleased with my very first spray paint furniture re-do...& all by myself no less!  I only have 4 of the 6 chairs black, but I kinda like the two wood odd balls!  :P

My kitchen is going to eventually be painted grey, with black, white & apple green accents.  One day...when we find the time to paint!  :P

SUPER easy Valentine's Day Wreath

Here's a little Hobby Lobby project you can throw together in no time, & for no more than 20 dollars!  I love making my own stuff, especially for holidays!

EVERYTHING'S from Hobby Lobby!--2 boas {6.99 each}, 1 grapevine wreath {4.99} "Valentine" sign {5.99} & heart sprays {.99} You can even wait till all of it goes 1/2 off...for an even better deal!

I wondered how I was going to connect my baos to my wreath & just wanted to use something I had at home, so I got my box of paper clips & wire cutters & just cut them in half...floral wire would work great, or even the twisty ties from loafs of bread!

I bent my paper clips to make a "V" shape & then slipped them under where I wanted to start to put my boa...

 Place the beginning of the boa in between the "V" shaped paper clip & just twist the clip around the boa until it is secure...

I decided to kinda go around the outside of the wreath at first...just repeating the same "V" shape & twisting method from above.

This is what it looked like after using one whole boa...you can tell on the bottom left, the boa began to duplicate, which is good!--it looks better & more full, but it still needs a lil more work!

You obviously need the second boa...continue going around the wreath with the second boa.  I even cut it up in pieces to fill in some spots that looked empty!  I didn't use the whole boa...so just use it all until it looks good & full!

Next, decide what you want to be the top of your wreath.  Then lay out your sign to see how you want it to rest up against the wreath.  

I simply attached the sign with yet again...another "V" shaped paper clip!

Throw your sprays in there where ever you think will look good!  I just shoved them into the wreath!  :P

{Here's what it looks like on my front door at night...}

{...& during the day!}

I love it, & was so happy with how it turned out!  It's a lot of red...but I like it!  =)  It makes a HUGE statement from the road & I love the sassy feathers!