I confess...

My craft room is a disaster! It is amazing I get anything done!

So, I'm entering a contest for a $5,000 "spring cleaning" make over thru The Lean Remodeler.

For the contest entry, I need to post photos of the current room & write a short description about the room including who uses it, what takes place in that room and how the Wilsonart Design Team can help you out.

Here are a few photos... Hold you breath, because this room does not even look like it belongs on our house!

As you first walk in, this is what you see to your right. To your left... Straight ahead...
This is a photo of the closet, one weekend (way before Peepers), my husband & I built shelves in the closet to better store my stuff... I have a lot of craft projects going on.My goal for this room is for it to be a craft/playroom for the whole family. There is currently barely enough space to walk thru it to the laundry room. This room reminds me of the show "Hoarders". There are many dangers for my little man in this room that scare the day lights out of me.

I've already updated the lighting, painted a chalk board door, purchased the ceiling & wall paint and shelving/brackets to put above the bump out wall. But I'm stalled... No time to sort thru all the stuff in the room to even attempt the fun decorating part.

I have made many attempts to purge/clean/organize it many times, but it seems to be the "catch all room in the house". In my vision for this room, not only would I like to have it child safe & well organized/laid out. I would like to have a small table & chair set in the middle of the room for Peepers & I to finger paint & play with Play Doh & learn to draw. Since MN winters are long & dreadful, this room will be our escape where we can play with wild abandonment & I can hopefully foster his creative mind & spirit.

And at night when he is asleep, I can work on a few craft projects for our home, him & for myself.

Also, I would like help in finding a "home" for the necessary items that have no business in being in a family craft/playroom.

Thank you for your consideration.

Even if I don't win, admitting I have a problem was the first step in overcoming this dreadful room.

Family Photo Album

Peepers has been really good at identifying us & himself in photos lately.

I made him a photo album a year ago from a dollar store brag book... he destroyed it in minutes. So when I can across this blank board book at Good Will. I knew exactly what I would do with it. (for the record, it had an Oriental Trading label on it if you are ever looking for one).

First, I went thru my scrap scrapbook paper finding fun pieces and cutting them into half circles. I Mod Podged all the cut pieces on to the book.

I was on a mad hunt to gather photos of Anders.

As a baby...

With Mom & Dad...

With all of his Aunties & Uncles...

and even a few cousins will be in there too and Mod Podged them on the pages.

I then used a few punched letters for a nice cover.

Hopefully I've finally created a family photo album for him that he will not destroy.

A few more letters

Hi - this weekend I finished off just a few more letters from this project.
So that I will be able to spell out

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDERS"

UPDATED PHOTO FROM PARTY:

Flag Banner

I finally finished making a flag banner for Ander B-day. It was super easy & really didn't cost much to make.

1) Gather up all your scraps
2) Cut flags. The ones I cut were 8" across the top and 8" long at the center. I used a pinking shears to finish the edges.
3) Calculate how many flags you need. I CUT WAY TOO MANY! 1/2" bias binding comes in a 3 yd (9 ft package) which will fit 13-15 flags depending on how long of a tail you leave on each end.
4) Purchase bias binding. Sandwich the top of of the flag between the folded bias binding & sew.
5) Hang and enjoy. Depending on the tail length, you can tie them from curtain rods & chandelier OR cut a small hole in the end of the binding & hang with a Command Hook.


I hope to use these over & over.

If you are interested in making one, let me know... I have about 60 extra flags I can pass on to you :)



UPDATED PHOTO FROM PARTY:

2nd year shirt

Last year I made Anders 2 shirts to wear for his First Year B-day parties.
This one was fabric paint on a white onesie.
I especially love the back of this one. I was able to trace his hand while he was sleeping (oh, I think back to the days of 2 naps a day). Then just slipped it under the onsie and traced over it with fabric paint. He was such a chunker!!!

If I did this for he second B-day, believe it or not, the weight would be the same!On this one, I used fun fabric & stitch witchery. Iron on the number & traced around it with fabric paint.

For the 2nd B-day shirt, I wanted to use the peace sign, holding up 2 fingers. I found a cartoon like clip art & enlarged it to the size I wanted. I then found fabric that somewhat resembled tie dye.

I did a reverse applique for this, so I pinned the tie dye to the inside of the front of the shirt.
On the outside, I then traced on the peace sign.
Then I just stitched around following the chalk line. This did take a bit of planning on where to start & stop to try to keep the stitching as continuous as possible.

Looking at it now, I wish I would have used a brighter blue thread. I also used zig zag stitch to the part I didn't cut away would be more defined.

Remove the pins & trim off the excess tie dye fabric from the inside of the garment.

Ever so carefully trim away just the tee shirt portion inside the stitching.

SUPER CUTE! I really enjoyed doing this reverse applique technique & hope to make a few summer shirts for Anders.