Pallet Vday Craft

A short while ago I was invited to a fun girls crafty evening.  In much need of being around other people like me (aka, post-children women, NOT U12 offspring of mine), I jumped right in on this invite!  I am SO glad I did!  I didn't take a ton of "during-the-process" pictures because, well, I was too busy having way too much fun.  But I did manage to get a lot of pictures of most of what was created throughout the night. 

I got a text with this picture, "We are making this - you should come!" 

(Sorry, I have no idea who the original source is.)

So let me explain this real quick.  These were pre-made pallet hearts, squares, and stars from JoAnn's, purchased with a coupon.  (Seriously, if you're not getting stuff from JoAnn's with coupons, you're not trying hard enough.)  They even come with a cute piece of twine in the back to hang them with. 

The supplies for the decorating came from various craft stores (on sale and with coupons, again!), left-over tissue paper from gift bags, scrapbooking paper, or whatever you find in your junk/craft drawer.  (Some of us may have raided our barns for fun too....)  Just don't forget the acrylic paint and Mod Podge, with some sort of applicator brush (foam brush, paint brush, fingers, whatever.)

Then you just PUT IT ON!  I laugh because it took me 15 minutes to finally start, and I was done pretty soon thereafter.  I have found that when I keep picking at my craft, I end up hating it.  So I have to do some and walk away, then do some more, then walk away, and STOP when I like it.  Seriously - leaving it ALONE is the hardest part!  Am I right?!  But I am SO GLAD that I stopped when I did.  I absolutely love it!!!  All I did was add some light paint, a crafty flower, and some twine.  That's it, and I love it.  I'm debating adding a cute little clothespin to hang a small family picture in the middle, but I'm still leaving it alone....for now.

One of the best parts was that every single creation turned out SO differently! And they were ALL adorable.  Yep, I'm going to share them (or at least the ones I stole pictures of!) so you can get some great inspiration for your own!  (Because you know this makes you want to do one, or two, or three, yourself, right?!)  So here's some more hearts. 

Didn't the tissue paper turn out fantastic?!  I love the combinations of paint, tissue paper, twine, etc.  I am just not that gusty yet.  I applaud those that are because they turned out SO CUTE!  But wait!  There's more!  There weren't only pallet hearts, there were also squares and stars!  I am totally doing a square next!  I love them!

Dying from the "fun" overload, right?  I know you are.  The best part was getting to be super crafty again.  I forgot how good that felt!  And to be crafty with other moms who just wanted to hang and have a great girls night.  This is something that I will hang in my house every year (maybe all year-round?  Yes, that is a definite possibility....)  It feels good to be crafty - especially when it's easy and you love what you made.  (I've done too many paintings that get hidden in the corner....or in another room....or in someone else's house....lol.)  I can't wait until next time! 

I can't wait to see what kind of fun craft you come up with.  Please share it with me! 

The Mama Bear

Inspiration Sunday

We have a responsibility to look out for one another, to help each other, to lift each others burdens.  We are not here to judge one another, but to love our neighbors.  That doesn't mean just the ones who literally live next door!  Our neighbor is all those around us. 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)  Let us each step up and serve one another.  Besides, serving someone else helps us look beyond ourselves - it just plain feels good! 

What can you do to serve someone this week?  What can you do as a family?  Cookies on a doorstep?  Shoveling a walkway?  Reading a book together?  Taking a walk, or just chatting over the fence?  How about some homemade bread?  That one seems to be my cup of tea lately!  Share some of your ideas that you can do as an individual or a family to serve and lift someone else up.  I'd love to hear and get some more ideas!

To read the February Visiting Teaching Message from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, click the following link: February Visiting Teaching Message


The Mama Bear