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Little Miss Momma: April 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Paper Flower Arrangement Tutorial

How about this Mother's Day you switch things up from the "traditional" bouquet of flowers to this:

Paper Flower Arrangement Tutorial




This project is so quick and easy, even the craft-challenged can do this one.  Shall we get started...



Here's what you need:
One jar or vase {with a narrow neck if possible}
Small branches from your yard
Paper scrap booking flowers {available at Michael's on scrapbook isle}
Glue gun and glue
Buttons in fun colors to coordinate with your flowers
Scissors


STEP ONE:
Trim the stems to your liking. I find that the fewer the branches the better the finished product looks.  Notice that I left a few leaves on the branches for a natural look.


STEP TWO:
Put together a few sets of your favorite flower combinations with a coordinating button for the middle.  Here is one of mine:


Now glue the layers of flowers on top of each other. 




Then glue the button down in the center.


STEP THREE:
Glue the paper flowers to the ends of your stems.


Now, make some more flowers and glue them to the ends of the other stems.


Last, arrange your flowers like so:


You can even add a simple ribbon/bow to your vase for a little extra somethin-somethin:


Then present your lucky Momma with your adorable and immortal creation!

Happy Crafting!

I will be linking this project up to these super duper cool link parties.
_____________________________________________________

Want to win something cool?! uh, yes you do!  Check out our current giveaway for a complete Blog Makeover from the talented and professional designer, Dumplin Design Studios. Click HERE.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Dear Hubby


Are you ready for hubby and wifey cheesiness?
Just preparing you for some mushy mush from me to the hubs
{written right after baby W was born}

Remembering Us…In the Beginning

We have been together for a while now.
Enough time that we’ve become comfortable — content with the relationship we’ve developed, the life we’ve built.
But the other day I came across something that reminded me of our overwhelming and passionate beginning.
I was reminded of the time when I was so consumed with love for you that I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
I was reminded of the time I spent many sleepless nights wondering if you felt the same way about me as I felt about you.
I was reminded of the time when I wanted nothing more than the promise, the guarantee that you would be mine forever.
I was reminded of the time when we could talk for hours without running out of things to say.
I was reminded of the fluttering in my stomach every time our eyes met after being apart.
I was reminded of our first kiss, our first long walk, our first conversation about the future, our first fight, our first sacrifice for one another and our first “I love you”.
I was reminded of the moment when I just knew, and the moment we promised to never let our passion subside…
And as I was reminded of how it all began, I began to think about how it had turned out. I think about the face of our son, his tiny fingers and toes, his pure joy when he looks into your eyes—I think about our years full of special moments, sacrifices, milestones and life lessons—I think about the life we’ve built on the foundation of “our beginning”.
And as I remember us, I am overcome with realization—realization that while our lives may be different now, our love never changed…from the beginning.

love, leelynn

{1st date photo; check out those chops--as in crazy wolverine sideburns}

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Dear Baby W

Dear Baby W,

This morning I woke up, took one look at your dimple smile and thought to myself,
 "Wow, I made you--and you're pretty awesome".
And that makes me happy!

Love,

your obsessed momma

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

O is for Organizing {and then shopping}

What Did I Do This Weekend, you ask?

A few weeks ago I shared an embarrassing confession about this:



YES, those are were my haphazard kitchen cabinets!

So, to save-face I spent the weekend fixin' up the joint a bit, and NOW...



My cabinets are no longer a disgrace.

And because I was on an organizing high, I moved on to my craft area in the garage. It went from pure madness:


To pure awesomeness:

{All that's missing is a Cricut machine, *sigh*}

Then, as a reward for all my hard work, I went shopping {antiquing to be specific}.  I hadn't been in years and I forgot how glorious antiquing can be.  There is this quaint little antique mart where I live and if you're a local you really should head over {I'm thinking Girls Day ladies?}.




{Love it}


And my knob obsession continues.


This reminded me of Baby W {so sweet}.


Antique riding cap.
{and I just so happened to be dressed like a jockey}


Bench in my {favorite} color.


Pillows = Happiness


Most awesome sign ever.
{have you noticed that "awesome" is kinda my word}


And I bought these to add to my collection.


All in all--my kind of weekend!

Where was Baby W this weekend, you ask?

Well, in addition to being a trooper during our antiquing outing--Lil W enjoyed his favorite Baby E DVD in his couch cushion barrier while Momma organized the kitchen:


And now Lil W would like to leave you on this note:


Are you smiling?
___________________________________

And now a quick shout out to Jane at Finding Fabulous for her awesome She's So Crafty feature on Little Miss Momma this weekend! I am so excited that she picked me--in the words of Sally Fields, "you like me, you really like me". Go check out her fabulous blog and her kind feature of my Canvas Stencil Tutorial.



Decor Mamma

________________________________________
 

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Friday, April 23, 2010

Custom Blog Design GIVEAWAY from Dumplin Design Studio

This week the Little Miss Momma blog went from
Blah
to
*Wa-Lah*


As I mentioned in my previous post, I was getting to the point where I was spending way way too much time trying to edit and beautify my site in ways that were never quite right {or very creative for that matter}.  So I decided it was time to contact a professional.  I got in touch with Shay at Dumplin Design and let her know what colors and designs inspired me, and then I left the rest to her.  She found a way to capture every single design element I had hoped for into a finished product that I LOVE.

AND NOW she has been ever-so-kind as to offer one lucky Little Miss Momma fan/follower a breathtaking, custom Blog Makeover--which includes:

Custom template - 2 or 3 column
Custom header
Custom coordinating background
Color matching of text, links, post box, and sidebar
Coordinating link/add button with grab code
Image hosting of all graphics included in your design
Installation

THAT'S A $55 value!!!!!!
AND who doesn't want all that?!

So, you wanna win this Awesomeness?!

here's how :

You can enter up to six times for this giveaway:
1.  MANDATORY! Head over to Dumplin Design Studio and let me know which blog in her portfolio is your favorite!
2.  Become a fan of Little Miss Momma on Facebook.
3.  Become a public blogger follower of Little Miss Momma
4.  Blog about this giveaway. (leave a link)
5.  Mention this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter (leave a link)
6.  Add the Little Miss Momma Button to your blog. (leave your blog address)

*Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do.*
Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!!

Good Luck!

Contest will end Sunday May 16th at 11:59 pm (mst)

Winner will be announced Monday May 17th 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------



* special thanks to Brittany over at Love Stitched {who got the idea from Tater Tots and Jello} for the more stream lined giveaway entry options,
I copied theirs ;) *

btw: visit Love Stitched to check out their awesome GIVEAWAY going
on right now!

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Little Miss Momma Got a Facelift and an Announcement

Yep, you heard me right--a FACELIFT...
A blog facelift that is!

Let's be honest--I am not exactly the most tech savvy momma in the world. So when I found myself spending many unsuccessful hours just trying to manipulate some form of html code to give me a cool font {not even really sure exactly what html code is}, I knew it was time to hire a professional...

Enter Dumplin Design Studio to make all my blog design dreams come true!
I absolutely love Little Miss Momma's new look
{more on that in an upcoming post}.
But for now, I have other
exciting news to announce...

Drum roll, please...

The amazing and fabulous Dumplin Design Studio will be offering one lucky Little Miss Momma reader a BLOG MAKEOVER in an upcoming giveaway.  The winner will get:

Custom template - 2 or 3 column
Custom header
Custom coordinating background
Color matching of text, links, post box, and sidebar
Coordinating link/add button with grab code
Image hosting of all graphics included in your design
Installation 

THAT'S A $55 value!!!!!!

AND who doesn't want all that?!

Visit Dumplin Design Studios and get excited for the future
of your blog--I know I'm excited!

Stay tuned for the most awesome of all giveaways!

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Looking Back and Remembering When

Looking Back and Remembering When

While out shopping a few weeks ago I stumbled across this frame with the most beautiful quote written on it {and YES, it made me cry--in public}. 


It reads:

Before you were conceived, I wanted you.
Before you were born, I loved you.
Before you were here for an hour, I would die for you.
This is the miracle of love.

This beautiful quote inspired me to write a letter to my little man:

Dear Baby W,
You are officially 9 months going on 9 years old this month. You have substituted your fascination with sucking on your own toes for an obsession with sharp objects, hard surfaces, electric cords and big people food. It seems as if crawling has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and you plan to discover them all.

Your energy completely exhausts me--but I wouldn't have it any other way. I only hope that you tackle all of life's future obstacles the way you work so hard to escape the pillow barricade I often build around you.

And as I look back over these last 9 months I realize how truly fast this whole parenting business goes {too fast if you ask me}. ..which is why I have taken today to look back and remember when...

I remember the flurry of butterflies in my tummy when the pregnancy test read "positive" and I knew our lives were changed forever.

I remember thinking I couldn't take another day of being sick in bed...and then I would feel you kick inside my tummy and I would be reminded that this whole morning-noon-and-night sickness was worth it after all.
I remember the day you were born and my heart melted when I saw you had your daddy's dimples...and then I realized just how much I loved you and I worried that I could never possibly love another baby this much {but I will, I promise future babies}.

I remember panicking the entire drive home from the hospital as your tiny body barely fit into your what-seemed-massive car seat--worried that every little jostle the car made would surely give you brain damage.

I remember when you pooped on the examination table at your first pediatricians visit {I thought it was much cuter than your doc thought it was}.
I remember falling asleep cuddled together during those all-too-frequent middle of the night feedings.

I remember the bittersweet day of boxing up all your newborn clothes because you were too big for them {sometimes I sneak open that box and go through your teeny clothes and remember just how little you once were}.

I remember the first time you smiled just for me and when you learned to wrap your itty bitty little fingers around mine--and you haven't stopped smiling since.
I remember when I could set you on the bed and then walk away (and sometimes even leave the room to pick out your outfit) and be sure you would be in the exact spot where I left you {now you dash from one spot to the next in the blink of an eye}.

I remember the first time you had baby food and you ate the entire jar...then I had to hold you in my arms all night as you cried from a tummy ache {I had no idea you weren't supposed to have the full jar on your first experience, and I felt like a terrible mommy}.

I remember when I was able to change your diaper with ease as you smiled up at me from your changing table. Now I feel like a professional wrestler pinning you down as I struggle to close the flaps.

I remember the look of excitement on your face when you successfully picked up your first puff and put it in your mouth without my help {You were so proud of yourself but I was prouder--and I always will be}.

I remember your explosion of personality, curiosity and energy once you learned to crawl.
I remember wanting to trade places with you for every shot, vaccination, new tooth, tummy ache, bruise, scrape, fever, runny nose and cough.

I remember the first time you reached for me to make "everything all better".

I remember the first time you said momma {and I pretended like you knew what it meant}.

I remember the first time you grabbed my face a laid a giant, slobbery, open mouthed kiss on my lips.

And even when you become a big boy I will always remember your baby fingers, your pudgy toes, your contagious smile, your button nose, your bald head, your bubble belly button, your skinny little legs, your pot belly, your dimpled bum cheeks and your infectious laugh--I remember and cherish all of these tiny details and precious moments, each and every day.

And I can tell you that there is no one in the world I would rather be than your mommy.

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Monday, April 19, 2010

Button Bracelet Tutorial

Button Bracelet Tutorial with Lobster Clasp

While shopping in England I came across an adorable button bracelet and I thought "well I could make that"--so I did {with a quick lesson from my Auntie}, and you can too! So now I am sharing the step by step tutorial on how to make this:


And this:


Step One:
Have fun picking out your favorite buttons and gathering your supplies.



Supply List {see pictures}:
Favorite Buttons
Crimper Tool {purchased at Michaels}
2 Crimp Beads {purchased at Michaels}
2 4mm Jump Rings {purchased at Michaels}
1 Lobster Clasp {purchased at Michaels}
Rope of your choice {be sure it fits in your crimp beads}
Scissors



Step Two:
Once you have gathered all your supplies, place one of the crimp beads on the end of your rope.


Now, use your crimper tool to "smash" your crimper bead around the rope, securely in place.


Next, attach one of your jump rings to the end of the ring on your crimp bead using your crimper tool {this jump ring is what your lobster clasp will attach to in a future step}.


Measure the length you want your bracelet to be so that you know how many buttons you will need. 


 STEP THREE:
Begin to thread/attach your buttons by putting the rope up the hole on the bottom side and then down through the top side of each button.  I like to leave a bit of space between each button so that they won't overlap.


Continue threading the buttons.  So long as you don't choose buttons with large holes, the buttons should stay in place without an adhesive. 


 Cut the excess rope and prepare to add your second crimp bead.


Follow the same step for attaching the crimp bead and jump ring on the other side of rope.  NOTE: Before closing the second jump ring, be sure to attach your lobster clasp {see next 2 pictures}. 


 


And Wa-La! You have your very own button bracelet with a semi-professional clasp! There you have it--this is about as complicated as my jewelry making will ever get:


Now have fun picking out other fun button bracelet combinations, such as:


OR


OR


The possibilities are ENDLESS...


Happy Crafting!

Click HERE to see where I link up.

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