angry birds [life sized]

So with the new phones came the world of Angry Birds. My kids and husband love it, so we decided to have some fun and make our own game.
I saw something around that inspired the fun. Check them out here and here.
I started by spray painting some vegetable cans and a #10 can green. I then used a picture to help me see how to draw the pigs faces. I used a marker to draw them out, then craft paints to paint over them for the faces.


I got some of those great, cheap balls at WalMart for our birds. They were $1.50 each. I again used pictures to draw faces on and then painted over them. I painted all the colors I was using first and allowed them to dry, then did all the black painting and outlining at the end.


(Placing the balls in bowls is a great way to prop them up and keep them from rolling around.)


You'll see that I used A LOT of paint. There needs to be a thick layer on the balls or they will crackle with all the bouncing they do. Mine have been played with HEAVILY and I have had no problems with the paint due to how thick it is.



Here is a shot of all the paint I used. I used what I had on hand. You could use similar colors if you have them.

I got the TNT signs off one of those blogs up above. I loved the touch they added to our boxes.

Now just stack up different towers and go for it. We played for hours. It was so fun. We even lost one of my small pigs we were going so crazy. Let's just say there is $1 reward at my sister's house for who ever finds him! :)

Our Alphabet

My kids finished this a while ago, but I realize I never documented it. It was so fun to make. As we studied the letters and did our phonices activities we would make something for each capital and lowercase letter for our wall to use as a reference when we needed it. The great thing about it is that now only does it show them what they letters should look like, but it gives them a picture to help them remember what it sounds like.
I got the idea here.

This has also inspired our newest car game. Someone picks a letter and then we think of things that start with that letter. It's been a lot of fun.

And here's a glance at our classroom as it has evolved this year...

book of mormon scripture stickers

This year for our Family Night Lessons we are teaching our children scripture stories, specifically the prophets in the Book of Mormon. It has gone so well.
They love hearing the stories and they ask so many questions. It's great for me because I get to restudy the stories and focus on what the basic principles taught are so that I can point those out to my kids.
I use my Gospel Art Book and my scriptures. That's it. Simple and focused. (There's that word again!) :)

I found this great site that has amazing lessons and resources to help kids learn from the Book of Mormon. While I love it, it is a little above my kids age level right now.
I did find something that I love. Scripture stickers that you can make from the Book of Mormon Stories book. The pictures are much better than the stickers I've seen at Seagull or Deseret Book.
I am going to give a sticker to each of my kids after we learn about a prophet so they can put it in their Books of Mormon. I think this will help them understand that the stories they are being told and learning about come directly from there.
Check them out. Just get some clear photo sticker paper to print them on and you can easily read the words through them!

st patty's day with our cousins

We had a great St. Patrick's Day. We stayed the night at my sister's and the party was on!
We woke up to so many crazy things. The leprechauns were busy that night. The whole hallway was booby trapped with a yarn maze, the milk was green, the table was decorated with gold and candy, and there were two little green footprints on the toilet seat and the water was green! Eeeww! :)
After finding all the funny pranks the leprechauns had played on us we settled down to a yummy breakfast of rainbow pancakes and whip cream.
(and yes, that is my daughter caught sneaking some whip cream in the picture!) :)

10 min scones

We love scones. Who doesn't?! But no one likes to take the time, make the mess, and do the dishes that all result from making them...especially when they are just a "side dish".
Solution: Rhodes Frozen White Dinner Rolls

Start by warming your oil. It will need time to heat while you defrost your rolls.
Place your desired amount of scones on a plate and defrost them in the microwave for 2-4 minutes (depending on how many you do. I usually do 10 for about 4 minutes) turning them over when they're half way done.
Slowly pull the rolls out in a streatching motion to make them bigger.
Fry them in oil until golden brown on one side, turn them over and fry the other side.

Cool them on papertowels to absorb exsess oil.

Serve warm with powdered sugar, honeybutter, or whatever your heart desires.

Enjoy!

popcorn words

To help my son get motivated to memorize his sight words we made a popcorn bucket to fill with the words he passes off.


He was done so well with it and has already earned one popcorn party and it close to his second.
I love how easily you can motivate kids....if it was only so easy for us adults! :)

the grass grows greener [free printable]

One of my favorite Primary Songs for the LDS church is "Give, Said the Little Stream". I love it so much because it focuses on service. This little stream acknowledges it's understanding of how small a piece it is in the grand scheme of things, yet how much impact it can make if it will just do its part.
I teach one of the nursery classes (children 18-24 months old) in my ward at moment and I couldn't be happier. I've wanted this calling for a while and I am so glad I got it. I love teaching kids so much. They are so eager, kind, willing, and happy. I am learning so much from them as I study the basic principles of the gospel to teach to them.
Here is the printbale I made to frame and display on the table I set out each week. I've seem so many printables floating around out there, I just had to make my own.
(it is sized for a 5x7)

operation focus and simplify [my plan]

So I'm going to try something new to help me get a little more organized. If you're anything like me you are going so many different directions, try to do so many different things, and struggling to keep up with them all....
So, here's to a day, a week, a month, a year, a life....of a little more organization, a lot more accomplishment, and way more memories as I focus on what I really want to focus on and simplify my life to the point of where I can.

Sundays- a day to plan fun Family Night lessons that my kids will enjoy and learn from.
Mondays- an activity that has to do with the things my kids are learning. They will be focused on discovery, learning new skills, and challenging their minds.
Tuesdays- ways to clean, organize, accomplish, and check things off my many, many lists.
Wednesdays- plain 'o fun. Games, outings, new discoveries...anything and everything to make time together a laugh.
Thursdays- me time. Making and taking the time to do something I want.
Fridays- improving my recipe book and exposing my family to all the tasty things life has to offer.
Saturdays-slowly try to mend and fix and finish and start the piles of sewing projects I have laying around.

Wish me luck as I try to focus and simplify.
(Good luck to you too)

for me? ahhhh....

My good friend Melanie
(who has a great eye for all things cute and crafty)
over at Aristocrafty
gave me the Liebster Award.


I am so honored and excited. I love my little blog (where I mainly just ramble to myself in space about all the fun I have channeling my creative juices). Thanks to the handful of you who have come along for the ride.

I would like to pass this award on to some great blogs I enjoy that are always great sources of inspiration:

Amy at our daily obsessions
Aymee at Beloved. Noble. Grace.

Check them out. You won't be disappointed!

kiss me cuteness

Chip board letters are super cheap ($1 each, or even less if on sale). They make for great crafts because you can keep your cost down.
I made this cute sign last year. I simply painted the letters green, then coated the front of them with modpodge and gilltered them. I then beveled a slit in a board thick enough to support them and hot glued them in/on. The shamrock in between the words is a nice touch to break it up and add the dimension of another color.
I am so happy with how it turned out. Total cost <$8.

shamrock banner

This banner and I experienced love at first sight.
Thankfully I just happen to have a BUNCH of old books to rip some pages out of. Scraps of green for the shamrocks, and I went with brass buttons instead of the white that the example had. I just liked the aged look it brought.

pot 'o gold

This cute idea has got to be one of thee simplest things I've done in a long time. You can't go wrong gathering rocks and spray painting them. I love how they turned out. The touch of vinyl was nice. They used a stencil and black paint, I just like the cleaner look. I like the nod it gives to st. patty's day.