2011 April

Window Pane Coat Rack How-To!

April 21, 2011 8 Comments

In my garage sits a ton of these:

…and these aren’t even half of them!

So I took a few and slapped a little paint on them.

Let it dry completely then sand it off a little to achieve the “weathered” look (yes, I realize this is a different window, I did a bunch of them!):

Take a damp cloth and wipe the paint off of the actual window. It comes off pretty easily. If you need to then you can also use a razor blade. Grab your hubby and have him measure and drill holes where you want to knobs to go. While he is at it, get him to add two saw tooth picture hangers on the top ends of the window (the backside, of course). Add the knobs (some of them weren’t quite long enough so I used Wood Glue to hold them in place and it works like a charm! – Gorilla Glue is awesome too!) Then clean your window panes really well. Now you are ready to add the paper and photos…

(Sorry for this next batch of pictures… this was done a night time…)

Get your scrapbook paper, scissors and something to measure with.

Measure each window pane (yes, I know but I am using real old windows and each pane was a slightly different size…) and cut your scrapbook paper according to your measurements.

Tape the top ONLY of each piece of scrapbook paper to the window pane.

See? So now you can flip the paper up to see where you want your picture to go:

Then you will end up with something like this:

Next choose your favorite pictures… This is the hardest part for me… seriously, I think this takes longer than the entire project…I love ALL of our pictures!

I used a glue dotter (totally not the right name, that’s what I call it.. it can be found in the scrapbook section of any craft store and I think it is made by Ad Tech) on the back of my picture. Regular old tape would probably work too, but I just like to say “glue dotter!” So I use it anytime I can!

Ok, next measure to find the center of the window pane and place your picture right in the center! I measured from the top of the pane to the top of the picture and then eyeballed the rest of it. Do that for a few pictures making sure to peak after each one so that you know they are straight!

Almost done! See?!

…Add the bottom three pictures…

And you have this awesomeness:

Ok, grab the hubs again and get him to drill the holes in the wall (or brick in my case), deal with the wall anchors and measurements. You know all of that boring boy stuff.

(Gotta love a man with his tools!)

And after it is hung you have this fabulousness displayed in your house!

Obsessed.

Oh yea, I am adding a few of these bad boys to the shop! Shipping these puppies is a nightmare so I am offering pick-up for all of you locals!

Filed Under: "My Hubby..." Series, Crafting, Decorating, Distressing, Make Your Own..., My House, The Shop, Tutorial

Equation Solved.

April 20, 2011 49 Comments

Remember this post from a few weeks ago?!

Well, today my friends, I will solve the equation!

Are you ready?!

X + Y = A WINDOW PANE COAT RACK!

I mean I hate to brag, but how awesome is this?!

And these knobs, oh they make me so, so, so happy!

I must admit, it looks fabulously splendid with my picture wall!

This Window Pane Coat Rack is definitely my favorite thing in our house!… for now at least!

What?!

You want one too?!

Hold your horses! I will share how you can get your hands on one and behind the scenes details tomorrow!

I am linking this post to these awesome places!

Filed Under: Decorating, Distressing, My House, Revamping, The Shop

Johnny In A Dress – The Shop.

April 19, 2011 4 Comments

After months of planning, debating, deciding to go for it then changing my mind, I decided to take the plunge and finally open my very own online shop!

There you will find things like my super cute Sassy Shades Holders:

Really, these cuties are a must have for Summer!

Crayon Rolls for your littles:

And these Cute As A Button Necklaces:

I will be regularly adding new products (my days and nights are consumed with creating new items for all of you to enjoy!) and of course I will share exclusive deals right here on my blog for my awesome readers because you are the best!

So click on over and shop, shop, SHOP!

Oh yea, and enter the code JIAD at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase!

Offer only good through 4/22/11.

And I would LOVE it if you left a comment letting me know how you like the shop and if there is anything in particular that you would like to see added to JIAD The Shop! Your opinions mean the world to me! Thanks for your support!

Filed Under: The Shop

My First Ever Giveaway!

April 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

Make sure to enter for my first ever Giveaway!

Check it out!

Happy Monday!

Filed Under: Giveaway

Post Op Week 22!

April 17, 2011 2 Comments

Cliff is still working very hard during therapy. He seems to be getting a little more confidence with transitions, but still needs a lot of verbal ques and reassurance.

The biggest thing that happened this week was that Cliff’s braces were cut down from mid calf to ankle height! See?!

Yippie! This makes us all so very happy! Cliff told us that he “loves his new boots!”

Speaking of transitions… Here Cliff is at Jill’s house and he went from the walker to the train table all by himself! Jill was right there to see if happen for herself! We even got teary eyed celebrating Cliff’s latest accomplishment together. We are so blessed to have such an awesome support system.

All of these awesome things are happening for Cliff so fast! He continues to amaze us daily with his strength and perseverance. Ross and I wanted to thank each and every one of you who support us. Your sweet emails, kind comments and encouraging words mean so much to us. We read each and every comment and email to Cliff. His face lights up with pride when he hears that people from all over the world are inspired by him! I am amazed at how wonderful it is to have support like we have from each of you. It truly means more to us than you will ever know! So thank you and you and you! God has blessed our little boy and continues to work in his life on a daily basis! We are so thankful for Cliff’s life. We praise God for every step Cliff takes and we will never forget that it was God who made this all possible.

Filed Under: Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, The Boy

Celebrate. And my first Giveaway!

April 16, 2011 41 Comments

Nonnie, my grandmother/ best friend had a birthday last week. To celebrate, my aunt and uncle decided to throw Nonnie a little surprise party. And surprised she was.

Nonnie jumped right into the action of the party as if she had known about it all along. She is graceful that way. She seemed to dance around the room as she greeted each guest, giving hugs, lots and lots of hugs. Kisses too. I look over and see that after she covers Harper’s soft, squishy baby cheeks in her kisses, she looks at her like this and my heart melts because the love that Nonnie is filled with is so ginuine. So honest. So real.

If there is one thing in this world that Nonnie can’t stand, it’s pictures… So of course I HAD to have a picture with the birthday girl (yea, that’s right Nonnie, I called you a “girl”… brownie points?):

And right in the middle of all of the chatter, laughter and most importantly food, I feel some tiny hands on my thighs. I look down and see this sweet face that is saying “hold me mama!” And I realize that this, right here, is what life is about. Celebrating, laughter, thanking God for our blessings and being surrounded by family.

Everywhere I looked seemed like a Kodak moment. Everyone just being themselves. Celebrating life all around me. A couple of times I teared up when I happened to see a moment like this one. So innocent. So sweet. So real. (Thank you Donna for Cliff’s bugs! He loves them!)

The afternoon was spent passing babies around.

The yard was filled with smiles and pure happiness. Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers, mothers, fathers, children, babies, friends. It was perfect.

Remember my aunt Charity from this post?! Well here is the product. Meet baby Paxton.

I love the way mamas and babies have that special connection. It is written on their faces. Etched in their smiles. The way both of their faces light up when they make eye contact, their souls fuse for a moment and nothing else matters. Family. This is what life is about.

Cliff and Harper were fueled up on excitement. Even though their bed time came and went, they were happy. Content. Soaking up the raw love that is the glue holding our family together.

And then there were the cakes (yes, cakeS). Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake and just in case cake isn’t your thing, there was a Brownie Souffle! (…this was my second plate full of the yummy desserts…) Have you ever heard of three cakes at one birthday party?! I haven’t, but I can for sure say that if anyone deserves three birthday cakes, it’s Nonnie.

Then Nonnie opened her gifts. She took time to read each card and carefully admire each package as she unwrapped each gift. She thanked each person for the gift they gave her. She was so thankful, grateful, counting her blessings, so ginuine. She was so happy.

This party to celebrate Nonnie’s life also unexpectedly morphed into a celebration of family. Our family. Which was a nice surprise.

And in the spirit of Nonnie’s surprise party, I want to give one of you a gift from me! This is my first ever giveaway so I am super excited! One lucky winner will win the same thing I made Nonnie for her birthday…. Drum roll please….

A Nook/ Kindle/E-Reader case!

(Yep. Nonnie has a Nook. She is just super cool like that!)

Here is how you enter:

1. Follow Johnny In A Dress and leave a comment saying you did or if you DO!

2. Like Johnny In A Dress on Facebook and tell me you did!

3. Tell me your favorite birthday memory!

Yes, each entry can have a different comment.

The winner will be randomly selected next Saturday (4/23/11)!

Good Luck!

And… Happy Birthday Nonnie, we love you!

Filed Under: Family, Giveaway

Scrappy Eggs Tutorial!

April 15, 2011 9 Comments

This was originally posted over at A Girl And A Glue Gun and I thought I would re post here for those of you who may have missed my first ever guest post! And if you haven’t been over to A Girl And A Glue Gun make sure you click on over and check Kimbo’s fabulous (and by fabulous I mean I-am-pretty-much-obsessed-with-everything-she-has-ever-created) crafts! Make sure to tell her Johnny In A Dress sent you because we are now totally BBFF’s (you know, bloggy Best Friends Forever! Duh!) and I looooove her…and her blog too!

Ok, I’ll stop rambling! Here is what I shared last Wednesday over at A Girl And A Glue Gun (still can’t believe that REALLY happened!):

Hey!

I am Natalie from Johnny In A Dress and I am over the moon thrilled that Kim agreed to let me hijack her blog! Wahooo! Kim is super talented, a genius, hilarious and pretty much everything about her (and her blog) is AWESOME, but you already know that, right?! Ok, so I am here today because I wanted to share with you a super simple, easy idea for creating a cute Easter decoration that I call “Scrappy Eggs!”

I found these paper mache eggs at Hobby Lobby (confession: I am seriously addicted to that store) for a few cents a piece! I am sure you can use plastic eggs too.

If you are anything like me, then you have waaaay too many fabric scraps hanging out in over-stuffed jars:

So, what I want you to do is pick your favorite fabric scraps and cut them up into small pieces. Then take your hot glue gun and put a dab of glue on the egg (for Pete’s sake, plug the thing in first!):

Grab a little scrap of your scrap fabric (that’s a lot of scrap) and slap that bad boy right on your dab of glue:

Then repeat the last two steps a million times and you will end up with this:

Make sure you use all different fabrics! Done be afraid, trust yourself!

I don’t know about you, but I think these are the cutest “scrappy eggs” ever!

They make me super happy.

Enjoy your scrappy eggs!

I would love for you to click on over to my blog and say hello!

Filed Under: Guest Post, Tutorial

A Story of the Summer Shirts!

April 14, 2011 9 Comments

Once Upon A Time,

I found these shirts at Walmart for $3.50 a piece!

They were cute, but needed a little something to make them fabulous, so I decided to applique them:

The crab turned out to be my favorite.

The shark is pretty cute too, though!

And I love the whale!

After 5 minutes of deliberation, the boy decided that the shark is his favorite one.

The End!

Filed Under: Applique, Crafting, Fashion, Sewing, The Boy, Thrifty

I Am Over At A Girl And A Glue Gun Today!

April 13, 2011 6 Comments

Kimbo West, as in the famous Kimbo from A Girl And A Glue Gun agreed to let me post a tutorial on her blog!

Seriously, I was up all night because I am so super excited! I mean KIMBO WEST let me post on HER blog! Whaaaat?!… Deep Breath… Deep Breath… Breathe in, Breathe out. Ok, now that I have gathered my composure this is what I am sharing over at A Girl And A Glue Gun today:

So click on over and check out my Scrappy Eggs Tutorial! And then if you haven’t already, check out Kimbo and her fabulously crafty, awesome, hilarious blog! She is a true crafting genius!

…And she just totally made my week (well probably a lot longer than that)!

Thanks Kim, you are the best!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Uncategorized

Anything Bag – The Tutorial!

April 12, 2011 4 Comments

Here it is! Wait for it, Wait for it…

The Anything Bag Tutorial!

Simply because you asked and I love you all sooo much!

Here we go!

Get your fabric and cut a rectangle 17 inches wide and 30 inches long.

Fold down and iron the two short ends.

Then stitch down both of the short ends, making sure to back stitch!

Fold down one of the long sides (which will now be called the “top”) about 1/2 an inch and iron.

This will create the casing for the ribbon to go through, so if you are using a super thick ribbon then you will need to make the casing wide enough to allow your ribbon to pass through.

Then sew. From one end to the other. Don’t forget to back stitch those ends!

Fold the rectangle in half and if you want to add an applique this is the time to do so. Ok now that your applique is done fold the rectangle in half with right sides facing each other:

Think about this next part before rushing to your machine!

Sew from the bottom corner of the fold (so for me, I began from the bottom, left corner. Remember this is with right sides facing) all the way around and up to the stitching for the casing. STOP when you get to the stitching for the casing. STOP sewing where I am pointing (but please make sure to back stitch)! That way the ribbon can go in, through and out the casing!