We spent this week at the beach, which is the perfect way to spend my birthday week!
Yes, it was an awesome week and today is my birthday!
Here is a peek into our week through Instagram photos:
Happy Friday!
Friday Phone Dump {Instagram}
All Things BABY Event {I need YOUR help}
As most of you know,
Hollis will make her debut in less than 8 weeks
and I need YOUR help!
I am wanting to have you share your fun baby related tutorials, projects and ideas here on Johnny In A Dress while we are getting to know the newest little addition to our family!
Since Hollis will make her debut in August (hopefully not before then),
the whole month of August will be all about baby related ideas and tutorials!
I am also looking for Handmade Shops who create items for babies, mamas, etc.
If you own a shop and would like to provide an item for me (or Hollis) to review and a giveaway for my readers, I would love to help you gain exposure for your shop!
Thank you all for your help!
I look forward to working with you!
How to paint perfect letters on wood! {tutorial}
I made these fun signs for our Master Bedroom.
I ran across this on Pinterest and fell HEAD OVER HEELS!
I loved the simplicity and sweetness.
I was so inspired and wanted to create my own version for our room.
I began by cutting out the words in vinyl using my Silhouette.
Then I used the negative and applied to vinyl to the wood signs.
I had wood left over from when I created the little’s silhouettes for our den,
so I decided to use it for this project.
Make sure you press the vinyl down REALLY well so it is completely adhered to the wood and the paint will not bleed behind the vinyl.
Then you will dip a stencil brush in your paint and blot until the brush is “dry” just like I shared in this Monogrammed Pillow Tutorial last week!
Next dab and dab and dab the paint on!
Peel the vinyl off BEFORE the paint dries and…
… you have an awesome, simple but oh so very sweet sign!
(and your letters look fabulous!!!)
If you do not have a Silhouette or Cricut then you can use this brilliant technique.
Easy peasy, right?!
Happy stenciling!
Friday Phone Dump {Instagram}
It’s been another great week!
I am so thankful for my family!
Happy Friday!
Oh yea, if you want to come hang out with me on Instagram,
you can find me here!
Monogram Pillow {Tutorial}
On our bed, in our “new” master bedroom is this fun monogrammed pillow!
Today, I am going to share how to make it so you can make one too!
I cut two rectangles out of the fabric of your choice.
The size of the pillow is totally up to you and depends on where you it to be!
I cut my fabric 15 inches by 13 inches.
(remember to cut TWO rectangles)
Now using your Silhouette or Cricut, cut out the initials you want on your pillow.
(for our pillow the initials are nPr – this is our “married monogram” you put the first initial that is in the alphabet, then the initial for your last name, then the second person’s initial that comes later in the alphabet – So “N” in Natalie comes before the “R” in Ross – got it?!)
Take one of your rectangles and apply the negative of your letters for the monogram.
I cut my letters out separately and placed the negative part of the vinyl onto the fabric, starting with the middle initial.
Make sure to place some cardboard or a paper towel under the fabric so that paint will not bleed through onto your work area!
Get a stencil brush, dip it into paint and then “dab” the excess paint off so that the brush is almost dry.
This will prevent the paint from bleeding under the vinyl and ensure that you have straight, clean edges.
Dab the paint onto the fabric like this:
(See how light the paint it is?! This way it will not bleed!)
Apply numerous thin coats until the fabric is no longer showing through the paint.
Once your letter is completely stenciled onto the fabric, gently peel off the vinyl…
And then move to the next letter.
Peeling the vinyl off before the paint dries is key to achieving a clean look!
Once your letters are stenciled and the vinyl is removed,
you should have something that looks like this:
Once the paint is completely dry, place your two pieces of fabric right sides together and stitch around all four sides leaving a 4-5 inch opening at the bottom center of the pillow to allow you to stuff it!
Turn your pillow right side out.
(See the opening at the bottom?!)
Now stuff your pillow until you are happy with the fluffiness.
Then hand stitch or machine stitch the bottom opening closed.
And now you have a fun monogram pillow for pennies!
(seriously, this cost me less than $2!)
Yay for custom pillows!
Happy stenciling!
Harper’s First Dance Recital
A few weeks ago Harper had her very FIRST dance recital!
This was a moment I have dreamt of for so long.
She LOVED putting on “wip stick!”
Her excitement was palpable.
Seriously, she looked so sweet in her costume!
I could have eaten her with a spoon!
I was one proud mama and tried to etch every single second in my mind from getting her ready, to her first spritz of hairspray, to the smile on her face when I applied my lipstick, to the excitement when she finally put on the costume she had been eyeing in her closet for a week.
This was her moment to shine and I wanted her to feel extra special on her big day!
Then it was time for her “Tiny Toes” class to go on stage!
Once the lights came on and the music started,
she was frozen.
She stood there just looking out at the hundreds of faces staring at her in the audience and I am pretty sure she was thinking “what in the HECK is going on?!”
It was the cutest thing I have ever seen and I was so proud of her,
even if she just stood there still from the shock of the bright lights and very loud music.
Then it happened,
during the last 10 seconds on the routine, she decided to pick up her flowers and
then it was over!
Seriously, I have never been so proud!
Those few minutes watching her just stand there motionless on the stage was the cutest thing I have ever seen!
This was her moment.
Her day.
She was so excited and really seemed to feel so special.
We are all so proud of Harper and will remember her awesome “performance” forever!
Our tiny dancer finally had her big moment!
We are so proud of her!
Expressions Vinyl Giveaway!
Yesterday,
I shared a fun DIY Monogram Lampshade Tutorial that I created using
vinyl from Expressions Vinyl!
Today, Expressions Vinyl is giving one lucky JIAD reader a $25 credit to their amazing store!
I have been a long time consumer of Expressions Vinyl and highly recommend them!
I purchase vinyl by the roll because I use to much of it!
Expressions Vinyl has a HUGE selection of vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, permanent vinyl, outdoor vinyl, chalkboard vinyl… I could go on and on!
And their color choices are by far the BEST out there!
They even sell patterned vinyl – need I say more?!
To enter this awesome giveaway:
1. Sign to receive Expressions Vinyl Special Offers – You’ll be glad you did!
(1 comment)
2. Follow Expressions Vinyl on Pinterest (1 comment)
3. Like Expressions Vinyl on Facebook (1 comment)
4. Pin a new JIAD project on Pinterest (1 comment)
5. Like JIAD on Facebook or Follow JIAD on Twitter (1 comment each)
The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, June 12, 2012!
*The winner will be chosen via random.org
*All links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for your support.
DIY Monogram Lampshade {Tutorial}
In our new master bedroom is this fun lamp with our monogram on it!
If you have shopped around, then you know these are NOT cheap!
Actually, I was shocked when I found out how much just a monogrammed lampshade can cost!
But I LOVE the look of it, so I got to thinking and created this:
I found this super cute lamp at Target for less than half the price of a monogrammed lampshade, but knew it needed a little something!
Using my black vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and my Silhouette,
I created and cut out our monogram.
Then I applied the vinyl directly to the lampshade and…
Now we have a super fun,
semi-custom lamp in our bedroom!
And it cost WAY less than those fancy monogrammed lampshades!
The best part – it took me about 10 minutes make!
Gotta love achieving an “expensive” look without spending the big bucks!
Oh yea,
and because we love YOU,
tune in tomorrow for a fun Expressions Vinyl giveaway!
Happy Monday!
Cliff Update! {Post Op Week 3}
Cliff has been a ROCKSTAR this week!
He is venturing out in his walker and is requesting that he walk everywhere!
We are thrilled that he WANTS to walk and is now able tackle long distances.
His resilience is amazing!
Cliff worked super hard at PT this week!
And he is asking me to stretch him every night because it will help him “be taller!”
Cliff is working hard to strengthen his hip flexors.
And walking with his canes is still very challenging,
but no longer intimidates him!
Seeing Cliff work so hard with a smile on his face makes me one VERY proud mama!
He is one determined little boy and we are amazed at his progress in just three short weeks!
We are so excited to see what the future holds for Cliff!
I know the Lord has BIG plans for this little boy!
We are so thankful for Cliff!
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8
Baby Update! {Week 28}
Today I am 29 weeks pregnant!
This week Dr. Keeton told me that I cannot go past 38 weeks…
Which means that I have N.I.N.E. weeks to go at the most!
(deep breaths… deep breaths…)
I will have my cerclage removed at 35 weeks and Hollis could arrive at anytime after that… CRAZY!
(I was induced with Harper at 37 weeks because of low fluid…)
{28 weeks}
{28 weeks 2 days}
I came home from the beach for another ultrasound this week to measure Hollis and make sure everything is looking good!
Thankfully, everything looks great!
My fluid is on the “high end of normal” but my Doctor was not concerned about it.
Somehow I completely forgot about the glucose test(… oopsies) and since I am so low risk for Gestational Diabetes, I will drink that AWFUL drink in a few weeks!
Here are the latest pictures of Hollis:
{28 weeks 4 days}
{28 weeks 4 days}
{28 weeks 4 days}
{28 weeks 4 days}
Hollis smiled a few times during the ultrasound!
It was soooooo cute!
Hollis weighs 2 pounds 14 ounces!
(That’s almost THREE pounds!)
Her belly and thigh bone measured exactly 28 weeks 4 days!
Her head measured 30 weeks 3 days(… Thanks ROSS!)
Overall, she is in the 56th percentile, which is right where she should be!
She also turned head down again and I am praying she stays that way for the next 9 weeks!
We are so thankful that Hollis is growing and looks so healthy!
Thank you for your prayers, they are working!!!
Isn’t God soooo good?!
