Top Reads of All Time - January

Okay, so yesterday was a really exciting day for our family.  My sister-in-law came home from serving an 18 month long mission for our Church.  I don't talk about this much on here partially because I want to keep my blog DIY and partially because I don't want to put anyone off by talking religion, but I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Otherwise known as a Mormon.  My beliefs are very important to me; in fact, they are the guiding force in my life.  If you are interested in knowing more about what Mormons believe, please visit mormon.org.  Or email me (diykindagirl@hotmail.com), and I'd be happy to talk to you about it.  Just no mean emails, okay?

So ANY-way, in honor of my dearly beloved sister-in-law coming home, I thought for today's Top Reads of All Time, I'd share my favorite Mormon religious books.

Just Hold Me: Embraced by the Savior's Love by Don Staheli

One of my personal spiritual epiphanies came while reading this book.  It is about Jesus Christ, and His ability to comfort and uplift us.  Poignant book.

Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson
This is a really wonderful book about the Atonement of Christ.  The author has a beautiful way of explaining the Atonement and why we should trust in it, "Believe Christ."  It really helped my understanding of both the Atonement and Jesus Christ.







Small and Simple Things by Marjorie Pay Hinckley

A lovely book written by a lovely woman.  It is a collection of bits of wisdom and encouragement gleaned from a lifetime of experience.  The author, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, was the wife of the last prophet of our Church, Gordon B. Hinckley.  She was gracious and kind and loving, someone I truly admired.





Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
I couldn't make this list without including this book.  The Book of Mormon is holy scripture, a record of God's dealing with the people of ancient America.  It was translated by Joseph Smith by the power of God and published in 1830.  It is truly another witness of Christ, that He is the Son of God, that through His Atonement, all mankind may be saved through obedience to the laws and ordinances of His Gospel.




Thank you for allowing me to share something so deeply personal.  And please, if you email or comment on my Facebook page, remember to be kind.

Tomorrow, I'll be throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law, so I'll be back next week with all the details, from food to decorations to games to prizes.  See you then!

Daydream Medallions card

The swap that wasn't.  Whenever I'm doing a swap, I first make one card all the way through, just so I can figure out the process and discover any mistakes that I'd rather not repeat.  I was getting ready for a demonstrator swap, and made my one card all the way through...and discovered it was just way too much work to repeat 16 times!  But the card is lovely, and I wanted to share it with you!

Stamps: Daydream Medallions and Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla cardstock
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Suede
Embellishments: Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail
Tools: Simply Scored & Borders Scoring Plate, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits Die & Floral Frames Framelits Die,

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Craft-o-Maniac-Boogieboard Cottage-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Momnivore's Dilemma-The Girl Creative {T} Yesterday on Tuesday-Tip Junkie-Sugar Bee Crafts-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-New Nostalgia {W} Simply Designing-Someday Crafts-Creations by Kara -Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Polkadots on Parade-Ginger Snap Crafts-DIY by Design {Th} Cherished Bliss-The Brambleberry Cottage-Beyond the Picket Fence-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-My Repurposed Life {F} Today's Creative Blog-Thirty Handmade Days-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-French Country Cottage-Truly Lovely-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Craftionary-One Artsy Mama-Lil' Luna-The 36th Avenue {S} Reasons to Skip the Housework-Funky Junk Interior

This Week's Reads 1/24

From a tired mommy who reads for entertainment not enlightenment.

My husband was out of town on business again this week, so that meant early bedtimes for kids and staying up late reading for me.  A book for every night he was gone!  :)

Sleeping With Anemone by Kate Collins
I've been making my way through this series, though I haven't blogged them all.  I just have to say again that I love this series more with every book I read!  This particular book, I have to say, I had the mystery figured out pretty early on, pat on my back.  :)

Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins
This one I didn't figure out until the very end...it's also fun when the author keeps you guessing.  Plus one of the suspects was Romanian, which I have a soft spot for (to make a long story short, I spent an amazing semester working in a orphanage in Romania).  Anyway, great read!






Return to Tradd Street by Karen White

I love this series.  Really.  Like one of my favorite mystery series ever.  I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but all kinds of interesting things happen in this book!  And I love seeing how the characters change and grow.  Well written, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

DIY Wedding A&B: Bridal Accessories

I made my sister's accessories because we couldn't find what she wanted at the price she wanted.  Yet another reason I love DIY.  

So I made her a warm lace and satin wrap, a headband, earrings and a necklace.

 Wrap: Two layers of white flannel sandwiched between ivory satin and mystic purple lace, all from JoAnn.

Headband: Silver filigree headband from Etsy, Swarovski bicones in Amethyst and Crystal and fine gauge jewelry wire from Michael's.

Earrings: Sterling Silver Crystal ball earring posts, Swarovski rounds and briolettes in Amethyst from Art Beads.  Swarovski flower links in Crystal, Sterling Silver jump rings and head pins from Fusion Beads.

Necklace: Swarovski briolette in Amethyst from Art Beads.  Sterling Silver chain and jump ring from Fusion Beads.  Sterling Silver clasp from my stash.

We also MUST give a shout-out to Accents and Petals, who handmade my sister's beautiful bouquet, as well as a flower girl bouquet for my daughter, and corsages for the two moms.  The bouquets were/are stunning and perfect for her four-part wedding celebration, not to mention a keepsake that will last forever.

Up next: Printing on Burlap and Lace!

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Craft-o-Maniac-Boogieboard Cottage-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Momnivore's Dilemma-Yesterday on Tuesday-The Girl Creative {T} Tip Junkie-Sugar Bee Crafts-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-New Nostalgia {W} Simply Designing-Someday Crafts-Creations by Kara -Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Polkadots on Parade-Ginger Snap Crafts-DIY by Design {Th} Cherished Bliss-The Brambleberry Cottage-Beyond the Picket Fence-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-My Repurposed Life {F} Today's Creative Blog-Thirty Handmade Days-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-French Country Cottage-Truly Lovely-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Craftionary-One Artsy Mama-Lil' Luna-The 36th Avenue {S} Reasons to Skip the Housework-Funky Junk Interior

Baby shoes

This has to be my favorite baby gift ever.  Darling little shoes.  I will admit to a bit of a learning curve, but once I figured them out, the process became pretty easy.

I made each of these pairs of shoes from a free pattern from another generous blogger.

Kimono Shoes (fabric from JoAnn, buttons from my stash)

Faux Robeez (leather from Brettuns Village, leather dye from Angelus, lining bleached muslin, buttons from my stash)

Mila Shoes (lace from Walmart, lining bleached muslin, fold over elastic from my stash)

(though if I had it to do over again, I'd use black for the inner most lining so the stitches wouldn't show.  Live and learn.)

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Craft-o-Maniac-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Momnivore's Dilemma-Yesterday on Tuesday-The Girl Creative {T} Tip Junkie-Sugar Bee Crafts-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-New Nostalgia {W} Cherished Bliss-Someday Crafts-Creations by Kara -Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-The Trendy Treehouse-Polkadots on Parade-Ginger Snap Crafts-Rae Gun Ramblings-DIY by Design {Th} The Brambleberry Cottage-Beyond the Picket Fence-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-Fireflies and Jellybeans-Sugar and Dots {F} Today's Creative Blog-Thirty Handmade Days-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama-Lil' Luna-The 36th Avenue {S} Reasons to Skip the Housework-Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy

Keep Calm card swap

I just joined a new swap group of Stampin' Up! customers.  I'm pretty excited about it because in this group, we can use retired Stampin' up! products.  Since I'm no longer a demonstrator, I'm not rotating out my supplies or buying nearly as many new products, so it's nice to be able to use the old favorites!
This is a retired hostess set that I LOVED and snatched up as soon as I could....but never actually used until now!

Retired products used:
Keep Calm stamp set
Twitterpated Designer Series Paper
Marina Mist cardstock
Riding Hood Red ink

Current products used:
Whisper White cardstock
Pirouette Pink ink
Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Tea Lace Paper Doilies
Stampin' Dimensionals

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Craft-o-Maniac-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Momnivore's Dilemma {T} Tip Junkie-Sugar Bee Crafts-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-New Nostalgia {W} Cherished Bliss-Tea Rose Home-Someday Crafts-Lil' Luna-Creations by Kara -Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Sugar and Dots-The Trendy Treehouse-Polkadots on Parade-Ginger Snap Crafts-Organize and Decorate Everything-Rae Gun Ramblings-DIY by Design {Th} The Brambleberry Cottage-The 36th Avenue-Yesterday on Tuesday-Beyond the Picket Fence-Somewhat Simple-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Christina's Adventures {$20}-Tales from Bloggeritaville-A Little Knick Knack-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-The Girl Creative-Fireflies and Jellybeans-Reasons to Skip the Housework {F} Today's Creative Blog-Thirty Handmade Days-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama {S} Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy

DIY Wedding: A&B

It's taken me awhile to get up the gumption to complete this post!  Another annoying factor is that I of course didn't take sufficient photos of every single detail BEFORE the event started.  Sigh.  Oh well, I guess.  Here's what I've got for you:

My sister's reception took place in the Draper Day Barn.  It's a historic barn that is now rented out for events.  The inside is lots of wood on walls and rafters, with some corrugated steel on the bottom half of the walls.  It was a perfect blank canvas for the rustic wedding my sister wanted.  Her colors were a bit unusual: purple and orange, but in all shades, from lavender to eggplant and deep orange to peach.

Lighting

Overhead, I strung white lights (thank you Black Friday sale at Lowe's) and two kinds of lanterns.  Little jars made from baby food jars and wire, and tin cans I punched holes in and painted.  Battery powered tea lights went into each of them.  The overall effect was exactly what I was going for.  The barn has three sets of light, a set on the sides of the barn below the eaves, a set of bright metal lights hanging from the ceiling, and a set of dim lights with fans.  We were able to use just the side lights and the dim lights with the fans, and the white lights and lanterns provided enough additional light to create the perfect ambient lighting.

Tables

My sister ordered tablecloths in lavender and chair sashes in eggplant organza from Linen Tablecloth.  She had three events (a reception here and two open houses in Alaska), so it was cheaper to buy them than rent, and this way she can sell them after to recoup some of the cost.  Then the centerpieces!  First was a 24 by 24 inch square of burlap, with multiple layers of 18 by 18 inch peach tulle layered on top.
Then an unfinished frame I stained and embellished, a tin can punched with their initials and painted, an embellished mason jar holding flowers, and a log tea light holder (free firewood we spotted on the way home from church one Sunday!  I just drilled holes in the top and voila!).

One last detail my sister really wanted was a get-to-know Andrea and Brandon quiz of sorts.  I didn't have the time to do what I really wanted to with this, so I just ended up printing it out on white cardstock.  I divided the questions into four parts, and placed one of the four quizzes on each corner of the centerpiece of each table.  I thought it was a fun way for those friends of the bride to get to know the groom a little, and vice versa.

Gift table

Off to the left as the guests entered was the gift table. Eggplant tablecloth with burlap banner.

Isn't the fire extinguisher a nice touch.....sigh.....

My sister's photographer (Elisabeth Kate Photography, they were fabulous) was kind enough to send me a quick edit from her wedding day to display at the reception.  So I got another thrift store frame, painted it white and glazed it.  Another unfinished frame I stained and embellished, and one of the log candle holders (which is mysteriously without candles in this photo...).

The Thank You sign is built out of cheap cedar fence slats and Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive.  I then used my Silhouette to cut out a stencil (Liorah font).  Here's where a mistake happened.  I tried to spray paint the lettering on with the stencil using flat white paint.  It was dreadful.  It didn't really work.  And it bled.  So then I just got black acrylic paint and dabbed it on using a foam brush.  The result: something imperfect.  But I figured since the wedding theme was rustic, it worked!

The basket is a random one I've had for years...and used for all three of our siblings' weddings!  Another stained and embellished unfinished frame, and their important dates on burlap.  (Don't you worry, I'll tell you all about printing on burlap in the follow-up wedding post!)

Video Table
Just a few feet over from the gift table was the table set up with a TV showing a slideshow/video of Andrea and Brandon's lives and courtship.  Cute and unique to them, but pretty standard stuff.  :)  On one side was a mason jar of flowers and a stained and embellished unfinished frame.  On the other was a log candle holder and this beauty:

Their relationship by the numbers, printed on lace.
(Don't worry, I'll get to that too!)
Food tables
My sister chose to have a hot chocolate and ice cream bar and mini cupcakes.  I'm seriously annoyed at myself for failing to take good photos of the whole set-up BEFORE the carnage, but what can you do.

Eggplant tablecloth (and lavender tablecloth over the ice cream machine stand) with a burlap banner again.
Over the table, I hung stenciled wood signs (made from cedar fence slats).

Toppings for both ice cream and hot chocolate.

I scoured the cans for the toppings with soap and hot water by hand, then sent them through the dishwasher for good measure and towel dried them to make sure no rust popped up!  Then I embellished them and popped them into Ziplocs to keep them clean until they held food.
The faux chalkboard tags I cut out with my Silhouette and my sister labeled them with a white Sharpie.  Then I clipped them onto the cans with mini clothespins I had painted in her wedding colors.

I wrapped empty boxes in white butcher paper followed by tulle, then trimmed with burlap and ribbon.  These allowed the toppings to be at staggered height so they could be reached more easily.
And the crowning jewel!  My 6 year old son is quite the little artist, and he drew a picture for my sister a few months before the wedding.  She loved it so much she asked to have it framed and used at the reception.  :)

Over at the cupcake table (delicious mini cupcakes from The Cocoa Bean Cafe), another eggplant tablecloth with burlap banner (that I forgot to take a photo of) and three-tiered cupcake stands.  I built those.  With some help from my husband whenever my head was filling with curse words.  Yep, they were a challenge.  And oh so imperfect!  But I just stuck the ugly spots on the back side and called it a day.

Displayed on the cupcake table were generational photos from both bride's and groom's families.  Just another personal touch.  More thrift store frames painted.

Sign-in/Photobooth

Last but not least...the part that was the most important to my sister: the Photobooth.

My sister got an app for her tablet, and then using a tripod adapter, we stuck the tablet on a tripod.  

My sweet husband agreed to run the booth.  :)

The back barn door was cute and white, so we used that as the background with a large A & B banner across.

The two part steps were: Grab a Prop and Strike a Pose!  and then Give Us Some of Your Best Marriage Advice.

We had a whole table of props (like the chalkboard which my kids LOVED) and everyone really got into it and had fun.  We've got the photos to prove it.

And there were some details outside that didn't get photographed.  The walkway lined with lighted punched cans like those hanging from the rafters.  And a rustic wood sign saying A & B, much like the Thank You sign, but staked into the ground.  Sigh.  Still kicking myself for missing the photos on that!

So that's that!  As always, feel free to email me at diykindagirl@hotmail.com with any questions you have.  I'll be back to explain a few things more in depth (like printing on burlap and lace), and to talk about my sister's bridal accessories.  Stay tuned!

And if you're looking for more wedding ideas, check out the other two weddings I've done!  M&M and B&H

Linking up here:

{M} Twigg Studios-Skip to My Lou-The DIY Showoff-Mad in Crafts-Marvelously Messy-Sumo's Sweet Stuff-Making the World Cuter-Sew Can Do- C.R.A.F.T.- Keeping It Simple-Creating My Way to Success-All Things Fee-Craft-o-Maniac-Boogieboard Cottage-Be Colorful-Between Naps on the Porch-I Should Be Mopping the Floor-Momnivore's Dilemma {T} Today's Creative Blog-Tip Junkie-Cherished Bliss-A Diamond in the Stuff-Sugar Bee Crafts-Reasons to Skip the Housework-Me and My Boys-Funky Polkadot Giraffe-Hope Studios-Creative Itch-Not Just a Housewife-At Home with K-My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Home Stories A2Z-DIY by Design-Primitive and Proper {furniture only}-Elizabeth & Co.-Project Queen-Coastal Charm-Ladybug Blessings-Homework-Topsy Turvy (third Tuesdays)-New Nostalgia {W} Tea Rose Home-Someday Crafts-Lil' Luna-Creations by Kara -Sew Much Ado-My Girlish Whims-Savvy Southern Style-Seven Thirty Three-Sugar and Dots-The Trendy Treehouse-Polkadots on Parade-Ginger Snap Crafts-Organize and Decorate Everything-Rae Gun Ramblings {Th} The Brambleberry Cottage-The 36th Avenue-Yesterday on Tuesday-Beyond the Picket Fence-Somewhat Simple-A Glimpse Inside-Domestically Speaking {paint only}-A Creative Princess-Christina's Adventures {$20}-Tales from Bloggeritaville-A Little Knick Knack-Crafty, Scrappy, Happy-The Girl Creative-Fireflies and Jellybeans {F} Thirty Handmade Days-Romantic Home-Remodelaholic-Shabby Nest-Lovely Crafty Home-WhipperBerry-At the Picket Fence-Finding Fabulous-delicate CONSTRUCTION-My Repurposed Life-Naptime Crafters-Chic on a Shoestring Budget Decorating-Fingerprints on the Fridge-504 Main-French Country Cottage-See Vanessa Craft-It's a Hodgepodge Life-Truly Lovely-Simply Designing-Miss Mustard Seed {furniture only}-Simply Sweet Home-Joyful Stamper-Craftionary-Release Me Create-Simple Home Life-Family Ever After-Addicted to Decorating-One Artsy Mama {S} Funky Junk Interior-Ladybird Lane-Tatertots and Jello-Craft Envy