Happy Anniversary!

Henry=ANTM

This is Henry all ready for church last week. Like the pose? The shaggy hair? The preppy look?

Anyone else excited that ANTM starts up again this week?

Tutorial: Foam Stamp Printing

Because I don't already have enough hobbies and interests, I thought I would throw another one on the pile.

I dabbled in screen printing a couple of years ago and a little bit at Halloween but really got interested in printing after I read the book Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin during multiple trips to Barnes and Noble. I know I should just buy it but for now it makes going to Barnes and Noble exciting. She goes over many different ways you can print using simple to complex methods in your own home. I loved the idea of being able to create my own textiles and new pillow covers started running through my mind. Fast forward to a couple of days before Steve's birthday and since he had requested a printed t-shirt, I thought I would apply what I had learned. Foam Stamps here we come!

First, Gather your materials:

-Object on which to print: in this case black t-shirt

-Design: I printed this from the internet, it is the artwork of Aakash Nihlani as requested by Steve* Note: if you want to do lettering or anything that needs to read a specific direction, make sure you print it out backwards or that you can see through the paper enough to cut backwards. Also the more basic the design, the easier it is going to be to cut out.

-Exacto knife, scissors, self-healing mat (most people use these for quilting but they are nice to cut out on, or you can just use your crappy rental carpet like I did)

-3 sheets foam with adhesive backing (you can also buy non-sticky back foam but then you'll also need glue)

-Paint: make sure it is the appropriate paint for the textile which you will print on ie: fabric, wood, paper

-Sponge brush or brayer for paint application

Okay lets begin!
1. Peel the back off one sheet of foam and adhere directly on top of another sheet. Why? You want your design to be raised up enough from the base of your stamp so the paint doesn't get on your base and then get printed. Position design on foam and trim foam around design. My paper kind of stayed in place while I was cutting so I didn't glue it in place but you can. Another option if you are doing a simple design is to trace it directly onto the foam with a pencil.
2. Cut out design. This design was super complicated and took almost 2 hours to cut while I watched Ghost Writer and Henry napped. I have since made other ones that take way less time.

3. Once design is cut out, cut out a solid piece of foam from the 3rd sheet that the design will fit on. Adhere this to a piece of thin cardboard. (see picture below) In my case, I used an empty triscuit box. This is the base of your stamp. Once foam is on cardboard, adhere cut out design in the center.. Trim around as needed. Its important to use the foam for the base because it is waterproof and will clean easily between print sessions.
3. Prepare paint and printing surface as directed by your product. I did a test print on a onesie for our new nephew first. Its a good idea to do a test either on a scratch piece of paper or fabric. If doing clothing, make sure you put cardboard or a couple of pieces of paper between layers to prevent paint bleeding.

4. Apply paint to stamp. If you have a brayer, it will be easier but I found using a foam brush simple enough. If your design is large, the foam brush will get old, fast. Make sure to only get paint on the raised section of your stamp. If you get it on the base, wipe clean before printing.
5. Place painted stamp on shirt and firmly press down with your fingers. Make sure not to shift image once in place. And also make sure to press down over the entirety of the design so all of it prints evenly.
6. Hold your breath and lift stamp gently from the shirt.
7. Get excited and quickly finish your project and then proceed to print your new design on anything that will stand still. I mean I had all this paint mixed, I might as well use it, right?
Pillow is for us and is not for sale but I will be adding my own textile designs to the shop this week. Happy Printing! Please let me know if you have any great tips to add or any questions.

*Please don't steal people's artwork. Since this is strictly for personal use, I feel okay about using the image but I would never try to sell something that someone else created. Respecting creative license is very important to me. Ideas are incredibly personal and should be respected. Okay, someone take this soap box away from me now.

Lovely Lights Painting

I love the light in this painting. It is what I think being in Paris would be like (of course until you step in a puddle of urine.) I like it paired with the brown chair and the unfinished looking floor.

Photo Courtesy of Organic Interior Design about two years ago.

Sweet Suitcase

For the RS quilt-a-thon, lots of people have been donating fabric and a lovely lady in the ward donated her old fabric in this super cool suitcase. No one wanted it so I snatched it up.

If you're like Steve*, you're looking at this thinking this is the ugliest suitcase you've ever seen.

If you're like me, you're thinking this is the best find of the year.

Growing up, my mom had one just like this in red that she used for her temple bag. I always coveted it and now I have my very own. And Henry loves it too. He keeps knocking it over and sitting on it.

*If you really do think this is ugly, please don't leave a comment.

Valentine's Day

This year we kept Valentine's Day pretty simple. Since our anniversary is next week, we're really celebrating it all together in one great date.

I made Steve a heart banner (thanks cricut) and gathered some of his favorite treats like grape soda which I think is foul and gum. We made popcorn balls too. (Ingredients shown.) This was waiting for him after class.
In the morning Steve left this on the table while I was showering. Flowers, a handmade card with sweet note and a king sized Milky Way. Since I am trying to be healthy I wanted just one treat. He delivered with one BIG treat.
These are the Valentines we made for our Primary kids. Mini Chinese take out boxes with chocolate mint cookies inside. Steve actually helped with the cookies and the boxes. Almost seemed like kind of a waste to give them to 10 year olds.
We ate dinner at home. Steve made us Hawaiian haystacks and then we went out to ice cream. A couple of months ago I bought a $5 for $10 coupon through dealmobs for Nucci's Sweet Shop out in a neighboring town. As a last minute stroke of genius, I remembered the coupon and it was the perfect sweet note to the end of the day.
Since we were in the car and I had my camera, here is Henry in his new carseat. Note all the red for appropriate Valentine's Day garb. Since we had to spend $10, we both got two scoops in a waffle cone. Mint chocolate chip on the bottom, key lime pie on the top. The Key Lime was to die for. I will be back to eat it again. It had graham cracker crust in it and was perfection. Also note my bright red dress that I scored awhile ago at a thrift store for $3. It was a size 16 but I took it in.
And finally here is Henry who loved the ice cream more than either of us and actually started wailing when the wipes came out. A definite signal that the fun of eating is over. We ended the day with a brief Dr. Mario tourney and then reading the new Instyle (me) and lesson planning (Steve). Overall it was a wonderful day!

Tuesday Thoughts

Since I don't have any pictures loaded on the computer and Henry is still napping at 5:08 pm (!), I thought I would take a moment to jot down a few thoughts while our enchiladas bubble away in the oven.

-Today is a wonderful day. The sun is shining, we went to story time at the library and Henry actually paid attention and smiled as if he knew what was going on. I finally got a scale so I can ship via paypal now so no more dragging Henry to the post office or standing in line at Chevron to have Veejay assist me. And I am wearing jeans I haven't been able to fit into since I had Henry. Jeans I haven't been able to wear in almost 2 years. Granted, they are not my skinniest jeans but I'm one step closer.

-I just made black bean and corn salsa and know my hands smile wonderfully of fresh lime juice.

-Oh and I got a new calling. I am no longer in Primary (and just when I was getting the hang of it, too). I have been called to the Relief Society presidency. I am the enrichment counselor although I don't think that is actually my title. I don't really know since I haven't been in RS for almost 3 years. I'm excited though. We'll see how it goes.

Well it turns out I didn't really have too many thoughts. Mostly just the jeans thing. I will have pictures from our Valentine's Day festivities soon. Henry is awake and dinner is done. Peace.

Happy Valentine's Day

Shirley MacLaine-a-thon

"I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I've written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part." Shirley MacLaine

Last week I saw Terms of Endearment for the first time. I got it from the library. I loved the first scene where Shirley Maclaine is convinced her baby has died of crib death. She bounces the baby and pinches her until the baby is wailing. Aurora walks out of the room and says, "That's better." That is a scene right out of any new parent's life. From there is gets worse and of course I am sobbing by the end. Literally I haven't cried that hard since the time I watched Charly with Whitney, James and Brian. We were all trying to pretend like we weren't crying but we were all out of control. Actually that was pretty funny.

To make myself feel better I watched Steel Magnolias. Southern movies take on a whole new appeal now that I live down here. And of course I cried again but then I was smiling as Sammy rides after his laboring wife on the back of a motorcycle dressed as the easter bunny. Have you even noticed that the movie feels like a play most of the time? Favorite quote: "My secrets out. I am having an affair with a Mercedes Benz."

Anyway, another Shirley MacLaine movie I recently saw for the first time was The Apartment with Jack Lemmon. This is worth a watch and won Best Pictue in 1960. A darker romcom, she plays an elevator operator who catches quite a few male's eyes in an insurance company. She sure was lovely in her youth. "Shut up and deal."

P.S. I just learned through imdb that she is Warren Beatty's sister.

Quilt Project Continued

So about a year ago I was not doing etsy and had lots of time and fabric lying around. I started this project to donate as many quilts and blankets as I could to Project Linus or other local agencies. Once we moved I kind of forgot all about it until our RS decided to donate 50 quilts to local charities by May 31 of this year. My love for quilting was reawakened! Since I still have tons of scraps I came up with this design for a quilt and we're going to tie it at enrichment tonight.

I love the way it turned out. Its a good sign if you'd rather keep it for yourself than donate it, right? I think the cheery colors are really going to brighten someone's day. Its a little crazy how many different fabrics I used but I think the white really ties it all together. White: the great color equalizer.

And that's Henry watching Diego save a Baby Jaguar party...

Buffet of Entertainment

When we bought our new TV this summer we had to get rid of our old entertainment center. And as ghetto as it was, we were using a card table as a TV stand. We would occasionally look for replacement options. I wanted something with storage, something with height to keep Henry away from the TV and something unique. Call me picky but I just can't put something typical in my home. I mean there are things you should buy brand new like sofas and mattresses but I wanted something with character. And everything I found in our price range just seemed very soulless. So while I was picking up the new table for my birthday I spotted the perfect buffet credenza for our TV.

And actually it turned into a Christmas present from my parents. It does need a little work like a paint job and some new handles (the current ones are adorned with cornucopias!)but so far I love it. And it has places for Henry's toys and he loves to open and close the doors. Its nice to have something sturdy and well crafted. One more thing off the checklist done.

Talk to the hand

Remember when people used to say that? Well I was watching one of my mom and I's favorite movies, The Beautician and the Beast and Fran Drescher said it a lot. I am sure I said it a lot too in the 1990's. And I'm sure I was just as annoying.

Yes, I know what you're thinking. Fran Drescher? Yes, I watched it on VHS. Yes, we still have a VCR. Yes, I used to watch The Nanny.

Other fun shots from sitting with Henry in front of the computer.

The Mega Church Bag

One for lesson manuals + purse + one for Henry = annoying


On my to-do list for months, I finally got around to making this church bag and I am so glad I did. It has just enough space for manuals, scriptures, toys and treats for Henry. The days of 3 small bags are done. Hallelujah!

Printed fabric is from Anna Marie Horner and basic red all from my stash. Looking to make something similar? I copied a couple of ideas from Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Fabric and Sewing Crafts like the exterior pockets and then used our canvas tote as a general template. Basically I just figured it out but there are tutorials all over the place online.

P.S. Remember how last Sunday I promised all those blog posts. Well all of a sudden it was Friday and nothing was done. But this is the week! I promise. Not like that means anything anymore.