I’m FINALLY done with Sky’s Nursery!  :D  The best part- I didn’t spend a penny!  Yay for frugality!  There are a few more things I’d like to do eventually, but for now, it’s done.  Not that Sky seems to care at all, but I’m pumped!  It’s nothing fancy, but it’s better than just the simple yellow crib set that was in there before. I got that for super cheap off ebay (brand new) when I was expecting him.  We didn't know his gender, so went with yellow. I love the silky, Asian look of the fabric! This is a little more boyish and fun.

   The penguin family!!  : )  So if you haven’t figured it out, I did his room in penguins.  I LOVE them, and would like to pass that on to him.  If you have seen March of the Penguins, or similar things on a penguins life, you know why.  If not, I’d highly recommend it!  They are the neatest animals, painting a picture of the way we should live, committed to family, working together as parents to raise our young, struggling through hard times, trusting, being devoted.  They have an amazing story, and so do we!  I hope Sky will learn and understand this as well, through our teaching.  Now you see the reason for the black on the mobile!

  I was inspired to make penguins like this by looking at wall decal stickers for kids’ rooms.  I thought it would be easy to make your own with paper and double sided tape.  I just printed the silhouettes of penguins on black paper, cut them out, and matted them on yellow and grey paper.  Using some double sided wall tape (originally meant for putting plastic over windows), I simply taped them to the wall. 

   Using 12x12 scrapbook paper, I simply cut 8x8 inch squares to add a little more to the walls. I also printed this saying on the yellow paper.

  I did a penguin border on one wall of his room.  I simply printed penguins on black paper again, cut them out, and taped them to the wall.  I also lined the back of the changing table dresser with extra fabric that I had.  Fairly temporary, but cute!  Especially since the back of the dresser was scratched up and such.  We got the dresser and crib off craigs list for cheap before Sky was born!

   Using a cardboard box, fabric, and a computer printer, I made the ‘canvas’ look with an ‘S’ for his initial.  I also did a collage of photos of penguins doing various things in their life, to teach Sky about them. 

  The closet is one of the problems.  It doesn’t have a door, so I’d like to someday make a curtain of some sort to cover it.  Any ideas?

  ‘All because two people fell in love’ :)   I would also like to make a pillow or two to match, and get a stuffed penguin from somewhere to add.  He has lots of grey and white and yellow animals that I put on top his dresser for now.  I had a lot of fun doing this, seeing what I could come up with and not buy anything! Of course, you’d have to have these supplies on hand, but they are all fairly basic, and cheap to buy if you would have to!  Have any other ideas for me?  Want to share what you have done to your kids’ rooms?  Send me photos!  May God bless you!
                      -MJ

  So here is a fast and easy way to make a basic, every day item add a little more color to a room.  I have been looking for ways to add various shades of green to my kitchen/dining area.  The walls are painted a minty shad of green and it's a little hard to match, or coordinate anything with.  (Once again...we are in a rental)  I decided to just pull out various shades of green and combine them, for a cleaner look.  Here I sound like I am this great decorator that knows just how to do things! Ha!! I also wanted a more attractive way to display the Christmas photos that we received last month.  So to add a little more color to our dining area...

  Here is the plain cork board style bulletin board that I started with.  It's held many treasured photos for me in years past, and always has looked ugly! :)

  I cut my fabric about 3/4 extra inches on each side of the cork board.  Using a spreading knife from the kitchen, I pushed the fabric under the silver metal edge.

  I was fairly happy with the result, though I am now thinking that a solid color fabric may have made it look a little less busy.  Oh well... it's better than what is was! I always think bulletin boards are a little tacky, but they're so easy to improve! I'd like to do something with the edge eventually too... any ideas?  Oh and by the way, the wall in the last picture really does not look like the shade it really is!  Did you send a card this year?  Do you see yourself?? ;) 
   I have also re-formulated my re-decorating plan in my head.  I am still looking for frugal ways to improve my home, but it is not a priority.  I hope to still make some things myself, find deals at discount stores, and hit up some garage sales and such, but I don't want to get so focused that I end up letting it consume me.  It really isn't that important of a thing!  I think about all the thoughts I've had of what to do to make my home more beautiful (which is part of our duty as a wife), and then I think of all those across the world who don't have a home to do anything with in the first place!  How selfish I am!  Think of this verse, when things of this life consume you, or you find yourself wanting more.

   "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Hebrews 13:5, KJV

-MJ

  Have to post this one more thing for my white recipes.  Homemade yogurt!! SO yummy... and a frugal way to enjoy a tasty, healthy (??) treat :)

   Another Color Challenge!  This week we had to use a recipe with the color White.  So I thought... and thought... and decided to take the 'easy' way out! :)  I had a lot of baking to do today and started thinking.  What does white make you think of... natural... clean... pure... and this led me to the basic ingredients to nearly every recipe you will find.  Nearly every ingredient is WHITE!  So I decided to summarize these ingredients in their original consistency. 

  I also thought later about all the other things that can be added to this list... eggs... onions... cream cheese... garlic... cheese (some kinds)... potatoes...and so much more!  Isn't it amazing how the combining of many white things creates such YUMMY foods!?  I mean... it helps to add a little of this and that as well... but here are the basics.  It's hard to find a recipe that doesn't call for at least ONE thing white!

  Here are a few of the results of my combining of ingredients today:

   It was SUCH a beautiful day today... and I've noticed from others' blogs from this area that they enjoyed it as well!! I think the sunshine is a great motivator!  I got about 5 times as much done today as normal.  I'll use that excuse anyways! :)
   And, thank you, Mom, for all you taught me!  I believe all of these recipes are yours!  For those of you who haven't experienced it, my  Mother's cooking is THE greatest! For those of you who have, you know it! :)
   Also, I'm wondering if any of you have a good whole wheat bread recipe.  I'd like to learn to make some healthier bread, as I know white isn't the greatest for you and I LOVE bread!! Email me if you do!

  Just thought I'd share the Name that Frame that I did for a friend's bridal shower.  These have made great shower gifts in the past, so if you're ever stumped, check  out the options from Whispers of Joy! 

  This particular frame is one that I bought with my friend in mind, and it's not available to purchase here.  But I do special orders, so if you have a frame at home and would like me to create something similar to this to put in it, send me an email and I'll see what we can work out! 

  I just wanted to share a few thoughts of some others today.  These are some quotes from the book 'Lies Women Believe' that I have talked about before.  Today I was reading about marriage, and more specifically, submission.  Here are a few excerpts from the chapter on marriage.  These really struck me, so I thought maybe some of you would be in a similar place and would benefit from them as well.  

  "Satan knows that if we could see the Truth about biblical submission- one of the most liberating principles in God's Word- we would joyfully embrace it." NLD (Nancy Leigh DeMoss)

  "I cannot give logical arguments for submission.  It defies logic that Jesus would release all the glories of heaven so He could give us the glory of heaven.  Submission is not about logic; it is about love.
    Jesus loved us so much that He voluntarily submitted to death on a cross.  His command is that wives are to submit to their husbands.  It is a gift that we voluntarily give to the man we have vowed to love in obedience to the Savior we love...
    God said that man needs a helper.  The true woman celebrates this calling and becomes affirming rather than adversarial, compassionate rather than controlling, a partner rather than a protagonist. She becomes substantively rather than superficially submissive.
  The true woman is not afraid to place herself in a position of submission.  She does not have to grasp; she does not have to control.  Her fear dissolves in the light of God's covenant promise to be her God and to live within her.  Submission is simply a demonstration of her confidence in the sovereign power of the Lord God.  Submission is a reflection of her redemption." 
             - Susan Hunt

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.   Proverbs 21:1

   "Most men hate "scenes". They despise confusion and disorder.  They will go to almost any length to have peace in their homes.  They will let a woman have her way rather than argue and quarrel.  But the price a man has to pay is the price of his manhood.  Before you complain that your husband won't take the leadership of your home, search your heart carefully.  Do you really rely on his judgment?  Are you willing to commit yourself to his decisions?  If not, don't complain that he will not lead. For the sake of peace, he may not fight for his authority." 
         -Elizabeth Rice Handford

"You must be willing to let him fail- believing that ultimately, your security is not in your husband but in a sovereign God who is not going to fail you."  NLD

"What can free us from the drive to control the men in our lives?  We must learn to wait upon the Lord; in His time, and in His way, He will act on behalf of those who wait for Him."  NLD

  Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.    Psalm 27:14

  May God bless you
         -MJ
PS.  I entered a few giveaways last weekend and WON! :)  Check it out: http://touchedcreatively.blogspot.com/

  I'm pleased to announce the winner of the latest GIVEAWAY
                                          MODESTY LYMAN!
  Congratulations, Modesty! Thanks for your support! And thank you to all of you who entered! It is great to see you readers interested in my products! Come back again soon as there will be more giveaways and new products coming!
        God bless
                        -MJ

There is so much happening right now... I guess I'll just throw it all into one random post and you can dig through it to your heart's content.

First of all, don't forget that today is the last day you can sign up for the Perfect Paci Set!!  It's been neat to see all of you who have signed up. Winner will be announced tomorrow!
 
                     Next, I'm super excited to share some photos with you:

  Clara saw my post about the mobile I created for my son and decided to do one for her coming baby.  I LOVE how it turned out!!   She used wooden stars, which I'm sure makes it look much more professional :)  And she also used glow in the dark paint! Awesome idea!!  And I like how she used the different fibers and ribbons to hang, as well as the tulle material around it!  Thanks so much for sharing this, Clara!
 (PS... I also just learned that she had her baby, a little boy, this morning! Got done just in time! Congratulations Clara!)
  I was also thinking about how she painted her mobile yellow, and that people probably thought black was a strange color for me to paint mine!  It will all come together when I finally post the details of Sky's room, once I finish it! Come back to check on my progress on that!
        __________________________________________________________
  Whisper of Joy:
      The patterns God plans for our days are always changing... rearranging... and each design is unique...graced with His own special beauty.
       ___________________________________________________________
  I'm also excited (is it an exciting day or what?!) that my cleaning is nearly done!! Maybe a few new products will be coming when that is finally completed!  And best of all, I got my office/craft room organized. Or at least to the 'good enough for me' point! Here's a few pics

  I had a fun lunch/shopping date with a friend yesterday and we went to Home Goods. It was my first time. Sweet.  That's about it.  :)  Had to share one of my finds. The picture above is my new fabric organizer, for the time being.  It's actually one of those closet things to put clothes or shoes in, but for now it works nicely for my fabric!  I've been contemplating either splurging to buy a nice cube shelf set (someday) or seeing if my hubby will make me one. He would have...but we don't have the right tools. SO I was... yup... excited to find this! :) I think I need a new word!
  Thanks for stopping by to share all my excitement!  God bless
                                         -MJ

 So I was organizing my office/sewing room last night.  Yay!! I got the bug... and kept going until after 10:00!  But it's done for now, other than the basic cleaning.  While doing that I discovered something buried in the middle of my fabric pile...

 Whispers of Joy!! It's a daily encouragement book for women... with some really neat quotes, poems, and verses in it for 365 day!  I should have taken a picture of it BEFORE I opened it! It was wrapped so cute!  Any guesses who it was from??
  My dear, sweet mother! :) THANKS MOM!! She's always doing neat things like this.  After a visit from my family around Easter time last year, I found Cadbury Carmel Eggs in my cupboards for weeks... Mom knows how much I love them!
So I plan to randomly posts some 'Whispers of Joy' when I see a neat one... so look for those on here! 

Here's my first one:
  This one is actually hand-written in the book... yes, from my dear mother!
"Just a thought...
   Whispers are good and fine... but sometimes we NEED to shout!!
Psalms 5:11
   But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy!"

Thanks for that Mom!
                 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I need some feedback.  I've been playing with fonts and such on my computer, but for some reason they don't seem to be showing up on other computers.  I've changed most of my site pages to have cool fonts, including a few blog entries and the side bar 'about me' section.  Do you see it??  I'm wondering if I was just wasting my time! I love fonts! :)

Anyhow...back to my cleaning brigade! Working on our bedroom now...feels great! Only a few more rooms and I'm done!  Score!

  So the goal for this week's color theme was to use the color white in an unusual way.  I was having a little lack of originality going on, so I pretty much just did another craft, but still could be considered a creative perspective on the color. (?) :)  I am currently (yes... still!!) in the process of funkifying (yeah I made that up) my 9 month old son's nursery.  And yes, I plan to have a post about it once I completely finish.  But for today, here's my white project to add to his bedroom:

 A hand-made, mommy designed mobile to hang over his crib!  So he's 9 months old, maybe doesn't need a mobile anymore, but I was really excited about it, especially once I hung it up! It really gave that extra something to the bedroom.  It's a fairly simple project, inspired by my 9th grade Spanish class when we made pinatas!  Thought I'd give you a simple tutorial in case you are struck with inspiration from seeing this post. :)  (If you are... send me some photos and I'll share them here!)

Whimsical Mobile Tutorial:

1.  Cut a star out of a piece of cardboard.  I did most this project free hand, but it may be smarter to use a pattern!  If you want to make it 3-D (as we did when doing the pinatas) create a paper machete shape with paper and glue.

2.  Using white tissue paper, cut approximately 1 inch strips, and then cut that into 1 inch squares. 

3.  Smear a thin layer of glue across a small area to start with.  Wrap a single square of tissue paper over the flat end of a colored pencil, or over the eraser of a pencil.

4. Push the tissue paper firmly down onto the glue with the end of the pencil.  Twisting the pencil helps to make the paper stick to the cardboard, and not to the pencil.

5. Cover your entire shape with tissue.  It is also neat to mix tissue colors, or create another design by drawing it first on your cardboard and filling it in with colors of your choice.

6. Cut small slits where you plan to hang the mobile from, as well as wherever you plan to hang your extra doo-dads from.

7. Paint the backside black. After doing this project, I would actually recommend completing this before you glue the tissue on the front. You can paint words, designs, or glue photos, or even glue tissue to this side also to make it look more 3-D.

8. Draw/trace stars onto paper and cut out.

9. Cut ribbon and string through mobile.  Glue stars together with ribbon ends in between to attach to mobile. Also string ribbon through the top hole to hang from ceiling. 

10. Easily hang completed mobile from the ceiling with a thumb tack.  That's all I needed because it was so light-weight, but if you used heavier things to hang, you may need to find a better way to attach it.

 And the finished product, from both angles! Not the most complicated thing, but fun to make and cute for kiddos!  There are SO many different things you could make using this simple technique! I would love to see what you can come up with!

    Don't forget to sign up for the GIVEAWAY in my previous post!  Many ways to sign up, 4 days left to do it!   God bless you always!
-MJ