Baberham Lincoln

Hope you're having a great Presidents' Day too.

{When I say that we celebrate every holiday at work, I really mean it. Poor Carlos.}

Just Add Buttons {an easy Lego gift tag}

You've probably got them anyway.

Why not stick 'em on stuff?

If you want to make a bigger Lego block, you could use standard size buttons, but itty bitties are the perfect size for a gift tag. Some plain white glue, a rectangle scrap of paper, and it's all ready for your Lego lover.

(sounds scandalous, no?)

Three Things I Love On This {forced} Day of Romance

NUMBER 1: My new job at church. 

I got put into the Young Women's Presidency which means that I get to serve as a warning LEAD AND BE A ROLE MODEL FOR the girls ages 12-18. It also means I now have an OFFICIAL, DIVINE excuse to craft and buy lots of candy.

Speaking of candy, which I usually am, did everyone else on the planet except for me know that these pretzel bags are the perfect size for holding nuggets? HERSHEY nuggets, that is. LOVE THAT.

What I don't love is trying to figure out why some projects in my mind only take five minutes, but when translated into reality, end up taking infinity plus one hour.

Not even remotely as cute as they should be based on time wasted from my life.

I made three of these and realized that wrapping itty bitty chocolates is better suited for people with better coordination than I posses (most of the population and probably a few monkeys), and that it would be V-Day 2013 by the time these were finished.

Plan B: Dollar Store Favor boxes. The fail proof angel of mercy.

The candy was dumped in straight from the bag. Oh, the horror!

NUMBER 2: Class valentines using junk we already had = free.

Construction paper squares, punched out hearts and hot glued on candy. No cute sayings. No colored fonts. And most importantly: no complaints.

All the classes done in less than 10 minutes.

NUMBER 3: A hubby that knows me like no other.

And therefore doesn't argue when I tell him what I want for this stupid holiday, but also the anniversary of when we got engaged 17 years ago, is laundry baskets. Laundry baskets that have handles. Laundry baskets that aren't cracky on the bottom from letting three boys ride them down the hill in the front yard when it snowed last year.

Flipping them over to use as stools daily probably doesn't help the situation much either.

NEW LAUNDRY BASKETS.

Beats flowers any day.

Frozen Waffles = Cute Mail

or

Something To Do While The Superbowl Is On So I Don't Die of Boredom

I saw this on Pinterest and squealed like a hog at supper time.

source

It's a playhouse "slipcover" thing that slides over a CARD TABLE. Which is the brilliant-est thing ever. But it wasn't so squeal-worthy because I wanted to MAKE one, just that it reminded me of a box with it's flat top.....or what *could* be a box.....and therefore perfect for sending in the mail.

Except I didn't have a solid colored box.

But I did have this.

And some of this.

A dipping cup made precious little scallops,

and the rest was just freehanded, then painted in.

To make all those wonky edges look slightly better, take a Sharpie and trace everything once it's dry.

If you're a good draw-er, it'll turn out epic. If you're not, it'll turn out like mine.

Have some of the kids help and then you can blame the imperfections on them.

Tape on a label and it's the perfect size for stuffing in gifts for your brand new niece. And by brand new, I mean I'M TWO MONTHS LATE. As usual. (It's on it's way this morning, Julia!)

P.S. The etsy shop has a bunch of other variations that would translate into amazeballs boxes too:

Pirate Forts

Farm Stands

Outer Space

{I am in no way affiliated with this shop - just inspired!}

What's That Smell? {Love Stinks}

It's that time again. Time for scissors, tape and little (okay, A LOT) of red and pink paper to transform our shop into a cheesy, heart-filled love den. Just the way we like it.

STEP 1: make a bunch of animals (the same way I did these) and each person gets to decorate the face and come up with a matching V-Day greeting. Kindergarten style.

Yes, that is a dolphin with wings and a horn and a Mom tattoo. Anything awesome goes.

Speaking of awesome, Allison made that patterned paper with a ruler and a red marker. Because she's a rock star. And we're cheap.

STEP 2: Take home paper bags, paint on hearts, and punch some holes.

Thread onto some scrap fabric ripped into strips (recognize that from here?) and then hang up everywhere.

STEP 3: Resurrect the wrapping paper shelves, and line the glass doors while we're at it.

{heart garland template from here}

STEP 4: (Fake) apologize to my manager for taking my liberties with his likeness and turning this

{source}

into something amazing.

STEP 5: Find a $25 old school overhead projector (THAT I TOTALLY NEED ANYWAY) on Craigslist and snatch it up.

I'm not into fancy gadgets like Silhouettes and Crickets and Whoo-do-whats-its, but this baby? HECK YES. Especially since it can do magic, like taking this 

and turning it into an image 3 feet tall that I can trace with white crayon onto black poster board and then cut out.

Love is in the air indeed.