Insta-frame

I don't know about you, but I'm totally addicted to Instagram.  I use it all the time.  It's a lot of fun.  I take so many great pictures with it that I want displayed.  So, I came up with a great way to display them.   

I've seen places out there that will print your instagram pics for you.  But, I'm cheap.  :)  I just use Picasa to print them on my home printer.  I upload my pictures from my camera roll on my phone to my computer, and since I use Picasa to organize all my pictures, I just tell it which ones to print.  I chose wallet-size, and selected shrink-to-fit.  I printed them onto cardstock, then cut them out with my paper trimmer.  

To display them, I found an old 11x16 frame I had laying around and painted it.  I'd planned to turn it into a bulletin board, but my cork wouldn't stay flat, so I kept the glass in the frame, with the cork as a background.  Then, I just used washi tape to tape my pictures to the glass.  Easy, cute, and simple.  Exactly the way I like it.
  

 

And, it couldn't be easier to change out my pictures when I feel like it.  I love getting to see all my happy little pictures every time I walk past!

The Bored Board, Revamped

Last summer, I made a Bored Board for my boys. This year, though, it needed a little tweaking.  We've got rather scheduled days this year, as we have many goals we're working on and quite a few doctor's appointments (for being healthy boys, these guys sure have a lot of specialists...it makes for quite a few check ups every year).   So, I wanted a spot to put a daily schedule.

So, I rearranged the pockets, and made space for a clear sleeve to slide in a daily schedule.  I make a week's worth at a time in Excel and slide the whole week in at once, pulling out a sheet after that day has passed.  

The pockets and "tickets" are a little different this year, too.  During the "blank" spots in the schedule (there's generally one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one after dinner), they can choose a ticket from one of the pockets.  I color coded them for morning (where trips to the zoo and the museum go), afternoon (paint, draw, build a blanket fort, etc.), evening (there's a Camp Out in the Backyard one in that pocket!), and "school time."  

I'm one of those "mean moms" who makes their kids keep up on their school skills during the summer.  They get quiet reading time every afternoon (this replaces nap time in our house when a kid stops napping every day.  Hey, Mom's gotta have a break, right?!).  And, they've got a spot in the schedule to brush up on writing and math skills.  So, they get to choose from various math computer games, and things like "make a list," "write in your journal," and "write a letter."

I'm also adding some chore cards to the board.  This is the summer my boys learn how to cook, clean, and do laundry!  I have a feeling this is going to be a fun, and productive, summer!

Hairbow Picture Frame

I've got a houseful of boys at my house, but no girls.  I get my girl fix by crafting for my neices.  I made this cute hair bow holder for my sister's oldest girl. 
It started out as this:

 

I picked it up at Goodwill for around $1.  I actually kind of love the painting.  I kept it around in case I find a use for it (and I scanned it, too).  The frame was perfect because it was an ornate style, like I was looking for, but not heavy at all (it's molded plastic). 

I primed it with a paint designed to stick well to plastic, and then painted it this pretty blue to go with her bedroom.  Her room is painted a light green with coral accents, and a few light blue accents.  I had a hard time finding coral ribbon.  I found this skinny coral ribbon, though, so I put two strips of the skinny ribbon next to each other to make it look like wider ribbon.  The ribbon is hot-glued to the back of the frame. 

It was an easy project, and very fun to make.  I love the result.