Tag Archives: Jen

Easy Peasy Blackboard Photo Prop

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Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezie! I back with an easy DIY blackboard photo prop project for you today. These cute little blackboard have been popping up in photos everywhere lately and I have been looking for one for a HUGE photo project I have coming up. Yes I know you are all dying to know what I have up my sleeve, but you will have to wait….patiently……while I burst over here with excitement!

Anyway back to business, I haven’t been able to find one that I am happy with so I decided to make my own of course. So off I headed to my local craft store to find a simple blackboard with a unfinished frame I could paint. Was it that easy? NO. I found the ”thing” below.

Ugh. A gray blackboard – yeah that isn’t right. So I ended up getting this and a small jar of blackboard paint and proceeded to paint two coats on the surface of the slate. After I let this dry for 24 hours I needed to prep the board, but we’ll get in to that later!

So during my 24 hour wait I painted the frame. I settled on this shade of robin egg blue, so gorgeous! It is kind of my jam lately, well that and Hot Coral – google it, it is a REAL color and is REAL awesome!

Once I finished and allowed the frame to dry – which was super fast after using acrylic craft paint – I decided it needed a little more. Luckily I had this Distress Ink on hand. Typically used for scrapbooking, it comes in handy more than you know! It is basically stain on a stamper pad that you can rub directly on your project to give it a distressed or antique look. I used it very lightly as well as wiped back over the areas with a paper towel to give it a very light distressed look.

And here is my finished product. After of course I prepped my blackboard surface by rubbing chalk all over it and then whipping it off. I have no idea why they suggest to do it, but must stay it was much easier to write on after I completed that step. I just love how it turned out and it is going to work just perfect for my upcoming project!

 

So let’s hear it – have you made any photo props? What trend have you been seeing lately that you love? What do you think my big project will be?

Jen

 

Make it Monday: Fancy-Smanchy Mod Podge Picture Frame

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Happy belated Mother’s Day to all you beautiful momma’s out there! I hope you all enjoyed your day as much as I did. Now I bet you all probably thought I forgot how to do projects! Frankly, it has been awhile with all the photo projects I have been doing lately, so I thought it would only be fitting if would make a fancy smanchy mod podged picture frame. Hold on to your hats friends, this is a super easy, super cute project sure to spruce up your home!

So this is what I started with. I found this mdf composite frame at my local craft store. What I love about it is the different levels on that frame that make a somewhat 3-d effect. It came with both a back “leg” to place on a table and also saw tooth hangers to hang on the wall if you choose. I love having options!

Next I broke out the craft paint and painted the edges and places that would show once I affixed the scrape book papers. Looking at it now makes me laugh, I pretty much painted the entire frame.

Then of course I broke out the coordinating scrapbook paper to figure what pattern I would use them in. I clearly wanted one to be more boyish and one to be more girly.

Once I got my pattern down I proceed to measure and cut. Measure twice and cut once – or in my case, eye it up and cut a few times till you get it right! No I kid, see I had my ruler out!

Once everything was laid out I went head and broke out the mod podge. Once lesson I continue to remind myself when using this product? Less is more. Remember this is not paper mache! I first put a thin layer directly on the frame, made sure my paper was affixed with no bubbles, wrinkels, or imprefections and then once done with the entire frame I added a glaze layer to give it a finished “sealed” look.

I then placed them in the warm sun to cure for a hour or so before loading my pictures in them and placing them on the wall. I can not tell you how happy I am with the way they turned out! And it was an easy enough project that Miss Addy could help me which she loved!

And not to brag, but look at that awesome Mother’s Day gift I snuck in this shot! Those kids sure have great taste (**wink, wink**).

So what fancy smanchy mod podge projects have you been up to lately?

Jen

 

Fab Finds: Milk Jug Tug Boats

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So you remember last Friday when I told you about my Fab Family Rules Find? Well, I was holding out on you all! On my kid-less weekend get away, in a shop literally called The General Store, I found an amazing toy line called Green Toys. Sidebar, why is it that as mom’s we (at least myself) always seem to shop for or find stuff for the kids, especially when they aren’t even with us? I mean my husband has never brought anything home for them when he goes away on his kid-less guy weekends. Haha, that is a whole can of rant for another post, back to the subject at hand. Green Toy’s entire line of plastic toys are made with milk jugs and are eco friendly right down to their packaging made with recycled paper. However that isn’t want initially drew me to pick up their product, it was the fun durable design. I ended up wanting a number of their products for my kids, but settled on this cute little Tug Boat.

green-toys-yellow-tugboat-detail

With summer coming up it was the perfect choice for the pool, beach, tub, or just playing around in general. My 9 month old loves it because of the handle and loves, loves, loves to beat it on just about everything, including his sister. But you know what – it hasn’t shown a bit a wear, this milk jug tug boat is amazing! But don’t get me wrong this toy is not only for babies, my 3 going on 8 year old loves it too! Much more for the pouring feature as you are able to fill it with water and do as you please. Yes, this tug has been here and there, in the tub and out of the tub since we got it just a few short weeks ago. Next on the list might be the dump trucks as they would be nice in the sand box or at the beach…..

Have you found any eco friendly products lately that you are crazy about? Kid or adult products welcome!

Disclaimer: I was not spiffed or compensated in anyway for this post. Simply put this a fab find!

Jen

Snap to it Tuesday

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Who misses  the 30 Day Photog Wanna Be Challenge? That’s right – this girl! I thought I would share a few photos I took over the weekend, on a unpredictable May day in Minnesota. On this particular day it had rained over night so everything was covered in ice and beautiful!

For some for the win - can anyone tell me what kind of bird that little red guy above is?

 

Jen

Fab Find: Family Rules

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Oh. My. Word. TGIF.

With that being said I am going to back up to last weekend. I enjoyed a weekend away from the kids with my mom and sisters up north. For those of you who don’t know, northern Minnesota in the lakes area is full of little town and little shops. Places you can fine little treasures and oddities you wouldn’t find any place else. I love it. I found a few treasures, but today I am going to share this one. When I seen it I knew immediately it needed to be mine! I have been looking for a Family Rules sign for sometime, debated on making one but just couldn’t find the right inspiration. This one was perfect for a few reasons. One – PALLET wood. I love the new trend of pallets, but I know my husband would think I lost my last screw if I ask for much more than this. Reason two? I like that fact that this sign has nothing to do with religion. Don’t get me wrong, put down your torches and clubs, I have my beliefs. I just prefer not to wear them on my sleeve, much less hang them on my wall. This version of family rules fit my family and echos the things I want to instill in my children. Whoa, that was a little deep for a Friday – I hope you enjoy my sign – I know I do and will spend much time this weekend finding the perfect place for it!

Jen

I’m a Photog Now!

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Well, maybe not so much. But thinking about writing this “Photog Wanna Be” wrap up post got me singing that title with the old Pull-Ups commercial jingle – “I’m a Big Kid Now“. But no matter how you sing it I think Chrissy would agree with me that this challenge has gotten us both more comfortable with our cameras on the manual settings. Frustrating at times, yes. Worth it, absolutely.

For fun Chrissy and I both picked our favorite photo from each other’s line up and decided to share them with you. Chrissy picked this photo of mine from “Obesssion” day, not so much for the technical aspect, but because it literally made her laugh out loud. She may or may not be privy to my Amazon secrets. Shhhhhhhhh.  

And I picked this photo of Chrissy’s from “Clouds” day. I love the flare of the sun!

Personally, this is my favorite. A little secret – she is pretending to sleep! But she was such a good trooper while mom played with lighting and shadows to get this shot on “After Dark” day.

Chrissy picked this one for herself from “Stranger” day. Hehehe, I am totally kidding. This is the one day we both hated and pushed us waaaay outside of our comfort zones! STRANGER DANGER! But we both agreed that this topic would have been a whole lot easier if it would have been summer – or at least a little warmer out! :)

We picked up some new friends along the way. We were so glad to have Monkey and Squish and Flower Faerie Lives Life on this little journey with us. They both had some amazing photos and it was so much fun to see how they interpreted each of the assignments. Please show them some love head over and check out their blogs!

Now for a few outtakes….these are a few shots I took but didn’t use. Enjoy!

Day 30 – Self Portrait

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Today is the day! The final submission day for our 30 Day “Photog Wanna Be” Challenge! Stop back tomorrow to wrap it up and see some of our favorite days and perhaps a few outtakes as well!

For more details about our 30 Day “Photog Wanna Be” Challenge click here. Or catch up with the challenge here.

Be sure to check out Monkey and Squish and Flower Faerie Lives Life - they have decided to take the challenge with us!

Day 30 – By Jen

Day 30 – By Chrissy

Keeping it real!! All sweaty and dirty with a look at this hair face, after lots of yard work. Yep that’s how I spend my Monday night, exciting I know!

Day 29 – Black and White

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Day 29 – By Jen

I have seen this idea around Pinterest here and there – thought I would give it a try!

Day 29 – By Chrissy

For more details about our 30 Day “Photog Wanna Be” Challenge click here. Or catch up with the challenge here.

Be sure to check out Monkey and Squish and Flower Faerie Lives Life - they have decided to take the challenge with us!

Day 28 – Flowers

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Day 28 – By Jen

I may or may not have taken this photo a few weeks ago – shhh don’t tell. But since flowers around here are still at least a month or more away I thought I would share this little out take from a recent shoot with Miss A. She has a flower in her hair, that counts – right?

Day 28 – By Chrissy

Since there are no flowers outside yet, I made this little paper flower today.

For more details about our 30 Day “Photog Wanna Be” Challenge click here. Or catch up with the challenge here.

Be sure to also check out Monkey and Squish and Flower Faerie Lives Life - they have decided to take the challenge with us!