How to get the Best baby footprint!

I don't know about you, but I love to make crafts!  Now that I have children, I love to make crafts that involved them!  However, that can get a bit messy!!  The first time I tried to paint my daughter's feet to make a footprint craft - oh my!  There was paint all over her, me, the towel I had put down and the paper I was trying to simply get one footprint on!  It was a mess!!

After a few trial and error attempts I have finally found the best way to capture those sweet little footprints - even on the wiggliest of my babies!

I prefer to use the washable paint! It cleans up so easily!!  I can use baby wipes, a rag, or just dip those precious little feet in the sink (which is definitely what my children prefer!)!!

The Bumbo seat has been the best thing I have used for feet painting!  It keeps their little legs pointed out, and keeps their feet from touching the floor (or anything else)!   

Then, I cover that sweet little foot with paint!  Thankfully my babies laugh at this part.  In teaching I have had some children who could not stand to have paint on their feet or hands - so we settled for tracing their feet/hands! 

To capture the footprint on paper I use a hard clipboard.  Simply place your paper on the clipboard and carefully press baby's foot against the paper.  The tricky part for me seems to be getting the toes (you can see a smeared toe in the picture).  I have found that if I start at the heel and roll the foot onto the paper pressing the toes in last I get the best footprint!

I hope this helps you as you create masterpieces with your babies!!

Newsprint Manicure...

So, last night I decided to try giving myself a manicure!  I have never been an excellent nail painter...especially when I have to use my left hand to paint my right! :)  However, I wanted to try the newsprint on fingernails idea.  I did not have an off white color as they show in the Pinterest picture.  So, I chose a shade of hot pink....I figured the black newsprint would still stand out against such a bright color.  I first tried applying the rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball...but that did not work.  So, I poured some rubbing alcohol in a small bowl and soaked each nail one at a time for about 5 seconds.  Immediately after taking my nail out of the alcohol I pressed a small piece of newspaper against it.  I did learn that if you press to hard  it will dent your existing nail polish! :)  However, it worked!!  I now have typing on my fingernails!  I want to get an off while polish and try the road map next!!

The picture isn't that great, but you can at least tell that the newsprint did show up! It does look better and more clear in person! :)

The Bathroom Remodel...

Normally when you remodel a room in your house, it is because you have saved your pennies and are ready to change how that room looks.  Well, I have been ready to do a few small things to change my bathroom, but had not save enough pennies yet.  I also didn't really plan for the Master Bathroom to be the first room to get a fresh coat of paint and such.  However, that is what is about to happen!!

I was putting my makeup on the other morning and stepped closer to the mirror and the floor was 'squishy'.  Of course, Stephen was at work, but later that evening when he stepped on it, you could hear the boards squeaking.  We decided this was definitely a bad sign and called our insurance agent the next day.  They gave us another number to call, they said they would have someone call us back in a couple days (meanwhile I'm hoping my bathroom lasts that long!).  While waiting, I do not like standing on the 'squishy' floor, so thankfully we have a second (smaller) bathroom, which all of my 'get ready' things have been moved to.

So, a couple WEEKS later after an insurance adjuster and a contractor have looked at our bathroom and conversed about the details we learn that we have a leak in the wall behind the vanity (which backs up the Master Bedroom closet) and they will have to tear our the vanity, toilet and part of the wall and sub flooring.  However, insurance will cover the majority of the work (for which I am very grateful).  I will have to remove everything from the bathroom and Master closet...YIKES!  Due to the dust from the the drywall and the fact that Stephen sleeps during the day, we will also have to move ourselves to the guest room and cover the bed and furniture in the Master bedroom to protect it from the dust!

I decided, since the bathroom was going to be taken completely apart, I might as well do a few projects I have seen on pinterest, as well as paint the bathroom!  Right now it is has lavender walls and a floral border (that is peeling off) from the previous owner. I am also thinking about painting/staining the vanity and painting the cabinet pulls to match the towel bar and shelf we got at Wal-Mart (all ideas from Pinterest!  We will also be getting new vinyl flooring!

I will go ahead and post the 'before' pictures....don't really know how long it will take the contractors to fit us into their schedule, and then how long it will take for them to pull everything out and let the leak dry out, and then replace it all.  So, as things progress I will post more 'in progress' pictures!

Please excuse any dirt you may see...I didn't really see the need to clean and mop since the floor is about to be torn up!!

FREE - THIS SATURDAY!!!

So, today was a run around town and do errands kind of day.  Including standing in line 45 minutes waiting to order at Chick-fil-A (I think it is wonderful when someone stands up for what they believe in...wish more people would stand up for their beliefs)!  Therefore, I did not do any project in its entirety...However, I did do small parts of various projects! :)  Keep checking back to see some pretty neat things I've been working on!!   I did find an amazing coupon that I wanted to share.  This Saturday (August 4th) you can get a free quart of pain at your local Ace Hardware.  Simply print the coupon, fill it out, and take to your store! 

I will definitely be using this!  I have two projects in mind, so if I can get my sweet, thoughtful, loving, wonderful (just in case he reads this) husband to stay awake long enough after he gets off work, I will print a coupon for him too!  I am trying to do a few projects to give our house a little 'cheap' face lift and FREE paint will most certainly help with that!! We have a front door, hand rail, and 6 shutters that NEED paint!  Check back for pictures of how I use my free paint and please let me know how you use yours!