Tea Tin Organizer

Last week, while wandering around the flea market, I spotted a table of vintage tea tins.  The $3 price tag on this Richelieu Green Tea container, convinced me it needed to come home with me and be transformed into an organizer for the refrigerator.

To make one of your own, gather the following supplies:  tin tea container, heavy duty magnet and J B Weld (or E-6000).

Use your adhesive and secure the magnet to the back of the tea tin. 

Stick it to your refrigerator.

Then, get organized!

*Notice the fortune cookie fortune on the fridge?  Apparently, someone with blue eyes admires me...which is a good thing because both Grace and Mr. While Wearing Heels have blue eyes.  It's a good reminder that I am admired and that they should continue to admire me :).

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Riley.

And, yes, we celebrate our dog's birthday, even though some may be ashamed to participate.

*Help me come up with a clever caption to this picture.  I'll share it on While Wearing Heels Facebook page later.

Decorate With What Makes You Happy.

Grace's bedroom is making the transition from little girl room to big girl room. 

Grace's little girl room remained fairly neutral in design, since it was originally decorated as a gender neutral nursery. 

Of course, now I have anything but a gender neutral big girl.  We've entered the phase of loving anything princess, pink and girly. 

This frame, or more specifically this print, unfortunately, does not fall into the princess, pink, girly category. 

I had considered removing the print and putting in a cork board to display pictures, cards or artwork but I had procrastinated.  For once, my procrastination paid off because, a few weeks ago, I participated in a summer house tour event, and I found the inspiration I needed from Cedar House Ranch.  Anita, the decorator and owner, shared her daughter's bedroom.  Above her daughter's bed, she had hung beautiful vintage white baby gowns.  

Cue the light bulb and inspiration I needed.  

I dug out Grace's baby clothes and found the dress she wore for her first Christmas.  This was a dress I loved then and still do now but, of course, tucked away in a box rarely gets appreciated...

 Until now.

Now this dress, pinned to some mat board covered in linen fabric, is proudly on display. 

It's pink, girly and slightly princessy so it fits Grace's expectations.  And, it brings a smile to my face that Grace's big girl room has beautiful tribute to the little girl she will always be in my heart.

Felt Gnome Finger Puppets Tutorial

To make these gnome finger puppets, gather the following supplies:  needle and thread (red, brown, blue), scissors, glue, felt (red, blue, yellow, white) and some small white rick rack (not pictured).

Ladies first.

To make a little lady gnome, print out the pattern below. Prep by cutting out all your pieces out of the appropriate color felt.

To one side of the gnome body (which will be the front), glue the top of the apron in the middle of the gnome body.  Glue rick rack over the top of the apron.

Grab the other body piece and place it behind the front piece, tucking the sides of the rick rack in between. Hand sew the sides closed, doing a simple running stitch, leaving the bottom open.

For the face, glue the nose into place.  Embroider eyes and mouth details, or cut pieces out of felt and glue into place.

To complete the gnome-ette, glue face to the back of the gnome hat.  Glue the hair into place.  Around the perimeter of the face, apply glue, attach the front of the gnome hat to the face.  Using a needle and red thread (or glue) secure the front and back of the gnome hat to each other and sew (or glue) the base of the hat to the body of the gnome.

Ta da...

What does every lady gnome need?  A gentleman gnome, of course.

To make the boy gnome, print out the pattern below. Prep by cutting out all your pieces out of the appropriate color thread.

Just as above, sew the body together leaving the bottom open.  Glue the nose, beard and mustache onto the gnome face.  Embroider eyes and lips (or cut pieces out of felt) to add to the face.  Either sew or glue the front of the hat over the top of the gnome face and secure the back of the hat into place as well.  Again, either by sewing or gluing, attach the head to the body of the gnome.

And, now your lady gnome has a friend.

Want to take these gnomes on the road?  Make a portable gnome home.

If you liked this tutorial, be sure to check out how to make a finger puppet stand and/or how to make felt Ninja finger puppets as well.

Or maybe you just like these felt creations, the Pottery Barn inspired Advent Calendar I made has some detailed patterns for 25 days of advent pockets.

Originally shared at 'Or so she says...'

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Dear Daddy; A Letter

You've got mail!

This summer, in preparation for kindergarten (which starts in exactly 2 week, I realize while holding back tears), Grace has been practicing letter recognition and penmanship by writing letters.

Grace decides who she wants to write to and what she wants to say, while I dictate the spelling.

In this case, she decided she wanted to write to Riley. 

We don't discriminate when it comes to letter writing.  Even if, when we delivered the letter to Riley, she looked at us as if to ask, 'who me?'.

It's been interesting to see how her penmanship has evolved throughout the summer and how her personality comes across in what she wants to say and how she signs her name. 

Some days we struggle with who we should write to but when something like this arrives in the mail...

Grace has no doubts who she'll write to and what she needs to say.

 Seriously, how could he resist?

Block Printing Wall Art

Children's art projects, I am learning, can quickly pile up in stacks leaving you with the great debate; do I keep this or slyly throw it away. 

I'll admit, I am guilty of slyly throwing away some of Grace's art...though, if ever she discovers something in the recycle bin, I throw the blame on Mr. While Wearing Heels.  'I have no idea how that got in there, your dad must have accidentally thrown it away'. 

This block printing project, though, is one that was not destined for the recycle bin, instead, it became prominently featured and framed.

Block printing is so easy.  So, go grab some yarn and a block of wood and your own little artist.  Wrap the yarn around the block and, from the back, tape the yarn into place.

 

Pour some paint, in whatever color you like, onto some scrap paper.  Have your little artist dip the block of wood into the paint.

Then let them get creative and stamp an entire piece of card stock paper in whatever pattern or design that inspires them.

When it's done, I am sure you'd agree, it's worthy of being put on display. 

What do you do with your children's artwork? 

Treasure Hunting

Our Wisconsin adventures consisted of more than just fishing contests. 

 

It also involved treasure hunting.

Seriously, what kid doesn't dream of going on a treasure hunt?

I know 3, in particular, that couldn't wait to go on a treasure hunt. 

*Don't worry, I don't have 2 more kids that I've been keeping secret from you...the boys are my nephews.

The kids just happened to stumble upon a treasure map and their adventure began with shouts of, I've always wanted to find a treasure OR I bet we'll find real rubies streaming from the mouths of these 3 eager children.

After studying the treasure map and following the clues...

they discovered a buried treasure.

The treasure included a few toy ponies, some arrowheads, both foreign and gold coins and a faux diamond necklace.  Those little hands, at the bottom of the picture, couldn't wait to divide their booty. 

Sadly, though, there were no rubies.  Grace kept insisting there must be more treasures to be found.  

Looks like I'll need to plan another treasure hunt in the near future, one that is overflowing with rubies.