DIY handwritten covered lampshade

Today, while the girls were sleeping, i crafted... I got this idea from the beloved Pinterest but i couldn't find a tutorial so..... i made my own!  It was super easy, only took me about an hour from start to finish and i love the way it turned out!  The best part is, it didn't cost me a thing!  I used the lampshade that was on the lamp and i had the rest of the materials in my craft area (aka: millions of hobby lobby bags and plastic totes that i had to dig through to find what i needed:) 

All you need is:  Lampshade, sharpie, hot glue gun and burlap or fabric of your choosing!

1.  Start by unrolling the fabric off your lampshade.  This can be a little tricky depending on the thickness of the fabric.  Take your time so you don't rip through it.  This is going to be your pattern!

2. Once you get the whole lampshade unrolled, lay it on top of your fabric and trace around it, or if you're impatient like me you can just freehand around it with some scissors :) it should look something like this when you're done.

3.  Now you're on to the fun part!  hot glue the two pieces of fabric and start writing!  I chose a song from our wedding, "That's what love is" to write on my lampshade.  The possibilities are endless with this project.  You could write your favorite quotes, bible verse or even a letter to your child (to put in their room).

This is what it looked like when i was done (before i glued it onto the lampshade)

4.  Glue your fabric back on to your lampshade, and Voila!  You have a beautiful, personalized lampshade to display in your home!

Happy Crafting Friends!  Have a blessed Easter!

Prodigal or Princess?

I'm back from a rather long hiatus (sorry about that) and what better time to return than refreshed and restored from a retreat to Montreat, NC with some fabulous women!  I can't say enough about the wonderful time i had there. We laughed, we cried .........and......we cried....... and....... we cried some more.  I'm well aware that statement sounds like a total contradiction, but they weren't sad tears.  They were tears of joy and tears of release and forgiveness for others and ourselves.

My best friend Lindsey and i on a break from our session

Since returning home, two words from our "sessions" have been echoing in my mind.  Princess and Prodigal.  At one time or another, i can imagine that both have described all of us...I know they have described me.  You see, I've never had a problem with thinking of myself as God's princess.  He is the King and i am his daughter, so that makes me a princess, right?  That brings me to the Prodigal.  I used to relate the word Prodigal with the parable in the bible about the prodigal son, you know, the one that took his inheritance early and squandered it all, eventually coming back in to the welcoming arms of his father? Until recently, i often related this story to big events in a persons life that caused them to run from God or do something drastic.  Since returning home and having really thought about this word and prayed about it, I'm realizing that anything that causes us to take our eyes off God and go away from him  makes us a "prodigal".  Aren't we constantly running back to our "father" just like the boy in the story?  Aren't his forgiving arms always welcoming, ready to receive us when we do?   I'm so thankful that they are.  I know they have welcomed this prodigal back time after time.  I hope that wherever you are,  you always realize that no matter what you've done, big or small, it's all the same to God.  If you are a child of God, it says in his word that he not only forgives us of our sins but that he doesn't even remember them!

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” (Isaiah 43:25-26 )

so what are you waiting for?  run back in to his arms like i did and will continue to do.  He's waiting....arms open wide.

Stationery card

Simply Elegant Frames Christmas Card

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Giving Thanks

"He who gives thanks for little will always find he has enough"

Hope wherever you are you're having a wonderful thanksgiving filled with family, laughter, friends and God's blessings...

grateful to say we are....

Happy Thanksgiving. Love,The Patterson's

Jeepers Creepers!

What. A. Day.  Both girls were in a pageant today and boy is this Momma worn out!  After going through the pictures i realized i only got the camera out when they were wearing their theme wear.... I'm really hoping my mother in law got some pictures of them in their Beauty dresses.  Today was Saylor's first pageant and she sure gave me a run for my money.  Up until the last few months she has been my laid back, calm, go with the flow child....lets just say she's "livened up" a bit!  As we approach the dreaded "terrible twos" I'm reminded that this too shall pass...It seems like yesterday Lily Grace was there and now she's "Miss Independent"!  I could not be more proud of her for her performance today.  She modeled and carried herself like a pro, with a smile on her face and a great attitude.  While she and i were waiting to go on stage i asked her "When did you get so big"? to which she replied "Mommy i have to get bigger, so i can be a dadult like you".  If only she knew, how fast her childhood will go. 


My Little Scarecrow

Not Pictured: Saylor (Because she's too hard to catch :)

My Little Ghost (after she pulled off the eyes and mouth all while saying "uh oh"...thank goodness for safety pins!)

Aunt Amy and Lily Grace.  Couldn't have done it without her!

Saylor after winning "prettiest eyes".  She loves purses!

When it was all said and done we took home prettiest eyes, prettiest smile and First Runner Up, but most importantly we had fun!  Especially thankful to my family and friends for supporting our girls.  Now this momma has some serious snoozing to do....5:00 AM comes early (starting a new workout tomorrow...wish me luck!)

Thumb Tack Wreath/Dollar Store Craft

Well, I'm back from vacation (four days of being trapped on a cruise ship in hurricane winds and rain). it was awesome terrifying, although Derek thought it was fun. (he's a big kid :)  and i have a great craft for you!  I saw a picture of this on Pinterest but when i clicked on it the link had expired so i kind of "winged it".  I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!  For $5.00 or less you can have a beautiful wreath great for any season with just a change of ribbon!

I started with a foam wreath form that i had in my craft stash.  It was broken but there's nothing a little duct tape can't fix right?

Then i made a little visit to my favorite store......Dollar Tree! and picked up four boxes of gold Thumb Tacks. (you can find them with the flash lights, light bulbs and other miscellaneous household items....did i mention i Love Dollar Tree?)  There are 300 in a pack and i used four.....that's a grand total of 1200 Thumb Tacks!  An Hour of Grey's Anatomy and i was half-way through. I even let Lily Grace help! (and got fussed at later when the hubby found three thumb tacks in our bed...oops ;)

Here's how it turned out!

I love it!  Perfect for Fall and Christmas!  You could even paint it, but i loved the way the gold looked.

Happy Crafting everyone!

the most important decision you'll ever make

Until about an hour ago i had a fabulous craft that i was going to share with you, but the craft will have to wait because this sweet face accepted Jesus today!

You see, she goes to a church preschool, and every week they have Chapel time with the senior pastor.  Today, when she came home she began to tell me how God loved us and that he made us.  We talked as i scurried around the house picking up remnants of last nights play session and yesterdays wardrobe, until we ended up in my walk-in-closet.  As we talked her questions grew more and more in dept.  She shared with me that she knew Jesus died on the Cross for her so that she could live with him forever in heaven, but that she didn't know how to ask him into her heart.  I told her that when she was ready, we would pray together and i started to walk out.  She grabbed me by the hand and with the biggest smile on her face said "No mommy, i want to pray now!"  So, there in the closet we got on our knees and i led her in a prayer to receive Christ!  I believe with all my heart that even at three she understands her decision and that she is saved.  Since my babies were born i have been praying for two things: 1. That they would accept Christ and 2.  That God would be working in the life of a boy somewhere that would be meant for them.  God answers prayers and just like Lily Grace said " He loves us and He made us". 

Have you made the most important decision of your life? 

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:9-10