A trip, just me and my husband...

Remember that silly thing you did when you were dating.  You hand your camera to your boyfriend and say, "take a picture of us".  Then he awkwardly holds the camera out with the lens facing you, and you cuddle in before you snaps the picture.  Remember that?

Well, we totally stopped doing that once our first kid arrived.  We just started taking pictures of that kid.  And than another kid came along, and we took even fewer pictures of ourselves, together or otherwise.

But, I was extremely blessed this month.  I got a European trip, just me and my husband.

It was fabulous!  Not only did we visit the Czech Republic, Austria, The Netherlands and Scotland, but we got some much needed time to reconnect...and snap a few pictures of ourselves, just like we did when we were dating....

Here is a quick run-down of where we are in each picture:
Row 1: Amsterdam, Prague, Prague
Row 2: Prague, Vienna, Vienna
Row 3: Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Lock Ness Area

And now I am home, adjusting to that, but feeling very lucky, and very loved!

Satin Stitch Cross

Churches are among some of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  In particular I love stained glass...the way light shines through it, the various colors.  My husband's family parish has some of the most unique stained glass I've ever seen.  Entire portions of the wall are stained glass, only without the usual images or words.  It is simply various shapes of glass randomly arranged.  I think it is beautiful.

And inspiring.

Since I am a crazy person, I lugged all of my embroidery supplies to Pennsylvania for Easter (along with two kids under 2) and stitched this up one evening while my husband and I watched Les Miserable (Bravo Anne Hathaway!!).  Really, it can be stitched up in the time it takes to watch that movie.

Supplies:
Embroidery Thread (helps if you are a thread hoarder, like me!)
Embroidery Hoop
Sharpie
Ruler
Fabric (I used a thrifted napkin)
Interfacing

There are only a few steps to this project.

First of all, iron on the interfacing to your fabric.  This will give you a sturdier place to stitch.
Then, take the sharpie and draw out the outline of your cross.  Once you have your outline, grab the ruler and make various lines within the outline.  This will mark off where the various colors will be in your cross.

• Once you have your fabric marked, start stitching!  I stitched with three threads at once.  Simply, bring your needle up at one edge of the outline and down at the other end.  Continue to stitch with parallel stitches until the entire area is covered.  When I moved onto a neighboring section I tried to make sure that the stitches in that area where going in a different direction.
• Once the interior of the cross was filled, I went around the outside with a backstitch in black thread.
• Finally, I trimmed the outside and put it in a thrifted frame.

I hope you like it!

Here is another picture I took of my son and husband at his home parish over Easter.  I took this on Good Friday...

Yup...that just about sums up Good Friday.

There is nothing like the faith of a child...

Gus: Wordless Wednesday with Linky

My little guy is going to be two years old in just a few days!  Where did the time go?

Thank you for stopping by to share your Wordless Wednesday!

Photo Transfer Pillow

There are certain pictures that are just so sweet I want to look at them all the time.  One of those pictures is this one, of a rather proper looking man and woman holding hands as they swing around on one of those swing rides.  How sweet!  They guy looks so calm and the woman looks like she is having the time of her life!  Love it.

Now, I love looking at this picture...but it was hidden in a National Geographic book.  Well, I couldn't let that continue, so I tore the picture out...but now what to do with it?  Photo Transfer!

I have done several photo transfers (here, here, here and here), but I wanted to do something a bit different, so I made this lovely swinging couple into a pillow.

Here's the how to:
Supplies:
Photo (printed in any way other than ink jet)
Fabric
Transfer Medium (Mod Podge makes this, along with other brands)
Paint Brush
Wet Rag
Mod Podge, Matte Finish
Sewing Machine
Batting to fill pillow
Black Fabric

First of all, cover the original picture with a generous coat of transfer gel and place it face down onto the fabric (sorry, no photo of this).

• After the transfer medium has dried completely, place a wet rag on top and allow to dry completely.
• Once the paper is soaked, begin to run at the paper with the pads of your fingers.  the paper will begin to roll off, and the image will remain.
• Keep rubbing until all the paper is removed.  Be warned, the transfer will not be perfect.  Parts of the image will come off with the paper leaving an "aged" look.
• With all of the paper removed, apply a coat of Mod Podge to seal the image.
• Then, trim the fabric to prepare for making the pillow.
• Head to the sewing machine and sew a strip of back fabric to all four edges.  Iron flat the seams, being careful not to melt the mod podge sections!
• Place face down on another piece of black fabric.  Sew all four sides, leaving a gap to flip right side out and fill with batting.
• Stuff, hand sew shut the opening...and done!

Ah, how romantic!

I hope your romance is as sweet as this!

Felt and Button Wine Glass Charms

My husband and I enjoy the occasional glass of wine, and although we aren't too concerned about mixing up our glasses, I though a little bit of felt and some great buttons would make some great charms.

This project is easy, easy easy!  Seriously, pay attention.  This tutorial is so simple that it's like the small towns in rural Minnesota, where I grew up.  If your not paying attention, you're going to miss it!

Ready?

Let's make some colorful, funky, FELT wine glass charms.

Supplies:
Felt Scraps
Fabulous Buttons (I get mine here)
Needle and Thread
Black thin ribbon

 First off, cut the felt into a tear drop shape, with the flat edge on a fold, as shown in the picture.

Ummmm....and then, fold it in half, stitch on your fabulous buttons, add a ribbon.

And, you're done!

Was that easy enough for ya?

Who says crafting has to be hard work?

Well, the great things about simple crafts is that it leaves plenty of time to put your feet up and enjoy a glass of wine, which is where I am headed right now.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks, as always for stopping by!

Win a Sihouette Cameo!

 

Welcome to the Silhouette CAMEO® Giveaway! I am excited to join Nap Time is My Time and several other amazing bloggers who made this great giveaway possible! One very lucky winner will receive a brand new Silhouette CAMEO® electronic cutting tool! In the box: A Silhouette CAMEO® electronic cutting tool, Silhouette Studio® software, 51 exclusive cuttable designs, Power cable, USB cable, 12" cutting mat, Cutting blade, $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store, and Basic Instruction Guide. Giveaway is open to US only. Prize valued at $300! This giveaway is open to US and ends May 31 at 11:59 PM EST. Come back everyday for more chances to win by completing our daily entries!

Guest Post: Eva from Tales of the Scotts

I am still off tromping through Europe.  I am so grateful to have Eva here today.  Please welcome here and check out her beautiful blog!

Hi everyone!  I'm Eva and I blog over at Tales of the Scotts.  I'm a stay-at-home momma to two little people that keep me on my toes.  Much to my patient husband's chagrin, my dining room table is always full of  little "projects" I have going on. 

I'm really happy to be here on Do Small Things With Love and am excited to share with you my favorite projects over the past couple of years.

I have a tie for my most pinned project.  One is my Felt Easter Egg Wreath.  Like Nancy, I love working with felt.  It's so versatile forgiving and inexpensive.  I also love making wreaths so I combined both loves to make this Easter wreath.

And the other most pinned project is my Pumpkin Snowman.  This was a super easy and kid-friendly project.  

One of my top viewed posts is my Naptime Activity Sticks.  These came in handy when I had my second baby and all my son wanted to do was play the drums while she was napping.  ;-)

I love doing freezer stenciling projects.  I'm amazed at how many people have either never tried it or never heard of it.  One of my favorites was my I Love My Husband t-shirt.  

One of my favorite DIY things to do is make wreaths.  I've made lots over the years.  I love this Sunshine Pinwheel Wreath I recently made for a baby shower I was co-hosting.  

I love, love, love garland and banners.  My husband asked how many more I was going to put up in the house.  Seriously?  :-)  I love my Christmas garland, including my Glitter Deer Canvas.

I hope to see all of you over at Tales of the Scotts!  Thanks again for having me Nancy!  

You can keep in touch with me on

Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram

Guest Post: Scrappy Housewife

I am off in Europe--having a great time, but missing you all, and missing my sweet baby!  Christine, from the Scrappy Housewife is here to keep you company while I am gone!

Hey y'all! My name is Christina and I blog over at The Scrappy Housewife. I'm a stay at home wife, dog mama and blogger and I am so excited to be sharing my blog with you while Nancy is away on her fabulous vacation. (I'm also a smidge jealous!)

On my blog I share a variety of things:

Sewing and craft projects:

Organizing Tips:

Scrapbooking short-cuts:

Cooking and kitchen tips:

And so much more! When I am not blogging you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.  I would love it if you'd stop by and visit me sometime. 

I'd like to thank Nancy for having me and girl, I wish you a safe and happy trip. And come back with lots of pictures so we can all live vicariously through you! :) 

Rose: Wordless Wednesday with Linky

This week's Wordless Wednesday is dedicated to my other Godchild, Little Rose who recently celebrated her 1st birthday.  What a beautiful little girl she is!

Thanks for sharing your WW here!

Felt Gift Card Envelopes

Hello All!  I am stopping by today to share a very simple project coming your way just in time for graduation gifts and teacher appreciation.  My friend Amy, over at One Artsy Mama, did a facebook poll to find out the most desired teacher's gift, and her finding did not surprise this former teacher.  What do they want--gift cards.  Duh!  When I taught I loved my students, really.  I miss them all individually even to this day.  BUT, do I want a mug with each of their pictures on it...or a picture with each of their signatures...or a vase with cute well wishes written on it?  Not really.  I'd prefer a gift card to Target, where I shop every week.  I like getting things that I actually need (money) and so I like to give things that people actually need.

My kids are just 2 and 6 months, so we really aren't into the teacher appreciation gifts yet, but I did have the joy of being part of BSF this year and last.  BSF if a wonderful Biblestudy that offers fellowship and free childcare while you are there.  And my son LOVED it.  He had terrific teachers who sang to him, hugged him, read him stories and taught him the most important lessons in the world.  I just had to give them something, something very small, to show them how much we appreciated them!

And just giving a gift card in a store bought card just isn't my style.

So, I whipped up these little felt envelopes.  Super easy and super cheap.  Here's the how to:

Supplies:
Craft Felt
Sewing Machine and Thread
Snap, Applicator and Hammer

First, cut felt so that it is 3x (plus some) taller than a gift card and slightly wider.  Cut the top third so that it is triangular.
Then, use stitch pins to mark the middle third.  Add embellishments in this region.  I added a heart stamp.
Next, head to the sewing machine.  Fold the bottom 1/3 up so that it looks like and envelop with this top up.  Start sewing at the bottom fold on one side and sew all around, across the top flap, until you reach the opposite fold.
Finally, add a snap, following the directions your snaps come with. Mine, and most, use an applicator and a hammer.

Done!

This project satisfied my desire to do something cute for his wonderful teachers, and yet still give them something that they will actually use.

 

Thanks for being here,

 

Felt and Button Boutonniere

Okay, confession time.  I never went to prom.  I never really cared to go...and I never really got asked.

Don't worry, I'm not torn up about it or anything.  In fact, from what I can gather I didn't really miss that much.  None-the-less, it is hard not to notice that it is prom season.  These days I don't have much to do with high school students, and yet I can sense the prom excitement.

So, as a silly tribute to proms everywhere, I stitched up this quick and easy button boutonniere.  I like it because it is cute and ironic.

Supplies:

Buttons (I lot mine at Lots of Buttons)

Felt: green for the leaves and grey for the backing

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

Needle and Thread

• First of all, cut out some leaf shapes.  I used two different shades of green.  Place on top of the background felt and stitch down with one long stitch.
• Then, sew down your buttons.
• Trim excess felt
• And, use your hot glue gun to attach a pin to the back.

Okay, I think we are all ready for the crafty prom!  

(hummm...it is becoming clearer why I didn't get asked to prom...hummm)  Just kidding!

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for being here!

Guest Post: Sarah from Sarah SaturDIY

Once again, while I am away I have a few other bloggers that were nice enough to jump over and share with you.  Enjoy!

Hi everybody! My name is Sarah and I blog over at Sarah SaturDIY. Some of my favorite things to blog about are crafts, DIY projects (especially thrift shop makeovers), and home decor. AND, although my sewing skills are nowhere near Nancy's, I'm gradually adding some sewing projects to my arsenal (although unfortunately, none of them involve felt ;P ). I'm so happy to be guest posting today at Do Small Things with Love. I wanted to share with you a few of my all-time favorite craft projects: One thing you probably should know about me is that I'm
"thrifty." I like to reuse things whenever possible, and I hate throwing things away. So for this past Earth Day I recycled a bunch of old t-shirts and jeans into a rag rug. My pug dog Petey was kind enough to model it for me:

 

This craft was so much fun to make - and it was super easy to do too! I promise. Even if you've never crocheted before, this no-sew rug is very easy to learn how to create. Next thing you should know about me is that I love owls. Anyone who's been to my house can tell you that - they're absolutely everywhere in my home. I completely redid my bedroom in yellow and gray, so of course, I had to have some yellow and gray owls to go in the bedroom.

 

This was one of the earliest crafts I made for my blog, and I just love it! I mean, look at these kooky guys. Who wouldn't want this terrific trio hanging out in their bedroom? Last but not least, purple is my favorite color. I know, I know...you'd think my favorite colors would be gray and yellow since I did my whole bedroom in those colors. But actually, pretty much every other craft I do features purple. I needed some place to put my business cards, so I made my own using purple paint chips.

 

This is a great craft for any blogger going to a convention who needs somewhere to put their business cards. Actually, it's a good craft for ANYONE with business cards. And it only took me about 15 minutes to make! I want to thank Nancy so much for asking me to blog post, and I hope you'll all take a minute to come over and visit Sarah SaturDIY. I like to think the crafts I put up on the blog are things that anyone can make - from beginning crafters to kids to expert bloggers. So don't hesitate to click on over and find something to make.

Thanks Sarah!