New! Services Page

Many have asked lately if I am still selling art on Etsy, or how my online shop is doing. The shop is doing great! I love the little space I have to sell artwork online. 

Most of you know about the Etsy shop and my blog, of course, but did you  know about the variety custom art and design services I offer?! That's right, not only do I sell greeting cards on Etsy and share DIY projects on the blog, but I also do custom paintings, murals, invitation design and more!

For those who do not know yet, I am thrilled to announce that this summer I officially began running this little art business full time! I have added an outline summarizing each service on my About page. I will also be highlighting each service in more details here on the blog in the coming weeks. You can already view my post on wood burned signs as well as this post with my most recent mural! 

Our Services Include:

Certificates

Murals

Custom Paintings

Woodburned and Painted Wooden Signs

Envelope Addressing

Invitation Design

Visit the About page for all the details!

I'd love to discuss any of these services that interested you further! Also, be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on the latest offerings. 

Fruit and Coconut Milk Popsicles

Summer is coming to an end, but its definitely not over yet! I am welcoming a few more hot days before fall. What's better on a warm afternoon than Popsicles!?

These coconut milk pops swirled with real fruit are the perfect combination of tangy and creamy!

You will need:

1 Can full fat Coconut Milk

1 Cup Strawberries

1 Mango 

1 Tsp Vanilla

Olive Oil 

Sugar 

1/4 Cup Honey

1. Wash and cut the strawberries into quarters. Toss them with a small drizzle of olive oil and 2 spoonfuls of sugar. Spread them out onto a baking sheet coated with parchment paper. Roast the strawberries at 350°F for about 12 minutes. Roasting the strawberries releases the juice and gives the strawberries a more concentrated flavor!

Repeat this by roasting the mango peeled and cut into chunks and also tossed in olive oil and sugar. 

Puree your strawberries and mango separately in a food processor or with an immersion blender. Place the purees in separate bowls. 

2. Pour the can of coconut milk, honey, and vanilla into a food processor and blend well. The coconut milk may come out of the can in a solid form and that is fine. 

3. Spoon fruits and coconut milk into a Popsicle mold in layers until each compartment is full.

4. Push a Popsicle stick down into the center of each mold compartment. If you'd like to swirl around the fruit and milk a little more, do so with the stick before placing it in its final position. 

5. Freeze the pops overnight and run the outside of the mold under warm water before carefully removing the Popsicles. 

We are hoping to fit in one more camping trip and a little more pool time before Summer is over. What are your plans for these final days?

How To: Origami Dress Necklace

Once I learned how to make Oragami dresses from scrapbook paper, I was hooked! They are so sweet, I just want to wear them. :) 

I started out by making a dress necklace for a friend's little girl on her birthday. Then I made one for myself, now I'm making them in all the colors and patterns in sight!

You will need:

1 Sheet Scrapbook Paper

Jewelry Wire

1 Split Ring

25" Necklace Chain with Findings

Wire Cutters

Hot Glue

Scissors

Pencil

Tape Measure or Ruler

Clear Gloss Sealer

1. Cut out two 2" squares of scrapbook paper. Make sure your paper is thin and not cardstock. Also, a small pattern works best since the dress will be so tiny. :)

2. Follow the instructions in this tutorial from Inklings & Yarns to create an origami dress from one square. 

3. With the remaining square patterned side down, trace the dress outline onto it. 

4. Cut out the dress outline. 

5. Snip a 3" piece of jewelry wire. Feed it through the split ring and tie a knot. 

6. With the 2 ends of the wire together, hot glue the ring to back of the dress. Allow the ring to pop out the top of the dress. 

7. Glue the dress backing you cut out to the dress to cover the ring and wire. I used Modge Podge to make sure the backing was sealed right to the edges of the dress. 

8. When you flip the dress over, if any white from the backing shows, trim it off. 

9. Place the dress charm on a piece of cardboard or newspaper and spray it with glossy sealer in a well ventilated area. I gave mine 2 coats front and back. 

10. Feed your dress charm through a chain and its ready to wear!

Wes and I have made a habit of going on mid day dates during the week because of his work schedule. Lately they have involved a sugar fix and outdoors. Since we are saving for some big things like a HOUSE, we try to think of things to do for free or little money. :) 

This week, Sprouts had these pretty bottles of sparkling lemonade for $2.99. Donuts and lemonade make a pretty good time!

How To: Graphic Pencil Bag

The end of the summer can be a drag, but I was always a little more excited for school to start once I got my school supplies. I couldn't wait to sport my new binder and pencil bag, and write with my new pens on the first page of the clean new notebook!

Graphic pencil bags are easy to personalize with your favorite phrases! I don't go to school anymore, but I do carry my pencil bag almost everywhere with my working essentials. I like to be prepared to bust out art supplies at all times. ;)

You will need:

Burlap Pencil Bag (Mine is 7x10" from Hobby Lobby, but they carry smaller ones as well!)

Print out of your favorite phrase on 8 1/2x 11" sheet

Sharpie

Paint Brush

White Glossy Craft Paint

1. Print out your favorite phrase on a sheet of 8 1/2x 11" computer paper. I just played around with it in Word until I had the size and spacing I liked. Impact is an easy blocky font to paint. Be sure your font is centered, large and bold enough to fill in with a paint brush. Also, keep it fairly simple. :)

2. Cut off the bottom half of the sheet and place it centered inside the bag. 

3. Trace the phrase onto the bag with a Sharpie. The easiest way to see the font inside the bag is to hold the bag up to a window while tracing. 

4. Using a fine paint brush, fill in the font with paint. Keep the printed paper inside the bag while painting to prevent bleeding through. Carefully cover all the black sharpie with 2 coats of paint. 

5. Once the paint dries, remove the print out from the bag and fill it with your go-to supplies!

By now, I'm sure you've picked up on my burlap obsession and my tendency to use this painting method on. everything. in. sight.  I love the neutral colors and screen printed look that goes with anything!

I kind of hope you pick up the habit. ;) What phrase would you add to your bag?

How To: Bathroom Accessories

We received some beautiful metal bath accessories when we got married. However, everyday use was a little too hard on them. We needed something glass in the master bathroom that could easily be washed and could handle everyday wear and tear without getting destroyed. 

I have a slight obsession with Blue Ball Mason Jars and always keep a package around. They are easy to clean and can even go in the dishwasher, so I decided they would make the perfect bathroom canisters. The blue matches our bedroom perfectly as well!

You will need:

3 Blue Ball Mason Jars

2 Decorative Knobs (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)

6x10" scrap piece of lace

Fabric Scissors

Drill and drill bit matched up with size of knobs

Hot Glue

Sharpie

1. Use a sharpie to mark where you will drill the hole in the lid of the mason jar. 

2. Use a drill to create a hole large enough for your knob to go through the lid. 

3. Trace the band of the lid onto a piece of lace and cut out the circle. 

4. Using a hot glue gun, glue the lace on top of the band. 

5. Glue the lace covered band onto the jar's lid. 

6. Snip the lace in the center to line up with the hole you drilled into the lid. 

7. Unscrew the washer and bolt from the decorative knob, and feed the knob through the hole from the top of the lid. 

8. Re screw the washer and bolt tight underneath the jar lid. 

9. Place the lid on top of the mason jar. You could screw the lid down, but in order to lift it up by the knob, I simply set the lid on top of the jar like a canister. 

10. Create 2 canisters with knobs for cotton balls and q-tips. To create a toothbrush holder, remove the band from the lid, and screw the lid back onto the 3rd mason jar so that it has an opening for your brushes!

To clean, jars may be placed in the dishwasher. The lids with knobs should be wiped by hand.