A Letter to those of you in my Heart on Mother's Day

Dear Sweet Friends,
As many of you know, I have a very tender heart for so many women on Mother's Day.  I wish many of you a happy one as you cherish those precious blessings in your life.

My own day started so sweet as I opened  hand picked gifts from both my girls.  They each got me gum, picked out precious cards and wrote in their endearingly sweet handwriting of a child. They drew me beautiful pictures that I look at with a heart that swells with a love I did not know possible.

My oldest picked out a hot pink cell phone case for me knowing mine was broken.  And my youngest got me a hot pink set of tools.  I know I will be a smiling fool whacking at some nails with that delicious pink hammer some day soon. Those girls are so precious. They even picked out flip flops for me.  Ella chose green (her favorite color) and Cati chose pink (her favorite color).  When I got dressed for the day, I could not choose which ones to wear.

So I wore both. ♥

Who knew what a mother's heart will do for her precious babies? People looked at my feet and then at me like I was a complete nut but so be it. I am nuts...about my girls!

But my heart typically focuses on many women whose pain was great today.  For many years, this day brought me pain as I ached for a baby.  As I prayed year after year to be called that beautiful name that would belong only to me from my own precious child...Mommy. This day was one where I would wish the hours away, avert my eyes from the the bouquets of flowers being bought or received, or sadly witness happy families with the mother (yet again) bursting with child as they ushered their other children here and there. Sitting with pain and an odd sense of shame as mother's were asked to stand in church to be honored for their so coveted role and title.

It was typically a dark day year after year.

So today is the day I stand up for women who I share a bond with for always.  Where this day brings pain, grief, and maybe even anger.  Because I have walked in your pain.  And carry a bit with me now so I will never forget my journey. Or your fragile heart as you courageously work out these emotions in your heart.

To you...

Women (and men) who have lost their mother in death.

Mother's who have lost a child to death or miscarriage.

Mother's who are not yet mother's because they are waiting for God to bless them by conceiving yet in their hearts they are a mother already without a baby to hold.

Mother's who anxiously wait to adopt and still have not wrapped their arms around their babies and ache for them to be home soon.

Mother's who have courageously given their children up for adoption knowing they will have a better life.

Mother's who may be estranged from their children or vice versa due to past hurts and mistakes.

For you I stand because I have a special place in my heart for you.  

Today I prayed for you all day. 

Loving you without knowing your name and seeing your precious face. But knowing you are there. Praying that this day will somehow bring you peace and a knowing of God's perfect love.

My daughter's birth mother was on my mind a lot too.  

Does she miss her?  Is her heart full of regret?  

I know she has other children she has lost too. Sadly, due to poor choices.  

Does she feel like a childless mother?  Does she know that her ultimate, sacrficial decision allowed me to gain that glorious name...that her birth child made ME a mother? Does she know? 

So I prayed.

For her and each and every one of you.

With more love in my heart then you may ever even know.

And I stand for you this day letting you know that a person you have never met...honored YOU.

Lots of love and blessings,

Jessica

Craft Room Feature: Raising Up Rubies Blog

All righty.  Be prepared to swoon.  This craft room is seriously my favorite craft room ever.  I'm currently working on my own but this one...THIS ONE...(sigh)!  I have seen a lot, pinned a lot, loved a lot.  But this one is so me, so perfect down to the itty bittiest little detail that I am over the moon smitten with it!

Miss Jaime from Raising Up Rubies DIYed this gorgeous room to complete brilliance. And I just love Jaime.  She just launched her new blog and she has tons of talent.  She was a contributor over at Seven Sisters but decided to go on her own and I am so excited to see what she has up her sleeve. If this craft room is any indication of what she has in store...we will NOT be disappointed.  I am already uber inspired by this room!

Um, this table was made from scratch.  

She can have crafty get togethers. For real.
 I think I'm coveting this table.
(I am amazed at how she did the bookshelf in the background there too)

And her sewing area is just amazing. 

This colorful and pretty thread storage is made from an old typesetting box.

The table was decoupaged with a dress pattern and a fabric measuring tape on the edge. 

♥The pretty, ruffled table skirt is made from a shower curtain.♥

All this storage is well thought out and so, so pretty too! 

{I especially love the vintage pillowcases in the birdcage.}

Please check out Jaime's full post on her gorgeous craft room.  There is so much more to this room but if I share it all, you won't get to meet the lovely Jaime. :) Her sweet blog is sure to be an absolute delight and I adore her beautiful style.  She has been blessed with so many creative gifts and I am excited to follow her and be inspired time and time again.

Thanks Jaime for being incredibly, wonderfully YOU!
{oh, and tell your hubby he is pretty amazing for all he did for this space too}
♥
P.S.  If any of you dear, precious friends would like to pin this craft room, please pin it from Jaime's blog so it will link back to HER.  Thanks so much!

Instagram Love

Oh my word. I seriously wonder why I drag my feet to try new things.
Like my new crush on instagram. ♥
It was one of the first apps to be downloaded on my phone.  And then it just sat there.  Just chillling between the little Joann's app that I use to scan coupons and the ihandy level that I have never used but find incredibly awesome that my phone can be a level.  I mean, who knows when you need to hang a gallery wall on the fly? You just don't know.

But anyway.  Instagram.  I love that it can be personal, day to day stuff. I love photos.  I love capturing the normal moments that are really precious and easily forgotten.  Like eating ice cream, or flowers you just planted.  Just awesome.

And I know I hardly ever show pictures of me on my blog.  Probably because you come here to see crafts and not my goofy face.  But I do more me pics on Instagram.  My kids.  My life.

See?  It's like a more personal side of a blogger.  Pinterest is their tastes and interests,  a blog is like a specific niche.  Facebook is reconnecting.  Twitter is updates and funny stuff said. Instagram is daily life. All your social needs to get to know someone without laying eyes on that person in real life.

OK.  That made me a little sad.  I'm officially inviting you all over for coffee.

And then there is all the fun with Photo a Day challenges.  It is so stinkin' easy and takes like 5 minutes each day.  Just snap a pic matching the category, upload to Instagram, use a filter, add a hash tag so others can see your photo, and share it!  So fun! I heard about the one below at Fat Mum Slim from wonderfully sweet and funny Kellie from Nest of Posies.

I had no idea how fun this is!  If any of you are interested, you can find me here on Instagram. Or just search out twoshadesofpink. :)  I just got started.  I mean...like this WEEK just got started.  So if you have any tips for me I am ALL EARS!

To challenge myself, I think I'm going to photograph all my favorite craft supplies.  Is that weird? I just love looking a pretty photos of beautiful crafty bits.  Like who is not drawn in by the beauty of a pile of yarn, a jar of buttons, a stack of washi tape, or a row of bakers twine? Or maybe this is my own weirdness that I have just spewed out all over this blog post to the point of no return.

Either way, it will challenge me to photograph things purposefully, easily and of things I love.

So let me know if you are on Instagram!  I would love to get a peek in on you.  It will be such fun!

D.I.Y. Burlap Bags + Mason Jar Favors

Hey sweet friends!  

Ready for more tablescape fun?

Today I have a simple tutorial to make burlap bags to cover mason jars along with some wood circle tags.

I have seen photos of pretty flower arrangements wrapped in burlap and I loved the idea for little favors for my table.  But I imagined me wasting more burlap then necessary and got very sad. I remembered I still had some burlap garland lying around from another project and found it to be the perfect solution.

And it ended up being crazy easy!

Here is what you need to make these...

Burlap Garland (found in the wreath section of a craft store)

Mason jars (size optional)

Twine

Natural Wood Circle tags (Or buy those unfinished wooden tags like these)

glue gun

scissors

 

First, I laid a mason jar on the strip of burlap to size the bag.

Then I folded the burlap over until it was slightly higher then my jar and cut.

I did this for all of them at the same time and just used the first piece to measure the rest.

To make the bags, I went for my glue gun.  I actually glued both sides at the bottom first so I knew how to line up the sides. This stuff can shift on you pretty easy.

Like this.

Then I glued the rest of the way up on each side being careful that it adhered because it is so thinly woven. 

Trim the top to make it straight and cut loose fibers.

Now you have a bag!

I placed my mason jar inside all snug and cute!

Next...Wood Circle Tags.  

I made these from a branch from my yard during the fall and had a bunch left over.  I simply sawed off the circles and drilled holes in each one.  I used alphabet stamps for the names of each guest at my table.

(that's me!)

Using twine, I threaded the two ends through the backside of the tag to the front leaving a circle of twine in the back to put around my bag covered jar.

After slipping it over the top, I pulled the two pieces to tighten it and tied a bow.

You end up with really sweet and pretty favors. 

(I added tulips which are my favorite flower)

And of course, you can use the bags in other ways... 

Fill them with goodies and tie them off with ribbon, twine, a clothespin, or unique clip.  

Package a small, handmade gift. 

Make a longer bag to present a pretty bouquet of flowers. 

Wrap it around a candle or potted plant. 

Gift some organic, whole bean coffee or scented soaps.
May Day flower gifts

So many uses! 

Obviously, they are porous so use them wisely (like don't pour ground coffee in there...hahaha!) 

But I think they are so fabulously versatile.

  Pretty easy bags for a pretty presentation. 

What do you think?

Love and hugs to each and every one of you!

♥

Coffee Filter Flowers and Video Tutorial

Hello sweet friends!

It has been inexcusably long since I have posted.  I know.  But I do have legitimate reasoning.

The kiddos got sick.

The kiddos got ME sick.

Been preparing for an upcoming gala next weekend.

I have had 101 appointments and hence...no access to blog land. 

We actually have been going through a lot of personal stuff with our oldest daughter.  I promise, nothing alarming or worrisome.  But she has been having behavioral problems and struggling in school.  So I have been determined to get to the bottom of it and I think we are on our way to a solution.  It has taken all my time and energy which I have no doubt all of you are amazingly understanding about.

But GOOD NEWS...I am going to be sharing all the elements of this DIY Tablescape I have been working on.  I think you will like some of the ideas I have come up with. The gala theme this year is "A Knight in the Garden." Garden?  Flowers?  I am so in.

Do you remember last year's table?  Here are some photos to jog your memory...

1. family nest centerpiece

2. twig and paper leaf place cards

3. napkin ring wraps

4. bird house with bird magnet favors

5. diy fabric square chargers

So here we go with the first part of  Gala Tablescape 2012...

My idea was to have a bunch of flowers...I mean A LOT...all over my table.  I was going to make a runner, inspired by this, but my table is round so I figured I could just arrange a bunch in the center with some candle light. I realized coffee filters could be my solution.

I think I am the last person to get on the coffee filter flower train.  I have always admired them but to be honest, my crafty self can NOT pull it off. I tried all the different methods I have seen (rolling them with masking tape, roses) but for some reason, I am missing some coffee filter flower making gene.  So while failing miserably trying this...quite by accident...I came up with my own way of making them. 

And it's easy! 

Everyone chic scream for easy!

First I dyed them.  

I experimented with tea, food coloring, washable markers, and watered down acrylic paint.  They all work great but I had the most fun with food coloring.  I found I had a lot of leeway with it. You can even use kool aid too!  I just soaked them for about 10 minutes and dried them in individual layers.

The soft colors of these are so lovely.  

Here they are folded twice into cones and cut with a scalloped edge all ready to make the flowers.

Check out my video below with a step by step on how to make the flowers.  I needed both hands and I figured using my tripod for a picture tutorial would be more time consuming then just doing a video.  

I don't necessarily call this a vlog because  only my hands are in the video. But I guess it is.  I was probably sporting yoga pants, a hoodie, and working on day 2 of needing a shower.

I love being a mom. :)

Oh, and my voice sounds funny.  Kinda valley girlish.  Never knew that about me but whatever.

Or...WHAT-everrrr. ;)

Hope you like the step by step and let me know if you would want more vloggy tutes.

What do you think? Aren't they crazy easy for being so pretty?

BTW...if you want me to show you how to make these with a stem, I can do that too.

Here are a bunch as I was playing with as a practice run on my kitchen table (which is round like my gala table).  I think I am just going to have all the flowers loose to work as the centerpiece with those candlesticks in the middle to add height. Sorry you can't see a completed look but at least you see the flowers!


I will check in with you soon for another fun tutorial.  It's a favor and a place card in one. I'm just plain tickled I actually will be back soon! I hope you will be back too. :)

Blessings lovelies!

P.S.  I hope this will launch an upcoming 2x a month series called Tablescape Tuesday.
Details to come!

Pretty Skewers for Yummy Treats!

Happy Good Friday my sweet friends!

This day is a precious one as I ponder what my Savior did for me on this very day.  I think of Him confronting death in the face, being rejected by His Father, and suffering tremendous pain. 

And He did it willingly.  For me.  And you. 

I am in awe of His love.

So I do wonder how many of you are actually reading blogs on this often busy weekend.  But I came up with a really cute, last minute Easter favor for the kiddos or the kid at heart.  

These DIY Wood Skewers are made simply by painting and gluing wood beads on the end.  

That's it!

 You need pastel paint (or any paint of your choice), paintbrush, glue gun, some wood beads (preferably unfinished), and some bamboo skewers. 

OK.  So don't laugh.  

I could not figure out a simple way to paint these without smudging or spinning them. So I stuck two wooden beads on either side of a Q-tip to paint them.  I pulled off some of the cotton until I knew it would fit but snugly. Then I dried them with a hair dryer.

That's right people.  We can find craft supplies in the loo.

 After the beads are dry, I put a little hot glue inside the wood bead and them pushed the blunt end of the skewer in and held it a few seconds until set.

Aren't they pretty?

Now make some Rice Krispies Treats.  

I personally could eat a whole pan with no regret.  I love them!

Now just cut out some small squares and put your sweet kebabs together!

I topped them off with a mini marshmallow, (so they would not poke an eye out or through the bags) wrapped them in cellophane, and tied them off with baker's twine.

A great treat for family,  neighbors, friends, or a homemade treat for the Easter basket. 

You could even dye the marshmallow pastel colors to make them fun and colorful. Or shape them like eggs or flowers or whatever.  I was all about easy today. :)

I hope you enjoyed this and that you enjoy the precious time of Easter.

Hugs and so much love to each of you!

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:10-12

A New Look for my Old Table

Hey sweet, lovelies! 

Alrighty. 

Spring Break is officially over so me, the hubs and our pinks are back to the old routine.  We had such fun relaxing and doing family stuff over the last week.  

I was so happy to even have the time to work on two, dejected little tables.  I endeavored to save them from an empty existence in our attic due to my best intentions of a makeover never actually happening outside the part of my brain overflowing with ideas.