Working Wednesday: Keepsake Project For Your Childs Art Work

Ever since M was old enough to hold a crayon in his hand we made sure to have plenty of opportunity for him to be creative. I could not bear to throw away any of his creations, but it got to the point that paper was over taking our house. So, I purged my precious M's art work...turns out it looks like I did not purge any papers from his art file. I had planned on photographing his art for a future project.  Recently, I saw a show on HGTV that reminded me it was time to do the project I put off for some many years. So, here is my keepsake project for M's art work.

Start with a collection of your child's art work that you want to photograph.  Depending on how much art work there is, you can choose to limit it to a specific time frame.  I started with art work my son did from when he was two years old.

Here are example of the images I chose to use:

After choosing the art I wanted to display, I used Photoshop to color correct and re-sized my images. Once all the art was edited, I was ready to place all the art images in to one file. I used Photoshop again to lay out the images. I saved and Printed compiled the artwork.

Final layout.

KEEPSAKE ART

Have a fabulous week!

Lovely Finds Friday ~ Yummy Apple Crisp!

Happy Friday! I just wanted to say, in full disclosure, that this will be my last Lovely Finds Friday post until further notice. I have enjoyed featuring some great Etsy shop owners here on my blog. It was an honor getting to know them and their businesses. What an inspiration they are! I am taking a break and will be using the time to focus on my own shop. It has become clear to me that in order to move forward, I must let something go.  I will still be posting on Working Wednesday to keep you up to date on what's happening in the studio. So, until Wednesday I want to leave you with a little bitter and a lot sweet post.

Yummy Apple Crisp is an easy and fun baking project to do with your kids. It is a bitter sweet treat but definitely yummy, too!  Please enjoy!

Yummy Apple Crisp!

INGREDIENTS: 
3 Granny Smith apples
Ground cinnamon
White or raw sugar
1 lemon 
All-purpose flour

Dark brown sugar
Butter
Quaker Oats 

APPLE FILLING:

• 3 granny smith apples 
• Skinned and sliced 
• Sprinkled with 1 teaspoons of cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon of white or raw sugar
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Microwave 3 1/2 minutes

TOPPING:

• ¾ flour 
• ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• ½ cup butter 
• ¼ cup oats
• In medium bowl, combine flour with brown sugar. Let butter soften. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture is sized of small peas. Stir in oat.

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees 
• In 9-inch pie plate, spread apple filling on bottom.
• Evenly sprinkle topping mixture over apple filling.
• Bake 30 minutes or until heated through and topping is golden.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

APPLE FILLING

 

TOPPING MIXTURE

BAKE AND ENJOY!

Please enjoy this FREE PRINTABLE recipe card. Come back and let me know how you like the recipe.

Click DOWNLOAD to get your recipe card.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Working Wednesday/Sneak Peek ~ Stationery Design

Happy Wednesday! I am in the studio finishing up on some client designs and I wanted to share them with you.  My hope is that I will be rolling out my stationery design for children this week.  Here is a sneak peek at a few of my designs. Have a great Day!

Look Book Monday ~ Milk and Cookies Day Today!

 It's A Milk & Cookies Day Today!

 Hi all, I hope your week is off to a great one! I must confess I took a day off and spent it with my boys at the park! It was such a lovely day and the first day I might add that was bearable enough to go outside without getting heat stroke. This is the last week before my oldest goes back to school so forgive me if I am late with my post for this week.  I hope you can take sometime and enjoy the day as well! 

AND ENJOY SOME COOKIES TOO!

 

Winner of the Back-To-School Giveaway!

Congratulation to the Winner of the Back-To-School Giveaway!

Thank you all who participated. 

The winner of the giveaway is Comment #5 ~ Meagan!

Lovely Finds Friday ~ I Am Having A Pinteresting Day Today!!

Happy Friday! Another week behind us and I can't believe summer is winding down. The boys will be going back to school soon and I will have more time to get things done around the house. Okay, maybe not, but I dream of an organized home/office/kitchen! 

We are fortunate to have an IKEA showroom in our area. I have visited there once and what an experience it was! I would love to go back but just don't have the time. However, I have their catalog and the web to be inspired by and dream of a wonderful space for my family to live in. I used to dream of a bigger home, but now I think an organized and functional home (condo) would do just fine. If only I could live at IKEA. No, not literally, but I love their showroom and all the different spaces that would fit just right in my tiny condo. 

I feel like the walls are squeezing me in to a little box. Then again, the boys have been home all summer! And, if you have boys you know they need a lot of space to roam. Oh, yes we go out to the playground, library, and children's museum to keep things fun. Working from home has advantages and disadvantages. 

But I digress, it's a Pinteresting day and I have some pins to share. If you like re-purposing things, there is a site you should check out. It has the coolest ideas and DIY projects for IKEA lovers like myself. Click HERE to see all the cool ideas! I am dreaming of an organized and functional condo so here are some Pins to keep me motivated. I hope you enjoy!

Family Room

Source: ikeahackers.net via Lisa on Pinterest

Studio Desk

Source: ikeahackers.net via Lisa on Pinterest

For the Boys

Source: ikeahackers.net via Lisa on Pinterest

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND! 

Check out some other interesting pin over at The Vintage Apple!

Working Wednesday/Sneak Peek ~ Football Party Printable Colleciton {Surprise Giveaway}

Last year I designed a baseball theme birthday party for my son's 6th birthday party.  I thought it would be fun to do a football theme party printable collection this year.  Football season is right around the corner and my husband and son are gearing up for all the excitement and fun that encompasses football season.  In our house we follow college football, that's right, HUGE fans but can you guess which team? Here is a hint: There is absolutely no ORANGE & PURPLE allowed in our house especially if there is a PAW associated with the colors! The colors we fly are garnet, black and white...Do you know the name of our team? Leave me a comment with the correct answer and the first person to answer correctly will win this football printable party collection and I will customize it with your team color. Let the games begin! (Please make sure you follow my blog before you answer the question.)

Don't for get to check out my BACK-TO-SCHOOL giveaway!!! Ends this Friday. Please tell all your friends. Thanks!

Look Book Monday ~ Back-To-School~ Giveaway! THE WINNER IS...

It's Giveaway Time! Last week I shared with you my back-to-school printable collection and this week I am giving that collection away! I am also giving away eeBoo animal parade alphabet cards wall art! I love these cards because they are so creative and fun. There are so many possibilities for use with these cards. How would you use them? 

GIVEAWAY

Winner's Gift 1 ~eeBoo  Animal Parade Alphabet Cards

Winner's Gift 2 ~ Back-To-School Printable Collection

Here is how it works:

Three comments = Three entries

1) Follow my blog, leave a comment telling me you are a follower. If you already follow my blog, thanks for following. Let me know you are already a follower of my blog.

2) Like me on Facebook, leave a comment telling me you are a fan.

3) Share my giveaway on Twitter or Facebook.

THAT'S IT, SWEET AND SIMPLE!

I will use Random.com to pick a winner on Friday! Please check back to see if you won! Good luck!

THE WINNER IS...! 

Thank you all who participated. The winner was chosen by Random.org

# 5 ~ Meagan you are the winner!

Lovely Finds Friday ~ Featuring The Handprintlady

I am so excited and thrilled to introduce to you my interview with The Handprintlady.   I am in love with this shop and I know you will be too once you see the lovely, unique and personalized keepsakes she offers. Please welcome Monica Lasich of The Handprintlady! She is a stay at home mother of six children. Monica is a professional ceramist and ceramic instructor. She has been doing baby handprint and footprints since 1997 when she opened a "make and paint your own ceramic" store in Southern California.

BUTTERFLY PLAQUE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75637655/hand-and-footprint-butterfly-plaque-by

How did you get started doing hand print ceramic keepsakes? 
I closed the big studio so I could stay home with the kids, but kept on doing the baby handprints and footprints because I love them so much. In addition to the traditional hand/footprint ornaments and plaques, I expanded my catalog to offer hand/footprint frames, vases, wind-chimes, and garden stepping stones. All custom made, in every shape and color, with your custom personalization. I don't just do babies either; I do kids, moms, dads, pets, and grandmas!

What is your favorite product that you offer?  

My favorite product has to be the "Eternity Plaque" which is both the mom and dad, with baby's handprints inside mom's and dad's hands. It's big and beautiful. My other favorite is Stoneware Stepping Stones. I love seeing mine everyday I walk in and out of my house. I have one for my kids I made in 2001, I just wash them off and they are good as new.

ETERNITY PLAQUE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74877314/mommy-and-daddy-and-me-ceramic-handprint

 STEPPING STONE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61392828/ceramic-handprintfootprint-garden

  
What was your inspiration behind the Prints by Mail Kit?

After hundreds of requests from across the country, I experimented and tested for a year, and came up with my new Prints by Mail Kit! I had sisters who live far away who were having babies, and my husband's family started having babies and they live on the East Coast, so I HAD to figure out a way to make my baby hand/footprint plaques by mail. I now have a mess-free and goof-proof method, and it is all inclusive so it is very easy for you to do.

Could you go into detail about how the process works for those of us that are not in your area?
I send special mold material to you. You make the mold by just smooshing your child's hand/foot in the material. Then you send it back to me in a pre-addressed, prepaid envelope I included. You don't even have to go to the post office. I then take the 2 dimensional mold and cast it and sculpt it into a 3 dimensional hand or foot that can then be used over and over to make any number of items. Approximately 6 weeks later (or sooner) I send you back your beautiful plaque/ornament/windchime/vase/frame/stepping stone by USPS priority mail. The beauty of the method is that with flat rate shipping, I can send several items to you for the same cost as one piece. I sent 6 garden stepping stones (heavy) to my dad in one box for the same price as sending one! Perfect for making presents for grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, etc. I do keep the molds up to one year, so if you want to reorder you can. I've already gotten re-orders for those who loved their pieces so much they wanted more! 

  

SANDPRINT PLAQUE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61393529/sandprint-child-handfootprint-plaque

3D OUTPRINT

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62480938/3d-outprint-hand-and-foot-plaque-small

How is your work different from the ordinary clay molds we buy at the store and do ourselves?
I think my work is different because I use my background and training to do some out-of-the-ordinary takes on the traditional. I have some plaques in BLACK clay drying as we speak (I've also done terra cotta) and I also mix my own glazes (I make a matte glaze for those who like a different look), and I even fabricate my own clay cutters (I'm probably the only person with a drill press on my back patio here in Irvine). My latest and greatest is my 3D OUTPRINTS. The hands and feet come OUT and the texture is incredible! My trademark is my Sandprints with real sand and seashells from the beach; I am the only one in the world that does them this way.  

 PET PAW PRINT PLAQUE

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73666051/pet-pawprint-plaque

It was a pleasure getting to know Monica and her shop! She is a true inspiration to me and I love all her hand crafted beautiful heirloom keepsake clay prints.  Keep in touch with Monica (The Handprintlady) below:
Blog:  http://handprintlady.blogspot.com
Etsy Shop: http://handprintlady.etsy.com
Website:  http://handprintlady.com 
Follow on:  Facebook
Follow on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/handprintlady

Have a great weekend!

Working Wednesday/ Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday Link Up Party!

My new thing recently is Pinerest! A fantastic way to keep images that inspire you organized.  I love this idea because it allows you to keep track of the things that inspire you without the clutter. I am definitely a novice at this and my boards are not complete but I hope to spend more time pinning or repinning things I love. 

Here are a couple inspiration pins I have been working on! Enjoy.

Source: design-seeds.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: wonenmetlef.nl via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: design-seeds.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: us.mc1115.mail.yahoo.com via Lisa on Pinterest

If you want to join the FUN or find more interesting pins, click on the link below.

Have a great week!