Spring Break task: keeping the Kindergartener busy

Kien is happy playing Legos ALL DAY.  He might take a break to play cars or draw some pictures, but he is a generally easy kid.  The only bummer is that after a long enough stretch of him playing in his room he becomes a cranky little man.  He thrives off repetition, schedules, and routine.  So I have to incorporate some kind of organized structure in between the Lego airplane and Lego beach house just so we can have a sane evening.  Spring break is only a total of ten days, but the first day will be a day of soccer-shoe shopping and stocking up on supplies for the next week.  I've compiled a list of things I want to enjoy so I can put some creative structure in to Kien's day and get him out of his beloved bedroom.  My standards are that they all need to be realistically completed by working for about an hour at a time because that's the maximum time frame that Brayden lets me leave him alone for. Each project needs to be affordable, either using things I already have or by spending not more than a couple dollars.

#1: Painting pots 
My first thought was to pick up some cheap terracotta pots. I might still do that, but there's a chance I'll spend the first day paper mache-ing (what would the verb of paper mache be?) on to plastic posts we already have because we have a lot.  you know, those cheap green ones that potted plants from the store come in? They're floating all over my yard and garage.  So paper mache, paint (have it), and spray-sealer (have it) should do the trick.  I hope.  We'll see :)

#2: Yarn-wrapped picture frame
Cardboard (have it) cut into picture frames, various colors of yarn (I have teal, gray, ivory, and pink, maybe I'll let Kien pick out a new color if there are any small balls on sale).  Wrap the yarn  around the frame, and VOILA, a picture frame.  Maybe we can make a few coordinating ones and will have a beautiful montage on the walls. Art is always better when the kids create it on their own.

#3: Pretend stained glass
 Between two pieces of wax paper (have it) sprinkle crayon (have it) shavings, pictures, and anything that's flat like pieces of grass, flowers, magazine cut-outs, etc.  Iron it all slowly and once it's all done and pretty we can hang it in the windows, or maybe put it in the frames we made ;)

project: Yarn Wreath

I finally got to check off one of my Craft List To-Dos!  It's exciting and oh-so-rewarding when I get to look at something pretty and know that I did that

I've been seeing these yarn wreaths all over Pinterest and in magazines. I finally got to make one and for my first run, well,  I love it.

Pink spring daisies and orchids

Created by Lyn will be featuring some themed ones very soon!

Love my front door,
Lyn

Latest mini-project

Brayden is mobile now and keeps me running all over the house.  He ROLLS faster than a normal human walks, and he vanishes with the ease of houdini.  One second he's in the living room with me and the next I hear Kien's toybox in his bedroom topple over.  He's trapped in his highchair right now ;).  Anyways because of Brayden's constant movement and his need for attention, the only projects I've been able to fit in during the day are small ones.  This one that I did yesterday took me away from the boys for less than five minutes TOTAL, and that included the four times I went back to the project.  It also cost me NOTHING since I already had the materials.

The picture is self-explanatory so I really don't feel the need to instruct or caption.  I ultimately did four coats of chalkboard paint on the jar, and let the final layer dry 20 hours before using chalk on it.  I probably should had sanded the jar a little bit to rough it up, but I didn't think of that until I was putting on the second coat. 

TA DA :)

Easy DIY craft to share

This craft is thanks to Lauren.  It's amazing so I had to share it even though I haven't done it yet.  It's a new craft with (drum roll please...) EPSOM SALT.  Okay, that was total sarcasm with the drumroll because Epsom Salt crafts are no new surprise anymore. It's everywhere.  The makers are loving on this attention and the world will soon be covered.  We'll probably drive past an Epsom Salt covered car soon. I'll take a pink one please.  

All you need to do it coat your item (in this case it was a Mason Jar, Glade Candle's old holders, and Christmas Ball Ornaments) with Mod Podge or glue, roll the gooey item in the salt, let dry, and spray with three coats of sealer.  Amazing right? You can add color to either to salt or the glue.

We're looking forward to doing this trick to fabric flowers, Easter eggs, and shells for jewelry. 

Here are some pictures of the projects.  I'll snap some with the camera later but for now these cell-phone pics will have to do.

Holiday centerpiece with Epsom Salt candle holders

Epsom salt Christmas ornaments

Happy Crafting,

Lyn

weB LOG

Did you know that "blog" originated as a blend of the words "web log"?

No matter how different we are, our lives encircle one like-item.  That item is the internet.  We could literally become hermits and do everything online (I’m sure some people do).  When blogging opened up, the internet became a brand-spankin’ new place.  We are able to share with millions, our ideas, stories, gossip, and entertainment with just some keystrokes and a quick hit of the ‘publish’ button.

I’m fairly sure that each blogger has their own motivations for joining the community.  That is an aspect that sets all of us bloggers apart.  I haven’t found my niche yet, my direction to this blog, but I love to write.  I took a year of college courses for writing and I debate with myself all the time whether or not I want to continue that path.  I like sharing my stories, especially about my kids, and I enjoy words.  Words are my art.  I don’t have much output-skill; I can’t draw for crap; I can’t even paint straight lines on my walls; I can hardly even cut a straight line.  But I DO have creativity in my mind, and that’s why I’ve focused on creating things on the computer, and in writing. 

Before I decide which blog-path to embark, I’m just writing about my journey in life.

FAMILY

The biggest aspect starts with my family. I love my family more than my words can actually express.  I know that sounds cliché but it’s true.   I have a terrific life and it’s because of my family.  My husband is literally my other half, complementing me completely.  My kids are amazing.  Kien is a little brainiac and Brayden is sweet and adorable as can be. But they are also KIDS. Kien, who is five now, is no angel.  He has his moments where I’d prefer to pretend he isn’t mine; all kids do, and only a delusional mother would not say the same about their children.  Parents also know how humorous kids are, and I hope to share those stories via my blog so others might relate or just get a good giggle out of reading it.   I’d love to brighten someone’s day just by doing one thing that I love.   Just like how Kien brightens MY day when he reads me a new book, or Brayden lights up my world by laughing out of the blue.

CRAFTING

I haven’t done a lot of it because it costs money, but I LOVE to craft. I love decorations. I like to make pretty things simply and cost-effective.  That’s one aspect I hope to be able to share on my blog.

COOKING/ BAKING

I only believe in baking from scratch, except a birthday cake, which I’ll use a boxed-mix and spruce up in various ways. My favorite dinners are ones that I can start and have on the table in 20 minutes or less.  I’m a lazy cook and use boxed-macaroni and cheese or canned spaghetti sauce in countless dinners.  I know that baking from scratch and shortcut dinners completely clash, but it works for me.  I like to find shortcuts and easy recipes and I will share any awesome ones with you.

CREATED BY LYN

A huge and somewhat new kick in my life is my business.  I started dabbling in graphic design around the time Kien was born, and then I started making our Christmas cards, birthday invitations, birth announcements, and also doing the same for my friends and family.  After years of pushing from one of my best friends, I finally officially started “Created by Lyn”. Boring name huh?  Once buying our first house, I got in major decorating-on-a-penny mode.  That’s when I realized I can make super cute home décor items on the computer for just the cost of the print (either at home or at a photo center) and a picture frame.  VOILA, Created by Lyn HOME was established.  My printer broke last year so I didn’t super-pursue that aspect because I didn’t want to sell something that I had printed at Costco.  Well I finally bought a – very nice – printer so I am in business! WOO HOO!  Thanks to my cheap-ass wanting pretty earrings but not wanting to shell out the cash for them, I finally got supplies to make my own earrings.  Once I perfect my technique, Created by Lyn ACCESSORIES shall be birthed. I’m also going to start to learn knitting, that will be fun :)

PEOPLE

I have a great support system in my friends and family.  Family also includes a large part of my 120+ aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I have a unique and strong arrangement friends who have been around for the long-haul and I don’t see going anywhere. Two of my absolute best friends live away, but distance has no effect on a true friendship.  Not that I’d want to, but I can go an endless amount of time without seeing any one of my friends but I know that when I finally see them again, the time apart will have no affect on us, except that we’ll have a lot of catching up to do :)

Holy-canoly this is going on-and-on. How do I wrap it up? Right now MyDizzyDaisies is about life; things, events, or people that actually impact my adventure.  I’m a wife and mom trying to get a small business off the ground from home; it’ll be a great adventure, and I’d like to be able to share it with whoever wants to follow along.  Maybe someone can even get something out of it. Even if it’s a little smile, my work here has been a success.

(At the risk of sounding like a hippy) Peace, Love, and Happiness because everything else is a waste of precious time <3

Lyn