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Handmade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Perty & Painted

May 6, 2013

Liv and I spent some time this weekend working on a few handmade Mother’s Day gifts. I thought I’d share the first round with you today!

Our theme for this year’s gifts is clearly leaning towards all things paint now that I’m looking back… painted candles and candle holders, mugs and glasses, vases and framed pictures, you name it. It’s been fun to take everyday objects and spice them up with a little handmade love. Especially Liv’s handmade love.

This first project was easy peasy but I LOVE how the candle holders came out. We used Ikea TINDRA candles in vanilla – which I absolutely adore and constantly have a back up supply on hand – to transform into mini canvases. Actually these burn through really quickly (way to quickly) but keeping the heavy duty glass cup around is a great way to turn this project into a unique vase, whiskey glass (just don’t put it through the dish washer with acrylic paint on it) or flower pot (how pretty with a succulent!).

The label comes off so easily making this a pretty candle to keep out all of the time, and an easy one to decorate.

We focused on mint green, raspberry pink and white as our paint colors of choice, and then Liv got busy!

A bristled paintbrush helped to create the splotched effect.

While we had our paints out, Liv also painted white pieces of construction paper for framing.

Love my abstract painting! Good thing she made a few so I’ll have a couple to give away… I’m having trouble parting with any of her gifts.

Since we already owned the acrylic paint, these gifts came in at about $2 for each candle and $5 for each framed print (the walnut RIBBA frame is also from Ikea).

More handmade ideas to come, and here’s a link to last week’s line up of store bought or *purchased* gift ideas.

All gift idea boards can be found right here and all posts tagged with ‘Mother’s Day’ right here!

Prayers Answered

May 5, 2013

Friends, remember when I shared that Kevin’s 17-year-old brother had been diagnosed with testicular cancer last fall? Last October doctor’s had found cancerous tumors and cells throughout Michael’s entire body – the cancer had spread to major bones and muscles, organs and lymphnodes. He was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer (the source of the cause) and the only place the cancerous cells had not yet reached were his brain.

After a hard fought battle full of radiation, chemo, surgeries, hospital stays, daily shots, medicine with horrible side effects… I am here to share with you that he won. He won.

Who beat cancer? This guy.

This weekend we celebrated. Family gathered from the corners of the States and we celebrated!

Thank you for your positive thoughts and uplifting prayers! I am overjoyed to share this news with you today.

And just a quick reminder to all of you lovely momma’s out there, please share the proper self breast exam technique with your girls – and self testicular examination with your boys. Not everyone is as lucky and testicular cancer is a disease we can beat with awareness. If caught early enough most young men will survive and thrive, but some men do not catch the symptoms quickly enough. My dear cousin was in his twenties when he lost the battle with testicular cancer several years ago. It’s a message worth spreading to every man (especially the young ones) that we know.

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Battles come in all shapes and sizes. Today, we celebrate!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2013 {Part 1}

May 1, 2013

Mother’s Day is right around the corner – 12 days and counting, which leaves us just about enough time to order a gift with the more reasonably priced option of snail mail shipping. Let’s call this Mother’s Day round up the ‘purchased’ version since I have a few handmade ideas posting soon as well. But who doesn’t love purchased and ready to ship presents?? Sometimes it’s easy that’s best. :)

Here are ten ideas that I’m especially keen on this Mother’s Day, whether it’s a special something that I’ve been eyeing for some time (helloooo beautiful Michelle Armas painting) or have in mind for someone else.

PS You can find plenty of additional great gift guides (inspiration boards and crafty ideas) here! Though that’s a link to all gift guides on the blog so you might have to search through a few to find some mom-quality ones (like this one).

1. I’m quite smitten with pretty storage containers these days, whether it’s for the office, a bookshelf in the dining room or to hold jewelry on my dresser. This pink lacquer box is very pretty and shiny.

2. Watches are my best friend and I’m rarely without one. I love this La Mer brown wrap watch! Perfect for everyday wear. I was tempted to post this one as well but didn’t want to overdo it on my favorite accessory. Maybe this second one is my favorite… maybe I’ll regret posting the one link to it on Etsy later…

3. I just splurged on a two strand version of this Crave Jewels mint & gold necklace. It’s as beautiful in person AND Erin (the artist behind the site) is offering 10% off with code ILOVEMOM.

4. Still head over heals for this Michelle Armas That Bowtie I Like painting. Sigh. Maybe a Mother’s Day gift for myself? Enter FIFTEEN at checkout for 15% off. Hint: small prints and canvas rolls are available at wallet-friendly price, too.

5. I’m Your Favorite Child card. Enough said.

6. With my poor green thumb I’m surprised at how frequently I’m drawn to garden-related gifts. These ceramic herb garden labels are so pretty and perfect for the Mom herbalist.

7. This is a last minute addition but it’s my new favorite morning ritual. I used to own this milk frother and it did an awesome job! However it broke after about a year so I’m trying out the Aeroccino Plus and hoping for a bit more longevity. So far I prefer the first version for the amount it holds, but the second for the froth and heated milk. Have you ever had steamed milk and foam in your morning coffee? Best way to start your day. Ever. I wake up an hour earlier just to enjoy a cup of coffee in quiet and read the paper.

8. Love the classic look of a Sailor’s Knot bracelet.

9. You cannot go wrong with a classic handmade coin purse in a beautiful, cross generational favorite print like this Missoni fabric.

10. If I have time I’m planning on assembling a few of these Printstagram calendars. We capture all of these amazing everyday moments and I can’t think of a better way to share! Check out Prinstagram for plenty of Instagram related presents.

Here’s the link to all of the gift guides posted on this blog one more time.