Oh What Fun...

So my friend Marmie threw a birthday party for me and our friend Sharla who shares the same birthday month. It was a lovely time with the girls...The spread was wonderful with sandwiches, salad, fruit, chips, lemon aid and Kahlua cake. Oh yum, it was so moist and good. It was so sweet of them to celebrate our birthdays with us. The girls gave out gifts too...and who doesn't like gifts? I got a great book called Living By God's Promises written by Joel R. Beeke & James A. La Belle. Looks really good. Can't wait to have a quiet moment to read it. I also got a gift card to Target....I got NEW Sock Monkey Slippers with it...

 

 

I love wearing slippers so much that my old monkey slippers flattened out and started ripping at the toes...Guess that's what happens when you wear them out for five years...almost 6 years actually, yet they sure did hold up well. I saw these and had to get them...Aren't they cute?

Several of the gals came together and got each of us Hobby Lobby Gift cards...Woot Woot. Here is what I got with my gift card....A storage box for all my piles of pictures, that don't make it in an album...Much needed and will be put to good use. It will be perfect to get everything organized.
I just need a few more and I'll be good to go.

I got this fun world map for home schooling...Just need a frame later down the line but will look really cute with all our school room decor. Prayfully we will have a school room when we move, if not though...
It will surely find a place that will work.

I couldn't pass up this cute vintage 30's~40's inspired fabric...
which will make it into some projects...
It's adorable...Don't you think?

Lastly I got the clock I have been eyeing for some time, but never had the $MOOLA$ to get. Great thing is it was on sale too. I love it. It is retro~ vintage inspired in red metal. A perfect companion for my kitchen. I am blessed to have these wonderful ladies in my life, they sure did spoil me something rotten. I had a lot of fun shopping, I must admit. It was a good birthday, one I will treasure with me for ever.
Happy Wednesday to you all.

She Is My #1 Fan

This little girl of mine is my number one fan. And I am hers.
 Ever since she was a little babe, she would follow me around like a little shadow. As she grew, she continues to stay by my side. I know you may have heard from some parents that a child shouldn't be their friend. I would beg to differ. I do agree a parent needs to be a parent first and foremost to their child. But, that doesn't mean you can't connect with them and have the same sort of interests and laugh together. Our children have always known that we are their parents...but they also know they can come to us and talk, feeling free to be themselves, to have fun with us, laughing or goofing around and hugs are always FREE. Our home is not a cold sterile place where children are to be seen and not heard. My girl and I have fun together, she enjoys shopping and going to thrift stores with me, she loves to craft right along side me. I love that. One day not so long agao, she told me I was her best friend. I was touched. I told her she was mine too, but not to forget I am her mama.
 She laughed and said" I know mom". These were just some thoughts I have had recently and thought I would share them. These past few weeks as I have been creating my newest stuffies, she always sighs a big sigh " awww that is so cute, is it for me?" I tell her, no it's for the shop.

It bums her out. I think it is so sweet that she even likes my stuffies so much. I would just naturarally make them all for her. Yet, I am making them to make ends meet here at home. I was relieved to finish some projects and sell them as well as getting some special orders. Just got another one this morning for two bunting pillows. Yay...The last sock monkey I made several days ago was a hit with Freckles...She wanted to keep her so bad, I even thought about not selling it, but it ended up selling in a day...So I snuck into her room Saturday night and pulled out a sock monkey doll I made her several years ago ( that needed some lovin')...I pulled off everything and refurbished the thing, adding some colorful elements, new eyes and lashes a new hat, Mary Jane felt shoes and pom poms..It took me two hours to fix her up and give her a new lease on life. I placed her on Freckles nightstand with a Happy Easter note for her to find in the morning.

Here is the finished Sock Monkey and a very Happy Freckles.
 She was thrilled. And so was I. 

A Sock Monkey Tail

  

I promised myself I would create more this year...I think I am off to a pretty good start...

It has been quite a while since I last made a Sock Monkey.

\We took a little Spring Break day off today...

So, I tackled some socks that were waiting to be made into something special.

 

  

Here she is in all her colorful glory...

SOLD!

Hope y'all are having a great Spring Break...

Our Little House Got A New Look....

 

I have been a busy beaver this week. Since cleaning up Christmas, I have been purging and organizing as well as preparing for future possible move after Mr. Darling graduates in May. I happily donated 9 big black trash bags of clothes, and 7 boxes of old stuff, some left over from our garage sale last Summer. We even went and recycled all the bottle and cans we have been collecting. Extra pocket change is always nice. I also sold some stuff on Etsy this week so thought it was time for a fresh look. Our son saved up his money and bought the family a new t.v.... So it needed a new place...

 

(One of my favorite children's books...Found last Summer for $3.00)

  

We took our armoire upstairs to our bedroom and put the old T.V. in there...Then I had to come up with some wall art for the living room where the armoire was. I got this cute Family Rules canvas for Christmas from my parents. The star was free from a garage sale, a little red paint does wonders...Then I used some letters to spell out PRAY. I had the A and the R...so found a P...

covering it with sheet music and found the Y at Michael's.

  

I found the T.V. cabinet thrifting...it was an ugly boring brown...(forgot to take pictures) Once I got paint in my hands, I couldn't stop to take pics. I painted it Sea Breeze Blue for just a few bucks a can. ( I used 2) Then I took some handy sandpaper and gave it a little aged look. Then I put two mismatched door pulls on each door. The Open was from Michael's for $1, the polka dot one was from Hobby Lobby for $1.25. ( YEP...HOBBY LOBBY is here...Just opened a couple months ago..."GRIN") I love how the cabinet turned out as it has added some charm and a pop of color that goes with all my reds so nicely. I had some red paint so decided to paint the little chair I have had for the last few years...

It needed color and a monkey to sit on it of course.

  

Okay Okay...I couldn't stop painting stuff...I painted our wooden candlesticks holders which were black in the left over blue I had... I love how it added a splash of color and coordinates with the cabinet.

  

In the picture above...You can see the alcove where I put my children chairs, doll and old globe....That is where our old T.V. was. I love the change. It has been two years in this house without changing it much...I love change sometimes. This was a good change for me.

 

Oh yeah...Remember the bottles and cans I recycled? I bought this with the money.

It was half off at Hobby Lobby...(woot woot). I pray that the Lord will continue to bless our home with much love and laughter this new year. Anyone up for a movie nite? Come on over I'll pop the corn.

Bedroom Decorating For A New Year....

 

It was about 8 years ago I fell in love with my cherry wood sleigh bed...My room was warm and meant to be a bit masculine for my husbands sake. Not because I had to, but I wanted to make it his too. We had a earthy tone floral bedspread that worked well for the both of us. Over time and living in the rainy, gloomy state of Washington..The dark colors started to get to me...The room was dark. I couldn't just change it around for we spent a lot of money on that bed. So the years went by and I tried to stay content. It moved with us to California 4 years ago. I had no muster in me to even decorate my bedroom. It was too dark...too depressing, even a sweet quilt couldn't cheer the space enough. I didn't even hang pictures on the walls until this Summer. I finally told myself when the New Year rang in I would get a new bed and redecorate our space. So I saved up my money from sales on Etsy... and got a little white bed. It was just what I needed to lighten up the room and motivate color. Now to put my bed on Craigs list. I also kicked out my dark bookcase oh yeah... Freckles also decided to change her room a bit and wished to use her dresser when she was a baby...which will need refinishing after I painted it pink many moons ago. So, she gave me the white dresser in return. I am thrilled for I love that dresser. I collected some fluffy feathered pillows on thrifting escapades... added the embroideries on the wall which I have also found thrifting. And hung the sweet reminder to always kiss me goodnight...a gift from my dear Mr. Darling.

     

It's amazing what a bit of color and lighter furniture can do to a room. My hubby was in shock after I did it all and surprised him with it. He was pleasantly surprised and happy with the room, even though it looks a little more on the cute feminine side. I love how my quilts pop in the room and the little splashes of red that I love. I have been hanging out in my room more too...like flipping through magazines, reading and heck I am

snuggled down in my fluffy bed as I type. I really like being in here.

      

A few more embroideries are now on my wish list to complete the wall, perhaps another quilt, and some window treatments. I really needed this change. I am so thrilled to have bright colors and cozy feelings to wake up to and motivate my creativity and start my day off with a little smile. Sometimes change is good. Now I am ready to ring in the New Year and change more things around in my life as we will soon be focusing on our new future once Mr. Darling graduates in May.

 There will be a lot more good things to look forward to.

 Here's to a wonderful New Year.
Linkin to: Wow Us Wednesday
It's A Very Cherry World

800...

Can you believe...I have reached 800 blogging posts? Crazy. I started this blog in 2007. The Child's Paper was a way to share with family afar, friends and fellow home schoolers. I had kept my art blog separate a year or two before starting this blog which has grown through the years into more...This has become a place to share everything about our family. From home schooling my children to everyday things, decorating, cooking/baking, collecting, thrifting, canning, homemaking, my art, crafting/sewing and photography. My personal thoughts, feelings and prayers have been expressed through words and pictures. As many of my readers know...I am a lot more visual...Pictures are like little pieces of art...through my eyes or rose colored glasses, I am able to express who I am ...and the wonders and blessings that God gives us. I am considered shy in nature, quiet and soft spoken with few words...But my mind is filled with dreams, pictures, color and texture...My heart is big, my quiver is full and I am content. Through the years I have made some very special friends some I have never met face to face, few I have had the honor of sharing time with. Blogging has been a blessing, as reading other blogs has given me inspiration...I love that we can share our lives with like minded creative souls...I have found so many beautiful, genuine people in the blogging community...Many have been so supportive...I hope I have been the same for them.

I pray that The Child's Paper would be a blessing for others...I hope you find inspiration in some of my thoughts, my life and pictures. I hope you will stick with me for another 800+ posts. It has been fun getting to know y'all. Even my lurking readers...I am thankful for you too. If you ever get the courage to say hey...Leave me a comment some time....let me know you are there. ;)
Dearest Family, friends and loyal readers. Thanks for always being there...For always being so sweet and encouraging. If it weren't for you...I probably wouldn't have kept this going for so long. I am just tickled that you all find something you like here.

Today I am thankful for:
71. YOU
72. For cameras...I love taking pictures, that is for SURE.
73. Blogging
74. sharing
75. words

Sock Monkey Portraits....

(Freckles Sock Monkey)

 (Mama's Sock Monkey)
*****
Supplies:
■12 x 18″ colored Tru-Ray Sulphite paper (construction paper)
Or thick white paper
■Black oil pastel
■Palette of brown, white and red tempera or acrylic paint
■colored yarn, ric-rac, pom-poms, googly eyes, painted paper or paper scraps, buttons…anything decorative!
Step One: Drawing the Monkey
 No need for elaborate instructions as you can see the drawing is really easy:
***
1.Draw two dots for eyes
2.Below the “eyes” draw a large ovals on its side. Then draw another larger oval around that. Add a line in the middle for the mouth.
3.Starting at the outside oval on the left hand side, draw a line up and around to the other side of the oval. This will become the head.
4.Draw a curved line at the top of the head to mimic toe reinforcements.
5.Add two ears to the side of the head.
6.Draw a simple body and skinny arms.
Step Two: Painting
Using white tempera or acrylic paint (do not wet brushes), paint the mouth and the top of the head with white paint. Let dry slightly and then paint over the white area with brown or black paint.
Finish painting the body with brown  (use the double-load technique with the black and white paint).Then, use an oil pastel to trace over all painted black lines.
Step Three: Decorate your Sock Monkey
Set out embellishments and demonstrate a few easy ways to decorate the sock monkey.
This is truly the best part of the lesson...The process of experimenting and coming up with the most unique  sock monkey. We added pom poms,googly eyes, papers and lace...

We found this project on Deep Space Sparkle
This was a simple yet fun project to make.
 Easy enough for any child that can draw...or any Mama, like me.
Happy Painting.

Random Blessings....

Hello friends! I was going to shoot some pictures today and forgot I gave my camera to my son for the weekend while he is up in the mountains on a Winter Retreat. Drats! I love taking pictures an boy do I feel naked without it...not really. But as most know I am a pathological picture taker. So I took some pics. out from my folders to share from the past couple weeks. The charm above was a little something I did on a low key day while the kids were off doing their own thing...I sat down and made pendants.

These sock monkey pendants were special orders by a customer who was giving them to her daughters for Valentines Day. I thought I would share how cute they turned out. It was a real blessing to have a few special orders during this season. I got to treat myself to a few fun thrifting finds over the weekend while visiting my parents. I will take pics. when I get my camera back.

These lil flowers were brought home to me by
 Mr. Darling a couple weeks ago...
Not for any other reason but just because he loves me...How sweet!

Here are the heart shaped brownies Freckles & I made for Valentines Day.
 Unfortunately we got hit with the flu for Valentines and we
 were unable to celebrate as we planned...but still got the brownies done...

Lastly while Freckles, me, my Gramma and Mom were out in the rain we were doubly blessed with this! A double rainbow. Reminds me all the time of God's blessings on us and His promises always kept. It was a sight to see....a perfect whole bow across town. though this is not my picture...because oh yeah I don't have my camera this weekend!!!! ...This is though...exactly what it looked like. Hope you all had a blessed full weekend and a great week ahead!!