easter weekend snapshots

We really had such a blessed (and jam packed) Easter weekend spent with all kinds of family and friends. These are just a few captures from our time up in Bellingham at the annual egg hunt on the Wickham farm. Sunday morning spent at our Church leading worship and then supper with family that evening. Chris' folks surprised us with a special cake, the same one from our wedding day in honor of our tenth anniversary next week too it was a huge honor and treat! Oh Easter we loved you and all the blessings you brought - here's to the official arrival of spring, new life and bright evening light!

Easter Bunny Business

This Easter Bunny is not quite over the whole jelly jar crafts phenomenon (sorry if you are) and when I saw this pin, well it was hard to resist seeing as all the supplies were already on hand. I just added the fabric handles by punching holes into the jar lid before spray painting.

We don't typically hide baskets for our kids but we will be attending a fun egg hunt tomorrow and they will also each get one of these bunny jars filled with a few treats. We are most excited about Sunday and the celebration of our Risen Savior!  We will be up with the sun anticipating a day full of hope and life rejoicing in the resurrection of Christ with our church family!

A very happy Easter to you - may all of you busy bunnies out there have a blessed weekend! xo

make something monday :: doily easter baskets

These have been on my crafting bucket list for quite awhile now. I have admired doily bowls seen around from time to time and bought some fabric stiffener to make some of my own but just hadn't found the right moment. And then one afternoon it occurred to me that if I added a branch or two I could transform a doily bowl into a sweet little Easter basket. These are by far one of my most favorite projects ever - so simple and delicate, I am pretty much in love!

Supplies:

• Doilies - I used a mixture of thrifted and new 
• Rit Dye (optional if you want colored baskets)
• Fabric Stiffener such as Alenne's 
• Saran Wrap
• Bowls in different sizes to drape doilies
• Twigs for the handles
• Wire (optional to secure the twigs)
• Glue (I used Fabritac)
• Fabric scraps, ribbon, flowers and any other embellishments you might want

1. First I chose to dye my doilies using Rit Dye - I simple added a few drops of the liquid dye to some hot water in bowls in my sink for only a few minutes. If you want soft colors be warned that a few drops go a long way! I then rinsed out the doilies until the water ran clear and let them dry on the counter for a few hours.
2. Next cover your bowls with saran wrap - make sure you choose bowls that fit the doilies well.
3. Using your fabric stiffener you want to coat each doily really well - it helps to have a separate bowl to use for this step. After the doily is covered with the stiffener, remove any excess and drape over a bowl. You want the doily to be even and centered onto the bowl - let the doilies sit overnight until dry and then remove and carefully peel of the saran wrap.
4. To add the branch handle I used a little bit of wire to first fasten the branch to the doily. I didn't use the wire on all of the baskets in the end the glue was enough but if you want to you can use a little bit of wire to help hold the handle in place.
5. Add some glue to secure the handle and use a clothespin to help hold it in place until it dries.
6. I added some fabric scraps around the ends of each twig by weaving it through the holes in the doily just to cover up any glue or wire that was showing.
7. Now glue on any extras you might want - fill the basket and enjoy!

I can hardly believe that Easter is less than two weeks away! Have you done any Easter decorating yet? I have a few other simple diy's up my sleeve for the Spring and have been so loving the added light in the evenings too...hoping for a bit more sunshine around these parts but the hope of what this next season holds is keeping me inspired!

Happy Monday! xoxo

Easter snapshots + a Ten on Ten reminder

A wonderful holiday including a surprise egg hunt just for my three after they thought the Easter bunny forgot about them this year! Sunshine, yummy food, fellowship and dark chocolate of course. All four of my people were snoring before I even got the van unloaded last night. Could have been the 5:30 wake up call and the four church services Mr. Gough got to lead...a very full and wonderful holiday for the memory books indeed!

I will be posting more snapshots tomorrow for Ten on Ten and hope you will join me too - learn more about the project HERE!

paint chip easter egg treats

I have a silly little last minute Easter craft to share with you guys today. I will confess I have a bit of an addiction to the free paint chips found at every hardware store I visit and so my colorful collection has grown. I wanted to find a way to use them in my Easter basket making - these eggs are so quick and simple and a fun quirky twist on the traditional candy eggs! 

Paint Chip Easter Eggs

Paint Chips

Egg Template

Scissors

Glue

Exacto and Ruler

Tape or Stickers

After cutting a front and back for each egg score the center of just the top piece with an exacto knife and ruler being careful not to cut the entire thing in half. You want to create a slit or pocket into the egg.

Next glue the two pieces together and let them dry completely.

Stuff the eggs with jelly beans, little notes, gift cards and goodies.

I added some decorate tape to hod them closed but it's not necessary. Hand them out to all your favorite people they are sure to make them smile!

I also wanted to thank you guys for indulging me to expose my heart a bit to you in my last post. Sometimes it is hard to know how to share more than just the pretty things but you always know how to encourage me and I am so blessed by you - so thank you!