The Paci Pal

Hello Peeps! Have I got something fun for you today! Here's the pitch- Are you tired of losing pacifiers? Or having to dig around to find them in your diaper bag or car seat? Do you have pacifier clips but lose those too or forget to put them on your pacifier? Yeah... me too!! Enter The Paci Pal-

Isn't he adorable?

Have you seen the "Binky Buddy" online anywhere? I first saw them on Etsy and thought they were adorable! But they are anywhere from $15-40, seriously. So I decided to make my own. FOR FREE! And, guess what? You can too :) I'm calling it a Paci Pal because my hubby is against calling them "binkies". He says "It's a pacifier, not a binky." (He's weird;)

All you need is a small stuffed animal. The flatter the better. I used a Beanie Baby and cut him open in the belly and took some of the beanie out.
Your also going to need:
4in piece of ribbon
1- 1in piece of velcro. (I don't know velcro etiquette but, the rough and soft side)
Seam ripper
Needle and thread

First take your velcro and sew it onto your ribbon. Sew one 1in piece at the very end of the ribbon, then sew the other piece at your 3in mark. You should have one inch of velcro, one inch of ribbon, one inch of velcro, one inch of ribbon. Make sense? Good!

Now, take your seam ripper and rip the thread out around your pals mouth. I know it sounds brutal, but they don't mind :)

And rip about one inch open:

*Disclaimer- Yes, I know I have a fat thumb. It is short and stumpy and completely different than my other one. Everyone makes fun of me and calls it a toe. Sorry if it grosses you out ;)

Then take the end of your ribbon that doesn't have velcro on it and stick it in his open mouth until you are about 1/4 in away from the velcro piece, and sew it shut. I sewed mine a little to the side because I thought it might be a little bit easier, but it doesn't matter.

Give this sweet cutie to your little one and watch how excited they get! Isn't it adorable? Oh, and it also helps develop hand/eye coordination so bonus points! I hope you will try to make one of these for your little one, or friends or family. They really are super easy and so cute. Enjoy!

The mantle

My current mantle is in-between themes. It's a little bit wintery, a little bit spring-ish, a little bit Valentines, and a little bit rock-n-roll. Well, maybe not.

Here's the rundown- The mirror above has our last name on it with Families are Forever over top of it. What? You can't see it? There's a glare? Oh yeah, that's because I'm such an awesome picture taker....NOT! Sorry peeps;) The mirror is from Home Interiors (I don't think it's called that anymore) and it's probably as old as I am, but it was a hand me down from my Grandma so I love it. I added the vinyl to it last year, and I really want to paint it but i'm scared and can't decide on a color, so for now it stays as is.

I picked up some pine cones outside and put them in a jar, and scattered them across the mantle. I left my green garland up there from Christmas to give it a little more natural look. I used some moss and porcelain eggs to make a "nest" and put a chubby little bird on top. We'll call her Gretta :)

The Love rock was a wedding gift from back in the day. I think it's for a flower bed or something but I liked it and it kept with the natural theme.  The dogwoods are from the next shelf over. They needed some new scenery so I obliged.

That big honkin' pine cone was one that my hubby brought me from East Texas. Have you ever seen one so huge? I love it! Look how little and sweet my princess is in that picture! Ugh.... why do they have to grow up? My twine tree was made last year, I just added a brown bow to it. I guess that's about all my little mantle has to offer for now :) Beth over at The Stories of A to Z is having a winter mantle linky party, you can find me there! 

Click on the picture below to go directly to the party. There are a lot of great mantles linked up.

Stay warm,

Before and after...and after!

Happy New Year peeps! I just finished my first before and after of the year, kinda. It's definitely an improvement, but I know it has more potential. And that's where you wonderful people come in! First let me give you a little back story on this monstrosity in my living room. It's huge. Like steroid huge. And bulky. And I DO. NOT. LIKE. IT. There. That's my little fit over our entertainment center. I will grow up now and act somewhat like an adult.  But seriously, I don't like it. And I have no idea what to do with it. Oh, and did I mention it matches NOTHING else in our living room? Yeah, nothing. 

This is the only picture I could find of the thing with nothing on it. Sorry it's horrible, and you can't see half of it. But you get the idea. Oh, and we have a TV from the 90's, seriously. Yes, I would love a new flat screen, but this ol' sucker is still kicking so I can't really see the point in buying a new one. Hubby doesn't agree with me on that though, he also likes the entertainment center. Ugh!

It's gotten so bad that I've considered tearing it apart. Or taking the saw to those shelves so it's not so big. Paint, maybe? I can't even hardly watch movies anymore because I keep staring at the shelves wondering what to do with them. Yeah. I know! Can we say obsessive?

Here it is after I decorated it. What do you think? I have no idea what to do with it. If you have any suggestions or ideas for it please let me know.  There really is no function to it, or balance. I am not good with that stuff, but I know a lot of people in blogland are so please help me!

Here are a few close up pics of the shelves. I just shopped the house, used scrapbook paper, and twine and decided I could live with it. I know it could use some improvements though.

So, whatcha say? Wanna help? Do you have any piece of furniture in your house you hate? Please tell me I'm not the only one :)


Linking to TDC's Before and After party, you should go check out all those amazing projects!

P.S. Sorry about the glare in all these pictures. It's a sunny 70 degrees in these parts. Sorry if your stuck in the snow. We certainly are not!

2010-What a year!

Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality is having a fun top projects of 2010 party. Although I am new to blogging and all the awesome jazz that comes along with it I thought it would be fun to join the par-tay!

I searched through old posts and my Yarn Snowman had the most comments, so I guess you could say that was my top project. However, if you ask me what my top project of the year was, of course I'm going to say this handsome little man!

When I started this blog it was a place for my family and friends to come keep up with us. I never considered turning this into a crafty little outlet to share my projects, until I met a few awesome and totally inspirational ladies, who unknowingly encouraged me to open up a little and share some of my projects. So, bring on 2011! I am planning to have a complete blog makeover and start this new journey with a bang! I really hope  you will come along and follow. I also really hope you will send any POSITIVE advice my way :)

Happy New Year Peeps,

Merry Christmas to you!

I'm taking a little break until after Christmas, but stay tuned because I have a BIG, BIG, BIIIIIG post coming up for you after the holidays. You won't want to miss it. I'm wishing you all a very merry Christmas and sending you a huge cyber hug!

-Chelsy

Our Oh-So Traditional Christmas Tree

Yes, our tree is a hodge podge of ornaments. No there is no uniformity to it. Yes it has random things from random places. No it does not match anything. And yes I absolutely LOVE it!

Each ornament has a story. I love that. I love how people come into our house and stare and work their way around looking at each and every ornament. I love when someone says "Oh this is pretty, what's it's story?" or "Wow, that's really odd. How did you get that?" (Yeah we hear that alot:) We have a tree topper from the 80's, ornaments from each of our childhood's and are adding new ornaments for our children.  We upgraded to a fake LED tree last year. I have to say, it is alot easier then getting a real one. Especially with a toddler and a newborn!

This little hippo gets alot of questions. Jusy FYI- I did not pay money for her, she was a gift?

She does have alot of character though :)

My husband collected John Deere ornaments growing up... We have a few-

One of this year's new additions...

For this new addition...

So do you see that window thingy in the background? I HATE IT!! I guess that's what we get for living in an old house. Every one who sees it say "Oh, I love that window." First of all it's not a window, it's a pain. I have no idea what to do with it. I don't even think my husband knows it's there. But it's all I can see. What can I do with it?!

 Hope you like our Phillips Family Christmas tree!

 

Linking up to TDC's Christmas Tree Party!

Jingle Bell Snowman

Hello Peeps!! This is going to be a super short and easy post. Why? Because this is a super short and easy craft... duh!

So, is this little lady the cutest little jingle bell snowman you've ever seen?

Do you want to make one ten of your own? Here's whatcha need:

Jingle bells (I used the large ones) or anything round really.
Pipe cleaners
Pom Poms
Googly Eyes
Felt or foam
Hot glue
Ribbon

First, attach the basics... you know... eyes, nose, mouth!

(A golf ball makes a cute little snowman too!)

 Then cut a 3in piece of pipe cleaner and glue it from the left side to the right, going over the top of her little jingle bell head. Then glue your pom poms over the ends of the pipe cleaner, tie a ribbon on it and enjoy! See easy peasy!

I originally saw these on Oriental trading and it was something like $10 for a kit to make 12 of them, I politely said "No thank you. I will make my own for much cheaper." So there you have it, I hope you have fun with these! They are also a great craft to do with the kids. Happy Wednesday all!

P.S. Snowmen are very generous and kind, so I'm sure they would love it if you shared them with your friends and neighbors.

Linking to the fabulous parties: