Are We There Yet?! {Solution}

We recently went on a road trip that was 6 hours each way and we have 3 little girls (ages: 4, 2.5, & 18mo). Reese (age 4) is very good at the "Are we there yet?" phrase that most parents dread. Toddlers don't really understand how many hours away something is. Instead, I set up this very simple toddler timeline!

All I did was print out this car printable and had Reese color it. I then laminated it (which is not necessary but since this was our 2nd time doing this I wanted something I could keep around). After cutting it out, I simply used a craft blade to cut a tiny slit at each end of the car. Then I threaded through some curly ribbon and tied it across the back seat. I then took a Sharpie and made 6 lines across the ribbon to represent hours on the road.

All I had to do is say "When the car gets to the very last black line, we are there!" We didn't once hear the phrase "Are we there yet?!"

*NOTE For those who look at this as a choking hazard: #1 my girls couldn't each it from their carseats #2 we don't allow them to ever be in the backseat unbuckled & #3 the ribbon is just a simple bow so it will release if pulled on.

How To & How NOT To Build A Framed Magnetic Chalkboard {Tutorial}

We absolutely LOVE our magnetic chalkboard now that is is complete but let me tell you...we had know clue what we were doing and mistakes were made. I will try my best to walk you through the process, including what we did wrong. 

DO measure your area and decide on a size of framed chalkboard. Once you decide on your frame you can subtract the width of the frame out from your total size and then get sheet metal cut to size. We had to go to a metal warehouse to find sheet metal this big but it was super cheap and cut to the right size!

DO prop your sheet metal up on a work table so that you can easily reach and paint it

DO buy material to frame your chalkboard with (sheet metal is sharp and you don't want it exposed)

We bought a package of interlocking siding since our plan was to "slip" the chalkboard edges into the siding groves (more on this later)

DO recruit your husband to measure and cut perfect angles for your frame

DO assemble 2 sides of the frame together to make a fixed corner

Liquid Nails for Wood

Securing with wood jointers

Use wood filler to fix any gaps in the corner on the visible side of the frame

DO paint all the pieces of your frame (we decided to use our baseboard enamel)

DO take a piece of course steel wool and rough up the surface of the sheet metal to allow the chalkboard paint to stick

DO buy quality chalkboard paint and a smooth surface roller

DO paint your sheet metal with the chalkboard paint (try and roll in the same direction)

After 1 coat

After 4 or 5 coats (I lost count...remember it fell and got scratched)

DO take a piece of fine steel wool and gently rub the surface of the chalkboard paint once it is dry. This helps get the roller marks out and also helps the chalk to stick better (sorry, no picture of this)

DO prime your chalkboard with a piece of chalk laying on it's side

Rub the entire board in chalk

Take a wet washcloth and wipe off all the chalk

A clean & primed chalkboard

DO buy a mount big enough to hold the weight of your sheet metal

Mount still packaged shown on top of unpainted sheet metal

DO screw the wall mount into the wall making sure you hit the studs (we used painters tape to map out the spot)

DO NOT secure the other 1/2 of the mount to the back of the chalkboard with liquid nails!

DO NOT try to hang with the mount glued to back of chalkboard

DO NOT try and "slip on" the frame while hanging. 5 Minutes after this... it came crashing down! (tearing a big hole in the side wall and scratching up the chalkboard paint)

*The glue on the back of the chalkboard could not hold with the slight bending the metal does when trying to lift it up onto the wall and with all the manipulation of getting the frame on.

DO secure the chalkboard to a larger piece of wood with a bunch of liquid nails (we got used the measurement of what the chalkboard would be framed for our piece of wood)

The wood acts as a support and prevents the metal from any bending

DO paint the exposed edges of the wood to match your frame color

DO glue your frame onto the exposed wood while it is still laying down - it is now merely cosmetic (sorry no pic of this)

DO screw the other 1/2 of the mount into the back of this supporting wood (again no pic)

DO hang your framed (& secured) magnetic chalkboard once all your glue has set (I did put some basic Command Strips under the bottom 2 corners so it wouldn't bounce off the wall any)

Completely secured Giant Magnetic Chalkboard (we even banged on the walls to test it out!)

You may notice I distressed the frame and this was not my intention. My enamel paint "bubbled" really bad despite a new enamel brush, sanding the wood and cleaning it off well. So I needed a new plan. I had never distressed before. I wanted the darker color to show through but I had already painted the frame white. So... I took a piece of fine sandpaper and lightly sanded out the bubbles and then got a heavier sandpaper and scuffed off some of the white paint on the ribbed design of the wood. Then I cheated (although no one can tell)! I took a stain pen (that I had for my daughter's crib) and rubbed the stain pen on the distressed parts of the frame. I then re-sanded the stain pen areas to help make it look distressed and not like fresh stain.

Older Than Dirt {FREEBIE Labels & Banner!}

I was recently asked by my mother-in-law to help plan a 60th Birthday Party. After some short searching for ideas we were both sold on the "Older Than Dirt" theme!

I saw this idea on Pinterest but couldn't get the free labels to download without having to become some sort of "premium member".

So... I made my own labels instead and I think they are pretty cute! I printed them out on card stock, hole punched them and then tied them around the lids with twine. 

I got the 4oz. quilted jelly jars at Hobby Lobby during their 50% glass jar sale but they can also be found on Amazon.

I applied the word "dirt" out of vinyl using my Cricut machine and transfer paper to the flat (1in x1.75in) spot on the jar. I thought this process would take forever since I was doing 30 jars but the transfer paper made it super fast and I had them done in no time! 

Simply blend up Oreo cookies and fill the jars to look like dirt! (note: it takes about 4-5 Oreos to fill one 4 oz. jar). 

To download my FREEBIE labels click here!

Proud of my Mother-in-Law's craftiness - she set the jars up in a cupcake stand!

I made some simple signs in Word for her to frame and use for the party.

I also made a matching birthday banner that I laminated, hole punched at each corner, and strung with the same twine. I chose to laminate the banner for durability since it will be hung outside. I will try and update with a photo of it hanging once the party is set up!

To download my FREEBIE banner click here!

Please take a moment to leave a comment and share some love  :)

Whisper Phones {Tutorial}

When I first started setting up our preschool at home I saw whisper phones for the first time at our local Lakeshore Learning store but cringed when I saw the price ($4.99ea) knowing we would need 3 to prevent any fights between the sisters.

So after looking at other options on Pinterest I had found an easy and cheap option!

All you need is:
3/4" PVC pipe (we already had)
3/4" PVC slip elbows (90 degree)- need 2 per phone you want to make (we had 3 of the 4)
Patterned Duck Tape (we already had)

1. Cut your PVC pipe into 3.5" long sections for how many phones you want to make.
2. Simply snap the elbows to each end of your 3.5" sections
3. Add your patterned duct tape to the middle section

The grand total for all 3 whisper phones was only $0.42!

I will be giving these to the girls when we start our sense of hearing lesson! They can also be used for older children as literacy phones for those who are reading.

I know my girls are going to LOVE them! I am thinking they may come in handy during our upcoming road trip too!

Teacher Gift

We really struggled saying goodbye to Reese's teacher. She was so wonderful and really helped Reese excel for her age. I wanted to give something from the heart. 

Ms. Nancy loves to read books to the kids, I know this because Reese would often recite books we don't have from memory at home. Reese has picked up so much from being read to and I noticed most of the classroom books are 10+ years old when I tried to buy some of them myself! 

When I saw this idea I knew I had to do it!

For the original blog post and label click here.

The book is called Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! I couldn't find the book in stores so I ordered it from Amazon.

That night Reese told me that her teacher read the book to the class - which made me smile!

70 Years of Memories

Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest?! I find the neatest ideas on there. When I saw this idea on there I knew I immediately wanted to do it! The original idea was for a 60th Birthday but with Cody's Grandma celebrating her 70th we just adapted it by collecting 10 more memories :)

The Idea:

Secretly collect a memory letter from friends and family of the special birthday person! In my case, Connie was turning 70 so we collected 70 letters. 

The letter I sent to her 70 closest friends & family:

Connie (last name) will be celebrating her 70th birthday in March. To celebrate her birthday, we'd like to put together a little surprise to let her know that her nearest and dearest are thinking of her. We're going to try and create "70 Years of Memories" by filling 70 envelopes with a memory her friends and family have of her.
And this is where you come in!

If you have a spare moment, we would be so grateful if you would write down (or type up) a favorite memory you have of Connie and put it in the mail to us. It doesn't have to be anything fancy -- you can just write it down on a piece of paper and sign your name. You can mention anything you like -- although the more nostalgic the better! Please absolutely feel free to send more than one memory.
Thank you so, so, so much for participating -- we know everyone is busy with their own lives, and we do appreciate you taking a few minutes to do this; it will be so worth it when she reads all the memories people have of her! I know her birthday may seem far away still but it can take some time to get 70 letters organized, placed in envelopes and labeled before the big day. (Please don't forget to keep it a surprise until then!) 

Please send your memory of Connie to:

Cody & Tonya Sweatman
(my address)

or (my email)

Sincerely,

Cody & Tonya Sweatman

Patience & Persistence:

Then we waited. A few letters trickled in right away and then nothing. I did have to send out multiple messages (via Facebook, email, or good ole fashion mail) to remind people of this very special project. I learned that the earlier you start doesn't seem to make a difference. People like the pressure of a deadline and most of the letters came in the week before this gift was presented. 

Assembly:

I simply put each memory letter into the matching envelopes (purchase link below) and then simply numbered the envelopes 1 thru 70 with number stickers. I tied the stack together with a piece of twine and attached a label. *I did provide a printed key of who wrote which memory for a quick reference later in case she wanted to read a certain memory again (which you can see her daughter holding in the 2nd picture of her reading the letters below)

One person sent this really neat booklet: 1943 Remember When...A Nostalgic Look Back In Time. It was too big to fold into an envelope so I just counted this as an extra and presented it to her separately. 

What I learned about Connie:

• She is an amazing cook and everyone loves her food!
• She opens her house up to a lot of people out of love, even if the timing is bad
• She cheats at the game of Jacks by THROWING the ball straight up in the air instead of bouncing it!
• She loves having fun and never seems low on energy!
• She loved people doing her hair even if it turned out terrible!
• Her siblings vote her to be the "favorite"
• She is a dedicated Christian, loves her church, and works hard to understand God's message!
• She raised 4 amazing daughters, loved her husband with all her heart, & never gives up!

Sorry in advance about the video and picture quality as they were taken with someone's phone since I couldn't be there to present them to her.

She was completely beside herself reading these letters! There was laughter and tears. She is truly blessed to have such great friends and family in her life to help her celebrate and remember the past 70 years!

Details:

I purchased 2 boxes of envelopes from Amazon here:

Mead #6 3/4 Air Mail Envelopes, 40 Count (74212)

I only needed 1 package of number stickers from Hobby Lobby:
3/4" Black Franklin Number Stickers


Happy copying! This one is worth it!!