Don’t Count the Sheep..

…talk to the shepherd.

Popping in to share my April chalkboard before I draw something new. 

Blessings!

NCAA March Madness :: Bracket Winner CROWN

2023 was a Bracket Buster year for our family.

By the time we reached the Final Four only one person had a team left  in our Bracket but we got together anyway for the Final Four games and presented the winner with a 

DIY Bracket Winner Crown.

The crown was easy to make and to get started I hand painted some white card stock.

Once the paint was dry I used a pencil eraser to dab dots of glue all over the paint.

The glue also needed to dry, which did not take as long as I thought it would. 

Next I drew a crown, cut it out and then drew the black basketball lines with a permanent marker.

A button from my stash was glued at the top and I punched a few glittery gold stars to add a bit of sparkle. The star shown in the middle front was later removed and the label shown at the top was added there instead. 

And last but not least….a Velcro closure in back for custom fitting. We gave the winner a fun basketball  game that straps on your head so the crown could be adjusted to fit with or without the hoop on her head. It was fun!

And last but not least, 

a homemade Chocolate Bundt Cake with an edible basketball on top

was my dessert contribution.

Our Bracket Party was not quite the same this year, with all but one of the family brackets busted so early, but getting together is always lots of fun!

Happy Tuesday!

Hello Weekend

Life is full of Grand Surprises...

...and they tend to come in all shapes and sizes.

Some surprises are difficult and take time to navigate however,

faith, family and friends are the beacon that bring comfort while the heart heals. 

Thank you for your patience and support during this time. Gearing up to begin sharing some fun Grand Surprises here again soon.

Blessings,

NOEL Wood Tags

A new set of DIY Wood Tags for Christmas!

These wood tags have a new addition. They have washers at the top. When I asked the hubs if he had a pair of old washers that he would mind sharing with me he quickly produced a hefty supply. He did not have to look too far either and gave me a whole hand full. Unfortunate they were a bit too shiny and perfect for the look I was hoping for so I rephrased my question. This time I was a bit more descriptive and asked if he had some that were old and rusty, as in washers that he wanted to get rid of. The older and rustier the better. He didn't. He only had new ones but no problem. Or as he says…piece of cake! He took the shiny new ones he had and made them them look old. It was amazing and only took a minute. Perfectly rusty, vintage style washers in no time. 

They turned out just perfect! Once the white base paint was dry and red stripes added, the NOEL letters were painted in black using some leftover sheets of sticker letters which were repurposed as templates. It worked great. Then some print was added on the top and bottom of the tags. Once all the tags were completely dry they were varnished. The washer were then glued around the holes and some twine tied on and they were ready for hanging.

They look so cute in the wreath on the front door. 

However, the great door post that my sister and brother-in-law made and gave to us a while back is the perfect spot for the new Tags.

At least for now. 

Happy Wednesday!

St. Nicholas Day

A great day to bake a batch of sugar cookies.

Nothing fancy. Just some simple, festive cookies that taste great. 

Even though there are no shoes lined up in front of the fireplace anymore, to fill with little surprises, it is still a fun reason to bake some sweet treats.  

Wishing you a

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Brrr it’s COLD outside!

There is nothing better than waking up to SNOW in December!

Well actually, snow any time of the year is wonderful but there is just something extra special about December snow. 

It seems to make the holidays a bit more festive and gives everything a little more sparkle. 

It is great for a little doodle inspiration too!

This Snowman Sled ornament was painted years ago however it still hangs on our tree every year and goes perfect with the snow outside.

Hopefully this December Snow is a sign of a White Christmas

however

we will just have to wait and see!

Happy Snow Day!

Christmas Chalkboard :: 2022

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. 

Luke 2:14

Christmas Blessings!