A Little Bit of Extra Love: Paper Hearts Garland

Last night as I was completing my nightly ritual of laying in bed, browsing through all of my social media outlets I came across the most touching blog post. Melissa from The Happier Homemaker posted a really cute paper heart garland that she made for a special little girl. I clicked on her link to the most heartbreaking story about a girl named Lucy. As soon as I began reading the posts of this child's mother I was flooded with tears. Lucy is five years old and has Mitochondrial Disease, which is a progressive degenerative disease of energy metabolism. Many people have asked what they can do to help and the Marlett family has one request:

Send Lucy as much love as possible!

They want to fill Lucy's room with all the hearts and cards and love they can get. I was so compelled to do my part for this family because as a mother myself I could never imagine having to endure what this family is going through. The immense courage they have really left an impression on my heart. Her mother writes the blog, All The Marletts, which is where you can read more about Lucy, her disease and the special request that this family has for her last weeks here with them.

McKenzie and I decided to make a paper heart garland as well. I had a plastic bin in the closet full of random scrapbook paper. McKenzie really wanted to participate in this project so I let her pick out all the paper that she wanted to use. After she had gone through the entire bin, I got out the Cricut and started cutting out all the hearts. I did 4 - 4" hearts per sheet. {We wanted a lot of hearts and McKenzie wanted a garland for her room too!}

After all the hearts were cut out, I just fed them one by one through the sewing machine.

Easy-Peasy!!

{If you decide to make your own garland don't forget to leave extra thread at each end for hanging.}

I hope we can put a smile on little Lucy's face when she opens our package. If you would like to send her a little bit of extra love send it here:

Nemours A. I. DuPont Hospital for Children

℅ Lucy Marlett Room 3708

1600 Rockland Road

Wilmington, DE 19803 

Upcycled Leggings

My oldest, McKenzie, is 7 going on 17 which means she's a bit of a diva! The days of buying her clothes and dressing her how I want are over. If she doesn't like it, she isn't wearing it.

Her style? Anything with patterns or sparkle!

So, the day I brought home plain leggings {what was I thinking?!} she informed me she would never wear them. I decided to accept that challenge and give those plain ol' leggings a makeover!

Here's what you'll need:

Leggings

{or garment of choice}

Fabric paint

Stencil

{I used my cricut to cut out a heart shape on card stock}

Sponge

It's so super easy you may not be able stop!

Now, I did one half at a time going all the way down one leg before starting the other side, but the process is up to you. Just figure out your pattern, lay out your stencil and start sponging on paint! The paint doesn't have to go on perfect every single time either. Some of my hearts were darker or filled in more than others.

And TA-DA!!

Uber cute, right?! Well, guess what? McKenzie thought so! She just couldn't wait to put them on and make an appearance on the blog :)

I want to know how you upcycled your own article of clothing!

So, leave me a comment and tell me all about it!

DIY: Jewelry Display Board

If an opportunity presents itself to organize or de-clutter, I'm jumping all over it! That's why I am on a mission to makeover McKenzie's bathroom. She has managed to completely clutter the counter top which is very small to begin with. The complete reveal is coming soon, but here is what I did to organize her jewelry.

What You Will Need

Corkboard

{frameless}

Fabric

Glue Gun & Glue

{or your preferred adhesive}

Pins

{I used colored pins used for sewing, but thumb tacks would work too}

Begin by ironing the fabric so that any creases are removed. Lay the fabric right side down, then lay the corkboard right side down on top of the fabric. Using the glue gun, run a line of glue around the back perimeter of the corkboard {work in small segments as the glue will cool and harden quickly}. Fold the fabric tightly and evenly around the edges of the corkboard.

{If you have trouble with the corners, fold them just like you are wrapping a present.}

After you hang your board on the wall, use the pins or thumb tacks to hang and arrange your jewelry as desired.