DIY Photo Collage..on the cheap

I'll be the first to admit that I take a lot of photographs and our chidren's lifes are very well documented. However life often gets in the way and I am not very prompt about changing our displayed pictures.  Like many photographers, I have a huge selection on the hard drive but current pictures of us..ummm..that's a different story.

In an attempt to revamp our walls with current smiles, I ordered a bunch of my loved photos from a favorite lab of mine..Persnickety Prints.   After receiving my collection of 12x12  prints and knowing I had a couple of large walls in mind, I came up with a plan. 

I purchased a 36x24 plain canvas from Hobby Lobby and a large white foam board (yep..foam board) when I couldn't find a large enough canvas.  I set both boards on the dining room table and just played around with the photos and eventually created two pieces.  I wasn't sure how well the photos were going to adhere to the canvas or the foam board but it turned out to be an unnecessary concern.

canvas of 6 12x12's

Our Living Room "canvas"  is a combination of 6  12x12's and I  lined them up and adhered the photos with double sided tape..literally complete in minutes.   I can tell you that everyone who comments on it, is shocked that it's not a printed on canvas itself but rather a collection of photographs adhered to the canvas.  And down the line how easy will it be to change the photographs for more recent ones?  Nice!

The hallway collage took a little more time because it is larger and I wanted to go more with a random placement of photographs.  After I committed to the layout (the longest part of the process),I started to cut the photos and adhere them in place with again, the double sided scrapbooking tape.

foam board collage

hello wall of happiness

I bought the prints on sale and with a Hobby Lobby coupon, I think I spent less than $50 for both of these displays which would of otherwise cost me hundreds of dollars.  They have hung perfectly and honestly the foam board looks as nice as the canvas so unless you want the depth of the canvas, the foam board is perfect and definitely the cheaper of the two.  I was so happy to get these done and hung..now I need to get to that rest of the pile to update our bedrooms.

Have a great weekend!

Project Life Week 12

Wam Bam Sister Sam...I'm all caught up. (now if I can only finish up the 2012 album...)

Our week with the stomach flu didn't mount to many photos but that's Real Life.

Tomorrow I'll be back with a fun DIY cheap and easy project with photographs.

Project Life Week 11

Well I was a little presumptuous thinking our family was on the mend because come Friday evening the stomach flu took the last one down.  Now that all of us made it through and the house has been sanitized as best as we could, we are back to the world of living..and it feels so very good! 

Here's a snip it of what our life looked like two weeks ago.  We were on the dance circuit, taking MC to all of her performances (so fun!). She is certainly going through withdrawal now, especially since the dance academy has been on a two week break.  She eagerly is counting down the days to get back to her classes. 

It was also my mom's birthday so we celebrated her with gusto and gave her a few surprises.  I adore seeing MC's writing progress so I decided to include Nana's card from her in the layout as well.

Can I tell you how much I love this project? L.O.V.E. being able to collect all these memories in one spot.  Have a great hump day and make it a good one.

Project Life Week 10

We have had a week full of illness here which is a great reminder that if you have your health, you have everything.  After spending over 24 hours in my bed yesterday, I am very thankful for feeling well again and I hope it's gone from our house now since 3 of the 4 of us shared the experience. 

Here's a few layouts to share.  A big week it was with many exciting events including lots of snow fun and the beginning of the two week dancing performance schedule.  

The parade was extra special for us so I decided it to be on it's own layout.

Have a great weekend.  I am looking forward to spending time with my now healthy family.

Project Life update

Moving on through and once again I am so grateful for documenting the little and the big things of our days.  This week was filled with a lot of normal day to day things as well as many fun times.  Makenna Claire had an institute day at school and Rylan had school so we had a rare few hours just for us. After looking through our wedding album, I asked her what she would like to do together.  "I want to make my own scrapbook Momma." And she started her book with enthusiasm, documenting her recent birthday party.  My creative momma heart could of burst. 

We also finally got a decent snowfall and were able to make a snowman, which Abby proceeded to eat until it was no longer a snowman (no, i'm not exaggerating. hence our next one, the following week was created in the front of the house). 

 Both schools celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday and although Makenna has never embraced his books before, she discovered a new interest in reading them and thinks they are so silly (like how that happens!). Rylan had a short music program at school...seriously, he's just so cute on that stage!

My mom and I took MC to Lord of the Dance at a local theatre and she of course enjoyed the Irish Step Dancing.  On Sunday both kids went for an overnight at Gaga and Pop pops (another day off on Monday due to Polaski Day) and they had a blast!  The photos from that day are a couple of the ones that were emailed showing us how much fun they were of course having. And with the kids busy, Scott and I were able to enjoy a perfect lazy day together.  Ahhhh...

A great week, indeed.

On a special note, I would love to wish my momma a very Happy Birthday today!  I can't wait to spend the day together and we are planning a special mexican fiesta for her tomorrow night.  

Love you MOM!  

Life of an Irish Dancer

"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another" - Anonymous

Back in September Makenna started taking weekly dance classes at the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.  The steps, the fun, the dance that comes from putting all the steps together, the stage presence along with the pretty dresses, curly hair, special shoes and potential for makeup all has MC intensely passionate about the sport.  She skips around the house doing her hop 1,2,3's and is always practicing her jig moves.  Always.  In fact just the other night she was in her room and was of course supposed to be asleep.  Scott was showing my mom and I a video that included Irish Music and all of the sudden we hear the pounding of steps upstairs in tune with the music.  We all had a laugh and told MC to go. back. to. bed.

Last month she was added to a performing dance troupe and in the past week she has performed at a nursing home, a brunch for an association, a doctor's week celebration at a local hospital and the Elmhurst Irish Parade. Each time she gets on stage she has the biggest, widest, sustained smile I have ever seen and she takes in each moment with unified glory. She is in her element and she shines.   

Trinity is much more than a dance company.  They make it fun without the pressure and teach the kids so much more than the jig and the reel.  They reach out to the community and show the kids the gift of entertaining others and making them smile. The older dancers lead the younger dancers and Makenna will eventually be exposed to the beauty of winning and losing at competitions as well as cheering on her friends. They have a track for the dancers to follow as they learn the dances which eventually leads to earning a solo dress; of course MC already has her eye on that goal.  Actually, she already has plans to compete in Ireland just like her older dance friends. Wherever this sport will lead her, it is so great for right now and we are all really enjoying seeing her excel and so very happy. 

 Last Sunday we headed out to the parade ready to share our irish spirit and watch Makenna dance through the streets.  She couldn't of been more excited.

Silly face Rylan.

The show captain paired the younger girls with an older dancer and they marched  beautifully through the streets of Elmhurst.   She waved, she danced, she smiled and enjoyed her first parade experience. The photographs I think say it all.

Gaga and Pop Pop enjoying the parade.  MC was thrilled they could come see her. 

Hi mom!

 Even though these couple of pictures are a bit blurry, I can't resist the beauty of that big happy smile.

And at the end of the parade a little girl came up to her and asked to take her picture with her.   Of course Makenna was happy to oblige.

We are gearing up for one more full weekend of sharing the luck of the irish with  a few more performances.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  xo

Let it Snow!

At approximately 11 pm on Monday night we received the anticipated phone call that school was indeed canceled for Makenna.  As all the surrounding schools were closing, we went to bed not knowing if Rylan would have preschool (their schools are in different districts) but with almost certainty we were sure to wake up and find out that his school was also closed.   And sure enough it was a universal snow day!  Yea!!  We were excited to spend the day together with no where to go and only fun things to do.

 The snow didn't start coming down until after 9 am but once it started it didn't stop for about 12 hours yielding us a total of 8.5 inches of white fluffy magic dust.  The kids took it all in and went out to play several times during the day.  While we were inside we played board games, colored pictures and watched the movie The Lorax (Rylan's current fave!).  

 Rylan's favorite thing to do when outside is to eat the snow.  He takes a big handful and brings it right up to his mouth, eating it like it's the best thing in the world.

 After Scott finished working for the day, he headed out to shovel our driveway and play with the kids a bit. By this time I had enough of the snow so I was glad to just run out and take a few pictures and run back in before my toes got cold.

And at the end of the day, a new snowman was built.

A delightful fun day but now that we have had our snow fun, it's time for Spring, ok mother nature?