Back to Bento

January always brings new optimism that I CAN accomplish all things. 

One thing in the list for this year is to get back to making Bento Lunches for {not so little} Little K. 

Inspired by my Bento Buddy Sheri at Happy Little Bento to get back to it. 

Unfortunately I didn't have much to work with today, but I'll be sure to put my favorite Bento foods on the shopping list this week.

Sticky rice (leftover from yesterday's lunch) with a Turkey and cheese flower decoration on top.  Cucumber sticks and blanched carrots & cauliflower fill the veggie tin.  I also included a fruit squeeze, peanut butter crackers and a fruit bar. 

Everything was packed into this sweet oilcloth lunch bag (and then promptly crammed into a very full back pack). 

You can find the Lunch Bag tutorial here.

Considering the rough ride these bentos now have to endure being carried from class to class until 1PM lunch time, I don't think I'll be able to send any delicate creations like I used to. 

(This is one of my most popular bentos - viewed nearly 8,000 times)

But there is no reason I can't include a little something Pretty in her lunches. 

I've forgotten how much fun it is. 

Happy Bentoing. 

Picture Frame Pin Cushions

I have been doing a lot of sewing lately (nothing exciting - mostly Skirts for my daughters Ballet Company).  

Unfortunately my (downstairs) workroom is a mess, so I end up using the (upstairs) kitchen as a work space.  I have these little bowls of pins in several locations throughout my house as I'm working on projects.

Which is not a big deal (other than the fact that they are not very cute). 

But in the past 2 weeks I have dropped/slit/knocked/pulled these bowls onto the floor at least 3 times.  

Pins scatter everywhere.... the Bowls break.... I end up Searching for hours to be sure to find all the Pins.

I decided it was time for a different method.  

I'm sure I could have gone to the store and purchased a very functional Pin Cushion.... but what Fun would that be?

Since I have a fairly large STASH of just about everything (in that totally messy workroom I mentioned above) - I had all the bits and pieces needed for this project already at home. 

They are made from colorful acrylic picture frames that I found in the dollar bins and Michaels.  

I love the happy colors and ornate designs.

I twisted off the stand up easel portion from the back of one of the frames (you will see Why - later).

To make the foundation of the pin cushion - I used the paper insert shape from each of the frames and traced onto a piece of chip board*, and cut them slightly smaller to allow room for the fabric wrap around.

*I lied.  I didn't really use chip board (because it's lost somewhere in the messy workroom downstairs and I'm afraid to go searching for it).  I used the cardboard back of a notebook paper tablet. 

  

  Now comes the FUN part.

Picking through my fabric scraps to find the perfect match.

 

Should I use tonal colors that match the frame color?

Or go Bold with something Bright?

 Maybe a little of each?

I used layers of cotton batting to "stuff" the pin cushion.  Each layer is cut slightly smaller than the chip board base shape.  

Once the fabric is wrapped around the batting, I then used the very sophisticated  method of taping the fabric on the back of the chipboard base.  

After the fabric is taped on all sides, its easy to slip it into the picture frame.

 

I added some Hot Glue to the back seal of the picture frame opening to keep it all secure.  

 

For This frame I kept the back Stand Up Easel in place. 

 On another frame - I added 4 chunky acrylic beads to the bottom (remember I pulled off the stand up easel from the back).  

The beads were Hot glued to each of the corners like little Feet.

  Now I have a few sweet colorful Cushions to keep my sewing pins in place.  

I'm going to have to make another Larger version to use by my sewing machine (where the majority of the pins end up), so I'll be watching the clearance section for some unique shaped, colorful picture frames.   

Ten on Ten: August 2014

I love this reminder to take a moment and look for the beauty that can be found in every day.  Picking up my camera again after a {too long} hiatus.  

You can read more about Ten on Ten here.

Early Morning After Party Clean  Up

Catching Up on some Reading

Final Days of Late Morning Sleep Ins

Sweet Gift from a Sweet Friend

Hello Baxter

Poolside Party Decor = Fish in Trees

Pub Time

School Supply Shopping.  

It gets easier as they get older - but not any less expensive $119 spent in one place.

I hope you enjoyed a peek into our day. 

Come see what everyone else is up to this month over at A bit of sunshine.

Summer Bucket List and my Favorite Fonts

Every Year we make a Family Bucket List.

At the beginning of Summer we are so excited about the possibility of all the Fun things there are to do....and by the end of Summer we are usually disappointed that we didn't do any of them. 

Although there is something to be said for just chilling out, relaxing and doing nothing.

(Note:  need to put more of that on our Bucket List)

Plus - I'm a List Maker - so this project is perfect for me.  It's a big pretty List that is displayed out for the entire family to view.

I used a 8 X 10 white picture frame and added some paper flower embellishments (hot glued) to the corner.

Pink - Orange - Turquoise - Lime Green - they make me Summer Happy!

Our list of Summer activities includes simple every day things we can do without much planning.  Each one is listed in a different happy Summer Color and typed using some of my Favorite Go To Fun FONTS:

Have you seen the great colors that Dry Erase markers come in now?  

Don't forget - they work on Glass too (not just white boards). 

Go ahead and mark up your Summer Fun List.  Check off things once you have done them, Add notes about when you want to do them, Draw pictures, Doodle...

It can all be easily wiped away.  Just be sure to keep the Dry Erase markers separate from the Sharpies (lesson learned the hard way - OOPS). 

First thing on our Summer Fun Agenda....make Fruit Popsicles.  

DONE!  Strawberry Lychee and Pineapple Coconut.  Y-U-M

What's on YOUR Summer Bucket List for this year?