What to do with your kids' art? Frame it!

I see a lot of blog posts about "what to do with your kids' art".  See those colorful squares on the wall, next to the window in Bubbie's room?    They are pieces of art he drew just for fun, not as part of a class in school, and they've been taped on the wall for about three years now.  They were so detailed and creative that I had left them up.

Last week I decided I was going to frame them - it was a cheap and easy creative thing to do.  Much more fun than cleaning out file cabinets and closets!

I bought two inexpensive 16x20 frames at Wal-Mart, a craft glue stick, and some white posterboard.  I carefully carefully peeled each piece of art from the wall.  Then I spread everything out on the dining table.  I used the paper that came in the frame as a guide for cutting the posterboard to the right size.

Basically, I just laid them out on the posterboard according to what looked good together.  There were a few leftovers and I haven't decided what to do with those just yet - maybe they will live on my office bulletin board.

I used a ruler to make sure the border of white posterboard was the same on each collection.  Then I carefully glued each one down so it wouldn't shift around - I think it worked better than double-sided tape would have.

It took an hour, all told, then I hung them up in his room.  I almost hope he doesn't want to take these with him someday - I really love the art my kids created in school and have it all over the house in some form or fashion.

Gina

How I spent a rare weekend at home...Monday included

Its hot as blue blazes here and I was on call this last weekend, so we pretty much stayed home and did a whole lot of putseying.  Much to Hubby's disgust.  However, since I am the one leaving the house 5 days a week, it is GREAT for me to get a day or two of home time.  I had a fun time doing odds and ends around the house.

I made pesto with a big bunch of basil that I hadn't ended up using in last week's menus.  I froze it in these little containers.  Mine had basil, lime juice, olive oil, salt, walnuts, garlic, and Parmesan - it is DELISH.  Can't wait to slather it over salmon!

 I also went through all of my solid black scrubs and pulled out the faded or bleach-speckled ones and gave them a dye bath of jet black on the stovetop.  It was time-consuming, so I don't know if I ever want to try that again.  A lot of work, too.  But my scrubs came out looking SHARP.

I got all of them cleaned, dried, hung, and sorted, then straightened up the closet, which was very satisfying!  I know it looks crowded in here, but Hubby and I have  room for all of our things.  His side still looks neat from a month ago when I ironed all of the wrinkly things.  That's because he wears shorts and tees to "work".

 Hubby's big project this last weekend was to CLEAN UP HIS OWN MESS in the garage.  This was created by simply emptying and moving a desk into The Lounge, now known as The Office. 

I offered to help but he declined.  Its just as well - I have cleaned and organized this garage at least twice a year since we have lived here - 23 years.  Do the math.  And it never stays the way I left it.  I think I earned a pass.

 Saturday lunch was some pulled pork rescued from the freezer, with toasted brioche buns, bread and butter pickles and red onion slices, and truffle corn chips.  Oh!  And a beer.  I cleaned my plate.

I had to do at least ONE artsy project.  This is the box that we use for wine club pick-ups for Esperanza.  Decorate it, she said.  Bring it back to get your wine, she said.  So I used some of that flour sack fabric my mother gave me.

 I carefully peeled off the winery tag and re-glued it onto the front of the box, bordered with some rickrack from my stash.  Total cost was zero and I think its quite snazzy.  I am looking forward to visiting this winery again soon!

 Thrift shopping happened.  I found a small table I think will do perfectly between the armchairs in the front room.  No more Hubby balancing his coffee mug on the chair arm. No more coffee rings on the upholstery. 

 I also found a cute lil frame to put a snarky cross stitch in, a suncatcher of a spray of bluebonnets, and this top which I already have one of in olive green that I love (so I know I will wear it).  Spent $6 but I will return for that table.  When I get it purchased and painted, I will show you where it will live!  I got loads of other things done - replaced the A/C filters, made a Wal-Mart run, washed and vac'd my car, cooked a glorious Sunday dinner.  Among other things.  And never got called in.

No place like home.

Gina

5 thing Friday - canoe, den, Firstborn, beer, kid art

A couple of weekends ago, we trekked down to the creek to make sure the canoe was still safe and sound - and it was.  However, we think we might have it a little to the left of the actual property that we own, judging from survey stakes that have popped up on either side of the creek.

So that means we may need to move it a bit.  But I doubt that it will be an issue.  You can't actually build down there so its not in anyone's way.  And we need to take it out on the water soon - its been sitting here since last spring.

Taking down the kids' Christmas tree always morphs into moving the couch, sweeping and mopping the entire den, wiping down the couch, and just generally refreshing the room.

I haven't done any real decorating in here for ages.  This weekend I will refresh the mantel, though.

My first little potato tot was born this day 29 years ago.  Here he is with his Nana - she though he was the most amazing baby and was smitten with him.  Its sad that he does not remember her, but a little bit of the love she poured into him is still with him.  Happy Birthday, Spencer!

 

We may take him out for a beer on Saturday - Hubby and I are still enjoying visiting breweries.  

I pulled all of the kids' art from under my bed when I did the bedroom refresh.  It wasn't really an effective long term storage solution anyway.  Instead of having it in a couple of plastic bags, I bought an under the bed storage container that is long and low.  

Perfect.

Sorry, Marie Kondo...I cannot let go of all of it yet.  Maybe never.

Gina

Storing the kid's school art

Recently I moved all of the furniture in my bedroom to vacuum thoroughly and search for The Girl's sorority pinkie ring that was lost over Winter Break.  Under our bed I found treasure.

 It's a flat empty space, so I store the kids' artwork there.  I know you aren't supposed to hang on to all of this stuff, it's not practical.  I have taken pictures of each of the lovely works of art, threw some out (gasp!), and organized it all.  But I can't throw all of this out, I just can't.  It makes me smile to admire their handiwork.

 

 

I stacked all the portfolios and large artwork neatly in a plastic bag to keep it dust free, and placed it further under the bed to avoid grabbing the edges with the vacuum cleaner in the future.

You wouldn't even know it's under there and I can hang on to it for a little while longer.  Never found the ring, though.  Guess I will have to move furniture and vacuum in the other rooms.

Gina

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Mealplan Monday #25

Rustown Art

Monday - Parmesan Chicken Whip Up, mashed potatoes, peas

Tuesday - Tilapia, mac and cheese, zucchini

Wednesday - Baked Penne, Texas toast garlic bread, salad

Thursday - Freezer meal, garlic green beans

Friday - Enchiladas, salad

Saturday - Dad grills

Sunday - Freezer meal, guacamole and chips

Gina

Mealplan Monday #14 with boys return from camp

For some reason, we don't seem to be able to make a dent in the freezer stockpile.  Maybe because the boys were camping.  In any case, we still have plenty of food in there, and that ought to make the shopping trip easy this week.

Rustown Art

Monday - Cheese quesadillas, guacamole, pico, black beans

Tuesday - Salmon/chicken (freezer leftovers), mac and cheese, carrots
Wednesday - Brinner: Eggs, monkey biscuits, home fries
Thursday - Pulled pork sammies (freezer item), Queso blanco dip and Fritos
Friday - Freezer leftover Tuscan Chicken, green beans, garlic toast
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Freezer leftover Chicken Rice casserole, salad

Gina

Art Display for Bubbie

It all started with Bubbie getting an award for Most Improved 7th Grade Art Student

 

I have always loved the art my kids bring home - there are several areas around the house for "collections". I think my kid's art is the most beautiful art ever.  I'm sure all moms think that!

We've had this old bulletin board in the garage for ages; it has duplicate photos and a few odds and ends on it for scouts, VBS, sports programs - sort of a catch-all bulletin board.  It was grungy but it looked like it would be great for displaying Bubbie's art.

The back of it was pretty torn up, but you can see it has a nice wooden frame with cork in the middle, and ugly upholstery fabric covering it!  But I'm just going to re-cover it, not pull off the old fabric.

 

 I bought some black burlap at Joann and some pretty silver upholstery nail heads.

 

 In some places on the board I had to staple first to keep the fabric from sliding around.  The tack actually covers up most of the staple and it helped me space them out.

  

 The finished board - yay!  You can't really see the old blue fabric behind the burlap.

 I just folded the fabric around to the back, tucked it under itself and stapled.  

The corners aren't fancy; I didn't want the board to hang unevenly from the wall.

 

 I hung it over the extra dresser that The Girl is using for the summer.  I may still move some of the things on the wall, but I wanted to get it done for him asap.  I used the leftover upholstery tacks to carefully hang some of the art on the board.  I think it's nice encouragement for him to create more art!

 Bubbie has kites from Grandma's visit to China, and other art hanging, too, so it's like a gallery.  We can change out the art of the board from time to time to keep it interesting.

 His room is mostly that powdery blue, black, silver, and white, so this is a much-needed shot of color.  And the whole thing was about $7.50.  My kind of project.

He and sister are actually going to be roomies all summer.  Since she has a job house sitting for a month, there is no real reason to move Scout in here.  So far, they have managed to keep the room fairly reasonable.  And now, it's more colorful, too.

Gina

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Mealplan Monday #5

This week, as last, I will be working about 11 hours extra.  I have to make sure I stay organized and plan in advance.  I purposely chose a menu that was relatively pain-free. The objective is to get people fed with minimum fuss. 

Rustown Art

Monday - Chicken Sausage Stew (from The Houston Chronicle)
Tuesday - Ham and Cheese Party Rolls, chips, mini bakery brownies with frozen yogurt
Wednesday - Easy Slow Cooker A1 Swiss Steak, instant mashed potatoes, peas and carrots
Thursday - One Pot Spagetti, green beans
Friday - Eat Out In Night - probably pizza with a bagged salad
Saturday - Dad Grills
Sunday - Dr. Martin's Mix*, corn

Gina