Stecil Canvas Tutorial with {Little Miss Momma}

Today is a very special day….my BFF Ashley from Little Miss Momma is guest posting!
Ashley is full of amazingly brilliant ideas, and today she has a great one for a stencil canvas! What a perfect way to use the stencil from Your Memories Captured that you are hoping to win!
So without further ado….here’ Ashley!
Stencil Canvas Tutorial
It’s time for another easy-peasy tutorial from this Little Miss Momma.

Just pick your own colors, stencil and canvas size for a customized look to go in your home.  This is a VERY quick and cheap way to add some color and art to your bare walls.

 {SUPPLIES}

Canvas (I used a 18 x 24 canvas on sale for $6 at Michaels)
Stencil 

Acrylic Craft Paint in the color(s) of your choice

Stencil Paint (found in the stencil section at Michaels)

Paint Brush

Scotch Tape

Step {One}:

Paint your entire canvas the color of your choice.  I mixed two colors of green (leaf green, citron) in order to get the more textured color of green that I was looking for.  Allow the canvas to dry completely before proceeding to step two.

Step {Two}:

Place the stencil over the painted canvas in the area that you want the first row of the graphic to appear.  Tape the stencil into place so that it doesn’t shift when you start to paint.  Now, apply a VERY small amount of stencil paint to the tip of your brush. With stencil paint, a little goes a long way.  I highly recommend using stencil paint, otherwise you increase the chance that your paint will smear/run.   Paint over the entire stencil with the stencil paint.

Lift the stencil slightly as you go to be sure that you are filling all the areas completely.

Step {Three}:

Once you finish painting in the first row of your stencil, lift up the stencil and line it up again directly above your first row, and then repeat step two for this second row of graphic. 

When you finish the second row you may notice some extra space on your canvas where there isn’t enough room for another entire row of stencil/graphic. I chose to paint in another row of stencil going over the edge (see picture below).  I liked the look of the graphic going over the edge, but that is completely up to your preference.

And Voila!!

In 3 EASY steps you now have an awesome piece of canvas wall art.
I think this project works amazingly when you use multiple canvases {i.e. 3 square or rectangle canvases} and continue the graphic onto the other canvases so that you have one large piece of art.
Happy Crafting!

Thanks so much for sharing this awesome project with us today Ashley! Make sure to check out all her great ideas at Little Miss Momma.

Try your very own Stencil Canvas Wall Art with the brand new reusable stencils found in my Etsy shop.

Don’t forget! You can win your own reusable stencil from Your Memories Captured! Giveaway ends Sunday!

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Balance

Balance is something I seriously struggle with. I always have.

Growing up, I was always involved is some activity. Usually an obscene number of dance classes, maybe add on a soccer team, yearbook, ASB, or whatever else. I never really had down time.

That’s me centered on the O
In college I didn’t do much better. I worked, sometimes 3 jobs, took 16-20 quarter units, took a quarter off to plan/get married, and still graduated on time. Again…no balance.
Now I’m a mom, and though I stay at home, I’m finding that balance is still eluding me. I plan adventures for LJ and I, I cook, I clean, do laundry, read “Brown Bear, Brown Bear…” eighty bajillion times,
try to get my Etsy shop afloat, teach Sunday School, and blog when I have a moment to breathe.
BSB has been telling me for years that I need a hobby.
Now that I have found crafting….I’m hooked!
Only now, how do I find balance? When do I take me time? Lately I feel like I’ve been waiting until the “Mommy is going to go awhol and go screaming out the door if I don’t get away for a little” point before I take my me time.
What do you do to find balance? How do you take care of yourself?
I know I have to take care of myself so I can better take care of everyone else…I just don’t know how.

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Have YOU Entered?

The Momma Go Round Back to School with Etsy giveaways are now on! Don’t miss your chance to win great prizes from fabulous Etsy shops!

Win the Little Mister tee from Cantaloupe Corner!

Don’t miss out! All giveaways end Sunday, 9/5 at 11:59pm
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Get Crafty {Your Memories Captured}

This product is near and dear to my heart….cause it’s mine!

I’m so excited to share with you my new line of reusable stencils from Your Memories Captured! Just in time for all the art projects and classroom holiday parties this fall.

Stencils are cut from durable mylar, so they can be cleaned and used over and over! Great for walls, fabric, canvas, paper, you name it!
Let’s be real….I’m DYING to do something awesome with this one!
So let’s face it….I probably would have lost my sanity awhile ago with all of you! So, as a little thank you, I’m giving away two stencils! Winners will get to chose the stencil of their choice :)
HOW TO ENTER(please leave one comment per entry)
1. Be(come) a follower of Momma Go Round
2. Visit Your Memories Captured and tell me your favorite item
3. “Like” Momma Go Round on Facebook
4. “Like” Your Memories Captured on Facebook
5. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway (one entry per post :)
6. Vote for Momma Go Round on Top Mommy Blogs
Vote For Use @ Top Mommy Blogs
Giveaway ends Sunday, September 5th at 11:59pm
SPECIAL DISCOUNT!
Really, because I love you all so much, I want to share the love. So all orders receive 25% off (excluding shipping). Just enter MGR in the message to seller.

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Kid Tested, Mother Approved {Handmade by Britt}

Handmade is making a comeback, and Brittany is part of the reason why!
 Let me introduce you to {Handmade by Britt}
Especially as a former teacher, I got so stinkin’ sick and tired of watching kids’ school supplies DIE in the middle of the year. Huge holes, busted seams, looking like a general hot mess. The worst part was, you know their parents spent a small fortune on X.
Brittany’s work is amazing! I am in awe not only of her adorable designs and fabric choices, but the quality of her work! Seriously, when my machine is up and running you best believe mine won’t be anything close to this good. Even better, her prices are totally reasonable!
She’s got everything you need for back to school: backpacks, insulated lunch boxes, crayon rolls, little artist cases, and sandwich bags!
Since my little budding artists is all into his crayons (and Cars), Brittany sent us the Cars crayon roll to give a go.
To quote Mater, LJ was “happier than a tornado in a trailer park” when he got his hands on it!
LJ’s current two favorite things (under Elmo of course) are coloring and Cars, so this seriously couldn’t be more perfect for him! He loved pulling all the crayons out…I loved that he could see when crayons were missing because not all the pockets were full.
LJ loved to investigate how it works.
I love that I can keep the thing shut!
I also love how small it rolls up!
Perfect to throw in my purse and take on the go!
Now YOU can win your very own crayon roll…you can even choose the pattern!
How to Enter

(please leave a separate comment for each item)
1. Be(come) a follower of Momma Go Round
2. Visit Handmade by Britt and tell me your favorite item
3. “Like” Momma Go Round on Facebook
4. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway (one entry per post!)
5. Vote for Momma Go Round on Top Mommy Blogs
Vote For Use @ Top Mommy Blogs
Giveaway open until Sunday, September 5th at 11:59pm
SPECIAL FOR MOMMA GO ROUND READERS!
Get 10% off all Handmade by Britt backpacks and lunchbags!
Enter “momma go round” in the message to seller.

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I’m Still Obsessed {The Royal Blossom}

A while back (though it seems like a blogging eternity) I fell in love with knit hats for kids. I loved beanies, earflaps, brims, and all the loveliness that became my “I need one” obsession.

Only problem, it was March. By March in LA, certainly don’t need an adorable knit hat. So now that it’s back to school time (and I can hope for some cooler weather sometime soon!) I’m in the hunt for a fab new hat for LJ to sport.

Enter {The Royal Blossom}

Some of the cutest hats I’ve seen…I’m having too hard of a time choosing one!
Do you die?
Anyone wanna have a girl so I have a reason to buy this?
The Royal Blossom is generously offering a 10% discount to Momma Go Round readers!
Enter “bk2school” at their non-Etsy site to recieve the discount.
Which one ten will you choose?
Check out The Royal Blossom blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter!

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Ink Free and FABULOUS {Cantaloupe Corner}

It’s back to school time (well, for many of you at least).

While the rest of you are jumping for joy, I’m missing getting ready for school. As a former teacher, I loved the new supplies, new clothes, and new ideas that came with each new year.

So while I quasi morn my not going back to school, I thought I would still enjoy my favorite part of back to school…the shopping!
Possibly some of the most adorably designed shirts out there, Cantaloupe Corner has quickly become one of my new fav Etsy shops!
Packed to the brim with awesome, hand-printed, ink free designs for baby, toddler….and even mom! Jenifer is a genius! She has everything from play shirts and onsies, to gift sets and some shirts I’m dying to get my hands on.
LJ put the Little Engineer shirt to the test!
Made from a super soft, nice and thick shirt, I loved it immediately. Especially with LJ’s super sensitive skin (have you seen how Casper my child is?) I worry about all the dyes and chemicals irritating his skin. With no ink or paint, I don’t have to worry about that.
Besides, LJ loves anything that moves, anything with noises, and if mommy can look like a dork going “chuga chuga choo choo” over and over, he’s game!

Now YOU get the chance to win your very own
Navy Toddler Tee!
Seriously, how painfully adorable is that?
How to Enter
(please leave a separate comment for each item)
1. Be(come) a follower of Momma Go Round
2. Visit Cantaloupe Corner and tell me your favorite shirt
3. Be(come) a follower of Cantaloupe Corner
6. Blog, Tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway (one entry per post!)
7. Vote for Momma Go Round on Top Mommy Blogs
Vote For Use @ Top Mommy Blogs
Giveaway is open until Sunday, September 5th at 11:59pm 
SPECIAL MGR READER DISCOUNT!!!
Receive 20% off your order (minus shipping)!
Enter LOVE20 in the message to seller.
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JoAnn….A Crafters Rant

Oh JoAnn, how you frustrate me so…

Why are you a fabric store and yet you have the worst fabric selection this side of the Mississippi? This is LA for peets sake!

Why do you send me AMAZING coupons all the time? Your ploy to lure me into the store is succeeding…grr.
Why do you have to be located just down the street from my house now, yet the closest one to the city we are thinking of moving to is 20 miles. Really? Again, this is LA!
Why is simply the sight of your parking lot enough to send LJ into a fit?
(not from the parking lot, but same sad little face!)

Why must you carry so many fabulous products and project ideas? We are trying to SAVE money, but you are making it impossible!

Why must I go to you so often that the cashier recognizes me and comments on how many times I’ve seen him this week?
Why JoAnn…..Why?

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Tutorial: From Fugly to Fabulous Frame Re-do

Don’t try to deny it, you know you have a frame sitting around your house that is hideous, aweful, and way to embarassing to put up. But for some reason, you’ve held on to it.

Well, mine was this

BSB in all his sweetness bought if for me years ago. He knew I wanted a frame like this…so he tried.
The “wood” is way more hideous in person than any picture could justify and the peachy matte is just awesome!
So after lugging this darling around for about 4 years, I decided it was finally time to give it the facelift it deserved.
Materials
1 seriously fugly frame
2 colors of paint
Scrapbook paper
Mod Podge
Exacto knife
sponge brush
sandpaper
Paint said fugly frame with a coat (or 3 in my case to cover up all its fabulousness) of the same color will be the exterior color. Once dry, paint over it with a layer or secondary color.
Paint a coat of the exterior color.
(So mine went white – green – white)
Allow to dry completely and please enjoy LJ “crafting” while you hold….
(of course with a pause to check out Elmo….heaven forbid we miss a moment of Elmo)
Sand dry frame to expose under color and some of frame. This will add a distressed look.
Here you can see how the under color comes through once you’ve sanded the frame.
Onto the matte.
Cut paper to fit over matte.
Set paper aside and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to matte.
Lay paper over matte and flip over.
Use exacto knife to cut out letters (if you have them) or photo opening.
Apply thin layer of Mod Podge over paper.
Once Mod Podge has dried, sand cut edges to create a smooth edge.
Put frame back together and show that baby off!
This was such a fun and easy craft project, and I didn’t even have to buy anything! Definately a great way to make a fugly frame fabulous!

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A Home of Our Own

Lately we’ve been thinking a lot about buying a home (probably more like a condo/townhome). We live in the LA area, so prices here are always astronomical…but at least now they are better.

We are liking this…

and this…
but are SOOOOO not looking forward to this!
So my friends, I look to you.
What advice do you have?
What mistakes did you make that you can warn me against?
How can we get through this process without wanting to shoot ourselves or each other?

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