Mushrooms, turtles, and snails combine with leaves, berries and flowers to highlight some of the flora and fauna of the forest floor. This weeks Spoonflower Design Challenge is “Forest Biome” and I had fun bringing a touch of whimsy to my design.
It all started with the mushrooms. Once I had 4-5 drawn out and colored, I decided that a couple of them needed faces. I’m pleased to introduce you to Lady Mushroom (see my first animation of her over on Instagram).
The leaves were next. I wanted a variety. Those little heart branches were last and they are my favorite!
Then I needed berries… but I wanted a variety of berries for interest.
I added the turtles in honor of my 8 year old son. He loves turtles. I’m not big on realistic turtle drawing, though. My turtles often have those super unrealistically high shells. He has vaulted ceilings. 🙂
I thought I was done, and I was really happy with the design, when my husband decided I needed to add snails. He does that sort of thing all the time.
“But I don’t want to add snails! Snails sound hard!”
Nonetheless, I added snails. And I love them. He was right. It definitely needed snails. And one of them definitely needed a face, however unscientific it may be. 🙂
Spoonflower is showcasing these in their contest as wallpaper, but how would you use it? Fabric? Wallpaper? Would you turn it into a little girls dress? Or dress the walls of the kids playroom? Let me know in the comments!
I had the pure joy to mentor a young lady in our church a couple years ago. It was one of those opportunities where I could share all the things I wish I could tell 20 year old me if I could have. She is so much like my younger self that I smile inside! Earlier this year she got married and I loved watching her relationship begin and grow… and planning her glam fall bridal shower last November! Yes, this is another post from my photo archives! I hope you’ll like it!
The room
Cam is everything glitter so I knew I had to bring glitter to the table… literally. Her maid of honor made these glitter leaves from my stash of plain old dollar store fall leaves. For her, a labor of love; for the tables, just the right amount of sparkle. And I love candy scattered on a table… perfect use for candy corn if you ask me!
Some of those glittery pumpkins I found at Hobby Lobby and gifted to the bride at the end of the party, and others I found in the church decoration closet (I love having one of those! And since I throw these showers at the church on behalf of the church… it’s perfect!) The balls and plate were in there too… not to mention the table cloths!.
I pulled the trees and twinkle lights from other parts of the church, and I love the ambiance they added to this night party! This room doubles as a Bible study room, so I always have to work around the TV. I added the fall leaves (glittery ones I got from my sister’s home) to the mantle beneath it.
The food
The dessert table is always one of my room centerpieces. I love to make sure they are on theme. In the center for height is a piece from my home, a tall vase with fall plaid fabric in it, fake flowers and a cute little scare crow. If I weren’t bringing it back to my house after, I probably would have added some glitter to his clothes.
The pumpkin frame (on the left) and the “W” pumpkin in the middle were Dollar Tree finds . I added glitter to the “W” pumpkin, but the other already had it. I gifted those to the bride for her new home after the party.
Our parties are often from 7-9 pm on a week night evening, so I primarily do snacks and desserts. The table scatter is more of the glitter leaves, candy corn, and some of those leaf candy sprinkles you can find these days. Fairy lights took things over the top! (You should get some of those, they add a special touch to everywhere they are!)
The treats for this party are caramel corn, cookies and brownies. I dry brushed edible gold glitter on the cookies after they were dry. For the brownies, I sprayed gold food shimmer on those after they were done.
Aren’t they fun?!? It comes in an aerosol spray can and are found in the cake decorating aisles. Those are regular brownies cut thin and stacked on top of each other. I piped frosting in between and on top for color, then added the shimmer.
Wrap up
It was a lot of glitter, but she loved it! When planning a party, I challenge you to get to know your guest of honor so that the party will be something special for her!
Tell me, are you for or against glitter yourself? I’m usually against it myself, but I just had to to it!
I never expected to create anything, myself, that could be called “beta”, but here it is. I’ve been inspired by suggestion and personal need to create a chore chart for you all. I plan to share some more details when things are finished, but today I wanted to introduce you to my latest project. A work in progress, if you will. It’s one of those big projects, so I thought I’d introduce the first little part to you in “Beta”. I’d love it if you’d download it and give it a try!
For a while now I’ve been using this chore chart with my children (though I’m not great with being consistent!) and when we use it, things run so much more smoothly! The only real change I made to it was to dress it up and add my signature cuteness to it. This is the fall version. It makes our chore time so much more fun! I hope you will take the opportunity to try it out and let me know how it all works.
Page 2 has the weekly, monthly, and quarterly chores on it. Both pages are available as PDFs with editable forms. You can type your own chores into the lists and print them out. That’s the part I would love the most input on for those of you who are willing. Sometime this month I’m hoping to have the designs finished and to list them in my Etsy shop, but for now I have some time for feedback.
These are different than other forms I’ve seen online. I put all the different jobs I want my kids and me to do each day (or at least most every day) on the daily chores page. Then, during chore time, the kids come over and pick what job they want to do, put their initial in the box for that day and run off to do it. Some of the jobs are longer, others shorter. Some are better for the older kids and some for the younger. If we finish all the chores that day, then we try to do a few of the weekly jobs. If some get missed, we pick those up first thing tomorrow.
This system has worked so great for us for a few reasons. First of all, I’m not consistent and this allows for missed days or slow days. Second, I don’t love doing the same things every day and this list allows the kids to switch it up each day as they want to. Also, it encourages them to come pick their job quickly and get started before someone else gets the job they want. 🙂
I’m sure I haven’t done a perfect job explaining this. I plan to write up a full post when I go live with the completed product. For now, please leave any questions in the comments and I’d love to answer them. 🙂 I’d also love any feedback on how to make this easier to use and what you think of it!
Oh… one more thing! This system is great for a large family such as mine, but I think it would work great for any sized family!
I’ve added some new products to my pumpkin wreath. I love this little design, but I wasn’t happy with my listing on Etsy. I wanted more for it… so today I took the time to make it what I wanted it to be! And gave it a face lift in my shop too!
I guess it started this past winter when I began coming out with my little bundles for various holidays, but this one was still just wall art. Prints for framing. Like I said, I love mine, but I wanted more for this little guy… more for all of you!
So now, in addition to the 16×20 wall art prints you can put on your Thanksgiving mantle and the 8×10 frames you can place on your holiday shelf, you can also send Thanksgiving cards, gift bookmarks, and tie on little wreath tags to your hostess gifts and around silverware on your Thanksgiving table!
I can’t believe October is almost over! Let’s have an Etsy sale! My family and I were at a fall bon fire tonight where we cooked hot dogs and s’mores over a fire and enjoyed some great fellowship! Colorful leaves and hay rides made the perfect evening! Sitting at home now I just had to share fall with you in the way of a sale! I’ve got a hand full of pumpkin items on sale for 50% off!
One of my favorite fall decorations, especially for Thanksgiving, is this pumpkin wreath!
These cupcake toppers are an adorable addition to gatherings or a festive family night!
Grab the whole baby shower bundle or head over to grab individual items! (Ask me if you don’t see what you want!)
Pumpkin greeting cards to bring a smile to any occasion!
If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know this 50% off sale isn’t something I do often, but I’m getting ready to count down to Christmas. Check in at my shop or here at the blog to see what is on sale each week. I’m planning at least 50% off on select items through November and December!
This may be one of my favorite parties so far. Now I do love pumpkins, but pumpkins and trucks takes it over the top!
You all know that I’m a bit behind. Well, this fun Pumpkins and Trucks baby shower is from last September! That’s right. I don’t quite know what to say, but here it is in all it’s adorable glory!
I’ve been loving me some old trucks these last few years. I fought the fad long enough and now I’m all in. This little boy baby shower was just begging to be pumpkins… and trucks!
Of course, every party has to start with an invitation and I like to show my guests to be what can be expected if they are able to join us. Equal parts orange buffalo check and old truck cuteness, this invitation is in my shop and customizable by you for quick turn around (any other procrastinators out there like me?)
Just inside the party entrance was this little sign, announcing each one welcome until I could do so myself!
The dessert table is always my labor of love! I have so much fun creating “theme-y” sweets and snacks. Those cookies are something my mom used to make. They aren’t pumpkins but I couldn’t resist that sunflower sparkle. They totally fit. 🙂
Orange pumpkins for those who wanted a more natural sweetness (celery stems bring a little veggie into our evening!)
And those are pumpkin rice krispie treat in the back… with tootsie roll stems. Find all my pinspirations here!
If I was already designing invitations and welcome signs, I just had to make food tents too.
I think they help fill in the table nicely where it would have otherwise have been a little sparce.
Not to mention it gives an easy way to note which treats are gluten or dairy free for your guests! Since I throw these showers on behalf of our church, I generally know most of the attendees and their food allergies and try to be sure there are treats for them as well. If the guest list is larger, I’ll also make cupcakes that are not gluten free or vice versa.
Another gluten free treat!
A few decorations on the drink table. I don’t usually get back to taking pictures once guests arrive, so the drinks were staying cool in the fridge when I took this pic. The print in the frame is something I painted. The words around it are “Give thanks, gather together, glorify God!”
I made some last year special order for a local market and have added it to my Etsy store if anyone is interested.
Several years ago, I determined to learn to make macarons for a tea party women’s retreat I was helping plan. It took months of trial and error and many nights after “bedtime” were spent making yet another batch of these with my husband as we tried to figure it out together. It was worth it though. I just love being able to include these special cookies at the parties and events I plan. It is a special touch and I’ve become known for them around the church.
This is the gift table… I hung that wooden pumpkin garland the next day (I try to decorate the church the night before when I can) and didn’t have the safety pins I needed to hang it. I keep gift tables simple. I want to do something since they start and end empty, but I don’t want to take up too much room either.
Not every party I throw has favors. Often favors and games are the two things that get left out when I start running out of time. I was grateful that one of this mama’s friends wanted to help with her shower so she assembled these for me. All I had to do is send her the file for the label. She found fall wrapped Hershey’s kisses and some orange check ribbon. I love how they turned out.
There are so many more details I could have included in this shower but didn’t have time or resources for. Happily, I went ahead and created them after and have assembled a bundle in my shop. Click over to see the rest of the bundle. Some of the items are available independently, like these cupcake toppers. I have created some greeting and thank you cards with the pumpkins and trucks artwork too.
Are you planning a baby shower or have you done one recently? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
I know it’s already the end of October, but I just have to sneak this fall printable in before it’s too late. This is an updated version of something I painted with watercolor years ago (if you look close, you can see it in this post). I’ve always loved it and wanted a way to share it, so here it is!]
I have plans to print this at various sizes and mount it to a block of wood or a little wood house for the Christmas Market coming up (I often sell a handful of fall decor items since it’s right before Thanksgiving!). I may also do some larger scale on plywood and add a frame myself. It will take a bit of time, but keep my costs low for resale since I’m able to use scrap.
I just love love love it framed up simple. Download, print, and place it in a frame. It’s quick decor or a great last minute gift (as many gifts as you want for one price!) Offered in vertical, horizontal or square formats.
Want to add this to your fall decor this year? I’ve set up a coupon code for my blog readers. Enter PUMPKINS30 or click here for 30% off this item through November 1st!
Back by popular demand, I have illustrated new mini doodle calendars for 2023! I did a couple of them years ago (here too) to sell at our Christmas market. They take a lot of time to create, though, so it’s been a while since I’ve done one. This summer I took up the challenge with my mini illustrated chicken calendar.
While I am hoping to sell them at our Christmas market next month, I also have them in my shop as digital downloads. They are downloadable as a PDF with three different sizes: mini, 4×6, and 5×7.
The larger sizes can be framed for display or clipped up, but I love the mini size on easels and tucked on a shelf or in a windowsill above the sink or stove.
I have dreams of posting a second design before the end of the year, but I haven’t decided what the design should be. Any ideas? Flip through some of my past content to see ideas of what sort of artwork I’ve done in the past and post your suggestions in the comments.
I took my boring old books lists (reading logs) and I kicked them up a notch… mamasbrush style! If you are new here, that means changing things up seasonally… sometimes even monthly (as is the case here)!
If you’ve been around here long, you know that before I’m a blogger, designer, artist, or small business owner (check out my shops in the sidebar), I’m a mom… and a homeschool mom at that… to 6 kids. Any homeschool moms reading? Leave me a quick comment and tell me how many kiddos you have! 🙂
Where was I? Ah yes, homeschooling! Always homeschooling! (I know for most of you, school just ended, but we homeschool all year, so we are getting ready to kick off a new school year at the beginning of July.) As such, I have a number of tools I’ve developed over the years. With my younger set, the ones learning to read and practicing to be more fluent, I started using book lists several years ago. I make a list of the books I want my littles to read through in order to practice what they know and to push them just a bit out of their comfort zone. When they finish a book, they put a sticker or a check mark or a smiley face in one of the boxes after the title. I encourage them to read the shorter books (not the chapter books) multiple times for fluency, so there are several columns for stickers. When they finish a list, I pick books from the next level up and start a new book list.
All this said, while fully functional, they aren’t especially cute. That is to say they weren’t especially cute. Well, one of the reasons it’s been a little quiet around here lately (other than all the gardening and asparagus… oh, the asparagus!) is that I’ve been overhauling my book lists. They are now, officially, cute. — At least I think they are cute! 🙂
There is a different page for each month with unique artwork that fits the theme (northern hemisphere only, sorry if your seasons don’t match!), plus a few extras for holidays and good measure!
I also created a chart for older kids/ adults who would rather have a place to put the date finished instead of stickers.
These charts are great for summer reading logs, assigned or free reading records for school or homework, or homeschool families. I love how it helps me record what the kids were reading for our portolios and evaluations at the end of the school year.
Some of my kids use them in their binders, others on a clipboard or taped to the wall. Keep them handy for best use!
I’ve finally got these digital downloads in my etsy shop. You can print them as many times as you want for as many kids as you have.
Pop over and take a look, then come back here and let me know which month’s design is your favorite!
This new Harvest Journal Bundle is just one of a few items I have listed recently in my shop. I love to keep track of how many pounds of this vegetable I bring in or how many pints of that fruit.
Though I’ve been away from the blog for a few weeks, I have been working when I can and have some new things in my shop. With the arrival of spring comes a lot more time working outside in the yard and garden. We’ve been digging, planting, raking, and even harvesting already! Asparagus is the plant that keeps giving year after year!!! (anyone with me?)
With the addition of outside projects, there is not much time left over for blogging… especially with my new Etsy shop. So it isn’t hard to understand that I’ve gotten behind in the blogging department. I do want to share with you, though, some of the new things in my shop.
From the beginning, this blog has been about sharing the things I am creating, putting myself out there for you all to see. I want to keep doing that, and if you should want to purchase something… well, I won’t complain about that either. 🙂 (wink, wink) So I’m going to try get some posts written up to share what I’ve been doing, all while continuing to create some more. 🙂 Thank you all for your support on this creative journey! (Coupon codes to come!)
I designed most of these pages to coordinate with my Chicken Egg Counting Sheets. They will fit nicely in the same journal or binder. The artwork on some of the pages are specific to one crop (like this strawberry page), but really, you could use any page for any crop.
Others have room for several crops on one page (as seen at the top).
