I pinned this idea a few months ago:
I really wanted to do some sort of a hand print or foot print gift. After all, they are only little once and every day they are getting bigger and bigger. My window for cute little gifts like this is slipping away right before my eyes <sniff, sniff>
Off to the craft store!
Two colors of green paint - CHECK
Canvases - CHECK
Red paint for the little berries - CHECK
Bows - CHECK
Finding the time to make these Christmas gifts when you are living temporarily with your in-laws without them seeing your gift idea - GOOD LUCK!
This is when my event planning skills really kick into gear. I am a master planner. Unfortunately, I would rather plan a 300 person event that try to coordinate two small children making messy gifts.
So I stuck with the basics in planning.
Have a plan... and strategize!
I knew two of these wreaths needed to make it to Iowa. So they became my priority and focus. I knew I needed to complete my Brown Eyed Girl's prints first and allow plenty of time for drying. I also knew that I was never going to have the house to myself between now and Christmas.
My only option... hand painting at 5:15 am before anyone else is awake. Thank goodness my Brown Eyed Girl is a chipper morning person!
I pre traced a circle on the canvases as a guide - I didn't want the wreaths to come out looking like prickly green eggs.
I pulled a chair up to the counter and we were off to the races.
Once done - after discarding all possible evidence of green paint - I carefully hid the canvasses in the closet to dry for the day.
The next morning at 5:45 am, I prepared myself to have Mr Blue Eyes complete step two. Mr Blue Eyes on the other hand is rarely a chipper morning person. I was dead meat! I had visions of screaming, paint flying across the kitchen, my in-laws walking in on a disaster. Hell or high water these wreaths had to get done on this day.
Sooo... I took all my supplies to the basement bathroom and got all set up. I woke up Mr Blue Eyes and gave his all of 8 minutes to sit on my lap and snuggle in order to wake up enough before hauling him to the basement. I just prayed that his potential tantrum would be muffled enough in the basement not to give us away.
Using the toilet as my work station, we got started. To my surprise, he was in a good mood that morning - thank you Jesus - and was eager to smoosh his hands in the paint.
After discarding all evidence, we raced upstairs to have Sissy put the finishing touches on the wreaths and I applied the bows while still wet. I stashed the wreaths out to the car to dry and then I hurried back inside to dress the kids, grab our 216,546,852 bags and personal belongings necessary for the day and headed back out to the car - kids in tow like suit cases. Not to mention, I adding wrapping paper and shipping boxes to the list.
The wreaths dried in the car all day and after work I wrapped them in the back of my suburban - on a blissfully windy and chilly day. I shoved them in a box and off to Kinko's we went.
Piece of cake! They were going to love these heartfelt, hand made gifts!
Now, I only had to figure out how to make 4 more like this... crap!
And then there was snow!
Finally Colorado saw snow in it's forecast. We all took a snow day and I worked from home. Grandma went to work. Grandpa had a list of honey-do's for the day. Now is my chance!
No sooner did the garage door shut, I assembled the troops and we began our mass production assembly line. It's fair to say, I turned my kids into little sweat shop workers. Canvases spread across the counter. Paint station all set up.
My Brown Eyed Girl went first again.
This time there were too many to hid in the closet. So I laid them out on the bed and shut the door as they dried. Discarded all the evidence of round one in just the nick of time when Grandpa Matt came home in between his errands.
After a while, Grandpa left one more time for the post office.
It was go time!
Let's do this Mr Blue Eyes!
Once the second layer was done, off to the bedroom to dry.
I knew I wasn't going to get lucky a third time. So the remainder of the project was completed in the bedroom, in hiding. I just prayed my Brown Eyed Girl wouldn't drip red paint on the comforter or carpet!
Berries complete!
Then I finished each one off with a bow. I also labeled each one with a black sharpie marker.
Let's compare...
Okay, so I didn't get them custom framed. I had two sets of hand prints.
But, I would say this is a Pinterest success!
For my sister, Rah-Rah, I wanted to make something that she could hang in her room all year round. I found these two ideas and just loved them.
Feet were going to be a little more challenging. The kitchen assembly line was never going to work for these little butterflies. I was sure to have foot prints everywhere.
On the same snowy day and just before nap time, I strategically decided it was bath time.
I drug all of my supplies up to the bathroom. Placed news paper all over the floor just in case.
I used a paper plate to disperse the paint colors I wanted and then sat with each kid and carefully pressed their foot on the canvasses.
I made two of each print so I could hang one in their new rooms.
Clean up was easy. A couple of baby wipes and straight in the tub they both went.
After they dried, I helped my Brown Eyed Girl put the finishing touches on her butterflies for Aunt Rah-Rah.
I finished Mr Blue Eyes and labeled each one using a black sharpie again.
Over all I was pretty pleased again! No fancy framing...
But without a doubt...
Another Pinterest success!
*** And everyone LOVED their Christmas gifts!
Thank you Pinterest!
