Family Name Wall Hanging

So here is another DIY project that I completed a while ago and am just now getting on my blog. :) Typical, I know.

I have a little window in our living room that connects directly with the kitchen. I wanted something hanging directly over the window, but I didn't want to hang curtains there because you would still be able to see the backside of the curtains when you were standing in the kitchen. I know I'm not explaining this very well, but just trust me when I say it probably would have looked weird. :) So I decided make a wall hanging using our last name.
Here's what I did:

I got a bunch of different colors of scrapbooking paper. I made sure that it matched my other living room decor and I also made sure to choose a variety of colors, but few enough that I could repeat the same color on a couple of the letters. (This was easy to do since SCHAFFER is somewhat of a long name.)

 Then I took the letters of our last name (I got some cheap-o ones from Michael's) and traced around them. (Make sure you do it with the paper right side up and the letters right side up.) Then I cut out the traced letters.

 TADA!  Then I coated the top of the Michael's letter with Mod Podge and stuck the scrapbooking paper cut-out on top. I let that dry under something heavy...like a book. Then I coated the top of the scrapbooking paper with another layer of Mod Podge. I let that dry, but I kept a careful eye on it just incase the paper started to bubble up anywhere.

   Time consuming part DONE!  Next I cut ribbon to hang the letters with. I just cut the ribbon in strands that were the same length. Then I hot glued them to the backs of the letters. 
Then using another length of ribbon I threaded the ribbon through the ribbon attached to the letters and tied it to a curtain rod that my hubs then hung on the wall for me! Piece of cake!
 Thanks for reading! (Below are pictures of the finished product.)

Moments of Merriness- Pregnancy Style

I couldn't help myself. There just needs to be some sort of humor involved when you hit 32.5 weeks pregnant. So I have compiled a list of things that remind me I'm nearing the end! :)

 

You know you are nearing the end of your pregnancy when…

When asked how far along you are you can respond in many different ways. Do you want to know how many months, weeks, days, or hours I have left? A pie chart with percentages, perhaps? (FYI- I am 80% of the way there.) :)

When your child comes to show you something while you are standing up and he suddenly disappears underneath your belly. Poor kid...I can at least HEAR what he is saying, just not see him...

When you get into the car and realize that you can’t reach the pedals very well because you have to scoot your seat so far back to allow room for your belly. (That clutch can get a little tricky...)

When you start debating in the middle of the night about the pros and cons of attempting to roll over onto your other side. Pro- I will be more comfortable on my other side. Con- I may get stuck half way over and need assistance.

When you start getting SUPER excited about the warmer weather simply because that means you won’t have to struggle to reach all the way down over your belly to put your socks on in the morning. No, REALLY.

When climbing one flight of stairs feels like you’ve accomplished the equivalent of running a marathon.

When your 2 year old starts to finally realize that you are shaped rather strangely these days...and is unsure what to do about sitting comfortably on your lap.

When your belly starts to take on the shape of a torpedo instead of a beach ball.

When you begin using only the handicapped stalls in public restrooms for fear of getting wedged in between the door and the toilet in an ordinary sized stall. (This is a true story, I am ashamed to admit…who made bathroom doors open IN instead of OUT I’d like to know!)

When you start focusing on only your hair and your feet when accessorizing or primping in the morning because those are the only parts of you that you feel have remained relatively “untouched” by the effects of your pregnancy.

When you fear taking more than one sip of your beverage at a time because multiple gulps might send your bladder suddenly "past the point of no return."

When your husband is contemplating sleeping in the guest bedroom because you snore like a bear at night. My poor Tyler. He is such a trooper!

When you go to hug someone and you feel like all you’ve done is put your hands on their shoulders because that’s as close as your belly would let you get…yeah, awkward.

When sitting in a chair requires more faith than usual…as in, “I have no control past a certain point...so I’m going to just plop down and hope the chair is still there and that it can handle this sudden amount of downward force.”

When staring at raw hamburger meat suddenly brings you to tears…yeah, try and explain that one to a concerned hubby…(It happened when I was pregnant with Everett, and it happened again with this baby...I have no explanation...)

When you repeatedly bump into people or objects with your belly because you don’t realize how much you really are sticking out there.  (Just ask Everett how many times I’ve accidentally knocked him over recently.)

When all you can think about is holding your sweet new baby…and knowing that ALL of the pregnancy "woes" are only temporary, and baby was SO WORTH IT.

Everett- 3 days old