Spread Sunshine <3

I saw this today.... LOVE it!!  <3

Truth is.. I'd rather have clutter!

"Truth is, I'd rather have clutter..." (moms especially, please read)
I've been annoyed by the clutter in the house over the last few weeks, actually it ALWAYS bothers me! I try to tell myself to just relax and enjoy life... That if I spend all my time cleaning all the clutter, I'll miss my children growing up. Most days I manage and then occasionally I have a meltdown. Yes, I have clutter! Lots of clutter... The living room is always home to blankets and pillows and toys and shoes and school papers... The kitchen almost always has a cup on the table or one in the sink. My kids' rooms are not perfect, my room is not perfect... Probably nothing is ever perfect. And it bothers me... I have heart palpitations at the thought of company... And that must change! My New Year's Resolution is to just relax and enjoy it! My babies are growing up so fast! Now, don't get me wrong... We'll still clean up, but I'm not going to waste all my energy worrying over it... I don't want a messy house, but I'm also not going to expect perfection anymore! Because the truth is... I'd rather have clutter! I took this photo today to remind me of this... For weeks this little nook in my foyer has been cluttered with backpacks, coats, hats, scarves, a trumpet case, shoes, etc. AND it has driven me nuts to look at it and walk past it. Until this morning... And this is what I saw... One lonely scarf. The kids went back to school. There were no giggles and laughter in the living room, no whispers down the hall... So looking at that one lonely scarf made me cry. I'd rather have clutter! One day I won't have 3 little children to mess up the house, to leave fingerprints on my glass door, to clutter up my fridge with art... And I'll miss it! I'll long for it... So today, I'd rather have clutter and I can't wait for my kids to get home to mess up the house! So be prepared friends... When you visit me this year, you'll most likely see clutter! And that will mean that I'm relaxing and enjoying life!!! And most importantly, I'm enjoying my kids!!! ♥

 

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Hand Stamped Coaster Tiles Tutorial

Hand Stamped Coaster Tiles

I'm so excited to share my very first tutorial with you!!

You only need a few things to make these!!  AND it is super simple so anyone can do it!

Supply List

4x4 stone bathroom tiles (I purchased mine at Home Depot - 9 tiles in a pack for just under $5 - some are more porous than others so I tried to get the ones with less holes)

StazOn solvent ink pad (about $7 at Michael's but use a coupon or wait for them to go on sale-- I got mine for about $4 and I used JET BLACK.  Don't skimp on the ink pad!!  This is permanent and works on EVERY surface-- you'll use it over and over!)

Stamps (I like the clear acrylic stamps because you can see where you are stamping!!  I bought mine on clearance at JoAnn's a few years ago.  You can use any stamp you like... I plan on making more for gifts this holiday season with monograms!)

Felt (felt circles can be purchased OR you can get sheets of adhesive backed felt like I did -- only 99cents at Michaels and I was able to cover the bottom of 6 tiles with one sheet)

Ribbon, Twine, Tulle... (This is optional but it looks great if you are going to give them as a gift!  I used brown tulle because I have two little princesses and we ALWAYS have tulle!)

ARE YOU READY??

Step 1:  wash your tiles (remove all the powder so the ink will adhere to the stone!)

Step 2:  Once the tiles are dry, decide what and where you want to stamp!! 

(Since I LOVE items that have a multiple purpose, I chose to make TIC TAC TOE tiles!!  My kids LOVE playing with them and it distracts them when I am in the kitchen!  Win, Win!!)

Step 3: Carefully stamp your design and press down firmly!!!  I used a lot of ink!!  Let them dry completely... which if you are impatient like me, it only takes a few minutes!!)

If you choose to make tic tac toe coaster tiles, I stamped the outer corners first and then one in the center.  I then switched out another square stamp and stamped in between-- see photo below for reference!)

Step 4: Some other tutorials tell you to spray your completed tiles with a clear coat or modge podge... I wanted my tiles to have a natural finish and to actually be as absorbant as possible, so I didn't seal mine!!  And I tested them!!  I soaked them in water and even scrubbed them with a brush to see if the ink would come off... it didn't!!  Just another reason NOT to skimp on the ink pad... use StazOn!!)  Okay, so that actually wasn't a step!  ;)

Step 5:  After your tiles are completely dry, put the felt on the back.  If you bought felt circles, put one in each corner.  If you bought the felt sheet like me, cut the felt to size and remove adhesive backing and stick it on.  You can also glue regular felt on... whatever is easiest for you!

Step 6:  Optional --Stack up your tiles (I chose to do 4) and tie with a ribbon!!  These make great gifts!!!

We are really enjoying our Tic Tac Toe coaster tiles!!

I made them!!  They are pretty and functional!!  AND.... the kids get to play with them!!  Awesome, right?!!  The only problem is that I have 3 kids and Tic Tac Toe is a 2 person game... so sometimes, one of my poor doxie pups is recruited to play!!  ♥

((See my little Chloe Belle in the bottom right hand corner photo...  she was recruited!))

We use dimes and pennies to be our X's and O's... please use your best judgement when selecting what to use... I don't want the coins to be a choking hazard for your kiddos!!  There are many things that you can use other than coins!!!

Oh, I had an extra tile left over after making 2 sets of 4... remember, they come in packs of 9!

So I made on for my office!!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial... I'd LOVE for you to pin it on Pinterest!  ♥

You can also find me on Etsy... http://www.etsy.com/shop/MustLoveTiaras

AND... I'd LOVE for you to become a fan of Must Love Tiaras on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/mustlovetiaras

Must Love Tiaras: FREEbie Friday

Must Love Tiaras: FREEbie Friday

FREEbie Friday

It's Giveaway time!!!

https://www.facebook.com/alicia.c.mapp/posts/3373583544443?ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/photo.php?fbid=10150936992042418&set=a.156189237417.117425.153548757417&type=1&theater

Just follow the link above to Facebook and share with your friends for a chance to win!  ♥



I'm now Forty AND Fabulous!!

Today's my birthday and yep, I'm 40!!  Forty and Fabulous!!  Today I will admit that, but tomorrow I may just be 39 again... maybe forever 39 or as long as I can pretend any way!! 

"Age is just a number," my mom said.

 That is true... I don't feel 40!!

And I can honestly say... that I am happier than I have EVER been!

I'm happily married to my best friend, I have 3 beautiful children, I have a ton of wonderful family and friends who love and support me, I LOVE making jewelry and am blessed to have my own business where I can pursue my love of all things sparkly!!

And here I am... still looking very much the same as I did as a little girl.  Same sweet smile, or so I'm told... same round face and button nose... same big eyes... same BIG heart!!!

Oh, and guess who got an IPad for her birthday?  Yep, I did!!!  And isn't that Fabulous?!!



It's been a while since I've posted in my blog... I've just been busy trying to keep up with everything else!! But my intention is to start updating at least once a week... and maybe one day, once a day!! We'll see how it goes!!! I'm on vacation until June 11th... trying to get my office cleaned up which is a HUGE job!!  I'd ask for help, but honestly no one would be able to!!  There actually is a method to my madness...  or at least, I think there is!!  See that sign above.... I've gotta find one for my office!