Michaels 40% off coupon

Click here for this week’s 40% off one item at Michaels. Valid from June 28 – July 4.

From Cracker Box to Firetruck

Have you noticed that I seem to be taking a lot of trips down memory lane lately? I've been going through my computer and finding all these projects that I made for my boys when they were smaller. I think I'm getting sentimental about them becoming teenagers, so I'm reliving the past through craft projects! I need therapy.

But in the mean time, what do you do with a cracker box?? Make a firetruck out of it, of course!

The boxes, er, I mean firetrucks, don't actually roll. That would be a nice addition if you can figure out how to do it.

These were actually made as valentine boxes (the top opens to hold the valentines). But you don't have to wait 'till Valentine's Day. Every little boy needs a firetruck, and they could hide their secret treasures in the box.

It's been a few years since I made these, so I don't have the exact instructions. But basically you cover a cracker box with red paper. I think I used red poster board for the side panels. The ladder was made from popsicle sticks and toothpicks. And I'm pretty sure that toilet paper rolls are under the truck, along with round wheels cut out of poster board.

The best part, of course, are the drivers! For the side window, I had them hold a frisbee like a steering wheel, and look to the side, then I snapped the picture. Of course, they were dressed up in their fireman outfits. Glue the picture to the window, as pictured. And for the front window, I had them look straight ahead while holding the frisbee, and I added a clip art dog!

Leave me a comment and let me know if you make one. I'd love to see a picture!

My Bind It All Book from Craft Junkie Too

Remember a few posts back I mentioned that I won a Bind It All Book from Tracy at Craft Junkie Too? Well... Ta Da! Here it is:

Isn't it gorgeous? It's personalized with my initial. I love the colors and the flower. She even decorated the spiral binding!

I will use it for something special, like maybe a journal for keeping up with all my blogging ideas:)

She even included a darling handmade card, which probably took as long to make as the journal did!

See more of Tracy's incredible projects at Craft Junkie Too.

Thanks, Tracy!

How to Age Perfectly Imperfect - or Cement Geckos on my Patio

A good friend sent me this today, and it seemed worthy of sharing! I admire the author, whoever she may be, for her positive attitude and outlook on life. If I can be a tenth as positive as she is, that would be a great achievement! I can say that I feel more empowered and liberated with every birthday:)

How to Age Imperfect

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging..

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 70's & 80's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free.. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

The End.

Note from me. With that being said, I'm still waging war with those wrinkles and gray stuff.... so I'm drinking my Fountain of Youth Water. You can too... Have one on me. Just click on the label below for a larger view, then save to your computer. Print out, laminate if you wish, and tape to a water bottle.

Become Superman in 5 Easy Steps!

Step 1 : Lay on floor, arms outstretched, wearing a red cape (made from mom's $20 a yard red stretch velvet fabric, cut out when she wasn't looking).

Step 2: Get Dad to hold up the ends of the cape.

Step 3: Ask Mom to snap a picture.

Step 4: Ask Mom to remove the background, using Paint Shop Pro or another graphic editing program.

Step 5: Add a sky background, frame, and hang in a prominent place. Brag about your flying skills to everyone who sees it!

Introducing the New and Improved Me!

Ta Da! What do you think of the new me?

Maree at http://workathomedesigns.blogspot.com created "me." Smooth skin, big eyes, and a longer neck! Hey, it's cheaper than a facelift!

Here's what she started with:

Bentley Boutique has Moved to Wordpress

Big News - I've taken the plunge and moved my blog over to my website, using wordpress. This will be quite a learning curve for me, so bear with me while I get everything transferred. I love the new look. (Thanks to Revka at Berries and Cream Blog Design).

So please visit me at my new blog. I don't know if I can transfer my followers or not, so I might have to ask that you re-follow me there. Is that a word, re-follow?

5 Creative Things Your Kids Can Do with Your Hair Rollers

One day when my boys were about 5 years old, Nathan found these velcro hair rollers that I never used, and said, "Look mom, binoculars!"

Then he said, "Look mom, it's a spy gun!"

Next it was "Look mom, I'm George Washington!"

Then Mickey Mouse got his turn:


Ok, I was a little worried at first when he came up with this pose, but then he said, "Look mom, I'm a muscle man!"

I still have the hair rollers, but he hasn't played with them in 9 years:)

Goodbye Jungle and Space Rooms

It's with sadness that I must say goodbye to Nathan's jungle room and Joseph's space room. My almost 14 year old boys have outgrown their cute little rooms, designed by mom.

I have really been putting this off... the thought of painting over my masterpieces is just too much! Or maybe it's the thought of painting over their youth... maybe I'm thinking they won't grow up if I ignore their rooms! Maybe I'm not ready for these teen years to be here!!! Maybe I just need to paint the rooms and shut-up!

But before I do, I present to you, in living color, their little boy rooms. Ta da!!!

Now for the secret.... I'm not an artist. But I can be crafty. You too, can have rooms like these if you cheat a little. Just find some clip art, a projector, and of course paint, and you're good to go.

The main jungle room graphics were on a giftbag from our local zoo! I just projected it on the wall and traced. The other clipart came mostly from the web, I think. I freehanded the trees and leaves, and sponged the background.

For the space room, I started by drawing the landscape. Again, I just used various clip art and projected it on the wall. I painted the sky dark blue, and used various star shaped sponges to paint the stars. I used glow-in-the-dark paint for the stars, and for the alien's eyes!

Notice that one of the astronauts has a rather human-looking face. That's because I printed my son's face on thin tracing paper (using a regular printer). Then I cut it out and decoupaged it to the wall. I'm gonna miss that little face!

So please join me in saying farewell to the little boy rooms, and hello to new teen rooms! I've sure many of you have gone through this as well. I think the aliens on the wall must have became real, stold my babies, and replaced them with teenagers!

Symbol Signs Collection Free Download

Sander Baumann from *designworkplan* design blog has generously offered a symbol signs font type for free download. This is a great download for designers or those who have blogs that reach designers.

This is a collection of 50 common used signage symbols, professional designed. The symbols signs are free of charge available as an OpenType font format.

You can download the font here. And it would be nice if you would leave Sander a comment:)

Cheap and Easy Crafts Free eBook

This is a huge ebook, and it really is free!

If you are on a craft budget (and who isn't in the current economy?), have a look at this collection of 60 low-cost craft projects, sorted into categories such as needle craft, home decor, crafts for kids and more. You can still enjoy your favorite hobbies without spending a lot of cash. With a few craft projects, you will have thrifty gifts for every occasion. Check out this FREE ebook for all your affordable crafting needs.

Sections 1-20 include topics such as Candles and Soaps, Crafting with Kids, Crochet Patterns, Craft Gifts, Recycled Crafts, Home Décor, Papier Mache Crafts, Holiday Crafts, Halloween Crafts, Knitting Patterns, Painting Projects, Organization, Scrapbook Pages, Sewing Projects, Thanksgiving Crafts, Unexpected Craft Ideas, Valentine's Day Crafts, Wearable Crafts, Wedding Crafts, and Woodcrafts.

Get the Cheap and Easy Craft eBook for FREE [PDF]

Free Meal Plan and Grocery List from Dine Without Whine

Image by fivedotdesign via Flickr

Dine Without Whine is giving away one week’s meal plan and grocery list free, something their member’s pay for regularly. A trial is not required to download.

It's not easy. Moms are always working on something or busy taking care of someone else's needs. Take planning your family's meals and grocery. Do you know how much time you spend on that? My last count, about 2 hours.

If you'd like to outsource that, here's your chance. Try a week's free meal plan and grocery list from Dine Without Whine this week and see how it goes. They are giving a way the plan free here.

I found some free grocery list printables for you as well. Click on the lists above to be taken to Flickr. Then click on the magnifer icon, then click "download."

Feliz Dia Del Padre (Happy Father's Day Headlines in Spanish)

Monica from Natural Family World and Blog de Familia Libre requested these Father's Day Headlines in Spanish, so here they are! Just click on the headline, and the full-sized headline will open. Then right click and save to your computer.

Then hop on over to Monicas site -- a place for parents from all over the globe to meet and share tidbits of their daily lives and child rearing practices. You will enjoy her posts -- I did:)