hello 2014!

New year, new projects, new adventures.
I'm starting this year with lots of fun projects and finishing up a few from 2013!
Here's a little summary in case you were wondering...

//Scripture Memory// This little notecard spiral is full of twenty-four verses near and dear to my heart from a year long of learning, writing, memorizing and sometimes lots of catching up!  Thankful for the challenge and friends to share in the process! The Word continues to grow more hope and more joy and more strength in my heart to face the day to day.

 //Chase study by Jennie Allen// This is one of my all time favorite Bible studies.  The short video talks from Jennie are inspiring, the study is simple and deep all at the same time.  I love how much it has challenged me to think through my daily walk with Christ.  And how the Lord's timing of the Word and the words of the study coincide with my life.  It's a beautiful thing to see things just a little more clearly and more confidently trust Him with more and everything.

//Project Life//  A way to document and scrapbook the everyday.  I printed out a bunch of pics and worked on our first few months in Baton Rouge.  Lots more to print to catch up to date, but love the simplicity of PL once you have all the pics ready to go.   

//One Little Word//  Joined this project for the second year.  Finishing up a few assignments from twenty-thirteen and excited for a new year and a new word.  Last year I chose GRACE.  This year my word is JOY. 

//Joy Dare//  Then I found the joy dare yesterday and thought it would be perfect for my word, JOY!  I printed all the cards and started writing down little bits of grace and gratitude each day. 

//P-Dub and cooking//  I got this little gem for Christmas, so I want to try new recipes because the P-Dub hasn't really let me down and I think I'll bake my third annual king cake soon!

//My quilt from last year//  I need to finish this quilt, (it just needs binding) because it's always nice to finish a project.

Do you have fun projects planned for 2014?

Siesta Scripture Memory January

January is such a great time to kick off new projects! After getting started on the One Little Word 2013 workshop, I got inspired to add some embellishments to my 2013 Siesta Scripture Memory note card spiral.

Happy Fall Y'all.

One day it was all summer time and sunshine, then the next day it was Thanksgiving? 

I guess fall sneaks up on you when most days in Texas feel like summer.  I wore a sweater at least three times when I thought to myself..."why I am I wearing a sweater, it's 75 degrees?" (One day I called it my back-to-school day sweater on a random work day in August)  Since we recently had legit sweater/cardigan cold weather, I think it's only appropriate to celebrate fall!

Here's to fall...

To visits with Vanny and Jess.

 And wearing a pink t-shirt with the letter "i" and calling it (Pink Eye) for my last minute fall festival costume...thank you pharmacy brain for making me a nerd. 

To "field trips" to the dead sea scrolls exhibit and learning a little Jerusalem history.

 To bursts of energy to work on a project or two.

 To progress on quilt #2 

And adding gold chevron to my bargain frame.

 To reminiscing in Monroe with my favorite guy.

 To celebrating the marriage of Vince and Casie with lots of old college friends.

And here's to pondering life questions on a road trip with the Hesters like: What meal would you eat if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life? 

Saturday Room Makeover

Please excuse  my dear aunt sally (math nerds, you'll remember)  the poor lighting/editing of these pics. I wanted to share the early stages in the life of my awesome new craft room.  Jess was such a great encourager and friend to help organize and de-junkify the wannabe dining room.  

The boys installed curtain rods for my super thrifty Ikea curtains.  These pictures don't really show all the junk...just believe me; there was much organizing, recycling, and giving stuff away.  

Tah-dah!  A perfect home for my new sewing machine, books, crafting supplies, functional dining room table, recycling bins, golf clubs/sports equipment and Brian's school stuff. 

Last Saturday we ended our day of friend time/operation organization with dinner with our guys, LSU game and quilting Vanny's mini quilt! 

Nesting in Evangeline's Room

A while back, I snapped a few detail pics in Vanny's room. 

I'm eagerly anticipating visits with my new bestie, Evangeline.

Jess is crafting, sewing and preparing a wonderful little "nest" for baby Evangeline Handy!

We both agree that it's much more fun to craft for somebody...namely Vanny! 

Yesterday, I purchased a sewing machine for my birthday!  Jess helped me unpack and gave me the abridged version of how-to-sew-for-the first-time-since-making-heart-shaped-pillows-in-jr high so I could start sewing right away, instead of  reading every word of the instruction booklet for 3 hours before ever turning on the machine educating myself via the Brother Sewing Machine Instruction Manual.  For such times, I'm thankful to have an experienced sewing machine operator as a friend.  What does a beginner pick for their first project, you ask? A cozy quilt for Evangeline!

Dear Jess, thanks for arranging, encouraging, pinning, baking cookies, staying up too late, ironing seams, providing band-aids and talking me down from advanced quilts on my first attempt so we have a chance to finish this century. Dear 7x7 block quilt, we're dominating you! 

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Craft Project Links: house pillow, fox pillow, ombre vases

House Pillow Par-tay

One time this summer I told Jess "We should do one arts and crafts project every week!"  So far we've made ombre vases and house pillows.  It was a short-lived summer craft marathon for me, but little mama Jess has been creating and crafting her little heart out for Vanny's room ---- more to share soon!  

DIY Ombre Vases

Jess and I made ombre vases during a late night arts and crafts session.

Our inspiration came from this post at Creme de la Craft   

Sorry the rest of my pics are blurry since my awesome iPhone camera is so spectacular. 

{Supplies: old glass bottles/jars, acrylic paint in the color of your choice, white acrylic paint, and Mod Podge}

Basically start with a base color and add white to lighten each layer.  We also invited the boys to participate in our late night arts and crafts party... 

Allow the paint to dry and finish with a coat of Mod Podge.

Wah-lah!...Quick and easy project of ombre goodness! 

Now go enjoy a good craft people! :) I'm currently enjoying a week in Arkansas serving on staff at Cross Camp! Find me on instagram (hcrain) and follow along!

July Snapshots

I though I'd share a few photos to kick off the busy month of JULY:
hipster frames for fun, summer sno-cones, date night with my hubs in granbury

The Summer of Twenty Twelve

image from kayaking in la jolla, ca : may 2011

I think these everyday adventures are perfect for a sweet summer.  

I was inspired to make a summer manifesto of sorts from elise and linked with others summer posts here.

A Paper Chain for Jaden

This late night arts and crafts project was a Crain/Handy collaborative project for our 8 year old friend, Jaden and her family.  You can read more about Jaden and her story here.

Jess and I made a great cut and paste design team and Brian and Joe gathered Scripture references to add to each day!

Supplies: magazines, markers, tape

Instagrams in a Berry Basket

Way back when, I always loved getting my film/disposable camera developed as soon as I finished the roll (Thanks to the one-hour photo lab!)  Currently, my camera is full of images just waiting to be printed! And then there's all the snapshots on my iPhone.

A few of my favorite instagrams:

I loved this idea from the creative blog, A Beautiful Mess.

An idea that includes instagrams and a cute little berry basket from Anthropologie? What? I'm so in!

Instagram + Postal Pix + Basket = Cute display of images

The Postal Pix iPhone app made ordering the prints super simple.  

An envelope of cute 4x4 square prints arrived in the mail the next week.

(Side note: I can always find cute kitchen accessories if left unattended in Anthropologie --- measuring cups, dishes, aprons, cookbooks...just look below at my window shopping pics)

Frolic: Saturday in Dallas

Meet Jess: My bestie from college and fellow Texas dweller.  

Our word for adventuring in college became known as frolicking.  For example, our current DFW frolics include: window shopping, shopping shopping, finding cupcakes that can live up to Curl's Cupcakes, purchasing stationary and school supplies (even when we aren't in school), planning parties, finding treasures, going on adventures to the city, finding the perfect gift, exploring local shops, and having the occasional creative post-work dinner/chat over Chick-fil-a nuggets and Panda Express fried rice (well just once).

After a Saturday brunch with friends:

(mostly inspired by Best of Dallas @ Today's Letters):

Lula B.'s East: funky treasures and vintage goodies

We Are 1976: prints, paper goods, gifts

The Pearl Cup: Pearl Cup Latte, please!

Milk & Honey: Clothing & accessories (local shop like Anthropologie)

The Velvet Taco: Take home tacos for our hubbies

Christmas Details

This year we are celebrating our second Christmas together {as a married couple}  We are looking forward to traveling to see family and friends in a few short days.  I think the Christmas decorations/lights make our house a little more cozy, guess I'll be one of those people holding out to take down all the decorations! 

Here's a little Christmas details tour:

(1) I mixed our Christmas pillows with the existing ones and Brian awesomely rearranged our living room to make preparation for the tree {and b/c i love rearranging} (2) Thanks Mrs. Wright for capturing a lovely 3rd grade Hannah in a yarn spun ornament - {this would've been a great pinterest project back in 1993} (3)Thankful that Jesus was born to be our Savior.(4) {Conversation} Hannah: Jess, I love this ornament on your tree! Jess: It's yours, you can have it! {thanks bestie!} (5) Cute foxes are my fav these days (6) Our scripture chalkboard with a great Christmas reminder that Jesus was born to be our Savior!

 

(7)Lovely Christmas glow (8) Cute little tree in our bedroom, I love it's understated charm.  Though I discovered that the pretty silver pot was conveniently sold separately...a little Pottery Barn over-priced surprise from last year's Christmas decor shopping spree(9) Chef Alli - with whisk and bowl in hand {Cody, thanks for passing the alligator ornament to the Louisiana girl} (10) We are Saints fans {bought this for Brian while at home for Thanksgiving} (11)Annual Hallmark ornament from sweet Maw-maw Crain! And today is Dec 18. (12) A sweet handmade ornament from the talented Jess Handy!

Chalkboard:

This is so easy I'm pretty sure this doesn't qualify as arts and crafts project.  Cute chalkboards are everywhere in stores and in mags and on the beloved pinterest.  I couldn't exactly find what I was looking for so I decided to buy a simple chalkboard at Hobby Lobby (about $8).  I painted the unfinished frame with pale blue craft paint.  Tah-dah - the perfect board for menus, fun messages, and scripture!