Personal | hashtags and other sorts

I completely skipped an entire month of blogging. Although the excuse is legit, I don't like excuses.

I recently (late August) got a new job. I went from accounting/bookkeeping to... Ready for it? 911 communications officer. I have been in training pretty much since day one, which let me just throw it out there, is stressful. I was released on the phones Monday Oct 27th. So until I begin police radio training, which will probably take place in a few weeks, I've been able to catch up on some projects. 

We have periods of downtime during the 12-hour midnight shift, so I'm using that downtime wisely, between reviewing work related stuff and getting my projects out of the way (such as this beauty)...

And since starting this job, I'm home during the day, which is a totally new experience for me. Between catching up on sleep I've also managed to work on some of my "at home" projects. 

Here are a few I've been able to accomplish...

I bedazzled some acorns (super cute)

We carved some pumpkins

I made my sons werewolf Halloween costume

I made some cute and warm ear warmers 

I made a tiny hippo

I painted pumpkins 

I created a Halloween wreath out of ribbons

I made a baseball leather key ring for my sons fall ball baseball coach

I started to play with Christmas gift ideas for my boyfriends platoon

Needless to say I've been busy..

I also just opened up my new (and always improving) Etsy store:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/fiveohlove

Right now I just have a few things listed but will add upon that once I see an interest. 

Also, if you are on Instagram, look for the following hashtags to find either of my pages and follow me...

#craftingadhd

#loveyourpopo

#firefliesandsweettea

And that's about it for now. I'll probably be doing another DIY project with coconut oil and essential oils for a Christmas gift giveaway and/or the sugar scrubs. I might also be doing one for the gifts I end up making for my LEO's platoon for Christmas. Last year it was an Officers Survival Kit, which I think ill do again this year along with a nice ornament, but we'll see.

For now, goodnight and good morning.

 <3tlee

Homemade | DIY Whipped coconut oil body butter

It's not even truly autumn yet and already I'm hearing people complain about dry, itchy skin. I started doing some research on a natural solution, and looking for something I could make with what oils and natural stuff I have and decided on a whipped coconut oil body butter that was super easy and quick to make!

I'll admit it smells more like Christmas but I'm going to make another batch with a more "autumn" like scent.

Here we go:

1c, extra virgin coconut oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops argan oil (or jojoba)

Take your coconut oil in a medium size bowl and mix with electric mixer fit about 8-10min, until whipped and forming peaks.
Add your essential oil and argan and mix for about another 2min.
Store in a glass container with a tight lid,  and refrigerate until solid.
Afterwards, store at 75 degrees or cooler.
Use a large popsicle stick to get body butter out as to not contaminate the whole jar.

Enjoy!!!

♡tlee

Baseball | DIY Laces bracelet

I enjoy ripping apart baseballs and making something from them [of course the whole time my son is watching in agony, as if he feels the pain and anguish from each ball as it's being torn apart, and questions my motive the entire time].

Once I figured out how easy and kind of fun making bracelets out of the laces was, I became a laces bracelet machine.

I keep mine simple but I've seen some that have their child's number on them, or bedazzled somehow.

[The next go around my baseball mama bff, Jeanne, and I are going to make cuffs out of the leather and bedazzle the heck out of them!]

First, I always make sure the baseballs I'm using are genuine leather.  That synthetic type, I don't know if this is just me, or what, but it doesn't seem to wanna work with you as much, not as pliable, etc.

Grab that exacto knife and CAREFULLY cut the leather around the lace, leaving enough room to where you can trim it down at the end.

Once you've cut the lace from the ball, cut the lace in half and cut off maybe an inch of the leather from the ends, so you have enough thread to 1) make a loop on one end, and 2) tie on a button of your choice.  Make sure to play with the placement of each as best as you can so it's not too loose and not too tight!  Before you put the button on and tie the loop, I soak the laces in HOT water for a few minutes, then in Vaseline for a couple days.  I did mine for a week, I'm sure you can do take it out in two days.  Wipe off the Vaseline as best you can, then pin it to a cork board, or something you can use to stretch it out straight for another day or two.

Once it's stretched out & straight, you're ready to decorate how you will, and show your support to your little league baseball or softball player!! 

Simple as that!  Enjoy!!

♡tlee

Crafting | DIY Ombre painting and song lyrics - fun personalized crafts!

Hands down one of my all time favorite songs is Van Morrison, Moondance! And although it was Morrisons version I fell in love with, my favorite Irish singer, Ryan Kelly of Celtic Thunder did an amazing cover. I had that song stuck in my head ALL day last Thursday.

Digging through my crafts, I realized I had this fantastic piece of wood from Michaels that I've yet to do anything with. All of a sudden it dawned on me!

"It's a marvelous night for a moondance."

Yes!

I had had a similar epiphany with a blank piece of canvas. I got out my paint and brushes and went with the flow.. light to dark orange ombre with the lyrics You are my Sunshine in a bright blue. Brilliant!

(Most everything I hang is crooked bc I have a 7yr old who hardly ever walks lightly, and in case you were wondering, that heart picture is super easy and fun to make, I love to work with buttons!)

And it was after that painting that I realized ombre painting is fun and simple. You grab 2 or more colors and just paint and blend. I don't even rinse out my brushes, which I think helps the blending process. I am a bit messy when it comes to painting but especially ombre! I had paint on me, my son (who insisted on sitting beside me as he read), the table, the floor, wall and dog.

I sometimes free hand words/letters but I knew I wanted this more "elegant" than "laid back" so I printed the lyrics, scribbled with pencil on the back then taped the paper to my project and traced away. This idea I picked up from this lovely blog.

The end product, in my opinion, is gorgeous and I absolutely love it.

From start to finish I want to say it took round about 5 hours. I was up until a little after 1am completing this.. mostly due to the fact I have OCD and it's hard for me to stop something that I've started and that I'm super excited about.

I had a friend mention I should custom make these and sell them around the Christmas craft circuit. 

Hmm, I just might. 

If anyone is interested, email me at tlcawthorn@gmail.com and please put CRAFTS or something in the subject line!

♡tlee