How to make an Easle

Project 18 of 52

I needed a way to display information to the girls during camp. After going up for pre-camp clean up I realized there were not many trees to hang signs from. There were plenty of trees, just not in the right spot for signs. So I set out to make my own. I mean, how hard can an easle be to make right!?!

RIGHT!

Here's what I did:

Supplies: 1x4x8 boards (I think I got 3)

Gorilla glue

screws 2" I think

Hardboard

 Corner brackets

Hinges

spray paint

I wanted this to be about 5 feet tall. I wanted it to be a focal point in our camp. Something everyone would see easily. I cut 2 1x4 boards 5 feet. The cross boards are 16 3/4 inches. I found the easiest way to mark the small boards was to lay them across and mark from inside of one long board to the inside of the other board.

Then use gorilla glue or wood glue to secure it to the hardboard. We clamped each board and let it dry over night to be sure it was secure. 

 

After gluing each side we put the corner brackets on. I wanted added support at each corner so as it gets tugged on it won't split at the weak corners.

 

My sweet hubby wanted to surprise me and helped to finish it from here so I missed some pictures, but I was so thankful for his help. He used basic hinges secured to the top so that it would fold flat. 

Then I got to paint it. A bright Krylon Turquoise worked well. I used a whole can but had great coverage.

I didn't bother spray painting the outside of the hardboard. Instead I used my chalkboard paint for it. You just paint the chalkboard on, wait for it to cure a couple of days then rub chalk over the whole thing to prep the board. Each time we use it it wipes off easier but at first it doesn't wipe off well.

One side was for writing notes.....

 

I screwed decorative clips to the other side to hold our menu and schedule for each day.

I love how it turned out. I wanted to put a chain across the side to prevent it from slipping but it's heavy enough we didn't have that problem. I also thought about a tray for the chalk but didn't get that done. Being relatively flat made it travel nicely packed in the pickup. 

Now I have something to help with scouts and PTA events. I see this little beauty getting A LOT of use!

Girls Camp Menu

Project 17 of 52

I am all about structure. Having the schedule posted at girls camp was a must for me. We wanted to encourage the girls to go to all the activities and lead the younger girls. Knowing the schedule of activities and menu allowed them (I hoped) to step out and lead with minimal adult intervention. 

(At least that was the plan)

We had each of the girls list their top menu choices for each meal. Then we compiled them for the weeks menu. It was simple. Most of the girls wanted the same things. We adjusted a little to stay on budget. Here is what we came up with.

 

This is the daily schedule set by the stake camp leadership. Tomorrow I will be sharing my idea for posting the menu and schedule each day. It turned out to be one of my favorite ideas. So helpful.

Baptismal Covenants Kit Kat wrapper

Project 16 of 52

My dear friend needed help making a handout for her lesson next month. Of course she had found something on Pinterest, it's better than Google, and asked if we could do it. She is doing a lesson on baptismal covenants for the young women. This is what we came up with.

 I think it turned out great. Our young women will love it.

You get to benefit too. It's 3 wrappers per sheet so print what you want. They wrap around a full size kit kat.
Print it. Wrap it. And tie it up with a bow. VOILA! You're set.

As Sister Hinckley was fond of saying, 

"We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other..."

I love to find something that I can just print and assemble. It's usually times of desperation when I haven't been able to get something of my own but OH how thankful I am to find something quick that finishes my latest....whatever I'm working on.
Kaylyn loves it too. She always tells me to make sure I post what we do. 

Yep, it's all about sticking together to help each other. 

HUGS! 

4share download HERE

You can also get the download from Dropbox 

HERE

Alec Baldwin's official approval

My sweet hubby had a fantastic time at Comic Con this spring. This is pure heaven for any true blue nerd/geek. He had asked me back in December to make him a Jayne Cobb hat.
"A what!?" I asked.
How well he knows me. He had already found some pins and patterns for me to use. Gotta love that man. He didn't have to beg too much, just enough to make me smile. Anyway, I crocheted one for him. I thought it turned out great but only when we got the official Seal of Approval from Alec Baldwin did I hit the home run. Several other guys were dressed as Jayne Cobb with hats purchased online. Both Alec and Nathan Finnion commented to my sweet hubby specifically "nice hat!" They both said how much they liked it and asked about where he got it. He proudly informed them his wife had made it. 

He had several other guys ask if I could make them one. His response, "I don't think so."
 Yeah, only made with extra love for a special guy! Throughout the day he regularly had people comment on his hat. He even won a $30 photo voucher because of it. He was thrilled. 

This was his photo op with Alec Baldwin. He had it all planned out what to do. He got up there, handed Alec his other gun to which Alec said, "back to back?". 

"Back to back"!

Just like a kid in a candy store.
Here is the pattern I based mine off of. I made some adjustments but this was my favorite pattern. I wish I could knit but that is one thing I don't do. 

Girls Camp Handouts

Project 15 of 52

Life has gotten crazy and doesn't seem to ever slow down. I love staying busy, really it's a coping skill for my sanity, but I have encountered whole new levels of "busy"! My family is growing so fast and there is never enough of me to go around. Because of all this, I have had to let my blog go. In the back of my mind I often think I need to add to this blog. I enjoy looking back at my ideas and projects but really couldn't find the time to compose and share anything. I have taken pictures of many of my projects but they sit waiting to be edited and posted.I had almost decided to just let this blog go. I didn't have the time- that old 4-lettered word.....

....That is until lately. I have had repeated comments and references to my blog. Tonight some friends were looking through my blog after I shared some of my craft and decor ideas with them. I seldom come up with a totally new idea but it was fun to look back through all that I have done. It was a stroll down memory lane. Combined with a few other reminders I decided it was time to get things updated. Perhaps it is more for me than anyone else. Either way, this blog, I've decided, is my way of leaving a mark. It is my place to share and vent and journal and download all that is in my mind and heart. One day my boys will look back and see, perhaps, a glimpse of my thoughts. Besides, it makes me smile to see what I can accomplish over the years.

So with no further adieu here are some of my summer projects.

Remember girls camp?

Yeah our 11 hour adventure?

These are the handouts I made for each of the girls. Print them off and feel free to use them for your own girls.

Our princess was Cinderella. Each day I wanted to highlight the transition she made from servant to princess.

Day 1 they (would have) received a bandana with this quote:

"Rise above the dust of the world. Know that you are daughters of God and that there is for you a great work to be done which cannot be left to others" Gordon B. Hinckley

Day 2 they (would have) received a "glass" slipper filled with skittles. 

 Here is the quote to go with this..."Never look back. If Cinderella had gone back to get her shoe, she never would have become a Princess"

Day 3 they (would have) received a crown.  Sorry, I forgot to get a picture of this but here is the quote.

"CS Lewis once said that if we could recognize who we were, we would realize that we were walking with possible Gods & Goddesses whom, if we could see them in all their eternal dignity and glory we would be tempted to fall down and worship. Because this is true, we need to think more highly of ourselves and we need to think more highly of each other" Jeffrey R. Holland

I love CS Lewis. I would love to have met him. It amazes me how inspired he was. 

Click on each of the quote pictures to go to drop box and download them.

I will be back soon with more fun things from our camp adventure.