First Silhouette Heat Transfer

One of my daughters picked out a cute top to go with some corduroys for Christmas. It was attached to a plain turtleneck—a two-for-one deal. My other daughter decided she’d like a new printed turtle neck too. I had some inspiration pinned from Hanna Anderson to get this project going.

I got the “cat silhouette” and the “flower tree” from the Silhouette online store.

I curved the flat end of the flower tree graphic a little so it appeared more like a branch than an upside down tree.

I followed the directions for using the flocked heat transfer material that came in the Silhouette Heat Transfer Starter Kit {thanks Mom!}. I did have to leave the iron on the material longer than it said for a couple of the spots that wanted to come up when I peeled up the transfer sheet.

The white flocked material picks up every bit of lint so it’s not so clean and white anymore {and it did make it through a normal wash!}. Yet this shirt is still a hit with my 6 year old!

New Life for a Tray

One of the few projects I completed for the holidays this year was an old tray that had not been used in years after getting broken. {Yet I knew it still had potential—my weakness!} Yay for one more thing out of the stash!

My husband came to the rescue with some kind of glue to keep the crack from getting worse. I decided to decoupage the bottom with scrapbook paper so it would not be seen. I chose papers that would work with Christmas but could be used anytime with the colors in our living room.

Here I’ve glued the five pieces on with Mod Podge. Then I put three coats on the top allowing each to dry before adding another. I had searched the internet to see if decoupage glue would alter the glittered paper and couldn’t find an answer. I tested a small piece and saw it dulled the color of the glitter a bit but was not significant enough for me to not seal the tray, especially when someone might set a drink on it at our coffee table.

The crack left some small indentations in the paper but I don’t think it’s too noticeable. If you try this like me on a shiny surface, take care to not get the Mod Podge on the uncovered surfaces. You can see it leaves a dull film that needs to be removed.

We’ll see how many more seasons we can get out of this tray now. :)

The Sounds of Pruning

All the leaves are off the pear trees now. Instead, green emerges between the rows of trees after the November rains.

Four times now in the last month I’ve heard the farmers out pruning the orchards. It’s amazing how rhythmic it sounds. Turn up your volume to hear the clipping along with some birds chirping, a rooster crowing, and some girlies giggling (while Mommy films!). You can see the back of our neighborhood and house in the background.

I am most familiar with pruning from John 15:2, but it is neat to see it happening literally:

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

I smile to think that He finds it as lovely to hear the pruning in our lives as I hear outside my door.