DIY Graduation Gift : Chalkboard & Tassel Frame

Over the next few weeks, students around the world will be "turning the tassel" at their high school graduations. And whether it's formal Senior portraits or pictures from Mom's iPhone, plenty of photos will be taken to commemorate the event. Here is a fun gift idea that is perfect for a Graduate - a DIY photo frame with tassel holder!

I've seen "tassel frames" in stores and loved the idea, just didn't like how plain (and white) they were! You can easily customize this DIY version to the graduate's school colors and still give a place to proudly display that hard-earned tassel!

What you need:

• wood plaque in any shape (mine is Poppyseed Projects)
• smaller wood picture frame ($1- Michaels)
• acrylic paint (I used DecoArt)
• Chalkboard spray paint (optional)
• 1 small cup hook (.50 - hardware store)
• stickers, wooden letters, etc (optional)
• Velcro or 3M Command strips

Paint your plaque and smaller frame in desired colors. Here's where the customization comes in! I decided to use Rustoleum Chalkboard paint since there would be space at the bottom of the plaque to write. The smaller frame got a coat of teal spray paint before I added the glitter paint for some sparkle.

I lightly distressed the edges of my plaque and then prepped the chalkboard surface by rubbing the flat side of my chalk all over it and erasing. 

Since I am giving this frame to a cute friend that's graduating (but didn't have a photo of her) I used 3M Command strips to attach the frame to the plaque so that she can easily add a photo and change it out.

I hope she likes it!

The sparkly 2013 is part of a bag of graduation confetti I found at Michaels - you could also add vinyl or letter stickers to customize the frame.

To add the "tassel hanger" I painted the cup hook black and simply screwed it in at the top corner of the plaque. I love the functionality it brings to the frame!

Congratulations, Class of 2013! 

(Now I'm going to go panic about my 10 year-reunion coming in a few weeks... what the heck am I going to wear ?!?)

Happy Mother's Day + an Announcement!!

 

We want to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day and let you know that we'll be taking this next week off to spend more time doing our most important job... being moms! We are so lucky to have an amazing mom who taught us how important it is to snuggle our kids, play without being afraid to get dirty, dance in the living room, and sing them to sleep every night. We love you mom!

 

 

The past few months have taught me what a gift motherhood truly is.... it is easy to take it for granted some days.

 

The days when I'm running around cleaning up marker off the walls, wiping noses, wiping bums, driving to basketball practice, trying to explain to my 2-year-old why Goofy doesn't magically appear when she calls, "Oh Goofy!" like they do on Mickey Mouse Club House, cleaning up water spills, putting the toilet seat down, making dinner that no one will eat, folding another load of laundry and then finding the clothes totally smashed in a drawer the next day.... you know the drill. It's the daily grind of being a mom.

 

But the moments I love the most happen right before bed, or in the middle of the day while the older ones are at school, when I get to hold my kiddos tight and snuggle them. We talk about anything they want to, we tickle backs, we sing songs, we are silly, sometimes we are serious. Sometimes we are just quiet. I haven't had enough of those quiet times recently....

 

Until I got stuck in bed for two months. You may have noticed that I've been MIA on the blog for a while. There is a good reason :)

 

 

Meet the little person who has been keeping me in bed for the past several months :) I am SO excited but I have also been super sick. This has been the most difficult pregancy I've ever experienced, in many ways. But I am blessed to have had good friends and neighbors, and of course Nat, who have taken care of me while I've been going through my first trimester. I'm happy to say that the worst is behind me and I am finally getting some energy back! I'm 16 weeks along, and just had this most recent ultrasound taken on Thursday. {It looks like my little one likes to sleep curled up in a ball, just like me!}

 

There were many times in the past few months that I wondered why I was going through such a hard thing. I really questioned what I was supposed to be learning from all the sickness, fatigue, medical issues, and sometimes even depression. But I have truly been blessed to know my greatest gift and calling in life -- being a mother.

It might sound cliche, but I really needed to know that motherhood is a precious gift from God, and it can be given or taken from us at any time. Cherishing the quiet times in bed with my kids has been such a blessing to me. They really took care of me when I was sick... with their unconditional love, prayers and concern. My 2-year-old would ask me every night, "Mommy feel better?" and she would hold my hand. My boys prayed for me every day. My 7-year-old got me something to eat every morning and brought it to me in bed, in hopes that it would help me fight off the morning sickness for a little while. I am so thankful for my three kids and for the little one on the way!

This post has become a lot longer than I had planned! I just wanted to share my good news with you guys, and tell Natalie how much I love her for completely taking over all things "blog" for the past several months. She is an amazing sister, friend and example to me. Happy Mother's Day my sis! Enjoy this next week off, you deserve it :)

We'll be back in a week sharing more projects with you guys. Happy Mother's Day!

 

 

For Mother's Day - Project Life Mini Album/Kit Giveaway

Today we have a giveaway that's perfect for Mother's Day. Because if you're a mom, chances are you have a lot of pictures of your kids. I can also bet some of you have some guilt or stress over what to do with those pictures! If you've been following My Sister's Suitcase for awhile, you know we have found a solution to that problem in Project Life. And this "mini version" is even more simple. And we're giving it away. Let's do this!

Mother's Day Gift Card Holder + Amazon GIVEAWAY!

With Teacher Appreciation and Mother's Day in the same week, it's been crazy busy, right? If you haven't treated your child's teacher yet or come up with something for Mom, you're not alone! Today we have another fast and easy idea that works for both! This printable gift card holder is kind of silly and is sure to put a smile on the recipient's face.