Sharpie Tie Dye T-shirts

Have you seen the cool Sharpie Tie Dye projects that have been all over pinterest? 

Did you pin them, but never looked at them again?

Well, this is one you MUST try. 

It was so easy and very inexpensive!

You will need:

Sharpie markers (not the fabric kind - regular permanent Sharpie markers)

Rubber bands

Rubbing Alcohol - 91% is what I used

Different sized glasses/jars or plastic cups

Eye dropper (we used regular medicine droppers)

Heat tool/hair dryer/iron to heat set the designs

White T-shirt: You can find t-shirts at the dollar store and dollar tree

I happen to get mine on clearance at Kmart

You begin by placing a rubber band around a jar or glass that you've inserted between the layers of the shirt. One of the girls had a Minnie Mouse head design in mind when she started, but the others were very random with their design.

Those that know me know that I struggled a wee bit with them doing anything that didn't seem "orderly" haha!
"Wait!! Why or you drawing THAT there?" I'd say in a little bit of a high pitched voice.  And this is the look I would get from Naomi. haha. Classic.  "Chill out Mom."  That must be what she's thinking.

 So, I just let them make any designs they wanted.  Dots worked best, but squiggly lines and even pictures were good too!

Taryn helped her brother Marco and they decided to tie the sleeves up with the rubber bands "old school" style.  Then he just colored each section.

Once you've drawn your design, you fill up your dropper with alcohol and "trace" your design with the alcohol.  The more you add, the more it gets diluted and the larger your shape will get.

 Then you want to heat dry your design with a blow dryer on high heat (be careful with this step! You can get burned!)

 When it feels dry, remove the rubber bands and then do another design.

 Teamwork!!

 I ran a hot iron over each of the shirts when they were done, just for good measure.   We were very happy with the results.  Easy peezy - lemon squeezy!!

 We wrote a name after we heat set the design and then heat set it again (without adding more alcohol)

Here's the sleeve where he tied the rubber bands old school style.  Oh and see the circular squiggly design there? That was one that I panicked a little bit about but it turned out great!!
I also saw on Pinterest that you could do this with hats, white canvas tennis shoes, aprons, etc.
Have fun!

Let's Hit the Beach!

 My Hannah loves the beach and always has... I decided to do a beach theme for her graduation party.

 I saw the marshmallow pop idea somewhere on Pinterest and put my good friend Desiree to work on them. hehe. That kept her busy for a while.  I made the centerpiece with a large glass platter, some sand and rocks and then some random shells that I've collected through the years.

 I used the mason jars that Mandy gave me from her wedding. I added the blue/gray burlap and hot glued a shell to it.  They held a small tea light candle and gave off a pretty nice glow.

I put out fish bowls with gold fish crackers in some and shark gummies in the others. Big hit.

 The larger jars were even easier. I took some shells, added a dab of hot glue to the inside and then stuck some twine in the ends.  I found some beach sand and sea glass pellets at Big Lots on clearance. Perfect!

 This was the drink station.  I added some fishing nets, more shells and jars and a chalkboard with a quote that I doodled.  Chalk markers work best on these re-painted projects.

"Salt in the air - Sand in my hair"

 Our friend Rick has a friend that just started her own cookie business called Sweet Treats by Shamaine and he ordered these for Hannah's party.  Not only were these surfboard cookies perfectly decorated, but they were good too.  Nothing worse than biting into a beautiful treat to find that the rest of it tastes horrible.  

 Now I've used some of the decor for my front entry way table "mantle". =) 

Perfect for summer!

I love a good themed party! What will the next one be?? We shall see!

What I Know For Sure... ONE

• Everyday brings a chance to start over.
• Life - it goes on.
• Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. I admit it.
• The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
• I am loved unconditionally by my Savior, my husband and my children.
• I never stop myself from doing something because I'm afraid of what people might think... Okay, yes I do - But I need to stop!

• I like salty and sweet. Like Dark chocolate caramel with sea salt. oh.my.word.
• I forgive easily, but I never forget.ever.
• I may cry, but it's not because I'm weak.
• Potato skins will clog the garbage disposal. every time.
• I prefer being at home to going out - unless it's with my family. 
• Take this moment. Enjoy it.

• I can't stand bullies.
• I am a loyal friend and believe in life-long relationships.
• I will not let others write my life script - ever again.
• Crayons (Crayola brand) make me happy.
• Coffee is essential to life.
• I am enough. Enough.
• Everyone deserves to be safe.

I was obviously inspired to do this page by a page I saw in O (Oprah) Magazine.  She has this section, I believe, in each monthly issue.  I have always kept a list of thoughts and quotes that I've agreed on or thought were a revelation that I wanted to remember.  I transferred them to these two pages and decided that I'd like to do this regularly.  I chose just some of the ones I've written in my journals and I'm saving the rest for another time.

Supplies: 

Gesso - covered both pages with gesso to give it some "tooth" and thickness.

Acrylic spray - I put some acrylic craft paint mixed with a bit of water in a spray bottle (travel size found at 99cent store), sprayed the background.

Magazine - torn out words, quotes and pictures

Rubber stamp - swirls for border

Black Staz On Ink - my favorite ink. Water proof and permanent

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut stain color for edging

Black and White Faber Castel Gelato crayons - for shading - can be used dry or like water colors

Green fine tip Sharpie Marker - Journaling

Free Your Heart...

Travestine tile coasters - Decoupaged and sealed, hand-stamped and hand-lettered

$5 each or $16 for FOUR + Shipping

Hand-stamped Stone Tile Coasters

 Set of 4 Stone Tile coasters $16 + shipping

 Heat sealed for duration of print.

 Backed with felt to protect table surface.

 Just right!

Perfect gift for any occasion!! 

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/AlteredToPerfection and send me a message!

Tears in a bottle...

This journal was created for a mother who miscarried/lost a child...  When I get these type of requests, I'm immediately a little bit nervous, because I want it to be just right.  It is my prayer that these little gifts from my shop will reflect the love and care that I've put into them.

I hope that it will somehow be a reminder that they are loved, that someone out there cares and I hope it's a place where they will feel safe to write down their thoughts and to maybe begin or continue their journey of healing.

Personalized Diaper Bag Tags

 Luggage and Diaper Bag Tags. Can be used for back packs too!

 Name on one side...

Important contact information on the other side.   Personalized in your favorite colors/theme