Pallet Sign

At Jennie's wedding reception she had a pallet sign that I couldn't stop looking at.  I don't know exactly why but I became obsessed with it.  I eventually decided that there was only one thing to be done:  I needed to learn how to make one!  So that's what I did.  

I'm one of those people that loves crafts but they usually turn out poorly.  (like, ever since Kindergarten you could always tell which one was mine. ) The same is true for which seat is mine during dinner.  Just look for the area with the most crumbs. I even try to be clean!  It just happens :)  But I was determined and I knew I wanted it to turn out well.  So thus the pinterest researching and planning began!

I began this process by looking for pallet boards I could break apart for wood.  (I had an awkward experience when I found a pallet board left for the dead against a fence at a playground.  I went to examine the board and realized I was basically staring right toward the kids as they played.  Ummm creeper, right?  Except the creepy one was ME!  (ahhhh!!!)  I went to ask the ladies in charge if they knew anything about the board and they were so unfriendly!   (I can't blame them--I'm glad they were being careful, and what weirdo drives around looking for pallet boards?)  Anyway, now I know what it feels like when people think you're a child predator.  needless to say I also left the pallet board for dead.

I kept looking but visited a neighborhood market and finally got a pallet board!!  Insert Hallelujah chorus!!!!

.... but then decided it wasn't worth it to break apart.  Too many tools needed/once it's apart I would need to cut the wood/etc.  So off to Home Depot I went to buy wood.  

Using my handy dandy measuring tape from nursing school :)

I bought the wood, had it cut the right size, then stained it.  I ended up using Miniwax Special Walnut 224 stain, but it turned out too dark so I sanded some of it to give it the look I wanted.  Looking back Provincial 211 would have been the right stain color.  

Sanding to get the color just right

My little cheerleader

After that I  researched which font I wanted to use.  I know there are stencils you can buy, but I loved the idea of being able to use any font I wanted.  After lots and lots and lots of free font shopping, I  printed the letters then cut them out using a knife.  (This took forever, but I did it to a movie so it wasn't bad.)

Then it was time to use my stencils to paint on the letters!  I had some acrylic paints on hand so I just used those to paint.  I wanted a cream color (and only have red, yellow, blue, white, black), so it took a little bit of playing with to get it right.

I painted and then, ta-da!  I was done!  Finally!  I was so proud, relieved, ahhhh!!  I did it.  I did a craft and I loved it.

I was so happy with how this all turned out!  I got the flowered plate at Goodwill for $2, the bottles and flowers for half off at Hobby Lobby, and then printed a couple wedding pictures off. 

Before shot

After shot

I learned SO much.  To be honest in many ways it maybe wasn't worth the hassle, but the adventure and experience and finished product made it totally worth it!

And I have a new hobby now.  I'm working on some Christmas signs and it's been about a bajillion times easier.  Yay for learning and beautiful things to look at :)

Wedding Reception (and a little about a wedding too)

*Life is Beautiful: 
 Our bodies are amazing.  As I've watched Kennedy begin to develop motor skills, I've been reminded about how much we have all learned and are able to do.  We have learned how to move our arms and legs, pick up objects and move them around, coordinate movements, walk, run--not to mention dancing, playing sports, playing instruments, creating.  My favorite thing is the way Kennedy watches as I workout to music in the living room.  She smiles in awe as I kick and squat and run in place.  Her face seems to say "wow.  Look at the amazing things mom knows how to do with her body.  I'm so glad I came to earth so I could have one too."


My mom is a master researcher and planner.  Also she has wonderful friends and was able to procure so many beautiful things from my aunts and ladies in the ward.  But that being said, she knows how to pull off a beautiful reception. 

We had only been living in Alabama for a couple weeks, but this last August Derek, Kennedy, and I were so blessed to be able to fly out to Utah for the day where Jennie and Matt were sealed. 

Kennedy:  The champion flyer.

It was so great to be back in Utah!  People out here have no idea what they're missing without mountains. :)

We had a lot of fun hanging out with family and then took some time the day before the wedding to start setting up the reception.  This is us hanging

lights in the trees. 

Kennedy was a champ waiting happily on the grass.

The sealing was beautiful and so happy.   If you want to see true joy and love, look at these two.  They are just adorable and are just good people.

We took a few family pictures together (including a shot of our little family in front of the temple!) , hung out at home with cousins and family, then worked on getting our beautiful Von's Park ready for a reception!

Here's Kennedy in her cute dress for the wedding.  

Joseph and Derek hanging out and being handsome

Getting a little family picture in front of the temple

It was so much fun setting up!  I managed to get a few pictures to show what it was like.  

I became obsessed with this sign from lovetoodesign.  Obsessed.

How fun is this!  We put the wedding pictures of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents onto the tree.

We loved being with family and spending time together!  It was all pretty busy but so worth everything!