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Calvary Hill Planting | A Kids’ Lent Project

February 26, 2012 By Laura 29 Comments

When Lent comes around, it’s difficult enough for us as adult Christians, to decide in which ways we’d like to embrace the 40 days leading to Easter. We are led by 3 things: Sacrifice, Prayer, and Alms-giving. But as parents, we also want our children to take part in some way, and fully realize the significance of this period of time, too! Attending Mass (especially through Holy Week), hearing the Scripture relating to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and witnessing (or participating in, depending on the ages of the children) their parent’s participation throughout Lent, certainly helps build their understanding of the importance of this season in our faith.

However, I was thrilled last year, to come across this great project for the kids, that really invited them to be involved in some significant way even more, throughout the Lenten Season!:

020_easter-empty-tomb-calvary-hill-plant-kids-project
Calvary Hill

As parents instruct the kids how to build this project, and plant and water the grass seeds, they have the opportunity to teach, or further discuss, the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus, why and how He died, and what that means for all of us!

This Calvary Hill plant needs to be nurtured and tended to by the kids, throughout Lent. By Easter, it is beautiful plant, symbolic why we celebrate. It makes for a wonderful Easter table centerpiece, and can also be put outdoors to keep for many months! We put ours out near our gardens, on our potting bench. It can also simply be placed right into a garden bed, or on a deck. We trimmed the grass down when necessary, and kept it watered, enjoying it for long past Easter.

001_calvary-hill-plant-supplies Pictured here are some of the supplies you will need.

Here is a more complete list:

Organic Seed Starting Mix (we used Jiffy brand)
Organic Hard Winter Wheat Berries, OR, Winter Rye (we used Winter Rye),
a large (12″) flower pot dish (w/ no drain hole),
a small (4″) flower pot and it’s dish,
small rocks (for drainage),
a pail
pail and shovel, with some water, for mixing soil.
some straightish-sticks of any kind, for the crucifixes
brown twine to tie together crucifixes
probably a glue gun

002_easter-kids-lent-project First will be creating Jesus’ tomb: Lie the small pot on it’s side, in the center of the large pot dish, with the opening of the pot a couple of inches or so from the inside edge of the big dish. The small pot is representative of Jesus’ tomb. You just want to be sure you leave room for the dish to that pot, to be in front of the pot opening, and room to roll to the side, which will serve as the stone in front of Jesus’ tomb.
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003_kids-lent-project Fill the whole bottom of the large potting dish with small rocks on the 3 sides of the small pot (Jesus’ tomb), supporting it to keep it from rolling. Smaller rocks than we used are acceptable and may even be more suitable and manageable. We just grabbed some from our driveway!
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004_mixing-soil Next, in a pail, add water to some Organic Seed Starter Mix . . . . . .

005_ . . . . . .and mix to make some nice wet dirt!

006_ Time to get dirty!

Scoop handfuls of dirt out of the pail, and place it all around the sides of and behind the tomb, as well as right over the top of it. Create a nice round hill.

*Note that in these photos, you see some dirt in front of the lid and somewhat in the way here. We learned that was not a good idea, as dirt was always falling out when we moved the lid. It is best to keep it clear of any soil.

007_soil Again, keep the dirt away from the front of the tomb, so the ‘stone’ can roll away. But be sure the tomb is covered in the soil mixture.

009_calvary-hill-seeding Next, is planting the seed. As mentioned earlier, we used Winter Rye, but Organic Hard Winter Wheat Berries can also be used. Either grow quickly! Simply cover the soil with the seed, pressing down into it if possible, and perhaps cover it with some more where you can, if there is room.

010_stick-crosses Now 3 crucifixes need to be made. We wanted to keep it simple and rustic, so we simply found some straight sticks up in our wooded area, and created crossed wrapping the twine in a criss-cross effect around the intersection of the 2 sticks. We tied off and then cut the twine ends, but then also used a dab of glue with a glue gun to secure it.

011_building-calvary-hill-plant-easter The crucifixes can be placed into the soil of your Calvary Hill now, as we did right away. But as a tip, they would stay in place better, if you waited a bit for the seed to sprout and begin to grow, so there is a bit of a root system established to support the sticks.

012_kids-calvary-hill-plant-project
Here is what ours looked like, all done and ready to grow!

We brought it indoors, and placed it on a plastic covered table where sunlight would be on it a good part of the day. Throughout the first week or so, the kids need to simply mist spray the soil with water, in a spray bottle, 3 times a day, to keep the soil moist, and encourage the seed to sprout. Perhaps you can come up with a simple 1 or 2 line poem to say, while they do this, as a form of meditation.
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013_kids-lent-project
It’s growing! The kids will be so excited to see this.

As sprouts push upward from beneath, some dirt will tumble down. This is why it is important to really try to keep the soil quite moist, until it is all held in place by the grass that grows. We thought the plastic table covering was wise, because all of the water spraying.
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014-seeds-sprouting You will also notice some seeds and seed casings being pushed up to the surface. It’s fine.

015_calvary-hill-plant-easter
Before you know it, you’ll have lush green grass, on your Calvary Hill!

More photos of Jesus’ empty tomb….

018_rustic-stick-crucifixes I just love this photo.

019_calvary-hill-kids-project
On Good Friday, you can wrap a clothespin with a white piece of cloth or paper towel, or simply cover it. The clothespin and wrap is representative of Jesus’ body. Then roll the stone to close the opening of His tomb. : (
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On Easter morning, JESUS IS RISEN! When the kids get up in the morning, let them find the stone rolled away from Jesus’ tomb, and his garments folded or rolled neatly inside.

It is our hope and prayer as adults, that our Lenten Season practices, help draw us closer to Jesus, deepening our relationship with Him. May your kids not only enjoy this project, but like the seeds in the fertile soil, may it help sprout a faith in their hearts, that is bound to grow within them, and help guide them all throughout their lives.

ALLELUIA!!

(We’re happy to discuss this project, or answer any questions for you, in the comments below.)

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Our Road to Homeschooling – Our Story

February 22, 2012 By Laura 18 Comments

We all have our story, I suppose. Our own road, that led us to where we are, homeschooling. I know we have ours. And I would think nobody would really care to hear it, except for the fact that, people ask! -ALL OF THE TIME! But I warn you….it’s really a story. Like, of the novel kind. In the way of lengthy. So, if you are interested to read about it, you may want to go all out, and make a hot beverage to go with it, or something. I’m not sure it’s all that entertaining, but it’s our story, nonetheless.

My First Thoughts of Homeschooling Our Children

I think the seed was planted in my heart real early on, to be a homeschooling Mama. As a child, myself. I never really liked my own reality of being in school, at all. But I did love playing school, with my siblings and friends. I have many memories of pretending. One of us would be the teacher, and the rest of us would be the students. I vividly remember some summer days, of sitting on a couple of front porch steps made of boards, with our bare legs and feet dangling underneath the porch, and using the one step higher as our desk. (Something I would never do today, knowing the spiders and other creepy crawlies that would be under there. Lol.). So yeah, playing school was a favorite activity of mine to play, even though I wasn’t a fan of real school.

Miss Beadle Made Me Do It

I’m pretty sure I also got some inspiration from Miss Beadle, from Little House on the Prairie! I most loved any scenes in the school house. To this day, I have such a love for old schoolhouses. Granted, Miss Beadle’s class was not truly homeschooling. But still, I fell in love with the simplicity of the one-room schoolhouse, with the bell, the old desks and chalkboard slates, the burning stove for heat, and the notion that kids of different ages, even siblings, could not only learn together in the same place, but could actually benefit in many ways, from that. It differed a lot, from my own experience of going to school. I also really felt some kind of connection with the style of raising children in those days on the Prairie, and how it seemed to build strong character in them, as was seen in the roles as they grew up over the years. Of course, it was just a show. But as I got older, I learned that it was a true representation of that era, and to this day, I am drawn to that way of life.

So those impressions probably took real root in my heart, even as young as I was. But, I think the first real, formed thought I had on the matter, was in the moments that I held my first newborn baby, Alexis Grace, in my arms. I had had an all natural, drug-free birth with a midwife, and I was so exhausted after laboring all through the night. But I vividly recall being in my hospital bed sometime later that day, holding my new baby girl in my arms, all wrapped in a blanket, and looking into her sweet little face with her little pink cotton hat, thinking: “I cannot even imagine ever sending you off to school every day.” I knew, she would grow up in the blink of an eye, and I already did not want to miss any of it. I think that was the day I figured I would never send her to school.

But Then I Did, for a Blink.

When she became kindergarten age, there was no doubt by then that I simply wanted to homeschool her. No part of me wanted to send her to school for a 1/2 day, 5 days a week. But in the same time frame, I found myself pregnant. (Hooray!!) And I found myself thinking about the 1-on-1 time I had had with Alexis, in her first year, and I didn’t want to not be able to give that same valuable bonding time, to our new baby. Honestly, I find it kind of silly looking back now, but it’s what I was concerned with at the time, as much as I was conflicted because I didn’t want to miss having Alexis home, at the same time. In addition to that, I wasn’t sure I could school Alexis effectively, and care for a newborn with the same attention. (? – I know now, I could have, with one baby.) So, being on the fence with my decision, I did take her to be tested and registered her for kindergarten. Just in case, we decided to send her.

Well, the baby on the way, turned out to be three babies on the way!

That ‘kindergarten year’, turned out to be non-stop caring for, feeding, bathing, changing, rocking, soothing our 3 newborns! That is, once we got them all home! They were born several weeks early, after my own 6 months of strict and complete bedrest, while I was pregnant with them. (Early complications that threatened them.) But what I found in those bedridden months, while spending such time with Alexis on my bed, was that home schooling was for us, as much as I ever thought it was! Among our pillows and blankets on my bed, Alexis really learned to read, and write, and teaching her such things as critical thinking, was something I found I really loved to do. Watching her get it, and be excited, and grow in her knowledge, was just downright fun to me. And she seemed to be loving it, too.

It was also the time that I spent very pregnant on bed rest that I spent a lot of time praying, and bargaining with God, or so I thought. It was a personal promise to Him, in that time, that later cemented my commitment to home school our kids as soon as possible. Of course, I would soon have my hands more than full, and be way short on sleep. So off to kindergarten Alexis went, exactly five days after her triplet siblings were born. I was seriously hurting, physically, but I was determined to be the one, that brought her to school, for her first day. Of course, another mother (just trying to be friendly and chatty), had to mention how I looked like I was ‘ready any day’, and asked me when I was due. Thanks, Lady! She was every shade of apologetic and astonished, when I had to tell her I already gave birth 5 days prior, to triplets. Honestly though, I couldn’t really blame her. That belly took it’s sweet time going down.

That First Year

I wasn’t too bothered by Alexis going to school that year, for half days. For one, her school was literally within walking distance. But also because my own kindergarten year, were rather magical memories. At that time in our lives, it gave Alexis a change of pace that was good for her, and Lord knows I would not have had much time to really teach her well. But over the following weeks, the babies grew and progressed and came home one by one, all in God’s time, and we were all finally home as a family, a week before Christmas. THAT, was the best Christmas, ever!! Honestly, after all we had been through, I think that was when we learned to truly trust in God, and had learned to appreciate the little things. Journeys like that forever change people. It sure did us.

(2002-Home All Together for Our First Christmas – Our Christmas Card)

So, in reading this, you’d probably think the next year, I began home schooling Alexis. Right? But no…..it took me a couple of years, to get my groove, caring for 3 babies. With the reality of official homeschooling being new territory for me, I wanted to do it right. Whatever right is, right? So, Alexis continued to go to school, through 1st and 2nd Grade! All the while we knew she would be home schooled as soon as I could. I have to say though, that there were regular instances in her formal school years, where I knew formal schooling would not be for us. So at the end of 2nd Grade, I pulled her out of school for good.

And Our Homeschooling Journey as a Family Began

(2005 – Alexis in 3rd Grade / Triplets 3 years old) – Catching and studying Periwinkles!

Of course, I would have the other 3 to school as well, soon enough. The triplets have never been to school, and that was the plan from the beginning of their lives. Honestly, I believe children begin being schooled by their parents, at birth! So it’s really a natural progression, to just keep going. But the ‘first day of school’ that Alexis technically began schooling at home for 3rd Grade, in 2005, the triplets were only 3 years old. It was an easy and relaxed first year. Alexis did her written work and math easily, and we did a lot of out door excursions all together, learning about nature, and finding our homeschooling groove. Which came quite naturally.

homeschooling-4
2005- Alexis with her bull frog, “Goliath”.

I began kind of formally schooling the trio the following year in 2006, although they had only just turned 4 and were too young for kindergarten, only because they kept asking to “have school work like Alexis does“. So, I began table work with them that year. Meanwhile, they were picking a lot up and learning right along with Alexis….

2006-Science / Nature Trail Walk / Learning about mushrooms we found.

The following year in 2007, I was officially homeschooling all 4 of the kids:

2007 – School Photo. Alexis: 5th Grade / JackMichael, Olivia & Shane: Kindergarten

Because they learned so much the year before, Kindergarten was kind of a joke to them. I heard a lot of, “I already know how to do this, but it’s still fun!”. It was just a warm up year anyway, to start working at the table in a disciplined way, for an extended period of time. But making learning pretty fun and exciting, in those early years, I came to believe was crucial. I found it really sets the pace for their attitude, about learning. That theory of mine, could also be a whole other post, sometime. But let’s keep this post on track.

Suffice it to say, after so many years of homeschooling now, all 4 of our kids still have a great attitude about school time, and love learning so much, that it is often self-propelled. Now that they are older, it is not always FUN, per say. But they all still seem to have a great appreciation for the process of learning. Mind you, while we do throw some fun in our school year here and there in various ways, most often they do put several hours into several subjects a day. I’m not an easy teacher. It’s all getting done, and done well. Because I feel they need to know how to work hard as well, and to understand, that often times in life, there are tasks to be done, responsibilities to tend to, or lessons to be learned, that fun or less than enjoyable or not, still need to be accomplished. That’s life. But to start out with a good experience with learning while they are young, and create that curiosity and thirst for knowledge in them, followed by more disciplined work ethic and a good outlook, really seems to have set a nice pace for our kids. We think, hope, and pray, that it has become a part of them, for all they set out to do, or find themselves faced with, all throughout their lives.

homeschooling-6 So, that is our story, of how we came to be a homeschooling family. All of the reasons WHY we homeschool, could be another post all it’s own. All I can tell you now, is that there isn’t a day we have regretted it. If ever we found ourselves back in time, with the choice once again of which road of education-style to choose, we would take this one less traveled by once again. We really do feel, for our family, it is making all of the difference.

(2015)

*2017 UPDATE:
Our oldest daughter is away in her second year of college. She is double-majoring in Communication and Theology.

NOTE: If you homeschool your children as well, share with us a bit about how you came to making the choice. If you have told your story and have a link, leave it for us below! If you are not homeschooling yet, but are considering it, why do you feel you are drawn to it?
Got a homeschooling topic or question you’d like to hear from us about? Let us know that too!
We’d love to hear from you, and connect with you all!

Valentine Printable (free, to go with Chocolate Covered Spoons)

February 8, 2012 By Laura 1 Comment

free-valentine-printable-1
This is a free Valentine card printable, that I specifically designed to go with our Valentine Chocolate Covered Spoons, for our kids to give as Valentines to their friends. But, we are also offering it to you all, as a free printable!

First, here is what the Valentine looks like in detail:

free-valentine-printable
(Minus the watermark….if you print out a sheet of them. Link at end. )

I mentioned I wanted to get back to enjoying some of my hand artwork, and so I did sketch the cup, in a chocolate brown colored pencil. It’s been awhile, but I had fun doing it! I hope you like it.

This is what it could look like, given with a chocolate covered spoon, as a very unique Valentine:

free-valentine-printable-2 We chose to also add a pack of hot chocolate. That an option.

Here is how we simply attached it all together:

I apologize for the lousy photo. It was growing dark and I was having a hard time focusing. But you should get the idea with an explanation: A single hole punch towards the right side, through the sealed packet of cocoa if you are adding that too. Then using the pretty silver twist ties that came with the clean bags, we just twisted it around the spoon handle, arranging the spoon to be ‘inside’ the cup, visually. Easy! Cute!!

So if you’d like the free printable, 5 come on sheet. I would recommend printing on white card stock, instead of floppy printer paper. Just make as many sets of 5 as you need, and cut them into individuals! This below is not full size, but just to give you an idea of how they are arranged on a sheet:

Each card is the same size as Swiss Miss Cocoa packets, if you’d like to bundle those with your spoons!

HERE is the printable as a full size PDF.

If you grabbed these valentine printables, consider it a little gift, and have a Happy Valentine’s Day.

If you didn’t, please have a Happy Valentine’s Day, anyway!

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New Light, New HOUSE. (We’ve Moved!)

January 16, 2012 By Laura 19 Comments

WELCOME, to the ALL NEW, ~~OUR~~ HOUSE OF JOYFUL NOISE! OH, have I been dying to spill, about all of this! You may have noticed, we’ve barely been posting on the blog, and THIS is why! We have MOVED the blog, switched up our name a little, and started an all new Facebook Page! Generally speaking, we have really just opened up the windows all over the place, and there is a whole lot of freshness coming in!

WHAT CHANGES, YOU ASK?

Well that’s what I’m about to tell you about. But where to start?

BIG CHANGE IN BUSINESS, FOR ME.

- This was a huge decision for me. But after 13 years, I have decided to put my business, Laura Lee Richard Photography, on serious and indefinite hiatus. I have felt this desire to do this, coming, for awhile. Last year, I limited the clients I took. In doing that, it made me realize what I really needed and wanted to do. And that is, to just let it go for now. I have many reasons, but here are some, in order of importance:

I want to put even more, into raising and homeschooling my awesome kids, and be completely available for all of their various schedules, commitments, lessons, games, activities and fun. I love, love, love homeschooling them! Still! Plus, I am prepping our oldest for college now, and that’s serious business! I love this life style of ours. I love these years with my kids growing up, so very much, and I don’t want to miss any of it!

I know I am known as a professional photographer, and I’ll always still be one. (Just not in business right now.) But, did you know, I was once known as an illustrator? I really, really have a deep longing, to get back to my creative roots. I want to draw more, paint more, for me and with my kids! Just get back to more of my hand-skill art, and enjoying that process again. I truly have many, many creative outlets that I want to indulge in, actually, as time allows. Including some graphic designing, which you could very well benefit from, on occasion. ; ) I have an art education in these things, as well as photography. There is no pressure on me, to create art for anyone but me now. So it will come as it does. But I do look forward to sharing it all, with you, right here on the blog, along the way.

Throughout my years in photography, I have seen the photography industry gradually change. More than ever, it is really going down paths I am not interested in battling. As much as I have loved doing all of the portrait photography I have done for my clients over the past 13 years, I have a real drive to really nurture other business endeavors, that I can sanely and happily do on my time. While focusing on the things that bring me such joy. Such as my family, and of course…..

THIS BLOG!!!

IT LOOKS DIFFERENT. BUT WHAT ELSE WILL BE NEW HERE?

Yes, it does look very different! So how do you like the new place? I really went through the gamut, deciding on a design for the new header. I wanted a logo icon out of it, but I wanted it to express so much more. I was all over the place with this one, literally lying awake most nights, brainstorming, and sketching out thoughts during the day. Then I had too many ideas. I prayed on it, and finally I came up with and designed this, myself. It conveys everything, I wanted it too. I love the clean and simplicity of it. Window = House. Window = New Experiences. Window=LIGHT=Truth=God. Windows especially represent light, for me. I do, and have always loved natural light! Light is a necessity, for me. Because 1) I am an artist. 2) I am a photographer, always working it. 3) I used to struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (before I filled my house with windows!), and 4) Because God is the light of our life, and our rock! I love colors too, as they represent all of life and creativity, that we can only truly see, with light. ; ) The header/logo flat out makes me happy when I see it. We hope you love the new digs too!

NEW NAME.

Just a slight change there. It was just easier. We’ll leave it at that.

ONE FEED!

This one is one of the big deciding factors, for an all new blog. For those of you who have been following us, with the crazy aggregate feeds and changes, you know what I am talking about, People! No more!! One feed for all, and all for one! BUT THIS MEANS YOU PROBABLY NEED TO RE-SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG! But no crazy explanations or directions. Just subscribe as you normally do, and perhaps remove our former blog feed (the one with the word OUR in it) from your subscriptions. (No more posts will be coming to you through that.) You’ll really want to re-subscribe, subscribe for the first time, or follow us on our all new Facebook Page! (See the pretty social buttons at the top of the page! 🙂 While subscribing will notify you of our new posts, liking our new Facebook Page will add a whole new element of fun for you! We’ll be sharing what we are working on, all kinds of little things, be able to better interact with you, share great links to other blogger’s projects and ideas we think you’d love, as well as some things we’ve shared before that you may have missed. And….my random thoughts, which can be rather interesting all by themselves sometimes! That, and so much more. The activity on our all new Facebook Page is going to be really kicked up a notch! So if you are on Facebook, LIKE us today, and join the fun with us! We’d hate for you to miss out on all of that, and it’s such a great place to connect, with YOU!

WHY? WHAT IS COMING UP AT THE NEW HOUSE?

Well, a lot of the same kind content we’ve been sharing, with lots of photos as always. But more of it! Perhaps some different presentation, and style to my blogging. We will be all over the social networks now, and we’re sure you’re going to love all that is coming:

Tasty recipes for you and your family to try.
Farmhouse / Home decor that may inspire you.
Our unique home improvements and furniture projects that make farmhouse-style house a home!
What’s being created in our art studio!
New fun crafts with step by step directions, for you or your kids.
Homeschooling chit-chat.
Chickens!
Our occasional personal celebrations and fun.
Thoughts on parenting, self, life & faith.
. . . . . . and more.

All in all, we are planning on a whole lot of content that we invite you to just enjoy reading about, sharing, or using as an inspirational spring-board, for yourself!

And don’t forget! We have nearly 4 years of archives on all of these topics, to look back through as well!

BUT WAIT!! THERE’S MORE!!
(I always wanted to say that. lol)

I have really been on a journey of personal growth. It has been a challenging experience at times, but also such beautiful thing. For all of the joy we have felt in our life, I feel it all blossoming even more. God is never done with us, is He? I am growing, and seeking growth, in many ways. And while this is in many areas of my life, I am positive it will all carry over and be reflected in our blog. I am also positive, you will all help me along, with your words of wisdom, and encouragement, that I am certain you will share. In fact, I am counting on it! Because, although I am still contemplating how I want to go about this, I believe I’ll be venturing into new territories, in some topic content. A series, so t0 speak, with deeper personal topics, that I am sure many out there will be able to relate to, in some way. Not too heavy. It’ll be a good thing. I don’t want to say too much, because I am still a little scared! It’s QUITE out of my personal comfort zone. But, I am thinking it through, praying on it, and I hope you’ll stick around to encourage me, if I dip my toe in the water! ; )

ONE THING IS FOR SURE, FRIENDS! . . . . . .

It’s going to be a ride at the HOUSE!! You are going to see things changing and growing, all of the time! And we sincerely invite you all, to come along with us! Share in it with us, and bring your own special touches with you! Invite your friends, to the HOUSE too! YOU are why we have grown so much! YOU are why we have felt so encouraged to keep making (Our) House Of Joyful Noise be all that it can be! So be sure to stay with us, or join us starting today!! Please go hit those pretty buttons at the top in the header of the blog, and subscribe to this all new blog, and/or follow us on our all new Facebook Page! It’s a new blog here, so most of those subscribed before must subscribe again, to stay with us! It depends on how you subscribe, but why take the chance to miss us? ; ) We’ll see you around! But before you go, please say hello and let us know how you like the new House Of Joyful Noise! (We’d love your honest feedback!)

-Laura & Family!)

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How We Used a Unique Medium to Letter/Embellish Our ‘Doors To Storage’! (A Tutorial)

October 27, 2011 By Laura 5 Comments

09_wood-monogram-214x300

Our Doors to Storage home project, has been a bigger hit than we ever dreamed! I’ve even run across it on Pinterest a few times now! CraZy-Ness! Well, we knew there would be people who thought it was a pretty cool idea, out there somewhere. But we’re glad so many have loved it, and what’s more, have been inspired to make some benches and shelves, using old doors, in their home. Sharing and inspiring is what ‘s all about, people! Love it!

07_bench-message
That project post was big enough as it was, so we told you were would share how we went about embellishing the bench with lettering in a future post, and this is it! : ) I apologize that it took a little while here. The last quarter of the year gets a little busier with my photography business (in addition to our normal schooling & practice/game schedules and l i f e.) It’s a fine line between keeping the blog going, and getting fired by my clients. ; ) But you know I always come back around. Thanks for sticking with us.

The first lettering was to be applied on the inside of the bench, to be seen when the bench seat was open.

To start, we laid out our lettering in a design program in the computer, and cut a mask out. Michael has been a letterer (of large company trucks, signs, boats and windows) since we met (in art school.) So he has a program of his own, and a huge plotter/cutter machine. But I know many of you crafters have similar little machines now. (Silhouettes, Cricuts, etc). This can be done with that equipment as well.

After weeding the letters out of low-tack vinyl we used, and covering it with transfer tape, Michael peeled off the backing and applied the mask centered, onto the inside of bench panel.

I wanted the lettering itself, to be subtle-ish. Under-stated, and worn-looking. So rather than painting in the lettering, I had the idea to try using something in a whole new way…..

Annie Sloan Waxes. Both the Clear and Dark.

First, with a soft old t-shirt, we rubbed a thin layer of the clear wax all over the cut out letters of the mask, and really rubbing back off, all we could. The reason we did this, is because we didn’t want the dark wax to overly stain the white door, to a point that it came out too dark and unable to remove. Applying and rubbing off the clear wax, would allow us to control how much of the dark we rubbed off. Because again, we wanted it light and subtle lettering.

Then, we applied the dark wax. But this time, as we applied it, we did so in one slanted direction, to try to (and try is the key word in this project, lol…) simulate light. We really used very little dark wax, pretty much trying to wipe most of it back off. We also intentionally had darker and lighter areas of lettering.

Then we carefully removed the masking, and this is how it came out! So why the inside of the bench, you may be asking?

The quote is a message specifically for our kiddos. A subliminal message of sorts, for our kids to read and remember, every time they get their shoes. (And if they know what is good for them…..put them away too. ; ) Now who’s quote is it? Apparently, it’s something Christopher Robin once said to Pooh Bear. Now I’m all for quoting and giving credit to the authors of such wise words. But, let’s be honest here. Christopher Robin is not real, and neither is Pooh Bear. (I hope I didn’t just ruin anyone’s reality saying that out loud. Yikes!). The thing is, I just didn’t want it to say “Christopher Robin” on my bench. You know? I’m not hiding, that he said it first. I’m admitting it right here and now. I just didn’t want to complicate the power of the message, with such….characters. It is indeed wise words though, that I would like my children to remember. So I am borrowing them.

Thanks, Chris.

07_bench-message
Of course, we wanted to have some lettering design on the outside, as well. This time, we did so on the panels of the front of the bench.

In the first smaller, more square-ish panel, we very simply monogrammed with our last name initial.

Continuing to use the same techniques, beginning to end, this is the saying we chose for the longer, more rectangular panel. It was so hard, choosing which quote/saying, to use! There were so many I wanted to. But we had to keep in mind others coming into our home and reading what it said as well, (lol…), and we had to narrow the options down to one. This was the one that won.

True ‘Dat!

11_unique-storage-bench A look at the entire front, complete.

I like it, I like it! You?

We’ve had our storage bench now for a couple of months, so we can officially say, it has worked out really really well! It’s been the perfect solution for us, actually, to keep our daily-used family shoe collection in (out of sight), and the shelving next it has been so efficient for our school supplies. The door-knobs have been handy and quick for the kid to hang up their outerwear, as well. Overall, it was not only a big, fun project, but we think it all adds another unique feature to our home, and the lettering just further personalizes it.

So, now that we’ve tested this new idea out, you can consider wax, as another medium option, for subtle lettering/designing some surfaces. I think it really has a nice tea-stained look to it, on this project, that’s appealing.

Have you ever used a medium, in a different manner, than it’s actual purpose? What was it, and how did it come out? Tell us about it! (And share a link, if you’ve got one!)

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