Treasure #28- SUMMER

As a teacher I really look forward to the 2 months I have off- that is my time to get all of my "projects" done. . .although I never do get them all done, it is fun to have the time to get some done and come up with others =]

This summer my project that I have begun and finished were 12 x 12 canvas collages of Daniel and I for every year we've been married.  We will add new ones at the end of each year and it will be like a Downs Family timeline.

Here's how I did it:

First- I designed a collage of each year we were married- some years I was better at getting photos taken then others, so I had to beg around to get some-

Second- I sent these prints off to persnicketyprints.com They had them printed 20 minutes after I uploaded them and in the mail.  I got them the next day!  I was glad that I had purchased 7 canvses at JoAnn's before hand so I could get right to it =]

Next was the putting together bit:

 All the needed ingredients to make these awesome canvas pictures!  Wahoo!

 Smooth modge podge all over the canvas top.  Nice and smooth and even.

 Place the picture on top of the sticky surface and make sure it's even with your canvas.

 I flipped mine over to make sure that the picture would stick to the surface really well.

 And then added some weights on the back to make sure that it had some good pressure to stick.

 After you let it dry about 20 minutes then you need to add a layer of modge podge on top of the pic to seal it.  Don't worry it will dry clear.

Then this is what it looks like when they are all dry and ready to go up. . . =]

 

 

TA DA!  All done and up. . .now to make it look even on the wall I need December to be here. . .but I shall be patient!

Super fun. . .and I really love it.  Daniel asked what we will do when we have more years. . .well.. . I hope it's a long timeline that we can have throughout our house.

Treasure #27- Roses

My sweet Daniel bought me roses in celebration of our being together for 8 years.  I love how these have stripes in them.  Aren't they gorgeous?  I also took these pics with my new camera. . .pretty cool.

Treasure #26- RAIN

I have always loved RAIN!! I was the companion who walked the streets of GA without an umbrella.  I love walking in it, dancing in it, and yes even singing in it!  I don't really know what it is that I love so much about it.  Well, that's not entirely true- I do love the smell of RAIN!!
I love how it's makes things clean and fresh!  I love getting soaked to the bone and just enjoying it drizzle down my face.  Maybe it's because I am from the desert and so rain is a rare and beautiful thing . . . I love the RAIN!

Revamp of the Treasures =]

Okay- so when I first planned to start this blog I had every intention of finding something to take a pic of every day and write how it is a treasure in my life.  I have noticed however that sometimes I am just feeling the pressure- just wanting to check it off my list and I don't feel that everything is as genuine and sincere as I like.  Due to this I am no longer giving myself the daily task.  I want this to be meaningful and insightful to those I love.
So some new stipulations are that NOT every post has to have pictures, and does NOT have to happen daily.
Having said that. . .I feel better about things =]

Treasure #25- Game Night

Photo courtesy of White House Photography

For the past couple of months Daniel and I have been inviting people to our house for an adult only night of games.  Games are a great way to break the ice and get to know other people.   Our first night we had 2 couples show up, and my sweet baby sister.  This time we had three couples show up and my sweet baby sister.  We have really learned to look forward to game night.  The real problem is if we get too many people there it will be too big for us to all play the same game, but that should be okay, right?  My great grandma and grandma used to say "Where there is heart room, there is house room."  Well, Dan and I have plenty of heart room- so I suppose everyone will fit.

Let me know if you wanna come- loads of fun and I'm a yellow so you know how important that is to me =]

Treasure #24- Japan

Today we went to the Japanese Festival that they have downtown every year.  This year was different in two ways- 1- it was rainy pretty much the whole time and so it wasn't crowded like usual.  2- my new sis in-law who is new to America from Japan was there.  We went into the Buddha shrine and sat there for a moment.

 Oh, and there were hi-chews there- ABSOLUTE treasure!!!  If you haven't had a chance to try these they are like a star-burst- but better- they last longer and are chewier.

This Kanji says great mercy.   I think we all need great mercy.  I have loved what I have learned and continue to learn about this great culture.  I love that it is something that makes Daniel unique and that he is proud of his heritage!

Treasure #23- Bowling

Tonight we were going to go to the tulip festival!  I've always wanted to go, but unfortunately the weather was against those plans. . .so we went bowling instead.  SO FUN!  Now we went to The All-Star lanes which is actually kind of a rip off but we had fun anyway!

The thing I find as a real treasure is that it doesn't manner how well you bowl it is ALWAYS fun!!!  I was the loser of the night but it didn't damper my spirits, it was so fun to just throw a heavy ball at helpless little pins at the end of the alley.