Love Begins with Family printable Mother's Day card plus a gift for mom

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hallmark Jewelry for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.


I never realized how much my life was going to change when I became a mom. I was young when my oldest son was born, only 20. When you are 20 your life still very much revolves around you. My decisions were driven by what I wanted to do and what I needed but as soon as that baby was placed in my arms it was no longer about me. I didn't just become a mom that day, we became a family.

It's true what they say that once you become a mother you begin to appreciate your own mother and their sacrifices for you. I know I hear stories about how I didn't sleep for the first three years of my life. Well, I got payback because I had one of those kids myself! 

Becoming a mom allowed me to see my mom with new eyes. The eyes were sometimes strained with exhaustion, sometimes worry and oftentimes pride, but my new eyes could see the compassion. I don't know if you can fully realize quite how much your mom loves you until you have your own child. There is something about experiencing and knowing that mother's love that you just didn't know before.
Love begins with family.

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Free Printable Flower Vases that you can Color for May day or Mother's Day or Anyday

When I was a small child, I remember celebrating May day. As kids, we pretty much had the run of the neighborhood. My friends and I would pick whatever flowers we could find, tie them together and knock on the door of our neighbors as we ran away giggling. The flowers were a sweet thing for our neighbors to find on their doorstep and it was a fun thing for us to do as kids. 

It's so fun for me to find flowers on our door from the little neighbor girl across the street now. It reminds me of those sweet childhood days celebrating May day.  Which is why I made up these fun paper flower vases that you can print off and use to celebrate May day or Mother's Day or just because. They are so easy and you or the kids can color in the blank vases to create a special treat for those you love.

free printable coloring flower vase for Mother's day or May day with or without a Bible verse
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All About My Mom free printable questionaire

There is nothing cuter than having your young child answer questions about someone who is close to them. I still go back and read the answers that my kids wrote about me when they were in pre-school. Which is why I put together a free all about my mom printable that you can use for your kids to capture their answers.  I promise you, your older kids will look back on it and get a chuckle too.


This would be something sweet to help kids do for their mom's for Mother's Day, or it would be fun just because.


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25 free or inexpensive things you can give your mom on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just around the corner. As a mom of three kids that are growing up far too fast, I thought that I would make a list of the top 25 free or inexpensive gifts that you can give your mom on Mother's Day. I promise you, these are all under $10 so they will fit into any budget.  

Honestly, what I had in mind when I wrote this are things that I would appreciate getting from my own kids. Long gone are the days when their teachers helped them create a sweet card or created me an art project in class. My kids are on their own now. This is the perfect list for a teenager or a young twenty something to keep in mind, so make sure you share it with them.

25 free or inexpensive ideas for things you can do for your mom on Mother's Day perfect for the teen or college kid

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Project Fail Sometimes Things Don't Go Like You Plan

Sometimes projects don't always turn out the way that you think that they will. Bloggers don't always showcase their failures but I promise you, we have days where things don't turn out the way we envision them either. So I'm showing you one of my most recent fails.
Blogger failure with greenery for a live wreath

On the left, you will see the inspiration for my project. It's lovely. I saw it on the Magnolia Market blog and not even a day later I found some greenery that had been marked down at my local grocery store. With all the supplies in hand, I set to work, but somewhere something went wrong!

Spring greenery wreath fail




At our local grocery store, we have a section with markdowns. Being the thrifty shopper that I am, I always check that section before I leave. Sometimes I find marked down flowers, sometimes I find baked goods {they freeze}, this time, I found some greenery that had been marked half price.

Perhaps my first mistake was taking already dying greenery and leaving it on my counter for nearly a week before working with it.

Regardless, I had the supplies on hand {wire wreath form from the dollar store, floral wire and dikes} and set to work.


The collage tutorial from Magnolia Market blog looked easy enough.

Magnolia Market spring greenery wreath

As I got started it felt like things were going according to plan. But then they didn't. The branches just didn't look as peppy as the Magnolia Market branches {I figured it was because I was using a different kind of greenery} and when the wreath was flat, it seemed like I could squint and make it look OK, but once I picked it up, it was so not OK.


I kept on truckin' and hung it up on my cabinet hoping I could shape it up a bit.  Maybe tuck a branch in here or there and make it look better.

Spring greenery wreath fail

I could not.

Spring greenery wreath fail

There you have it. My project fail. Not everything turns out the way I want it to and some days I have projects that just weren't worth my time.

Spring greenery wreath fail

I do still love this wreath and the Magnolia Market tutorial so I'm not totally defeated just yet. I may steer clear of the clearance section at the grocery store for my greenery if I want to try it again.

Magnolia Market spring greenery wreath

So tell me I'm not the only one with a project fail. I would even love to see them. If you post them to social media tag me {@holycraftblog} and use #craftfail.
dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!
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Fixer Upper-Mansion Edition: Follow a Young Couple on Their Journey to Rehabbing a Historic Home

I spent the first ten years of my life growing up in a small town in Indiana. The home we lived in was built in 1860. Brick houses were common and I fell in love with the charming details old homes have that you just can't find in new construction.  I went back to that small town recently and met up with my childhood best friend, who grew up in a beautiful Craftsman home across the street from me. Her youngest brother and his new bride recently purchased a brick home at auction that I remember admiring when I was a kid. 

Fixer Upper mansion edition-follow a young couple on the journey as they restore a historic home in Indiana

The house the couple refers to as "The Mansion" is close to the town square. As kids we would often ride our bikes past it and I remember loving the statuesque qualities of the home. I never got a glimpse inside as a kid but always wanted to. It's exciting now to know the current owners Christian and Dea. Dea is willing to take us along on the ride as this newlywed couple renovates and restores this fixer upper. 

I think you are really going to enjoy seeing the restoration process in a series of blog posts. While you may not be brave enough to take on a historic home renovation {I know I wouldn't be!}, seeing this historic home come back to life is going to be fun. I promise you, you are going to love Dea's style! There will be DIY's, tutorials, and glimpses inside the process of this fixer upper.  But first, let's find out why this young couple wanted to take on an old home and what their vision is for it. Don't miss out on the first big reveal. You are going to love seeing this couples completed foyer!

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Easy to make Hand Stamped Jewelry even a Beginner Can Make

Personalized and handmade gifts are some of my favorite gifts to give and receive. I love how much meaning they have behind them. I love the look of hand stamped jewelry but I know many of you may be too intimidated to give it a try. I have an easy tutorial for you that even the most novice crafter can do.

Easy to make hand stamped jewelry even a beginner can make

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Easy to Make Brass Tie Wrap Bracelet

Bracelets are probably my favorite accessory. I don't know why, but I love having arm candy. A few months ago when I stopped in at Magnolia Market in Waco, one of the things I bought was a brass tie leather bracelet. I loved the simplicity of it and that it could go with any outfit dressed up or dressed down. 

Easy to make brass tie leather wrap bracelet

When I have something that I love, I can't just have one of them, so when I saw the supplies at my local craft store to make my own brass tie wrap bracelet, I picked them up. It took me less than two minutes {seriously} to make this bracelet. Find out how you can make your own.
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How to Clean Your Jetted Tub

Inside: How to clean a jetted jacuzzi tub.


Let me start by saying this is a first world post answering the hard-hitting needs of those of us struggling with how to clean our jetted Jacuzzi tub, which is clearly a first world problem. I feel like there are indeed issues in this world that demand more attention than this, but alas, my home came with a jetted tub and this really is a struggle of mine and perhaps it's a struggle of yours as well.  I really thought I would love having a jetted tub and don't get me wrong it is nice to soak in. But if there is one thing I can say to people who are building trying to decide if they should splurge and get the Jacuzzi, it is don't do it! 

how to clean your jetted tub



I never in a million years would have thought it would be as difficult as it is to keep the tub clean. After five years in our home, I think I have finally found the best way how to clean your jetted tub. So if you are like me and happen to have a jetted tub in your home, read on. This little homemade cleaning solution just might be the trick you need to help you clean your tub.

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How to Make Zipper Bracelets




I've been blogging for a really long time. {I think blog years are similar to dog years.} Through those years I've created a lot of projects. Some of those projects just haven't gotten the love that I think that they deserve. Many have barely been seen, because when I wrote them I had like four people reading my blog. I have a few new readers and I don't want my new friends to miss out on some of these projects because I think they are pretty stellar, so I'm refreshing some of them. I'm bringing them out of the archives for you to enjoy.  Coincidentally, I'm conveniently leaving some of those not so great projects hidden in the archives. You can find them on your own but boy oh boy I'm not bringing them back into the light! Some of those need to get buried far deep down {ahem...pipe cleaner tree} and never seen again. 

I'm starting with this zipper bracelet tutorial because I love my arm candy and because these bracelets cost me next to nothing, which is my favorite price for a project.

Easy to make zipper bracelet tutorial

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How to Make your Own Drop Cloth Banner

How to Make your Own Drop Cloth Banner

I'm always on the look out for easy to make projects that don't cost a whole lot of money to create. I picked up an inexpensive drop cloth from our local Home Depot with the idea of making a banner months ago. I just hadn't gotten around to it until I found a sign hanger at our local dollar store. You all know how much I love the dollar store and finding that hanger was the kick in the pants I needed to get creative and get sewing! 

I'm so glad I did, because I love how it turned out. I created a few banners and the drop cloth is large enough to make many more banners for any season or occasion. Each banner took me about ten minutes to make. It's a project that is easy to tackle during nap time. 

How to create a drop cloth banner
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Therapeutic Heated Corn Bag Tutorial

About a month ago, I was in a pretty major car accident. I was rear ended from behind while I was stopped. Let me tell you, whiplash is a real thing and it's something I deal with on a daily basis.  For weeks, I ice and heat, heat and ice. I can't tell you how very thankful I am that I had some of my handmade therapeutic corn bags at home. They have been a lifesaver! But they aren't just for accident recovery! We tuck them into the bottom of the bed before we go to sleep at night, we snuggle up with them under a blanket when we can't seem to get warm, I use them under my bowl when I'm trying to raise my yeast rolls. Every single person in my family has one and all of us use them daily.

You may have seen these bags made with rice, I use corn. I think that it holds in the heat better and for much longer. You can also place these corn bags in the freezer. They stay cold just as well as they stay hot. 

How to make a therapeutic heated corn bag

These heated corn bags really are a family favorite and since my accident they have been a necessity. I can't wait to share the tutorial with you so that you can make your very own. Or, if making them isn't your thing, I have a great friend who has a small business and she makes them. You can find out how you can purchase a Hot Sack from her and her company.

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DIY Book Page Eggs

DIY Book Page Eggs


Do you remember my easter egg fail last week?


I posted about it and then threw the eggs away. Well, I didn't my husband did. After some very nice comments from a few readers, I decided to attempt a take 2. So I literally dug them out of the trash as the trash truck was in my neighbors driveway! Talk about a close call.


I took them in and ripped out a few pages from my old Guinness Book of World Records and then mod podged away. I put a few in a galvanized bucket,


And a few in my laundry room inside this nest I bought last year at a garage sale.



So much better than my first attempt! I'm so glad I dug them out of the trash.

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Simple Tips to Help You Organize Your Kitchen Drop Zone

Simple Tips to Help You Organize Your Kitchen Drop Zone

I don't know about you, but there is something about the start of the new year that makes it the perfect time to tackle a home organization project. Once I take down the Christmas decorations and our busy schedule slows down a bit I can finally breathe and take on some of those things that I have been ignoring. I have a desk in my kitchen that has become a sort of catch all. Papers the kids bring home, coupons I want to use, do-dads that probably go to something I'm just not sure what, all make a home in this area. I know most people have a junk drawer in their home, I have a junk desk. This is our kitchen drop zone. We all have one. A drop zone is an area, that when left unattended, will gradually take over. I decided to tackle this area that I had been neglecting and I'm sharing some organizational tips that I discovered along the way.


Several years ago, my husband installed built-in's in my closet. Organization doesn't come easily to me. I tend to be a shut the door and forget about it kind of person. But I did find that after my closet built-ins were installed and I had designated places for all of my things,  I suddenly became more organized. The problem with this desk and cabinet is that there just isn't any designated place where things go. I finally think I've instituted some organizational tips that will help keep my kitchen drop zone looking clean and organized.  Let's take a look at the side by side.

 
The cabinet above my desk has turned into our candy/cookbook/Idon'tknowwhereelsetoputit cabinet. The kids go to a party, they put their goody bag on a shelf. Candy gifts from Christmas find their way into a box or bin. Empty wrappers abound next to overflowing cook books with broken spines and random chargers and I swear nearly every single felt pad made for floor protection found it's home in this cabinet. We had taken to just shoving things on the shelf and closing the door real fast and hope that nothing fell out! Underneath the shelves, I have open cubbies. I "thought" I was organized because I found some plastic bins that fit in each cubby but really, each cubby just contained clutter and trash better.

The problem with disorganization is that you just don't know what you have and then you end up either going without, spending time you don't have looking for the missing item or spending more money to replace something that works perfectly well. I don't even want to talk about the drawers! It had gotten to the point that we didn't even attempt to open up these drawers because we knew we couldn't find anything in them any way. They were stuffed full of mechanical pencils with no lead, pencils that weren't sharpened, pens that didn't work and five tape dispensers because I kept buying tape rolls never finding one when I needed it.

Organizational tip number one: keep, donate, trash

This was an overwhelming task to tackle but it needed to be done. I started by cleaning out the drawer. I had a bag for things I wanted to keep, one to donate and another for throwing away. I removed the drawers and was able to dump the extra junk into the trash bag.


I used the AutoRight SteamMachine to blast away all the left over gunk and grime. I know, I know, AutoRight sounds like something you use for your car.  It is! Who doesn't love a good product that can work double duty? You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars getting your car detailed when you can detail your car at home.  Not only can you clean your car with it, you can also use the SteamMachine for cleaning inside the house. I love how the steam works to clean without too much effort. I simply blast the area I'm cleaning with the steam and then wipe out the mess. No need to use any chemicals. The only thing I use to clean is steam so it's safe for the whole family.


Organizational tip number two: start small


Once you get started and see the progress, you will probably get motivated to keep going. Thankfully, seeing the progress happens pretty quickly when you are working with steam!

I have several different types of stone surfaces in and around my desk. There is granite on the desktop and travertine surrounding.  There are different care recommendations for both, but the one thing that is universal is that I can use steam to clean them both.  There are some chemicals that aren't recommended for cleaning, so I play it safe and use steam to clean them.


I don't want to totally gross you out, but I even got underneath my desk and used the AutoRight SteamMachine on the trim. 


Next up, I cleaned out the upper cabinet shelves and set to work on getting those cleaned.


I have no idea what this mystery stain was but it completely went away with just a little steam. Seriously. You know how your parents always told you when you clean you need to put a little elbow grease into it? Nope. Not with the SteamMachine!


Organizational tip number three: keep it simple

I knew that the cabinet couldn't go back to the horrible unorganized state that it was in before. But I also knew that my kids {OK, me} couldn't handle a complicated organized system and since I'm always one to want to use what I have on hand, I took out some boxes I have been hoarding saving. I made sure they fit in the shelves and then got met with another problem. The hot pink boxes don't really "go" in our kitchen. I remembered some wrapping paper that I had and decided to wrap my new storage boxes in some of that. 


I would recommend using a really heavy weight paper so that it holds up well over time. I started by cutting the lid off of my box. Then, I cut a piece of paper that was a bit wider than the side of the box that I was covering. Place your paper down on the front of the box and start creasing it. Again, heavy weight paper will give you the best creases and once you crease it, it will be much easier to work with. Follow the creases and fold the bottom edges in like you are wrapping a package. I held the paper with tape from one of those rolls of tape that I found in the drawer. I continued wrapping the box. I cut on the creased fold at the top so both edges would fold nicely into the inside of the box.


I can't believe what a difference it makes and since I used what I had on hand, this organizational project didn't cost me anything. You know what else made a big difference? Those faux drawer fronts. Yep, faux. They are totally fake! I'm showing you how to make them on my blog so once your done reading about how to organize your catch all cabinet, come on over and read how you can make faux drawer fronts.


Organizational tip number four: get rid of any extras

I couldn't believe how many things we had that we didn't need and how it's so much easier to find everything in the drawer now that we have gotten rid of all the multiple items.  After taking inventory of the items I had, I thinned out my supply. Donate the items you don't need that are still in good working order. Think of local organizations that could benefit from your surplus. 


Organizational tip number five: store like things together


Once you have the items that you want to keep, sort the like items together. I have all my pens, pencils and office supplies in one drawer, while the other drawer now has all my adhesives and cutting supplies.


Your kitchen drop zone will always be a place where clutter will quickly gather. With these five simple organizational tips, you should be on your way to taming that clutter as it happens.



disclaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Rachel Teodoro. Thank you!
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How to Know if Your Child is Ready for a Pet


This post was sponsored by PetSmart through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about PetSmart, all opinions are my own.

I don't know what it is, but there is a certain age that kids hit that they just start begging for pets. Maybe there is a class in school that they teach called "you need a pet or your childhood will be ruined" or maybe it's just something that is innate, but whatever it is, I think every child at some point in their childhood asks for some kind of animal.
For my youngest son it was a fish. Which really is quite fitting because we joke that Owen is part fish anyway. Owen is drawn to the water. He just seems to find comfort there. 

Last summer we couldn't deny his desire to have an aquarium and after promising that he would take care of the tank himself, we realized that he did indeed seem like he would stand true to his promise and we allowed him to get a fish tank. Not one to be excluded, my daughter set up her own much smaller tank with a Betta fish. 

So how will you know if your child is ready for a pet? I have a few questions that you can ask yourself that might help you decide if your child is ready for the responsibility of a pet.

How to know if your child is ready for a pet, some simple questions to ask yourself

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Must Have Items for Spring

The sun has finally come out here in the Seattle area. It's crazy how a little sunshine can lift people's spirits and I immediately start to think of how I can spend the maximum amount of time outside that I can. I've collected some of my favorite must have items for spring. I've got a great book for you to read, a refreshing drink for you to try and some other fun items that will lift your spirits and get you ready for long days, warm sun and family time.

Must have items for spring
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Fun April Fool's Day Surprise for Kids

Fun April Fool's Day Surprise to Play on Your Kids


I saw this fun April Fools day gag on Come Together Kids and knew I had to make this!



I found this potted meat at the dollar store 3/$1. Not quite sure why it was that expensive because that stuff is nasty! Do people really eat this? I sent these off with my kids to school today. Not sure if they will be fooled or not!
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