Gifts – A Diamond in the Stuff

Baseball Cross Coach Gift

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:00:49 +0000

My son has fallen in love. It happens in many young boy’s lives. That would be, the love of baseball. He has fallen completely in love with the game. Luckily he had a really great group of coaches this past season. I wanted to thank them for all the time and love they put into working with these little boys! I had several ideas rolling around in my head until I decided on this Baseball Cross Coach Gift.

Here are the supplies that I started with:

Baseball

Wood plaque

Wood Stain

Red embroidery thread

X-acto knife

Foam brush

The first step is to take the baseball apart. I used my super sharp x-acto knife and cut in-between the stitching of the baseball. Please be very very careful with this step, take your time, and cut one thread at a time! We don’t need any stab wounds during this project!!!

As you cut through all of the stitching, the leather will start to pull away from the yarn wrapped center of the ball. There will also be little red threads all over the place.

Continuing cutting the thread until both of the leather strips can be removed from the ball. Side note: Did you ever know what the inside of a baseball looked like? Now ya do! Remove all of the cut up old red threads and throw them away.

Now we need to replace the red thread (I know, seems counterproductive to remove it only to replace it but stay with me). I used a large needle and bright red embroidery thread to weave through the pre-existing holes in the leather strips.

I “sewed” the baseball edges much like I would if I was hand sewing the edge of something. I followed the direction of where the previous thread had been, went all the way around each strip, and then knotted the ends on the “back” side.

Meanwhile, I took my wood plaque that I bought at the craft store and stained it “special walnut” by Minwax.

I was unsure what I should use to glue down the leather strips in the shape of a cross but I ended up going with hot glue. Don’t mind my horribly messy hot glue gun. It really should be replaced but we’re been through so much together and we’ve only had a few little run ins.

The hot glue seemed to work perfectly. I just took extra time to make sure that I glued everything down facing the “right” ways. Looking good right?

The last step was to add a vinyl quote (which is of course a bible verse). I cut some white vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo and placed it at the bottom of my stained plaque.

The new stitching looks perfect and you wouldn’t even know it wasn’t the original. Without it I think the leather wouldn’t stand out as much as it does. I mean, what’s a baseball without the iconic stitching right?

I thought the verse was perfect for the occasion and more versatile than a “thank you Coach….” thing. Hopefully this is something my son’s coaches can display in their homes as a huge reminder of the joy they help to bring these little boys.

In the end the project is pretty inexpensive, it takes some time to create but overall the project isn’t too difficult. My hope is that the coaches will really appreciate their gifts!!! What are some great coach gifts you have???

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Looking for another awesome BASEBALL project? I have a full tutorial up on how I created these super cute baseball signs…..

End of School Ideas

Courtney Carmean — Thu, 22 May 2014 10:00:58 +0000

Today is the last day of school for my kiddos. Seriously how can that be possible??? This school year is a blur. My youngest graduated from Kindergarten this year and I’m feeling very…..proud and a bit sad. I feel like this school year needs to be celebrated, the kids achieved so much this year!

Here are some awesome ways to celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer….

“Run through” beginning of summer banner from The Poe Fam.

End of year class favors by The Crafted Sparrow.

Last day of school signs from Chickabug.

The Crafting Chicks created this Summer fun list ideas.

Super cute first and last day of school photos by How Does She.

Summer schedule for kids by Somewhat Simple.

Do you have any awesome end of school celebration ideas? Tell me what you and your kids do celebrate summer…….

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Need some ideas for teacher gifts?

Happy summer!!!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 06 May 2014 10:00:37 +0000

Teacher Appreciation Week is upon us. Can you believe the school year is almost over? My kiddos get out of school in two and a half weeks. Gah and then summer insanity begins!

My kiddos were super blessed with great teachers this year. I volunteered to help out with the gifts for my son’s teacher this week. I decided to put together some fun themed baskets for her and very cute cake too!

We decided to shower his teacher with some school supplies. Now a days it seems like teachers end up forking over their own paycheck to buy things for the class room. Rather than giving her a basket filled with supplies I decided to whip up a cake. A supplies cake.

I used a paper towel roll in the middle of the cake and wrapped it with spiral notebooks. Then I built around that with crayons, pencils, glue bottles, and glue sticks. I secured everything with rubber bands. Surprisingly it was quite sturdy. I added some polka dot ribbon to hide where I had placed the rubber bands. To make transportation easy I bought a cookie sheet at the dollar store to act as the base.

I think it turned out super adorable! Who knew that school supplies could be so cute?!?!

For the rest of the week I put together some themed baskets for her. I made a movie themed basket, a pampering basket, and a summer vacation basket. It was a blast coming up with ideas to fill the baskets, especially on a tight budget.

I hope that my son’s teacher knows how much all her hard work is appreciated and I sure hope she loves all these goodies! How are you celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Check out these other Teacher Appreciation gifts….

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Courtney Carmean — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 10:00:09 +0000

Easter is over and before we know it school will be out. Then we will truly appreciate the role teachers play in our kids life, all summer long we will appreciate them. Towards the end of the school year there is always a time to thank the teachers in our lives. Either during Teacher Appreciation Week or just an end of the school year gift. I wanted to create something special for the kiddos teacher’s this year because I think they have both been amazing to my kids, especially with their transition into a new school and a new way of doing things.

I created these block sayings for the teacher’s desks. I just love the saying! I used a 2×8 board and cut it to a 6in length. I used my Silhouette to cut a file from their store out of vinyl. Then I use the vinyl as a stencil to paint the block. Check out my technique HERE.

I put a pretty polka dot bow around the block to finish it off. I think they turned out adorable and I sure hope that my kid’s teachers know how much they are appreciated!

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I rounded up some other awesome ideas for Teacher Appreciation gifts that I found to inspire you as well……

Teacher’s Clipboard Gift & Tutorial

Printable Thanks “a latte” Gift Card Holder

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas in a Mason Jar

Teacher Cups and Printables

Flower Pot Teacher’s Gift and Free Printable

Vintage Ball Jar Teacher Gift Idea

Which idea do you love best? Do you have an awesome Teacher Appreciation Gift idea? Please share your idea in the comments below!!!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

{Father’s Day} Sports Subway Art

Courtney Carmean — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:00:51 +0000

Father’s Day is just around the corner. Do you have a hard to buy for Dad on your shopping list?

I know I do. My hubby is almost impossible to buy for. If you ask him what he wants it’s almost always “nothing” so then I’m left to get creative. If your looking for a creative way to spoil a daddy in your life why not create some subway art and Sports Subway Art may just be the way to his heart!!!

For the golf lover….

For the basketball lover….

and for the baseball lover….

I had some others that I wanted to create but just didn’t get to with this nasty cold (or whatever) I have. I whipped these up to put in my booth for some Father’s Day gifts. Looking for a tutorial to makes one of these for the dad in your life? Here is my step by step tutorial for creating painted subway art: PAINTED BASEBALL SUBWAY ART.

So what are you getting or making for the father’s on your list this year???

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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The Time to Shine link party is OPEN!

I’d love for you to come link up and check out the other links while your over there!!! Lots of good stuff already linked up!!!

Gifts – A Diamond in the Stuff

Baseball Cross Coach Gift

End of School Ideas

Teacher Appreciation Week

DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Top 10 Posts of 2013

{Father’s Day} Sports Subway Art