Pigtails!!

Lily's hair is finally long enough for PIGTAILS!!

I think they totally fit her personality! Cute girl!

We Love Liberty Park!

Horray for Summer!!

And Horray for bubbles and babies and friends!!

Thinking of Kalaloch...

I really miss home these days. I'm not sure if it's because we are having an unusually wet spring or if it's because I haven't been to Seattle in 7 months. But either way I miss it really bad. I miss my family. I miss the green color that is EVERYWHERE. I miss the smell of the ocean. Did I already say I miss my family??

Anyways.

 One of my favorite places in the NW is Kalaloch. My family and I have been camping there since I was 6 years old. I have so many fond memories of that special place by the sea.

The drive to Kalaloch is about 4 1/2 hours from Seattle.

You know you are getting close when there are 150ft trees all around you.

When you get out of the car and walk down the beach there are the most beautiful rocks ever! They are large round rocks that slide around under you feet.

The views are amazing! For a place that is so rugged it is very, very peacful as well.

Kalaloch is a great place to run around and get dirty!

From the beach you can look back at the forest where the trees tower over the beach.

Once inside the Hoh Forest it is covered in lush moss and ferns.

And the best part is when the sun comes out...it is the best place in the world to get a suntan!

I miss you Washington!

Art Storage and Project Ideas...

My Little Lily has become quite the artist! Her masterpieces were starting to pile up on my desk and I think I finally found a way to keep them safe!

I scored this 3-ring binder at Target the other day.

I love how graphic the print is on the outside cover! And the colors look great in my office!

The only issue I have is that the binder holds 8 1/2 x 11 in paper and Lily's currant art paper is 9 x 12. So I have been trimming her current masterpieces.

I have also been doing a little research into kids craft ideas...Here is a list of great websites!

-The Artful Parent

-Rythm of The Home

-Soule Mama

-Kid-Craft-Project

-CraftZine

-The Crafty Crow

 I have a feeling this summer will be full of Art at the Monsen household!

Also! Here is an update on my paintsample ideas...

I made laminated book marks as Father's Day gifts!

Cute, huh?

Paint Samples...

I have been wanting to use my left over paint samples somehow.

Here are some of the many options I found online!

Paint sample bookmarks! (tutorial here)

Paint sample notebooks. (tutorial here)

Paint samples business card holders. (tutorial here)

Or maybe some cool wall art! (both images found at Pageslap)

Even something super easy as this! (image found at Loving Living Small)

I have a pile of paint samples sitting on my desk right now!! If only I could choose which project to do first!!

Enjoy!

15$ at the Thrift Store...

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to run away for the afternoon to do some thrift store shopping! Here are the pictures of my loot:

The total cost for all of this was 15$!!

50 cents for a yard of vintage corduroy...

1$ each for tins that will be used for Anna's babyshower...

75 cents each for these pottery vases also for Anna's baby shower...

75 cents each for these glass vases also for Anna's baby shower (there is gonna be alot of flowers)...

1$ per box of 12 for these vintage christmas ornaments. They are going to look great on my new white christmas tree!!

And of course books are always a great find at 1$ a piece!

I found "Pottery Barn Bedrooms", "Skippy John Jones", and "Something Special". I also found a Martha Stewart card kit but I can't find a link to it online.

Of course scoring so big at the thrift store makes me want to go everyday!! But I will be good and wait a little while!

Enjoy!

Food Packaging as Art...

This morning I was reading Design Sponge and ran across this picture.

I love how graphic the Danish flour bag is. I think it would make a really cool piece of art in a white frame for the kitchen.

I started googling "Food Packaging Art" and came up with some neat ideas!

This Piece of art is by Andy Warhol.

This wallpaper is made by Studio Nommo.

I love all of these vintage american labels as well!! I found this over at Household Name.

Now if I can convince my big sisters to send me some Danish packaging I can get going on my kitchen artwork!!

Horray for Wheeler Farm!!

I love any "free" activity that I can do with Lily! And today we went to Wheeler Farm for the first time. I took a TON of pictures but I think these are my favorites!

What a fun day!