sign Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Spoonful of Imagination

You are My Sunshine (and finding inspiration)

April 3, 2016 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

The creativity in this world amazes me.

There are times when I’m out or browsing online and I see something that stops me in my tracks. I can’t help but think how beautiful that creation is. I may not need that item, but there is something about the colors, design, uniqueness that caught my attention.

Creativity comes in all different ways, as I mentioned before in this post.

I love being inspired by other artists. Sometimes either the placement of their design, the colors they paired together, the shapes they use spur an idea in me. I found a wrapping paper the other day at TJMaxx that did this to me. I instantly fell in love with the paper and knew I needed to bring it home with me, if only to continued to be inspired by the design.

I wrapped a few presents with it and then taped a piece to the wall. Could wrapping paper be turned into wall paper? This I’m not sure, but I may want to try it.

While the wrapping paper was taped to the wall, I looked at it off and on and thought how much I loved the print. I decided I wanted to try my hand at painting some flowers inspired by this design. I had a base wood sign that I had already built and painted white. It was a blank canvas waiting to be embellished and make into something. I came up with this idea to create a sign off a phrase that I have done a couple of times before (like in this wood sign post), but this time to embellish the sun with flowers inspired by this wrapping paper.

I painted the words, the sun, and then was ready for the fun part. I picked out my own colors for the flowers and just started having fun and painting away.

It was so fun just going for it. I loved laying my colors on top of each other and adding some details to the flowers to add another depth and color to the painting. It took a little while to wait for colors to dry before I could build on them. In between homeschooling and life I would capture a layer or two, so this part of the sign alone took about three days. It was worth it. I love how the sun was so much more fun and unique because of these flowers and to think it was all inspired by a piece of wrapping paper.

I was super nervous to add my rustic touch to the sign after spending so much time painting the flowers. I had a piece of art I loved and I was afraid I might ruin it to sand and stain the whole sign. I wanted to take that risk though. I knew the potential of the sign being even more beautiful with that light rustic/warm touch, so I slowly started sanding my creation very lightly.

After I sanded, I painted on Minwax’s Early American stain and rubbed it off with an old cloth.

I loved what this step did to the sign. My last step was to add the frame and stain it as well. I quickly measured the pieces and nailed them into place. My sign was finished, and I just adore it!

I think it is a beautiful combination of color with a rustic/artsy edge. It’s so fun. This popular phrase has been made into all kinds of signs, but a small piece of wrapping paper helped me create a sign that I had not done/seen before. I love that we can find inspiration in the craziest of places.

There are items that we can expect to find inspiration. Magazines, blog posts, and Pinterest are just few normal places to find inspiration. What are some of the weird ones you have found inspiration?

A worn down barn?

The way a creek trickles over shallow rocks?

Weathered chairs?

What else?

What is something that has inspired a creation of yours?

In a world that is constantly changing, evolving, and inspiration can be found everywhere, I think it is so important to lean into some of that to the next level of depth. Rather than just seeing something you love, figure out why you love it and do something about it. I loved the shapes of the flowers, so I took this inspiration and made something of my own with it. Instead of just looking, I used my hands and made something. Try it!

Thank you so much for joining me here today. If you may be interested in purchasing this sign, please check my shop to see if it is still available.

Their Hearts are Bigger than their Home

December 4, 2015 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

Have you ever been in a moment where the reality of a major life change hits you? It may be your wedding day. It may be a graduation. Maybe it is the birth of a child. It could be the moment your best friend moves away. A new job. These are moments where we realize that life is changing. Sometimes we have a say in those moments and sometimes we don’t. What if you could help change some lives forever for GOOD?

Children in foster care have a chunk of my heart. I will never forget the feelings as we sat in our first training classes. I felt an awakening, as if I was on the brink of doing something I was always made to do. When I think of how I have been wired, there is a piece of me that just beats to be an advocate for these kids. They are innocent. So often their life has been messed up and they are merely the victims. They need hope. They need open arms. They need patience, grace, and a whole lot of love.

We recently said good-bye to the little boy we were loving on. He was with us for four months. When I look back on that experience, there are parts of me that can’t believe we did it. Fostering children is hard. You are dealing with hurting little people trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t make sense. More often than not you are showing them a new world. All they’ve known to be normal…is suddenly gone and there’s new faces in the picture.

It’s hard.

Then you add in appointments, therapies, visits, and numerous other things…it’s just hard. There are several faces that come to mind when I think of our experience, and they kept my head above water.

They saw the hurt in my eyes when I said I was ok.

They told me they were coming to help with the kids for the day.

They brought meals.

They sent me songs and verses.

They hugged me just a little tighter.

They let me cry and they cheered me on.

They watched my kids.

They gave me a playset.

They opened their homes to our craziness.

They cared for a sick one while we were in a hospital with another.

They kept calling me, when I stopped returning calls.

They were angels on earth.

What is often overlooked when thinking of foster care is it takes an army. You do not have to have a child actually live in your home to play a part in helping children in foster care. There are numerous other ways to help and make a difference. I will tell you from my experience, the people who are housing hurting kids…have a hard time asking for help, but they need it.

They need your support.

They need your eyes to see and heart to hear.

They need a break and they need advocates who understand.

These precious souls I call angels on earth. I would not have survived and been able to be in the trenches without help.

Just a little before we took our last boy in, my sister and her husband took in a little foster girl. They slowly learned she was one of five and have worked to get three of her other siblings reunited under their roof. Olivia and Cody are caring for their own two biological girls and now a sibling group of four. They have six kids 6-years-old and younger in their care. They are in the trenches and truly being the hands and feet of Christ.

They need our help.

What was originally approved as an acceptable bedroom placement and living situation has now been deemed not acceptable. They are a young couple. Their hearts are bigger than their home.

It is their heart’s desire to keep these kids united without having to be moved yet again…until it is time for them to go home. Weeks before Christmas, they are in jeopardy of being split up again and having to move and change schools a third time this semester.

A temporary living arrangement has been approved at their home with the understanding that they will start construction process to create an addition very soon. You can help us make this possible.

We can’t all take in a foster child, much less a sibling group of four to love as our own, but we can all help support those that do. These kids are on the brink of being split up. They can’t fight for life together on their own. We are their voice.

Would you consider giving to this Go Fund Me Campaign?

Would you share this post with your community?

Some of us can do a little. Some of us can do a lot. All of us can do something, and every little bit will add up to make a difference.

To help make this fun and add a little incentive for you, I have set up a giveaway. Enter as many ways as you want/can for your chance to win these handmade goodies of mine. This prize pack is valued at $75 and will be shipped right to your doorstep when you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As I recall all of my angels on earth and the ways they helped us through our last foster placement, it excites me to be on the other side of the equation. Please join me and let’s be an overwhelming army of support for the Sing family. Ready… Set… Give! Share! Go!!!

DIY Bookends (what you can make for being a hoarder)

September 26, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Surely I’m not a hoarder, right!? There are things that are easy to throw out. Toys the dogs have chewed on, stained socks with holes, and junk mail… no sweat!

But when it comes to craft supplies and crafting leftovers, you better watch out! I had cut some boards for another project, but I looked down on the floor and saw that my scraps were actually some really cute block type pieces of wood. I had to save and use them for something. It was a must. Well, lucky for all of us that I did, because these little pieces of fire kindling turned into a great little DIY.

I decided I would make some simple heart blocks and books ends. I love the simplicity yet loud message a heart speaks. What a cute little accent these would be on shelves and dressers.

The first step was to sand the pieces so they became smooth with rounded corners. This step is the most critical because the wood goes from looking like a scrap piece of wood to a block. Electric sanders work great, but I like to do this step by hand because I am OCD, and I want them perfect.

I then picked out some fun colors and painted the blocks. Once they were painted on both sides, I cut a heart out of cardboard to create a stencil. I then placed this in the center of my block and painted the heart in.

I ended up creating several different sized heart stencils. This idea for a sign is similar to my ‘you are my sunshine’ sign.

I was pretty happy with how the blocks were turning out, but the second most critical step for me was to rough the blocks up a little. After they were painted, I sanded them to create a little more rustic look. I then sprayed my favorite shiny clear Rustoleum spray paint all over the blocks.

I love how the blocks turned out. To turn some of the larger ones into book ends, I attached a 4″ L bracket to the bottom of two of the blocks.

I think the blocks and bookends turned out so bright and fun. I really like them.

I donated this round of blocks to a fun home decor sale in our town. The profits from this sale help send kids in Zambia, Africa to school! If you are local to Warsaw or Winona Lake, Indiana, please come check out the Hither and Yon sale October 16-17. You can find more details on their Facebook page.

Here is a sneak peek of a few more of my projects that I have also donated. I will try to share more details on these two pieces soon.

I think one of the best gifts we have is the ability to use our gifts for good. What a power. The surprise is that we get something in return. It’s a win-win. I was thrilled to make some creations for a good reason. I just might have to buy one of these blocks back because I really like them.

What do you think? Do you have hard time throwing out craft supplies as well? Are you a craft hoarder as well? Maybe someone should make a reality show about us. What have you created out of your scraps?

Be Creative

May 23, 2014 By Erica Deuel 3 Comments

Creativity is a complex idea. I think most people think of creativity as literally pulling out craft supplies and creating something awesome. Creativity can look different, and that is something I have been learning. I like how Wikipedia defines the word CREATIVE: “a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is created (such as an idea, a joke, an artistic or literary work, a painting or musical composition, a solution, an invention etc.). The ideas and concepts so conceived can then manifest themselves in any number of ways…”

When we said “yes” to our foster son, we were saying “no” to other things. Having three boys so close together and a dramatic three-year little girl keeps us busy. My boys are 7, 5, and 5. So, you can imagine the competitiveness that can arise on a daily basis. The Nerf gun wars that run around our house have picked up in frequency. The impromptu wrestling matches have me looking into referee jerseys. When they all roll out on their bikes, it’s like a miniature motorcycle gang has invaded our street.

It is amazing and I would not have it any other way, but it can be tiresome and hard as well.

In the moments where I wonder how many times I have said “please, stop arguing” and “we use our muscles to protect,” I question if I can do this. Do I have what it takes to love, care, nurture and protect these four hearts through this world. The truth is I do not.

I need Jesus and only the love that he can bring. Our foster son goes through a wave of different emotions on what seems like an hourly basis. As soon as I think I have figured out the root causes of his actions, something happens that throws off all of my thinking. It’s like God is saying “don’t try to understand my plans, just trust me in the journey,” so we hold fast and are constantly checking our hearts and words on keeping this perspective. I like plans, I like knowing what to expect, I hate surprises. So, I am being stretched. And you know what? It’s good.

God is in control of our lives. He has my kids in the palm of his hand, and he is their protector. I do my best, but then I am reminded I am not their Savior. In all my deep talks, I was reminded the other week that some of my well thought out and intentional moments with the kids may not even be the most meaningful things. In a moment of exasperation of asking, pleading, and enduring an unusual amount of timeouts, I asked my foster son what was going on. I will never forget what he said. He said, “I think I need some Jesus music”. It still brings tears to my eyes as I replay this story.

That is something I say and quickly turn on Pandora or pop in a CD when I am tired and feel anger and frustration in my heart. He must see it, but that is never something that I would have thought that could have transferred to him. Kids really are sponges.

I say all this to say, I am learning that being creative might not be limited to actually making, creating something with all my supplies.

It might be the words or actions we use to teach our kids how to navigate through this world.

It might be the way we organize our time or our method of getting groceries into the house.

It might be how we get food on the table or nutritious food in their bellies period.

It might be how we share to make it through the day. (you don’t have any socks? Borrow some from your brother)

It might be the way we learn to accept help and stretch ourselves outside what is our norm.

Creativity is a complex thing, that doesn’t always included art supplies, and I believe you have it inside of you too!

I made this sweet little sign to hang in my office as a daily reminder that I can be creative right where I am now. In the moments where kids are my entire day, I can still be creative.

I was looking at the clock the other day and realized how I better take this picture quickly or the sunlight would be gone. So, I used some Lemon Heads as an incentive and got all four kids lined up and eager for their picture to be taken. As I saw them standing there I realized a) two were standing in a puddle in socks b) one had not been obedient and changed into a new play outfit instead of pjs c) one was still wearing her soppy wet clothes from playing in the rain. I sighed knowing this was not ideal but was thankful to just get them standing still all together for a picture.

Now, when I look back I wouldn’t have the picture any other way. It sums up where I am at. Four cute, sweet kids that I love and adore and we are not perfect but doing the best we can to remember love is patient and God is not through with any of us yet. As you are making it through your day, know that I am thinking and praying for you that you would be filled with “a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is created” and that it makes a difference for the people around you!

**If you too would like to make a sign like this, I made mine based on the idea with this Love Sign. Have fun!**

« Previous Page

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: