~Mod Podge Blocks~

Here are the instructions and steps I followed to make the mod podge blocks that I did for my familia and friends. I put up a couple of pictures so that you can kind of see what I did, but it's all really easy. You can make things up as you go, use different materials, types of paper and pictures, etc.

1. Get the blocks that you are going to use. I worked with two different sizes and they both worked really well. I did like the 3 x 3.5 inch blocks a little bit better than the perfect cubes. It made it easier to have more space for the pictures on the size. This is just a preference though. The ones I used were sanded and had the edges rounded off.

2. I painted all the edges of the blocks the color that I wanted the base to be. Let dry.

3. Not all of the blocks I used were exactly the same size so I made sure that I measured each block then the pictures and papers that I was going to use to those measurements. I just used different scrapbook papers. I found that the thicker kind worked a little bit better and were less prone to wrinkling, but the other kind works as well.

4. Put a layer of mod podge on the block and lay the paper/picture on it. I rubbed them down thoroughly to make sure that there weren't going to be any bubbles underneath. Make sure that you don't go super crazy with the mod podge because you don't want the pictures or papers to wrinkle.

Here you can see the painted edges, an example of a paper, and picture.

5. Once you've done this for all of the sides, make sure that everything has had a chance to dry. Put a final layer of mod podge on the top of the pictures and paper. I used the matte pod podge for the bottom layers and the paper, but used the glossy mod podge for the top of the pictures. It doesn't really matter what you use, I'm just very particular about what my stuff looks like. Both matte and glossy look good for everything.

6. For the letters I just bought some of the foamy 3-D letters to put on, but I imagine you more crafty people can think of more creative ways of doing letters or whatever you're doing with them.

This is one of the blocks for my sister in law and her family. I cut out the stars from the same paper that I used on top.

7. You can add whatever you like to them. Some people's I used stickers, some I cut out thick, glittery paper for stars and flowers, and others I used little, fake flowers.

This is the one I made for my family.

This was a really fun project for me. I'm not a particularly crafty person although I would like to be. It took a little more time than I anticipated, but then again I did end up doing about 52 blocks in a couple week period. But they're really easy and really cute. (If I do say so myself.)

~Tis the Season~

On December 12 another one of my very best friends Mandy got married to Dan Gordon who is also one of my very good friends. I love weddings and theirs turned out beautifully. The weather was so dreadful that day but the bride was beautiful and the reception was beautiful and it was all just a ton of fun.



This year we spent Christmas Eve with Jared's parents in Richmond where everyone got a chance to speak to his brother Brett who's in Fiji on his mission. He'll actually be coming home on January 7th and everyone is very excited to have him home. I'm excited to have the chance to get to know him, since I only got to meet him twice before he left on his mission. We each got to open one present from Jared's parents, we watched most of 'Up' (which is such a good movie), then went home where we stayed up until 6:30 Christmas morning while I finished everyone's homemade Christmas presents I made this year.

Jared being the donkey for Mary and . . . the other Mary.

I had been working on these mod podge blocks for weeks, but somehow got behind while in school and going to work still. Rachelle's husband Shane helped me out by cutting and sanding around 30 of the blocks that I used. What I did was get enough blocks that I could have one for each letter of each family's last name. In the end I had 52 blocks total that I made. I don't think I really realized how big a project I was undertaking but it was totally worth it. I will post instructions that I used for them later.

Christmas time really is my most favorite time of the year. I just love having a break to be able to spend time with my family and most importantly with Jared. The presents are pretty fun too. I love that both of our families live here in the valley and it's so easy to get together with everybody. Santa was very good to us this year.

Christmas Morning!! (On a lengthy 3 hours of sleep.)

For New Year's we spent most of the day at my parent's house. My dad was out of town which sucked, but we did get to play with everyone else. We spent many hours watching sports and America's Funniest Videos. In fact, over the whole break I think I watched more athletic events then I have ever watched in my life. They're pretty fun though so I enjoy them. We went home about 1 am from my parent's house and stayed up until about 6 am watching Grey's Anatomy. How many husbands would spend hours upon hours watching such a silly yet entertaining show with their silly little wives? I guess it's only fair though. I watch hours upon hours watching sports too. Ha ha!

One of the days Jared and I got to go to Salt Lake to see all of the lights on Temple Square with two of our best friends Shane and Rachelle. This is one of my most favorite traditions even though I know it's something that pretty much everyone else in Utah does. I was really worried that we weren't going to make it this year, but luckily we got it to work and we had a blast. It was prety cold and pretty snowy, but so beautiful. We ate dinner at Applebee's and spent the whole way home talking their ears off. Jared and I can't seem to control ourselves sometimes. I am so grateful for such good friends though.

Jared and I posing like models by the temple.

Anyway. It's been such a great break. Thankfully I'll be graduating this Spring and I can have a tiny break of just working before I get into grad school (which hopefully really does happen). We actually have tons of plans for the year 2010 . . . but that's another blog for another day!

Happy New Year!