Paint the Town {Red}...

...or {White}...

...or {Pink, Blue, Green and Orange}...and even with a little {chalkboard paint}...

So we've been stuck at home with some snow days lately...and Little Emily's birthday is coming up {and to me...six years old is still little...sniff...I told Emily to stop growing up...but she won't listen! } and with some inspiration from Kelli... {and lots of time on my hands...and nowhere to be!} ...I wanted to make her a banner for her birthday!

I had lots of fun with the bright colored paper and loved that Emily helped me pick out the patterns! 

First I cut all the squares, letters and cupcakes with my Cricut and then used craft glue to arrange how they'd go together.
Once they dried, I used Mod Podge to seal the front and back of each square...

The only thing I wasn't sure about...because I've never used Mod Podge before this...is why the squares curled up when they were drying?  It made me a little nervous...but once they dried {or so I thought...} I put all the squares under a stack of books over night to flatten them out.

And that worked great...they were definitely flat...and all stuck together!  Yikes!  I pried them apart...and some of them ripped a little, but I think it turned out pretty good for my first try!

I bought some ribbon in coordinating colors...hole-punched each corner of the squares and tied them together...

If the banner lasts for a long time {...and if I don't somehow misplace it...} I can use it over and over again and just change the number by untying the ribbon and replacing it...but remember...Emily's not going to grow anymore...so that shouldn't even be a problem!  {...sigh...}

After that project...I decided to finally chalkboard paint the desks I mentioned forever ago recently with inspiration from Amanda and adding the numbers 1 and 2 to the backs of each chair with inspiration from Tiffany!  {She makes me want to put numbers everywhere, too...she's so creative!   She also makes me want to paint the desks with a fresh coat of paint...but this is all I have for now...}

I cut out a stencil using my Cricut, {...I'm really falling in love with that little gem!} ...actually Alex cut it out...he loves it just as much as I do and wanted to help too!  Then taped it to the back of the chair and painted it.  My first attempt didn't work because the paint went underneath the stencil...so I had to wipe it off and start over.  I think I just had too much paint on the roller...but the second time worked out much better!

{Whiskers is ready for class!}

{She is always following me around getting in my business...that's why she's always in my pictures!  But I love her...she's a great kitty!}

As if that wasn't enough paint and color...I didn't stop there...

...I even colored my hair too!  Eeek! 

Here is the before...kind of blah, flat...and even a little gray... {...sigh...}

And here is the after...

 It's not as dark as I'd wanted...I don't think I left the color in long enough...but I was too scared! It's hard to tell a difference at all...at least it looks less gray...I think! Maybe next time! What do you think...should I go back to more of a blonde...or darker brown? Any tips? 

{And I wonder where Emily gets her sideways smile/head tilt?  Scary! Ha!}

I think we may need to try and get out soon...who knows what else I might get my hands on...if only I had more paint!