Sunday, May 17, 2009

baby plaque

I just have to say that my church is awesome. Seriously awesome.

I've "heard" (not experienced. definitely not.) that most minister's wives feel an amazing amount of pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.

I'm beyond blessed to be in a place where the staff and church members embrace my role in David's ministry as help-mate to him and mother to our children. I never feel the pressure to be the "perfect minister's wife."

I'm not expected to sing on the worship team ('cause no one wants bleeding eardrums), or work in the nursery every week. No one is annoyed that I can't be at every Women's Ministry function or lead the Children's Choir. They aren't shooting me disapproving glances when I come in late to church with baby puke on my shirt. I can just be David's wife and Charlie and Avery's mommy.

That's freedom, y'all.
Serious freedom.

Because they give me the freedom to be who I am, I feel the freedom to volunteer when I feel God wants me to, not when others want me to.

And that, my friends, is why we are never leaving.
I hope.
(Maybe I should talk to God about that first, huh?)

Anyway -
All that verbosity (not a word. I'm sure of it) leads me to this: I volunteered to help the Preschool Director with our first Family Blessings Brunch (a brunch for the families of babies born in the last year).

When Charlie was born, someone gave me a precious little plaque from a little ebay store called The Gingham Grove. After a little investigation I thought, "hmm... I can make that."

We thought it would make the perfect keepsake for the families to take with them after the brunch.
Since we've had 20+ babies in the last year, I had 20 + plaques to make.

Stuff I used:
8 x8 wood squares from Hobby Lobby
acrylic paint
sponge brush
fine grit sand paper
medium grit sand paper
drill
gingham ribbon
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
scrapbook paper
paper cutter or scissors
computer & printer

What I did:
1. I bought the wood at Hobby Lobby.
2. Brushed on acryllic paint with a sponge brush.
(I painted several layers to get a good heavy coat on it so that the sanding looked cool.)
3. I sanded the painted plaque using a medium grit sand paper
4. After that, I used my handy Distress Ink in Walnut Stain to stain the edges just.a.bit.
5. Then I sanded some more.
6. I had David drill 2 holes in the top of the plaque for the ribbon hanger
7. I found a verse I liked and printed it on scrapbook paper with my computer printer.
8. I cut the verse into 5 x 5 inch squares with my paper cutter and mod podged the verse onto the plaque.
9. Then...I sanded.

viola:

The girls had pink ones and the boys were blue.
Original, right?
If you want to purchase one, you can go to The Gingham Grove Ebay store.
or you can just make your own.
Whichever.

21 comments:

Rach@In His Hands said...

I'll take one of those for Josiah please! ;-)

I love all your ideas....they're going to help keep me busy for the next 3 months. Adding this project to my list!!

PRAYING that Josh and I are placed in a congregation like yours...'cause I'm certainly NOT perfect. Unless walking in at the bells and forgetting to bring a dish to pass is considered perfect. :-)

Kodi said...

SO cute. I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who sees something and thinks "I could have made this myself for half the price!" Unlike you- I never get around to making it. haha

Kelli said...

How cute are you? That is so adorable. I'm sure they will be treasured.

Jennifer said...

Too cute! What font is that? You know I am always looking for new, cute fonts! :)

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

Wonderful! :)

kris said...

they turned out great! betcha have to make them again next year too ;)

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

Awesome! I love it! And I love that your church is so wonderful. I love a church family who has the priorities right!

Liz said...

These are great! You should do a giveaway! :) ...or sell them on etsy.

Jana @sidetrackd said...

But you do know that you are more than welcome to serve in the nursery any Sunday that you would like, right? ;-)

The plaques are absolutely adorable! Thanks for all the work you did preparing for the brunch (even while you vacationed!).

Alison said...

that's awesome--that your church loves you so much (and as you are and not with any crazy pastor's wife expectations) and the adorable plaque!

Would you believe I wrote "plague" instead of "plaque" and was thisclose to hitting submit? lol

Jenn M said...

I love the plaque-I'm supposed to go to a shower with something handmade and I think this is such a cute idea!
And, that's awesome that your church loves you guys so much. And I also think it's awesome that you appreciate that fact too!

Infarrantly Creative said...

I am a pastor's wife too and can ditto all your comments. I am so grateful to be at a church that has no expectations other than for me to be me. I love those little signs you made. I am soooo doing that. Come check out my blog...i think we have a lot in common.

Beth@Not a Bow in Sight said...

How precious is that?!

Unknown said...

Sweet. Wish I had a baby.

Paisleyand Polka Dot Patterns said...

you're awesome just as you are :)
Love the plaque! Great job Jen!

Steph @ DirtWontHurt said...

This is super cute! I can't wait to get back into creative stuff. I do not have the time right now. My house is just getting back in order from the first 6 months of my son's life.

I grew up in a church where if you did one thing, you did it all. I'm glad I'm not in that position anymore, although I have such a "Yes" personality :)

Candace said...

Super-duper cute! Hi, I tripped over your blog while on the feedblitz thingy. Just stopping by to say hello and that I loved this idea. I am totally ganking it for my new neice/nephew! Thanks for the creativity. Have a Happy Day!

misty said...

you are at a great church to feel no pressure!!!

just in the last 3 years or so i have gotten bold enough to say that my family is most important & i'm not going to be at the church every time the doors are open. chad fully supports me. i do think people look down on me for it. sad, really sad, i know! but i don't care. God blessed me with my boys & they are my first concern.

Housewife Savant said...

This is a great post.
I wonder who those pressured and unaccepted PWs are...
I wonder if they're still hurting and bitter...
I wonder if THEY made plaques for church peeps, what would they say...?

The best part is your relationship w/your church.

Your project is adorable!

J.J. said...

That is adorable!!! I love all these crafty ideas that are out here on cool blogs, like yours :)

Tiffany said...

LOVE that plaque. It turned out great! So cute. I'm sure the parents were thrilled with that creative cuteness!

What a blessing to be a part of such a neat church!

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