"My Colors" book winners announced!

I know I'm a day late, sorry about that. But these books are definitely worth the wait! I put entries in order of timestamps.

The winners are...

Marilyn Duty and Bonny Day!

Email me at EmailEllieMurphy{at}gmail{dot}com by thursday and I'll put in the mail friday!

And don't worry if you didn't win, I'll be posting the easiest tutorial in the world about this later this week!

Color Book Giveaway

****This giveaway is now closed! See winners here.****

This is the giveaway you have been waiting for! Thanks for joining me on the blog!

I love when little kids learn something new, it's just so adorable. Help your kids learn their colors with one of  these adorable books! Each book is unique, with different stickers.

Here's just a sample of some of the pages. Colors include: pink, orange, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown and black. (Brown and Black only have one page each)

Enter any or all of  5 ways:

1. Follow me on pinterest and pin the picture below using the hashtag #thefreckledcanvasgiveaway . Then leave a comment with the link to your pin. {Pinterest: murphy_ellie}
2. Follow me on instagram and post the picture below using the hashtag #thefreckledcanvasgiveaway  and tagging me. Then leave a comment with your username or letting me know you're private. {Instagram: @murphy_ellie}
3. Like the "The Freckled Canvas Blog" page on facebook and share the giveaway picture posted on the page. Then leave a comment letting me know. {Facebook: The Freckled Canvas Blog}
4. Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway using the hashtag #thefreckledcanvasgiveaway and tagging me. Then leave a comment with your username or letting me know you're private. {Twitter: @murphy_ellie}
5. Write a blog post about the giveaway on your blog and post the picture below. Then leave a comment with the link to the post.

Contest is open from now until Thursday night at Midnight EST. Winners will be announced by Monday morning, hopefully sooner.

Best Dad EVER!

I have pretty much the best dad ever! (But of course, I'm a little biased) He has gone to bat for me more times than I can count. He's picked me up and kissed my scrapes and put me back on my feet. He's the best dad anyone could ever ask for! 

He works so hard, and then he comes home EVERY wednesday to be there for the scouts. He never misses a scout activity, even if he hasn't spent a day at home in weeks. I've heard some of the scouts say he's the best Scout Master they've ever had. 

He supports each one of us in anything we do. Even if it's late at night, like this race he went to of Zac's. When I was in ballet, he brought me flowers each and every time I had a recital. He only missed one performance, and that was because he was halfway around the world adopting my brothers.

He's amazing with the primary, and really any kids! He's gonna be the best grandpa, and I can't wait for the day I have kids! 

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in my life and in yours!

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas

I went all out for Mother's day, at least with my primary class. For one reason or another most of my class don't really get to do much for their moms for Mother's day and that's where I enter! We did 3 super easy crafts/gifts to moms.

My favorite one is the one I used last year too. You can never go wrong with a goodie bag of chocolate. I got a pack of like 50 clear cellophane bags from Hobby Lobby for less than 2 dollars, and spent a small fortune on Hershey kisses but it was worth it! But just like last year I forgot to buy hugs, which is totally okay because no one really cared.

via Little LDS Ideas
*I linked to her page with Mother's Day ideas
so just scroll down a post or two

My dad travels A LOT for work, I mean like 9 months out of the year. So we tend to accumulate a lot of hotel soap, and to please my mother I decided to help her get rid of some. I used another idea from Little LDS Ideas and this one was the kids favorite for some reason. (I think it might be due to the double sided tape I had them use) Since the soap was small I had them tape two together and then tape the tag to the top. This one doesn't have a pdf to use, so I just put it in a word document and printed 6 to a page.

via Little LDS Ideas
*I linked to her page with Mother's Day ideas
so just scroll down a post or two

And then because I wanted the kids to do a craft we made our mom's a napkin ring. This one didn't turn out so well, but the kids in my class have a VERY short attention span. There's no template, so I just googled flower coloring sheet and picked one. 

via Moms and Munchkins

I started planning for Father's day around the same time I was planning a Carnival Birthday party for the twin's second birthday, and at that point I was already ready to just mail it in and maybe it's just me but I don't feel like dads appreciate all the work I would do. 

The night before the party I entered a Target about 20 minutes before they closed and while I was booking it across the store I saw these coupons to give to dad. It's just a little pad of paper that has a magnet on the back to stick on the fridge, you can fill in on the coupon what it is good for. I would post a picture but I can't find mine (read: I'm too lazy to go upstairs and look for it) and I can't find it on their website. But I digress, the kids are going to give their dad's five coupons and decorate an envelope. And if you don't want to go buy the coupons, just have the kids design them or find a cute one on pinterest like this one from Disney Family. 

But I couldn't resist a craft, and since the last one didn't go so well with my primary class, I'm doing this one for them. I'm using this tutorial from Creative Family Moments. This one does require some planning, I took the pictures a couple weeks ago without really remembering what they were supposed to be doing, so mine don't look as cool. but once I'm done with them I'll post a picture for y'all to see! 

via Creative Family Moments

If you're looking for a REALLY simple one, then make a tie! It was a big hit with my brothers and I growing up. Just find a template online, I used this one from Activity Village (which is based in the UK, love them even more!), and just pasted it into word so I could print two to a page. I cut them in half, let them color up a storm and then cut them out. This one doesn't have a flap to fold over to hold the string, there's a dotted line at the bottom of the "knot" but don't fold it there, so I just left an inch above the "knot" when I cut and folded that over. Before you glue it down, we used tape so it would hold faster, put yarn or string underneath so they can wear it around their neck. The cub scouts that I work with loved it! Each member of our bishopric will be getting their very own handmade tie from Pack 203 this Sunday!

What are some of your favorite ideas for Father's Day or even Mother's Day?

Sunburns and Strapless Bras

I'm convinced that the person who made strapless bras, or even ones that detach on one end, got an express pass to heaven!

This past weekend I went on a Young Single Adult Beach Trip. It was not my cup of hot chocolate. One thing you should know about me- I'm not a camper! I can fake it enough for girls camp but that's about it. This was camping on the beach. We stayed at St. Andrews National Park. The park was actually really nice and I would recommend it if you want to camp. But I do NOT!

We drove down EARLY friday morning. Got to the beach about 10, and we were there until 5. Now some trivial things happened (like the group leaving three girls at the beach while they went for lunch) but it was a nice day at the beach. But I don't care how nice of a day it is, 7 STRAIGHT hours at the beach is not my idea of fun! And since I didn't think we would be there that long, since my family never does, I thought 15 and then a reapplication of 30 would be good. NOPE! I was a lobster!

And that night there was a devotional, dinner and a dance. The next day was another FULL day at the beach. Being sunburned and spending a day in the sun is worse than waterboarding (okay maybe I'm being a little dramatic ;) ) So I took the first car home, which turned out not to be the first car. (which is a whole other big thing, cue me thinking nice thoughts) And that car ride was the best part of the trip! I got to really know some great girls!

So all in all, it wasn't a bad trip per say but I'm ready to breakup with this sunburn. And I'm going back to the beach next week, but it's all good cause I'm staying in a hotel. But my saving grace has been my strapless bra because having anything besides a thin shirt touch my back is miserable.

Does it bother anyone else when people see you have a sunburn and ask you if you're doing anything about it? My grandparents asked me that today. They have seen me spray stuff on my back, and rub aloe and take ibuprofen. And I'm the kind of girl that if there's a remedy I say sign me up!

Freckled

Growing up I loved my freckles. I loved how they looked. I loved when my mom told me they came from angel kisses. I loved that they made me different.

And then came middle school and high school, and none of the "pretty" girls had freckles. I remember one morning, sophomore year, waiting in the car before school with one of the girls from my church. She was putting on makeup and her skin was perfect! She even had this adorable mole. She even had a perfect life. She had a great group of friends, and a loving boyfriend.

And that's when I realized why I had come to hate my freckles. I didn't have flawless skin, I had marks. Ugly marks that made me feel horrible. I didn't really have friends, and I definitely didn't have a boyfriend. And I KNEW it was because I had freckles. In stores, older women would tell me they loved my freckles and I should appreciate how beautiful they made me look. Didn't they know that none of the "pretty" girls at school had freckles? Didn't they know how that made me feel like an outcast? Didn't they  know how it made me feel ugly?

And then one day, three or four years after I graduated high school, I looked in the mirror and I was grateful for my freckles. I was grateful that I had them, they made me feel beautiful. Not to mention, they are the best camouflage for zits. My skill will never be perfect, and I'm okay with that. I'm proud to have freckles.

photography by Amy Farr

What part of your body have you learned to embrace?

CMT Awards

I love watching awards shows! So I might as well warn you now, prepare for an overload when it comes to each award show!

Here's just a taste of what the bigger ones are like, since the CMT Awards are little bit more low key.

Red Carpet

• Katie Cook (CMT show host) - Hate that off white beaded dress, she needs a new stylist, and I hate the green eyeshadow. If you wear green eyeshadow, other people should have to stare to know you're wearing green. And the hair is forgettable.
• Allison DeMarcus (wife of Rascal Flatts member, Jay DeMarcus) - It took awhile for her red dress to grow on me, but I loved it by the end of the Red Carpet, and her jewelry was perfect. I am absolutely in love with her hair, I've already cataloged it for my pinterest board "never to early to plan a wedding." I just wish I had gotten a better look at her shoes! (Sheryl Crow said they were amazing!)
• Cody Alan (radio personality) - I get that a nondescript black ball cap is his thing, but this is an award show. Even if this is the CMT's you can lose it for a couple hours. I'm not a fan of the black shirt and the dark blue blazer he paired, it just made me think of a bad bruise. And the light jeans just don't work.
• Jason Aldean - If he changed his shirts and his pants I think this would be a great outfit.
• Little Big Town - Karen Fairchild - She looked perfect, I think she needed a different lip color though. Kimberly Schlapman - I liked the cut of her red dress, it just needed a crisper bottom, maybe different earrings. Philip Sweet - He looked pretty good, I just wanted him to dress it up with a different shirt. Jimi Westbrook - Looked gorgeous! And fun fact, Jimi and Karen are married!
• Rascal Flatts - Joe Don Rooney - I loved his new hair cut! Jay DeMarcus - Let's swap those light jeans for some dark wash jeans. and I didn't really have anything to say about GaryLeVox
• Jana Kramer - Loved her dress by Pavoni, but why was she the only they asked about who she was wearing? Not a fan of her hair and I'm on the fence when it comes to her earings. 
• Nelly - Now I know he's not country, but can't you put on a real shirt? I could even be okay with a short sleeve one.
• Hunter Hayes - The poor boy need to get out in the sun more, he was so pale. He wore this light blue blazer that looked perfect on him!
• The Band Perry - They were totally true to themselves, which I give them credit for. I just want to give Neil and Reid a haircut! Kimberly - I loved her red dress, she totally rocked it! And I loved her hair!
• Kellie Pickler - I loved her on Dancing with the Stars but that girl NEEDS to get herself a new stylist! Her hair looked uber greasy, her outfit was horribly monochromatic, you should never wear purple eyeshadow (even worse than green), Not loving her earrings either, and holy immodesty when it came to her dress.
• Kacey Musgraves - She looked amazing, well almost amazing! Just enough sparkle on her dress to be fun but not overload you, but then you saw the stripe on the side, it kinda ruined it for me. I loved her hair, it was gorgeous! Her shoes were a great color, but the design was just meh!
• Beth and Dog Chapman - I have never loved their fashion, but when you're as um...gifted as her the options are limited. I loved her jewelry, besides the stick on ones by her eyes. 
• Sheryl Crow - I loved her dress! Like I might have sighed, until I saw all the cutouts, I hate when cute dresses are ruined by immodesty. They made a deal about her shoes, they were not all that. Her hair was great, perfect for her. I like the necklace, but the earrings were a little much.
• Kree Harrison - She had great pieces, she really did. They just didn't come together. 
• Brantley Gilbert - What is with these boys and nondescript black ball caps? Just say no! I don't love his look, a little too rock for me. And way too many accessories! Fun fact, he's engaged to Jana Kramer.
• Kristen Bell - a little pale, but that dress was perfect. Her hair was a little off, almost as if it was greasy.
• Dax Shepard - Not a fan of the outfit, I couldn't say how to fix it but it needed to be fixed. And he looked super pale too. It was like he and Kristen shared the same foundation.
• Cassadee Pope - The dress I could deal with, but the tattoo with the stick on jewels everywhere on top was a little junior high-ish! And the hair, like bad clip in extensions/highlights.
• Darius Rucker - Loved his outfit! He definitely won second best dressed for the night! It was perfect for the CMT's! Relaxed lighter blue shirt, with dark blue stitching, dark blue blazer, and dark wash jeans! I can't not get over how perfect his outfit was!
• Chip Esten - OMGosh! I have the biggest crush on him! How can you not love Deacon? (He plays Deacon on Nashville) I loved his white shirt, and matching light colored suit vest and pants. He has my best dressed of the night!
• Bacon Brothers - How did I not know they were a group? Kevin - looked amazing! Felt like a nod to footloose. It was great! Michael - He should really let Kevin pick out his outfits. It just looked bad from head to toe. 
• Carrie Underwood - Carrie looks great in a dress, so I was really sad that she wasn't in one. She does the right amount of eyeshadow glitter EVERYTIME. It doesn't look juvenile, it looks so sophisticated. And I didn't like the color of her little shorts suit.
• Keith Urban - Looked great, he really did.
• Nicole Kidman - Her dress was very simple, which I totally can go for since she usually goes all out at award shows and this is one where she can go a little casual. She looked pale, and the black nails? No, go for a pop of color or go nude.