While reading this post, it is important to remember this is not a craft blog

I had an idea. When I saw the I AM painting on Susie's blog, I thought to myself "I need that!". I figured out pretty quickly I couldn't afford it and especially not before Christmas. So, I thought I could figure out how to make one. (You have no idea how many times I see something handmade and say, "I could do that" when I need to remind myself, "No, Deidre. You really can't". I continue to live in denial.

But, when Susie posted how to make it, I felt pretty confident. So confident in fact, I decided to make two ... one for me and one for my Mom. Ambitious would be a good word to use here. Oh, and denial is still a good one as well.

Susie mentioned Lowes or Home Depot sells pre-cut 2x2 pine wood squares. Honestly, I have never been in that section of either store, but I wanted to look like I knew what I was talking about. E, O and I marched up to the counter in the lumber section and I said confidently, "I need 2 of your pre-cut pine wood squares." "Right this way, ma'am.""

Good. There really is such a thing.

By the way, the problem with wanting to make my Mom one as well is that her birthday and her party were 2 days away. Yep .... keep that in mind for the rest of this post.

After putting my girls to bed Thursday night, I decided to get started and paint both of our squares black.

Easy enough.

I asked my Mom for a list of her favorite names of God. Then, I printed her choices and my own in different fonts and sizes. I did just like Susie said and taped them on the board where I thought they would go. (My names are in red because I was out of black ink :)

Then, I started with the I AM first.

Took me 2 hours. For the love.

You trace the letters so they make an impression in the wood. I remember reading on Susie's blog how the wood is so soft. I must have bought the hardest piece that has ever existed because oh.my.word the tracing about did me in.

I finished painting the I AM, God and Father and went to bed. This wouldn't be so bad. I can do this and have less than $5.00 in the entire project. Piece of cake.

Friday, I got up bright and early thinking I would knock it out before I had to pick O up from school at 12:00. (insert evil laughter here - muwwwhhhaaaaaaa). I felt like I heard that all day.

Two hours into the process on Friday morning, I felt like calling Susie and screaming, "Name your price! Whatever it is, it's so worth it!"

But, I persevered.

At one point the stress got to me so I stopped to eat ten of these.

Worth every bite.

I stopped only twice and that was to pick up each of my children from school. This project took me all day. And lest you think I am exaggerating, I finished it at 10:00 Friday night and then decided it was time to take a bath (I was still in my pj's ..... from the night before).

Notice how some of the names of God changed by the time I finished?

When I looked at Prince of Peace and the tiny print, He quickly became Peace Speaker (her favorite, anyway). And Counselor? Never made it. By the end of Friday night, I was saying, "Eric, God is not a counselor! What is He that has very few letters?" Ha! So, He became King. The only name my Mom didn't choose, but oh well. Maybe He wants her to know He's King in her life this year? See .... it's all spiritual :)

What's most important is that she loved it. Or, atleast she acted like it and that made me happy.

Oh, and mine turned out great. Check it out.

I'm thinking hand-painted is overrated. I have plans to take a picture of Mom's painting and gluing a copy to the center of my board.

I don't think that's ever been done before.