Grandma Camp Teaser

Our annual Grandma Camp is coming up this weekend, and the preparations have been in full swing for a few weeks now, even though I actually start planning and working on it almost a year in advance.  Sometimes I don’t get all the projects completed as planned, and that’s ok because it gives me a good start on things for the following year.  This teaser is one of those projects.  I had the best of intentions of getting these little mailboxes done last year but was surprised when the painting took much longer than I anticipated.  When I realized there was no way they would be dry in time for last year, I tucked them away to use this year. 

I had planned to pull them out to get them done sooner, but then life happens and here we are . . . I pulled them out last week and started working on them again.  I told myself I would NOT be tucking them away for another year this time!

When I was searching online, I really wanted to find exactly what I had in mind.  A gold mailbox, in a black wooden crate type box, with a black post and a black flag.  I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on them.  When I couldn’t find anything even close to that, I ordered these . . . and yes, they have been a labor of love!  They came from Amazon in sets of three.  I needed a total of nine, so I ordered three sets. 

The paint didn’t take on the shiny metal as I had planned, and one of the cans of paint sprayed globs all over that were impossible to remove. 

In the past, I would have sanded them all back down again until I reached perfection.  I decided to leave them with a “textured” look . . . 😊 and moved on. 

It took an insane amount of paint to get all the bright colors covered, but I’m happy with the results and hope the kids enjoy them. 

I’ll be putting them outside all lined up on a tall table under the covered porch.  They will know it’s time for the next activity when the flag on their mailbox is up. 

The next activity will be tucked inside their mailbox in a kit all ready to go.

I added their names in black vinyl cut on my Cameo Silhouette.  What did I ever do without this magical machine?!

Even though these little mailboxes were a lot of work, they brought LIGHT into my soul as the creation I had envisioned in my mind came to life with each coat of paint.  I love it when everything begins to come together, and I can cross another thing off the to-do list!  As always, I couldn’t have finished any of these without the help of my oldest granddaughters – the “Grandma Camp Committee”, and of course Grandpa Ronnie.  He is a gem of a man who is happy and willing to run to the hardware store, craft store, grocery store, or any other store in search of whatever washer, bolt, screw, spray paint, or anything else it takes to help me complete my endless crazy projects!  Tonight, he drove me to Hobby Lobby and Walmart to gather the last of the things I would need to complete the Grandma Camp mailboxes.  He’s one in a million and brings LIGHT to everyone who knows him!!!  What a blessing he is in my life!  I’m a lucky girl!

This week, look for ways to celebrate with your own kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or friends.  Life is all about who we surround ourselves with.  I hope something LIGHT-filled and wonderful happens to you this week!  And be sure to watch for the Grandma Camp 2025 report next week!

Love Ya, Les 😊