Create at Home

Organized craft closet

2011-10-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

I suppose most people have catch-all closets, which is what became of this closet, originally intended for craft and sewing supplies. Crammed with clutter (although the perfect hide-and-seek spot for my kids), this closet was begging to be organized!

And, voila! Not a really dramatic change, but oh so much more functional. All I did was shift everything around into zones using existing drawers, boxes and other organizational tools.

SEWING ZONE: Color-coded fabric in an organizer right next to my sewing machine.

SEWING ZONE: Three drawers stash small sewing supplies like thread and needles, cross stitching miscellany and scrap fabrics.

GIFT AND CARD ZONE: A simple slotted rack on the wall displays greeting cards to choose from more easily than if stored stacked in boxes. I can also see, at a glance, which occasion I need to restock (anniversary, birthday, get well).

GIFT AND CARD ZONE: Rolls of wrapping paper and gift bags are stowed in a corner, along with tape and tissue paper.

GIFT AND CARD ZONE: Extra envelopes, address labels, standard thank you cards and stamps are tucked away on the wall adjacent.

IN PROGRESS ZONE: I tacked up some corkboard tiles on which to pin projects in progress, as well as magazine clippings and ideas. A tray on the desktop just below holds bulkier unfinished projects.

FILING ZONE: A row of magazine files are labeled according to my most frequent filing needs.

ART SUPPLY ZONE: I reserved the top middle shelf for miscellaneous art and craft supplies. Labels on the outside of clear drawers cut down on wasted time spent digging for stencils, stamps, scrapbook paper, etc.

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It's nice that everything has a "home" now, so I'm much less tempted to just pile things on the desk or shove them into a corner on the floor. I can walk in and find what I need quickly and have more motivation to put things back where they belong when I'm through.

How do you sort and organize a closet? Does "zoning" work well for you?

Embellished tote bag

2011-09-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Inspired by this Prudent Baby tutorial, I adapted the French pouf design by using some scrap fabric I had on hand.

I added some beads to the center of the poufs and safety pinned them to the canvas bag (although I could have hand sewn them, I kind of like that they're removable and I could reposition them later, if needed).

The project was complete after I added some ribbon as trim to the top and then used fabric paint to write the word "Ballet." (I must admit that I should have matched the pinks better, but it still turned out pretty sweet.)

My daughter now totes her beautified bag to ballet/tap class! This would make a cute gift, don't you think?

Painted canvas wall art

2011-08-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

I picked up a canvas print from PierOne last season, attracted to the bold graphic hibiscus. The bright orange didn't fit my color scheme, but it occurred to me that I could take some craft paint and mix up a custom color to paint over the canvas.

Using the lines of the flower graphic, I just used a small paintbrush to guide the new paint over the existing. See progress in photo above. No prep needed!

Voila! New wall art in a custom blue shade.

OLIVIA party :: Budget and where to buy

2011-06-06T14:03:00.001-07:00

This is the fourth and final blog post about the now infamous Olivia party! :) I thought you readers out there might like to see a list of where I bought supplies and such. Where you see "free" that means I already owned the product.

FOOD & SERVEWARE

Cherrybrook chocolate cupcake mix (36 ct)... $10, Kroger
Strawberries... $6, Kroger
Watermelon... $5, Kroger
Popcorn... $3, Kroger
Mini-pepperoni pizza... $8, Kroger
Chips and salsa... $6, Kroger
Beverages... $12, Kroger
White Beverage Napkins (50 ct)... $2.49, Oriental Trading
Baking Cups & Picks (100 ct)... $4.99, Oriental Trading
Polka Dot Napkins (40 ct)... $2.29, Target
Square Red Plates (36 ct)... $3, Walmart
Reusable Red Kids Cups (12 ct)... $4, Target
Reusable White Adult Cups (12 ct)... FREE
Red & White Straws... FREE

DECORATIONS

Red Balloons... $10 for one dozen, Kroger
Red and White Polka Dot Ribbon... $2, Hobby Lobby
Foamcore for Lifesize Olivia... $5, Hobby Lobby
Red Pennant Banner... $7.99, Oriental Trading
Paint and brushes for art project... FREE
Exacto knife... FREE

ACTIVITIES

Egg Olivia Craft... $3 for Easter eggs, Target
Olivia Coloring Pages... FREE
Dress-Up With Red Mirror... FREE
Basketball, tee-ball, croquet... FREE

FAVORS

Red Pails (12 ct)... $8.99, Oriental Trading
Red and White Swirl Lollypops (24 ct)... $9.99, Oriental Trading

MISC PARTY SUPPLIES

Invitations (20 ct)... $7.60, Target
Postage (18 ct)... $7.92, USPS
Red Polka Dot and Black Damask Gift Wrap... $2, Target
Black cardstock for thank you cards... $3, Walmart

TOTAL= $147

We had 12 children and 16 adults (28 guests total), so I thought the party was fairly affordable to feed and entertain a crew of that size! To get all the Olivia party posts, click on the tag, "olivia" below.

OLIVIA party :: Crafts and activities

2011-06-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

By far, the biggest hit of the party was wagon rides around the backyard. They never tired of it! For the older kids, we had croquet set up in the side yard.

At the craft table, the kids enjoyed coloring sheets from NickJr.com.

We put together a cute Olivia egg craft from NickJr.com, too. It was great to use clearanced Easter eggs from earlier in the month. Note that it's best to use tacky glue for the craft as regular school glue didn't work too well for us.

Tucked away in the corner of the yard, we had a dress-up station with an open suitcase, props and a mirror. The sign on the suitcase reads: "Rule of Life #7: Whatever the question, costumes are always a good answer."

To get all the Olivia party posts, click on the tag, "olivia" below.

OLIVIA party :: Food and favors

2011-05-23T18:53:00.001-07:00

According to Olivia's Rule of Life #100, "Red is the very best color for absolutely, positively everything!" It wasn't difficult finding party-friendly red foods. We served sliced watermelon, cherry tomatoes, chips and salsa, white chocolate dipped strawberries and bagel pizzas with mini pepperoni as a kid-sized topping.

Chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting towered above the assortment of red foods. It was my mom's idea to add red hots to some of them. I loved how they turned out! I took a shortcut and got organic chocolate cake mix that was on close-out at the grocery store and then just made the frosting from scratch at home. I baked the cupcakes the night before the party and then frosted them the day of. The damask-patterned baking cups and picks came from Oriental Trading, and the black and white candles were from Hobby Lobby.

Again, taking a cue from Olivia's Rules of Life, I framed this saying, "Never miss a very important party." Along with the frame, I staggered our little red pail favors on a white tray and filled them with red swirl lollipops and Olivia stickers.

Our guests liked picking these up on their way out the door, and there was enough room in the pails to put the kids' crafts. My next post will give you the scoop on the crafts and other party activities!

To get all the Olivia party posts, click on the tag, "olivia" below.

OLIVIA party :: Decorations, invites and thank you cards

2011-05-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the Olivia children's books and Nick Jr. TV show, we threw a party last weekend for our 3-year-old, Natalie. This was a major undertaking, so I'm splitting up the details over several installments! :) Be on the lookout for these upcoming topics...

Food and favors
Crafts and activities
How I spent my $150 budget

Decorations: Olivia Cutout
OK, so you're probably wondering about that first photo with the adorable girl who happens to be hugging her favorite pig role model. Although my husband and I hold the patent for how to create that adorable girl, I can disclose how we created the "life-size" Olivia cutout!

It took the largest piece of white foam core I could find at Hobby Lobby, a handy 40% off coupon, and some paint and brushes already stocked in my craft closet. Oh yeah, and a utility knife that my husband begrudgingly used to cut around Olivia so the party guests could pose with her.

I started with this image of Olivia in her signature red and white stripes. I used a pencil to freehand sketch my approximation onto the foam core. Then, I used three basic paint colors--red, pink and black--and custom mixed to get some variations for the shadows and highlights. For example, tint the pink with some black to achieve the right color for the inside of Olivia's ears and her nose.

Alternatively, if painting isn't your forte, you can make an enlargement at a print shop and glue it onto the foam core. (See another Olivia party for directions on that project.)

Decorations: Paper Lanterns & Window/Wall Hanging
By now, you've probably noticed that our colors were red, white and black. As the centerpiece of the party, I hung red and black paper lanterns from the curtain rod over the food table and then suspended a frame, all using fishing line.

In a pinch, you can spray paint your paper lanterns to match the colors you're using. I happened to have a brown lantern just sitting unused in my garage (see center) and a can of black spray paint, so I repurposed it for this party.

Some of you may recognize the white frame from a previous post. My mom helped me with this project by lining the back of the frame with black damask gift wrap paper, then hot-glueing two black ribbons along the width of paper to disguise the paper seams. I cut out the initial "N" from some scrap red cardstock and glued it over the top. Very simple, very inexpensive. I liked how the paper almost looks like fabric; the way it filtered the window light was really nice, too.

Decorations: Signage
Using more gift wrap (this time red and white polkadots), we covered a yard sign and glued on a print-out of Olivia welcoming our guests. We tied a red balloon to the sign and stuck it in the front yard.

Another sign in the back yard read "Don't be a messy pig! Please recycle here." Again, I covered another sign with cardstock, wrapped some grosgrain ribbon around it and attached a print-out and a balloon.

Invitations
My idea for the party truly began when I found these red, black and white invitations at Target on clearance. I originally thought I'd use pink in the color scheme (you know, piggy pink), but I really liked the more grown-up appeal of the red, white and black--not so cutesy.

Thank You Cards
Our homemade thank you cards only took some leftover damask gift wrap glued to black cardstock and a printed sticker that matched the other party details. FYI, the typeface I used is called "Daniel." The birthday girl scribbled on some index cards that I glued to the inside of the cards along with a note of thanks for her gifts. At least I'm teaching her some old-fashioned manners in the midst of all this crafting! ;)

That's it for now, folks! Stay tuned for the rest of the party details soon. To get all the Olivia party posts, click on the tag, "olivia" below.

Rainbow Art Collage

2011-02-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Looking for a rainy day activity with quick set-up and toddler/preschooler appeal?

I recently did an impromptu art project with my toddler using magazine clippings in all the colors of the rainbow. I drew the outline of the rainbow with the color names on the left and set out a pile of magazine clippings. My toddler sorted the clippings by color and used a glue stick to arrange them on the arc that matched the color.

Although she ran out of clippings to complete the rainbow, we hung it up anyway and have been working on it in stages as I have time to clip more magazines. By the way, the colors we used were: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple (a simplified version of Roy G. Biv).

Bee Mine Valentine

2011-02-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Here's your step-by-step for some adorable valentines that you can make with your toddler or preschooler.

1) You'll need a pack of medium tags and pink dye ink pad from a craft store (these are from JoAnn's Fabrics).

2) Have your child use their fingerprint to make a single mark on each tag. Disclaimer: this ink can be messy, so supervise your child closely.

3) Repeat, repeat! :)

4) Now, it's Mom's turn. Draw details on the bees using a thin-tipped black marker and write your "BEE MINE" message in pink. Tie to a small Juicy Juice box as a gift for classmates. Choose the Juicy Juice punch flavor for the pink packaging to match your sweet bees.

Retrofitted Baby Changing Stations

2011-01-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of just using what you've got, whenever possible. You can creatively repurpose almost anything; it saves money, reduces waste and just makes sense.

When you have a baby, there's a big push (no pun intended) to buy all new furniture, including a changing table. I really didn't want a matching nursery set anyway, so I looked around the house for what would work for a changing station. Virtually any sturdy piece of furniture that is about waist-height can be retrofitted for that purpose.

For our firstborn, I ended up using an antique table I had in storage. I painted it white and situated a changing pad on top. To allow easy access to diapers and other necessities, I purchased a stand-alone cabinet with shelving and hung it above the changing table.

For the second iteration of the changing station with Baby #2, I updated the cabinet with some discounted paint. I used my grandmother's sewing machine cabinet, changing out the hardware for a more contemporary look. I like the extra storage that the drawers provide. A new changing pad and a wall lamp complete the ensemble.

Always look for ways that you can repurpose existing furniture. Do you have any ideas or links to share of projects you've pulled off?

Colorful Christmas Menu

2010-12-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share my Christmas menu and some preparation tips with you! Our spread was so colorful and the flavors balanced well.

One of my favorite cooking shows is Food Network's "Cooking for Real" with Sunny Anderson. I used two of her recipes this year: Turkey with Pan Gravy and Garlic Green Beans. I didn't have any sage for the turkey, so I just substituted thyme and more rosemary. It was the juiciest turkey meat I've ever had--well worth the time it took to brine it in the fridge. And the seasoned rub and olive oil basting gave the whole bird such a lovely golden finish. The Garlic Green Beans were tasty and fresh; I found them less heavy than the traditional goopy green bean casserole.

Not wanting the turkey neck and giblets to go to waste, my husband made Cornbread Dressing, a Southern Living recipe (see top photo, far left). I have to commend him for being resourceful, even when we didn't have all the ingredients on hand. He made do, and it turned out great.

For me, another go-to resource for recipes is Better Homes and Gardens. I tried their Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Pecans and Creamed Corn Casserole. I liked the creaminess of the sweet potatoes along with the crunch of toasted pecans on top. Also, both these recipes lent themselves well to pre-holiday prep. The corn casserole took up no oven space by cooking in the CrockPot throughout the morning, and I whipped up the sweet potatoes the day before and had them stashed in the fridge awaiting the oven.

Forget the canned sludge! I made fresh cranberry relish for the first time, using this recipe from the Closet Cooking blog. I might not include the orange peel next time (it was a little bitter for my liking), but I loved the texture of the relish and the brilliant color.

Lastly, for dessert, I opted for the classic pumpkin and pecan pies. I used Whole Food Market's Old Fashioned Pecan Pie and the simple recipe from the back of Libby's canned pumpkin. Admittedly, I made a shortcut by using Pillsbury pre-made crusts, but I needed all the timesavers I could get with a 4-month-old and 2-year-old underfoot and a long list of other to-dos! :) The pecan pie was good but different than one made from Karo syrup. It used honey and maple syrup instead, so it was healthier and not as sugary.

COOKING TIMELINE (to eat by 12:30 pm, Christmas Day)

Dec. 21:

Go grocery shopping

Dec. 22:
Brine the fresh (not frozen) turkey and leave in fridge for up to 3 days

Dec. 24:

- Bake pies

- Make cranberry relish

- Prepare sweet potatoes to refrigerate overnight

- Assemble spices for the turkey rub and leave on counter

- Set out all your other ingredients in stations, along with serving dishes

- Set the table in advance

Dec. 25:

- 7:00 am: Pull turkey out of the fridge and do prep for roasting, allow to rest at room temp

- 8:00 am: Assemble creamed corn casserole and turn on slow cooker, set to 4 hrs on high

- 8:30 am: Put turkey in the oven

- 10:45 am: Turkey comes out of oven

- 10:50 am: Toast pecans for sweet potato casserole (10 min)

- 11:00 am: Put cornbread dressing in oven, side by side with sweet potato casserole

- 11:30 am: Make green beans

- Noon: Make pan gravy from turkey drippings; cornbread dressing comes out of oven; add marshmallows to sweet potato casserole

- 12:15 pm: Take out s.p. casserole; carve the turkey

- 12:30 pm: Call everyone to the table, say a prayer of blessing and serve one tasty meal!

GENERAL TIPS

Whenever possible, use a food processor to do your prepwork for you. I despise chopping onions and never get them finely diced because tears are streaming down my face by that point. A food processor takes care of this job for me and takes a fraction of the time.
Make a habit of growing herbs in your flower garden, windowsill or the like. It's such a cost-saver and handy in a pinch when you have to make a substitution.
Don't throw away the turkey carcass/bones. Put them in a dutch oven, fill with water and simmer for one hour to make turkey broth to freeze for later use. No need to buy broth at the store!

Whew! I'm done, folks. Hope this helps you out for next year. Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

No-Sew Advent Calendar

2010-12-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Repeat after me: "Tacky glue is my best friend." Seriously, I got this entire project completed with just one bottle of that adhesive awesomeness. I own a sewing machine but (tsk, tsk) I haven't learned to use it, so I rely on glue and iron-on tape to get the job done on most of my crafts.

Supplies/Instructions:

1 - 22x34-inch fabric of your choice (I chose one with polka dots which made for less guesswork and tedious measuring on the rows for the calendar and when folding over the edges to glue to the back! Just follow the row of polka dots. Could work the same way with a striped fabric.)
1 - 9x12-inch light blue felt and scrap felt pieces cut for the manger scene (forest green for hills, brown for barn structure)
25 - 3x3-inch felt squares for the pockets (5 rows of 5)
Stencil-cut numbers for Advent pockets (1 through 25)
1 - dowel rod trimmed to 22 inches
Ribbon to tie on each end of dowel rod for hanging
Tacky glue
Fabulous Foam Self-Adhesive Nativity Shapes (500-pc from Oriental Trading; $7.99) There are two sizes of nativity shapes that come in this pack. I sorted them and, using the larger ones, I will have enough pieces now for eight years! Sheep, stars and palm trees all made double or triple appearances in the Advent calendar to have enough to fill up 25 pockets.

A foam sticker peeks out of one of the pockets. Tip: Use a stencil flipped over to trace the numbers in reverse on the felt. When you go to cut them out, any pen marks on the back will be hidden.

Tip: Using 9x12 sheets of pre-cut felt, you'll have enough 3x3 pieces cut out from 3 sheets to make 24 pieces. Use some excess felt of another color to make your pocket for Day 25...Christmas!

Here's what it looks like hanging from a door using a wreath hanger.

It's All in the Crust

2010-11-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

It happens every holiday season. With all the tempting recipes out there, I get on these baking sprees. I even relish the long process of making homemade crusts. Here are my "kitchen notes:"

Pear-Plum Pie from Better Homes and Gardens
This is the most fabulous pastry crust I've ever tasted. Definitely a winner to keep in your recipe files!

Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake from Kraft Foods

Be careful not to bake this too long. Recipe says 1 hr 20 min, but I'd check it at 1 hr to make sure the crust isn't getting too dark. It was a little overdone, but still yummy.

Harvest Garland

2010-11-06T13:21:00.001-07:00

This craft project couldn't be simpler. Not the most beautiful decor you could dream up, but it was a great activity for me and my toddler--not to mention, it's a great lesson in learning letters.

Supplies:

- 2 scrapbook sheets in autumnal colors (12x12in)

- marker or pen

- hole punch

- scissors

- yarn

- glue

Directions:

Take two sheets of scrapbook paper, fold into quarters and cut along folds. You should have eight (6x6in) squares.
Using marker or pen, write one letter per square to spell out h-a-r-v-e-s-t.
Punch hole in top center of each square.
Trace letters with glue and have your "little helper" run yarn along the glue lines. Trim yarn with scissors to fit each letter.
Cut a long piece of yarn and tie from one end to another to create the garland. (I used the two window latches/locks to tie the yarn to. You could do this on a wall using thumbtacks or the like.)
Attach each letter using a small piece of yarn and tying to the garland.
FYI, the pumpkin sitting above the garland is a craft from Paint - Cut - Paste.

End-of-Summer Watermelon Lime Slush

2010-09-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the summer, we froze some leftover seedless watermelon that I've been meaning to make slushes out of. It was only appropriate, since we're still having weather in the 90s around here (despite the fact that it's officially autumn), that I'd choose this afternoon to break out the watermelon and create a cool treat.

Here's my recipe:

- 4 cups frozen watermelon chunks

- 2 cups flat Sprite (or simple syrup to taste)

- Juice of 3-4 limes, depending on how tart you like it!

Just throw all the ingredients in a blender and blitz it until smooth. You can strain out the small bits of watermelon, or--if you're like me--you can be a little lazy and leave them in for texture. My daughter certainly didn't mind either way, especially when I gave her a straw (her fave)! And Mommy got to pretend she was enjoying a mixed drink--it's all in the presentation, right? :)

Utility Room Makeover

2010-08-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Needing additional storage for my utility/laundry room, I took measurements of the space and tried to recreate the look of a built-in, but without the cost. I wanted something that was functional as well as attractive (maybe could serve as motivation to spend more time in there and tackle that heap of dirty clothes!?). Sketching out my vision helped me and my husband get a better idea of what we wanted from the space and how everything would fit.

I'm really pleased with the end results. For the shelving unit, I bought two inexpensive white bookcases, some shelf brackets, a cafe rod and hooks, 1.25 yards of fabric. The fabric curtain conceals our vacuum cleaner and floor mop, along with the cleaning solution we use with it. The three hooks for purses/backpacks/umbrellas, are screwed into some scrap moulding left over from another project.

For the chalkboard on the back of the door, I repurposed a 22x28 poster frame by spray-painting it with a can of clearanced blue paint, then put two coats of chalkboard paint on a piece of thin beech plywood, cut to size. My husband assembled it and mounted it on the door with heavy duty contact strips. (Now, I just need to buy some chalk so we can use the thing!)

I "shopped" my house for accents that weren't otherwise in use (red mirror, flowers, artwork, red media boxes) and I consolidated some storage in my daughter's room to be able to use the white baskets in the utility.

Altogether, the project cost came to about $70! And, although I can't say I adore doing laundry or other housework now, I certainly like being able to find things quickly with labeled storage containers, and the cheery decor certainly helps my attitude.

Monogrammed Nursery Artwork

2010-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

With two weeks until my due date, my son's nursery is now complete. I opted not to do a themed nursery, instead choosing three colors to repeat throughout the room. The color scheme is anchored with homemade artwork above the crib.

Here are the steps for this monogrammed art project:

Supplies

- 12"x12" art canvas

- acrylic paints

- paintbrushes

- ruler

- stencil letter (or find a font that you can freehand)

- level

- painter's tape (optional)

- trim from hardware store

- spray paint

- wood glue

- wood filler

- picture frame wire and eyehooks

- mounting strips

Canvas

Using a ruler and pencil, divide your 12"x12" canvas into three horizontal sections for the stripes (each would be 4 inches deep).
Trace the letter with a stencil or eyeball it using a font you like as a template.
Stipple (paint small dots) the three stripes with the acrylic colors you've chosen, making sure to continue stripes around the sides of the canvas. Let dry.
Paint the letter with a contrasting color with a thin paintbrush or paint marker.

Mat

Measure a 24"x24" square on your wall.
Using the same color as the letter on your canvas, paint the square. (You can use painter's tape as a guide for best accuracy, but the trim should cover up any imperfections later.)
Consider adding a second coat, especially if your wall is textured.

Frame

Select a 2-inch trim/moulding style from your local hardware store (usually sold in long pieces by the foot).
Cut into four 2-ft pieces with corners at 45-degree angles. Some stores have cutting stations that you could use without having to own a saw at home.
Assemble with wood glue and filler at the seams, making sure that the end result is square (90-degree corners with no warping).
Spraypaint the frame (two coats recommended) and let dry.

Assembly

Attach mounting strips to the back of the frame and hang on wall. Screws or nails on the top corners could be added for extra reinforcement.
Screw in two eyehooks to the upper back corners of your canvas and thread picture wire through the loops.
Hang in the center of the painted mat with a nail.
Step back and admire the results!

Free Download: Baby Care Chart

2010-06-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Are you a bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived parent of a newborn (as I soon will be, come August)? Track your baby's feeding, diapering and sleeping patterns. These are handy to take to your pediatrician appointments in the early weeks when you can't even remember what you had for dinner, let alone the 10 times your baby ate that day!

I've made these charts available in three different colors; just print off several copies and fill in.

Old Window Shutters

2010-06-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

If you find some old plantation shutters at a rummage sale or antique store (or, in my case, if your mom has a few extra taken off the windows from her 1930s home), consider this simple project.

1) Clean with a mild bleach solution and consider repainting depending on the shutters' condition.

2) Hinge the shutters together to span the desired length for your wall hanging. I wanted my shutters to afford our queen-size bed a more substantial-looking headboard, so I had my husband attach 4 medium width panels and 2 small width panels together.

3) Drill pilot holes in wall, and using anchors, screw in all four corners. You'll need to add more screws in the middle of the wall hanging if you want it flush. Otherwise, leaving it loose in the middle will achieve a more multi-dimensional look (almost like there is a window behind the slightly ajar shutters).

Father's Day Photo Display

2010-06-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

This photo display will be a surprise for Father's Day; it's a collection of endearing moments between daughter and daddy. It could also be adapted for a graduation display, baby shower, birthday or any other holiday. Here are the steps to this easy project:

1) Collect an assortment of clear jars (e.g., pickle, jam, olive, applesauce, etc.).
2) Thoroughly clean jars.
3) Remove the labels by soaking in vinegar and water .
4) Let jars air dry.
5) Measure the approximate height and width of each jar. Don't worry about being perfectly accurate, because you can always trim the photos to fit later.
6) Select your favorite digital photos and convert them to black and white for a gallery effect.
7) Re-size them to the custom sizes in Photoshop (or another photo editing program) to fit the jars.
8) Print out the photos on photo paper at home.
9) Slip the photos into the jars.
10) Arrange on table, shelf, window sill or mantle to display.

Citrus Infusion

2010-05-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you combine a 99-cent bag of lemons and a homeowner who's ready for some summer color?

Citrus-inspired redecorating, my friend, and all on the cheap! Here are all my "supplies," purchased from a dollar store and fabric clearance store that totaled $30. I knew that I could incorporate these tangerine, lemon and turquoise accents into my neutral living and dining rooms to usher in a fresh, summery look--and I wanted to share the results.

1) Cover accent pillows with new fabric. I used no-sew ironing hem tape to temporarily cover these pillows (admittedly, I'm not handy with a sewing machine...yet!)

2) Change out candles and fill glass containers with fresh fruit. My mantel got the easiest treatment, but with big impact. The fruit and candles add nice color and wonderful fragrance, too. These lemons will make great lemonade in a week or so, and I can always swap them out for some oranges or another inexpensive, seasonal fruit.

3) Add accents in the center of the room and at the corners of adjoining rooms. On the coffee table (left), I positioned this orange and white kitchen towel under the glass of a serving tray and topped it off with a tea light candle and yellow daisies in a decorative pot with river rocks as mulch. A sea-blue accent filled with potpourri sits on our record player (right), dividing the living and dining rooms.

4) Use potted annuals for pops of color that last longer than cut flowers. Reserving the brighter colors for the living room, I still wanted to freshen up the adjoining dining room, but with a more subtle palette. I brought in the outdoors with this centerpiece. A small, natural weave rug anchors the planter I found in my garage, which holds three potted flowers nestled in a row. The foliage and blossoms serve to fill in the gaps on the edges of the container without having to add extra soil.

5) Enlist the help of an adorable toddler. Here, my 2-year-old daughter reveals a shot of the whole room for you all. She loved counting the lemons to put in the glass vase and bowl, and in spite of Mommy's instructions not to touch the flowers, she's still bringing me daisy blossoms she has plucked from the arrangements...sigh. I don't really mind. :)

Double Duty

2010-05-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, at two years old, my baby girl is no longer a baby, so we recently transitioned her out of her crib into a full-size bed. We used her old crib to make a headboard for the new bed, even though it wasn't a convertible crib, per se.

This repurposing project worked out great because even though we have a baby on the way who will need a crib, our old crib was a drop-side, used crib that we were no longer comfortable with due to all the crib recalls and safety issues. I feel perfectly justified buying a new crib for the new baby, especially since we were able to repurpose the old one instead of tossing it.
Here's the finished headboard. Basically, my husband took the two ends of the crib and used metal brackets to attach them at the back. Then, he used furniture wall straps to tether the headboard to the wall--nice and secure. This headboard could fit up to a queen-size bed, and I love that my daughter still has a piece of her babyhood with her as she sleeps.

Potato Stamped Towels

2010-05-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

2 potatoes, cut in half and carved for stamps
assorted fabric paint colors
4-pack white flour sack towels ($9.99 at World Market)

Crafting is simply more fun with a toddler involved. (Plus, it gives you an excuse if the results aren't magazine-page perfect!) For Mother's Day, my 2-year-old and I used potato stamps for creating gifts. She loved following my instructions to dip the potato in the paint and repeat the same pattern all along the hemline. We ended up with some whimsical, one-of-a-kind dish towels.

P.S. I apologize for the long hiatus in posting this spring! From moving into a new house to approaching my third trimester with Baby #2, I've been pretty busy (and tired). Hopefully, I'll be able to return to monthly posts from here on out. Happy Mother's Day to all! :)

Handprint Keepsake

2010-01-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

This was my daughter's Christmas gift to her grandmothers--a handprint keepsake. First, I gathered these supplies:

5x5 photo frame (preferably with a complementary mat)
sturdy fabric on which to stitch handprint
fabric marker one shade deeper than the fabric you've chosen
contrasting thread (I used cross-stitching floss)

Then, I traced my daughter's hand with the fabric marker to give myself a template to stitch around. I didn't worry too much about getting every stitch perfect, and I was pleased by the casual and homemade results.

After finishing the border, I filled in the inside with the same fabric marker for a little more contrast. Then I mounted it in the photo frame (you could do a custom size if you wanted to), and the gift was complete! I also made sure to date the back of the frame with "Christmas 2009."

Because I used scrap fabric and thread, the only cost came from purchasing the photo frame, which was on sale for $5 at a local craft store. It was a simple project that took very little time and cash, but brought joyful tears to Nana's eyes and will be a keepsake for years to come. :)

A Practical Christmas

2009-12-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

If you're mindful about your purchases and can see the possibilities in re-purposing existing decor, beautiful holiday decorating can be very affordable. Please step inside my home for this Christmas photo tour!

First, my simple entry transformation...a green wreath on the door with silver ball ornaments and berries has lasting appeal on the cheap. More silver berries are added to the shelf with candle lanterns, creating a new look with existing pieces.

In the living room, the tree is undoubtedly the focal point, setting the color scheme for the rest of the decor. This year, I went with traditional red and green with a bit of plum and peacock blue thrown into the mix. Simply switching out a few decorative pillows and adding a red fleece throw reveals new potential upon the canvas of neutral furniture. I filled a hurricane vase with flawed ornaments, hiding the chips or scratches by stacking them just so (no one would ever know!). I'm also a big fan of candles to warm up the room--choose vivid colors to tie them into the room.

I love berries; can you tell? An indoor wreath brightens up my kitchen as well as a bowl of seasonal fruit. I accented a regular vase of willows with red and gold berries to make it festive.

And last, this is probably the simplest and subtlest of all: miniature ornaments tied to ribbon and strung from the windows. They nearly fade into the background, but I think these little white ornaments and white ribbons evoke the feeling of falling snow.

What are your ideas for transitioning your existing decor to welcome the holidays?

Harvest Wreath

2009-11-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

A few years back, my friend Amanda and I threw our own wreath-making party, just the two of us. Martha Stewart's crew should have come to the house and filmed these two amateurs cracking up over our projects, glue guns and floral wire in hand.

I still hang my wreath every year, and I think of Amanda who lives many miles away now. Crafting with a friend is twice the fun--and the end product bears memories of time spent together.

I hope you're inspired to grab a friend and make your own wreath this year. All the supplies can be picked up from your local craft store. For this project, I embellished a simple twig wreath with silk flowers, berries, gourds and feathers, all attached with floral wire. Raffia tied widely at the top serves as a holder and adds to the country harvest look. Since autumn is nearly over, you might try a winter-themed wreath, substituting ornament balls, berries, bells and ribbons on an evergreen wreath instead.

Fall Apple Stamp Stationery

2009-10-06T16:59:00.001-07:00

This week, my toddler brought home a large sheet of apple stamp artwork from her Mother's Day Out program. Instead of hanging it on my fridge, I decided to share the artwork with our friends and family by creating these stationery cards for autumn greetings.

Cutting out the stamped paper, I used a brown permanent marker to trace around the "apples" and drew in the apple seeds and stems. Red gingham ribbon wrapped around a brown stationery card finishes off the country look. On the back of the card, use rubber cement to attach some white paper to make room for a personal note.

Silk Flower Arrangements

2009-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not a big fan of silk flowers--the real thing is always preferable, in my opinion. However, with the luxury of fresh flowers in short supply at my place, I like the way this arrangement looks and making it is a snap!

Go on a nature walk and find a tree branch with a sturdy center and not too delicate branches for your base.
At your local craft store, pick out a few bunches of silk flowers in the same color scheme. The trick is to mimic a small tree in blossom, so choose flowers that have small buds on them and ones that are in full bloom.
Snip the silk flowers from their stems and use a hot glue gun to attach them to the tree branch you selected. Be mindful of your placement of blossoms on the "flowering tree" to achieve a natural look.

Fabric Decoupaged Photo Box

2009-07-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Do you have any scrap fabric lying around that you're looking to re-purpose? I recently took a pair of fabric scissors to a worn, floral bedspread I had back in college. Then, using a couple of coats of decoupage, I adhered the fabric cutouts to a plain white photo storage box. Layering most of the cutouts on top and intentionally overlapping some of the petals over the edge of the box achieved the casual look I wanted.

I often think of decoupaging only when there's paper involved, but fabric works well too! This project takes hardly any time at all to complete. Alternatively, try it on a hat box or any other similar surface.

Tequila Lime Tart

2009-06-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

I never promised that my posts would be entirely original or even feature projects created by me personally. So, I have to take this opportunity to brag on my dear husband who baked a spectacular birthday treat for me. Craving the sweet-and-tart flavor of a summer lime dessert, I suggested this recipe (Family Circle, July 2009 issue) to him.

Does the photo not say it all!? I mean, the man even garnished the top with crust crumbs and lime slivers! It was delicious, and I highly recommend the recipe (but please note, the baker is already taken).

Seasonal Color on a Budget

2009-05-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Planting perennials as the core of your landscaping and filling in with annuals based on the season can be a cost-effective way to ensure interest and color all year long. In my front bed (shown above), the perennials are already well-established and consist mostly of shrubs and groundcover.

Since I was on a tighter budget this year but still craving that burst of color for spring/summer, I got resourceful and divided two large mounds of perennial white Mexican petunias into 12 smaller clusters and spread them throughout the front of the bed in a checkerboard pattern. Then I purchased 24 dark purple salvia plants and four 1-gallon snapdragon mixes to fill in the gaps (shown below).

Like icing on a cake, you don't want to skip the mulch! It not only provides vital nutrients to the soil and captures moisture for the plants, but you can't deny it's aesthetic value. When I put down a fresh layer of mulch, it makes everything look new even though only a few of the plants have changed.

All in all, I spent $21 on flowers and $6 on mulch for the front bed that should last me until the fall. Not a bad price for instant curb appeal!

Polka Dot Birthday

2009-05-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

Polka dots were the theme for my sweet daughter's first birthday. I made her invitations by printing the details on a simple flat stationery card, then I used a circle cutter to make the balloon shape and attached the striped paper behind it.

I made her a circle-cut banner, hole-punched and tied together with ribbon; it was suspended across the window in the main party area.

Her 4-inch, two-layer smash cake was topped with homemade strawberry frosting (a little runny in consistency, but what can you do when your guests have already arrived!?). Party goers were served cupcakes with buttercream frosting and pastel M&M "polka dots." Foods shaped like circles were also a hit: bowls of cucumber wheels and crinkle-cut carrots with ranch dressing and fruit kebobs of alternating cantaloupe balls and grapes.

When we had Party #2 for local friends (I know, I know...from now on I'll only throw ONE party per year!), I was able to recycle much of the decor, including the circle pendants for the windows and extra balloons.

Weekly Meal Planning Tool

2009-04-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking for a system that integrates your recipe organization with weekly meal planning, consider this option.

I keep a three-ring binder with recipes I've clipped from magazines or printed out and taped or glued on the pages. Everything in the binder fits in a category like "Main Dishes," "Appetizers/Sides," "Breads and Breakfast," "Beverages," and "Desserts."

I do my meal planning once a week by picking out recipes and slipping them inside a clear page protector in the order I plan to use them. Then I hang the page protector filled with full-page recipe clippings on my fridge with magnets.

When it's time to cook something, I pull it down off the fridge and bring it to my work area where it remains spill-proof while I cook. Then I move the front sheet to the back and the next recipe is displayed for the following day's meal. At the end of the week, I return the recipe sheets back to the binder and start over.

Note: If one of the meals I've planned isn't in my binder, I put a sticky note in the mix of the week's recipes with the cookbook's name and page number for easy reference.

Confetti Fleece Rug

2009-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

A spinoff of the "rag rug," I made this two-color fleece rug for my daughter's nursery. Besides several hours of tedious work while watching TV, the whole project only cost $25.

Supplies:

2 yards dark pink fleece
2 yards light pink fleece
1 fish net (from craft store)
fabric scissors

Instructions:
Using fabric scissors, cut fleece into 1x6-inch strips and tie in alternating colors to the fish net. You should have enough fabric to make a 3.5 x 5 rug. Just trim the net down to the size you want. Fluff the rug and you're done!

Ladies Spa Evening

2009-01-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

Invite your girlfriends over for a relaxing evening of homemade spa treatments! These luxurious ideas are adapted from the book, Home Spa: Cleanse, Refresh, Relax by Jennie Harding.Make a "buffet" of spa treatment options by setting out all the ingredients along with cloth and paper towels for easy cleanup.

Geranium & Olive Oil Foot Scrub | Individual ramekins of sea salt on a tray make it easier for your friends to mix up their own foot scrubs and take them to where they are sitting to do the treatment. Simply use small, circular movements to rub the scrub all over feet. Wipe excess off with a towel after massaging in for 5-10 minutes.

Recipe:

2 t. fine sea salt (exfoliator)
6 T. extra virgin olive oil
20 drops essential oil of your choice (geranium or lavender oils work well)

Herbal Foot Soak | In small glass vases, display fresh garden herbs: thyme (cleansing and refreshing) and rosemary (stimulating and warming). Lavender essential oil (skin rejuvenating and soothing) can be substituted for the fresh herbs, if preferred. A generous bottle of milk makes for a luxurious option, adding a splash to the warm water. Soak feet in herbal water for 15 minutes to allow time for infusion.

Recipe:

Large plastic bowl filled half-full with warm water
Handful of herbs or 10 drops essential oil
Splash of milk (optional; softens the skin)

Marshmallow Swizzle Sticks

2008-12-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

I served these yummy marshmallow swizzle sticks along with homemade hot cocoa at a holiday party last week. The peppermint flavor punches up your average cup of cocoa, not to mention they make for a pretty and festive display! I bought the swizzle sticks in the dollar bin section at Target, but regular skewers would work too if you don't mind losing some of the "bling." :) They also make great Christmas gifts for co-workers and neighbors when packaged with a couple of packets of instant hot cocoa and (not-your-cheesy-holiday-type) white mugs.

Here's the recipe:

Make a thin glaze from powdered/confectioner's sugar and milk.
Crush candy canes or peppermint candy.
Dip marshmallows first in glaze, then in crushed candy.
Place marshmallows candy side up on a sheet of wax paper to harden.
Pierce one or two marshmallows on each swizzle stick or skewer.
Arrange on tray and serve with hot cocoa.

Robin Bird Birthday Party

2008-10-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

A bird theme was a natural choice for my mother's 50th birthday celebration. After all, her name is Robin! Held in the autumnal outdoors at Daingerfield State Park in East Texas, family and friends gathered for a weekend to honor this wonderful woman.

Gift Table | I created this framed 8x10 collage tribute in Adobe Photoshop, using scanned photographs from my mom's childhood layered with digital scrapbooking papers and embellishments. Going along with the bird theme, the text in the collage is a passage of selected verses from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 6:

"Look at the birds of the air ... are you not worth much more than they? ... Do not worry then ... for your heavenly father knows you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself."

The wooden frame is from Michaels. Paired with a simple glass Mason jar full of wild goldenrod and a sea blue table runner on clearance from Target, the gift table was complete.

Place Settings & Centerpieces | Guided by a color palette of yellows, blues and browns, a gingham fabric covers the picnic table and large glass jars filled with goldenrod and tied with ribbons serve as centerpieces. Small baskets (bought at Cost Plus World Market on 90% off Easter clearance) were filled with raffia paper and sprinkled with faux robin's eggs. Casual plates--already on hand--reinforce the color scheme.

Dessert | Adapting a recipe for Hummingbird Cake from Country Home Magazine, these cupcakes feature cream cheese icing topped with toasted almonds and coconut for the "nest" and three M&Ms Premium Chocolate Almond candies that mimic the speckled blue of robin's eggs. The cupcakes were displayed on a Wilton Cupcakes and More Medium Dessert Stand.

Happy 50th birthday, Momma!