art display

Now that B is in Preschool, she brings home lots of artwork and schoolwork.  Our refrigerator was beginning to become quite cluttered.  Solution...

I know this is not at all original, however I thought you would like to see my inexpensive take on this great idea.

What do you need?

1. 2 nails and a hammer, hammer in the nails the desired distance
   
2. 2 decorations to cover the nail head
3. glue (I used a hot glue gun), glue your embellishments to cover the nail heads
4. ribbon or string, tie each end onto each nail
5. clothes pins, to hang your art
6. fabulous art, to display proudly

Happy Crafting.

before and after

I got a great deal on some old chairs I thought I would use for the kids' desks when they get older.  They needed a little love.  B and N picked their own colors.  B picked bubble gum pink, of course.  Here's a look... Before

After... what might you upcycle today?

We have been

busy little bees...  

We decided to tackle painting all the trim, crown molding, and cabinets in our 80's built house.  This was a BIG job, considering we are out here on our own (without our parents or babysitters for that matter).  All our projects are done in the wee hours of the night while the kids are sleeping or if they happen to take a nap.  

Here's a glimpse of the job that seemed to take FOREVER to finish...

Staircase and Entry BEFORE

Staircase and Entry AFTER

Cabinets (bathrooms, kitchen, and family room) BEFORE

Cabinets (bathrooms, kitchen, and family room) AFTER

Window sills (all 17) BEFORE 

Window sills AFTER

Crown molding BEFORE

Crown molding AFTER

It ended up being MONTHS of work, but it looks so much better and brighter.  

We love the results.

Old to New

I have been a little busy these past few months.  Painting, painting, and more painting.  If it's not one thing, it's something else.  

I love changing things up.  There's always a project in the works around here.  

I have wanted to find a plate rack to hang above my grandma's buffet for a while.  

Well, here is a cabinet we got at a garage sale for $5!  

A little paint and a visit from my parents.  My dad did his magic... lots of hard work and sweat (at least there wasn't any blood or tears) and and ta-dah!  Thanks Dad!

stretch that wardrobe

B has a few dresses from the end of last season that are still so cute, but a little short.  Quick fix from Mommy - I added a hemmed, gathered band of a cute fabric to the bottom (straight stitch).  Tada!  Like-new dress, one more season.  Love it.  Oh- I've done this to a few tops and tanks, too - B is in love with dresses.  

P.S. - happy weekend to you!

flower headbands

Maybe you need a quick weekend project for fun?  I whip these cute headbands out for B whenever she needs a little something to make her wavy hair less crazy or a bland outfit more fun.  She loves them.  

What do you need?  

• A flower - pretend, of course.  I go with felt or maybe a cute silk.  Buy or make your own.  You can cut felt out like a big flower, layer and add a button in the middle to hold it together.  
  
• Ribbon - 14"
  
• 1/4" Elastic - 4"
  

Sew the flower to the ribbon.  Sew (zig-zag stitch) the ends of the ribbon to the ends of the elastic.  Ta-da!  

care package

Have you ever been in a situation where you just don't know what to say?  I knew a friend needed a pick-me-up, something to know I cared, a bit of sunshine... I hope it helps.  N painted the birdhouse, we picked out all things sunny, and tossed them into a nest of tissue paper.  On its way to brighten her day.  

booster seat - covered phonebook

Another upcycling - repurposing project.  How many phone books does one house need?!  We get these delivered to our house all the time.  Funny thing is, the recycling company does not accept phone books (unless I rip each page out, which I've been known to do).  So, I decided to make a new booster for B.  We will keep one in the car, too, for times when we're out and in need of a boost. It's the perfect size.    

What do you need?  

Non-skid fabric 

Remnant fabric

Velcro (optional, if you want to make it removable)  

Cut fabric to fit each size of the sides, leaving a seam allowance.  Sew together.  

Leave one end open to insert the book and add Velcro or slip stitch closed.   

Ta-da!  Booster seat, recycled phonebook... Lovely.  

In the works

I'm working on some Recycling projects.  I'm really excited.  It involves one of my favorite things - COFFEE.  Can't go wrong with that!  Just in time for Earth Day.

Pretty it up

Garage sale find, $5.  Let me tell you, we didn't buy it like this... it was UGLY.  It had a cartoon character on it that I despise so much I will not even type the name.  It was suppose to be cute, but it was not.  I can see past the yuck in a lot of things.  White step stools at Target run around $25 and Pottery Barn Kids $69.  Yes - I can look past the yuck.  My total cost to reinvent this into something suitable for our family?  $7.  Isn't it beautiful now?  

Art please?

We moved into our house with virtually zero art and we had tons of space to fill.  I have a love for fabric - the different colors, designs... it's art and it's not too expensive.  

On to the walls it goes...

 

I love Oilcloth!

I made an oilcloth splat mat a few years ago, so B could have snacks and drinks in the living room... (we didn't do sippy cups).  Let me tell you - It has saved so many carpet cleanings and accidents.  It takes away the stress of possible spills.  Less stress = Happy Mommy!   We use it under our little table and chairs for snacks, we sit on it during messy crafts, we use it while we play with Play Dough, etc.  The list goes on and on...

 

The kids needed their own little totes for times when we drop them off at Sunday School or YMCA childwatch.  So, I let B pick out the fabric and happily, she picked "boy" colors.  I made their personalized bags with the oilcloth, straps, ribbon, and velcro.  They are the perfect size for a change of clothes and a snack.  B totes her bag to the library every once in a while, too... with little brother following not too far behind.

 

Tutu time

B is such a girly-girl.  Not sure where she gets it from, I'm a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal.  In a quest for all things girly we came across the tutu.  I make these simple, full tutus.  We have different colors, although B's current favorite is the pink one... of course

. 

While watching the Martha Stewart Show one day (way back when I must have thought I had time) we also came across the even fancier pettiskirt... a "must-have" according to Brinlee.  Kandi Lightner and Martha went through the steps of making these crazy little skirts.  They made it look so easy.  

Yikes - now that was a project (but she loves it)!  

 

Kissing ball

B and I made this cute kissing ball.  After looking through our wedding photos, she noticed our flower girls' kissing balls.  She wanted her very own, so we made it our project for the week.  (It wouldn't normally take that long to put together, but with a 3-year old and an active 18-month old, it was a bit more involved.)  Now it hangs in her room... very sweet.  

Let's Play

Trying to designate a specific play area in our family room was my goal.  It's a large room, however it is being taken over by the kids... not always a bad thing, but it's a space for Mom & Dad, too.  Now they have a place to put their books, toys, games, etc. on hand-me-down (but perfect) shelves.  We found the table at Pottery Barn Kids and the chairs online.   

 

I made their wall art from canvas, paper, craft letters, and paint.

 

decorating cents...

i needed something as original as my little gal...  i made the kids' windows fun with a bit of color and warmth.  this window treatment cost a total of $3.    

a few dots on the nursery wall with paint, coordinating fabric, 

and a soothing space for my little one was created...  

simple paint can do a lot for the look of a room for very little money.  i made the dots pop by adding paper balls above the crib.  and of course the bedding - the bumpers, quilt, and sheets, handmade by me.  they have been through two munchins, a girl and a boy.  can a girl go with the blues and greens?  in our family they do.  now she is 100% girl, pink and all the frills.    

Letters...

Crafting, projects, paint, etc.  My little girl, B, loves to do any of these things.  We worked together to create her favorite letter - the letter "B," of course!  Paint, paper, glitter and ribbon came together to shimmer and shine on her bedroom door.

 For B's birthday I made her name - same concept, no glitter.  

Letters, glue, paint, and paper.  

It was a fun project and a colorful addition to her room. 

  

Picture Blocks

I crafted blocks for our family using pictures of the kids, scrapbook supplies, paint and glue.  I got my inspiration from the Martha Stewart Show - Martha and crafter Ashley Steele made wooden blocks on her show.  Ashley Steele sells her work on Etsy.