Front Door Facelift

As Eleanor and I were out watering our plants yesterday morning, I looked at the "cans" that I have had sitting by our front door for a couple of years--well, actually since our wedding since they were used to hold flowers at our wedding--and they were empty. And sad looking.

I really like them but thought they needed a little something. Also, don't mind the rose bush, it isn't staying there, we just haven't decided on it's permanent home yet. I had a few errands to run and they happened to be by the dollar store in our area so I figured I would pop in a peek at their fake flower selection. I am not always a huge fan of fake flowers but I figure that not a ton of people go in and out of our front door and obviously guests won't be thoroughly examining them, so I figured for this spot it would be okay. Actually I am not a huge fan of dollar store fakes. The ones at Michael's have come a long way and can actually look quite real.

Anyway.

I picked a few out and I still need to do a bit more adjusting but I think they look pretty good and help the cans not to look so drab.

I don't know why this excited me so much. Probably because it was a quick, easy and cheap spruce. It's the little things, people! 

Any spruces around for you these days?

Finally, Some Hair Bows

So when we found out we were having a girl, I didn't race out and buy tons of headbands, hairbows or accessories. I don't really know why. Don't get me wrong, I love a baby girl with a headband or hairbow just as much as the next person but I just didn't get the itch to do that.

Well, when I met my baby, she greeted us with a full head of dark hair. To me, right away, that distinguished her as a girl. I don't know why I thought that because I know there are a lot of boys born with lots of hair to but for some reason, I still didn't accessorize her head much.

I also would always think,"Oh, we are just at home, we don't need to put anything on her head," or ,"I don't want to put something on her head and then have her rub it off in her carseat or have it irritate her." I think I just didn't have a lot of logical thought for awhile, so let's face it, my cute baby girl, wasn't accessorized much. She also wore a lot of jammies. Hey, it was winter, okay?!

Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I was checking out one of my favorite daily reads she talked about one of her sponsors and a really cute website to get hair accessories. Okay, I will also confess right now, I think that a lot of hair accessories for babies are way overpriced. Hence, my new love for Polkadot Posies! Her products are great quality, inexpensive and I ordered them, I think on a Monday or Tuesday and they arrived that Friday. I ordered two headbands and three bows that can be interchanged. My total, with shipping was around $10. Awesome.

Excuse this cell phone pic. Just wanted to get
one of the actual model! ;)

I really would love to be creative like this girl and make cute hair accessories {I mean, seriously, her bows are the cutest!} and, guess what? I bought some supplies to do so thinking it would be nice to have a quick and easy craft during Eleanor's naptimes but then she starting the whole napping-on-mom-quite-often thing so that hasn't worked out quite yet. I did make her a quick clip one day:

Anyway, I was not compensated to write this, I don't even know who is behind Polkadot Posies, but I just wanted to share my find, it's cuteness and affordability and thank AP!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Time to spice up the mid-week lull with some things that I am loving this week!

I am loving ...

New Shows:

Source

Source

A couple recipes to try:

Source: zenfamilyhabits.net via Allyce on Pinterest

Source: skinnytaste.com via Allyce on Pinterest

Some crafts for the house:

Source: bluecricketdesign.net via Allyce on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Allyce on Pinterest

Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Allyce on Pinterest

{linking to:}

A Little Cabin Fever Leads To...

Too much time on Pinterest.

Between feeling like I only have short windows with the babe and her feeding and sleeping schedule and snow that just won't stop outside, I resort to pinning. I want to get a little list going of some projects that I may tackle once I feel like I have a little more semblance of a schedule. If that ever happens. For now, I dream.

I don't have a mobile yet for Eleanor's room and it is already apparent that she really loves things hanging over her head to stare at so here are some options.

Source: ohhappyday.com via Nicole on Pinterest

 

Ribbons would be super cute, easy and I could most definitely get colors to go along with some of the colors in her room.

Source: marthastewart.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Again with the east of these mobiles and being able to interchange colors. I could use the scrapbook paper that I used for her banner to match, I already have that on hand so it wouldn't cost money for the pieces. I would just need a form of some sort to hang them off of.

Source: laybabylay.com via Joelle on Pinterest

We love animals around here so these are super cute. I don't know how capable I would be of making them but they may be just be cute enough to order. Maybe. Well, never mind, I just checked the website and they are definitely pretty spendy. Cute, but spendy!

Moving on, I would love to put together a simple wreath for spring. I don't know how I can be thinking of spring when it is a blizzard outside but I am. 

Source: thirtyhandmadedays.com via Haley on Pinterest

I don't know if I love these colors--well I like them well enough but I just don't know about on our front door--however, I love the design and they look easy enough. 

Source: tatertotsandjello.com via Charlene on Pinterest

Gosh, I sure wish I could have the patience to learn how to make all of these flowers. So cute!

Source: makingitfun.blogspot.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Very cute if I had leftover fabric. Or found some cute fabric on sale. I love all of these bright colors.

Well, that's it for now I guess. I think Baby E may have just given me a present...

I will get back to a more normal schedule and will have time to craft once again. However, for now, the crafting items remain in the closet and pin my life away. *Isn't it funny that we use pin as a verb now and everyone knows what we mean?*

...Annnd I Finished a Looming Project

I love pennant banners. I don't know why, I just think they add such a cute, fun touch to a room or a party. Ever since I started looking at nursery inspiration, I knew I would want one in Eleanor's room.

*Some inspiration*

Source: hisugarplum.blogspot.com via Allie on Pinterest

Source: dogpile.com via Lucy on Pinterest

Source: hogwash3.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I made a pennant banner this summer for my friend's shower. I loved the way it turned out and vowed I would make one for my baby's room too. Well, a couple weeks went by. A month. Two. Finally I picked out some paper for my banner. Then a couple of weeks later I cut out the pennants. Then this past week I actually assembled the banner. 

To get my pennants to stay on the rick rack, I used these teeny, tiny multi-colored brads. For some reason when I think of brads, I think of those bright gold things that teachers used in elementary school. {Anybody else?} So I got these really cute ones and, let me tell you, there were a hundred other choices!

The assembly process.

Annd, the finished product. {I will do pictures of the whole nursery soon!}

There will be a personalized painting on this wall as well.

I hope everyone has a fun time shopping today. We may venture out just to have an outing but for the most part, our Christmas shopping will be done from the comfort of our living room. As well as putting up our Christmas tree. Happy Black Friday!

"Art," A Place to Lay Her Head, Some Joes and a Random Chicken

So there is another crafting supply that I love almost as much as mod podge. It is scrapbooking paper. I know, kinda random. And simple. But honestly when I can create fun, quirky "artwork" for my daughter's {did I really just type "my daughter's"?!} room for around $5 per piece of "artwork," I really can't pass that up! I got some cheap frames in 2 packs at Ben Franklin and while I was originally going to spray paint them to make them more colorful, nothing was really standing out to me in the color department so for now, they are brown and white which look fine to me. This is the beginning of a frame collage but I just think it's so darn cute I thought I would share now.

I guess my approach to sharing the nursery is bits and pieces and then a "big" reveal when it's "finished." If I will ever say it's "finished." To see some of the furniture check out this post.

Birds on the left, then monkeys, alphabet and numbers, then
lions-hippos-alligators

I made these lil' guys a few months back with my two favorite crafting supplies plus wood and some paint and I am so happy to finally hang them up. They are just 4x4 pieces of wood with paper mod podged on and then Ben stapled some pop tabs to the backs to hang them. There are two of each style.

Ben and I went and got our crib mattress this past weekend. I know, I know, I'm sure it's pre-mature because we obviously have no intention of putting her in there right away but I couldn't resist putting her bedding on any longer.

I guess you could say our "theme" for the room is colorful. We are loving it so far!

Sunday we had philly cheesesteak sandwiches which we made out of a chuck roast with peppers, onions, and provolone.

The next night, we still had some of the roast left and for some reason, Sloppy Joes came to mind. So I looked up Pioneer Woman's Sloppy Joe recipe and it was delish. And super easy. Made from all things I had on hand plus the leftover meat and bread.

{Sorry about the weird shadow at the bottom. Still getting used to the new camera.}

Tonight's dinner. Kind of weird. I had a whole chicken on hand. So I put some barley, garlic, onions, a packet of french onion soup and some chicken broth in the crock pot and then put the chicken on top. In a couple hours I plan to add zucchini, green pepper, carrots, mushrooms and maybe some crisped up bacon. Kind of a "clean out the fridge" kind of meal. Shh, don't tell Hub, he usually likes anything that comes out of the crock pot. 

Yeah, raw chicken isn't really that appealing.

Well, except that one time I burnt something in there. Who burns something in a crockpot? Oh, I do when I put teriyaki sauce in there and it's pure sugar so it burns to the botton. Nice.

Sorry about the random post but these were all things I wanted to share and didn't think they each needed their own post.

Happy Wednesday!

Babies Galore!

When I found out I was pregnant I think I knew about 12-15 others who were as well. 2 of these include my two best friends. This past weekend, we threw a shower for my friend who is due in October. She is having a boy and although we didn't really have a theme, we tried to keep in boy colors and I made her a banner in the colors of the crib bedding.

I wanted to try my hand at a diaper cake so I enlisted my other pregnant BFF and we dove in headfirst. It was actually really simple. We looked at a couple tutorials online and here is what we came up with:

We were pretty proud of our creation and the ribbon really made the whole presentation. Even though she is having a boy, I thought the green flowers added a really pretty feminine touch. You know, since our friend is female.

I got the idea for my banner from the "One" banner shown in this post and sort of recreated it with my own vision. I gathered my materials: scrapbook paper, a paper cutter, rick rack, newspaper, pinking shears, hot glue and darling mini, mini clothes pins:

I cut the scrapbook paper into triangles/pennant shapes. And cut the newspaper into circles and then cut around the border with the pinking shears for a scalloped edge.

I then glued the rick rack to the fronts of all the pennants. I thought it was cute in the front but you could glue it to the back if you like that look better. Then I stenciled my letters to each newspaper circle. They haven't 100% decided on their name yet so I just used their last name. I then pinned all the letters to the pennants. Easy peasy!

I tried to keep in tune with the bedding colors and she is also using giraffes in the theme so I made sure to use giraffe print. I thought it turned out pretty cute and if she decides to put it up in the room, she can easily switch out the letters to spell his whole name.

Here are some more pictures from the fun day:

Very proud of her fruit pizza.

The gifts from great friends.

The guest of honor in the middle.

Two of four co-hosts. Me and my other pregnant BFF.

Enjoying each gift.

The whole group on what turned out to be a beautiful day.

Now, I just can't wait to meet little, baby boy Mack! So happy for this family!

Fun with Mod Podge

I love Mod Podge. Seriously. It is pretty much one of the greatest inventions ever. It makes me feel super creative yet it doesn't make me feel challenged to the point of wanting to quit the project and never come back. Like my sewing machine does sometimes. My mom and I have something in the works {more information on this to come later} so I have been working on some projects for it. 

I really love old music books and music sheets. They are whimsical, vintage and can be dressed up or dressed down. I had some canvases from a previous failed project that I pulled out and Mod Podged with some music sheets and some pretty cliche sayings. But I think they are cute and fun!

Materials:

Mod Podge, sponge, paint brush, punch out letters {I know, taking the easy way out. No stenciling or free-handing for this girl!}, old music sheets, canvases

Cut the music sheets to fit the canvas. I leave the edges to be painted the color of my choice. For these I did black. 

Spread Mod Podge all over the canvas. I find this is easiest with the sponge. Spread Mod Podge on whatever side you decide is the "back" of the music sheet. Adhere to the canvas making sure it is lined up properly with all the corners. 

I wasn't too careful with making sure there was no rippling or bubbling from the Mod Podge because I think it adds to the "vintage" look. 

Allow this to dry. Adhere letters or words of your choice with whatever letters you are using. I just used these punch-outs because I got them on sale at Tuesday Morning. {Weirdest store ever, by the way. Have you ever been in one?!} 

Apply one final layer of Mod Podge over the whole piece, front and sides included. Enjoy your masterpiece!

Burlap Wreath

I haven't really done any projects lately. I have kind of been working a lot. I know, I know, it's really no excuse but for some reason keeping the house in order and reading have been taking priority over "crafting." The other day I had to make a Costco run so I stopped off at a couple of other stores along the way. You may be familiar: Micheal's and JoAnn Fabric. I, apparently, was feeling creative that day and there were a few items on sale so I picked up some things to help me complete some quick projects.

I started out with a wreath. I spoke briefly about my strange love of wreaths. I don't know what it is about them. They seem welcoming. They can be full of anything really. They can be country, modern, primitive, crafty, country bumpkin--Ahhh, the possibilities are endless. I felt our front door was looking a little bare after our Christmas season wreath came down so I got the idea here. So here is my version.

My materials included some burlap, a wreath form, scissors, twine, straight pins, hot glue, buttons, fabric and felt.

I cut three long strips of burlap. 4"x70" and then ended up cutting a bit more to get it all wrapped around the wreath form.

Here it is wrapped around the form.

Then it was time to stitch thread through the burlap to make the ruffle, however, my thread was way to thin. So, I found some twine and a nail and used that instead. Kind of makeshift hand-stitching.

Once the thread twine is through the length of the strip, pull the end of the thread to make your ruffle. Then I just fit it around the form and pushed straight pins in {which I think mine may have been too small} then reinforced those pins with hot glue.

This is where I kind of strayed from the Jones Design tutorial because my ruffle wasn't looking how I wanted and coinciding with what she said was supposed to happen.

So instead of putting the other ruffle on the other side of the wreath form, I just pinned and glued it more inside the wreath form and layered it on top of the other ruffle.

I figured now it was time for some embellishment because it was looking a little drab and that was what I was trying to change about our sad front door. I was peeking over at Tatertots yesterday and came across this post. I noticed the design of the greyish pillow and decided to do a version of it for the flower on my wreath. I cut out a big circle of felt for the backing and began cutting out hearts of a decorative fabric.

I glued them all around.

And layered and glued and layered and glued and ended up with this. I also had some buttons on hand that I used for the center.

I am pretty happy with the outcome and even more happy to just have something on the front door. Here she is in all her glory to welcome the Hub home tonight!

Happy Friday!

What are you all crafting lately? Are you as obsessed with burlap as I am? Are you snowed in at all so that gives you an extra incentive to complete some crafts?