1.28.2015

DIY Felt Valentine Decor

I usually stick to paper projects, because, well...
I know paper. Sewing. Not so much. But I do
always have felt lying around, not sure why. 
I seriously should've been a school teacher with 
all the variety of craft supplies we have holed up
in our home.

DIY Felt Valentine Decor

More Valentine Decor was in order, so I whipped 
out my stash of felt, cut a few hearts and started 
stitching them together with bakers twine. Don't 
look too closely, there are a TON of mistakes but at
least the stuffing isn't coming out! 

DIY Felt Valentine Decor

My 7 year old son was quite interested in the new
little heart pillows on our coffee table and wanted
to try his hand at sewing too. 4 tiny handsewn pillows
later, I think I've found a new 'busy' project for him.

DIY Felt Valentine Decor

I hot glued the white center hearts on first before
sewing the red pieces together, leaving a little slot
to poke the stuffing into and then finished up the
hearts...with wine, of course!

DIY Felt Valentine Decor


1.24.2015

Valentine Heart Banner - Kid Craft

Got all four of my chickens involved in decorating this
year for February. I die cut out these hearts in white cardstock,
and let them go to town with craft paint and Q-Tips. 

Valentine Kid Craft Heart Banner

Love those sweet little hands...

Valentine Kid Craft Heart Banner

Valentine Kid Craft Heart Banner

After the hearts were dry, a simple hole punch for
ease of threading bakers twine (or you can use yarn)
and then die cut letters to spell your desired phrase.
You can also use stickers or draw directly onto 
the dry painted hearts with a sharpie marker, 
if you don't have die cuts for lettering.

Valentine Kid Craft Heart Banner

Happy Decorating!!

1.23.2015

DIY Valentine Decor Amore

After taking down our Christmas decor, the house
felt a little barren and although I love a clean and
uncluttered house, I also love holidays!

DIY Valentine Decor AMORE

We are lacking in the Valentine decor
department, so when I spotted these cool
metal letters at Michael's...I put them back.
Really. I did. I put them back and walked away.
Mainly because there wasn't an "o"...and then
I walked past the Valentine row and spotted 
the perfect "o", the red metal cookie cutter
heart. I quickly ran back and snatched up
my letters and then headed to Home Depot.
Happy girl, happy girl!!!

DIY Valentine Decor AMORE

Picked up 3 fence panels since another project
is in my head, in the works.
Just a two foot section was cut for this craft.
It needed to stand up, so a piece of scrap wood, 
an angled cut & some screws fixed that.

Already had the pink Americana Decor chalk
paint on hand, so I quickly got to work painting.

DIY Valentine Decor AMORE

Of course a coffee break between the two coats.
Finished up the edges with a bit of white chalk paint.

DIY Valentine Decor AMORE

I used the two pots of paint to balance the board on while
spacing the letters and hot gluing. If you wait a couple of 
seconds, the glue is the perfect temperature to smear into
the cracks with your finger without losing layers of skin.

A quick cut with an exacto knife to remove any visible glue 
that seeped out from the tops of the letters and voila!

That's Amore!

DIY Valentine Decor AMORE


1.16.2015

Easy DIY Painted Stripe


Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover


Checking 'to do' items off our list, one of which
was touching up all the paint in our home. With little
fingers and tiny thrown toys at times, our walls had
a few dings that needed repaired and touched up. 

This dresser had one of those beloved dings on the 
top drawer and it has bothered me for over a year.
I already had the blue paint out to touch up the 
large horizontal stripe that goes around our sons room
and decided to 'fix' up their plain jane white dresser
from IKEA while I was at it.

Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover

I eyeballed my first tape line, then grabbed a ruler 
for the second to make sure I was even from each end.
A little hole filler - no sanding on anything - a foam
brush and paint. 

Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover

First coat...I waited until completely dry. I set a mini
fan in front of the dresser to help quicken my drying
time, since my todo list seemed miles long, isn't it 
always, haha!

Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover

Second Coat

Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover


and Third Coat...you can still see a bit of the ding
but it's not as noticeable now that the dresser is painted.
I wanted to make sure the paint would hold up to my boys,
hence the third coat.

Easy DIY Painted Stripe - Furniture Makeover

 Peeled off the tape and am in LOVE with the new look!
 Have you painted anything in the new year?



1.15.2015

Valentine Heart Mini Cupcake Toppers

Valentine Heart Mini Cupcake Toppers

Who's getting geared up for Valentine's Day? 
These sweet little heart mini cupcake toppers are
sure to put a smile on anyone's face this February 14th.

Valentine Heart Mini Cupcake Toppers

Just listed 4 sets of these in the Etsy Shop...
Happy Heart Making!!

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand - Jingle All the Way

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

Since we just took down our tree and Christmas decor this past
weekend, this post is the perfect way to finish up the holidays
this season. Christmas can still be in January, right?!

This chalkboard is an oldie but goodie. My Great Aunt
taught me K-2nd grade and we each had our own chalk
boards in our desk. Dominos, flash-cards, chalkboards, 
these are the things that built my early education
(and no, it wasn't a little one room school house).

Now of course, until Pinterest and of course the internet,
I had NO idea you could actually sharpen chalk, wow!

No printer ink, no lines, no tracing...I hand sketched
and RE-sketched. Colored and RE-colored, Wiped and RE-wiped
until I was able to come out with the letters I was looking for.

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

I'm a lefty too, so until Sharpie fine tipped markers
came around, I've had the mark of a right brained
person on my left hand. In purple ink, pencil, marker,
you name it...I made sure to not let my hand rest
on the chalkboard while I was sketching, now
that would've been a disaster!

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

I added a bit of holly and berries at the end, they added
just the perfect touch of color without taking away from
the lettering.

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

DIY Chalkboard Art Freehand

Did you try your hand at any chalk lettering over
the holidays or any other time? Add your post link in
the comments, I'd love to see your creations!


1.03.2015

Holiday Teacher Gifts

If you're looking for a one of a kind teacher gift, look no further
than a personalized stamp! I picked up these beauties from
Pick Your Plum and the teachers LOVED them!

Holiday Teacher Gifts

Of course Target has some amazing pens, mini clipboards,
pads of paper, mini note pads and much more. 
I love to 'theme' our gifts and of course when they 
match, all the better!

Holiday Teacher Gifts

If you've got a budding artist on your hands, have them
draw a picture of their teacher and frame it, a true
one of a kind gift that will be cherished...

Holiday Teacher Gifts

A simple but fun (and not so Christmasy) tag for 
the bag filled with all sorts of goodies. I didn't include 
them all in the photos but some new lip balm, nail polish,
treats, tea...anything that you yourself would love
to receive, is a thoughtful gift for someone who
spends a great deal with your child throughout 
the year. Remember it's not about price but
more about thought...

Holiday Teacher Gifts

I made a few note card with the stamps for each teacher
and clipped them to the mini clipboards, so they are 
ready to use as a thank you or note.

What are some of your favorite teacher gift ideas or
memorable items you've received from your students?