Plate Clock

It's true that I've been missing for months now. I don't know what happened. It could have been the kitchen remodel, then a busy summer playing with our three kids, then school starting, and finally finishing our kitchen remodel. Needless to say I'm back. Over the weekend I visited my sister in Arizona. While dining out I came upon a beautiful display of plate clocks. I gushed over them for a couple of days. Aren't they pretty?

Then I told my sis I had to try and copy it. Granted mine is a simplified version, but hey, it works I'd say! I found my plate at Home Goods for $3.99 My brother in law kindly drilled a hole in the center with a diamond bit. Whew, it didn't crack. Finding the clock mechanism was handled with a simple search at our local thrift store (Deseret Industries). They had a whole pile of old clocks to choose from. After applying vinyl numbers I was set. I Can't wait to hang it.

Family Name Plaque

Have I mentioned we are remodeling our kitchen?! Along with a new kitchen comes my favorite part--new colors and accessories! The basics are starting to come into place and I'm already decorating the space. Yes, this is a little backwards, but I can help myself! Our local crafts store was closing a location in May and I loaded up a bit. I found this fabulous metal sign sign for $3.20 The quote wasn't really for me.

With a little paint and some magnetized stone letters we have a new family name plaque. I can't wait to hang it my completed kitchen.

Boxwood Topiary

Sure, you could buy a boxwood topiary, or you could make your own. It would probably cost you less to make your own. In my case, it definitely did. I found a tree form and some of these boxwood sheets for 75% off at Roberts Arts and Crafts.

This was simple enough to do. Cut the boxwood stems off the sheets and poke into the styrofoam tree form. Place in the pot of your choosing. Easy Peasy.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

This year our daughter's teacher sent home a wish list for teacher appreciation week. It's always nice to know what kinds of items are needed in the classroom, as well as what the teacher might enjoy. On her wish list was a potted plant. After talking with my daughter, I also discovered her teacher is often searching for regular pens and fails to have them on hand where she can find them. Here is our solution gift--pen flowers in pretty pot with some added greenery.

The pen flowers are simple to make. All you need is a pen, a flower, and some floral tape. Hopefully the next time she reaches for a pen she'll know just where to grab it and also have something pretty to dress up the classroom.

Pretty Pendant

This past week I went to the Oh Sweet Sadie Boutique and Gift Show. After seeing this sweet eggs in a basket pendant, I was inspired to try and make one myself.

Here's my copy cat version. I raided my scrapbook and jewelry making supplies to find the wire and silver jewelry bail. I already had the chain. After purchasing some simple pearl beads (I couldn't find any blue hued ones) and using some super glue, everything somehow came together.

Gluing Dishes

Here's a fun concept. Did you know you can glue dishes together with epoxy? At a church activity we glued plates and bowls or cups together to make cake stands. How cool--I mean really, there are endless possibilities, right?

Birthday Banner

We had a birthday at our house this past week. It was a good excuse to replace my paper banner with a more permanent fabric one. I got my pattern from Vanilla Joy.

Isn't she purty?

Chair Makeover

I found this fabulous chair at the DI a few weeks ago. About five other people were eyeing it. As a I carried it around the store looking for more finds, a couple of people commented that it was "a great chair." "Hands off baby.. it's mine," I thought.

Here it is with new life. It pained me a little to saw a couple of inches off the legs, but I needed a shorter chair.

This is part one of a larger project. That's all for now; I'm off to work on part two.

Making Silhouettes

I love my kids as all parents do. I wanted to capture that precious young age. Beyond a photo, what better way than a silhouette? They're most often seen in classic black and white, but I wanted mine to match our bedroom colors and decor.

Here's how they turned out.

This is what I started with.

I found my frames at Roberts Arts and Crafts in the clearance for about $6 each. I removed the wallpaper material and modge podged the silhouette images. The silhouettes are easy. I took a profile picture, cropped it accordingly, and printed it on a sheet size paper. I used the picture as a pattern to cut the silhouette out of scrapbook paper.

Silhouettes of my three little darlings hanging on the wall opposite our bed--much better to look at than our TV.

Faux Fish Tank for Great Idea Day

I just read on Infarrantly Creative's blog she is having a great idea day and anything goes. This idea comes from a while back. I decorated my son's room with an ocean fish theme. Rather than subject some innocent fish to having me as an owner, we decided to go with something other than the real thing. So here is our faux fish tank. I found a spare cabinet door with pebbly glass in the "As Is" section of Ikea for $2. All it needed was blue paper, some fun foam greenery, and pictures of fish and coral printed on photo paper. There are tons to choose from with a simple Google search. My youngest son loves to have me hold him up to the wall so he can look at all the fish. Not quite as good as the real thing but a close second.

Spring Easter Shadow Box

I found this craft challenge at Living with Lindsey and thought this little project I did would be a perfect entry. I think it qualifies, but if not that's ok and here's a fun idea for Spring Decor. I used a plain wood shadow box (claimed from my stash of clearance sale and thrift store frames in my basement). I used several colors of craft paint, crackle paint, a scrap of linen fabric, and little twine basket pieces (a thrift store find from last spring). I had all of these items on hand.

I went to the Wood Connection (a local wood piece store) and purchased plain wood eggs at $.25 a piece. I painted the eggs (using a toothbrush to create the speckling), hot glued them in the baskets, and sewed the baskets to the linen fabric. Then I wrapped the linen fabric around the backing that came with the frame and placed in the painted glass shadow box.

Total cost: $4.50 for the eggs

Sweater Pillow

Love it or hate it? Honestly, tell me. I saw one in blog land, and thought the one she made was beautiful--a white cable knit nestled perfectly on her tan linen oversized chair. The re-creation was a Pottery Barn knock off. The tag on the catalog pillow was $39.00 I have my own white cable knit sweater, but I love to wear mine too much to sacrifice it for the couch.

I found my sweater for sale at Dollar Tree. Yes, the Dollar Tree. I actually kind of liked the sweater but it was screaming "Old Lady" when I put it on. "This is one I can sacrifice for the couch or chair," I thought.

So tell me, what do you think, honestly? I can take it. Does it look like I forgot to put away the laundry, or a grandmother came to visit and forgot to take her jacket when she left? (Not my grandmother of course--she's a classy lady).

Spring Valentine Door Decoration

Love, love, love it when Christmas clearance can be transformed into something else. This sweet basket is from Real Deals on Home Decor.

With the berries removed, and painted and modge podged wood hearts, floral, and ribbon added, I have a brand new look. A little springy valentine to greet guests.

Mod Heart

Pretty Paper Mod Heart $7

Qty Available (2)

Made of wood

Dimensions 8 3/4 by 6 inches

Fresh and New

I always feel better when I surround myself with something fresh and new. What a better time then in the cold and bleak winter months? Here's a quick trick to liven up some plain pillows and bring a room to life. Take some fabric remnant pieces, buttons, or do-dads. Simply sew the pieces on in layers. You'll have a one of kind look to brighten your day.

I used a napkin, pieces of placemat, and vintage shower curtain ends. Who knew?