Some Updated Toy Storage

These little toy crates were looking a little shabby.  Not the good kind of shabby though.  They were begging to be made over.

After a couple of coats of spray paint, they're not perfect, but much better.  Is it crazy that I'm already rethinking the color?  I'm just not crazy about how it looks with the wood tones in the room.  I just don't know.

This room feels like a never ending process.  I'm thinking a new paint color on the walls, some new hardware for the dresser and desk, and some new curtains are in order.  They're inexpensive and quick fixes that can pack a punch and change the look of the room.  In keeping with the rest of our house, this room would eventually have the doors and trim painted white.  We'll see how quickly these updates happen!  Stop laughing.

In my dream world, I would paint the dresser, desk, and bunk beds.  I would also have enough money to buy a new rug.  It is really too bad that rugs are so gosh darn expensive...

Paper Party Lantern

In our family, we have quite a few birthdays in the spring and early summer.  That means a couple of things.  There is a lot of shopping that needs to be done.  Presents need to be wrapped and, oh, how I love wrapping presents!  Then, there's the decorating!  Decorating for a birthday is fun!  However, decorating for a party doesn't mean you have to go out and buy balloons, streamers, and other fancy things.  You can make your own fancy things!  You can make paper party lanterns!  

Let me show you how.

You will need to gather your supplies:

12 inch x 12 inch paper (having print on both sides makes the lanterns extra special)

Ribbon

A hole punch

A pencil

A stapler

A ruler

Scissors

See?  This paper is double-sided.  Fancy, indeed.

Fold the paper in half.

On the fold, make a mark every 1/2 inch.

Using the ruler and your pencil, extend the mark, stopping at about a half inch before the edge of the paper.  You don't want to your line to go all the way to the edge.

Cut along the line.

Open up the paper.

Beginning at the bottom, start rolling up the paper.

Staple the edges together at the top and bottom.

Punch two holes on the opposite top sides of the paper lantern and thread the ribbon through the holes.  Hang your lantern and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

I can imagine many uses for these lanterns.  For example, making them out of vellum and hanging a bunch of them in a lit tree would make for a magical evening, outdoor party.  Or, making some in various sizes and in soft pastels would be pretty for a baby shower.

Thank you for reading!

I'm linking to:

Tatertots and Jello

Family Room Progress: Easy Pillow Covers Made From Cloth Napkins

We are continuing to plug along in our basement family room remodel.  The mantel needs one more coat of paint.  Jason wanted so badly to get it done before his spring break was over, but he caught a nasty cold virus instead.  I am so excited to share it with you though!  In the meantime, I made some pillows to help brighten the room up a little bit.  While shopping at World Market a couple of weeks ago, I spotted these napkins on clearance.  I had seen other people make pillow covers for throw pillows out of cloth napkins before so I thought I would give it a try.  Turns out, it was pretty easy and very inexpensive!

Each pillow required two napkins to make the covers.  The price for each napkin was $1.98, making each pillow a great deal.  I didn't need to buy any inserts because I was recovering some throw pillows I didn't care for anymore.

Here are the finished pillows.

While I was at it, I also made some covers for the living room.  These pretty yellow and brown napkins were a Pottery Barn clearance find awhile ago.  I love how throw pillows no longer have to be an expensive luxury now that I have something to sew with.  How thankful I am for that little machine!

Do you own a sewing machine?  What is your favorite thing to make with it?

Thank you so much for reading!

Chalkboard Easter Egg Place Cards

These chalkboard egg place cards are an easy, inexpensive, and fun way to decorate your Easter table. 

For this project you will need: 

plastic eggs

chalkboard paint

ribbon

Simply paint the eggs with a couple of coats of the chalkboard paint and let dry.  Use the ribbon to cover up the seam where each egg half joins together.

After your Easter table is set, write the names of your guests on each egg and place at each table setting.

This project was free for me because I already had all of the supplies on hand.  However, here is a little cost projection for you in case you do not have any of these items in your home already.

Plastic Easter Eggs from Target, Walmart, or the Dollar Store:  $1.98 or less

Chalkboard Paint from the Home Depot:  $4.98

Ribbon from Michaels:  $3.00 or less

Estimated total cost:  $9.96

(Obviously, the cost amount of this project is subject to what you are willing to spend or what is available to you at each store).

There you have it!  Have you completed any Easter or spring projects lately?  Let me know because I would love to see them!

Have a wonderful Monday!

I'm linking up to:

Home Stories A to Z

Centsational Girl

Tatertots and Jello

Pencil Cups

I haven't started working on my secretary desk yet.  I'm still paralyzed with indecision.  Also, until today, the weather here has been crummy.  I've decided to try some spray primer for this project.  I've read some reviews on it and everyone seemed to be pleased with the ease of application and the results.  As soon as the weather improves, Jason and I can haul the desk outside for a quick coat of primer and then we can get on to business.

In the meantime, I made some pencil cups to hold pencils, pens, and scissors inside my desk.  It was a pretty easy project to do on a day when the weather was crummy.  I gathered my supplies, which consisted of a clean can, some sharpened pencils, glue, and spray paint.

I glued those old, random pencils to the can until I worked my way around the entire can. 

Since I liked the first pencil cup I made, I made another one, just slightly smaller than the first.

With the smaller cup, I staggered the sizes of the pencils a bit more.

I then spray painted the outside and inside of both cups a glossy white.  To keep the bottom of the can from scratching anything, I cut out some white felt circles and glued them to the bottom of each pencil cup.

Now, about that desk.  The boys and I are headed to my favorite wallpaper store tomorrow so that hopefully I can find some inspiration for that desk of mine.

Bring a Little Spring In

I was at the grocery store last week and wandered into the floral section, which is pretty typical for me.  Those darn flowers lure me in there every time.  I can usually walk out empty handed and stick to my list, for fear of going over my grocery budget.  This time I got distracted by a sale on little pots of spring flowers.  For a couple of dollars, I got some pretty pink tulips in one ugly little paper wrapped pot.  After putting away the groceries (which for me is always the worst part about shopping, usually because I refuse to organize the fridge and pantry before I go) I put those happy spring flowers into a new container.

First, I put some rocks at the bottom for drainage.

 

Then, ever so carefully, I pulled those root-bound tulips out of that sad little pot.

I added a little potting soil and some moss, to make that dirt look less dirty.

Then I watered them and placed them in the sun in the living room.

 

 

Over the past few days, the other tulips have opened up and they are so pretty!

I've got spring on my mind, folks.  Too bad we're under a winter weather advisory today...  Hopefully whatever we get melts fast!

Those Fancy Bookends

I'm sure you've seen those toys turned bookends all over Pinterest or your favorite blog.  Well, I made some and I love them.  I don't know who did it first and unfortunately can't give credit where credit is due.  So, I'll just say this:  Thank you, who ever thought of spray painting plastic toys and turning them into bookends.  You made my bookshelves fun.  I'm forever grateful and I'll call you a genius.

The boys love the giraffes the best, because they look like they're licking the books.  Aah yes, little boy humor is fun!

Also, since we're talking Pinterest (kind of) you can follow me here, if you would like!  I'd sure like it if you did!

Yarn Wreath

I'm planning on making one of these tomorrow.  We'll see how it goes!  You know I'll share pictures, for sure.  I had planned on sharing pictures of our hike we took a couple of weeks ago, but my pictures are taking forever to load.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Image Found Via Pinterest

More pictures of the wreath can be found at this website:  Love That Boy.

Happy Friday!

Tiny Little Chalkboards

Hello!

Fall is here!  The temperatures are in the 60s here where I live and I am loving it.  I actually made soup today for supper.  I found a recipe for a Rustic Italian Soup and put my own spin on it.  It was wonderful to have soup simmering on the stove all day and my boys are big fans of soup of any kind.  There isn't much left in the pot!

I would like to share with you today some small chalkboards I made for our house.  My sister was married last November and did these for her wedding.  She wrote various things on them and had them placed on her greeting table, her favor table, etc.  I first bought some basswood plaques from Michaels.  I think my sister bought hers from Walmart.  I gave them a light sanding before painting them because they were a little rough.

I painted them with two coats of chalkboard paint.

The directions on the canister of chalkboard paint instruct you to color all over the chalkboard and then erase before writing anything on it.

Here they are!  Just a little somethin' to write on.  I've been writing our menu for dinner each night on one.  The other one I have sitting on our hall table by one of my Halloween vignettes, which I'll share soon

What do you think?  Do you use chalkboard paint at your house?  What have you painted with chalkboard paint lately?  Please share!  I'm always up for a comment or a new idea!

Have a great day!