DIY Christmas Decor-Part 2

Happy end of the weekend!  Hope you had a great one.  With my illness the last couple weeks I  am waaaay behind with shopping, decorating, and just enjoying it all. Thank goodness I am now my normal (?) self.  Now I need to slow down and soak in all of the glory and peace and love of the season.

I wanted to share some fun little projects I've been working on to spruce up the dining room.  On my last post, I shared my snowflake and red ornament window.  This is the same room, but there are some other projects that I wanted to highlight.  I haven't filled the tin pails with anything yet (I am trying hard not to buy much, and can't decide what to put in there, maybe lots of candy canes?).....

Isn't the chalkboard cute?  I have a set of three of them and they are fun to write little messages on!  There's more of that wrapping paper from the Target Dollar section..  I also plan to add some peppermints in the small mason jars you see at the top.  The whole room is done is simple silver, red, and lots of pinecones that I already had from previous seasons.  Unpacking my Christmas stuff was like Pine-cone-polooza.    I really tried to use what I had and be creative with fun little touches here and there. This is the dining room table, not done yet.  My kiddos sprayed simple wooden stars just like they did the snowflakes and we also glittered the pinecones.  I had extra silver bells, so I tossed them in there, too.  I had our red tray out on our porch I shared with you this past summer.

I have lots of these bead garlands that used to be on our tree and used them in this glass hurricane and also this wooden bowl.

More pincones.  Told you I had a lot. :)  I tucked glittered stars in random places.

Two of my favorite {very little} touches are the pine cone I painted white to make it look snowy then stuck in a tiny silver pail I had.....

and using a red pom-pom to add some fun to Rudolph, my silver reindeer.  He makes me smile every time I see him.

This room is bright, simple, and fun.  What little touches have you added to your rooms to make them festive?

DIY Christmas Decor-Part 1

Geez, I had totally meant to be able to get right back on the wagon and post all-week-long but life got in the way.  Or, should I say, more headaches and being 2 weeks behind on my schoolwork got in the way.  Ick.  I have fun things to show you but have not even had a chance to take pictures, let alone post about them!  I leave in the morning for work before it is light and when I come home, I hit the ground running to be a full-time mommy, wife, and domestic goddess. HA!

I was able to take a few pics the other day on a little project my hubby and I did.  You may remember my easy-sprayed-glittered snowflakes that the kids helped me with a while back?  I used those,  red ornaments in 2 sizes and types that I had on hand already, and some red and white baker's twine I  bought at Target last month.  I hung the snowflakes and red balls across the curtain rod that is on our front window in our dining room and voila! fun and festive look for very little cost and effort!  {tip on using baker's twine:  mine kept fraying...in order to stop it from fraying at the ends, dab a little white or craft glue at the end and it will harden clear and not fray!  woo hoo!}  Isn't it cute?  I love how it turned out!

Could you guess that the "table runner" on this table is wrapping paper from Target's dollar section? Score!

Sharing with:
Centsational Girl
Hi, Sugarplum!

Puttin' on the Glitz: Using Glitter Paint

While at the beloved JoAnn's today, I picked up some unfinished wooden snowflake ornaments and a bag of unfinished wooden stars ($3.99 for a bag 20 of small-ish assorted sizes).

The snowflake ornaments were $1.29 each but on sale for $0.77 each.  They came with a little red ribbon to hang them, which I took off because I am not going to use them as ornaments.

I bought a small can of silver spray paint for $3.99.

We gave these babies a coat or two of this paint, and let them dry.  Then we used glitter craft paint
in silver by none other than Martha.  I've used this paint before in another color and it has a translucent look to it that I love.  I let my two sweet youngest get in on the action and go over the snowflakes with this paint.

It's an amazing 67 degrees outside today in Ohio, so they could do this on the deck!  Didn't they do a great job?

We also sprayed the bag of wooden stars, let them dry and went over them with Martha's paint like we did the snowflakes.

I have plans for both the stars and the snowflakes and I can't wait to share how I incorporate them into our holiday decor!

I loved this glitter look so much, I had the kids then use the glitter paint to paint the edges of some cinnamon pine cones that I had.  It made them look like snow.  These pictures are before the paint dried, so it looks a little gloppy (is that a word?), but pretty none the less.

I love that we were able to create these easy, inexpensive projects that will be beautiful during the holidays.  Best of all, my kids were able to help create them.  Think of all of the ways you could use these!  As ornaments, hanging on mirrors or windows (which is what I am going to do with a lot of them, hint, hint...), adorning the outside of a gift you give.....the possibilities are endless.

What are you going to go glitter-ize now???

Sharing this project with:
Six Sisters Stuff
Tutus and Teaparties
Delightful Order

Day 6: Organization: Finding Hidden Potential

Just joining in?  Read the entire series {HERE}.

Hello! Welcome to Day 6!  So far we have talked about creating routines that will help us be less stressed and remembering the little things that we can do for ourselves to relax and enjoy more.

This weekend I am going to conquer some organization, a sure stress-buster.  For all of us being disorganized and having clutter causes us stress, wastes tons of time, and takes away from the joy in our homes.

Like many of you, I have lots of crafting supplies, acrylic paints, glues, fabrics, etc.  Some of you have these fantastic rooms or spaces to store them all in--lucky ducks!  There are certainly many of them out there on Pinterest and blogs to dream about.

I have been considering what to do with all of my supplies.  I don't have an extra room to turn into a crafting room or a room that can even be shared for this purpose.  Ashamedly, the 6 years that we have lived in our home I have stored our craft supplies in our master bedroom closet.  Yeppers.  Our closet has these strange "steps" since on the other side are the actual stairs that go down to our main level.  I have never known what to do with this space in our closet because it is awkward and hard to access.  However,  it is rather large and can hold lots of stuff, apparently even crafting supplies.

In writing my posts for the series, I knew that organizational projects had to be part of my posts and organizing all of my craft supplies was top of the list.

In our basement, which I've never spoken about because there's not much to it, (it's a partial basement that is finished and not too big) and although it's not nasty or anything, it's not really decorated or cozy.  However, it does have this massive set of white cupboards that were there when we bought the house.  They are utilitarian-looking, but hold a ton of stuff!  (Sorry the pictures are kinda dark, there are no windows in the basement.)

Today I want to show you about finding hidden potential in our homes.  I found it in these white cupboards.  Here is what is currently being stored in these babies:

My step-son's shoes and hats (since he doesn't have a real closet in his room, which is also in the basement):

 Photo albums, photo boxes, and misc. sentimental/important "stuff" (also needs to be sorted through and decluttered):

 Blankets, pool towels,  more "stuff":

Toys my daughter does not play with anymore:

Board games (these need to be sorted through and the ones we don't ever play need to be donated):

I think I know what you're thinking, right?  LOTS of wasted space.  HIDDEN POTENTIAL TO STORE MY CRAFT SUPPLIES!!!  Will I use all of these cupboards?  No, I don't need them all.  But can I put a couple to good use to organize my little heart out with those supplies?  YES!

This weekend I will be doing just that.  Remember, organization=less stress.

Here is where my supplies are currently being stored in the master bedroom closet.  Not pretty.

Finding hidden potential in your home is like finding treasure.  What spaces in your home are not being utilized to their full potential or can be better-suited for another need?

Stay tuned this weekend for some progress on these cupboards!

Using Old Books: {Meaningful Pieces}

When at my parent's house today I spied some books that I've had my eye on.  The books belonged to my sweet mom, who passed away last June.  She was an avid reader and had books for as long as I can remember.  Paperback novels, mysteries, old classics, you name it, she had it.

We have this giant set of bookcases in our great room (see past post about those HERE).  While I do love them and they nicely fill out our huge wall, they lacked, well, books.  I have accessories and pictures and other things to fill the shelves, but really no books.  Kinda embarrassing.  You see most of the books I have are paperback or not bookcase-worthy.  I have a few nicer, large "coffee table" type books, but not many.  So when I was looking through a bookcase at my parents' house today, I asked my Dad if he cared if I filled up a couple bags of books.  Of course he said "yes" so I went about sorting the types, sizes and colors I wanted to use in my bookcases and filled 2 paper bags. When I got home,  I set about finding spots for them in my bookcases:

I am loving the yellow horse head above, by the way.  It's this weird quirky thing that is sort of out of my comfort zone, but fun.  I found him on clearance at Marshall's.  I knew the hubby would give me his "look" when he saw him for the first time, but he's grown to love him.  At least that's what I'm sayin'.

I still have some work to do on the bookcases, still have shelves to fill and re-arranging to do.   I also am working on a strategic way to hide all of the electronic cords before I reveal the whole thing to you all. Soon I will be putting some hints of autumn in there...can't wait.   Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Linking Up to:
This Gal Cooks-Marvelous Mondays
Western Warmth
At the Picket Fence

Progress in Great Room=Fall-ish Pillows

We have lots still going on here at our house lately...projects that are 80% done, new projects waiting to be started, all the while I'm back at school and the 3 youngest are all in sports.  That is why it is taking us so long to get the other 20% of the projects done.  My hubby also had 2,000 pavers/bricks delivered yesterday.  Hmmm.  Says he's going to build a (huge) patio out back by our little pond he created.  Not sure when that is going to happen, but will be sure to fill you in along the way...

Meanwhile, I recently purchased some amazing fabric at my local Jo Ann's.  Oh how I love fabric.  Print and patterns make me a happy girl.  Since I am super picky when it comes to fabric, I was thrilled to find a new line made by Waverly that is fresh, colorful, and goes with our more rustic great room.  It's a little 70's if you ask me, but I'm okay with that.  I think it looks like the epitome of a fall palette.  Here are my purchases still on the bolts:

I love all three prints, but particularly the blue and the colorful chevron-looking one.   I am a novice sewer, but managed to use pillow forms to create a pile this pile of happiness:

I am loving these prints together!  They go wonderfully with our dark brown furniture and new floors and they are perfect colors for fall!

The only problem with having all of these pillows is our furry friend, Cole, will think he has the right to  sneak one off and out the doggy door for his personal chew toy.  I'm still working on how to prevent that.  Remember my {Pillow Trick} post this summer?   That has worked like a charm, but I tied those pillows with ribbon and there is no way to do that to these new pillows.

I have lots more to show you in our great room this month that we have been working on including our finished floors and trim, the bookcases back up, and some fall decorating.  Have a great weekend!

Linking Up To:
Western Warmth
At the Picket Fence

Family Information Station

Currently we have a bulletin board on a little wall in our kitchen that is connected to the dining room.

We've had it a while so the cork in it is pretty hole-y.  I used to write Sunday-Monday on the dry erase part to tell what was going on that week with practices, games, and appointments.  This summer I have been totally lazy about writing on it at all!

With school starting, I knew I needed to get my act together.  My step-son, Karch, is now a junior and the kicker for our football team.  My son Colin is going to junior high (help me) and plays on the 7th grade football team, and Riley is going into second grade and plays soccer!  Needless to say, we are going to be busy.  The little cork board and magnet-mounted-fridge calendar weren't going to cut it.

I totally changed how this little wall between our dining room and kitchen functions.

Enter the Board Dudes Dry Erase Calendar Board.  Love it.  Recently Jen from I Heart Organizing (AMAZING site) featured many of "The Dudes" products.  I found my calendar board for $15.99 at Hobby Lobby.  No, I did not have a coupon, but if you did, that would be a deal.  The board is large and magnetic.

I wasn't a fan of the white frame so I decided to give it a little character and paint it.  I painted it this pretty green, then used a sanding block to distress it some.

To take my board one step further, I typed out numbers 1-31 onto colored cardstock and laminated them for durability.  I put a tiny piece of magnet on the back.  I did this because I did not want to write the numbers in ....I knew they would get smeared when we wrote on the board.  With the magnets, each new month all I have to do is move the numbers where they need to go.

At the bottom of the board, I used Command hooks (the small, clear ones) to attach to the bottom.  I did not want to drill holes in the board in case in the future I don't use hooks anymore.  Command hooks allow me to take them off without the damage.   I used chipboard scrapbooking letters that I already had to label each hook with our three kids' initials.  (We have four kiddos, but one is at college)

I used plastic sleeves since they protect and have the holes on the side to put on the hooks to store the kids' schedules and other information that may pertain to the calendar.  Even though events and times are written on the calendar, sometimes I need to refer to the info. the coaches hand out like away-game directions.   This way the information is right there and I don't have to go to another place to find it.  Also, the boys like to have information, too, and they don't need to ask me where their papers are hiding.

As the school year starts, I may end up putting each of my children's school information sheets on upcoming events in here, too, since you can put many sheets in these protectors.   This way if they are looking for something, they know they can go to their hook and look in their plastic sleeve for it.

I also put up one of my frame-turned-message boards {see my post about how to make one HERE}  where we write items that we are out of and need to get at the store.  (And cleverly spelled out "GET" with the same scrapbooking letters I already had that I used for the kids' initials)  This is a beauty because if you have a phone with a camera, you can just take a picture of your list and you have it at the store with you!  I did this recently and was waaaaaay pleased with myself for thinking of it.  :)   I used the curtain tie-back that came with curtains I have to hang the frame.

To complete our little family information station wall, I added a paper flower I made out of a paper bag (see tutorial on THIS great site), a funky little wreath I had, and a framed "Love Your Nest" print I made.  I already had all of these items or all of things that I needed to make them, so the only thing on this wall that I bought was the dry erase board!

As we start to use our Information Center, I may need to tweak it or add to it to make it more user-friendly for our family.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and feel much more on top of things for when the school year starts.

Sharing this project with:
Romantic Home:  Show and Tell Fridays
The Shabby Nest
Honey We're Home
Tutus and Teaparties-A Pinteresting Party
I Heart Naptime
One Creative Weekend
Flour Me With Love
Funky Junk Interiors
I Heart Organizing
Six Sisters Stuff
Brassy Apple