Spicing Up Our Kitchen

When we moved into our place I knew I wanted the colour changed, I love white walls so taupe just doesn't do it for me. We rent from the most wonderful woman / friend and she is so fabulous when it comes to creating a space we love. Want to paint? Go ahead. We're really so lucky & grateful. White walls and pops of colour, that's what I wanted. I went out, got paint and surprised Cory when he got home from work, "Hey Hun, we're painting tonight!" hahaha. The end result- I love it, it is so bright and cheery.

Before

Before

After

Adding pops of colour:

- table cloth is a piece of fabric that I found in the clearance section of the fabric store- $5 for a meter

- chalk art, my flowers and the alphabet for Anna

- fresh flowers

Adding pops of colour:

- a mason jar with teal paper straws that I found at Target for $1.99

- coloured kitchen tools that I already owned & a teal mason jar lid (2 for $5!)

- painted wooden spoons, 2 packages of spoons for $2 each and then paint I had (paint was on sale for $0.99). These spoons are for looks only.

- chalk sign I found at Michael's for $1.50

Adding pops of color:

- painted mason jars... I love a painted mason jar

- goblets I found at Target, 4 for $3.99

- blue mason jar and blue electric cover I found at an antique market . I paid $16 for the jar and $5 for the cover. These were my most expensive decorative purchases when adding color to the kitchen. 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

With Mother's Day just around the corner I wanted to share a few gift ideas that I put together to celebrate this special day. This year I also wanted to celebrate a few Momma friends of mine as well as my own Mom. 

These gifts didn't cost a lot of money and all the decorative touches I had on hand. I didn't want them to be complicated but it was important to me to have them be special and have a handmade touch. 

As far as I am concerned you can never go wrong with flowers & chocolate. I put the tulips in a mason jar & tied a fabric bow. I found the chocolates at Safeway.

The first photo is a cookie packaged in a glassine bag. I had intended on baking homemade cookies but decided against it considering I have been sick... that and it was easier to lay on the couch and sleep. I folded the bag top down, added the fabric, pattern paper, a stamped tag and then sewed it all together. 

The second photo is a little nail love package. The cloth bag I had from a past purchase from Studio Calico. I then sewed on crepe paper and the pattern papers and stamped tag.

This is my favorite mug and I think every woman should have one so they can open their cupboard in the morning and be greeted by this sweet message. In this is a box of the chocolates and a gift card to Starbucks. I added a flag that I created using a paper straw, pattern paper and a stamped sentiment.

This is a candle paired with a mason jar I filled with lavender epsom salts. To glam this up I painted the lid rim, added fabric over the lid and then tied on a stamped tag & metal heart clip with ribbon and twine.

Plants are always great gifts (well I think so). I put the plant in a pot that I had spray painted gold and then added another of those flags from before. It looks pretty cute with the flag and it has me thinking more of my plants need flags.

I am not too sure what we're doing for Mother's Day around here I just hope that whatever bug I currently have is gone. I do know that I get a delicious breakfast, I am just trying to decide between french toast, pancakes and eggs benedict. Other than that I just really hope our weather turns around and stops being miserable so that we can get outside and enjoy some sunshine. I have been cooped up for too many days.

For all you Momma readers- Happy Mother's Day! Have a wonderful Sunday!

xo

A peek into our bedroom.

Some of you might remember when I posted about my office/studio tour, about five months ago we moved my office back downstairs and our room back into the master. I confess I was a little sad but the decision was based on the lack of sleep we were all getting. Anna was having a tough time sleeping through the night and I though that if we were just down the hall from her room it may make a difference (it did for a while but then she went back to sleepless nights). I have grown to love my cozy room with the sun shining in and as for my office- it's a work in progress. 

Here's a peek into my space...

This is a DIY headboard (will talk about at the end) make from old boards Cory got from work.

Bedding set is from Home Sense.

Walking in.

Three of my favourite prints/pictures. 

A Kal Barteski print, Anna's drawing of our family and a wedding picture.

Top left clockwise: a thrifted serving tower turned jewelry holder, stems from Ikea, 

jars turned candle holders, part of my heart rock collection.

Thrifted chair (love how chipped & peeled the paint is) turned stand, the first original art I have ever bought- an embroidered owl from Simply Stated Design. Every time I look at it it makes me so happy. Side note: I also think it would make a gorgeous tattoo! 

Metal bust from Home Sense that I use for jewelry and the scarves I am currently wearing. 

A close up of that fabulous owl!

Headboard DIY

I had always wanted a headboard and when Cory came home with a bunch of old boards from work to make a planter box I had a different plan. I didn't want the project to be complicated so I came up with the easiest method of creating a headboard I could think of. Cory put it together for me and I pretty much supervised the whole project. You know- the usual- he's good to me. The end result... I love how it turned out!

Supplies:

7 @ 1x8 boards

pewter screws

grey stain

a brush for staining 

old cloths

drill, tape measure, level

- We measured how high we wanted the top horizontal board to sit (less one inch) above the bed, this was to determine how long the two vertical 1x8's needed to be. The less one inch comes into play because I didn't want to see the tops of the vertical 1x8's, with them an inch shorter you can't see the wood. We cut down the two vertical boards.

- We then measured how far past the bed we wanted the horizontal boards to sit. The horizontal boards were and didn't need to be cut.

- I then chose which order and which way I wanted the boards to face. I wanted the boards who had markings like knots to be facing and near the top. Cory then stained the boards. 

- Cory then attached the horizontal boards to the verticals. Each horizontal board has 4 screws on each end going into the verticals. We used a level and measuring tape to get the most accurate spacing on those screws

- The headboard is attached to the wall just below the bottom board with screw and anchors.

DIY Pillows

I made these pillows with Valentine's in mind but will be keeping them out on the couch much past February 14th. 

To create these pillows I used my Silhouette Cameo (which we sell at Treasured Memories) to cut out the statement and the heart stencil. The "love you more" pillow is made with heat transfer vinyl. I cut out the phrase and then ironed it on. For the heart pillow I cut out a large heart from cardstock, added double sided tape to the back of the heart and stuck it down to my pillow case (it peels away with the paper and did not leave any residue). I then covered any part of the pillow case that was still showing with scraps of paper to protect the case. I sprayed in the heart space with a spray adhesive and then sprinkled red glitter all over the surface. Warning- this one is messy, glitter everywhere messy. It's hard to tell in the photo but the glitter is awesome! I could have gone heavier in some spots with the glitter but think that I didn't have enough adhesive in those spaces where it isn't as thick- something to remember for the next time I get the urge to go crazy with the glitter. As for durability and longevity- I won't be able to wash this glitter pillow- not too worried. Can you sit against it? Yes.. but you will leave a little bit sparklier than when you came. This one is a decor piece, not for sleeping on. The phrase pillow should be fine in the wash and the vinyl doesn't rub off so you can use this one as you would any other pillow. 

I have a thing for DIY pillows, maybe because I am too cheap frugal to buy fancy pillow cases but whatever the case I love these two and don't mind glitter all over my house. Everything is better with a little glitter!

FIY: if you don't have a die cutting machine the heart pillow is still something you could create by simply hand cutting a heart stencil and following the rest of the directions above

Fun & Inexpensive Photo Gift Tag

This year I wanted to do something fun for our gift tags. I made our gift tags last year and I liked them but I wanted something even more awesome this year! I printed photos (2 @ 3x4 on a 4x6) of the person each gift was for, punched a hole, wrote a little message on the back and tied it on with curling ribbon. Easy peasy.
The best part is that Anna is all over this! She knows who each gift it for, tells me everyday (repeatedly) who they're all for and then asks me each day (repeatedly) if it's Christmas yet. Her excitement is contagious! She loves to be independent and this will enable her to help deliver the presents.
I am so excited!! Only 7 sleeps until Wachter Christmas 2013! (We have our own little Christmas together before Christmas with Gramma & Papa.)
Have I ever mentioned my love for Christmas?

Autumn Wreath

You will need:

wreath form (mine is 14" in diameter)

various patterns of fabric ripped into long strips

spray paint (I used copper)

ribbon to go around wreath

fall decor branch

ribbon to tie a bow with at base of fall decor branch

ribbon to hang (I used a wired burlap)

Step1: Spray paint wreath. The paint soaks in a bit on this styrofoam form- not a big deal.

 Step 2: tie the ribbon around the form and finish with a knot, alternate fabric patterns

Step 3: I had gaps larger than I liked so I filled them in with brown ribbon

Step 4: Deside where you would like your fall decor branch, untie a few knots of fabric, push stem into form and then re-tie your fabric to hold in place

Step 5: Add a ribbon at the base of your branch and tie a bow

Step 6: Add your hanging ribbon. I placed mine around, brought the ends to the top, folded the front facing one over the back and then glued in place, I then cut a slit for my wreath hanger (which you can see at the top of the next photo).

Step 7: Hang and enjoy.

Trash to Treasure

Giving garbage new life.

I saw this chair in the alley by someone's dumpster, I wanted it but I drove by it for a week before I finally asked Cory to go get it for me. Thank goodness for him! Thank goodness it was still there.

Here's a quick "how to" for you.

 I spray painted it turquoise.

Supplies: Foam to create a seat and material to cover. 

I removed the seat. 

I cut 2 pieces of foam to the size of the wooden seat and then glued then all together with Fabric-tac. I chose to use two foams together as it was less expensive than buying one thicker piece.

I cut my material and then wrapped it around my seat and stapled it in place.

For the corners, I folded them like a present and then stapled the fabric as before.

I put the seat back on. (It's not perfect and that's just fine by me- I'm not looking a the bottom.)

We tested it out and put it in it's new home.

I love it! 

Got any good junk in your alley? 

Art Clips: diy

Visit Bliss-ologie to read my lastest post on making cloths pin into fabulous art clips.

Rubber Boots & Ribbon. A DIY.

I have not owned rubber boots since I was a kid and this year I knew I would be puddle jumping with Anna so I decided to buy myself a pair. They were nothing special and honestly I bought them because they were the cheapest pair I could find. I knew I would be adding ribbon and bows so I knew even the ugliest boots would look cute.

Here they are before.

I punched holes down the back by folding the back of the boot in half and punching holes with my crop-a-dile. I then cut a decent length of ribbon and laced it through the holes. I finished off by tying a bow. Easy and adorable. Anna told me they were beautiful. Agreed. 

To get a more "finished" look, you can add eyelets through the holes and then your ribbon. I however am not worried and I love them just like this. 

Total DIY time = 15 minutes. 

Let's Go Fishing DIY

I can not even tell you how excited Anna was when she found out I was making her fish so she could go fishing like her Daddy. It was a constant "are you done?are you done?are you done?" until I had the first one complete. I can't say I wasn't just as excited as she was to see how it would all turn out.

I can remember playing a similar game at a church penny carnival when I was little and I had seen an image on Pinterest awhile back so when I got the urge to create something fun for her I knew this was it. We made a quick trip to Lowes for supplies and then home to dig through my fabric left over from quilts and pillows. The total cost for supplies from Lowes was $11.85 & I have cord and magnets left over. I had craft eyes but these can be picked up from dollar stores or craft stores.

Supplies

dowel(s)

fabric (I used scraps I had from past projects)

rope or cord (mine=braided nylon cord)

magnets (reasonably strong)

batting or something similar to stuff fish with

craft eyes

paper (I used a 6x12 piece of cardstock)

Tools

glue gun

stick pins

pencil

sewing machine or needle & thread

Step 1: fold paper in half and trace fish body, cut out

Step 2: You need 2 pieces of fabric. Place your fabric right sides together and trace your fish

Step 3: stack your batting and fabric, pin together

Step 4: Cut out

Step 5: take out your pins and put your bottom piece of fabric down, then the batting. I have added in a couple pieces of scrap batting to add bulk to my fishes body

Step 6: glue one magnet onto the batting. Place magnet far enough into the fish body to allow for sewing.

Step 7: Put top piece of fabric on and pin fish together.

Step 8: Sew, leaving a quarter inch seam.

Step 9: glue an eye to each side. Repeat for all fish needed.

Step 10: Cut a decent length of cord, mine is a little longer than Anna is tall, plus some to wrap around the dowel. 

Step 11: Add glue to your dowel and wrap cord around.

Step 12: Add glue to magnet, add cord, glue other magnet on top. The magnet themselves stick together but will pull apart when removing the fish if you do not add glue.

Step 13: GO FISHING!!!!

If you have any questions please email me at nadinekaren@ymail.com or leave a comment.
Nadine