Pinterest Challenge: Week 5

The end of the first Pinterest Challenge is near as we wrap up with week 5 projects.  For me I worked on the star mantle decor, which I plan to use for Memorial Day & the Fourth of July displays.  I knew that we were going to be away for part of the week (headed to Littleton), so I did all of the cutting & machine sewing beforehand.  Then I was able to finish the project by stuffing & hand sewing while were were away.  

I think it came out really well and I am pleased with how it looks all together with other items on the mantle.  

Week 5 Projects:

DIY Argyle Sweatshirt: http://mellysews.com/2012/02/argyle-hoody-tutorial.html
Turtle Brownies: http://www.unegaminedanslacuisine.com/2012/03/salty-turtle-brownies.html
Cotton Ball smashers: http://4herreras.blogspot.com/2012/02/smashing-balls-baked-cotton-balls.html?m=1
Desk Makeoever:

DIY No Sew Valance: http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/08/quick-and-easy-home-decorating-window-valance.html
Old MacDonald Puppets:http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-macdonald-puppet-tutorial-and.html

It's Been Way Too Long!

Well, this blog has certainly been neglected over the last few months.  So, I thought I would take the time to give a little update.  My first quick update is from my roman shade project.  I had posted here about feeling crafty and working on a few things.  So, finally here is the finished product!

The only problem I have found is that the fabric had to be pulled away in order to install them properly.  Because of that they don't quite fit over and hid the plastic installation pieces.  I really need to go back and glue them down again.  I am also wondering if I should do one long valance across the top, but at this point I don't think I would be able to find the same fabric.  

And the hunt still continues for some artwork/decor for the blank wall left in the room!  

Feeling Crafty

Now that things with Watching Me Grow have slowed down after the holidays I have been working on a few projects of my own.  Thank you Pinterest!

New curtains for the living room window!  I found a great tutorial on how to make my own roman shades and there is NO sewing involved!  I have only finished one shade, so I will post a complete picture (hopefully soon)!

I also put away the Christmas decorations and needed something new for the mantle.  So, I made these cute little snowmen (found here) and then added some winter subway art.  I am still waiting for my sign "Let it Snow" from It's The Thought to complete the look.  

In the next couple of weeks I will be trying some new things with Watching Me Grow.  I need to add the ruffle bum options for girl onesies and I am brainstorming some ideas for the boy option!  I am also hoping to make Braden his own alphabet set, including lower case letters which I attempted just before Christmas!  

On the 5th Day of Christmas

my true love made for me some holiday subway art.  

I am always looking for different items to be used as seasonal decoration for the mantle.  That is why I was excited to find all kinds of free, printable, subway art pages through Pinterest.  There are so many different themes to choose from and so many varieties for each season.  You can find the one I made and used for the fall here.

There were so many options for Christmas and even more for "winter" themes for January & February.  Here are a few that I liked and may use another year:

Materials:

8x10 canvas (Michael's)

Mod Podge

Paint brush

Computer & Printer 

Card stock

Tutorial: 

These are so easy to make and do not take very long at all.  First find a printable that you would like to use.  Then size it slightly smaller than 8x10 (I use 7.75x9.75).  Then print onto plain card stock.  I used regular printer paper for the one on the left and it came out fine.  The paper tends to bubble a little more than the card stock does. 

The Subway Art Printables I chose

Next spread a thin layer (do not want too much) of Mod Podge onto the canvas. 

Place the card stock on top of the canvas and paint another thin coat of Mod Podge on top to seal it onto the canvas.  A second coat can be done, but it is not necessary.  Then hang or place on the mantle for decor.  

 The final products

On the 4th Day of Christmas

my true love made for me a nativity ornament.

I saw this cute hand-stitched, felt nativity on Pinterest.  I thought it would be a nice little gift to include in our Christmas card to Sister Kelly Francis!  

I will not include a tutorial, because the one here is really easy to follow and it did not take me long to make one (I did it this afternoon).  

Materials:  Colored felt, embroidery thread, & pins (I didn't need to use them).

Use the stencil & cut out the pieces

Hand-stitch each piece onto the stable.

My finished product

Fall Decor

Over the last three years I have been slowly collecting holiday pieces to eventually put together as decoration on the mantle.  This Fall I finally had some things I could put up for fall/halloween decoration.  

One of the last pieces I added to the collection was a Subway Art project that I found through Pinterest.  It was really simple to put together and I think it looks great.  All I had to do was print the sign off on card stock and then I used Mod Podge to glue it onto an 8x10 canvas.  I also printed off a Fall bucket list and framed it, so we can check the items off as we complete them.       

Braden and I hosted an apple play date, so the apple art project was a nice added touch to the mantle.  The tutorial for the apple artwork can be found here.  

Pinterest Challenge

As I mentioned in my home update post, my most recent Pinterest project is the styrofoam art piece.  I have decided to use that project as one of my entries for the Pinterest Challenge (five days left if you would like to join in the fun).  

We recently repainted our living room, which inspired me to work on the styrofoam art piece.  I wanted some new decoration for the one blank wall left in the room.  I have had no luck finding artwork that I like, so I decided to create my own.  

My inspiration came from a few different pins, but ultimately I decided to go with the more abstract option. The tutorial was great and really easy to follow. The one problem I had was with cutting the styrofoam - I could not get nice, clean, straight cuts.  So, I was little disappointed with the uneven pieces, but you have to look really closely to notice.  

I think the final product looks good, and I absolutely love the fabrics and how they pull the room together.  The only problem is that the piece looks too small on the long, blank wall that it was intended for. For now it works above the mantle. But, during the holidays I like to put up new decor on the mantle.  So, I think it will end up on the wall to the right.  It will balance out the room with the TV being mounted on the other side. 

Who is going to join me?

Turning a House into a Home

We have been in our house for 3 years now. I am still slowly working on new decorations & project ideas to give it that added touch to make it feel like home.  Just in the last month we have finished a few things that I love! 

Upstairs in the hallway - I finally used the Oslin sign given to us as a wedding gift!  The birth art project I found on Pinterest, but have since found a MUCH easier way to do them.  

This is all directly across from Braden's growth chart. 

Over the last 3 years I have shopped around for some art/decorations for both the ktichen & living room.  Finally, I decided to try a different approach and create my own art.  In the kitchen (again inspired by Pinterest) I made some clothespin wreaths and created a space to display Braden's artwork.  

Today we finished some apples & pumpkin crafts that will be displayed soon!

In the living room I asked Mike to build a shelf for the electronics & mount the tv to the wall, so we could have a little more space (for Braden's toys).  As a result of this project we ended up painting the living room (grey with the one purple wall).  

I was looking for some decoration for the long blank wall and so I created this art piece using styrofoam & fabric.  Unfortunately, the piece looks small, because the wall is so long.  So, I am not sure what I am going to do with it.  I like to leave above the mantle open for different holiday decor.  

Up next: I am still looking for ideas on the long, BLANK, grey wall in the living room.  I am contemplating something like this: 

or again create my own art:

We'll also need new, brighter curtains because the new colors make the room darker. 

I am thinking about something like this in the entryway (although it is a pretty small space).  Mike? 

Some Pinterest Easter Decor

I have tried some really great recipes from Pinterest, but it had been awhile since I completed a craft project.  So, I decided to go with a couple of Easter decorations.  This basket was a lot of work and my fingertips are really sore, but I am happy with the way it came out.  

Here is the tutorial that I used from Pinterest and it was originally designed by: Vanessa at V and Co

Here are a few photos of the process:

Now on to some easter egg garland!