Halloween Decor

I am getting really excited for Halloween. My friend, Natalie, is super amazing at decorating. Halloween just happens to be her favorite holiday. After I visited her, I decided to make a few items inspired by her decor. I am really excited about the way it turned out!

I just took an old frame and painted it black. I scanned some material I had at the house and used adobe and turned it antique. Then I added the Boo- font Papyrus. LOVE it

This one was really fun to do. I typed a bunch of definitions ex.: dwarf, ghost, goblin, witch, wizard, etc. I turned it sepia and printed it out. Then I wadded them up and tour pieces and mod podged it directly onto the front of the glass. My friend made the vinyl lettering for me.

Here is my home made decor all set up in my little niche!

I got the candle sticks at goodwill for $1.99 I spray painted it black and sprayed some glitter on it. I am totally loving the skeleton in the jar. That was another one of the ideas I got from my friend who shall be known as....... the decorating goddess!

Reading Corner

I am an avid reader and have been slowly, yet deliberately, installing this love of words at a tender age for my children. My friend put it best:

"My tastes in reading are as diverse as my tastes in cheeses: I like a little (or rather, a lot!) of everything. There is nothing quite like the thick smell of pages and well-chosen words. However, aspiring to be a connoisseur of the written word comes with a price: once taken to that otherworldly place--meaning, living breathlessly between the pages of a book--one finds it difficult to take the journey with a sub-par writer.

This is why I've determined that my time is better spent reading books that matter. ..... My list of favorites is ever-evolving. But without question, I can say that these books are books that matter, because they speak to me, or at least did when I first read them."
---Kalie C.---

It is because of the love affair I am ever having within the pages of a novel that I created a reading corner for my children. I want this desire, this passion, this lust of the written word to seep into my children. For within the printed lines, one can take a journey to worlds that are otherwise unobtainable.

The question is, what can one do with a cranberry box from Costco and a book of scrapbook paper?


The answer is simple! Create a cute book holder! I just mod Podged the paper onto the box and sprayed a clear acrylic sealant onto it. I wanted it to be a little more durable sense the kids would be handling it. See the exhibit in red and pink! I had to post pone this blogging session to read 3 books!


Here it is from the rear.


I put the boxes on the lower two shelves so the kiddos could reach them!


Then I placed their bean bags next to it so they would have a cozy place to sit.


More importantly, is this comfy chair right next to the shelf that is on a swivel base. It can turn to be apart of the seating area of the living room or turn and become a reading sanctuary where I can easily reach the books with my two little buddies snuggled up on my lap.

Fitted Crib Sheet

So, I decided to make some crib sheets for my daughter's bed. What a NIGHT-MARE!!! 1st off, I didn't have enough fabric, so I had to cut up and old sheet and add it to it.
THEN, I used this pattern and it was way to big. So, I had to figure out how to alter it for the mattress size. In the end, NOT worth the time or effort.


To make this one fit better I added elastic the whole way around. It worked perfectly!

Bean Bags!

I am finally done with the kid's bean bags! YEAH!


I used THIS Amy Butler pattern, BUT I filled it with 2 cubic feet of bean bag stuffing from http://www.thebeanbagchairoutlet.com/refill.htm. I used the royal mix because it was something I wouldn't be re-stuffing and needed to last!
You can either use thick heavy duty fabric or (what I did) was use canvas fabric I got for $1 a yard at Wal-mart and lined the inside with it! I also put the octagon shape on both sides instead of just one side.
I got this idea from THIS post by Allie Hoops.

Booster Seat

My daughter LOVES to sit at the table with the family to eat dinner. She has to have a booster seat. The chair gets so messy and is hard to keep clean. It pains me to admit it, but I don't clean it after every meal. There too many crevasses and the whole thing has to be taken apart to get it clean. The chair the booster sits on gets really nasty too!


So, I invented a cover for it. I made up my own pattern and added the big ruffle on the bottom to prevent food from going underneath the booster. It is easy to remove and machine washable.


I also made a little thing to sit on the back of the chair because my daughter grabs there with her dirty, sticky hands. It's not that easy to scrub little finger prints off of wood.

I need to add holes for the straps to come through so she can be buckled up, but my machine doesn't zig zag, so I have to borrow my friends. I am going to add some iron on vinyl so it can be wiped down really easy, but I haven't gotten that far yet. I am not sure it I should have done that first, before I sewed it all together. hhhmmm.... I will see.

Sewing

My mom taught me how to sew as a little girl. She put me in 4-H every year. I would model my outfit I made and I got a blue ribbon EVERY time! I think it was my bright blue eyes and dark curly hair that won over the judge's heart. Either way, it got me interested in sewing.
So, here is what I have been up to!

I took an old pair sheets ...


and made a dust ruffle for my son's bed. It matches his truck quilt perfectly! I guess I should have put it on his bed before I took the picture, but it is still packed up!

Costco Decor

Costco had JUST the right items I was looking for! YIPPEE!

I wanted a cream throw to put on the back of my couch!


I have been wanting some green pillows for my couch and I found these little beauties at Costco.


After making my wreath, I had two little pumpkins left. I sprayed some glitter on them and placed them on my mantel.

Fall Decor

I saw a SaWeet wreath on Living with Lindsey. I loved it, so I thought I would try my hand at making my own!
I would have to say, I think my wreath is too big for the letter. I wish my wreath was a little smaller, but I like how it turned out.

Monogram

I added a monogram on my jar. I have a good friend who does vinyl and she made this for me! I would just like to say that taking a good picture of a glass jar proved to be harder then I thought. The glare was bad news for me!

I bought the pears and pomegranates at Hobby Lobby. They were sparkly and a weird color. I took them home, took all the stems and sticks off, and spray painted them to match my decor! They retained their sparkle! YEAH! So shinny and bright!

Sewing

I have been busy on my sewing machine! I recovered another pillow. Now I have a matching pair!


I put appliques on my son's bag for preschool.


My nephew really wanted a messenger bag. My hubby got a free one from work. I decided to give it to him, but I covered the business's logo with a "cool" truck.


I am making bean bags for my kiddos! I have to get more stuffing for them, but here is a sneak peak of my son's bean bag! I only have the pieces cut out for my daughters.

Triggers

My councilor put me on this new program to teach myself how to relax, be calm, be at peace. I am really excited about it because I have been struggling with coping strategies and that is why I went to counseling. I wanted to learn how to deal effectively with stress. I have just started, so I am still not sure if I see any changes. I have felt calmer the past few days.
I started paying attention to signs that I was heading down the depression road. Last night I felt tightness in my chest and my heart rate increased. I started getting stressed out about EVERYTHING. Actually, it was more about husband being gone so much and he was suppose to be on call the next day (36 hours without seeing him). I sat down on the bed and talked to Dave about it. I realized that I was not stressed about him being gone so much, I had unmet expectations. I wanted the house clean, but he spent the time playing with the kids. After I realized it was about wanting the house clean and nothing more, I relaxed and said, “lets go to bed, I can clean in the morning. Thanks for watching the kids while I was gone.” It seems strange that just realizing why I was starting to get anxiety helped calm me down. I think it is because I knew what it was and knew I could clean my house. Simple fix. There was no unknown. In the past, I was unable to recognize why I was feeling anxiety or depression. I am starting to see what triggers my emotions and try to avoid situations that cause me to feel that way!

BEFORE and AFTER

I found a photo of this piece of furniture before I made it over. My little snuggle bug is in front of it, but you can see the gold handles. The middle "door" was actually nailed on. It was none functional.



I added hinges and painted this little beauty! Including the gold handles and hinges, they are now silver!

Mantel

I am thinking something about my mantel bugs me. I put the vase up, I put my candles up, but it still feels weird. Then it hit me. That board in the middle is too small for here. WHAT! I need to figure out something, and quick!

Furniture Make-over

I have been busy painting, decorating, reupholstering, and rearranging furniture. Take a look at some of my projects.

I have been trying to figure out how to decorate my mantel. I am looking for new candle sticks and a vase to go where the plant is. (that is going on my plant stand). What do you think?


I am still recovering pillows for my couch, BUT I have only done one so far;)


I got this at Goodwill for $24. It had gold handles and that middle "door" wasn't a door, it was nailed shut.


I painted the handles silver and put hinges on the middle door so it would open too.


I have once again made over another one of these lovely chairs a friend gave me.


To this gorgeous piece that looks FABULOUS in my great room!


Here is the space all put together

TJ MAXs

I hit the jack pot at TJ Max today!

One slip and slide for $4 and that frame for $3. I plan to paint it and put a collage of family photos in it!


This thing for $2. The color matches my color scheme in the guest bathroom.


That white ceramic bird $2.50, the picture frame $4, the thing with the candle inside and a bird on top $2.50.


This blanket was $10, but it was beautiful and matched the colors I am looking for!


I had to take back THIS colorful rug because it was a chocking hazard. The little pieces could be pulled out really easily and my little girl figured that out really quickly. To bad! BUT I found a cheaper rug (ON SALE) at TJ Max! YEAH! I saved myself $40! WAHOO!



I found this large map picture at TJ Max too! I was going to buy some scrapbook paper and modge podge something like this, but it was on sale and I figured I would save myself some time! Now I just need to hang it!

Playroom

I am in the process of decorating my kid's playroom. It is connected to our front room, so EVERYONE will see it when they 1st come into our house.

This is what you see.... TOYS EVERYWHERE!


Even when they are put away, this storage unit I have, shows all the toys still.


So, I went to Target armed with a $200 gift card from our Realtor! I spotted this in the closet storage area for $64. Good price for me. I wanted something I wouldn't freak out if it got banged-up, scratched, or played with! I found this cute little globe on sale and thought is was just the right touch. It says, "I inspire creativity, but I am also classy and will look good for play or decor."


This little basket with an attached lid! Puuuuurrrrfect!


Cute little rug that is soft and colorful!

Now all I need to do is put it all together and finish decorating it!