With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner I wanted to inspire you to create some mason jar happiness to dress up your little corner of the world. And throw in a few riddles... just for fun! What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four-leaf clover? A rash of good luck. Last year I received some lovely green Ball mason jars for a Mother's Day blog hop. I also received blue, and purple, and clear jars, and never got around to doing anything with the green jars. I knew I wanted to use them for St. Patrick's Day. My plan wasn't to do anything … [Read more...]
I've been impressed with many IKEA Rast Hacks floating around the internet. There are so many truly creative ideas. So when I was approached by Hickory Hardware I leaped at the opportunity to put my creativity to work. Shortly thereafter, an IKEA Rast dresser was sent to my home along with a $25 Visa gift card to purchase supplies for the hack. Knobs for my Rast Hack were provided by Hickory Hardware. No other compensation was received. A new baby girl in the family gave me the perfect excuse and idea for transforming this small (24 3/8 x 27 1/2") 3-drawer pine dresser into … [Read more...]
You know how it goes... you're out shopping... on a hunt for something specific... and out of the blue... IT calls your name! How does IT even know your name? How does IT know you are a lover of all things earthy and natural? How does IT know you would LOVE a basket that can do double duty for St. Patrick's Day and Easter? Especially a lovely mossy Easter basket! How does that happen? IT has been one busy but smart basket! I can't say that you'll have a basket speak to you like IT did me when you're out and about. But, on the … [Read more...]
Make an eye-catching Irish centerpiece with this easy to make St. Patrick's Day basket and the following day... a few quick change-ups and you'll be ready for the next spring holiday! Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? I know you'll want to at least decorate a corner of your space with this Easy to Make St. Patrick's Day Basket. With Swedish and Dutch roots, I had never gotten into the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. In fact, it was barely on my radar... until I moved to Buffalo where there is a large Irish community. Many of my non-Irish friends became Irish for a day or … [Read more...]
With Easter and Spring right around the corner, I wanted to put together a super fun little mason jar project that would perfect for the season. It also needed to be colorful and a bit whimsical. Because I'm always game to experiment with something new, I decided to try something I've never done before... Mod Podge fabric to glass. Oh my! I am sooo happy with the results! Isn't this Easter egg mason jar the cutest thing ever? I know you'll want to make one, or three, or ten. Okay, maybe not ten. They would be darling for your Easter decor, or as favors, or even … [Read more...]
Today we got a taste of spring! Sure... the wind was blowing 40-some-miles-per-hour. However, the sun was shining and it was 50 degrees! I know it's just a teaser, but it was a wonderful one and I got outside at lunchtime to push into the wind for an energizing walk. It felt great!! And there's more sun in the forecast for tomorrow. There just might be dancing in the street. When the sun finally comes out and a warm breeze blows, you can bet my creative juices start flowing. You, too? I'm so excited by what you all brought to this week's party. Such great ideas! I bet you'll find at least one that … [Read more...]
It's nearly Valentine's Day and you need some ideas. Quick! No need to fear. I've assembled 40 quick and easy last minute Valentine's Day printables... perfect for kids of all ages. You'll have a hard time choosing from all the creative cards, fun activity sheets, treat ideas, toppers, tags, and more. There are some amazing low-cost ideas too. Get ready.... because it's time to be inspired!! 40 Last Minute Valentine's Day Printables You are So Loved - Printable :: Bombshell Bling Have a Heart - Printable :: Bloom Designs Valentine Envelopes Free … [Read more...]
Would you like a great Valentine gift idea that ISN'T red or pink? Skip the Red and Pink with this Bright Valentine Gift Idea I'm so excited to introduce you to my good blogging friend who's here today with an EXTRAORDINARY idea I know you'll love... Light Bulb Valentines Hi, Malia from Yesterday on Tuesday here. I am so excited that Diane is letting me share a project on her blog today! Since Valentine's Day is coming up quickly, I thought it would be fun to create some printable valentines and pair them with a small gift. Supplies: Printable Light Bulb Valentines, light bulb vases,* Sixlet … [Read more...]
Valentine's Day... It seems people fall into three categories: Love it. Indifferent. Hate it. Like most holidays... we bring baggage to the day that colors the way we see it. The twist with Valentine's Day is that it's about love and romance. And others say it's just a commercial holiday that puts pressure on us. Where do you fall on the Valentine's Day continuum? I decided that Valentine's Day is a great time to shower love and kindness on our friends and family. Those who are indifferent or hate the day... I've never seen them protest a thoughtful gift. And the lovers.... they eat up … [Read more...]
Today I'm back with an idea for more easy to make coastal Christmas decor. Previously I shared my coastal styled poinsettia pillow which was beautiful and simple to make. When it comes to holiday decorating, I love handmade items, but I want to get them done in a snap and I want them to look fabulous. All the criteria were met with this whimsical art, plus it was inexpensive, too! Lucy from Craftberry Bush heard her friends ask for coastal styled art and she nailed it with this fun and FREE watercolor printable. I downloaded mine to a memory stick and drove over to Staples. … [Read more...]
This year I'm going coastal for Christmas. My focus is Simple to Make Coastal Christmas Decor. For this year's fabulous Home for the Holidays Blog Tour, hosted by my amazing friend, Sondra, I decided to focus on a little corner of my home where we spend a lot of time. It's filled with handmade Christmas items like this poinsettia pillow I created with a coastal flair. And I put together a super easy tutorial so you can make your own coastal Christmas poinsettia pillow, too. If this is your first time here... Welcome! Be sure to take a minute to introduce yourself and sign up to receive more … [Read more...]
My desire to make coastal Advent candles comes from some very sweet childhood memories. Every Christmas, my parents would take me to services at the Swedish Lutheran church. A highlight for me was observing the Advent candle lighting. The Advent candles hung near the altar in a large circle of evergreen. There were four red candles on the wreath with a large center white candle. And though I really enjoyed singing the Christmas carols, I was mesmerized with that wreath. Once I was an adult I realized many families had Advent wreaths and candles in their home. Many even participated in special … [Read more...]
This year, will you be missing the comforts from home at the holidays? Most of us want to be home at the holidays... but it isn't always possible. We rarely made it home for Thanksgiving or Christmas when we lived in New York, but the 4th of July, you betcha we were there! Living far from home, we developed a strategy for the holidays... Tips for Celebrating the Holidays Away from Family Invite friends and acquaintances to join you for the holiday. It's amazing how many people are away from home or alone for the holidays. Don't do everything yourself. Ask … [Read more...]
There's no doubt about it. Lately I'm "into" mason jar lids. Within the past several weeks, I've added knobs to lids here and here. And I've even created Christmas ornaments with mason jar lids. So, it should be no surprise to you that I'm doing something fun with lids again. This time, I'm "hooked" on hanging my Ball mason jars. I have this fun wall art that hangs over my sofa. It kind of reminds me of a seaside fishing town... albeit a very simplified version. This year I decided to go with a coastal vibe for Christmas and pulled out my … [Read more...]
Today I'm joining up with some of my blogging friends for an extravaganza of Mason Jar Christmas Gift Ideas Each blogger has chosen a different theme and because my niece is having a baby mid January, I thought it would be fun to create a mason jar gift for her. Since my niece has selected green and pink for her baby girl... that became my color theme for the gift. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do when I got started. But, in shopping for the gifts to put inside the jar I came across this green rubber bath ducky and knew that it was the key to decorating my mason jar. Polka dots … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you love seeing Christmas trees on cars and trucks and other moving vehicles. Whether it's a pillow or place mat... a cute vintage truck with a Christmas tree stuck in its bed at Home Goods... or that first car going down the road with a fresh-cut tree... I smile. Every time. I am in love with Christmas trees on cars. So when my wonderful blogging friend, Malia from Yesterday on Tuesday asked if I'd like to join her for a Christmas Trees on Cars Blog Hop... of course I said yes... without another thought. I had so much fun creating little vignettes last year with an … [Read more...]
Wouldn't you like to have something fun and quirky to give to your friends at Thanksgiving? I'm pretty sure you'll be snickering while you create this quick and fun mason jar gift project everyone will enjoy. Who wouldn't love to get a jar of Turkey Toes? The candy corn and candy lovers in your life will flip for this gift. It's a great conversation starter... and it's just plain fun! Turkey Toes Mason Jar Supplies Pint-sized Mason Jar Lid - Use the lid that comes with your jar, a solid lid like mine, or a drink lid with the silicone washer removed Drawer Pull Knob - I … [Read more...]
