Bookshelf Update

I hope everyone had a great Easter!

We were able to see both sides of our family this weekend.  Saturday was with Dan’s family. And Sunday was with my family.

Next door to my dads house was a field of daffodils, which made for the perfect location for family pictures.  As you can see, the weather was amazing!

tulip fields at home in the nw

And remember my bookshelf project?

bookshelf

I needed a piece of wood cut for the top, so I had  my dad do the dirty work for me!  He has an amazing shop and my saw wasn’t cutting it {sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!}.

CUTTING WOOD AT HOME IN THE NW

Now that the top is cut, I can get to work on the crown molding!!

Stay tuned for updates on my bookshelf over the next week or so!

jen

A New Bookshelf {and a project}

I’m working on updating Emmie’s room.  When she turned three, she got a big girl bedroom.  But four years later, I’m feeling the need for an update.  After noticing marker on her comforter {what kind of mom let’s a child have markers in her bedroom?! Ahem, me!} and lack of storage space, it’s time for some changes.

Lately I’ve been looking for a taller bookshelf and have come up empty handed.  Then the other day, I found this white bookshelf.

Screen shot 2013-03-15 at 10.00.15 PM

via

I like the clean lines. And I like that it’s white. But I don’t like that it looks like it’s out of a box.

So I have some plans….

bookshelf

Here are a few inspiration photos.

Look at what a little crown molding can do to an otherwise plain piece of furniture!

Summer 2012_thumb[2]
And see how much character a planked background adds!
via

via

Now to get the bookshelf assembled!  And after a few trips to Lowes for supplies, I should be in business!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for progress updates!

jen

Kitchen Chalkboard Art

This weekend, I worked on some chalkboard art for my kitchen.  My tabletop chalkboard had a bible verse from Valentine’s Day that was ready for an update.

I searched for some inspiration online and came across this:

fork_spoon_knife_sketch_logo_for_catering_chef_business_card-p240450660466092713en84w_400

via

So I got out my handy dandy chalkboard pen and started drawing.  I added ‘eat’ at the bottom and my chalkboard was updated!

kitchen chalkboard art at home in the nw

 {Wouldn’t it be fun to add your last name under the silverware like the sample above?! Gilday’s Kitchen! I love it!}

Are you updating your chalkboards for spring!? If so, what is written on them?

jen

 

Fish Bowl Valentine {Free Download!}

For the past week, I’ve been busy working on the kids Valentine’s.  Usually I just go with store bought Valentine’s.  The kids are always happy with that and it gets me off the hook for creating something fun!  But this year, I decided to get crafty.   While the idea wasn’t my own {thank you, Pinterest, for the idea and inspiration!}, the creation is all mine!

at home in the nw fish bowl valentine

I created this the old school way – by hand!  I did not use Photoshop {though I wish I knew how!}

I started by drawing an outline of a fishbowl…

at home in the nw fish bowl valentine 4

Then I got out my watercolors and started painting….

at home in the nw fish bowl valentine 6

Once I was satisfied with my work, I scanned the image into my computer and added some fun fonts.

The one that I created for Emmie says “Valentine, You’re the only fish in the sea for me!”  Click here to download this free image.

at home in the nw fish valentine 3

Jack’s valentine says “Valentine, I’m so glad we’re in the same school!”  Click here to download this free image.

AT HOME IN THE NORTHWEST FISH VALENTINE 2

If you would like to create your own fish bowl valentine, then you will need the following supplies:

* fish bowl valentines {download here or here} * swedish fish * cellophane bag * red ribbon

{note: I purchased my cellophane bags at Target in the party and gift wrap aisle.}

Print fish bowl design onto white card stock.  Cut out bowl.  Place in cellophane bag with either gold fish or swedish fish. And tie the top with a ribbon!

Have a great Valentine’s Day!
jen

Piper’s Playground: Frame Wall

Earlier this week, I blogged about one of my clients,  Piper’s Plaground.  And today, I get to give you a quick glimpse at their progress.

In the toddler area of this indoor playground, the owners wanted to create a frame wall with empty, brightly painted frames in different sizes and shapes.

Here are a few inspiration photo’s…

243405554830031641_G5wce8b2_c

via

ES03_rect640

via

Let’s look at a before picture of Piper’s Playground very early on in the process…..

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Kim and Katie, the owners, purchased some great play equipment and couches for this particular area.  After some furniture placement and painting, the room looked like this….

PIPERS PLAYGROUND FRAME WALL 1

And here is the frame wall after….

PIPERS PLAYGROUND FRAME WALL

Do you want to create a similar look in your home?

1. start collecting frames of different shapes and sizes

2. remove glass and backs of frames

2. gather spray paint in a variety of colors that coordinate with your room {I selected 5 colors for this room}.

3. start spray painting

{Spray painting can be very tedious and time consuming.  Make sure you spray thin layers so the paint doesn’t run or drip.  Therefore several coats of paint may be necessary.}

Once you’re spray painting is complete, d-rings or other hardware may need to be attached to the backs of the frames. {Remember you just removed the backs of the frames, and that’s often where the hanging hardware is attached.}

When the frames were ready, I laid them on the floor to create a look that worked best with the wall.  Once I was satisfied with the layout, I started hanging them on the wall!

I created a much smaller version of the open frames in another room at Piper’s Playground as well.  The owners had a bird painting, but the wall needed a bit more.  So I bought eight frames and painted them colors that coordinated with the painting.

PIPERS PLAYGROUND GALLERY WALL

It’s a more simple look but equally as fun!

Do you think this is a look that would work in your space?!

* * * For those that live in the greater Olympia area, Piper’s Playground opens up this Friday, January 18th, 2013!!! * * *

jen

Recycling Pinecones and Faux Berries

So Christmas is over and you’re probably ready to clean up your holiday decor….or maybe you already have!

But before you throw out that Costco wreath….

…make sure you remove the faux berries and pine cones!

They are probably attached with some wire.  Simply untwist the wire from the back or grab some scissors and cut them off.

Then next year, when it’s time to decorate for Christmas, you’ll have a few extra pine cones and faux berries to help dress up your house! You’ll be amazed how many you will accumulate over the years!

I hope you all had a great holiday!

jen

15 Minute Cinnamon Rolls

I came across this recipe years ago. And I recently realized I hadn’t made them for my family!  So today I tried it on our {picky} kiddos.  Thankfully, it was a complete success!  It was truly quick and simple…and delicious!

Quick and Easy Cinnamon Rolls

1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls  *  1/2 cube butter  *  1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon mixture  *  8 marshmallows

Melt the butter.  Unroll crescent rolls into 8 sections.  Dip the marshmallows into the melted butter. Roll the marshmallows in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Place the marshmallow on the largest part of the crescent roll. Completely cover the marshmallow with the roll, pinching all of the edges together.   Put the rolls into a sprayed muffin tin. Heat the oven to 375 and bake for 9 minutes (or until gold brown).

Let cool and enjoy!

jen

My HGTV.com Personalized Doormat Project

It’s up and running!  Click here to view the HGTV.com feature of my $7 personalized doormat.

Thanks for all of your support and excitement about this project!

jen

Advent Tree

Every year I come across advent calendars of one sort or another. Cute ones in catalogs or in people’s houses. I always think it’s such a fun idea….. And it always feels like too much work.   So for my nine years of parenthood, I’ve done nothing.

Then a few days ago, I saw the perfect advent tree at It’s Overflowing.  It’s a simple table top tree with star ornaments numbered 1 to 25. Then on the back of each star is a bible verse.  What a perfect daily reminder for the kids {and me!} about what this Christmas season is really about!

So with my new found inspiration, I got to work on my advent tree {which really wasn’t that much work at all}.

Here is my version…

The tree is from Ikea.  And the stars are handmade.  The kids wrote the numbers and I wrote the bible verses on the back of each star.  You can see the bible verses over at Amy’s blog, It’s Overflowing.

Today we read our first bible verse from the star numbered ’1′.

The kids loved looking the verses up.  They are both really into highlighting in their bibles right now too, which made it extra fun for the kids.

Only 24 more stars to go!  Thank you, Aimee, for a great Advent Tree idea! I hope to use it for years to come!

Jen

linking up to:

hi sugarplum, centsational girl, home stories a to z

HGTV.COM Update!

My doormat feature on HGTV.com is coming up!

I just found out that the big day is ……

{drum roll please…..}

Monday, December 3rd!!

Click here to be directed to HGTV.com to see the lineup for December.  And if you’d like to sign up to receive a daily email of each feature on the Christmas countdown, click here.

I was asked to be part of this Christmas countdown back in May. I can’t believe that it’s actually time for my doormat feature!

I’m pretty excited!

Jen

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...