This post was sponsored by Floorigami. All opinions are my own.
My sunroom is one of the features that really “sold” us on our house years ago. It’s a large, multi-purpose space attached to our family room that leads out to our back deck. The room is wall-to-wall windows and doors so it’s always bright and airy; a perfect spot for an art space and recording studio. The only downside to this area is that it’s not heated. So when I’m working in the sunroom during the Ohio winters, it gets C.O.L.D cold!
Because we have a swimming pool, the floating flooring we installed about 4 years ago has not held up well to the kiddos walking in the sunroom drippy wet. And I may be a tad messy when it comes to my arts and crafts, too. The plank floor certainly doesn’t add any warmth to the room when it’s freezing outside.
That’s why when I saw these peel and stick carpet tiles from Floorigami, I knew they were just what I needed! A simple, quick solution that covers up the current eyesore flooring while adding a layer of comfy, cozy vibes. Perfect!
First, I feel it’s important to note that I installed these tiles myself in one morning! That’s with stopping to feed kids, switch over laundry, let the dogs out and all the other “mom” things I do during the day. To me, that is quite the feat!*Excuse me while I give myself a lil’ pat on the back*
Really, this is a 4 step system. Seriously! Which makes it a doable project for even the most busy mom or novice home improvement DIY’er. And the tools? Crazy easy. Just grab a pair of work gloves, a carpet knife, a tape measure, marker, metal straight edge and a piece of chalk.
Step 1: Clean, Clean, Clean!
It’s important that the original flooring is clean and dry before carpet tile installation. I vacuumed first and followed up with a stick sweeper mop sprayed with floor cleaner to ensure the floor was dirt and dust free.
Step 2: Time to use those elementary school measuring skills!
In order to space out the tiles properly, it’s necessary to find the center of the room. Now, I’m no math magician and my measuring skills are most definitely sub-par, my friends. But I found this step to actually be a whole lot easier than I expected. Measure the width of the 2 longest, straightest walls. Where the 2 lines intersect is the center of the space. Taking a piece of white chalk and a straight edge, draw a line through the center of the room using the center mark as the guide.
Step 3: Piece together the puzzle!
I found it helpful to lay out tiles, upside down, using the directional arrows printed on the back to ensure the tiles were facing the right way. I chose to follow a simple pyramid technique – 1 tile placed in the middle of the center mark, subsequent tiles placed 6″ up and 6″ down on either side of the center tile. Laying the tiles that could attach without cutting, I stopped at each wall when I could no longer fit a full tile. It seemed easier to save all the carpet cutting for last.
Step 4: Have fun!
Now it’s time for the fun part! It was so cool to see the room slowly transform as I worked my way through the design! Once you have your technique and pattern figured out, as well as a handful of your tiles laid out, peel the liner from the adhesive on the back of the tile and, making sure your arrows are still pointing in the right direction, position the carpet snuggly to the next tile and press down to adhere. No kidding – that’s it!
To cut the smaller sizes needed to fit along the walls, I turned the tile upside-down and marked the length or width needed using the straight edge and a marker. A carpet knife made cutting a breeze and the replacement stickers that were provided in each box were extremely useful for the narrow pieces that required cutting off the attached adhesive!
I did find that a few strokes of the vacuum once installation was complete helped lift the fibers and hide any lines that may have been showing from the tiles.
The finished result is beautiful, but what really seals the deal for me is that the carpet matches my dog. Just kidding!
Although it is pretty darn funny! But honestly, it’s awesome having the peace of mind knowing that if there’s an accident (I have 8 kids, 2 dogs, a swimming pool and have I mentioned I’m a messy crafter?) I can simply remove the tile that needs to be replaced – or deep deep scrubbed – without compromising the integrity of the rest of the carpet.
Extreme Dance Parties on ultra soft carpet may commence!
One of my favorite things about what I do (other than being able to do it right alongside my little and not-so-little people in the comfort of my homemade-ish home) is being a regular on The Kelly Clarkson Show. I’ve been on five times (4 times this season) and each time is just as exciting, just as rad and just as fun!
And guys, let me tell you, she’s just as awesome as she seems to be on her show. A true daytime TV gem! And this last time we were virtually together, we created Homemade Rainbow Bubbles for her Splash into Summer episode!
Watch the video below and print out the recipe to make your own Homemade Rainbow Bubbles with all the smelly smells!
Mix the first 3 ingredients together in a pitcher or bowl.
Separate the soap mix into individual cups or containers (lidded containers are great to store the bubble solution for later use without worrying about spills!)
Add a few drops of food coloring and essential oils into each individual container. *I tried to match my food coloring color with the essential oil scent – yellow and lemon, green and eucalyptus, pink and strawberry, etc.
You can even make your own bubble wands using pipe cleaners!
Big News! My book has officially released! You can find Crafty Family Ideas online at Amazon, Walmart or Target or wherever you shop for books.
Visit Medina, Ohio’s historic Farmers Market on the public square! Join Kristin Gambaccini as she browses the market. We’ll meet the local farmers and vendors and in true farm-to-fork style, Kristin will use the fresh produce to create a simple, family-friendly meal at home.
To Market We Go!
Episode 1 – Summer BLT Lettuce Wrap
In the first episode of Market Table, Kristin’s shopping Medina’s Farmers Market for the ingredients to make a Summer BLT Lettuce Wrap!
Produce from Root42 Harvests : Big Red Romaine, Red Speckled Lettuce, Purple Trident Radish
Using 2 large outer leaves of the head of lettuce for the base, top with bacon pieces, tomato slices, avocado slices, radish, extra lettuce (for more crunch!), mayo and fresh cracked pepper.
Add 2 more large outer leaves on top.
Roll wrap tightly.
Note: It's simplest to prepare and roll the lettuce wrap on a wax paper or aluminum foil square.
This post was sponsored by Rockler. All opinions are my own.
I decided it was high-time I show our furry friends some love around the house. Well, decor love. Hugs, kisses, walks and treats they get plenty of from our big family! But, for years these poor dogs have had mismatched bowls randomly put on the floor for their food and water. The bowls got kicked around, the water often spilled, and the food seemed to always be all around the bowl, but not actually in the bowl. This weekend I upgraded their serving dishes for the cost of some table legs and a simple serving tray. They love their fancy dishes and I bet your pets will too!
Here’s what I used:
Bamboo Serving Tray (found at the stores, online or even at the Goodwill!)
Peel & Stick Wallpaper (I had some left over from a previous project, but it’s fairly inexpensive to buy. Especially if you only need a small roll!)
White and Gold Spray Paint
Glue (I used Gorilla Glue. Just make sure you are using glue that works on wood and metal!)
Rockler 6″ Hairpin Table Legs
Here’s how I made them:
I started by spray painting the tray white and the legs gold.
Next, I measured and cut the wallpaper to fit the interior of the tray.
After removing the backing, I slowly applied the wallpaper to the bottom of the tray (starting at one side and working my way across the base), making sure to press any trapped air bubbles out the sides with my hands.
The final step was to attach the legs. Even though the legs came with sturdy screws, the bamboo tray is extremely thin wood. I opted to use glue in place of the screws. I allowed the glue to dry overnight.
That’s it – it’s finished! I love a quick and simple project that serves as a useful and beautiful item for my family!
This post was sponsored by UpStart Art Resin. All opinions are my own.
We’re always looking for new ideas to add to our Family Game Nights around here. And these Dried Flower Tic-Tac-Toe Resin Game Boards and Colorful Dominoes are not only a great addition to Fam Fun Night, but they also look totally adorable on your end table or coffee table!
As with any craft project, having all your supplies ready before you start is key to a successful finished product. And, for this project, protecting your workspace as well as your skin is a must.
*It’s best to work with epoxy in a well ventilated area.
Step 1: Set out your clean and dry silicone mold onto a covered work surface. Make sure your gloves are on and your face covering is in place!
Step 2: For the Tic-Tac-Toe Board: Using dried flowers and a pair of tweezers, place one flower, upside down, on each tic-tac-toe square. Remember, the bottom is actually the top of the finished game board!
* My flowers were left over from a DIY flower press I made last year. But you can also purchase an assortment of dried flowers for crafts inexpensively online.
Step 3: Measure out equal parts resin and hardener into silicone measuring cups. For the X’s and O’s, I mixed a 1:1 ratio of 100 ml resin and hardener for each letter. After stirring the epoxy mix in a disposable cup for 3 minutes with a popsicle stick (making sure to scrape the sides often), add a small amount of mica powder and mix thoroughly again. Pour colored mix into the molds. For the dominoes and the letters, pouring slowly is important as they fill quickly. A clean popsicle stick can be used to scrape any extra mix from the top of the mold. Lastly, use a heat gun held close to the top of the epoxy to pop any surface bubbles.
* It’s better to add a small amount of color to your epoxy and add more to achieve desired color than to add too much at the start.
* I chose to do the X’s and O’s in 2 different colors. If you’d like each letter to be a color mix, simply pour the first mixed and colored resin into both the X and the O molds filling them half way. Let sit for about 3 hours and then add your different top color using the same method as above.
Step 4: For both game boards, I needed approximately 400 ml of epoxy mix each (both the resin and hardener measuring cups filled twice each). I did not add mica powder to the Tic-Tac-Toe mix as I wanted the flowers to really pop inside a clear board. As before, once the resin and hardener are combined in a disposable cup, mix, mix, mix for 3 minutes. Slowly pour the mix into the mold until full and use a heat gun to pop surface bubbles.
* If you don’t have a heat gun, a toothpick can be used to individually pop the surface bubbles.
* I did find that I needed to press the flowers back into place with a popsicle stick a few times in the first hour or so as they were insistent upon moving around in the epoxy.
Step 5: Allow the mold to set a full 24 hours before removing. To remove the finished product, slowly peel the silicone away from the project.
Step 6: Play!
* In order to make enough of the X’s and O’s (4 each), I had to make 2 separate batches. Even though it took 2 days to complete the project, I think my girls would agree that it was totally worth the wait!
I love all the bright colors in the set. Gives me major Spring Vibes!
I believe there is no better gift to bestow your children than the gift of reading. To learn to spend spare time losing oneself in a book is time well spent, for sure. So, in place of more candy this Valentine’s Day, I created these adorable Valentine’s Day DIY Bookmark and Tracker to go along with a handful of gently used books I found on Facebook Marketplace for under a dollar a piece!
These are not only a fun way to hold a little one’s place while reading, they serve as a record keeper for all the books they’ve read throughout the year!
I collected a few simple supplies to create these unique book markers. All I needed was cardstock (1 sheet for each bookmark), a sharp pair of scissors, glue (I used hot glue), decorative edge scissors, colorful yarn, hole punch and paint to decorate the front.
Start by deciding the size of your bookmark. I was using pink paper that was precut in a 12″x2″ size for the book tracker. I knew my sleeve needed to be a bit larger than that.
Next you will fold your cardstock to size. Make sure to allow a bit of space to cut the edge with decorative scissors as well as glue. Cut the extra paper as well as the decorative edge.
Fold the front corner inside the sleeve. Glue the bottom and right edge of the sleeve. Punch a hole in the top center – this will be to hold the tassel.
For the tracker – I chose to create a simple bullet list on the computer using Word, but you could create this with a pen and ruler as well!
To create the tassel, I wrapped a length of yard around my 4 fingers 10-12 times. With an approximately 6″ piece of yard, run through the top of the wrapped yarn and set the wrapped yarn down. Using another short length of yarn, knot the top of the wrapped yarn together securely. Cut open the bottom of the wrapped twine to create the tassel.
With the larger yarn that was run through the top of the tassel, knot the tassel through the hole of the bookmark sleeve.
I decorated the front of the bookmarks with washi tape and painted hearts and polka dots.
My kids adore these and have already begun filling the lines up with the books they’ve read! I may even make one for myself!
One of the best ways to add color and dimension to a space is by hanging a piece of artwork to your wall. But, framed artwork can be crazy expensive! My Simple & Swirly DIY Wall Art is the perfect solution! And everyone knows that a pretty frame really makes the piece! I chose a gold aluminum frame to go with this particular piece of artwork – I love it!
This art is easy, inexpensive, completely customizable and totally adorable!
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:
A Beautiful Frame. Mine is a 16″ x 20″ gold aluminum frame from Golden State Art.
Modeling Paste
Acrylic Paints
3″ Round Sponge (1 sponge per each acrylic paint color)
16″x20″ sized white foam board, mat board or cardboard (canvas board would be too wide for the frame, but regular paper won’t be strong enough to hold the paint medium we are using.)
Bowls or containers for mixed paint
Spoons
Taking approximately 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup of modeling paste in one of your bowls, add a few teaspoons of one of your chosen acrylic paint colors. Mix well. Note: the modeling paste is a milky white color out of the container. It clears when dry.
This step is creating a gel medium that will allow the paint to be applied in a thick coat that will retain its shape and texture.
2. Once you’ve mixed all your colors with the modeling paste, prepare your space by covering your table with paper and preparing a small bowl of water for your sponges. You will also want to plan your design. I’m going with 5 rows of colors somewhat evenly spaced. I am certainly not attempting perfection, but generally clean lines.
If you are doing a random pattern, or want to overlap your colors, you will want to wait a bit in between coats to allow them to dry or your colors will mix.
3. Dip a sponge in the bowl of clean water and thoroughly ring it out. Wetting your sponge allows easier grip as well as smoother application of the paint.
4. Press your damp sponge in the first color of paint you are using. On a clean piece of paper or paper plate, apply the first coat of paint from the sponge.
The first coat tends to be uneven and thick – so by applying it off to the side, you are ensuring an even surface on your board.
5. Paint your row of circles by placing the round sponge where you want it and slowly twisting the sponge in a complete circle. Carefully lift the sponge straight up.
The twisting action will help you create a full and even looking circle vs. just pressing the sponge and picking it up.
6. Reapply paint to the sponge and continue to your next circle.
7. I think the circles look like popped bubbles at this point. It’s kind of cool looking, but not what I’m going for. If you like it, you can just continue with the steps above for each color and row of circles. I decided to make the circles more textured and fun!
With the back of a spoon covered in the paint mix, I swirled the back of the spoon around the sponge circle creating a swirly design that almost resembles the top of a frosted cupcake!
8. Now, I just continued with the steps above for each color and row of circles.
9. Because this paint is so thick, the dry time is going to take a little longer. You definitely want to make sure you are giving it plenty of time to dry and set before you add the finished board into your frame!
10. Remove the backing of your picture frame and place your finished art inside. The tabs on this frame were super easy and fast to remove and replace!
This DIY art is fun, colorful and looks right at home in this little reading and music corner I’ve created for my kids!
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know my family pretty much lives on a budget. From grocery shopping to household upkeep, to holidays and vacations – practical spending is a must for my crew of 10.
And, because of said family of 10, we have occasional need of furniture replacement. Don’t get me wrong, I try to get as much life as I can from our furniture. And I’m a firm believer in pride of ownership of all things. Meaning, a strict no eating or drinking rule on the couch mixed with an attempt to keep the dogs off (at least when I’m in the room. Otherwise, the dogs are on the couch as if they’re the Masters of the house.) and a regular machine washing of dirty pillows and covers. But, even still, a couch and loveseat can only last so long.
This time, we opted to do our furniture shopping in-store as well as online. After many, many hours entering and exiting all the value/bargain furniture stores in and around our area, we found a sofa set that was sensible on the wallet, sturdily made and practical for our family.
One thing I was certain about all along was my desire to add more color into my family room. Not so much in the couches themselves, but in everything around them. So a neutral shade of furniture was important for me. After all, I am a woman and I have been known to occasionally change my mind. A neutral colored couch set would be easier to accommodate any changes in décor I may decide to implement in the future. What can I say? I’m always thinking ahead!
Step #1
Colorful Throw Pillows!
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to add a splash of color to your living space is through accessories. And there’s no better accessory to a couch or loveseat than a few fluffy throw pillows! Most new couches come with a set of throw pillows made to “match” the fabric of the furniture. The ones that came with the set we purchased were gag-worthy, for sure. Certainly not anything I “loved”. So, off to Amazon I went! I chose to go with colorful pom-pom trimmed set of covers. I transferred the filling from the original, boring pillows to the new vibrant cases. The color mix and matching coordinated with the new armchairs we were adding. Which, leads me to step #2.
Step #2
Online Bargain Shopping!
Buying furniture online, sight unseen, can be a nerve-wracking and tricky experience. Obviously, it’s so important to make sure you’re reading reviews and researching the product. But even still, you don’t truly know what you’re spending your hard-earned money on and what you’re actually getting until it’s at your door. This is why I have an easier time purchasing such items from trusted sites like Amazon. Their return policy is typically excellent, their customer service has always been top-notch when we’ve needed it and I know I’ll get the item quickly (which will allow for a fast turn around and change of direction if I should decide it’s not what I wanted). I went out on a limb and ordered our accent chairs online and I honestly could not be more pleased.
The accent chairs were really the place I wanted to add those pops of color and “Go Big Or Go Home” so to speak. By selecting a pretty bright blue velvety chair and a swivel plush yellow chair, my “fun” factor in the family room most definitely went up quite a few notches!
Now, I must note, that these pieces did need assembled. But, I’m not afraid of power tools and the thought of putting the furniture together (it was actually quite easy) did not deter me in the slightest. Just keep it in mind when ordering from the internet.
Step #3
Customize Your Furniture with Color!
There’s not really anything that I’m afraid to paint. Most especially if it’s a second-hand piece or trash-night find. I’ve been known to give paint a good ol’ college try on pretty much any surface. So, when the couches arrived, the very first thing I did was paint the boring, dark wood legs.
First, I sanded them a bit by hand to remove the shiny clear finish. Then I cleaned them up with a dry towel. Next I painted a few coats of white and once that was fully dry, I added a gold leaf layer to the front legs.
This was actually the first time I tried my hand at Gold Leaf. Here is the kit I used. It was as messy as I suspected it would be (which is why I was so thankful I covered my workspace with paper beforehand), but otherwise quite fun to do!
Here’s how I did it:
Once my counter was covered, I applied a thin, even layer of adhesive to the sanded legs. They had to sit for about 20 minutes. Next, I carefully placed a sheet of the gold leaf onto one side of the leg. Using a clean, dry paintbrush, I slowly brushed the leaf sheet into place, smoothing out edges and corners. I continued to piece together the leaf sheets around the leg until it was fully covered. I wanted a bit of a ragged edge, so I did not use painters tape at the top of the leg where I wanted to keep white. If you would prefer a crisp line between where you add your gold leaf and the surface, painters tape would definitely be needed here.
I was only concerned with adding the gold leaf to the 2 front legs of each couch. The back legs were simply painted white.
After all 4 legs were finished with the gold leaf, I added an even layer of sealer. It took about an hour to dry before I was able to reattach the legs to the couches.
*When applying the gold leaf, there may be spots on your painted surface that don’t seem to “take” the sheet. If this happens, just continue on with the sheet you are working with. You can always add a bit more adhesive (waiting the 20 minutes until it’s tacky) and piece together the gold leafing using the broken bits from the first application. As you can see in the second picture, the broken bits stick pretty well to a dry paintbrush due to static in the air.
To coordinate with the gold leaf couch legs, I spray painted the legs of both of the accent chairs shiny gold (the blue chair had a dark color stain and the yellow chair was more of a bare wood finish).
Once the legs were painted, dried and attached, I added a bit of whimsy to the bottom of the blue chair with inexpensive yellow 4″ fringe trim tassel. I stapled it along the bottom of the chair. You could also hot glue it on if you don’t have access to a staple gun. This is such a quick and simple step that really made the chair just that bit of “extra”.
Step #4
Dress Up Your Curtains with Color!
I didn’t want to change out the sheer curtains I already had hanging in the windows. I really do love the breezy feel they bring to the room and the amount of sunlight they allow to filter through. But, I wanted to do something to spice them up. These multi-colored wood bead curtain tie backs were just the ticket! These are easily made with wood beads painted your desired colored and a length of white cotton rope.
Step #5
Personalized Artwork!
There is no simpler and less expensive way to add colorful personalization to any space than adding children’s artwork. I mean, how many of us can actually claim to know the artists behind the pieces in our home? And if your little Picasso’s are anything like my little Picasso’s, the number of pieces and the creative possibilities are endless!
Plus, seriously guys. Put one of their handmade pictures in a fancy frame, hang it on the wall, and tell me the smile you receive from that little face doesn’t make you want to cover your walls from floor to ceiling with their pictures just to keep getting that adorable grin from that adorable kisser forever and ever!
If you’re looking for a more mature piece – be thrifty! Yard sales, thrift shops and second-hand boutiques are excellent places to find that perfect painting or illustration. Oh, and don’t let the frame deter you! Pay attention to the art itself. The frame is an easy fix by either replacing it completely or simply applying a few coats of magic spray paint.
Step #6
Happy, Bright Lighting Matters!
You can’t forget your lighting! I’ve kinda got a thing for lamps. I love them and have a whole lot of them (to my husband’s dismay. “Another lamp?” are words he has muttered more than I’m sure he would have ever thought possible in our years together). In my defense, I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever purchased a lamp that wasn’t clearance-priced or second-hand. But still, I can totally admit that we have a lot of ’em. I prefer a lamp light to an overhead light in the evenings and I can’t have a side table that doesn’t have a lamp on it. It’s just not done (sorry. I’ve been watching Bridgerton on Netflix. I swear the British accent and tone I most certainly don’t have is strong in me lately).
Step #7
Don’t Forget to Color the Floor!
Did I mention I have 8 kids? I’m sure I have.
Did I mention having 8 kids is as messy, chaotic and dirty as it sounds? Both figuratively and literally? I’m sure I have.
We purposefully have mostly hardwood floors in our home with the exception of the children’s bedrooms and the family room. I like having the carpet in the room we hang out the most in together. It makes for a soft spot to sit if all the couches and chairs are taken during movie night and, in my opinion, just gives a more cozy feel to the space. Similar to my views on the couch colors, I prefer a more neutral tone to my carpeting. But, an area rug allows me to go as crazy as I want with designs and colors! The fact that it’s easier to clean spilled milk from an upturned sippy cup off an area rug than out of the carpet just adds to the charm.
This particular rug in our family room was an online deal on Black Friday and was a total steal for the size. Of course, I had been eyeing it for months (and months) waiting for a sale price we could actually afford. The wait was totally worth it and it pulls together the new shades of the furniture and accessories like it was meant to be here all along!
This post was sponsored by Dremel Tools. All opinions are my own.
As I was decorating the house for the holidays this year, there seemed to be so many Christmas decorations that my kiddos weren’t allowed to touch. Even our nice train track with the working engine is something they can only play with when Mom or Dad can help.
I could tell they were feeling a whole lot of “well, this isn’t fun” feelings and honestly, it just didn’t seem fair.
I decided it was high time to create an entire tree, from top to bottom, for my kids to decorate and play with. And this DIY Under the Tree Toy Train Track is just the final touch their Holiday décor needed! Plus, the track is incredibly easy to move around and store! Oh, and plus plus, it’s crazy inexpensive to create!
Hometalk
Starting with 2 pieces of 1″x3″x8″ wood pieces, we used a saw to cut (4) 18″ and (4) 7″ pieces. If you don’t have a saw, make sure to have your pieces cut at the store before you leave!
We chose to cut the 8 pieces at 22 degree angles at the ends to create an octagon shape in the track.
You will also need (3) 18″ pieces and (2) 7″ pieces cut to match the inside angles of the track for the back. These will provide a surface to hold your homes and trees.
I spray painted the track a metallic gray and the back pieces white.
Set the wood aside to fully dry.
Next, we painted our wood and rectangle squares – which will be the houses – colorful and bright shades with acrylic craft paint.
For the roof pieces, we painted our triangle shapes black.
Using white puffy paint, we created a snowy shingle look in layers across each of the triangles.
A bit of craft snow glitter added the perfect sparkle to our snowy rooftops!
Using the hot glue gun, we attached the roofs to the houses.
I prefer to “man” the glue gun during our family crafting time. I know first-hand how painful burns from the glue gun can be on your tender digits!
Once the spray painted wood was dry, it was time to connect the gray track pieces to the white back pieces. Matching the sizes together (18″ track pieces with 18″ back pieces, 7″ track pieces with 7″ back pieces), we screwed them together from the outside of the back piece to the bottom of the back of the track piece.
Hot glue the finished houses and tree shapes to the interior of the back piece and continue filling in with the shapes along the front and sides of the track.
We wanted our houses and trees to be touching so that we could fit as many as possible on our track.
To help hold the track together when in use, narrow strips of velcro did the job!
Plus, the velcro makes it crazy simple to move the track around and store away.
We found some plain wood cars and trains at the craft store and added a bit of paint to them to use on our track. But, the track is wide enough for most toy cars, really.
It’s totally perfect and totally hands-on for the kiddos!
This post was sponsored by WORX Tools. All opinions are my own.
Christmas is right around the corner and my itch to start decorating my home is becoming more of a jolly, red, green and white rash. I can’t wait to deck the halls and make our spaces joyful. One of my most favorite parts of the entire Christmas season is all the lights. Houses, business and town gazebos lit up and sparkling, trees glowing in the night and icicle lights adorning front porches. Even though it’s cold and snowy, all the twinkling and shining just makes me feel warm and aglow. This Merry and Bright Marquee sign is perfect for any light-loving kindred spirit and will certainly put you in a wonderfully cheerful mood!
Step 1: Paint Plaque White
Spray paint the painter’s plaque white outside or in a well-ventilated space.
Step 2: Tape the Edges
After the paint has dried, you will need to use painters’ tape around the top edge to keep it clean for the next step.
Step 3: Add Glue
Using a decoupage medium and a foam brush, apply a coat of glue along the side of the plaque.
Step 4: Glitter Up the Sides
Making sure the plaque is over a tray or plate, sprinkle the glitter onto the wet side.
Continue working around the plaque, brushing on the glue and shaking on the glitter one side at a time.
Set to the plaque off to the side to dry.
Don’t forget to dump your extra glue on the tray back into your bottle!
Step 5: Paint the Letters
With a gold sparkle spray paint, paint the front of each letter spelling out “MERRY & BRIGHT” outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. You could also use acrylic paint in place of the spray paint if you prefer.
Allow to fully dry.
Step 6: Mark the Letters
Turning the letters over, mark where the holes for each bulb will go on the back of the letter using a black marker. Make sure you know how many bulbs are on your battery-operated strand beforehand so that you make the correct number of holes in each letter.
When making your holes, keep in mind the letters are thin wood that may split easily and staying in the center of each letter will prevent this.
Step 6: Drill the Holes
Using the Maker X Rotary Tool with the 1/8” drill bit, drill through each black dot on the back of your letters.
Step 7: Mark the Lines
With a ruler and a pencil, lightly mark a line 2” down from the top (for MERRY) and ½” up from the bottom (for BRIGHT) to use as a template for applying the letters.
The line will help you keep your words straight.
Step 8: Hot Glue the Letters
Hot glue MERRY & BRIGHT onto the plaque, making sure not to cover up the holes. (If you do accidently cover the holes with glue, don’t panic! You will wind up drilling through it anyway in the next step.)
Step 9: Drill the Plaque
Now that your letters are glued in place, it’s time to use the Rotary Tool again to drill through to the back of the plaque.
Step 10: Erase
Erase any pencil lines you can see.
Step 11: Velcro Battery Pack
With a 2” strip of sticky velcro, attach the battery pack to the back of the painter’s plaque in the opening of the frame.
Step 12: Insert Lights
Insert one miniature bulb through each hole, working slowly up and down the letters.
If you notice the lights pulling out of the holes in the back, a small piece of duct tape will help hold the pesky wires in place.
Step 13: Hot Glue Snowballs
For a finishing touch, take .5” white pom-pom balls and hot glue them randomly across the front of the marquee sign to give it a snowy look.
This homemade Cinnamon & Spice Potpourri brings out all the bestest smelly smells of fall and winter celebrations. It’s simple to put together, requires very few ingredients & makes an awesome and easy gift idea!
I don’t know about you, but I love the interior of my home to encompass what’s going on in the seasons outside and all around it. Especially when there’s a nip in the autumn air and the desire to be cozy comfy under a soft blanket in your flannel pj’s holding a mug of something sweet and warm is strong. And the best way to bring that feeling inside is with something that tantalizes the sniffer. Blusters the honker. Sings to the bugle. (AKA – is really pleasing to the nose!)
Once you make this heavenly potpourri, you’ll be tempted to stay home all day and just sniff the aroma all around you. I promise.
1cupdried orange & apple slicesYou can purchase them packaged and pre-dried. You can also slice your own oranges and apples and dehydrate them in a dehydrator or straight on your oven rack set at the lowest setting (250°) until dried out (about 2-3 hours) turning them every half hour or so. They will stick to a tray, which is why they should be placed directly on the rack.
1cupdried anise stars
1cupdried rosehips
1cup whole cloves
1cupcinnamon sticks
homemade gingie kids from recipe above
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or container. Take a few really good sniffs to let the amazing scent settle into the depths of your nostrils. Potpourri can be set out in a bowl dry or placed in a pot of boiling water to simmer over the stovetop.For gift-giving, separate potpourri mix into smaller boxes or bags tied with ribbon for a perfect housewarming gift, hostess gift, Christmas gift or simple "Just Because" gift.
Notes
For an adorable Christmas addition, mix in my Cinnamon Gingie Kids (below) to the potpourri!
Preheat oven to 200°. You can also omit the oven and let the ornaments air dry in a sunny spot for 4-5 days.
Stir together cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Mix in the applesauce and glue. Whip the mixture with your stand mixer or just your hands for a few minutes until a ball forms. If mix is too gooey, add more cinnamon. If it's too dry, add more applesauce.
Lightly dust your work surface with cinnamon. Roll out dough to approx. ¼ inch thickness. Using desired cookie cutter shapes, cut out dough and place on non-stick sprayed pans. Don't forget to punch a hole using a toothpick or skewer if you wish to hang them with ribbon or add a bow.
One of our many stuck-at-home-going-stir-crazy Quarantine projects was this bookshelf. I wanted it to match the home library we already have in the dining room. You can see it here.
I totally love having a space for my own personal books, but I wasn’t loving how cluttered it always looked. I tried a few different ways to style the shelves and none of them left me content with the result. Plus, our Stick Figure Art (you can see those here), were always wonky and crooked. But, of course, I didn’t want just plain doors – blah! And wouldn’t it be so fun if said “doors” displayed all of my children’s priceless artwork?!
So, off to Home Depot I went. I picked up 2 pieces of pegboard, some pine furring strips, brass door handles and brass hinges.
After measuring the length and width of my bookshelf and dividing that size in half (while also allowing the space the hinges would take), I knew how large each door needed to be. For this project, I only needed two 48″x24″ prefinished white pegboard panels and (2) 2″x4″ pine pieces.
I attached the cut pine to the outside of the pegboard using wood glue and a few wood screws. The panel was too hard for our handheld staple gun to go through and we didn’t have the right size nails for the air stapler, and honestly, I was entirely too lazy to go back to the store, so glue and screws were our next best option (screwed in from the underside of the panel, of course).
Once the panel doors were constructed, it was time to sand and paint. I used a brush and acrylic white paint to paint the interior side of the pegboard and white spray paint for the front.
After the paint was dry, I attached the handles. I knew the shelf sat a bit higher (and I’m not the tallest of folk) so I placed the handles a bit lower than halfway down instead of centered.
Next came the hinges. I measured and screwed them into the doors first and then into the sides of the bookshelf.
I ordered a set of inexpensive gold frames in multiple sizes, miniature bulldog clips as well as the pegboard metal prong hooks and Pegitz Pegboard Peg Locks needed to hand the frames. Now I don’t have to worry about the frames falling off when I open the doors.
GAH! I literally cannot stop staring at the finished product! I even switched out the individual Stick Figure Art frames for a sturdy set of long gold frames to match the ones on the doors and keep those guys from getting all out of whack!
I know I’ve already shared all of my super Top Secret tips and tricks to camping in the great outdoors in my Tired Mother’s Guide to Camping with Kids, but I also wanted to share my recipe for Homemade Mosquito Repellent that is not only good for camping but excellent for use all summer long.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always disliked spraying my kids with drugstore mosquito repellent products. When I read the label, I feel like they’re full of unknown crap and the over the counter sprays tend to leave their skin feeling sticky and gross. Not a good combination of feelings on hot summer nights.
I decided to try my own hand at a more natural, homemade option.
Now, I should definitely disclose that I don’t normally use essential oils for anything in my home other than to put in my cute lil’ diffuser that I absolutely love as a “cover up the baby poop smell” air freshener. That’s it. I’m not rollin’ it on my armpits or behind my ears or any other place that may be unmentionable. I purchased a set of 6 cheapo oils on Amazon for like $9 to use in said diffuser. This was literally the only time I’ve bought and used essential oils for any purpose.
I’ll definitely be using them a bit more now when I need to make a new batch of this mosquito repellent, though. Most of the oils in the recipe are fairly common to come across. I’ve seen them at the grocery store and at most drug stores. I did need to order the citronella oil online as that was the only ingredient I didn’t have on hand. (Yes, that absolutely means I had a huge bottle of vodka in our garage fridge. Don’t judge me, Karen. Sometimes alcohol makes me a better mother…)
I promise you that this DIY Bug & Mosquito Repellent is clean, fresh and doesn’t leave an oily residue. Plus, you can make it in under 5 minutes (and it’s cheap to make – once you buy the initial supplies, you have plenty to make many additional batches!)
*the essential oil amounts and types you use are really up to you. I personally love the smell of the spray with all of the listed oils together. But, if one or two of these oils aren’t exactly your cup o’tea, just omit them (with the exception of the Citronella as it’s the main ingredient to deterring those pesky blood suckers.)
Need a quick do-it-yourself idea for Dad? Don’t panic – I’ve got you covered! Here are 3 of my favorite Dad DIY’s that you can make in a day!
Locally Made Liquor Tied With A Duct Tape Bow
These bows were crazy easy to make and are a great way to present a bottle of locally distilled liquor. Simply wrap a strip of duct tape around the width of the bottle. Then, for the bow, fold a length of tape on itself so the “sticky sides” are pressed together (mine were about 18″ long to start). Next I formed the bow and used a separate narrow strip of duct tape to hold it together. I attached the back of the bow to the strip of tape using a small piece of rolled tape.
Sports Door Hanger
Made with authentic baseballs and a mini bat, this door hanger is perfect for a sports fan!
(click picture to take you to the full DIY directions!)
Sports Beer Caddy
Does Dad like to watch his favorite sports team’s games with friends and neighbors? Make him his own BYO beer caddy to take along with him!
(click picture to take you to the full DIY directions!)
This post was sponsored by WORX Tools. All opinions are my own.
Caring for my large family, instructing school at home, and basic every-day housekeeping tends to take up a majority of my time. I try to maintain our yard and flower beds to keep up the exterior appearance of my home, but sometimes the lawn just gets the best of me and the weeds and grass get out of hand! I decided it was time to tackle that side flower bed that has been left untended and unloved since we originally built our front porch (ahem, 4 years ago!) It’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” spots outside my home and it was past time I gave it a little TLC. I’ve broken down my flower bed makeover in 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Use a Landroid Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower
I mean, a lawn mower that mows the lawn on it’s own and even returns itself to the recharging base when it’s finished? I think I’m in love! I can’t even get my kids or my husband to put their shoes away after they wear them!
Set-up is a breeze and took just about an hour. There’s a lot of pictures in the Quick Start Guide, which is great for me. I’m a visual learner and tend to speed through the words, not to mention there’s typically kids running all around distracting me, so the pictures were definitely my friends!
Once we constructed the charging base or “garage” as my kids refer to it, we placed it on the side of our barn as it only receives the morning sun and was away from the play area.
After measuring 10” from the edge of all of our lawn and gardens, we installed the boundary wire using the stakes directly to the surface of the lawn. And thanks to the Anti-Collision System, this robo guy senses my fences and even my kids playground equipment and toys (that are typically all over the place!) He simply detects them and navigates around them. No worries about anything being run over or ruined if we forget to do a toy clean-up before mowing day!
Step 2: Pull The Weeds
I know there are a load of spray weed killers on the market that can be used in the garden, but I prefer a “greener” route. I use a lot of elbow grease and patience and pull the weeds out at the root. Plus, if you have little helpers, they consider this tedious chore quite fun! Just be prepared for many, many, worm and bug distractions!
Step 3: Add Color
These DIY Concrete Flower Blocks were the perfect way to add some visual interest and a pop of color to this flower bed without spending a lot of money on pots.
They were fast and simple to make – in under an hour I had these adorable blocks planted and in the garden!
Taking 5 single, clean concrete blocks, I spray painted them yellow on the 4 sides and top. I didn’t bother with the bottom as I knew that would be sitting down in the soil.
Once dry, I filled them with potting soil and planted 3 annual flower bundles in each opening.
Don’t forget a good, thorough watering for your newly transplanted flowers!
Step 4: Compost Mulch
This side garden was once full of perennials. Many of the plants were destroyed due to the construction from the porch addition. I planted some temporary blooms to the garden with annual flowers along the border until the perennials (hopefully) return to their original glory. The mulch compost adds a layer of protection against future pesky weeds and controls erosion – which is great since it’s on a bit of an incline – all while adding organic matter for good soil nutrition. Win, win, win!
The end result is a flower bed that so many of my neighbors have complimented me on as they stroll by! It feels so good to check something off the bottom of the dreaded “To-Do” list!
This post was sponsored by Aleene’s. All opinions are my own.
I adore candles in my home and decor. Real, battery operated, tapered or tealight, I love ‘em all! These DIY Doily Bowls are a shabby-chic simple way to provide a gorgeous base for the candle of your choice. The warmer days have got me itching to visit the beach, and the beautifully trimmed lace doily filled with cool, white sand just screams “Boho Summer” to me. Aleene’s Premium Decoupage glue makes creating the look a breeze!
Gather your supplies:
Aleene’s Premium Decoupage
Small Craft Paint Brush or Foam Brush
Latex Balloons (one per bowl – any color)
Doily (paper or fabric)
Twine
Step 1: Inflate balloon.
Keep in mind the size of your doily (mine are approx. 12” round) combined with the size of your balloon will dictate the size of your bowl. Tie your balloon closed and place it – tie side down – into a container to hold it steadily while you work.
Step 2: First glue layer.
After deciding on your preferred finish (I used glossy for the paper doilies and matte for the fabric), apply a thin layer of glue onto your balloon with your brush making sure to place glue everywhere the doily will lay.
Step 3: Place doily.
Center the middle of the doily to the top of the glue-covered balloon and gently apply.
Step 4: Final Coat.
Add another coat of glue on the doily. This is a slow and steady process. You don’t want to add too much at a time as it could drip over your workspace and possibly rip if you are using paper.
* But don’t fret! This glue cleans up easily with soap and water and is very forgiving with mistakes! If you find that you’ve ripped your paper doily, push it gently back into place with your finger and add a thin layer of glue. Adding multiple thin coats will be more beneficial than one thick coat.
Step 5: Allow to fully dry.
Many factors come into play here – from humidity to glue thickness – you want to ensure they are completely dry before moving on!
Step 6: Pop the balloon!
You could always untie the knot too, but that’s no fun! Warning – sometimes when the balloon deflates, it deflates the doily along with it!
* But don’t fret! If the glue is still tacky, it may cause the balloon to stick to the inside of the doily bowl. When the balloon deflates, the doily folds into itself too! Don’t panic! Simply remove the balloon pieces from the inside and reshape your bowl. You’ll be surprised how easily you can reshape it! You may want to let it sit a bit longer at this point just to make sure it really is fully dry before adding your filler.
Step 7: Add bow (optional).
I just love the rustic feel of twine with the delicate look of the doily!
Step 8: Add filler.
I used white craft sand to complete the soft, romantic, beachy look. But you can fill them with colored sand, small pebbles, coffee beans – whatever tickles your fancy! If you didn’t quite get as much of an even coat of glue as you thought, you may notice there’s a few small openings that the filler may get through. If you choose to not use filler, place a glass dish at the bottom of the bowl to keep the wax from dripping straight onto your doily.
*But don’t fret! A small piece of paper towel or even paper cut to size to fit in the bottom of the bowl will prevent leaking!
Step 9: Add candle.
If you’re worried about the hazards of a real flame, or you are using them at a venue with candle regulations, a battery operated light would be just as stunning!
Spruce up a pair of cheapo, plain dollar store sunglasses to make some crazy cool shades.
All you need for these novelty glasses:
foam shapes, felt shapes, small dinos, small plastic bugs, pom pom balls, googly eyes or whatever else you can find that can be hot glued onto the frame of your shades
I have to admit something to you guys. I’m not the “Fun Slime-Making Mom“. I despise slime. I just.can’t.handle.the.mess. It’s not my favorite thing. When they bring it home from school or from a friend’s house, I cry inside. I rarely say yes when my kids want – no, beg – to make it. Even though we typically always have the ingredients. Phew. There. I’ve said it.
Buuuut, these Bouncy Galactic Balls are more my speed. They’re simple to make, easy to clean up and make little mess during play. That, my friends, is what I’m talkin’ bout!
2tbspglitter glueor 2 tbsp clear glue with food coloring
Instructions
Mix the hot water and Borax together in a bowl
Drop glitter glue into water. The glue will begin to harden. After about 15 seconds, grab the blob of glue and squeeze with your hands until there is no more liquid dripping out of the blob. Shape the blob into whatever form you like. Allow to air dry for about an hour and then bounce and squeeze away!
As long as the water is still warm, you can continue to use the same water/Borax mix for different colored glue.
If you do not want to wait for the blobs to dry, adding a tbsp of corn starch to the glue before dropping it into the water will quicken the dry time (but also clouds the color).
Ever since we’ve been in Corona lock-down, I’ve been thinking about creating something with the kids that would provide a bit of personalized, fun color to my walls. These stick figure pictures did the trick!
I made them using canvas panel boards and craft tissue paper – it cannot be regular tissue paper because the tissue paper must bleed color when wet.
To begin, I lightly traced fun stick figures onto the canvas boards with pencils. I tried to make them match each kiddos personality (and hair!)
Next, I let the kids finish creating their figures using permanent marker. My initial pencil outline was just to serve as a template for them to work from because I knew I wanted the figures to be similar in size. They were each free to change their arms, legs, clothing, etc as they saw fit. Once they were finished drawing their figures, we erased the pencil markings.
I cut the tissue paper into different shapes for different kids in hopes of each piece having a slightly different look (I wasn’t quite sure if this would work – but it did!)
Taking a cup of water and a cheap paint brush, we brushed the canvas with water, placed a tissue shape on top and continued with this process until the canvas was as filled as they wanted. Some of the kids overlapped while others did single, even layers. There really is no wrong way to do it! But, the more colors on top, the more color at the end!
Once the canvas was filled with tissue, we painted a layer of water on top and set them aside for about 20 minutes. You don’t want the tissue to completely dry (it will be difficult to remove), just to sit long enough to thoroughly bleed the color. This may vary depending on the amount of water that was used.
After peeling the tissue shapes off the board, we waited overnight for the canvas to fully dry. I chose to mount the boards in inexpensive white frames to dress them up a little.
FYI: One pack of tissue paper was more than enough for all 8 of my kids to use. We actually still have quite a bit left over for future art projects!
