Decorating with Photos

Hey guys! I was over at Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke yesterday for her Decorating with Photos series.   I would love for you to come on over and check out my favorite way to display our photos.  It's been a great series - lots of photo display inspiration!

Have a wonderful day!

Easter Buffet and Hutch

I always start to get the winter blues at this time of year.  I'm really not a winter person and long for the warm weather to arrive.  But just because it is winter outside doesn't mean that I can't have a little Spring inside.  So I pulled out my Easter decorations over the weekend and put away all signs of winter...

Now this buffet and hutch have a little story.  Back in November I decided that I was going to paint all of our dining room furniture {oh and why not paint the kitchen table at the same time}. Like pretty much everything else I do, this task required way more time than I expected and I encountered my fair share of problems along the way.  If you follow along on Facebook, I'm sure you will remember all of my whining and complaining..

Anyways, with all the busyness of Christmas {as well as the end of my patience} I never ended up completing the project. I tidied things up as best I could and put the rest of the painting on the back burner.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however, and I think that I may be starting to get over the trauma of the whole thing.  Hopefully I will be able to get myself psyched up to complete the rest of it in the next month or so.  Please tell me there are other people out there that hate painting as much as I do.

So here is where I am at with the dining room...

I still need to paint all of the chairs white, there are some parts on the hutch that need to be completed, and the table top also needs to be painted and waxed again {long story...}  I promise I will do up a nice tutorial {with lots of info on what NOT to do} once all is eventually completed.  The room also needs a new coat of paint and I am hoping to paint the baseboards white to brighten things up a bit as well.

Just so you can see where I started, here's a before picture from our Easter Brunch a couple of years ago...

Now back to the decorating part.  I don't decorate a whole lot for Easter but I do like to put out a few Easter touches here and there...

{my favorite ceramic bunny who holds my chocolate stash}

 {this super cute salt and pepper shaker from Pier One}

{and my Bunny Butt Bunting that I love}

Nothing too drastic but it is a nice reminder that Spring is on the horizon.

I still have a few other areas of the house to finish up and also have this bunny canvas to find a permanent home for...

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

I linked up with Funky Junk, Craft Quickies, Nest of Posies, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Flamingo Toes, Thirty Handmade Days, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Ginger Snap Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, Not Just a Housewife, Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog, Lolly Jane, The Lily Pad Cottage, The Lily Pad Cottage, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, CRAFT, Will Cook for Smiles, I Should be Mopping the Floor, I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk, Tatertots and Jello, Whipperberry, 504 Main, Liz Marie, Tidy Mom, Craftberry Bush, Delightful Order, The 36th Avenue and Stone Gable.

The Creative Spark {No. 80}

Welcome back to another night of The Creative Spark! I can't wait to see what you all have been up to!

This week I have been continuing on with my bathroom organization...

... and started some Easter crafting.

I always seem to get the winter blues around this time of year so I am hoping that the promise of Spring will brighten things up a bit!

*****************
Okay, so now it`s your turn!! What have you all been up to? Feel free to link up anything that you have created - crafts, DIY, scrapbook projects, organization ideas, decorating, recipes - anything goes!

Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar} OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Follow along with Facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week. I will also be back to showcase some of my favorite ideas for my Sunday Sparks. 
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!

Easter Bunny Canvas

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  It's been quite rainy and dreary around here lately so I decided to get going on some Easter crafting this weekend.  Just a little reminder that Spring is somewhere around the corner!

Remember my bunny butt bunting?  

I guess you can say that I have a "thing" for bunny butts.  I just had to add another one to the collection!

MATERIALS

• canvas {mine is 16 x 20}
• craft paint {I used Martha Stewart "Cloud"}
• vinyl or other bunny stencil {I purchased mine from the Silhouette Store.You just need to ungroup and use the one down in the corner!}
• white yarn
• scrapbook paper
• double sided tape
• twine

TO DO

• Place your bunny stencil in the middle of the canvas {mine was cut out on the Silhouette}.  Make sure you adhere the edges down well so that the paint does not bleed through.
• Paint the remaining canvas with the blue paint.
• Remove the stencil exposing the white canvas.
• Make a pom pom using the white yarn. {head over here if you need a tutorial for this}
• Cut a small slit with a sharp knife {approximately 3/4 inch} in the canvas where you want the tail to go.  Pull some of the yarn through until the tail stays in place. 

• The top corner was looking plain so I cut a few triangles from some scrapbook paper and adhered them to the twine and the canvas with some double sided tape for a little bunting.

Sorry I don't have any pictures of the whole process but it was late at night and my camera batteries were charging.  Trust me though, it is a very simple project that can be completed within an hour! 

And really...is there anything cuter than bunny butts?

I linked up with Nest of Posies, Jennifer Rizzo, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Ginger Snap Crafts, Lolly Jane, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, CRAFT, Will Cook for Smiles, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, I Heart Naptime, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk, Tatertots and Jello, Whipperberry, 504 Main, Delightful Order, The 36th Avenue, Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, Tip Junkie, Home Stories A to Z and Today's Creative Blog.

My Sunday Sparks {No. 79}

Happy Sunday!  I hope you have all been enjoying your weekend!  It is my hubby's birthday today and the boys are all off to an afternoon hockey game to celebrate.   I guess that leaves me on dinner and birthday cake duty! :)   

As always, I like to take some time on Sunday to highlight some of the amazing projects linked up at last week's Creative Spark.  I am so thankful for all of you that take the time to come on over to the party - whether you are just looking or sharing your project ideas, you are ALL appreciated!  Here are just a few of the links that caught my eye...

I love everything about City Farmhouse's Family Room Reveal.   She did a lot of projects herself so there are lots of links to DIY tutorials too.  You definitely need to check it out!

The Lilypad Cottage re-purposed on old bookshelf into new bookshelves for her adorable playroom.  I'm sure you'll love her home as much as I do.

Liz Marie Blog gave her barstools and benches a beautiful update.  She always has amazing painting projects.

Twelve-O-Eight did a fabulous job on her painted kitchen stool.  Love the pattern and love the color!

There were so many delicious looking desserts linked up this week and I though these Mint Ice Cream Brownie Push Pops from A Pumpkin and a Princess would be perfect for St. Patrick's Day. {and I just happen to have some push pops sitting in my garage that I really need to use!}

I am ready to devour this Reese's Nutella Banana Bread from Back for Seconds.  I really don't think it gets much better than this!

I am also excited to try this avocado and feta salsa from Mom on Timeout.  A great twist on a old standard.

Thanks so much to all of you that came out to the party last week.  You are ALL amazing!!  If you haven't had a chance to check out the links, you can head on over here.  Past features can always be found on my Pinterest board.  If you were featured here or on my Facebook page, please feel free to grab a button from the sidebar.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Bathroom Organization Ideas {The Household Organization Diet}

One of the February tasks for of my Household Organization Diet, is to go through and organize all of the bathroom cupboards and closets in our home. I was quite surprised how many of you wrote that you do not actually have any cupboards in your bathroom.  I am a total bath person {and love all of my bath and beauty products} so I would definitely be in trouble without all of my cupboard storage space!  With all of that in mind though, I have tried to include some organization suggestions at the end for those of you with and without cupboards!

Bathroom Organization Supplies: 

• microfiber cloth
• spray bottle with 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water
• garbage {and recycling} bags
• storage bins and baskets.  Look around the house and see what you can find!

To Do:

• Remove EVERYTHING from the cupboards and/or closet.  **NOTE: Make sure you take out only what you can put back in less than 30 minutes {or whatever time you have designated for yourself}.  There is nothing worse than running out of time with half of your bathroom supplies still laying out on the floor!
• Wipe down the insides and outsides of the cupboards.    
• Go through items and toss {or recycle} anything that is expired, smells bad, or that you do not use and love.  As always, be ruthless here!  If you are short on space, make sure you avoid duplicate items {i.e. if you have 2 or 3 bottles of shampoo, pick one and store the remaining bottles in another area of your home that you may have more storage space}. 
• Group remaining items into categories. You may want to group by person or by function - whatever works for you!
• Use bins, pull out drawers, or trays to hold similar items in cupboards, closets or shelves.

• Use drawer organizers to keep smaller items sorted and easy to find. You can find a lot of inexpensive options at the dollar store to mix and match sizes to fit your space. Office supply holders {such as the stackable organizers in the first photo} or cutlery organizers work well too.   

• Utilize the inside of cupboard doors for storage.   Use small hooks to hold towels {or cleaning cloths!} or install a small wire shelf.  I like to have the toothbrushes stored out of sight so I mounted our DIY Brush and Wash station to the inside cupboard in the kids' bathroom using Command strips. 

•  Use baskets to hold towels or beauty products.

• Store first aid supplies in one location.  I created this "Boo Boo Box" for ours and it is easily portable.  Medication needs to be stored in a dry, cool place that is away from moisture so the bathroom is definitely not the best place for it. {you can find my medicine cabinet here} 

• Be creative with storing your beauty supplies.  Re-use old jars or bottles for pretty storage.

• If you do not have any built in cabinets in the bathroom, install some wall shelves, wall mounted towel holders, or purchase a small shelving unit for extra storage.   Add some bins to keep your items out of sight!

Hopefully that gives you a few ideas and a little inspiration to get your bathroom organized.  The linen closet is up next!

This post is part of my Household Organization Diet series.  You can join in anytime - just start with these two posts here and here.  If you are looking for past projects, you can find them all on my Pinterest board}.

I linked up with Flamingo Toes, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Whipperberry, Design Dining and Diapers, The 36th Avenue, Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, Tip Junkie, Home Stories A to Z, Design Dining and Diapers, Today's Creative Blog, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Uncommon, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, I Heart Naptime, Tatertots and Jello, Tidy Mom, The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring and Somewhat Simple.

Happy Organizing! 

The Creative Spark {No. 79}

Welcome back to another night of The Creative Spark! I can't wait to see what you all have been up to!
 

This week I have been working on deep cleaning the bathrooms {fun! fun!}...

...and have started to look ahead to St. Patrick's Day with some fun rainbow inspired projects!

You also won't want to miss the giveaway for this amazing Blendtec blender.

*****************

Okay, so now it`s your turn!! What have you all been up to? Feel free to link up anything that you have created - crafts, DIY, scrapbook projects, organization ideas, decorating, recipes - anything goes!

Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar} OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Follow along with Facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week. I will also be back to showcase some of my favorite ideas for my Sunday Sparks. 
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!

 

St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Ideas

I love celebrating for the holidays but St. Patrick's Day has not traditionally been one of our big holiday celebrations around here. I'm not a huge "green" person but I love all of the rainbow ideas linked to that lucky pot of gold!  I can totally hear that Skittles girl from the commercials whisper "Taste the Rainbow"...

Last year we did up rainbow fruit tray for a fun St. Patrick's day chocolate fondue and I think we will be expanding on the rainbow theme this year. :)

If you are looking for some more color to add to your St. Patrick's Day, here is some more amazing inspiration from around the blogosphere... 

Rainbow Fruit Wraps from Quick Dish

Rainbow Pudding from Blissfully Domestic

Rainbow Peppermint Patties from Taste for Adventure

Rainbow Cupcakes from Meet the Dubiens

Rainbow Slice and Bake Cookies from Good Life Eats

Rainbow Waffles from Random Thoughts of a Supermom

Amazing Rainbow Cake from I Am Baker.

St. Patrick's Day Breakfast from Meet the Dubiens.

Rainbow Salad {the adult version!} from Rock UR Party

Rainbow Printable from Simple as That

Rainbow Treats from Party City.

Have you created any rainbow projects for St. Patricks's Day?  Feel free to leave a link below!  I hope you have a wonderful day and remember... 

I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Whipperberry, Crafty Scrappy Happy, The 36th Avenue, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a Housewife, Tip Junkie, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Uncommon, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Tatertots and Jello, Tidy Mom, The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Somewhat Simple, Mom on Timeout, Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style, Ginger Snap Crafts and Lil Luna.