Counting down to baby...

Swollen face, swollen feet, all worth it when this babe I will meet!

Quick & Easy Crafts for the Nursery and a Sneak Peek! Part 2: Easy Scrapbook paper and washi tape banner

After the tissue pom poms (see previous post), I make this super easy banner/ garland? / pendant? / bunting? using scrapbook paper and washi tape. I used my scrap pad of Sarah Jane's Children at Play for girls and some washi tape I bought from Pick your Plum. It took about 10 minutes.

1. So gather your supplies: paper, tape, scissors, and a template for the banner. I just cut one really quick out of a scrap in the size I wanted.

2. Cut out triangles with template. I chose to cut 9. I want to possibly put her name on it but we haven't decided on one yet so this should cover all the names on our list :)

3. Lay out the triangles in whatever order you want. It would also be cute to use just a few papers and repeat the pattern. 

4. Roll out your washi tape as long as the triangles plus about 6 inches extra on each side, leaving the sticky side up.

5. Place each triangle on top of the sticky side of tape, halfway up.

6. Fold over the tape evenly at the middle al the way across over itself and the papers.

7. Hang, step back, and enjoy your handiwork!

This is over the changing table and the Children at Play On Parade fabric canvas I made. Love it :)

Quick & Easy Crafts for the Nursery and a Sneak Peek! Part 1: Tissue pom poms

So... it's crunch time. The baby's due in 2 1/2 weeks and there has been 2 simple things I wanted to make for the nursery that I finally got around to doing today. We still need to hang the curtains and are waiting for the handmade quilts from the grandmas (hint, hint) and then it will be complete. So this is kind of a "sneak-peek" :) With my stomach hardening in braxton hicks all day though, she might come before it's done. But let's not get our hopes up :) 

The first project was these simple tissue poms. Poofs? Flowers? Whatever they are, I had read all over the internet that they are super simple to make. I followed a tutorial I found on pinterest here:

This was a no cost project for me since I always recycle tissue paper and bows and I had just enough of the colors I wanted, score! I wanted to use these instead of a mobile over the crib. So here is how they turned out:

Before I did this project I considered myself a crafty person, but somehow I managed to botch this "super easy" craft that every one and their dog can do (PINTEREST FAIL!) So don't look too closely!!! I kind of tweaked them a bit till they looked passable and decided that at this point, in between contractions, I just wanted the darn things hung. Done.

I just love the colors and the theme of this nursery, isn't it looking cute?

Come back for part two next!

A few living room updates

After being inspired by my visit to Pottery Barn (see last post), I was itching to switch things around on the ledge and see if I could make it look like what I saw in the store. Now yes, I realize my home is not a store showroom, nor do I want it to look or feel like it is, but I have had such a heck of a time trying to figure out how to decorate this space! So after taking some pictures I was interested in taking on this design challenge. The neat thing about this "project" was it cost no money, I simple rearranged everything that was up there and added my big chalkboard to ground the grouping and define the space a little. All I did was look at the pictures I took and tried to recreate what I saw- and I learned a few things! Every grouping started with the tallest things in the middle and moving out toward the smallest things on the ends. 

So here is the BEFORE:

And the AFTER:

What do you think? Does it look like "too much stuff" bunched together, or does it look ok? I am getting used to it...

Also this Spring, I was able to save up some "odd-job/side-job" money and give my living room a little make-over. It was super fun and I love the way it turned out. 

New curtains from TJ Maxx and I sewed new pillow covers from a Target Threshold shower curtain I got on ebay. The fabric has all the colors I wanted in the room- green, blue, yellows, browns, and cute birds too :) The curtains are white with a gray/taupe trellis type design and cool metal grommets on top. Everything was just TOO brown before and it needed some color and style - a breath of fresh air. (Sorry the picture lighting w/ my phone is tricky...)

This was my BIG purchase! I had been wanting a new recliner chair for our living room for quite some time. Don't get me wrong, I still love my old chair but it was truly falling apart and looking quite dingy - it was getting embarrassing! We took it upstairs so I can still enjoy it out of public view :) But when I walked into TJ Maxx one day I was on a mission to find a new chair. My husband was doubtful but I went straight to them and lo behold there it was! Actually, I was looking at another chair but it was quite uncomfortable and did not recline. My husband said "How about this one?" It is a Lane brand which I love and it was pretty comfortable, but it didn't look like it reclined either. Then my husband looked at the tag and said "Well this tag is for a recliner, but you get the idea." Then while I was sitting in it, he said, "Wait a minute!" And pulled out the footrest and sure enough, it was a recliner! I was like "Shut up!" And he was like "No way!" And we were like "Sold!" It was quite exciting :) It was right within my budget and when I got home and googled it, I found out we got it for half the retail price! Sweet! It is called a Lane Fritz High Leg Recliner, and not sure what fabric, in case you are interested. I also bought this pillow while at TJ Maxx to bring in the grays/taupes and blue.

And here I have my fun Spring blocks (tutorial here) with new hurricanes I scored at Target on clearance for $5 a piece, my coffee filter wreath (tutorial here), and a cute metal key my sis -in- law gave my for Christmas. The mirror was from Walmart.

So that's my updates for now! Hope you enjoyed, have a great weekend!

PB Summer Vignettes

On vacation... last "hurrah" before baby comes... had to stop by my favorite store. I got some great ideas for large decorative groupings, I had to take pictures to remember (am I the only one who does this?!) I would love to be able to pull something off like this on that odd ledge in my living room, or even on top of my china hutch.

So here are 5 lovely pictures for you to enjoy and maybe get a little decorating inspiration from....

Have a great weekend!

Spring 2013 Inspiration: A Roundup of my latest

I don't know about you, but I am more than ready to say goodbye to the SNOW we've been having and say hello to the SUN and warmer weather. Here is a roundup of some of the things that have sparked my interests this Spring. Take a minute and enjoy looking at these pretties.

(They are all on my pinterest boards so if you want to see where they came from, please go there :) )

This week I was browsing for new sheets and I got an email from Pottery Barn for a % off all purchases so I decided to check out what they had to offer. I went to the clearance section and found a set of 2 Plaza(much needed)king pillowcases in sandalwood for $7.99! That's like Ikea prices for much better quality. They come in the mail next week!

I love the picture of this home exterior and thought what a good idea to add the pergolas on each side of the portico to add interest and character instead of doing a more pricey front-porch add-on. We could totally do this to our house since it has the same front design. (With some magical extra funds, of course!)

I absolutely fell in love with this bedroom. I'd like a little more personality in artwork, but everything else seems perfect. It even inspired me to spruce up and clean up my room yesterday and make it look clean and simple like this.

I found this skirt at Downeast Basics on the clearance rack with an extra 20% off. It looks really cute with a jean jacket and some yellow ballet flats:)

Love this super easy handmade card, could easily make with paper scraps.

More eye candy from Pottery Barn - so pretty. I like the idea of adding a soft blue to the Master bedroom color palette, but I also love my all- white bed :)

Super cute. Need I say more, other than I need to get started on some hair accessories for baby girl?

I've been really itching to get out my watercolors and do a few small projects before baby comes. Lots of inspiration found for birds, and a few other things I've been wanting to do.

I scored this set of washi-tape from Pick your Plum for cheap and have lots of ideas of what to do with it! Already decorated my daughter's magnet board with a border of washi tape, wondering if I should put some on the walls for fun? Also going to make a no-sew triangle bunting for the nursery. This stuff is so versatile.

Well there's my quick Spring Roundup. What has inspired you this season?Have a great weekend!

Kate Spade - Affordable! Home Collection at Bed Bath and Beyond

When I came across this today, it was just too cute not to share! Kate Spade at Bed Bath and Beyond? What?! Why am I just now finding this out! Check out my favorite picks:

Crown Point Picture Frames

Larabee Dot Bath Towels

Spring Street Duvet Cover

Candy Shop Bath Towels

Larabee Road Platinum Tidbit Plates

Larabee Dot Crystal Cylinder Vase

Cypress Point Dinnerware

Now, if they just had some fabulous shoes and bags I could use that 20% coupon on... :)

To view the entire collection go here.