Springtime Around the Table

It may not feel like Spring is just around the corner outside, but it doesn’t mean we can’t bring it inside. I love decorating my house for Spring and thought I’d share my tablescape with you and maybe it would send a bit of sunshine your way!

It doesn’t really have anything to do with being organized but sometimes, we just need to take a break and decorate, right?

I splurged a couple of years ago and purchase these Vietri blue plates and wanted to incorporate them into the table setting. (Kind of a mental thing I guess – the more I use them, the more I feel okay about my splurge!) The smaller bunny plates I found at TJ Maxx two years ago and I loved the pink butterfly about to rest on Mr. Bunny’s nose!

I’m really enjoying different textures these days, as you can see in my centerpiece. The burlap in the center bowl was recycled again from my WASH project and I added some plastic eggs that pull the blues together with the plates.

The candlestick holders are a handmade gift from my father many years ago and I always love when I can use them on the table.

And, of course, the table would not be complete without a couple of friends to remind us of the season.

Now I just need to spread some more sunshine throughout the rest of the house and on the back porch!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Kim

Laundry Challenge Update

We are halfway through February already and hopefully your laundry room is going through a transformation that you will be so happy and satisfied with when complete! 

Over the weekend, I worked on a project that will be incorporated into my laundry room makeover.  I knew that I wanted to put some type of wording….whether it be LAUNDRY or WASH ROOM or something else and so I started my search around the house for what I could use.  I came across some burlap ribbon and it got my juices flowing.  I wasn’t able to use the ribbon but I knew what I needed.

Off to Hobby Lobby I went…

In no time at all, I found just what I was looking for, but more than I wanted to spend.  So, my search continued and I found just what I needed.

I couldn’t way to get home and put it all together.

I started with cutting the fabric with about an inch overlap on each side of my cork board square. 

Then I used my hot glue gun to adhere the burlap to the cork board. 

Before I glued the next side, I made a diagonal cut at each corner to remove some of the bulk, and then continued the same steps for each side.  You need to pull the fabric tight as you glue each side because when you turn the cork board over you don’t want to have any slack.  If you have a couple of extra hands around the house, you may want to recruit them to help you with this step.

The next step was painting my chipboard letters.  I thought I could use my small paintbrush, but switched to a 1” foam brush which made the paint go on much smoother. 

(Tip:  I found on Pinterest  (after the fact unfortunately) that if you use a thimble when painting something small like this, it’s a lot cleaner.

Once the letters were dry, I used hot glue again to attach them to my burlap squares.

Less than an hour and a half later, I was done.

In case you might want to do this project yourself, here is what you will need:

Burlap fabric – no more than ½ yard  $1.99

4 letter chip boards - $.99 each (about 3 ½” tall)

1 package of 4 - 4” x 4” cork board tiles $4.99

Paint

Hot glue

Scissors

Foam brush

I was able to get the letters and cork board tiles at 30% off and the entire project was less than $10!

I can’t wait to get my laundry room makeover complete and see how the letters look in the room!

Here’s a peek at my color scheme... 

So, what was your first laundry room project?  Is anyone else planning to put use some type of words?

A Pinterest Project

If any of you follow O is for Organize on Pinterest    you probably know I LOVE PINNING!  There are so many great ideas, looks, recipes, etc.  One of my favorite categories is DIY projects, so you can imagine how excited I was when one of my sisters told me we were going to do a DIY Pinterest project this past weekend while I was visiting her.

Denise (my sister) was so excited to share the project she found with me, she even went to the store and had everything at the house already waiting for me when I arrived.  The project she chose was making Burlap Wreaths!  Oooohhh yea!  Couldn't wait to get started!

So, here's what we did: 

Backup.....I should probably start with items used, I guess since I didn't have to get my supplies myself, I almost forgot to share with you.

You can click here for exact materials and directions.  I will share some of our experiences that we found, while making our wreaths.

We measured the 4" strips with a 12" ruler and marked 3 strips to cut at a time.  Then we cut our 4" squares.  Denise bought extra fabric, which was a good thing because we found that the burlap moves and it's not a perfect cut.

 

Being the two blondes that we are, it took us a few tries before we figured out the directions on folding the squares to form the bubble.  In the Pinterest directions, it says to fold the square into a triangle (easy enough) and then take the right hand corner (pinch one layer of the fabric on the very tip) and bring it to the front and line up the corners, repeating the same thing on the left hand corner.  Sounded easy enough!  When we did what we thought was right, it didn't look like hers. It wasn't until Denise accidentally figured it out that we realized what we were doing wrong.  When the instructions say, "pinch one layer of the fabric on the very tip", it means exactly that!  We were pinching a piece of the top layer and folding it over.  Once we figured it out, the process moved very quickly.

After a couple of hours, the wreaths were done.

While we were busy making our wreaths, the crockpot was busy making one of my favorites, which Denise was so sweet to make for me, French Onion Soup!  Yum yum yum!

Once I arrived back home on Sunday, I couldn't wait to find the perfect spot for my new wreath!  I attached a Valentine decoration and placed it in my keeping room and have been enjoying it everyday since.

I’m looking forward to using my wreath throughout the year by simply attaching different decorations.  Oh the ideas are limitless!

Have you tried any new projects lately? If so, we would love to hear about them!   

Longing for Change

This past Christmas was probably the most difficult time for me in dealing with my mother's passing. As I took decorations out of the storage containers, I found myself thinking of my childhood and the wonderful Christmas memories my parents made for us. However, what I didn't expect was what emotions came next. I no longer wanted to decorate and was longing for change in my home everywhere I looked. I'm not sure exactly why I felt that way, but I knew I needed change.

Fortunately, my loving husband was so understanding and supportive of what happened next. Within about 48 hours, with the help of my niece, Katherine, and daughters, Katie and Kelly, my dining room was transformed into a beautiful Christmas setting.

I knew the first thing that had to change was the paint color. The orangy-red had run its course. This next stage of life needs to be a more calming color, hence I chose Sherwin Williams Natural Tan (thanks to some help from a certain family member).

After painting, it was time to add some Christmas to the room and why not start from the top, right?So, greenery was added to my chandelier, which gave the room a more natural feel.

Next, I changed the top of the buffet by adding more natural textures with the double orchids and red berry stems that were found at a local nursery close to home.

 Some scrap burlap ribbon was used to made this simple bow for the lamp that I pulled from a bedroom.

Lastly, the table centerpiece was completely changed from a sleigh and reindeer theme to a Pinterest inspired candlelight motif. This part was a bit time consuming between searching through my house for the right candles and scurrying around town for just the right stuff, it eventually all came together.

 On Christmas Day, before dinner, we swapped out the decanter tray for this dedication to the victims of Sandyhook Elementary School. The candles were lit just before dinner and burned throughout the evening.

Now I'm enjoying my new dining room and keeping my eyes open for what my non-holiday decor will be.

Did anyone else feel a need for change this past Christmas? Would love for you to share your story.