Mason Jar Floral Centerpiece-Frogs and Clay and Wood, Oh, My!

I mentioned in my Trippin' Tuesday post this week about our recent trip to Biloxi.  With the conference agenda, my husband got a note to bring some door prizes.  So, I got busy creating some Mason Jar Centerpieces and picture frames. (I'll post about the frames later!)

 I had mentioned in one of my previous posts that I have a secret "frog" in my mason jar floral displays.
The hubs had some hardware cloth in the garage.  Score!  (SSSHHH!  Don't tell him I "borrowed" some!)

 
I also borrowed his snips.

I cute the hardware cloth to fit the jar lid.  For this size cloth, I started with a 5 x 5 piece, then snipped each corner so that  there were twelve squares in the middle and and all the edges were open. (I basically cut the corners off.)

Then, I put the "frog" into  the open jar lid.

This grid allows you to put your flowers in the jar and spaces them out perfectly!

I added one of my clay tags and some twine.  Then, added three jars to this mason jar planter box.

Voila!!!  The planter box came from Shanty 2 Chic!  They have a great tutorial about how to make this from a furring strip!!! I hope the 2 winners of these are enjoying them!  I also made extra jars so that I would have the perfect back-to-school treat for the school's office staff! 

A Little Bling for my Chair {Pillow Tutorial}

Remember that cute chair that I posted the other day with the fun Green Apple Rustoleum?  It needed a little bling---and a little cushioning!  I found some super cute fabric at JoAnn's that was perfect, and  I have tons of pillows that I could use as an insert. 

For the sewing:  and, yes, this is something EVERYONE can do.  I was fortunate enough to learn to sew in high school--and have loved it ever since!  I think this is a great skill for everyone to learn--and there are tons of great tutorials all over the internet, plus fabric stores all over offering beginner classes!  The best part and secret:   you can make this pillow without even sewing if you are absolutely opposed :) !!!

For most pillows, you can get away with a third to a half yard of fabric.  I wanted a larger pillow, so I used a half yard--and my fabric was on sale!!!!  I "measured" the pillow---placed the pillow that I wanted to use on top of the fabric and made sure I could use that pillow.  (If you can fold the fabric over twice and have some left over, it should work!)  This is just a basic envelope style pillow cover!

 

I folded both of the short edges over(wrong sides together), pinned, and sewed.  (This is the secret:  if you don't sew, you could use fabric glue or an iron-on hem adhesive strip.) 

 

 

I wanted to show you this little tip because I love these little circles! These show the colors that were used in the pattern---makes it so easy to match fabrics!!!

 

 

Once both of those edges are sewn together, I brought one end towards the middle (right sides together) --about 5 inches from the middle.  Then I folded the other edge towards the middle, also 5 inches from the middle.  These edges should overlap in the middle.  Pin and sew each of the edges.  You're done!  FOUR seams!!!  (If you are gluing or ironing, make sure you attach all three layers.  And I would ONLY recommend gluing or ironing if the pillow will not be used!)

 

Take the cover and turn right sides out and stuff the pillow inside!!!  EASY!! This is a great beginner's project--and great for our young friends who are learning to sew!! 

 

I love the way it turned out!  It brought so much fun color to my very beige, brown, and blah front porch!!

 

 

Thank you for my friends and my faithful followers!  I have several things I will be announcing very soon--something for my teacher friends and something for all my friends!  As school is rapidly approaching (so not ready!), I wanted to let you know what to expect as I transition into the school year!   I started my Trippin' Tuesday posts this past week.  Those will continue.   We are a travel loving family, and some of the posts will be actual trips that we take while others will be "if I could get away, this is where we would go." Starting this week, I will introduce my WTW (What's Trendy Wednesday) and That's Pinteresting Thursday.  Coming soon will be my Crafty Kids posts---easy craft projects to do with your little ones as well as your not so little ones!  I will continue to post the crazy things I come up with to do in my home.  Until then....

 

Wicker Chair Re-do

I hope you all had a super fantastic Fourth!!!  We will be eating left overs for a week!!

About a week ago, I was at one of my favorite thrift stores and spotted this sweet thing.

Weird photog angle--anyway, yes, it came home with me!!!  A few days later, I was looking around one of my favorite boutique sites and saw these:

Remember that ASCP Provence C door hanger that I made for my front porch?  Well, he needed a friend!  Off to Home Depot I went!  I found the perfect paint in the Rustoleum aisle, Painter's Touch Green Apple!!! This girl was so excited to get home and get busy!!!

The best part:  the above 2 chairs listed for about $300 each.  No, I am NOT that crazy!  This little thing didn't even cost me 1/10 of that!!!  Just a little proud of myself!!  

Happy Thrifting!  For my Birmingham friends, there is a Thrifting event this weekend at area stores!  Make sure you check it out!!!

Happy 4th of July, America {mantel}

Happy 4th!  I hope your day was filled with family, friends, food, and fireworks!  I finally finished the mantel!  John Pierson made his own sweet contribution!  He made that precious "pinana" on the left in preschool!!!  Now I'm off to see some fireworks!!

My Craft Haven

We have been working on our upstairs since we moved into our home four years ago. My sweet husband finished it about 3 months ago.  It's a combo Man Cave for my boys/Craft Haven for me.  I needed it, too, with all the craft junk wonderfulness that I have!  My craft junk had been stuffed into 2 closets, under beds, in the corner...everywhere.  I'm slowly getting it organized!!!

Ribbon, ribbon, and MORE ribbon-I lost count as to how many rolls I had!  I've tried several organizing methods, and priced some solutions online (which were, ummmm, PRICEY!).  I had this great oversized frame I had bought at the local junk store.  Frame + curtain rods = Ribbon BLISS!

Confession:  Jason had to help me with this one!  Because the edges of the frame are not flat, he had to use the jig saw to cut into the frame to attach the rod hardware.  So...if you are going to do this project, choose a frame that has flat molding!  It will be a lot easier!!!

My sweet friends Cindy & Taylor of Connor Claire Frames gave me a frame for making some party pieces for a graduation party.  I had a couple of ideas what I was going to do with it...this is what I came up with!  MORE STORAGE!!!  Ok, girls, the peg boards are not JUST for your husband's garage!!  They can be cute, too!!!

I painted the peg board purple to go with our mustard/purple/sage Louisiana Mardi Gras room.  I added a little glue to the peg board and hung it up!  EASY!!!   I love the tea light holders that are hanging on the right side.  Target Dollar Spot ROCKS!!!  Connor Claire Frames are GORGEOUS!!  Check out their Facebook page! Connor Claire Frames

Here is the BIG picture:

And, no, it doesn't always look like this!  I cleaned up for y'all!

The boys also have a special place to create!  This is an old table that Jason cut to fit into the corner.  I painted it with chalk board paint!

Had to show you all this picture, too!  Check out the upside down person!!!  Think we might have some dyslexia issues?!?!?!?!  Oh, my!!!!  That's ok, this baby and my big one draw the most beautiful pictures!!!

I think Jason and I will one day have an apartment in a huge shop!  Half with all of his tools and stuff/half with tons of cabinets and work tables for me!  One day...but until then, I love creating in my happy space!!!!

PartyLIte Candles

Who doesn't love candles?!?!  They fill rooms with soft lights and yummy scents!  I was recently introduced to PartyLite Candles.  I've ordered the Vanilla Citron tea lights and can't wait to try them! PartyLite has a tea candle special going on through July 4th: twelve tea light candles for $5.  What a deal!!!!  Let me know what you think when you try yours!!!  We might just be doing a giveaway soon....

Be sure to check out my friend, Sarah's website!
http://www.partylite.biz/sites/sarahrech

Aren't these jar candles beautiful?!?!

Fun Door Hanger

Hey, y'all!  I've been whining all day about the heat!  It was 105 today in Alabama....GROSS!!!  I feel like if it is that hot, I should have my feet in the sand and should be sipping on something fruity!

Anyway, our front porch needs a little love.  It's really sad!!!  I found this cute C...LOVE IT----and painted it with my ASCP in Provence that I won at Haven.  Those Annie Sloan Unfolded girls are AMAZING!  I sealed it with AS clear wax and added the burlap and muslin rosettes.  What do you think???

  

Can't wait to show you what else I have planned!!!  Hope you all are staying cool!!!!

Fourth of July Mantel Sneak Peek

Fourth of July is NEXT WEEK?!?!?!  How did that happen???  I feel like I just got out of school last week...but a whole month has passed!!  Geeeeesh!!!!  I guess I better get busy and get festive!  Most years I decorate for the Fourth in royal blue, bright red, white, and lots of sparkle.  This year, I wanted to go a little more rustic.  Go figure?!?!  So, I chose navy blue, barn red, and tan.  I'm still painting and putting all the pieces together, but I had to show y'all the garland I made.


Off to HobLob I went.  When I got there, I saw that they had already put out fall stuff.  (Confession:  I got a little excited.  Now that I live in Alabama, and we actually kind of have a fall, I really love it!)  I turned the corner of the aisle...and saw it....CHRISTMAS!!  Yep, almost threw up!  So not ready for Christmas!!  Back to my Fourth plans:  I started with 3 pieces of fabric, 1/4 yard each.  (Of course, it was on sale!)  I already had some thick jute twine.  Pinwheels are so popular right now...so they were a great place to start! I found a box that was the size square I wanted to use and cut 18 squares out of the fabric.  Then, I glued two pieces together using liquid stitch.  (Glue wrong sides together; you could easily use tacky glue, fabric glue, or even hot glue.)  

I let the squares dry and trimmed them.  Then I cut the squares starting at the corners towards the center.  You want to make 4 triangular flaps, but leave a small square uncut in the center.   Then, I took a corner brought it to the center and put a dot of hot glue.  I continued doing that with the other 3 corners, then glued a button in the center.

After the 9 pinwheels were glued, I then hot glued them to the jute twine.  It still needed something, so I took the scraps from the squares and cut them into strips.  Then I tied the strips between the pinwheels.  I think the whole process took less than an hour, and I had a cute custom garland!

Here is the final product.....

It's just a start...but it's looking a little bit like the Fourth to me!!!

More Shanty-love: Wreath Hanger

The girls at Shanty 2 Chic made a precious wreath hanger.  I HAD TO HAVE ONE!!!  I told you I LOVE these girls!  I wish Pottery Barn or Ballard would snatch them up and make their projects available for all of us!!!   So, here is their wreath holder.


http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2009/12/simple-winter-wreath.html

And...here is mine...

The parts....

the pieces....

a glimpse...

and there she is with a summer-fun rosette wreath!

The Shanty 2 Chic girls have a great tutorial on their site.  I made mine in a similar way:  paint, Gorilla Wood Glue, and a little elbow grease!  Oh, the possibilities!!!

What Teachers REALLY do in the Summer {or Planning for the Upcoming Year!}

I like change---I guess I get bored easily.  This is actually a great attribute of a teacher because one thing all of us teachers need to be ready for is CHANGE...like EVERY YEAR...like BIG CHANGES!    Usually by the end of the school year, I've already made decisions about what changes will occur in my classroom for the following year:  new ways to teach concepts the previous year's class struggled with, what technology I'm going to incorporate, any new trends in culture to grab the kids' attention, all the way to the really fun stuff...the DECOR!!  And, Pinterest has REALLY helped!!  (Pinterest addict #1!!)  Here is a sneak peek into my classroom for the 2012-2013 school year.....

My inspiration is from this great series that I had been wanting to read for a year or so now.  I read both books in 3 days....the rest of the books are on my summer reading list!  I also LOVE Disney.  C'mon?!?!  Who doesn't love Mickey!!  Minnie is one lucky girl!!!  However, I teach 5th grade.  You know, the BIG DAWGS, so, the decor has to be totally cool!  I'm giving a nod to the Mouse himself with this color scheme.  Not a surprise, but outside of my usual palette.   Although, I have a little  red, white, & black in my past--Alpha Love!

Tulle....just tulle.  Definitely need some pattern in there-that will be on my list to pick up!  I also want to add some silver into the mix!

I did find these little fun things at Michael's.  Think I might use them for my "Bucket Fillers" display but will need to pick up some more!

I found these fun items in the scrapbook sections of my faves, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

....and for a little ribbon action!  

What in the world???  Thumb tacks and clothespins??  I promise it is NOT for anything "unprofessional"!!  We have cork strips outside of our classrooms to hang student work.  I saw on Pinterest, of course, that someone had glued thumbtacks onto the backs of clothespins.  GENIUS!!!  My billboard crew, aka the kids who are in charge of putting all the other kids' work in the hall for me, will be able to use these efficiently.  All they will have to do is move the clips around and attach the students' work.     Ea---zy     Pe---azy!!

Here is the finished product!  I love how they turned out!  I made 50 of them just in case....

I can't wait to create some more Disney Magic!  I have GREAT things planned for my door--will even be placing some "Hidden Mickey's" around the room!   Oh---I can't wait to show you how I'm going to incorporate the princesses!  If you have decorated your classroom or child's room in a Disney theme, I would love to hear what you did!!!!!