Sara's Room - Pennant Banner

It has been awhile since I had any inside projects to share.
AND since today I FINALLY found a few minutes to make the Pennant Banner for Lil Sara's bedroom and seemed like the perfect quick easy project to share.

I measured and cut out my triangles from a muslin fabric...7 inches across the top and 7.5 inches long and marked out where I want the letters to go....Mixed all purpose glue 50/50 with water..Then lastly because you want the ink as fresh as possible, I printed out my inspiration word "IMAGINE" as a mirror image in my desired font.

I cut each letter out individually, then one at a time paint the glue/water mix on to the letter...Lay it face down onto the pennant, using a damp cloth smooth it out...

Because I am impatient I then ironed the paper dry...

Lift off your paper and TA-DA...the ink has transfered to the fabric..
I went over the outline with a artline pen to get a more defined letter..

After I did all my letters I sewed a 1/4inch channel at the top of each triangle...

Lastly I threaded ribbon thru the channels and then hung the banner on Lil Sara's bedroom wall...

Her room is well on it's way to country chic now

What I have left to-do in Lil Sara's room:
Paint Mirror Frame
Paint Name Artwork Frame
Sew Curtains
Put additional shelving in toy closet
Stencil back of bookcase.

Blessings Kelsie

Please stop by and enter my give away...

Sharing for:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/
Farm Photo Friday @ http://farmchickskitchen.blogspot.com/

Toy Box Make-Over

As most of you know I have been working on creating Lil Sara's "big girl" room...The look...Country Chic

(to see the previous Sara Room posts CLICK HERE)

I want to create her a space that she can entertain her dollies and care for her babies, take naps and generally just get her toys out of my living room...(yer I'll be honest, this project is really all about me *wink*)

So my challenge was to blend in a white melamine toy box with all the lovely country looking painted furniture...Well obviously painting it was not the answer since a box is a box is a box...and I really did not want to make it bulkier by adding trim detail...And since she needed some seating...

I created her a pillow top using one of her old crib comforters and some pink check cotton fabric from Walmart...Added giant buttons and VOILA...now she has a cute little bench.

I made it like a giant pillow case so I can remove the inch foam padding and wash the cover...Notice the ribbons...they are holding the buttons in place...again so the cover can be removed easily....I also used Velcro strips (the kind you sew one side to the fabric and the other glues to the hard surface)...this will keep it from slipping when she opens and closes the toy box.

You may remember these flowers I got on clearance for 28cents each...
Well I butchered 3 for the giant buttons...Actually I butchered 4 but one did not survive the carnage.

Now not only does she have a place to store her toys that blends in nicely with the rest of the room, but a great place to host a tea party with some of her favorite friends...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing For:
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com
Pink Saturday @ http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com
Wow Us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Sara's Room - Book Case Complete...

One more step closer to Sara's Big Girl room....

These shelves started life as a cheap ($20) melamine kit in a light pine color we brought 10yrs ago from either Lowes or Kmart, I forget which...

Added little trim ($21) and a little paint ($0 because we used left over paint) and you would never know of their humble mass-production beginning.

How good did the trim turned out once painted and destressed a little??

I love how cute and antiquey (word?) they look now...I also love the green of the shelves with the soft blue of the headboard, I wanted complementary pieces not matchy-matchy.

Actually I tried to give these shelves away last yr and they never got picked up...Turned out to be a blessing and just want I needed to give Sara's new big girl room some display space for her favorite toys.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today for
Metamorphosis Monday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Wow Us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Book case so far...

These are taking much longer than I had planned...but so far so good...All that is left is painting the trim and loose shelves then I will distress them and they are done..

Blessings Kelsie

Sara's room - Headboard complete...

I am really loving the look of the furniture painted "Heavenly Blue"...

Here is what the headboard looked like before...

Lovely soft Country Chic feel going on...

Quilt was handmade by Sara's Great Grandmother as a gift to us when we first married..

Draw Pull Note: I am leaning towards a crystal pull and received 2 comments suggesting the same...I have reattached the original hardware until I have time to shop for a crystal one.

Today we are going to tackle the bookshelves and sorting the toys and bringing them in so she can start using the room...

The to-do list for the room includes:
Creating a padded cushion for the toy box lid..
Painting mirror frame blue...
Paint small wicker chair white...
Creating her a custom Pennant Banner...
Removing the wall mounted shelves and patching the wall...
Removing the TV cable and patching the hole in the wall...
Finding my packet of Children Proof Outlet Covers...
Finding just the right fabric for the curtains and making them..
Shop for a floor rug..
Paint large frame white and make into a memory board..

Sharing for Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Before and After Bedside Table....

From 70's classic to country chic...

Total cost $0 ...the Heavenly Blue paint was left over from painting the nursery wall mural a couple of years back...

Now to decide on hardware..To paint original white or look for a cute crystal draw pull...hmmmm..suggestions??

Blessings Kelsie

Baby decorating steps...

Sneak Peek at the side table for Lil Sara's big girl room...2 coats of paint...one more to go then sand and Glaze?...hmmmmm...Chalk?....maybe...Wax...possibly...and this is why we started with the side table and not the bed head.

As soon as I drop her at daycare we are heading to the local hardware store to buy trim for the bookshelves and check out what they have in the way of glaze, chalk and wax....then home to see how much I can get done before it is time to pick her up again.

Blessings Kelsie

Homemade Recycled Paper

We all have it, piles of used paper (newspaper, filled note pads, used printer paper, even bank statements or bills) we want to recycle but why just put it in a box by the road when you can recycle and reuse it yourself...And it is Soooo easy and fun...
Oh and FYI by the time you are done with it
NO-ONE will be able to get your personal information from those old bills and bank statements...


So first things first, we need to make our old paper into pulp...All you need is old paper of course, a bucket, warm water and a blender...

Tear your paper into rough square inch pieces and drop them in your bucket half filled with the warm water, let soak for about an hour...mix with your hand or a wooden spoon occasionally to make sure the paper is thoroughly wet through and begin the process of the paper breaking down...

Now we half fill the blender with the wet paper
(You can also add some flower petals at this point)
and then top off the blender with more hot water, blend for about 30seconds, now we have "pulp...Empty the pulp into a tub large enough to fit your screen into (see below)...repeat this step until your wet paper is all made into pulp...

If you are without a blender you could continue to simply mix the paper in the bucket by hand (or wooden spoon) until it completely breaks down and looks like watered down instant potatoes ....

Once all your pulp is in your tub you want to add more water, like pictured above...you can also add food coloring to create colored paper...you will need to experiment to see how much coloring you need for your tub and water level...

These are the screens I made using old photo frames with bug screen stapled to them...

Stir up the water so it is cloudy with the paper particles, then dip the frame in at an angle into the tub and hold flat at the bottom of tub for 1 to 5 minutes depending on how thick you wish your paper to be...

Being careful to hold it flat as you lift out of the water, then allow to drip dry for about 15 to 30 minutes (on a hot day)...You can use a sponge to gently soak up the excess water from beneath the frame...

When the edges of the paper begin to lift from the frame invert onto a drying rack and allow to dry until the paper completely separates from the frame without tearing...leave on drying rack until complete dried out...

You have now made your very own recycled paper....

All that is left to do is put it to use...

Water Color and Ink Rooster on Homemade Recycled Paper

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop @ http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

Country Crystal and Library Visit

It is a damp and dismal day in Levy county today, a day just asking for a warm glow and some sparkle to be added...

So a broke out my favorite Country Crystal AKA Mason Jars, add some water and tea candles...

Instant sparkle as the flames dance and reflect off of the glass and water...Added bonus, they also reflect off of the black granite counter top...

We originally had a play date at the park planned for today but with such yucky weather it was postponed..So instead I took lil Sara to the library to fill our morning and also inquire about a toddlers reading group...and was delighted to find they are running a Preschooler's (2 -4 yrs) program each Thursday until the end of March...this should help keep lil Sara entertained while we wait for her to get into the Early Head Start program (she is currently on the waiting list)...She will love it if today was anything to go by, she had so much fun in the kiddie area, with all the jigsaws, books and teddy bears...Plus one of the girls that works there entertained her a little so I could go grab me a book too.

I checked out Emma by Jane Austin after seeing this on so many bloggers reading lists...I can't wait for nap time to get started on it...This was the first time I have stepped foot inside a library in years...It was nice to be back in the land of books again...

Blesssings Kelsie

Last minute Christmas gifts...

Can you believe it is Wednesday already and just 3 more sleeps till Santa...

Are you excited?

Are you ready?

Here is Sara making a last minute Christmas gift on Saturday for her favorite neighbors...


We cut 2 pieces of card stock (cereal box cardboard would work and possibly be better as it is a little thicker) into the shape of a Christmas trees. Slit one tree from top to middle and the other middle to base so they could slot together...Sara then spent the next hour gluing small pieces of recycled Christmas wrapping paper all over both sides of the card stock.

Here she is going to deliver the tree and a card she "wrote" in all by herself, I also slipped one of the photos of her taken during the family portrait section into the card....Sorry you can't see more of the finished tree, she was in a hurry to go see her "Wucil, JNR and Ant" (Lucile, Jr and Aunt Audry) and thought I was trying to take the tree while I was trying to take a photo of it lol.

This week nothing really has run to plan which is why no Tea Tuesday post this week *sad face* I even baked cookies and forbid the family to eat them until AFTER my photoshoot, but alas I just could not find the time to do the photoshoot, so I guess I should just let the family eat the gingerbread cookies...

This cold then warm weather is taking it's toll on Sara's allergies and asthma, I ended up spending most of yesterday, last night and this morning giving breathing treatments and trying to bring down her temp which rose to 102 degrees by late yesterday afternoon...We will be back at the Dr's as soon as they open this morning...I took her yesterday morning to make sure the wheezing had not spreed to her lungs...I hate how quickly these episodes come on.

I still have a couple of last minute gifts to buy and should have gotten all the Christmas cards with the family portraits in the mail by now but I guess they will be late this year...Though in my defense I did not receive the prints until Monday night.

Hope everyone else's count down to Christmas week is running smoothly and your home is filled with love, laughter and joyful anticipation of Saturday..

Kelsie

Quick Free Pine Cone Ornament...

Tomorrow night I am heading to my first social function at our new church...It is the ladies Christmas party and ornament exchange, I really do not have the strength to face shopping for an ornament with Lil Sara...And anyway as we all know it is much more fun to make them :)

I wish I could take credit for the idea, but I borrowed it from the queen of shabby and pink fabulousness, Olivia @ Olivia's Romantic Home, though I did change it up a little from her tutorial...I spray painted my pine cones using "ballet slipper pink"...Once dry I sprayed them with spray on adhesive and then sprinkled it with silver glitter....I have a plate of them on my dining table for my center piece with some ribbon and faux greenery (will share center piece later this week)

Because I was making the ornament for someone else, I did not want to risk using hot glue to hold it together, I had a super small cup hook on hand so used pliers to close the opening to make it into a ring, I then screwed it into the top of the pine cone...tied some mini pearl strands and some 1/8th soft pink ribbon around the base of the ring...Threaded some shear 1/4inch white ribbon thru the ring and tied ends together to create a loop to hang the ornament on the tree with...I think it turned out really pretty...I hope whoever ends up with it tomorrow night agrees...Would you be happy if you received it?

Now if Sara would just take a nap I could work on creating a gift bag out of Christmas paper to put it in lol.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing My Thanksgiving Table

I hope the lovely hostess' of the Tuesday Tea Parties do not mind me sharing my Thanksgiving table instead of a tea today...Since both involve gathering around a table and sharing delicious treats from lovely china I hope it is ok.


On Thursday we will bring in a larger table so we can sit 8 more comfortably and this table will be moved to in front of the breakfast bar to be used as a buffet table for all the yummy food.

I know during the dry run not all the silverware was in place or the glasses, they happened to be in the dishwasher at the time lol.

Now for a break down of the elements that make up my Thanksgiving table:

The dinnerware I of course shared last week as my best thrift store find EVER..You can see the post HERE if you missed it. Napkins are from Bealls for 40% off. Table Cloth is a Shower Curtain form Dollar General because it was the only thing I could find in the color I wanted. Candle sticks I already had for a project I have not gotten to yet.


My center piece is functional with my thrift store oval serving platter holding the salt and pepper shakers (also thrift store). I found this sugar bowl and milk jug set at Target ages ago, but since they are both quite large, they will be functioning as a gravy jug and the cranberry sauce will go into the sugar bowl....The leaves and berries came with the pumpkins I purchased a few days ago and tie in nicely with the berries on the napkins.


This is my take on a "Music Sheet Wreath"...First thing you might notice is that I did not use music sheets but pages from an old law text book I picked up for $2 at the thrift store...I love the large blocked numbers on the top of each page...I also could not just leave it well enough alone and soaked half my pages in a red food coloring bath to turn them pink...I also just had to add some glitter (pixie dust) to the ends for some extra sparkle lol...I was going to share the original tutorial on another blog but now I can't find the link...Oops sorry.

And of course my painted pumpkins with the berries to just add a little whimsy to the event...

And lastly the pilgrim family that will grace our buffet table:

Thanksgiving Day Menu

Meat

Turkey Breast
Smoked Ham

Sides

Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Sautéed Squash
Corn on the Cob
Coli/Broc Cheese
Stuffing
Deviled Eggs

Bread Rolls
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce

Deserts

Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Log
Sugar Cookies

I hope the family enjoys our First Thanksgiving in the new house.


I am sharing our table today with

Rose Chintz Cottage & Inspirations - Tea Time Tuesday

Lady Katherine Tea Parlor - Tea Time Tuesday

Wander Lee and Pam's - Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday

and party Co-hosts:

Martha's Favorites - Tea Cup Tuesday
&
Terri, Artful Afirmations - Tea Cup Tuesday

And lastly

Marty, A Stroll Thru Life - Table Top Tuesday

Quick Pumpkin Make-Over

The count down has definitely begun for T-Day...I did a dash to Dollar General this morning hoping they had a pilgrim or 2 left for me to make a center piece for the table...I know leaving it a little late most places have already sold out of all things Thanksgiving...

Fortunately for me DG still had a few things and yay already on the clearance rake...I did find my pilgrims but will share those another time...I want to show you the super quick make-over I gave these little fellows I found on the clearance rake for just 80 cents each...You can believe I grabbed the last 6 in a hurry...I have been coveting all the lovely white pumpkins I have been seeing the last few weeks and finally I have a chance to make my own...yay

Here is a before paint but with flowers, berries and leaves removed...and then with the first layer of paint added and rubbed back...I used Vintage White craft paint...

The finished pumpkins have 2 coats of paint rubbed back for a lovely shabby chic look...The berries were part of the original "garland" the pumpkins had on them, I simply used my hot glue gun to reattach them after the paint was dry.

I can't show you the rest of the table yet as I want it to be a surprise, but I am super happy with the results..Another thing on my Thankful list :)

Blessings Kelsie

Easy to Make Paper Dolls - Updated

With the weather turning colder the need for new interesting indoor activities for the kiddies is now at hand...And lets face it, the more we can do that is FREE is the better...Lil Sara is too young to make her own, so I made these ones for her, but this is such a quick easy project that kids as young as 5 or 6 could easily do it themselves with just a little guidance.

Now go turn off the TV, gather the kids around the kitchen table and grab these few supplies.

Scissors

Spray Adhesive works best but a stick of glue would work in a pinch.
Cardboard for backing - I used black cardstock I had on hand, but you could use the cardboard from cereal boxes too.
And lastly...A magazine, Doll catalog (you can sign up for these online free I will list a couple of links at the bottom this post) or even photos printed from your computer...For the boys you could do farm animals or even machinary, trucks and cars, maybe if you have not thrown out those halloween costum catalogs yet you could find them some pirates or superheros.


Simply cut out the "dolls" spray the back of the images with adhesive (please use old newspaper under them to prevent making a big mess) then gently smooth them on to your cardboard backing...This will make them nice and stiff for hours of play...Make sure you get all the bubbles out...Then Carefully cut around figures leaving a 1/8th boarder and VIOLA paper dolls.

Paper Dolls

But where will these lovely dollies live I hear you ask??..Well that is easy.
Got an old decor magazine laying around??

Instant Doll House

You could take it one step father and cut out some of the funiture and repeat the glue/cutting step and make the dolls their own paper furnishings too.

But for now Sara is happy to just use my old magazines.

Sara's Dolls are all from the Ellowyne Wilde Collection...

You can visit the website and request a catalog here http://www.wildeimagination.com

I also love the Tonner Doll Company catalog but you do have to purchase those if not ordering a doll from them http://www.tonnerdirect.com/c-175-catalogs.aspx

And of course there is always Barbie...This site is for the Collector Dolls rather than your playline Barbies, but you can order a free catalog to enjoy these high end dolls too
http://www.barbiecollector.com

I made these smaller versions to fit into an envelope so that it will be easy to mail for a very special little girl in Australia..Shhhhh Don't tell her.

Kelsie...

PS: Please share pix of your dolls with me if you do make some. *grin*