Fake Window

This was previously posted on All Thingz Related for a blog swap but I am reposting it here for keepsake purposes.

Here is a fun project that anyone can do. I apologize for the lack of pictures but seriously, this is the EASIEST project to do!
Buy a mirror and paint it the color of your choice (if it isn't already). I think this came from a yard sale for like $1. Now get trim pieces (pine or whatever is cheap) and cut one long piece to go vertically on your mirror. You can use any Elmer's, Gorilla glue, or wood glue to attach it to your mirror. Next, cut two smaller pieces to fit in on either side to form the cross. This will make it appear to be a 4 paned window. Glue those pieces down. Now screw or nail it up to any spot you desire...inside or out.Here is ours. It is on the outside of a shed. It adds just the right touch to make it look a little homier. I think all it needs now is a planter box below it with flowers.

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OBG Kickoff

I will admit. I am not really up on all of the texting and IM (instant messaging) terms. I don't have a tween and I do IM but I will confess that it was the "new" thing when I started college. But since I am an avid abbreviator at heart, I do like the "idk" or "hagtd" of the texting worlds. ("I don't know" and "Have a great day" if anyone was really wondering.)

When I started doing this blog, I definitely was not new to crafting. Just like many of you, my personal family blog was being taken over at times by my crafting world. Plus, I thought it would be fun to have a completely different blog where I didn't always focus on poop, napping and entertaining my crazy kiddos. So I have a TON of projects on my personal blog that I really would like to put out "there." I will tell you right up front, these are not necessarily my ideas. Usually they were craft inspired, but not always. If I have a link to help you out with a tutorial or further clarification, I will put that on there. But I did craft these and since this is a public "journal" so to speak of my crafts, I want these on here too. If it inspires someone, to go back to one of these, then that is awesome too! So I think I will refer to these types of posts as "Oldies but Goodies" (hence the OBG in the title).

We headed off to Arizona for Spring Break and while we were there, I spied a few past things I had given my Mother-in-Law. One of these I thought would be perfect for an OBG post. I gave t his to her a few years ago and this was actually my idea...although I am sure others have done it too!I don't know if everyone has heard of this site or not, but most probably have. Wordle is a really cool site! We wrote down a bunch of words that we felt described my mother in law, including a few nicknames my hubby has for her. We typed them into wordle and adjusted the color to match the scrapbook paper and cardstock we had chosen for her. We adjusted the size and printed it out from the computer. Then we matted it onto cardstock and matted that onto the scrapbook paper. Then we used a simple black frame to frame it all. It turned out really nice and my MIL really enjoyed it. This could be a really fun thing for kids for their bedroom decor or even for a baby's room. You could even do words from nursery rhymes or favorite books. If you didn't want it framed, you could also do something similar with vinyl on the wall. You can also use all different colors, we just used different shades of purple to match the paper we had. I tend to try to come up with more thought provoking type gifts if I can be creative enough! I think this one was a great way to express the characteristics we recognize and attribute to my MIL. I would love to know if any of you have created anything fun from Wordle. Put a link to your post in a comment or email me pictures. I would love to feature them. Now, go create something new or something old-inspired.

Linked up at:
Silly Little Sparrow, A Soft Place to Land, Today's Creative Blog

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Redo {Pencil Holder}

Here is a repeat of a blog swap I did over at Creation Corner here. I am reposting it on my blog for keepsake purposes.


I enjoy a good Mod Podge project. I figured it had been WAY too long since my last one and while I was trying to figure out what to lather that white goo on, I looked up and saw my boring pencil holder on my computer desk.I searched through my stack of scrapbook papers and picked a few out. I asked the hubs which one he liked the best, since I figured it was sort of in mutual territory. He chose this one. I took a white piece of paper and traced around the side of the pencil holder to get a better idea of what size it was. Since it is a bit curved, it was kind of hard to tell.I used the white "pattern" to help me cut out the paper with my paper trimmer. I cut four pieces out for each of the sides. I opted for not painting the holder because it matches my computer desk and I wanted to keep it the same color.I sloshed on the Mod Podge and put the paper on each side, being careful to line up my edges as good as possible.Once it was dry, I used sandpaper to even out the edges that were too long.I grabbed my distressing ink in walnut stain and went to town on the edges to make it stand out a bit more. Then I tied some raffia around it just to give it just a tiny bit more flair. I was pleased and the hubs liked it too. Score! (Have to use a game reference for him to keep it more manly!!)

Now, I know you don't all have the same pencil holder that I have but I did think this tutorial would help you to think outside the box. There are tons of things right in front of our face that we could do a craft makeover on. So stop looking past them and get to work!!

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Ugly Computer Cords

Here is the crawler that can't seem to stay away from my computer cords.And here are the computer cords that are very unsightly and ugly. I figured I could take care of both of my problems in one swoop.
An empty cereal box.
Cut off the ends of one side.
There is the opening where my cords will soon be housed.
I grabbed some newspaper print that I have laying around. I did a post about the many uses for this here. Here is one more good use I guess.
I wrapped up the box just like it was a present.
Then I grabbed my distressing ink pad and a stamp.I stamped some flowers on the paper all around. I really was going for a very low key design here. I don't really want it to stand out but I don't want it to be totally ugly either. Once I was done stamping, I started pushing the cords into the box.Once they were all in, it was looking much better.A twist tie to hold back the cords and a free cereal box later, and my cords were looking pretty darn good. I was thinking if you wanted it to be even more cute than mine (cuz mine is seriously more for safety than it is for the cute factor), you could use some cute wrapping paper, fabric or scrapbook paper to really take it up a notch. I thought about tying something around mine to make a sash or add a fabric flower embellishment. But you could also use some ribbon or buttons. There are so many different ideas. I was mainly trying to stop my little one from chewing on the cords. Here is to a crisis averted and some time spent working on a fun project.

{Don't forget to join in our Spring has Sprung party this Friday by linking up your fun spring posts. For more information, check it out here.}

Linking up at:
Girl Creative, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Funky Junk, Creative Jewish Mom,
Cottage Instincts, Between Naps on the Porch, Shanty 2 Chic, So Very Cheri, Coastal Charm,
Tales from Bloggeritaville,

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Flower Bling

These beauties were sent to my Mom for Vday. They sure are gorgeous. But the thing I loved about them even more than the flowers....the bling!I loved this on the vase! It added such a little something that vases almost need. I think you could add your own bracelets or even create some for this same purpose. It would add such fun bling to flowers and vases. It is just on a stretchy string that jewelry is made from. I tried a few more of my bracelets on it, and it looks fab! So go grab a vase and a bracelet and see how it looks!

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Clothespins

I am officially on the pin bandwagon. I have another project in store for Vday with some of these. So be on the lookout for more! I do love how you can make them into just about anything...magnets, photo clip, chip clip, invitation holder, place card holder, etc. There are so many fun ways to use these I can't wait to make more!

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Cleaning Tools

I think with the beginning of the year, most of us are thinking about cleaning and organizing. I know I am, or at least I know I should be. It made me remember a gift I made for Christmas for my Mom. It was crocheted dishcloths. This was a really easy pattern too. I wish I could say I am talented enough to come up with this pattern on my own, but nah, I'm not. I found it here.They have a lot of free patterns for different crochet projects all over the web. But sometimes there are also patterns on the underside of the labels of the yarn that turn out great too. I did a Granny Square washcloth that came from the label and now it is one of my favorites. So get cleaning now or crocheting...just do something. Sorry I got carried away. That was really for me. I have not had a whole lot of motivation lately with the hubby out of school and all. But that all ends soon so I am sure I will be pumping out more projects in no time. Sorry I have been a slacker and hopefully I will have some more fun things to inspire you and vice versa.

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Eating on the Go!

Some of you may have seen this here, but if not. Here is my rendition. I saw this and knew I had to have one. Not just because it looked cute, easy and cheap to make. But because I actually need one with two kiddos, and one that is semi-possessive of his chair, this is a fab thing to have. Besides, it looked so easy to fold up and take on the go which is something I love!
I bought a 1/2 yard of two coordinating fabrics. Then pretty much went off of Jill's measurements. Mine ended up being pretty much the same size as hers. Be sure to include enough for a seam allowance. (6x42, 10x20 and 4x7) It fits perfectly. My velcro is 1" wide and 10" long. I also used 2 pieces of batting just to give it a little more cushion.

I wanted something pretty secure to strap them in tight. Just remember, this obviously isn't as stable as a regular booster or high chair. I would definitely exercise caution using it, but it sure is nice to strap in a toddler at a restaurant or have another "seat" to strap a little one in to munch with the fam!

Oh and if your kids are short like mine is, a phone book can do the trick for older ones needing to wanting to sit up to the table.

Linking up at:

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Decor for your mouse

Take a nasty old mouse pad (I have spared you all from seeing a picture of mine, but just to give you an idea, it was like 10 years old!) and find some fabric in your scrap bin (or go buy some new fun fabric). The fabric just needs to be about an inch longer and wider than your mouse pad on all sides. Cut the fabric down if you need to. Then apply mod podge or spray adhesive to your mouse pad. Carefully line up and apply fabric to the mouse pad. Now to make good corners, you may want to round off your corners with scissors. Then just carefully work it into a rounded corner by using more mod podge or spray adhesive and by folding it over itself and around the edge. Let dry and enjoy surfing the net with a funky "new" mouse pad.

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