Top 10 Posts of 2013

 This time of year, I love reflecting on all the changes and growth we had in 2013 -- in life and on the blog. Thank you so much for following along and reading what I have to share. This space has been a creative outlet for me and, I hope, a springboard into some exciting changes in 2014!!

Here are the Top 10 Posts - thanks to YOU! - of 2013.


10. Spring Twig Wreath

9. Chalkboard Sign Makeover

8. DIY Washer Pendants

7. Personalized Valentine's Day Fortune Cookies {Insert your own message into a fortune cookie? Yes, you can!}

6. Garage Organization - sport's equipment {This one won the "Man Approved" Award!} ;o)

5. What I Wore - <>>What I Wore Collection

4. Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

3. Mini-Man Cave {This one is my personal favorite, because my boys and their friends use it every day!}

2. Frozen Inspired Christmas Wreath

1. Medal Display {This one is another personal favorite - I hope to add another medal to this display in January!}

 Thanks again for reading and following along!! Did you write a 2013 post? Share it with me in the comments or on Facebook! {Links below!}

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sharing here: The Foley Family Unedited

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Frozen Inspired Christmas Wreath

My family and I recently saw the movie Frozen. I thought it was a lot of fun, and the music -- WOW! {I'm a huge Idina Menzel fan though!} I also loved all the icy color tones and cool blues. It inspired me to make this Christmas wreath:

 I love the brightness of the wreath and how it can be a Christmas wreath and hang out on my door all winter long!

Making this wreath was actually very simple. I always try to reuse resources when I craft and found this old Spring wreath in my craft cupboard:

 

The pastels in this wreath seemed outdated for my decor so I gave it a new life with some white spray paint! As a final "Frozen" touch I added some small glittery ornament balls and the blue bow:

 

I'm working on my whole entryway now - I added a glittery nose to my reindeer and am looking for an Olaf snowman to sit next to him. For now, this little snowman can sit in:

I'm inspired to make the rest of my house as frosty as this wreath! What do you think?

 Have you seen the movie Frozen yet? What colors do you like to decorate with for the holidays? 

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Linking up at tatertots & jello and here: 

Spring Twig Wreath

Is it spring weather where you are? It has been beautiful over here - in fact, more like summer at times, and I am soaking in all the spring break joy and outdoor fun with my boys!

As we were playing outside, I noticed the wind had scattered a bunch of tiny branches from the trees all over the grass. My crafty wheels turned and it didn't take long before I was collecting branches!

And thus my little twig wreath was born! I love bringing the outdoors IN! What's even better, is she was absolutely FREE since I used supplies I already had on hand!

I love her spindled arms and how the softness of the rosettes compliments the branches. Here is how you can make your own twig wreath!

Supplies:

~Twigs (Gathered from outside)
~Round cardboard circle (cut from the back of a chex mix box! I ended up recutting a smaller circle than was shown. It was approximately 6" in diameter, measuring from the outside.)
~Glue gun
~Twine to hang your wreath
~Any embellishments you would like


First, I sorted the twigs, took off any odd angles and arranged them in a circle. Once I found an arrangement I liked, I glued them on top of my cardboard circle.

{The 6" circle is above. I was spacing the sticks here in this picture. I glued the sticks on top of the circle shown.}

Once all the twigs were hot glued on, I added the rosettes. I have always wanted to make book page rosettes! After throwing my book club party I had an old book that I could still craft with. (As an English teacher, I'm a bit squeamish about tearing apart books - even in the name of crafting, so I am going to get FULL use out of that book!) lol
I actually used the video tutorial here to learn how to make the rosettes. They were easy to make - they just took TIME! I give major props to anyone who has made one of those rosette wreaths! They must have been rolling flowers for hours! If that is you - give yourself a high five! :o)
But I do love how they soften the wreath!

Overall, I am very happy with my little Twig Wreath!

Even though she is hanging on my front door right now, I think I am going to use her to decorate my craft space. Would you make a twig wreath? Where would you hang her? Do you like bringing the outdoors in with your crafting?

Happy Spring!

 

 

Linking up here,  nap-time creations, The 36th Avenue, tatertots and jello, and It's Overflowing

Valentine's Day Feather Wreath

This year I wanted something fun and soft to add to my Valentine's Day decor - and I think I found it in this feather wreath!

I actually love that the wreath is furry! It adds some whimsy to my Valentine's mini mantel display and would be a fun addition to any door! Here is how I made it:

SUPPLIES:
-wreath form
-feathers (I bought 3 bags at Michaels)
-felt (or spray paint - I liked the soft felt - it made the feathers stick easily!)
-glue
-ribbon
-embelishments

 

 

First, I hot glued and wrapped the wreath with felt, because that's what I had. But you could easily spray paint the wreath whatever color you like.

 

 

After the wreath was covered in felt I started gluing on the feathers. I'm pretty sure I overthought this part, but I layed the feathers out first to make sure I got decent covereage and that they layed nicely around each other.

 

 

Yes, I even overthought my feather choices...

 

 

No broken feathers for this wreath! Only nice fluffy ones! Who knew there were so many choices with feathers? It only takes one bag to cover the wreath, but I used all 3 because I only used the fullest feathers from each bag. (Why, yes, that does make for a lot of extra feathers left over. In case you were wondering.)

 

Here is the final result! It was worth ruffling all those feathers to get this fun and whimsical wreath!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now... what to do with all those extra feathers!! Any ideas??

 

And, I know you have ALL been waiting to hear the announcement of the Mark Montano book giveaway!! The lucky winner is:

 

Donna Ingalls

For following Shaped by Grace's blog!

 

Congratulations Donna!!! Please email me at reannahelizabeth {at} gmail {dot} com with 48 hours to claim your prize!!

 

Don't forget you have another winning opportunity with the Love Our Disney giveaway going on right now!! Click here to enter!! Good Luck!!

 

I'm sharing this wreath here! Thanks for stopping by!

 



Patriotic Washi Tape Wreath

Guess who jumped on the Washi Tape Train? Yep, that would be me! I don’t mind though – when I was walking through Michael’s and saw these stars and striped washi tape rolls, I knew I had to do SOME sort of summer project with them!! So, what does a 4th of July loving, Summer Lovin’ girl do with patriotic washi tape?

She makes a new wreath for her front door!




My supplies were simple:

The above washi tape, a hot glue gun and small plastic apples.



How do you like them apples? ;-)

I bought a bunch at my grocery store boutique area originally to fill one of my apothecary jars – which I did. However, I had about 14 extra apples – just the right amount for this project!!


I laid them out in a circle to make sure I had enough…{I did! 14 was perfect for a 12” wreath}




Then I wrapped one strip of washi tape around each apple, alternating patterns.




Once I was done adding the washi tape to all the apples, I hot glued each apple carefully together in their circle shape and let them set overnight.


The next day, I tied a white ribbon on top and hung my new patriotic wreath on my door! Ta da!





How about you? Have you started decorating for summer or the 4th of July yet?

Share your ideas here!


Linking up here and at Thrifty Decorating; 504 Main; Liz Marie; Tidy Mom; Homemaker in Heels and Tatertots and Jello

We're Going Green!

Top of the morning blogging friends!

Things have been busy around here lately!
First, have you entered the giveaway over at The Foley Fam - {unedited} yet? If you do, you could win a pom pom ring hand made by me and a bunch of other goodies!! Don't miss out! Hurry up and enter and then come right back! {I'll wait}...

...

... AND Welcome back!! {Good luck! And if you really just entered - I hope you win!!} :-D

Next, I thought I'd share a few ways I decorate this time of year! Because life has been so full of fun, I didn't even get to post Valentine's Day, so I thought I'd do a little 'before and after' because we're already seeing GREEN over here!

I just do little touches around my house for these in between holiday's, but even the little things can make a big difference! And I know my kids enjoy seeing our house change too!

During February my side table looks like this:

{The large printable is from Tattered & Inked, the candlestick jars were inspired by eighteen25; the birdcage I bought last spring at Michael's for $1! Woot woot!}

Now my table looks like this!

{The printable I've had since last year - before I started blogging and didn't even think to track where I found it. So bummed! If you know where it came from, let me know!}


My kids got their Valentine's Day table decorated that morning too-

 {Hot chocolate with whipped cream and heart sprinkles!}

{Treats & little prizes set at their table with a heart shaped straw! 

Which of course sipped up strawberry milk!}

I can't wait to surprise them on St. Patrick's Day morning! And I always try a green food theme! :) Hmmm, green grapes, green eggs, kiwi's, can you think of any other  green foods?

I also change out my apothecary jar in my kitchen...

From Valentine's Day red...

To a lucky green!

And my 'mantel' {since I don't really have one yet} went from this...

To this!!

{That Lucky printable is from the TomKat Studio! I added the "Us"}

And finally, my wreath was also decked out for Valentine's Day,

...but I still haven't figured out how I want to decorate her for St. Patrick's Day. I have some shamrocks, another little bunting and I might try to do something with these straws--

How about it? Do you have any creative ideas for my wreath? {If I know you, and I think I do, I'm pretty sure you're creative!}

But for now, my door will have this little chalkboard sign!

I made it out of a $1 chalkboard sign I bought at Michaels, I cut out the frame shape {by hand, by the way. This girl needs to win a silhouette!} from sticky-backed foam and glued that little decal on from one of those straws shown above! What do you think? This little frame is quickly becoming one of my favorite green decor items! :) Thanks for reading and indulging in my decor today!

How 'bout you? What is your favorite St. Patrick's Day decoration you like in your home?



Linking up at Tatertots and Jello

{This is My entry into Show Me Extraordinary sponsored by Appliances Online and Bosch Washing Machines.}