Hearthside

Easy-peasy Nursing Covers

2010-08-28T19:41:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to get ready for baby #2 who should arrive in about 2 weeks! yay! But I've been thinking a lot about how it's going to be nursing when I have a curious 3 yr old who is my constant shadow. It was no big deal the first time around when I was home alone but this time I'm going to need a plan for privacy. I saw some nursing covers that have boning in them to allow you to be covered but still have visibility of what you are doing. I thought this would really help but they retail for $35-$38! So I found this site: http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/01/diy-nursing-cover.html and made my own for about $7 a piece. Super simple and takes less than an hour to make one!

Baby Girl Nursery

2010-08-14T19:30:00.001-07:00

With baby girl a month away, her nursery is all ready and waiting for her.
The crib bedding is the inspiration for everything. The walls were already pink and white so the sage, rose, and gray blue of the bedding were nice colors to blend everything together.

This is a wall tree that I found at a yard sale. It is made from a vintage door and knob and I am using it as shown here to hang bonnets, bows, and booties. They are such pretty accessories that it's nice to be able to display them.

This is a picture frame that I embellished with silk flowers, ribbon, and tulle. The idea is to clip hair bows and pictures on it for display as well as function as organization for all those tiny bows.

I was excited to be able to use these floral prints that belonged to my late grandmother. They help complete the vintage/Victorian feel that I wanted the room to have.

There pictures are Degas prints depicting ballerinas that hung in my room when I was younger.

I used small plates that belong to my grandmother and a collage I made to fill in a small area. I think the plates are really sweet. I love plates and have tried to start collecting them over the past couple of years.

This is a baby doll carriage I found at a yard sale that dates back to the earlier 1900's (1910-1930 ish). I loved it when I saw it. Right now it's being used for holding stuffed animals but I always thought it would be cute for display at Christmas time.

Playroom Organization

2010-07-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

We've been in our house for 6 months now and we are so lucky to have a room for all the toys. I've finally gotten around to setting up a more organized way of storing the toys. Now my child can actually see what she has and that makes has helped her enjoy playing with her toys so much more.

We got a cube shelf and fabric baskets from target. I made labels to help her know what was in each basket. She thought it was fun to read the labels and find what she was looking for. I'm not an organization freak but I have to admit being organized makes things more beautiful and enjoyable.

Loving my New Family Room

2010-07-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

We just recently got new furniture for our family room. I'm sooo excited. I feel like a real adult now. This is the first matching furniture set that we have ever purchased. It just makes the room and the house feel more complete.

Love my Paula Deen end tables! So glad we went with the creamy color, it makes the room feel lighter and younger. (Good idea honey ;) )

The red ottoman with contrast piping was my idea :)

I just think these lamps with the lion head fineals are so cute. Roarrrrr! Embrace it people.

Romantic Beach Bathroom

2010-03-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted a beach cottage style room in my home. Here is my guest/child's bathroom decorated in my interpretation of a romantic beach style.

This is a collage I made in one of my first posts.

The jars are jam jars I've saved over that last few months. The silver tray is a Dollar Tree purchase.

This toothbrush holder is a tin can that once had cocoa mix but I painted it cream is a distressed style. My secret is that inside it is another jam jar for easy cleaning.

My challenge was mixing these vintage pink nature pictures with hooks and my collage in with the seaside feel. I hope I succeeded.

Glitzy Sweater Pillow

2010-03-24T20:16:00.001-07:00

I had an old white knit sweater that didn't fit any more and several broaches that I wear only occasionally. So without sewing a single stitch my shabby, not so chic bedding got a little more glamorous going from the following...

To this!

Here's how:
1) Turn the sweater inside out and use safety pins along the top to close the neck line.

2) Turn the sweater right side out again except the sleeves.

3)Stuff with a pillow and keep sleeves tucked flat in the back inside of the pillow.

4)Fold over open bottom edge and pin together with glitzy broaches. When your tired of this look just unpin, no stitches to undo!

Playroom Storybook Art

2010-03-17T20:09:00.001-07:00

My daughter's room is PINK PINK PINK so I wanted to bring in some different, brighter color to her plain beige playroom. My inspiration was display boards I saw in Pottery Barn kids. I bought 2 2x3 foot cork boards from Walmart for $8 a piece. Coordinating yards of fabric were stapled on the back to cover the boards. I took pictures from children's storybooks (Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes and my fav- The Runaway Bunny) and a calendar to use as the artwork. This artwork was cheap, quick, easy, colorful, large to make a greater impact, and I can change it around as often as I like.

Easter Mantle

2010-03-13T20:20:00.000-08:00

Here is my first attempt at decorating my mantle for holidays. I just used things I already had such as my daughters stuffed animals, ribbon, and my wedding bouquet. I took some plastic Easter eggs and wrapped them in tulle tied with ribbon to make a garland. Nothing fancy, just using what I had to bring a little spring into my home.

My Big Girl's Room

2010-02-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

We recently moved from an apartment to our first home which was exciting because it meant that I could actually decorate my daughter's room. The room was already pink when we moved, and I mean PINK. While it was a little too pink for me, I couldn't repaint once my little girl fell in love with the color. So we chose to tone it down with a brown, green, and rose colored quilt from JC Penny. For the artwork I used three different antique ballet prints that I've had since childhood. In fact almost all the girlie accessories were mine as a child. Can you tell I loved ballet and dolls? How lucky am I that I get to relive my childhood through my daughter's room?

I love this gorgeous hand-painted wardrobe that I got when I was younger.

This picture is the first antique I ever bought. I choose things for their beauty and not for their monetary value. The frame is aged and the print is worn but that's what I think is so special about it, along with the charming image it portrays.

I had fun watching her room come together. The little girl in me loves it! Thanks for letting me share!

Decorating with Initials

2010-01-04T04:03:00.000-08:00

I think decorating with initials and your name is fun, here are some way I've done it. This is one of my favorites things in my home. It's a sign given to us when we got married with our last name on it. The quote across it says "Be true to who you are and the family name you bear." Gordon B. Hinckley. (If you notice, I placed all my crystal bowls and serving pieces over the cabinets. That is one of my top ten storage tips when living in an apartment. I made more room for my cabinets and I got to enjoy looking at pieces that don't otherwise get much use.)

Initials in my daughters room.

Initials by the entryway.

This year's tree

2009-12-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Here's our family Chrtmas tree. I tried to add a little to it every year. My favorite is the chandelier crystals I added last year. This year however I went really thrifty and found some beautiful ornaments at the Dollar Tree and New River Pottery in their dollar section. For $15ish dollars I added probably 100 new ornaments. My attitude towards the tree is that you can never have enough ornaments.

'Cause we need a little Christmas...on these kitchen cabinets!

2009-11-28T08:18:00.000-08:00

I live in an apartment with hideous, ultra modern white cabinets and cheapy silver handles. So I'm sprucing them up with a little Christmas cheer! I made 9in wreaths from garland I got from the Dollar Tree (15ft for $1). Then I tried a little bow at the top and ribbon to hang them. I used duck tape to hold mine (it can't hurt these cabinets). These kitchen cabinet wreaths made a huge difference and had a big impact for cheap, we're talking 20 cents each!

Here's my baker Santa I got 75% off. I added some scrap fabric, an old hot cocoa tin from Williams Sonoma (I never throw away anything I find beautiful), and some bowls to create a cute scene on top the fridge in keeping with the theme of the kitchen.

Love my cute gingerbread man- Thanks mom!

Fall Desserts

2009-11-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about fall is all the delicious fall desserts. I don't profess to be any great baker so all my credit goes to the recipes. We tried many different fall desserts but 2 have become family favorites, definite keepers.

Our family is not big on cooked apples/apple pie. However, I've been dying to make a pie with fresh apples this fall and I found a recipe that EVERYONE will love, even non-apple pie fans and those undecided. This apple pie was light on the apples and heavy on the delicious crumb topping and crust and served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was fall dessert heaven.

Crumb-Topped Apple Pie

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup uncooked regular oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (I chose a variety-1 fuji, 1 golden delicious, and 1 granny smith)
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp corn starch
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions
Combine first 5 ingredients. Add butter and stir. Reserve 1 1/4 cup, packed mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture on bottom and up sides of 9 inch pie dish.
Arrange apple slices in pie plate.
In a small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup sugar and cornstarch. Add water and bring to boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over apples.
Top pie with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake at 350F for 42 minutes

(Adapted from The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook)

Another winner (sorry no pictures-they were too good to last long enough!) for our family's favorite fall dessert was a chocolate chip pumpkin cookie adapted from several online sources.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup Libby Pumpkin Pie Mix canned
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
Sift together first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. In another larger mixing bowl beat softened butter until creamy. Add sugar and blend. Add egg, pumpkin, and vanilla, blend well. Gradually add flour mixture and blend. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 375F on a greased cookie sheet for 10 minutes.

Fall Wreath

2009-10-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a really cute fall wreath that my sister Mande made for her first home! So cute. Love the fall colors against her black door. She's the best and smartest and most creative big sis ever! p.s. sorry about the sideways pictures.

Halloween Greeting Card (Beware, the witching hour is upon us!)

2009-10-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is our family Halloween greeting card that we are sending out this year. I love all the altered art ideas I have seen lately and thought they would be cute applied to our Halloween card. I took a picture of my daughter and had it printed in sepia tone. Then I took old book pages, paper, and stickers to create a cute, bewitching theme.

Glass Slippers

2009-10-01T15:02:00.001-07:00

An old, worn out pair of my daughter's summer sandals...BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOO!

Glass Slippers!

I wanted to make use of what we had (recycling, saving the environment and all that jazz!) and I didn't want to spend more money. So I painted her shoes silver and added some sequins I had and tada! glass slippers to go with her Cinderella costume. She loves them! That's what really matters.

Gone Batty!

2009-10-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

I took a page from Martha Stewart's book and made these bat cutouts to decorate my front door. At some point I will add spiders and spiderweb silhouettes. It's just something fun to look at as we are coming and going.

Scared Stiff! (starched ghost)

2009-10-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here is another fast, no cost Halloween craft. I used a cloth diaper (I had them laying around-they are great dusting rags) but other materials such as cheese cloth or old sheet would work too.

Step 1: mix 1 cup cold water and 1/4 cup corn starch in a small sauce pan.

Step 2: bring to boil and stir until a thick jelly-like paste forms.

Step 3: soak cloth in water and squeeze out excess water (the water will help the cloth to absorb the starch)

Step 4: in a bowl add the starch solution and cloth, cover cloth well with starch solution and remove excess

Step 5: lay fabric over object to shape (I used a vase with a bowl turned upside down) and allow to dry over night

Step 6: add on face with paint or permanent marker.

I think with would look great with a battery tea light underneath or hanging from the ceiling.

Witches Jars

2009-10-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a no cost idea for Halloween decor. I took jars and vases that I had and added "witches ingredients". I used pulled apart cotton balls for "cobwebs", green yarn for "poison seaweed", and black paper cut in the shape of bat wings for "wing of bat". I printed out the labels on computer paper with a spooky font. I used brown watercolor paints (the kind my two year old uses) to age the paper and then tore out the labels to give them a frayed look. I attached the labels with scotch tape. It was simple and quick and required no purchase. You could use all kinds of things around the house to double as "witches ingredients" and add them to any container.

Decorating Craft Pumpkins

2009-09-17T15:55:00.001-07:00

Here's a craft pumpkin where I added ribbon and tulle to give it a bit of Halloween whimsy. I attached my ribbon with glue dots so it was super easy but glue or pins at the top and bottom would work too. The thing I love the most it that it will last from year to year so the few dollars I put into it will go a long way! Can't take credit for the idea, I got it from http://thepleasuresofhomemaking.blogspot.com/ . Hers was way cute with the leaves on top.

Halloween Greetings

2009-09-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

Getting excited for the spirit of fall and Halloween, I made two Halloween greeting signs to hang on doors in my home. I painted hardboard with acrylic paints and used paint pens to write the greetings. Everything was free hand (I don't profess to be some great artist), but who needs perfection anyways! I found super cute Halloween ribbon with black and orange and spider webs. Super easy, super quick, and the cute sayings add a bit of holiday cheer to the Halloween season.

Fall Ribbon Wreath

2009-08-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

I know it's a little early for fall decor but all the fall decorations in the stores got me in the mood to make a craft project for decorating in October and November. This is a super, super easy project that I did in under an hour. It was super cheap too! I took a wire coat hanger and bent it into the shape of a circle. I bent the hook of the hanger at the top into a loop to hang the wreath. Next I took coordinating orange, brown, and gold ribbon and tulle and cut 6-8 inch strips (I got the ribbon from the dollar section of Michaels and added it to what I had in my stash at home). Then simply tie the ribbon around the hanger, fluff, and voila!

First attempt at distressing

2009-06-16T20:33:00.001-07:00

This was my first attempt at trying to make-over an object to look old and distressed. The frame before wasn't bad but it was silver and somewhat modern looking. I never displayed it because it didn't feel like my style. Now I love it and it makes the old black and white photo of my grandmother look so adorable. Any tips from you experts out there on how to do differently/better in the future? I'd love the advice.

De-cluttered Refrigerator

2009-06-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea in a book and decided to use it as a magnet to organize the clutter on my refrigerator. So even if the clutter is still there, at least it looks a little cuter. I used hardboard that I painted and left the edges rough. I painted and glued on clothespins and glued magnets on the back of the board. It also helps with the problem of weak magnets not holding enough because the clothespin can hold a lot more.

Silhouette

2009-05-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

I love the look of antique silhouette portraits so I tried to create a version of my own for my daughter's room. This is made from paper and light weight poster board so it is safe to hang over a crib or changing table (important in earthquake prone CA). I took a profile view of my child and enlarged it. I then cut it out and traced the image on black paper.

Embellished jam jars

2009-05-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from a vintage paper crafts book. I recycled jam jars and decoupaged pages from books. The idea is to use the jars to store craft items, use as pencil holders, or for display. Right now mine are on top of my kitchen cabinets where I display my decorate glass serving pieces.

Rosebuds

2009-05-15T18:37:00.001-07:00

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old time is still aflying, and this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying. R. Herrick

Worth of a Life

2009-05-15T18:34:00.001-07:00

The measure of life after all, is not it's duration but it's donation. My favorite part of this is the old wooden measuring stick that was once my dad's.

Little girls are so precious

2009-05-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Kitchen Sign

2009-05-15T18:26:00.001-07:00

This hangs on the backsplash in my kitchen. The robin's egg blue is one of my favorite colors!

Laundry Sign

2009-05-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

This is a little sign I made to hang on the closet door that hides my washer and dryer. I used pages from old books to create a collage. I embellished it with fringe, lace, buttons, and ribbons. The sign reads "It will all come out in the wash." That one of my favorite saying especially as it applies to life and parenting.

Starting a blog

2009-05-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

In my spare time I enjoy crafting and making things that I think are beautiful and add character to my home. These little things make me happy and I just wanted to be able to share what I do with others.