Madigan Made { simple DIY ideas }

Make an Easy and Elegant Valentine’s Centerpiece

2012-01-30T06:14:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a fun red and purple centerpiece and a new chalkboard quote.

Well, February is almost here… so I guess that means it is time to show you our Valentine’s chalkboard and kitchen décor!

If you are new here, you should know that every month I share a new quote on our kitchen chalkboard. Sometimes I decorate the space for the holiday/season, too!

The February chalkboard quote is not about love or sweethearts, but I think it is still appropriate for this ‘sweet’ time of year:

“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

This Valentine’s holiday I decided to use a little red and purple in the kitchen… mainly because I found red and purple tulips at the grocery store over the weekend. (gotta love cheap grocery store bouquets!) I loooove tulips… but I think I’ve told you that before!

Remember the chandelier necklace I made last year? I hung that on the light fixture again.

Last winter I found a fabulous vintage looking Hostess cupcake sign at an antiques market. This year, instead of hanging the sign in the foyer, I decided to hang it on our chalkboard.

And to coordinate the floral centerpiece with that sign, I used some fun retro-looking polka dot paper around the flowers and inside a hurricane vase.

Want to make a cute layered flower centerpiece like this one? Follow these steps:

Supplies needed:

Small glass hurricane vase
Decorative scrapbook paper, 12x12”
Drinking glass
Tape
Something to raise up the drinking glass, if needed (i.e. roll of electrical tape)
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Flowers

Directions to make a simple paper and floral centerpiece:

Trim the paper down to fit inside the hurricane vase. Roll the paper into a tube that will fit around the drinking glass, but inside the glass vase. Secure the paper tube closed with clear tape.
Cut a length of coordinating ribbon and secure a band of it around the hurricane vase using a dollop of hot glue.
Cut flowers and arrange them to fit inside the drinking glass.
Inside the glass vase, set the paper tube over the electrical tape. Place the drink glass and flowers on top of the tape.
And fun accessories around it and enjoy!

To decorate around the flower vase, I added a few red and purple accents. I already owned the red vase and I found the sequined heart at Michaels. All I needed was one more purple touch… so I used purple shelf liner along the bottom of the wood tray.

The table centerpiece is by far my favorite part of this space. You could use this technique to make a centerpiece for any season... just change the paper around the flowers!

I love that this display is not overly sweet or feminine… I think it has a fun and retro vibe that works with the cupcake sign.

And who doesn’t love tulips or polka dots? ;)

Sharing with:
Today’s Creative Blog, Tatertots and Jello, Tidy Mom

Guest Project: Felt & Burlap Wreath

2012-01-27T06:21:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… Teresa D Boyd a feature!

T.G.I.F.!

It’s Friday and time for another reader feature!

I love the tonal creams and whites of this fluffy winter wreath at Teresa D Boyd! Teresa layered pieces of felt and burlap on a wreath in a random fashion. She added the occasional button or pom pom for added interest. Head on over to Teresa’s blog for the full details on how to make this winter burlap wreath!

Want to be featured on Madigan Made?

I am ALWAYS on the look out for great ideas to feature here on a Friday.

Read this page for more details.

OR just go fill out this easy form. :)

Can you pick ONE photo for the year?

2012-01-25T06:51:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a self-imposed photo challenge.

I’m a visual person. A picture or image can say a great deal, don’t you think?

When I shared my top 2011 projects/posts earlier this month, the process got me thinking… Can I pick out my favorite photographs from the past year?

Ansel Adams once said:

“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.”

Twelve photos… In a year of blogging (plus personal family photos), that is not many pictures at all.

After coming up with my one word for 2012… I thought about taking this photo challenge even further… I wondered if I could boil all my photos down to one significant choice.

Could I pick just one photo? Heck, I struggle at editing down the number of photos I use in a craft post!

Could I really choose ONE picture that captures the essence of this blog and my style? One picture that represents Madigan Made for the year?

Well, I tried! Let’s see if you agree with my choices.

I should share one disclosure before proceeding with this post:

This is NOT a photography blog. I am NOT a professional photographer.

But this is a creative blog and imagery is an essential element to my storytelling.

Some day, I have grand plans of upgrading my camera and taking photography lessons. Until then, I will fumble along with my point and shoot camera the best I can.

What criteria did I use to select these photos?
Since I am not a professional, I am not going to pretend to know if a photo had great composition, lovely lighting or fabulous post-processing.

My measurements in this personal challenge were uncomplicated:

First, the photo of the project needed to be clear and concise. In one shot you should see the space or project and know what it is all about. The staging of the subject should be minimal without any extras.
Secondly, the project itself should be simple and an obvious representation of my style. For example, if a magazine editor asked me to send one photo from my favorite project to feature, which photo would I send to represent ‘me’?

Since I did not do this exercise in 2010, I felt I really should pick a photo from that year, too. But that pick was an easy one. If you’ve read this blog since then, I bet you can guess my choice. (and thanks for reading that long, too!)

My Photo of the Year for 2010: The Vintage & Spooky Kitchen Décor

Part vintage, part spooky, part fun…yet modern… this black and white scene was my favorite photo of 2010. I started to use a watermark on all of my photos with this post. I loved this image so much, I had a feeling I should ‘stamp’ it as my own. (and I’m so glad I did! It was featured a lot that season!)

For 2011, I had a harder time selecting that one photo. There were several ones that almost made the cut, and I thought you might want to see them, too.

The runners up were:

Third Runner-Up: Orange Creamsicle Fruit Dip

I loved this photo for so many reasons. The fruit and the dip looked so yummy. And the colors of the floral bouquet also happened to complement the colors in the dip. I make this easy dip all the time, but I feel like I cannot fully ‘own’ this project since I helped my mom make it that day for a bridal shower. (why it is 3rd runner-up)

Second Runner-Up: No-Sew Dollar Store Table Runner

Tulips… Stripes… White pitchers… No sew…Ribbon! This project and picture captured many of my favorite things all in one shot.

First Runner-Up: 20-Minute Easy Envelope Pillow

First of all, I loved that this pillow project was the definition of simple and easy sewing. And I loved the feeling I got when I looked at this pillow.The dappled sun on the pillow, the bright green chair, the fun stripes, the soft fern in the background… all of it was inviting you to sit down in the shade (I hope!).

My Photo of 2011: Our Foyer Gallery Wall

I poured so much of ‘me’ into in our foyer update. The area is a bold statement compared to the tame and fragile looking table that used to be there.

I loved the red touches, the typography, the worldly quote/accessories, and the gallery wall. I loved the mercury glass effect of the large silver faux mirror frame. Not only did this space look good but it became vastly more functional! (and this time of year, I use it mainly to put on those polka dot boots!) This was my favorite photo because you saw all of the little (yet important!) details and still felt the impact of the entire space.

So – do YOU think you can pick ONE photo from 2011 to represent you?

If you don’t have a blog, try to pick one personal photo that is your favorite. Select your best photo of the year that tells an important story for you or your family.

Try it! This post was a great exercise for me.

A Glittery Heart and Ceiling Medallion Wreath

2012-01-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a simple red and pink {and glitter!} wreath for Valentines Day.

Glitter. Oh, Glitter.

I love your sparkle, but I don’t love the mess you make!

I can appreciate the happy glow you get from a project covered in glitter but I often shy away from working with it.
To me, crafting with glitter is like dealing with sand at the beach… after you're done with it and think you’ve cleaned up everything… you keep finding those fine little particles in the most random places!

Those of you that follow me on Instagram (I’m madiganmade) or Facebook know that I found some fun ribbon on holiday clearance the other week.

Can you imagine my delight when I found ribbon that was already covered in dense glitter? Lots of glitter but no need to use glue or adhesive? No mess?
I love that!

The colors I picked up (pink, purple and red) were perfect for a Valentine’s project.

I used those three different sparkly ribbons and wrapped them around a heart-shaped wreath form to make a simple wreath.

I forgot to take pictures of the wreath process, but I basically took each color ribbon and wrapped them around the wreath one at a time.

I secured one end of ribbon with hot glue and started to wind it around the shape. I did have to work in sections. I covered one half of the heart, cut the ribbon, secured that end with glue and then worked on wrapping the other side of the heart. I used extra ribbon to cover any gaps or holes (mainly in the ‘pointy’ areas) and glued them down in the back.

Since the old medallion wreath from Christmas was already red, I figured that color could work for Valentines and the glitter heart could hang in front of it. (like the brass tack wreath did for the holidays)

To update the color of the wreath, I used some pink craft paint and nail polish.

I painted some of the bands/circles within the medallion with the pink paints. In some areas I just used the nail polish and that gave the surface some subtle pink sheen. And in other areas I used the craft paint for a more pronounced ‘pink’ color (and went over those areas with nail polish, too).

I love using nail polish in my craft projects! I often forget that it is paint and will adhere to lots of stuff. And many of them have a sheen or glitter to the finish, which is always soo pretty!

I love the layered look of this wreath.
I’m normally not a “heart” girl. Hearts can verge on too cute. They often remind me of those country heart covered craft creations from the 1980s.
But I do like to use hearts around Valentines Day… and in a bold a simple statement like this one, hearts can feel a little modern, too.

And the best part about this project?

I didn’t have to go out to dinner that night and explain to people:
“Um, yeah, that might be glitter in my hair, on my face, and, yes, under my fingernails!”

Sharing with:
Today’s Creative Blog, Tatertots and Jello and House of Hepworths

Guest Project: A Pop Open Mouse Coin Purse

2012-01-20T06:11:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… MeiJo’s Joy a feature!

It’s Friday!
That calls for a double smiley emoticon, right?
OK, here you go:

:) :o)

Well, it also calls for a guest project, too!

PC from MeiJo’s Joy made this adorable little mouse coin purse out of some cardboard and fabric! She made it for her daughter who begged for another one in the shape of a fish… and that one is just as cute!

Head on over to MeiJo’s Joy to see both of these little purses and how you can make one!

Want to be featured on Madigan Made?

I am ALWAYS on the look out for great ideas to feature here on a Friday.

Read this page for more details.

OR just go fill out this simple form. :)

Pretty in Pink: Nine Cute Ideas

2012-01-18T06:18:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… fun, pink crafts for Valentines inspiration.

I’m working on a few little Valentine’s crafts to show you soon. But after all of that Scarf Week fun last week, I need a little creative break! I have to confess… it can be a ton of work to post a new craft every day! (Don’t know how some of you do it!)

So, I thought I'd take a moment and share some ‘sweet’ inspiration for the upcoming holiday.

Valentines Day doesn’t have to all about red hearts.
I’m a little partial to pink, myself. Sometimes, just displaying a group of pink objects or making a pink craft can get you in the mood for the holiday.

Here are nine cute pink crafts from the past to inspire you (or your sweetheart):

P.S. Have you heard of SOPA? It is a law being proposed on Capital Hill and it could dramatically affect websites online, including your favorite blogs. Click on the image to find out more and ways you can help.

My Word for 2012 {today}

2012-01-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a ‘non-resolution’.

There is a trend I’ve seen sweeping blogland that I adore.

Instead of setting a New Year’s Resolution, you pick a word that represents your goal or inspiration for the upcoming year. A symbol. A mantra.

I’m terrible about keeping resolutions, but this concept intrigues me. I love words and I love the idea of selecting one that inspires me.

So, not one to miss the bandwagon… I decided to jump on it and pick MY word for the year.

And after some thought… my word is:

today.

“Today” is an important word for my husband and me. As a couple, we struggle all the time not to dwell too much on the: “What ifs” and “Maybe some days”.

“What if we had saved more.”… “What if we had done xyz instead in college.”… “Someday we’ll have kids.”… “Maybe one day we’ll move to a bigger house.” … “We’ll travel the world someday.” etc.

We both talked about this word and thought it was a great one for both of us. Sure, we should still have a plan and long term goals... but it is so important that we enjoy and appreciate what we have and who we have in our lives today.

And on a personal level… the word ‘today’ means so much to me.

I am a bit of a perfectionist and that leads to loads of procrastination… At home, at work, with friends and family… and here on the blog.
I put things off. Things I should be doing.

Someday I’ll take better care of myself… Someday I’ll call so-and-so… Someday I’ll do this… Someday I’ll do that… etc.

I need to stop putting things off and get stuff done… today.

It’s corny saying but so true: I need to seize the day. And not just for practical ‘to-do list’ stuff… but for fun, too.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I really need to learn some life lessons from my dog.

That bouncing, happy pup lives in the moment. She’s not worried about what happened in the past or what will happen tomorrow. Her focus is now.
Can you imagine thinking like that all of the time? Imagine how freeing that is?

She plays hard and makes the most of her present. I’d love to be more like that!

I often daydream and at the same time worry about the future and what ‘could be’.
That worry is a little paralyzing at times. I feel like this attitude puts my current life on pause… like I’m waiting for something. Waiting for a someday in my head that may never come.

But I’m realizing that I need to stop and appreciate the little moments going on in our lives right now. Tomorrow will be there, whatever that tomorrow brings for me.

But I need to make the most of today.

And I need to start doing that… today.

I’ll be sharing this post over at Layla’s This Little Word of Mine, I’m Going to Let it Shine link party.
And Lara’s been running a great series by showing off a ton of different bloggers and their words of the year if you need more inspiration.

Guest Projects: SO Many Ways to Make a DIY Scarf!

2012-01-13T09:09:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a list of great crafty scarf ideas!

T.G.I.F.!
Today is Day Five of Simple Scarf Week!

And after a week of showing you all of my scarves, I figure it is time for a guest project!

(Did you see my cowl scarves from sweaters, the t-shirt infinity scarf, my fluffy pleated fleece scarf or the reversible cowl? Don't miss them!)

I figured that since it is Friday and I usually feature a guest project today… why not show off my bloggy friends and their scarves?

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that I put a call out to those followers for scarf ideas to feature.

And, there are sooo many fabulous scarf ideas out there!

Check out all of the lovely, DIY, neck-warming scarf inspiration:

World’s Easiest Crocheted Scarf from Rhonda at Dollar Store Crafts

Stuffed Animal Scarf from A Girl and a Glue Gun

5 Minute Infinity Scarf from Sweet C’s Designs

Custom Dyed Ruffle Scarf from Flamingo Toes

Easy Knotted Scarf from Something Turquoise

Ways to Tie a Scarf from In My Own Style

Two Minute Infinity Scarf at Her New Leaf

Soft and Chunky Knitted Infinity Scarf from Sew Wrong

And for even more inspiration, you might want to check out Myra’s post at My Blessed Life about 10 Different T-Shirt Scarf Ideas.

(featuring this lovely braided scarf at Put Up Your Dukes)

Have a wonderful weekend! Hope this week inspired YOU to try your hand a making your own scarf!

I have 5 fun new scarves to wear now! But that created a new problem… where to store them all!? Anyone have any great scarf storage ideas? ;0)

How to Sew a Reversible Cowl Scarf

2012-01-12T05:52:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… finally figured how out to make a cowl scarf!

See my cute scarf and big smile?

That’s not at all like the sad face I had last winter… where I failed miserably to make a reversible cowl.

Today is Day Four of Simple Scarf Week and I couldn’t get through this week without figuring out how to make a reversible scarf!

(Did you miss my cowl scarves from sweaters, the t-shirt infinity scarf or my fluffy pleated fleece scarf? Go back and check them out, too!)

I’ve been on the look out for fun plaids or prints that I could use for my reversible scarf reattempt.

So when I saw these contrasting checked scarves at the dollar store, I snatched them up and knew they could make a cute reversible scarf!

I’m seeing buffalo check prints used more and more these days.
I know… The print can border on a little ‘lumberjack’, but I think it also can be a lot of fun in the right application.

Let me show you how I figured it out how to make this cowl…

Supplies:

2 strips of fleece (mine were readymade scarves that I cut down to about 32” in length)
Sewing machine
Coordinating thread

How to sew a reversible cowl scarf:

With the ‘good’ sides facing each other, stitch the two lengths of fabric together by sewing down each longer side. It will create a long tube of fabric.
Turn the scarf tube right side out. Match the fabrics up at the ends. Start to stitch the tube ends together from the inside. Warning: It will be a little awkward to sew it this way, but worth it. Be careful to line up the seams of tubes, especially where the fabrics change.
Continue to stitch all around the edge of the tube end… and at some point you will run out of room to stitch with your machine as the tube seam starts to close up the scarf.
You should have a couple of inches in the seam still open… you can sew the opening closed with an invisible seam by hand or just run that section through your machine with a narrow seam allowance that shows on the outside (it was not as pretty as an invisible seam, but that is what I did!).

Turns out, this was a pretty easy scarf to sew! My hang-up last year was how to seamlessly connect the ends of the scarf to create the cowl. I’m not sure why I did not think about this closure method for the cowl scarf last winter. I think I was trying to make the process harder than it had to be.
But…it doesn’t matter because now I have a cute black, white and red scarf to enjoy this season!

My favorite part about this scarf? I can wear it two ways!

See… a white and black cowl… then *bam*… flip it around and I have a red scarf!

Yes, it doesn’t take much to amuse me! ;0)

Tomorrow is the last day of scarf ideas for Scarf Week… and if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may be able to guess what the post entails.

Get ready for tons of DIY scarf inspiration!!

Sharing with:
House of Hepworths, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors

Make a Cozy Pleated Fleece Scarf

2012-01-11T06:25:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a simple gathered fleece scarf.

Today is Day Three of Simple Scarf Week!
Are you loving all of this warm and cozy neck-hugging goodness? I am!
Did you miss my cowl scarves from old sweaters or the infinity scarf from a t-shirt?

Well, after two days of (practically) no-sew scarf ideas, I thought I’d show you a very simple scarf that anyone can sew.

No, really, if you can sew a straight line, I promise that you can make this scarf.

The secret?

Make a scarf out of fleece! Fleece is great material and if you cut it evenly, you don’t need to worry about finishing the edges.

Sure, you could make a simple scarf by just cutting out a strip of fleece fabric and calling it a day.
But when I added these rows of big pleats to my fabric, I think it transformed the fleece to a cozy and custom looking scarf.
I love the texture that the rows of pleats created!

Want to make one, too? Just follow these steps!

Supplies:
Fleece fabric
Sewing Machine

Directions:
1. Cut your fleece to a desired length. Keep in mind that the scarf length will shorten up after you pleat it. My piece was about: 62” x 7” Part of me wished I made it a wee bit longer.
2. Work from the middle and run a straight stitch down the center of the scarf. Fold a piece of fabric under every inch or two as you sew. Back stitch both ends of each line to secure the thread.
3. Repeat step 2 by running more stitches down both the edges of the scarf and try to follow the pleats you made from the center line. Then, run stitches down in between those lines. I had a total of 5 lines of stitching.

Don’t worry if the pleats don’t match up exactly or if your stitches aren’t straight… it is all about creating texture!

I’m loving this white scarf! With the pleats, it is so full now and it feels like a fluffy white cloud around my neck. I think it looks great against a dark jacket.

The bigger question? How long will this pure white scarf stay clean? (c’mon, this is me we’re talking about!) Good thing polyester is easy to wash and practically impervious to stains! ;)

Check back here tomorrow! That scarf used even more great fleece in a fun print and I finally figured out how to make a reversible cowl scarf.

Sharing with:
House of Hepworths, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors

The Easiest DIY T-shirt Infinity Scarf

2012-01-10T05:36:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a super simple, no-sew, infinity scarf.

Today is the second day of Simple Scarf Week!

I should’ve started out the week with this scarf since it is the easiest scarf of all! Today’s scarf is this very simple infinity (i.e. mobius) scarf.

Crafting inspiration strikes me during the most random moments. I was cleaning out my closets recently and thought it was a shame to get rid of some of my t-shirts. The shirts were nice, but I hardly wore them. I figured I could make a few scarves out of the tees… so, of course, I grabbed a pair of scissors and started to experiment!

Scarves from t-shirts are not a new idea… I came up with this scarf in my bedroom with a pair of scissors. I was partly inspired by the cowl scarves I made from sweaters (that I showed you yesterday).

You can make a fun scarf, too! Just follow my tutorial below.

OK, I'm a little embarrassed to call this a tutorial… it is that easy!

Supplies needed:

Old t-shirt
Scissors

Directions:
Snip the shirt under the arm hole. (you don't need a huge cut) Tear the shirt across and the fabric will curl on itself. If there is a seam on the other side, you may need to snip the other side, too.
And you are done! Yep – it is that easy! You can step on the loop and pull it to try and stretch it out more… and you could cut and tear the other edge, too. But I liked having one finished edge and one curled edge on my scarves.

I will warn you that not all fabrics will curl on themselves, so I do have a tip for picking out a good t-shirt. I found that thinner cotton tees seemed to tear and curl the best. My shirts made from thicker fabrics (like the green tee below) just frayed and did not curl.

Obviously, the bigger the shirt, the longer your scarf will be and the more you can likely loop it a couple of times around your neck. I’m thinking that a child’s size tee could be cute for a short cowl scarf, too.

I made a couple of these scarves. The red and blue ones are from big, oversized tees (the kind you get for free from an event or something).

But without a doubt, the pink striped one is my favorite! The stripes are fun and the length of it hits me where a long necklace would.

It is not super warm, but it is super cute, don’t you think?

Be sure to stick around for the rest of Scarf Week!

You will need a sewing machine for the next two days… but I promise, it is going to be very simple sewing. Only straight lines, mmkay?

Sharing with:
Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A2Z, Tatertots and Jello

How to Make Cowl Scarves from Old Sweaters

2012-01-09T06:07:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… simple cowl and infinity scarves.

Today is Day 1 of Simple Scarf Week here on Madigan Made! Are YOU ready for a week of neck-warming goodness?

Today’s scarf idea is all about ‘using what you have’.

Clothing refashion projects have been on my crafting ‘to do’ list for awhile and I’m so glad that I finally got around to completing some. I was excited to be able to recycle a couple of my old sweaters!

I loved the color and textures of these two sweaters, but both of them did not fit quite right on me. As a result, I hardly ever wore them.

So, if you have some old sweaters laying around, don’t get rid of them yet! With a pair of scissors and maybe a quick run through the sewing machine - you can make cute cowl scarves.

The brown cowl scarf was so easy to make. I was inspired to make this buttoned up scarf from an idea I saw on Whipperberry (featuring Maybe Matilda)… a cowl scarf made from a cardigan.

I had this old button Henley sweater way in the back of my closet. To make it into a scarf, all I did was take some scissors and cut across the torso under the arm holes.

I was happy to see that the fabric did not fray, so I cleaned up the cut line and that was it! To wear the cowl, I draped it around my shoulders and left some of the buttons open over my arm. I think it almost looks like a little caplet now.

The turquoise sweater was not quite as simple, but still pretty easy to make.
When I cut that sweater across, the fabric edge was frayed.

To finish the edge, I gently rolled the fabric under itself and sewed a quick hem around the circle.
I don’t know if it was just the fabric OR if I was pulling it too much, but the hem started to form these waves in the sweater as I sewed. I thought that created a pretty effect. (I’m normally not a ‘ruffle’ girl, but a single gentle wave I like)

The material for the sweater was a pretty thin and it was easy enough to sew on my machine. A thicker sweater may be more difficult to sew, but I bet you could still work it the same way.

I’m not sure which sweater I like better… I love the color of the turquoise one, but the style of the brown scarf is so cozy!

Be sure to stick around for the rest of Scarf Week!
Tomorrow’s scarf is a super-easy no-sew infinity scarf – you won’t want to miss it!

Sharing with:
Mad in Crafts, Tip Junkie, C.R.A.F.T.

Next Week is Simple DIY Scarf Week!

2012-01-07T09:34:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a fun blog announcement!

What’s the weather been like near you the past few weeks?

We’ve had a very strange December and January around here. It’s been both unseasonably warm… and very cold…and warm again. Oh, and no snow (unless you count the very strange snowstorm back in October).

BUT – regardless of the weather – I still LOVE to wear scarves this time of year! I hate having a cold neck and scarves can be a cute accessory for outerwear or indoors!

In fact, the past two weeks I made quite a lot of scarves… so I’m sharing them all in one big week!

Next week is Scarf Week on Madigan Made!
(Not to be confused with Shark Week… I know, that would’ve been a much cooler week, but scarves felt a little more seasonal, no?)

Do you remember when I failed to make a reversible cowl scarf?

Well, I can safely tell you that I figured out how to really sew a reversible cowl scarf! I can’t wait to show you that scarf, it is one of my favs!

But – you do not need to have a sewing machine to make all of the scarves I plan to share. In fact, if you have a pair of scissors, you can make a really cute scarf!

Do you follow me on Facebook or Twitter?
Because I will be making a special Scarf Week announcement to those followers. I want to involve and show off my readers next week, too! So, if you don’t follow me, why not?

I hope you’ll be around next week for all the simple scarf fun!

Disclaimer: I did NOT make the blue scarf pictured at the top of this post. But, it’s from the dollar store, looked cute in the photo and I plan to sew a scarf wine bag from it someday...so it’s kind of like a ‘craft supply’ to me! ;)

Guest Project: Make a Wine Cork Wreath

2012-01-06T06:28:00.001-05:00

Madigan made… Every Day a la Mode a feature!

T.G.I.F.!

Time for my first guest project of 2012!

I recently started to save our wine corks for some kind of craft project in the future. I'm still not sure what I’m going to make, but I’m always on the lookout for ideas. So, I love the project I’m showing you today!

Robyn at Every Day a la Mode made this GI-NOR-mous wine cork wreath. I love the texture that the corks give the wreath. This would make a great season-less wreath for your home.

Learn how Robyn made her wine cork wreath here.

Want to be featured on Madigan Made?

I am ALWAYS on the look out for great ideas to feature here on a Friday.

Read this page for more details.

OR just go fill out this fun form. :)

Mini Taco Dip Bites { appetizer idea }

2012-01-05T05:39:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… individual taco dip on a chip appetizer.

Things are always cuter in miniature, aren’t they?

I made these little bite-sized, spicy, cheesy appetizers for Christmas Eve last month.
My sister-in-law always hosts a great party that holiday and I needed to bring a cold appetizer. I went through a lot of ideas on Pinterest (and y’all gave me some great tips on Facebook!) but I knew I could rely on my mom’s taco dip recipe.

That dip is a tried and true family favorite on my side of the family. I’m betting your family has a similar recipe, too! (cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, lettuce, tomato, cheese and taco sauce)

To make the dip a little fancier for the holidays and easier to serve, I thought it might be fun to make an abbreviated version on individual chips!

The base for my mom’s taco dip recipe normally calls for two 8 oz packages of cream cheese and 16 oz of sour cream (plus a packet of taco dip mix). I knew that the usual dip would be too soupy to pipe out of a pastry bag… so I slowly added the sour cream until I got the mixture to a consistency I liked. You might need to tweak the amount of sour cream to your preference.

Mini Taco Dip Bite Appetizer

Inspired by: my mom’s taco dip!

Ingredients:

Two 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 package of powdered taco seasoning mix
1 cup (or less) of sour cream
Taco sauce
Tortilla chips (I like the shape of the scoop-y ones)

Directions:

Using an electric blender, beat the cream cheese and taco seasoning mix together.
Slowly add enough sour cream until you achieve the desired consistency (like a very soft buttercream frosting). I added almost 1 cup.
Fill a pastry bag (using a frosting tip) with the cheese mixture and pipe the cheese onto individual tortilla chips.
Top each bite with a small dollop of taco sauce and serve!

These taco dip bites were easy to eat and hard to resist! They’d probably be a perfect appetizer to make for a football playoff party this month, too!

Sharing with link parties here:
House of Hepworths, Tidy Mom, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors

Our Winter Kitchen Chalkboard: A little snowflakes and turquoise

2012-01-03T06:12:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a new chalkboard update and a color dilemma/question.

After my 2011 chalkboard quote recap yesterday, I figured I’d show you the updates I made to the space for January.

Notice something about the quote?
It’s the same one as last month?
Yep, I was a little lazy! ;o)

But wait! There is a reason I left this quote up…
When I found these graphic square melamine snowflake plates on clearance at Target last week, I knew they’d be perfect for a winter scene in the kitchen. And I knew that last month’s quote would be perfect for the area, too!

(If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (madiganmade) –

then you already saw these plates when I had them in my cart last week!)

I couldn’t resist grabbing a matching long snowflake tray!
With a couple of my milk glass Christmas trees and an old white scarf for a table runner… the tray made a great little table centerpiece, too!

I’m really loving the fun color of these plates.
I’ve always been hesitant to bring in blue into our kitchen. The cabinets were white, the walls were a tan-y yellow and I used a few red accents in the space… but I was never sure what other colors to add, if any.

I’ve used a little mossy green… like the red, green and yellow plaid trim on the window valences and in the apple print. And I have moss green on the walls in our family room (Which I hate. detest. can’t stand. Can you tell I don’t like the color?).

Red, yellow and green never felt ‘right’ for me. It is classic, but the combination feels a little old and tired.

When I see the turquoise blue this month and if I look back at the red and teal décor from June for the Fourth of July holiday… I feel like that color added a fun and fresh element to the space when combined with the rest of the kitchen.

Is red and turquoise ‘over’ yet? I see that combo a lot when I look around the blogs and the internet… is it too trendy or cliché?

What about red, yellow and turquoise?

Clearly, I love that mix since I used it for my blog design… and that logo color combo was inspired by my cheery sunglasses holder.

Hmm. Whether it’s trendy or not, I’m really considering mixing in a little turquoise into our kitchen! It would be a small change I could make with accents… but I think it might be an easy way to freshen up the space.

What do you think? Should I go for it?

Out with the green and in with the turquoise?

The Ever Changing Seasonal Chalkboard: 2011 Recap

2012-01-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a big chalkboard décor recap.

Happy 2012!
Did you have a great NYE? We had a quiet night… just dinner out with family and we watched the ball drop at home.
Did you set any resolutions? I’m terrible at keeping any, so I avoid the self-disappointment and don’t set any goals! ( Lame, I know. )

I hesitate to ask this, but are you sick of 2011 blog recaps yet?

I'm going to I assume your reply is: “Shannon, every blog I read is doing recaps and I’m ready to scream from all this post recycling. But I would still love to read one more!”
So, I hope you can handle just one more recap from me. :o)

I really love changing up my big DIY chalkboard in the kitchen every month. And I certainly hope that you have enjoyed seeing the quotes, too.

For those of you that are new here – I thought it might be fun to show you all the quotes from the past year. And if you have seen all of them, thanks for reading! I’d love to know which month was your favorite!

If you missed the decorations and quotes from 2010, be sure to go back and check out that chalkboard recap, too!

Below is a summary of each month’s chalkboard quote and the related décor.

{ Click on the underlined text to be taken to that post for the month. }

January: We welcomed in the new year with simple winter white scene with milk glass trees.
February: A beaded chandelier ‘necklace’ and my doily wreath made the space ready for Valentine’s Day.
March: No fancy décor… just a simple quote and the usual white cream ware plates.

April: Preppy pink and green decorations helped the kitchen get ready for spring and Easter.
May: The square floral ‘plates’ stayed with a simple quote for May.
June: A sewn star garland added a patriotic touch to the chalkboard.

July: I landed in a blogging slump and was unmotivated to write a quote that month. I asked YOU all for ideas, and got a great quote from a couple of you that I eventually did use for the chalkboard.
August: Just a simple quote adorned the chalkboard for the middle of summer.
September: To usher in the fall, I created 3-D leaf wall plaques on the wall using leaf shaped appetizer plates.

October: A spooky black bird invasion occurred in our kitchen that month. This display was one of the busiest for my taste… I think next year I will keep the Halloween décor more simple.
November: A big ol’ bowl of gold painted pine cones and some autumnal plates gave the kitchen a ‘harvest’ feel.
December: Black, white and red paper topiary trees make a simple display for the Christmas season.

What a fun year it’s been in our kitchen! Do you have a favorite month? I loved November. It was simple and very ‘me’.

This past weekend I started to take down our Christmas décor and I worked on the chalkboard for this month. I hope to show it to you later this week. If you follow me on Instagram (I’m madiganmade), Facebook or Twitter, you likely already saw the goodies I’m going to be using in the space!

Cheers to you!

2011-12-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a new year wish!

From our house to yours:

have a happy, happy new year!

P.S.

In 2012 I’ll get back to my regular reader feature projects on Fridays.

I am ALWAYS on the look out for great ideas to feature here on a Friday. So, if you have an projects you’d like me to feature,

Read this page for more details.

OR just go fill out this easy form. :)

Big Thanks: Top 2011 Referrers

2011-12-29T06:39:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a few important thank yous!

With the close of 2011 around the corner, I wanted send out a BIG thanks to all of YOU who read this blog! Thanks for supporting Madigan Made this year! You are a big part of this blog’s success!

I also wanted to thank the websites that are #1 referrers.

Google, StumbleUpon and Pinterest were my all-time top referrers. But I also wanted to thank some of the individual sites that send readers my way….

Thanks to these wonderful sites!

My Favorite 2011 Before/After Projects

2011-12-27T12:39:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a list of fav simple DIY transformations.

Yesterday I showed you YOUR favorite DIY ideas. I loved all of those posts. But today, it’s MY turn to tell you what projects were my top picks for the year.

Each one of these projects is special to me for various reasons.
Some completely changed a space and how we use it in our home… like our deck, our foyer and my craft area.

Some updates were small, but more personal in scope for me. I love the special projects like the wedding dress stockings and the fun sunglasses holder. The starburst mirror is dramatic and reminds me of the ‘blogging slump’ I was in when I was making it and how I got my blogging mojo back.

The #1 project is my all-time favorite… and it may have been one of the most time consuming of all the ideas, too! You’ll see what I mean!

Here are MY favorite DIY projects that I posted about this year:

#10 DIY Stained Glass Foyer Window

#9 My Bright, Fun {and Inexpensive} Updates to our Deck

#8 Beachy Master Bathroom Art Made from Flat Glass Gems

#7 Our Foyer Gallery Wall Space

#6 The Paint-chip Inspired Craft Storage Area

#5 My Triple Layered Gold Sunburst Mirror

#4 The Changeable Ceiling Medallion Wreath

#3 Sunglasses Holder from a Rod or Spoon Rack

#2 Our “New” Holiday Stockings Made from my Wedding Dress

And… my #1 before/after?

It is the last update and total revamp of this website, my logo and my tag line! It was a ton of work to update the blog on my own, but the results made it worth it!

I’ll be sharing this post at Tatertots & Jello and Rhoda’s Top Projects of 2011 Party this week:

Top 10 Simple DIY Ideas from 2011

2011-12-26T08:55:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a list of the top viewed projects on Madigan Made.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend! We did and I’m enjoying the day off from work today… are you? Do you have more holiday celebrations to attend?

Today I thought I’d share with you a recap of YOUR favorite projects from the past year.

What do all of these projects and ideas have in common? They are all fairly simple!
Clearly, y’all have fabulous taste, if I do say so myself!

Here are the top 10 posts/projects of 2011 (based on reader page views):

#10: How to Sew a Simple Envelope Pillow

#9: Lighted Holiday Ornament Tree on Canvas

#8: Paint-Chip Inspired Ombre Craft Storage Ideas

#7: Orange Creamsicle Fruit Dip

#6: Tips for Using Chalkboard Paint on Glass

#5: DIY Painted Milk Glass Apothecary Jars

#4: No-Sew Table Runner from Kitchen Towels

#3: Thumbtack Covered Pumpkins

#2: Gold Brass Thumbtack Wreath

And…. drumroll, please…

#1: Magnetic Memo Boards from Stovetop Burner Covers

I love all of these projects! But tomorrow I will share with you some of MY absolute fav projects from this past year.

Happy Holidays from Madigan Made

2011-12-23T06:39:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a holiday wish for you.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Kwanzaa!

Happy New Year!

Before this busy weekend gets underway, I wanted to stop and tell you:

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Wherever you are going to be this weekend, and however you celebrate, I hope you get spend time with your loved ones and enjoy a little good cheer!

And while you might not see an Eggsmas miracle or get your kid the Princess Unicorn doll they wanted, I hope you have an awesome LudaChristmas party (maybe at Benihana?) or at least celebrate a little around the Festivus pole and not feel forced into an "express" Christmas.

(How many random... yet awesome holiday sitcom references can I cram into one sentence, anyways? If you can answer that question, then we might need to watch more TV together. Just sayin'!)

Have a great weekend!

Because we all love a few good (puppy) outtakes…

2011-12-21T14:09:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… a peek at the holiday dog photos that didn’t make the home tour!

Question: How many treats does it take to get one good photo of your energetic dog to sit nice and pretty under your Christmas tree?

Answer: Lots!!

Remember the cute photo of our dog next to the tree in our holiday home tour?

I thought y’all might enjoy a few of the pics that did not make ‘the cut’.

Some photos were cute… while others… well, I hope you can see why I did not pick them!

So, I figured you might want to take a break from the holiday rush for a few smiles from my funny furball!

Enjoy!

Five Sweet Treats { with under 5 ingredients! }

2011-12-20T06:03:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… 5 simple Christmas dessert ideas.

I don’t know about you, but this time of year, I love baking!

And, like my crafting, I always appreciate simple dessert ideas.

But time has gotten away from me this season and I have not even thought about what I want to bake for the holidays. I still have a few days, right? ;o)

Sorry I don’t have any yummy new ideas for you… but if you are like me, then I think you’d appreciate these quick 5 ingredient or less sweet recipes below.

S’mores Bark

{ chocolate + marshmallows + graham cereal }

Peanut Butter Cookie Cupcakes

{ peanut butter cookie mix + oil + egg + water + candies + sugar }

(Ok, this is 6 ingredients, but I’m telling you… so easy and sooo good!)

Coconut Cups

{sweetened condensed milk + vanilla + coconut }

Orange Creamsicle Fruit Dip

{ frozen whipped topping + orange juice + instant vanilla pudding + fruit }

Peanut Butter Pretzel Sandwiches

{ peanut butter + chocolate + pretzels }

12 Easy Last Minute Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas

2011-12-19T05:24:00.000-05:00

Madigan made… quick and easy handmade craft ideas you can make today.

Christmas is almost here. Are you done your shopping yet?

I’m getting there and I hope you are, too.
I think that handmade gifts are always a nice and personal touch for gift giving. They also can be inexpensive gift options, too.

Are you looking for a quick and easy handmade gift idea?

Maybe you need an idea for a teacher or coworker or party hostess. Or you just need a little stocking stuffer for someone special.

Below is a list of some of the simplest crafts I’ve made to date that could make lovely gifts. Most require very few supplies and can be made in under 30-60 minutes. There’s still time! You can make one of these crafts today for a pretty gift.

12 Simple Handmade Crafts and Gifts:

No-Sew Dollar Store Table Runner

(from kitchen towels and ribbon!)
Business Card Holder

(from an Altoids tin, paper and decoupage)
Glass Hurricane Vases

(from dollar store glassware and strong glue…if desired, decorate with snowflakes!)
Glass gem magnets

(from flat glass gems, paper and magnets)
Scarf Wine Bags

(from a dollar store scarf…perfect for a hostess gift!)
Ornaments from Electrical Switch Plates

(coat switch plates with chalkboard paint or decorate with vinyl)
Rhinestone Encrusted Gift Tin

(from a tin, rhinestones and thick decoupage)
Bring Flowers in a Handmade Paper Vase

(from an old water bottle, paper, ribbon and decoupage. customize with seasonal paper!)
Dry Erase Table Signs from Corner Tile

(from corner tile and vinyl… use for placecards, buffet signs)
Beaded Christmas Tree Icicles

(from pretty beads, a crimping bead and length of jewelry wire)
DIY Holiday Plates

(from a little vinyl and decoupage on a plate)
Oversized and Decorated Clothespins for Photos or Memos

(from plastic dollar store clothespins, decoupage and paper)