Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}

Saturday Seven Party {No. 15}

2012-02-25T19:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Saturday, friends! I am so glad you're here!

New to Positively Splendid? Each Saturday marks my Saturday Seven Party, a time when I open up the PS stage for YOU to share your projects!
Last week's most-viewed link:$18 Walmart Dress Styled 3 Ways @ Nest of Posies

Be sure to check out my post from this morning, where I shared seven projects that caught my eye from last week's line-up. And then hurry back to link up your latest creations, because you might just find yourself featured here at PS!

A few party guidelines:

Please link back to Positively Splendid, either using a text link (Positively Splendid) or by using the button below:
<a href="http://www.positivelysplendid.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Positively Splendid" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v301/alb413/saturday7button150.png" /></a>

Feel free to link to any project, recipe, tip or idea. Basically, if you created it, I would love to see it!
Please do not link to giveaways, Etsy shops or anything you are selling.
Be sure to link up to a specific post on your blog and not your home page.
Please link up a new project each week to keep things exciting!
If you are reading via email, head over to the blog so you can join in the fun!
By linking up your projects, you are giving me permission to share your ideas in future spotlight posts here at PS and/or on Facebook and Twitter.

After you link up, visit at least two other party-goers and leave them some comment love. Because after all, who doesn't love comments? :)
Sound good? Alright - let's get this party started!!

Saturday Seven Spotlight

2012-02-25T11:15:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday, everyone!!
We at Chez Bell are all about to don our work duds and get started filling our brand-new raised beds with lots of good dirt! With three little helpers and a 4-month-old supervisor, this could get interesting. Wish us luck! ;)
Before that, let me share some of the fabulous ideas linked up during last week's Saturday 7 Party that caught my eye. Y'all have been up to some amazing stuff!
one.Ruffled Clutch @ Flamingo Toes

Bev is at it again, creating swoon-worthy accessories that make me want to reach through the screen and claim it for my very own. :) Isn't this lovely?

two. Baker's Twine Storage @ The Scrap Shoppe

A truly ingenious idea for twine storage. Just wait and see what Michele used for this!

three.

Bathroom Renovation @ Elizabeth & Co.

You absolutely must head over and check out the amazing before and after photos of this transformation. I love that floor!

four.

Little Girl Room @ Bottled Beauty

Everything about this space is absolutely lovely! So many fun, feminine touches. What a lucky little girl!

five. Anthropologie-Inspired Toddler Bed @ 2 Little Hooligans

This is such a great alternative to the typical cartoon- and Disney-character toddler bedding sets. I love it!

six.

Felt Food Cookie Baking Set @ Apron Strings and Apple Trees

Felt food is such a marvelous, imagination-driving plaything for little ones. This cookie baking set is to-die-for cute!

seven.

Tips for Juggling Kids and Etsy @ Rae Gun Ramblings

For anyone striving to create a thriving Etsy business while raising children, this is a must-read. Great information!

***

If you were as inspired by these lovely ladies as I have been, head over to each of their blogs to pay them a visit!

I hope you'll make plans to stop back in tonight for this week's Saturday 7 party. I am so excited to see what y'all have been up to this week!!

As always, the party kicks off at 7 Central. See you then! :)

4 Practical Tips for Staying Organized

2012-02-24T08:30:00.002-06:00

Attention Publix Shoppers! From February 23–29 you can participate in P&G’s “One List Life” promotion, available exclusively at Publix: simply select any four fabulous participating P&G items and pick up a FREE Rotisserie Chicken while you’re at it! Learn more at www.savingspg.com.

***

One thing I have realized as our family has continued to grow: Staying organized is essential for keeping our household (and its inhabitants!) stress-free. Today I thought I'd share four of the primary ways I manage to do this in our family.

Tip One: Make a Menu Plan

Without a doubt, the singular thing that keeps our family running smoothly more than anything else is to make a menu plan each week and stick with it. Each Saturday, my husband and I sit down together to plan our meals and make a shopping list so that all of the groceries are purchased and ready to go during the weekend before the weekday craziness ensues. This entirely eliminates the last-minute "What am I going to feed our family tonight?" panic and minimizes the number of takeout orders we are forced to make during the week. Not to mention, preparing meals at home is so much less expensive than eating out, and it's healthier, too!

Last year, I revamped an ugly mass-produced painting into a chalkboard to hang in my kitchen. Every Sunday, I write down our planned menu so I can refer back to it throughout the week. If you don't have space for a large wall-hung menu board like this one, consider putting a dry-erase board on your refrigerator for the same purpose. My flip recipe organizer is another great space-saving option.

Tip Two: Create a Practical System for Staying Organized

Practical is the operative word here. Take an honest inventory of your family's needs, and then identify your specific sources of disorganization. Is it that your entryway is constantly cluttered with shoes and backpacks? That you can't see the counters in your kitchen because of all of the mail and school papers you are inundated with each day? All of the above? Once you've specified the things that need attention, craft an organizing system to address your family's specific needs that is functional and entirely user-friendly. If it looks pretty but no one in your family winds up using it because it isn't practical, it doesn't do anyone any good!

I shared last week about the hallway command center I built to help keep all of our everyday items like coats, important papers, and appointment reminders tidy and consolidated. I am not exaggerating when I say that is one project has honestly revolutionized our lives! School mornings are so much less harried now knowing backpacks, coats, and my purse and keys are all where they need to be.

Tip Three: Deal with Papers Immediately

This is one area in which I am admittedly lacking, but when I do follow through with this, I am so much happier for it! The idea here is simple: The moment a paper comes into your possession, deal with it appropriately. Place junk mail in the recycling bin instead of plopping it on the kitchen counter to be sorted later. Sign important forms for school immediately and place them back in your child's backpack so you don't forget about them. Open bills the moment you receive them and sit down to schedule their payment online (online bill pay is such a life-saver!) instead of letting them pile up throughout the month. These minimal upfront investments of time will help tame the paper monster, saving your sanity in the process!

Tip Four: Don't Let Laundry Pile Up

Instead of saving it all to do on the weekends, strive to do your laundry gradually throughout the week. For me, this means doing 2-3 loads per day, but that amount will vary depending upon the size of your particular family. If you work outside the home, try to put a load on to wash in the morning before you leave to pop into the dryer when you return home and fold before bed. This is admittedly one more thing to add to your daily routine, but you will thank yourself for it when you are able to enjoy some R&R on the weekend instead of getting lost in the mounds of dirty clothes!

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I encourage you to take some time this weekend to implement even just one of these ideas. You'll reap the stress-relieving rewards for weeks to come! To bookmark this post to refer to later on, add it to Pinterest. Do so easily by clicking the button below!

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Do you have any organizing tips to add to the list? I'd love to hear!

Thank you to P&G for sponsoring my participation in this “One List Life” promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

PSA Essentials Review + Giveaway!

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hi, friends! I am so excited to have the opportunity today to share a bit about one of my new favorite lines of products: PSA Essentials!

PSA Essentials manufactures personalized, self-inking stamps. With patent-pending Peel & Stick technology and thousands of stamp designs, PSA has stamp designs for every holiday, occasion, or sentiment that strikes your fancy, with licensed designs from Hello Kitty, Smirk, UBU, Peanuts and more. These stamps are the perfect way to dress up your envelopes or to use for crafting projects!
PSA Stamp Camp, the PSA Essentials Blog, is devoted to those types of crafting projects, from sewing and decorating to paper crafting and scrapbooking.

Without a doubt, what I love most is the versatility of these products. With their interchangeable Peel & Stick stamp sets, there are literally hundreds of possible designs that you can change out with every season!

The personalized return address stamps are a perfect option for all of your mailings, and especially for things like wedding invitations, holiday cards, and birth announcements that really call for an extra special touch. There is no better way to get a feel for exactly how PSA stamps work than to check out this terrific introductory video, which gives you a play-by-play for how to switch out the designs quickly and easily.
I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on the Wallace custom design set. It is terrific!

I love that I can mix and match the two components, both the outer ring with my address and the inner button with our monogram, with other Peel & Stick components to create countless other designs. With so many options, these stamps really are a terrific value.
This week, I made some cards to replenish my stash using my new PSA Essentials stamps.

I created a few different card designs, and then adhered a blank 2-inch cardstock circle to the front of each card. Now I can pull out any of the cards for any occasion that comes up and use my PSA stamps to easily embellish the blank circle on each one with an appropriate sentiment or design. This makes cardmaking so much simpler, since I don't have to worry about making a particular number of any one type of card (birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, etc.).

With greeting cards costing upwards of $5 a pop, handmade cards really are the way to go. Not to mention that there is something about a handmade card that makes a recipient feel truly special!

So, how would you like to win a custom stamp of your very own? I thought so!
PSA Essentials is generously offering one lucky PS reader a custom stamp of her choice + free shipping!
Mandatory Entry: Visit the PSA Stamp Camp Blog and follow by Google Connect or subscribe via newsletter. Leave a comment in the comments section of this post that you are a new follower.
Optional Entry (please leave a comment upon completion):Like PSA Essentials on Facebook
Giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. CST on February 29, 2012. Winner will be selected at random on or after March 1, 2012 and notified via email and announced in this post. In order to maximize your chances to win, you must leave a separate comment for each entry. If your email address is not linked to your Google account, please leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you in case you win. I reserve the right to select an alternate winner for any entries lacking an email contact. Giveaway open only to US residents 18 years of age and older.
Good luck, everyone!

Disclosure: I was provided free PSA Essentials product to review for this post. Rest assured that all opinions expressed here are solely my own, and I am committed to sharing only products and services I earnestly feel my readers will benefit from and enjoy.

12 Great Children's Books

2012-02-22T11:21:00.002-06:00

Books play such a huge role in our family, as I mentioned earlier this week when I shared about how my kids and I made book donation totes to deliver to those in need. Reading is something I have done with all four of my children since they were tiny infants, as I feel strongly that establishing a love of reading early on is one of the most precious gifts you can give a child. Over the years, we have read hundreds of books, but there have been a dozen or so that have emerged as our all-time favorites. Today I thought I'd share our list of some of our favorite books so that you can look into adding them to your home library or borrowing them from your local library to enjoy with your own children!
one. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

This was the very first book I read consistently to baby Jack, so many times, in fact, that we just had to replace our beloved old book with a new copy after it literally fell apart. I love this story for its repetitive simplicity that allows children to "read" along, and Eric Carle's vibrant illustrations are second to none.
two. Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

My parents read this book to me when I was small, and I have loved reading it to my own children. Who among us doesn't nearly know this book nearly by heart? "In the great green room, there was a..."
three. Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

The infectious, sing-song rhyme of this little book will make it a favorite even with the youngest readers!
four. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

A sweet, humorous story about the lengths parents will go to reunite children with a beloved object. We read this one almost daily!
five.Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin

Even parents will giggle at this humorous story about cows who go on strike. So clever!
six. I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

Don't be fooled by the silly title: the sweet dialog in this book between a mama and her child will melt your heart!
seven. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

A true classic that took on a whole new meaning for me once I became a mother.
eight. Partsby Tedd Arnold

Little boys, especially, tend to love this book. It is admittedly a bit gross at times, but it never ceases to make my kids giggle. :)
nine. No, David! by David Shannon

This simple story about a little boy who can't seem to do anything right, and the mom who loves him anyway.
ten. Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

A clever story to teach children their animal sounds, while eliciting lots of giggles! This might be my favorite book on this list.
eleven. The Napping House by Audrey Wood

The gorgeous illustrations in this book are unrivaled, and the repetitive rhyme is perfect for allowing little ones to read along.
twelve. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

A classic that I also enjoyed as a child. And what mother can't relate to the fact that little mice always seem to want just one more thing? ;)

***
Which books are on your family's list of favorites? We are always on the lookout for great books to read, so I'd love to hear your suggestions!
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How to Dress Up Furniture with Fabric

2012-02-21T12:36:00.003-06:00

After sharing all about George's nursery last month, I neglected to post about the little side table next to the upholstered rocker. Thank you so much to the reader who reminded me to do so by sending an email asking about this piece!
I mentioned before how my goal in planning the nursery was to use as much of our current furniture pieces as possible to keep my expenditures to a minimum. When it came time to find a side table of some sort to go next to the upholstered rocker, I decided to take one of our old living room end tables and transform it into something that would match the nursery decor.

This little table actually matches the console table I posted about last year when I shared how I replaced the glass doors on that piece with faux hammered copper panels made with paintable wallpaper. I still love how that project turned out! Getting rid of the see-through glass made that piece so much more functional, as I can now stow away all of our games discreetly.
But - back to this table, and the task of turning it into something suitable for George's bold and bright little room. First things first: paint! I painted this piece using precisely the same steps and supplies I used for his antique dresser, giving everything a light sanding before priming with Zinsser oil-based bond-coat primer and then applying the same Benjamin Moore color, San Antonio Gray. For durability, I finished the piece with a coat of polyacrylic. (See the dresser post for more details about this process.)

Once I had finished painting the piece, I was faced with the same conundrum I experienced with the console table I mentioned a few moments ago: Because I wanted to use the shelves inside this table to store things like extra diapers, wipes and such, I needed to do something with its glass door so that those items wouldn't be visible from the outside of the piece. My solution? Using some of the fabric I had left over from the bedding and window treatments for the space!
To do so, I cut a piece of fabric to a size large enough to cover the glass opening, plus an inch all the way around to ensure the edge of the fabric wouldn't be visible through the front of the glass. Then I simply used thumb tacks to affix the fabric to the back of the door so that the design would show through the existing glass front. This way, I can change it out later on if I opt to use the table in a different space, or I can remove it altogether and the piece will be no worse for the wear. I love keeping my options open like that!

From the outside, everything looks nice and polished. No one would ever guess that the fabric isn't a permanent part of the piece. And I love how that bit of damask fabric transforms an otherwise boring table into something really eye-catching and suitable for this space!

Inspired to try your hand at adding some fabric flair to your furniture? In addition to my idea above, there are so many other terrific ideas for doing so!
For a permanent solution, decoupaging the fabric to your piece is a great option. This tutorial from J Caroline Creative is the best I've found for fabric-decoupaged furniture. What a lovely job she did with these matching nightstands!

Using the same decoupage concept, these fabric-lined drawers at Infarrantly Creative are so pretty...

...and these updated kitchen chairs at Crafty Nest are so chic!

I love this idea from HGTV for using DIY upholstered panels to give new life to an old headboard.

This video tutorial from House & Home details how to make a fabric-backed bookshelf with fabric panels and foam core board. Eddie Ross also shared a fabric-backed bookshelf project idea last year using the same concept. This really adds personality to an otherwise boring bookcase!

So what's your verdict? Would you use or have you ever used fabric to update an old piece of furniture?

If you found this post helpful, pin it to spread the word! Do so easily by clicking the link below.

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Thanks so much for stopping in!

Linking this to...Tatertots and JelloSerenity Now

Book Donation Totes

2012-02-20T07:24:00.002-06:00

Happy Presidents' Day, everyone!

With many school-aged kids enjoying a day off, I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to share a project that enables children to use their creativity to benefit others!

Books are the most crucial part of any child's educational foundation. Sadly, there are all too many kids who lack a home library, even one containing one or two titles. Why not take some time out today to create a personalized (no-sew!) book tote with your children and fill it with books from your collection that you no longer read? Then, you can head out to a local battered women's shelter, a children's hospital, your church or another place after the books are gathered to deliver the joy of reading to a child staying there!

There is no need to purchase any fancy inkjet fabric sheets for this project, although if you already have those on hand, feel free to use them. For our bag, my daughter and I used the same method for printing on fabric that I used in my Custom Twill Ribbon tutorial. Here is how we did it:
To start, ask your child to draw a picture of him- or herself enjoying a book with a friend on a regular sheet of 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Once the picture is complete, scan the artwork into your computer and save it as a jpeg file. (If you don't own a home scanner, you can take pictures to your local copy store, where they can do this for you.)
To transfer the picture onto fabric to adhere to the tote, start by cutting a piece of white canvas fabric to 8.5 x 11 inches. Cut a piece of freezer paper to the same dimensions. Using a dry iron on a cotton setting, adhere the freezer paper to the back of your canvas piece, making sure to the place the shiny side of the paper against the fabric. By backing the fabric with the freezer paper, you will now be able to feed it through your inkjet printer. Cool!

Now, print your scanned picture onto your paper-backed fabric piece using normal ink settings. Make sure to place the fabric piece into the printer tray so that the image will print on the fabric side of the piece as it feeds through rather than the paper side. Once the image is printed, peel away and discard the freezer paper.

If desired, use pinking shears to trim the edges to minimize fraying.

Center the printed fabric image onto the front of a store-bought canvas tote. Adhere the image to the tote using iron-on fusible web tape. Your bag is finished!
Once your bags are finished, take an hour or so to sort through your book collection with your kids, and explain to them that there are some children who don't have books to read. Have them personally choose 3-4 books to place in their totes to give to a child in need.

Terrific places to consider donating the filled bags are battered women's shelters, local schools, your church, the Salvation Army, or children's hospitals. A nice idea when dropping off the books is to tuck a little piece of paper inside containing the address and information for your local library so the recipient can use their new tote when they go check out even more books to enjoy!
If you enjoyed this idea, share it on Pinterest to refer to later on! Do so easily by clicking on the link below.

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Thanks so much for making me a part of your day!

Seven Delicious Recipes to Make

2012-02-19T13:00:00.000-06:00

Y'all know how to make a girl hungry! These delicious recipes linked up for this week's Saturday 7 Party have me itching to get into my kitchen to make something tasty!

1 - Chocolate Crumb Bars @ Design, Dining + Diapers

2 - Creamy Chicken, Potato and Vegetable Soup @ The Diary of Dave's Wife

3 - Chocolate Kiss Cookies @ Munchkin Munchies

4 - Thin Mint Knock-Offs @ White Lights on Wednesday 5 - Three-Cheese Frittata @ A Pretty Life in the Suburbs6 - Almond Cream Cheese Danish @ Country Momma Cooks7 - Creamy Chicken Florentine @ Serenity Now
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This week's party is still going strong. I would love for you to stop by to link up your latest creations!

Happy Sunday, my friends!

Saturday Seven Party {No. 14}

2012-02-18T19:00:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the party, everyone! I am so glad you made me a part of your night!

New to Positively Splendid? Each Saturday marks my Saturday Seven Party, a time when I open up the PS stage for YOU to share your projects!
Last week's most-viewed link:Last-Minute Valentine Idea @ Yearning to Create

A few party guidelines:

Feel free to link to any project, recipe, tip or idea. Basically, if you created it, I would love to see it!
Please do not link to giveaways, Etsy shops or anything you are selling.
Be sure to link up to a specific post on your blog and not your home page.
Please link up a new project each week to keep things exciting!
If you are reading via email, head over to the blog so you can join in the fun!
By linking up your projects, you are giving me permission to share your ideas in future spotlight posts here at PS and/or on Facebook and Twitter.

Saturday Seven Spotlight

2012-02-18T13:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday!!
This week's Saturday Seven Spotlight is coming a bit later than usual, as we spent the morning at my oldest son's first-ever baseball tryouts. Quite a milestone!
I had so much fun going through this week's links. Y'all make it hard for me to narrow it down to just seven! :)
Below are seven of the ideas that caught my eye from last week's party...

1 - Homework Nook @ Michelle Lea Design

2 - Lasagna Soup @ Gluesticks

3 - Monster Truck Cake @ WhimsiKel

4 - Coloring Kit Tote @ The Homes I Have Made

5 - Felt Flower Scarf @ Kim's Craft Cottage6 - Budget Nursery @ Big K Fam7 - Savory Hand Pies @ Treat & Trick

If you love these projects as much as I do, I encourage you to head over to pay these creative mavens a visit!
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This week's Saturday 7 party will kick off tonight at 7 Central. I hope to see you then!

Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness Giveaway

2012-02-17T08:02:00.000-06:00

Y'all probably know the heart I have for sharing time with my kiddos in the kitchen. So when I had the opportunity recently to get a first look at the brand-new E-Book Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness by Liz Latham, I was absolutely delighted!

Many of you might be familiar with Liz, the creative and culinary talent behind Hoosier Homemade. Liz's newsletter, the Cupcake Chronicles, is always brimming with fantastic ideas for making cupcakes that will delight and impress. In Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness, Liz shares 12 cupcake ideas that utilize supplies you can easily find in your grocery store aisles, and each cupcake design is do-able for even the smallest of helpers. And (most importantly) the ideas are downright adorable, with a seasonal cupcake design for each and every month of the year!

A peek at the table of contents:
January – Snowman FamilyFebruary – Valentine’s DayMarch – Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s DayApril – Bunny for Easter or SpringMay – Flowers for Mother’s DayJune – Shirts for Father’s DayJuly – Uncle SamAugust – Snow ConesSeptember – Fall Leaves and AcornsOctober – Jack O’ Lanterns and Ghosts for HalloweenNovember – Pilgrims and Indians for ThanksgivingDecember – Reindeer and Santa for Christmas
In addition to the 12 cupcake ideas, Liz also includes some very helpful tips and tricks for cupcake baking and decorating at the end of the book. This really is a terrific resource! And at just $4.99, the book is a terrific value for experienced and beginning bakers alike. I know I will be putting many of these ideas to good use as I bake goodies with my children throughout the rest of the year!
Giveaway Details:THREE lucky PS readers will receive their very own copy of Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness!
Mandatory Entry:What is your favorite cupcake flavor? Leave a comment letting me know!
Optional Entries (leave a comment for each one completed):Follow Hoosier HomemadeSubscribe to the Cupcake Chronicles NewsletterFollow Hoosier Homemade on Twitter and/or Facebook
Giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. CST on February 23, 2012. Winner will be selected at random on or after February 24, 2012 and notified via email and announced in this post. In order to maximize your chances to win, you must leave a separate comment for each entry. If your email address is not linked to your Google account, please leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you in case you win. I reserve the right to select an alternate winner for any entries lacking an email contact. International readers are welcome to participate!
Good luck, everyone! And happy Friday!

Disclosure: I was provided a copy of Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness to review for this post. Rest assured that all opinions expressed here are solely my own, and I am committed to only sharing products and services I feel my readers will benefit from and enjoy.

How to Install Board and Batten

2012-02-16T11:53:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week, I revealed my Hallway Command Center, the backbone of which is my first-ever foray into the world of board and batten. My inspiration for this space came from the fabulous ladies at Shanty 2 Chic, who posted their own board and batten hallway project last year. Thanks, Ashley and Whitney, for the inspiration!
Before I continue, I want to make one thing abundantly clear:I am a total DIY novice.
This was my very first project like this one ever. So when I say that anyone can do this, I truly, earnestly mean it!
Now, I am admittedly late to the board and batten party. There are already plenty of fabulous board and batten how-to's out there, but I am going to come at this post from a slightly different angle: how an average Jane or Joe with no fancy tools to speak of can absolutely tackle a project like this one! In fact, aside from a few common tools, there is really nothing much required for transforming your space with a board and batten treatment.
Before I get to the nitty gritty of the tutorial for the process, let's begin with a few of my recommendations for getting your feet wet with board and batten.
Tip One:If you're new to board and batten, hone your skills on a straight wall first.
With any corner enters a whole new level of complexity: the need for mitering. If at all possible, I would recommend doing a straight accent wall project for your first B&B effort.
Tip Two: Use lattice strips for your battens (aka, the vertical pieces) to avoid having to tinker with your baseboards.
It was Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick who gave me the idea to use these in this board and batten post, and I am so glad I took her advice! Aside from being inexpensive and incredibly lightweight and easy to work with, these strips are just 1/4" thick, which made them thin enough that they were flush with my existing baseboards, so I didn't have to worry about putting up new baseboards so that my battens didn't jut out further than the baseboards once they were hung.
Tip Three: Draw it out.
Have everything planned to the letter before you go to purchase your supplies. Hit up Lowe's armed with your full supply list - including all of your piece dimensions - so you can walk in with confidence!
My hallway wall is 115.5" long, and I wanted the top of my horizontal trim piece to be 45" from the top of my existing baseboard. The trim I chose for my horizontal piece is 4.5" wide. So, to calculate the length for each of my batten pieces, I subtracted 4.5" from 45", which gave me 41.5".
Once I had calculated how long each batten piece needed to be, it was time to figure how many battens I wanted to hang on the wall. For me, this was very straightforward. Since I wanted to hang 6 hooks on the wall between my battens, I would need 6 battens. Make sense? If you're not hanging hooks as I did, the decision for how many battens to use is entirely up to personal preference. I would say between 15-18" is ideal.
So there you have it! My cut list:1 piece of door casing trim cut @ 115.5"6 lattice batten strips cut @ 41.5"
To figure the actual layout of my battens (read: the distance between each one), I took my hallway length (115.5") and subtracted the width of each batten multiplied by the number of battens (2.25"x6) from that number.115.5" - (2.25"x6) = 102
Then, I divided that number by 6, since I knew I wanted six sections between my battens for hanging my hooks. Make sense? 102"/6 = 17"
So, my battens needed to be 17" apart. Whew! The math is done!
Tip Four: Buy your lumber at a place that will make all of your cuts for you.
A word of caution, though: it is imperative that your lattice (batten) strips be cut at exactly the same lengths to avoid having to fill a ton of gaps later on. Don't be afraid to examine the cuts after they are made and ask for recuts if they don't line up precisely! Had I not done this, I would have returned home from the store with batten pieces that varied in length by as much as 1/2". Yikes!
Tip Five: Paint everything before you hang your board and batten.
This was another tip I took away from Sarah's tutorial (linked above). Paint the top and bottom portion of your wall, and prime your lattice strips and trim piece (I didn't have to do this since I used pre-primed trim for my project) before you affix everything to your walls. This will make applying the coats of paint to your finished board and batten so much easier, as you won't have to worry so much about getting into all of those nooks and crannies! What a time saver.
***
Very good! Now that I've shared those tips with you, let's get to the details for how I completed my board and batten hallway!
For this project, you will need:Paint (for both the wall section and the board and batten section)Primer1/4" thick lattice strips (mine are 2.25" wide)Molding piece (I used a pre-primed MDF door casing piece with a profile I liked)LevelPencilLiquid Nails and caulking gunStud finder 2-inch wood screwsDrillSand paperCaulking (the paintable variety)Wall-mount hooks (if using)
Step One.To begin, paint the top and bottom of your wall in your desired colors, making sure the line between your two sections will be hidden behind your horizontal trim piece later on. Your top portion (the section above your board and batten treatment) should be painted to completion, with all of the necessary coats done in this step. The bottom portion will be painted again once the board and batten is hung, so one coat will be sufficient.
Apply a coat of primer to each of your lattice strips and your molding piece (if not using pre-primed molding as I did for my project). Allow these to dry completely.

Step Two. Once your lattice pieces are dry, use a pencil to mark on the wall the precise location for each batten, using the specifications for the distance between each from your project plan (detailed above). Start at the outer edge of your wall and work your way to the other edge, marking the placement of each batten with a pencil and using my level to ensure each would be completely straight. Important: Label each section of your wall and its corresponding batten piece with a number so that you will know with certainty which batten belongs where later on. This will compensate for slight discrepancies in the straightness, width, etc. of the different batten pieces.

Step Three. Using the lines you marked in step 2 to aid you in your placement, use Liquid Nails to affix each batten in its respective location on the wall, using painter's tape to anchor them in place as they dry. Using Liquid Nails (the kind applied with a caulking gun) is honestly not much different than using a hot glue gun. So easy! Avoid applying too much of the adhesive close to the edge of your batten pieces so that none of the glue oozes out from behind the pieces once they are hung. Allow your glue to dry completely.
This might be a serious faux pas, but I didn't use any finishing nails after this step to further secure my battens to the wall. Once again, I am not a DIY expert. Some of you are probably out there shaking your heads and saying, "Oh my goodness - there is no way she just glued those puppies to the wall!" But I did. :) The key: in order to be able to get away with this, you must use the lattice strips, and not heavier pieces of wood, for your battens. They are lightweight enough for this to work.

Step Four. Use your stud finder to locate the locations of the studs in your wall, and mark these with a pencil. Now, place your vertical trim piece above your battens, using your level to ensure it is straight. Use your drill and wood screws to affix the piece to the wall, using the marks you made to ensure each screw hits a stud. Sand the outer edge of your trim piece (if it is visible) to round it off, as shown.

Step Five. Use caulking or wood filler to fill in the holes where the screws were inserted as well as any gaps between your pieces. Allow to dry completely.
Step Six. Apply 1-2 coats of paint to your board and batten section. (I used a bright white, high-gloss paint.) When your paint is completely dry, affix your hooks between your battens on your trim piece.
All finished! Now give yourself a pat on the back, and step back and marvel at the transformation!

Did you find this post particularly helpful? Add it to Pinterest to bookmark for future reference! Do so easily by clicking the link below.

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Don't forget to also check out the how-to's for how I created the Custom Chalkboard and Magnetic Boards for the space!
Thanks so much for making me a part of your day!

A Guide to Proper Pintiquette {Pinterest Tips & Tricks}

2012-02-15T10:38:00.008-06:00

Like I'm sure many of you probably are, I am completely, totally smitten with Pinterest. I am confident that this newest online tool is going to change the very complexion of social media.

Not familiar with Pinterest?
It is a virtual pinboard that allows you to curate, or form collections, of the ideas you find online and love. So, if you see a favorite recipe or project on one of your favorite blogs, you can add it to one of your Pinterest boards, virtually earmarking it to return to later. Making things even more fun, you can follow other people's pinboards and they can follow yours, making it a great way to share ideas. You can click over to see all of my pinboards and follow me, if you wish!
As a creative personality, I love Pinterest for the way it helps me organize and plan projects. Take, for instance, George's nursery. That was my first-ever Pinterest-driven project, and I cannot imagine how I ever would have been able to plan, organize and then execute all of those ideas without having Pinterest to refer back to throughout the process. As I came across ideas I loved that I thought I might want to incorporate into the nursery decor, I simply pinned them to my nursery board return to later. What an invaluable organizing tool!

As with any brand-new social media outlet, the world of Pinterest is a virtual version of the Wild West, with no standard "pinning protocol" to speak of. As time has passed and Pinterest has become more and more popular, however, I have seen a trend of a few basic rules starting to emerge that many Pinterest users strive to follow. Today I thought I would share a collection of these practices in my own little Book of Pinterest Etiquette, or "Pintiquette," if you will. These are things I've learned throughout my experience using Pinterest, and also by talking with other Pinterest users.
These Do's and Don'ts will maximize your Pinterest experience while also helping you pay it forward to the sources behind the content you love!
Pintiquette Principle No. 1:

Do pin from the original source, when at all possible.
This is, without a doubt, my number one recommendation for Pinterest. Repinning is admittedly quite convenient, especially when you're crunched for time. But let me tell you a story about when I realized how repinning can be less than ideal:
Remember the heart garland I used in my Valentine Mantel? I discovered that idea one day as I was be-bopping through Pinterest, and I loved it so much that I repinned it for future reference, never clicking on the link to see where it took me. Until the day I decided to make my garland, I had no idea that the link I had added to Pinterest was actually a pirated version of that project on a site based in Asia. So, by repinning the project when I wasn't sure of its source, I had inadvertently been sending traffic to dishonest people making a business of capitalizing on the content of others. Not cool! After some sleuthing, I discovered the rightful source of the project was a terrific tutorial written by Betz White for the Craft Blog. By pinning that correct link, I can ensure that Betz receives full credit for coming up with such a great idea!
If you prefer from a social standpoint to repin someone's discovery in order to give them proper credit as the source of your great find (which is, in fact, a very valid argument for the value of repinning), I would recommend to always check the legitimacy of a link before repinning.
Pintiquette Principle No. 2:

Do link to the permalink and not the main blog URL.
If you are trying to remember a specific project from a blog to refer to later on, be sure to link to the direct link to that post, and not to the main blog URL. This will ensure that when you go back to that pin to see the idea you love, you'll be able to find the post easily without having to scroll through pages and pages of other posts on that site.
What is the difference between a main blog URL and a direct URL? The key is to look in the address bar of your internet browser. The main blog URL contains just the basic address of the blog itself, without any other words or numbers behind it, as shown in the photo below of Positively Splendid.

The direct URL, or permalink, will have the main address for the site, followed with a forward slash and other characters that describe the specific page in question. The screen shot below shows the direct URL for my Hallway Command Center post from earlier this week.

As a general rule, you can usually be taken to the direct URL for a post on a blog by clicking on the title of the post.
Of course, if you are wanting to bookmark an entire blog to refer back to for ideas, linking to the main URL is fine!
Pintiquette Principle No. 3:

Don't pin from a Google images search.
Have you ever seen a great photo on Pinterest and then clicked on it to learn more, only to realize it wasn't linked to anything at all? Chances are, that photo was pinned from a Google image search. This hearkens back to #2 above: If you find an idea in Google images, be sure to click over to the original site URL before pinning it, to ensure that the pin will ultimately take you directly to the page you want to remember.
Pintiquette Principle No. 4:

Don't copy and paste the entire text of a tutorial, recipe, etc. into your pin.
Copying and pasting verbatim the directions for how to complete a project from start to finish eliminates the need to visit the original source, completely removing the owner of that idea from the equation. Pinterest is intended to be a vehicle for reaching great content, and not a one-stop-shop. A character limit needs to be placed within the pinning interface to make this a moot point.
Pintiquette Principle No. 5:

If you have a blog, do track who is pinning your content.
It's not voyeuristic at all to do this. Tracking what is being pinned from your site helps you see which content on your site is the best received, so that you can tailor your future content around the preferences of your readers. It is like having an ongoing, anonymous survey from your readers. Use it to your advantage!
Not sure how to do this? It's so simple!
http://pinterest.com/source/YOURBLOGURLHERE/
Type that address into your browser's address bar, and you'll be taken directly to a page that shows all of the recent things that your readers have pinned from your site! The PS page looks like this:

Cool, huh?
***
Additional Resources

Not on Pinterest, but wanting to be? Send me an email at amy (at) positivelysplendid (dot) com and I'll do my best to get you an invitation!
For a terrific video tutorial on the basic in's and out's of Pinterest, check out this post at Home Stories A to Z.
Wanting more information about the potential impact of Pinterest on bloggers? The Nester recently wrote a fabulous article on that topic that is truly a must-read.

Did you find this post particularly helpful? Pin it to refer to later and pass along to others! Do so easily by clicking the link below.

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Do you have anything you would add to this list of Proper Pintiquette? I would love to hear your thoughts! Let's discuss!

Linking this to...Serenity NowTatertots & JelloSkip to My Lou

Framed Custom Chalkboard and Magnetic Board

2012-02-14T10:58:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I revealed my new "faux mudroom" hallway command center, my solution to our home's lack of a mudroom or utility room. We've only been using the space for a few days so far, but it has already made our household so much more organized!
As I was planning this project, I knew I wanted a place to jot down notes and appointments, and also one for hanging important papers, notes and reminders that my kids bring home from school. I knew a chalkboard would be the perfect vehicle for fitting the first bill. I was reticent, though, to use the standard black chalk paint that I used for my framed kitchen chalkboard, since the hallway already tended to be shadowy and I was trying hard to mitigate some of the cave-like tendencies of the space. In addition to that, I wanted the board to coordinate with the robin's egg blue and rust color scheme I was using. So, to achieve the look I was going for, I opted to make my own chalk paint!
Did you know you can mix your own custom chalk paint in any color you like? I first came across this tip via Martha Stewart a few years back, but I had never given it a whirl until now. The process for doing this was very straightforward, and I am tickled pink with the results.
Curious to see how I made my custom-colored chalkboard? Let me show you!

What you'll need:

1/4" thick MDF, trimmed to 23.75 x 35.75 (Make sure your board is trimmed about a 1/4" smaller than the frame you intend to put it in to ensure a proper fit. Take it from the girl whose arm nearly fell off after she neglected to do this and had to spend an hour sanding hers down by hand!)
Primer
24x36" frame
Paint in your desired color (Martha says to use a flat finish, but I used satin with fine results) - I used a sample of La Fonda Tile Red Valspar paint from Lowe's
Unsanded tile grout
Stir stick
A small foam paint roller
Fine-grit sandpaper (if necessary)
Chalk

step one

Apply a coat of primer to your board, and allow it to dry completely. While your board is drying, mix your chalk paint.

step two

Place 1 tablespoon of tile grout in a small bowl and use your fingers to meticulously break up any clumps. It is very, very important that there are no clumps in your grout, to avoid having to sand and repaint your board to smooth it out later on. I learned this lesson the hard way! Now, pour 1/2 cup of paint into the same bowl, and use a stir stick to very thoroughly mix the paint and grout together. Again, your goal here is to have a paint/grout mixture that is as smooth as possible.

See how many clumps there are in this batch? This was my first attempt, before I came up with the idea to break apart the clumps of grout before mixing in the paint.

step three

Use your roller to apply the chalk paint to your primed board, working in smooth, even strokes. Apply two even coats of paint to your board, allowing the paint to dry between coats, making sure the entire board is covered. If you run out of chalk paint as you work, mix another batch as you did before. Allow your painted board to dry completely.

step four

Once everything is dry, examine the surface of the board. Is it free of any visible clumps or bumps? Is the surface of your board completely covered in an even layer of color? If so, go you! You can proceed to step 5.

If the answer to those questions is no, you'll need to sand everything lightly with fine-grit sandpaper, and then apply another even coat of your chalk paint. Unless you have a ton of large clumps of the grout visible on the surface of your board, I would highly recommend skipping this step. I actually had to redo my board after my first attempt, because when I sanded it after it was dry, sanding away the clumps resulted in a swath of white dots all over the surface of my board where the paint was rubbed off along with the grout. The best way to avoid this hassle is to make sure your grout is completely clump-free before you mix it with your paint so that the surface of your board is free of bumps after you paint.

step five

Now, rub a piece of chalk over the entire surface of your board and wipe it away to condition your board. Your brand-new, custom-colored chalkboard is now ready for use!

***

The framed magnetic board I made for this space might possibly be my easiest DIY effort ever!

To put it together, I purchased a pre-cut piece of 24x36" galvanized sheet metal (make sure it is galvanized so that magnets will stick to it) and a 24x36" poster frame from Hobby Lobby at 50% off, the same style I used for my chalkboard. I opted to use ready-made frames for these projects to save time by avoiding having to paint the frames before I used them. Additionally, using a standard size like 24x36" eliminated the need to trim down my sheet metal to fit into my frame. Of course, if you have a thrifted frame you want to use for this, go right ahead! You'll just have to measure your frame and trim your sheet metal accordingly.

If using a store-bought frame, remove the glass from the frame, and then carefully insert your sheet metal in its place. Replace the frame backing piece, and then use the tabs on the back of the frame to secure everything in place. So simple!

I outfitted my frame with the sheet metal flower magnets I shared a couple of years ago. I love how they tap into the color scheme of the space!

Want to bookmark these ideas to refer to later on? Add them to Pinterest! You can do so easily by clicking the button below.

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***

I'll be sharing the full details of my board and batten experience later this week. If you have been afraid to tackle a project like this one because you feel it's beyond the realm of your DIY readiness, this will be a must-read. You won't believe how easy it is to do!

Hallway Command Center

2012-02-13T06:00:00.008-06:00

Back in January, I posted about my 12 DIY Goals for 2012, with one project assigned to each month of the year. I am happy to say I am keeping up with my goals so far, and my February project, a board and batten hallway, is officially in the books! My mom came in for a visit last week, and with her assistance, I was able to turn the hallway leading in from our garage (a space that has, until now, been completely wasted) from this...

...into this!

I can't even begin to tell you how in love I am with this transformation!

Before I go on, a little disclaimer: You'll have to bear with the photos of this space. Anyone who has ever tried to photograph a tight hallway with little to no natural light can attest that it isn't an easy task!

Reality check: My family - all six of us - occupies a house that is only just over 1800 square feet, with no utility room to speak of. This hallway update is my way of making the most of the space at my disposal by creating a faux mudroom of sorts. This will be the place where we first deposit all of our bags, coats, keys and such when we first walk in the door, instead of dropping them like we have until now square in front of our front door. I am not going to miss that mess!

I think I might be the very last DIYer in the blogosphere to give faux board and batten a whirl. After accomplishing this project, I am wondering why it took me so long to hop on the bandwagon! It was so, so easy to do, and the way it transformed the feel of this space is absolutely incredible. I'll be sharing some tips and tricks I learned from my board and batten experience along with lots of helpful resources later this week, so stay tuned!

The six hooks hung in the space are perfect for hanging coats, backpacks and purses.

A chalkboard made with custom-mixed chalk paint is just right for jotting down appointments, shopping lists and other can't-forget bits of information.

A framed magnetic board will prevent me from losing important papers my kids bring home from school. Calendars, lunch menus and such now all have their very own home, and I can finally reclaim my refrigerator from all the clutter! (Be sure to stop by later this week, when I'll share the full details for how I put both of the boards together.)

A letter organizer purchased at half off from Hobby Lobby is the perfect place to stash unopened mail and bills than need to be paid, as well as both sets of our keys. No more frantic searches for my keys as we're walking out the door to ballet, soccer or doctor's appointments!

I just love that everything has its own place, and that I now have a system in place to keep my life more organized!

Throughout the week, I'll be sharing the specifics for how this space came together. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how truly easy this project was to complete!

If you liked this post, I would absolutely love for you to share it on Pinterest! Do so easily by clicking on the button below.

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Don't forget to also check out the DIY Custom Chalkboard and Magnetic Board tutorials and the detailed Board and Batten How-To for this space!

Linking this to...Skip to My LouHome Stories A to ZTidy Mom

Seven Last-Minute Valentine Treat Ideas

2012-02-12T09:35:00.000-06:00

With Valentine's Day just two days away, you might be in the market for some easy, last-minute Valentine treats. Here are seven of the ideas linked up so far in this week's Saturday 7 that fit that bill!
one.Scratch-Off Valentines @ Oopsey Daisy

two.

Printable Valentine Tic Tac Toe @ Creations by Kara

three.

Nerd Monster Valentines @ A Creative Cookie

four.

Valentine's Monster @ Giggles Galore

five.

Owl Valentine Printable @ Artsy Fartsy Mama

six.

Handmade Valentines @ Southern Lovely

seven.

Cake Pop Photo Valentines @ Live Laugh Love Craft

***
As you can see, this week's party is already brimming with fabulous ideas! If you haven't already, head over to check all of them out and add your own to the lineup!
Have a truly blessed Sunday!

Saturday Seven Party {No. 13}

2012-02-11T19:00:00.000-06:00

It's Saturday, and that means it's time again to party!

New to Positively Splendid? Each Saturday marks my Saturday Seven Party, a time when I open up the PS stage for YOU to share your projects!
Last week's most-viewed link:

How to Thrift Store Shop @ A Diamond in the Stuff

Be sure to check out my post from this morning, where I shared seven Valentine projects that caught my eye from last week's line-up. And then hurry back to link up your latest creations, because you might just find yourself featured here at PS!

A few party guidelines:

Feel free to link to any project, recipe, tip or idea. Basically, if you created it, I would love to see it!
Please do not link to giveaways, Etsy shops or anything you are selling.
Be sure to link up to a specific post on your blog and not your home page.
Please link up a new project each week to keep things exciting!
If you are reading via email, head over to the blog so you can join in the fun!

Saturday Seven Spotlight

2012-02-11T10:19:00.000-06:00

I had such a great time sifting through the wonderful ideas shared at last week's Saturday 7 Party. Below you'll find seven of the links (in no particular order) that caught my eye!
one.Valentine Mantel @ Classy Clutter

Love the bright, fun feel of this pretty display!

two.

Box of Chocolates Cookies @ Munchkin Munchies

Sue never ceases to amaze with her penchant for creating edible treats almost too cute to eat. This might just be my favorite creation of hers yet!

three.

Ruffled Yarn Scarves @ Creative Passage

How did I not know about this fun yarn? And what yummy colors!

four.

Smitten Lovebirds Dress @ Sew Can Do

The colors! Those sweet little heart buttons and the ruffled tuxedo front! I could go on and on about this darling dress.

five.

Ottoman Update @ Passionately Perfect

Those stripes are to die for! What a transformation.

six.

Beadboard Closet Update @ Northern Cottage

You'll never believe the before and afters of this project. Color me DIY inspired!

seven.

King Bars @ Country Momma Cooks

Banana, peanut butter, and Nutella? Yes, please!!

***

Be sure to make plans to stop by for this week's Saturday 7 Party tonight at 7 Central! I can't wait to see what you've been up to!

Magnetic Fishing Game Craft

2012-02-10T08:54:00.001-06:00

As a mom of four little ones, I truly appreciate a good craft project. Any parent knows, however, that there is a conundrum that arises as the result of such artistic creations: just what exactly to do with them once they are complete? My Pottery Barn knock-off cable art display is a perfect way to hang some of their proudest handiwork, but I have found over time that some of the best craft projects are something that can be put to good use later on. Enter this fun Magnetic Fishing Game. The act of decorating each fish is a fun exercise in creativity, yet their creations become functional pieces that can be used thereafter for indoor fun at its best!

For the smallest artists, this project is one that will necessitate a fair amount of work by a parent or caregiver. Older children, however, will have great fun helping with each step of the process in this project.

For the fishing poles, use a 1/16" drill bit to drill a hole in the end of a 1/4" x 12" wooden craft dowel. Cut 3" squares from scrap fabric and place a 3/4" circular magnet at the center of each one. Bring the corners of the fabric up and around the magnet, twisting to secure, as shown. Use embroidery floss, craft thread, or yarn to secure your magnet within the fabric, making sure to leave a long tail on one side of your knot. Thread this tail through an embroidery needle, and use the needle to push the thread through the hole in your dowel. Tie a knot in the end of your thread to secure it to your pole.

For the magnetic fish, create a fish template on cardstock, referring to my photos below for my fish design, as needed. At the nose of your fish, draw a tab that is 1/4″ wide and 1″ long, as shown below. Cut out your fish shape. Trace this template onto sheets of craft foam in assorted colors, and cut out each shape.

Using a small hole punch, carefully punch holes in the locations specified on the fish template. (If you don't have a small hole punch, you can easily make these holes with a sharp pair of scissors.) Slide a 3/8" flat washer over the flap on the front of each fish, as shown, and fold the flap over so that your punched holes are aligned. Place a brad through each of the holes, pressing open the prongs to secure. Your little fishies are now ready to be treated to their royal decorating treatment!

Use buttons, pieces of craft foam, markers, pompoms, wiggly eyes, and other fun embellishments to add some flair to your fish. Allow any glued-on elements to dry completely.

Now, grab your poles and set to work seeing who can make the biggest catch of the day!

Like this project? Share it on Pinterest to refer to when the creative itch strikes!

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***

Looking for more ideas for indoor crafting fun to while away a wintry afternoon? Check out these other projects!

Bubble Wrap Crocodiles

Necktie Key Rings

Happy Friday, everyone!

Cherry-Almond Coffee Cake

2012-02-09T10:34:00.002-06:00

In the culinary world, there are some flavors that simply belong together, and for me, cherry and almond are two of those. In this Cherry-Almond Coffee Cake, the fragrant sweetness of almond coupled with bright, tart cherry flavors results in a richly decadent treat that pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea. And the vibrant red color of the cherry filling makes this a dessert that clamors to be made just in time for Valentine's Day!

This recipe calls for almond paste, which can be found in the baking section of most supermarkets. A mixture of ground up almonds and sugar, almond paste yields an almond-rich flavor like no other. Be sure to use only almond paste, and not its close cousin marzipan, in this recipe. Marzipan has a much higher sugar content, and will result in a cake that is overly sweet. If you'd rather make your own, I posted a recipe for almond paste a couple of years ago. And for another recipe using almond paste, check out my Blueberry-Almond Muffins, which I would argue are the best blueberry muffins you'll ever make!

Cherry-Almond Coffee Cake

adapted from Cook's Country Magazine

For the cherry filling:

2 (15-ounce) cans tart (also called sour) cherries

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

For the streusel and cake:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 (8-ounce) can or 1 (7-ounce) tube almond paste, crumbled into small pieces (about 2-1/2 cups)

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup sour cream

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

For the almond glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons water

For the filling, bring cherries (with their liquid), sugar and cornstarch to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Mash cherries with potato masher and cook until thick and jam-like, about 25 minutes. Refrigerate until cool.

For the streusel, whisk 1-1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender or fork, blend in melted butter until mixture forms pea-size pieces. Stir in 1/2 cup almond paste; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine remaining flour, baking powder, and remaining salt in a medium bowl. Whisk sour cream, eggs, and extracts together in a small bowl. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat remaining almond paste, remaining sugar, and softened butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add sour cream mixture and beat until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, beating just until combined, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.

Scrape batter into greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Dollop cooled cherry mixture over batter and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle streusel over cherry mixture and bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cake completely.

For the glaze, combine sugar, extract and water, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Each layer in this cake lends its own distinct flavor, and it makes for such a pretty presentation!

Going...going...gone!

If you liked this post, I would love for you to share it on Pinterest!

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12 Unique Valentines You Can Make

2012-02-08T09:04:00.002-06:00

Looking for some out-of-the-ordinary valentines to send to school with your kiddos next week that break ranks with the typical heart motif? (Mothers of boys can certainly appreciate that!) Check out this lineup of twelve ideas you can easily whip up this weekend!

one.

Pencil Valentines via Simply J Studio @ iVillage

A roll of Rolos and a Hershey Kiss are dressed up to make fun pencil favors with this how-to.
two. Felt Valentine Envelopes @ Nest of Posies

Whip up a batch of these envelopes to make your candy treats even sweeter!
three. ABC Valentines @ Oopsey Daisy

Alison offers the printable for this fun idea as a free download on her site! I love the simplicity of this.
four. Paper Airplane Valentines via Just Something I Made @ Country Living

This fun idea gives new meaning to the term "Air Mail!"

five.

Fish Bowl Valentines @ Faboolous

This is truly one of the cleverest Valentine ideas I've seen this year!

six.

Friendship Bracelet Valentines @ Dandee

If you're looking for a candy-free favor to hand out, this is a perfect option!

seven.

I Wheelie Like You Valentines @ Thirty Handmade Days

What Hot Wheels fanatic wouldn't flip over this idea? Cute!

eight.

Rolo Rocket Valentines @ Shindig

Good gracious - how cute are these? Head over for the full details and free printables you need to make some of your own.

nine.

Blowing Kisses Your Way Valentines @ The Mother Huddle

I love the creative incorporation of a non-edible treat here, but this idea would also be perfect for chewing gum favors!

ten.

Out of this World Valentines @ Zakka Life

What kiddo doesn't love to play with bouncy balls? So creative!

eleven.

iPod Valentines @ Family Fun

Gussy up a box of conversation hearts to make these musical valentines.

twelve.

Play Doh Valentines @ Random Thoughts of a Supermom

Another terrific candy-free option!

***

I hope this collection of ideas helps you find just the right valentine treat for the special people in your life.

If you found it inspiring, I'd love for you to pin it and spread the word! :)

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Thanks so much for making me a part of your day!

Peachy Keen Jellybean Valentines {Free Printable}

2012-02-07T10:20:00.001-06:00

With exactly one week to go until Valentine's Day, many of you are probably like me and trying to find easy, inexpensive ideas for goodies that your kiddos can hand out to their friends at school.

Using individual boxes of Jelly Bellies purchased for 50 cents in the Valentine section at Target, this Valentine idea really is peachy keen. And the best part? These can be put together in less than half an hour, and they are a great way to commission the help of little hands!

For this project you will need...

Peachy Keen Jelly Bean printable (available for free download below)

White cardstock

2-inch round punch

Hole punch

Ribbon

Scissors

Individual boxes of jelly beans (or, alternatively, jelly beans packaged in treat bags)

To assemble your treats...

Print the peachy keen printable onto your cardstock. Cut each peach out using your 2-inch round punch.

Punch two holes on either side of the stem of each of your peaches, as shown.

Thread a piece of ribbon through the holes punched on your peach, forming a loop to go around your box of jelly beans.

Finish everything by tying your ribbon in a knot and trimming your ribbon ends at an angle for a polished look.

If using the individual boxes of Jelly Bellies, there is a place for children to write their name and the name of their recipient on the back of the box. If you rather, however, have children write the "to" and "from" information on the back of each tag before affixing them to your box.

All finished!

In no time flat, you've got Valentine's Day treats covered!

To download these printables, simply click on the arrow with the line beneath it at the bottom right of the box below. (If you're enjoying this post via email, you'll have to click over to the blog in order to download the file.)

I love sharing these printables with you, but please note that they are for personal use only. Thank you!
Be sure to check out the full lineup of PS Valentine's Day ideas, or click below to be taken directly to these other classroom-worthy valentine treats!
Sliding-Door Valentines

Homemade Seed Paper Valentines

Valentine Doughnut Pops

Quilted & Piped Letter Tutorial

2012-02-06T06:00:00.003-06:00

I recently shared my Valentine Mantel display, which includes a sweet little set of X and O letters as one of the decorative elements. I love taking something you can purchase ready-made and add a handmade stamp to it to give it my personal touch. These Quilted & Piped Letters are a project that accomplishes just that by dressing up a plain-Jane duo of papier mache letters from Joann.

The method for creating these letters combines the same basic technique I used for my Quilted Chevron Monogram with a new technique for framing everything with a bright ribbon of piping. And the best part? This project is entirely no-sew! Ready to see how it's done? Let's get started!

For this project, you will need...

Plain papier mache letter(s)

Acrylic paint and foam brush

Fabric scraps

Disappearing ink marker

Shears

Pinking shears (optional)

Polyester fiberfill

Package of pre-made piping

Hot glue

To begin, paint the back side and outer edges of your letter with acrylic paint using your foam brush. Allow to dry completely.

Place your letter face down onto the wrong side of your fabric scrap and trace around it using your disappearing ink marker. Cut out your letter shape using either standard or pinking shears.

Run a thin line of hot glue along just the top edges of your letter, as shown.

Adhere your trimmed fabric piece to your letter, making sure all edges are lined up as you work. Make sure to adhere glue only to the edges of your letter in a way to create a pocket with your fabric that you will fill with fiberfill to give your project dimension.

Tuck some fiberfill up into the pocket you just created, working with very small amounts of fiberfill at a time to avoid overstuffing and thus causing your fabric to separate from your letter. (If necessary, use a wooden chopstick or other device to poke the fiberfill where it needs to go.) Repeat this step, working in 2-3 sections, until your entire letter is covered and stuffed.

Using your shears, carefully trim away the seam allowance portion of your piping, trimming as closely as possible to the stitching without accidentally cutting through the threads.

Use a very thin thread of hot glue to adhere the trimmed piping to the outer perimeter of your letter.

All finished!

These letters would make a perfect addition to any holiday decor, but I see them also being perfect in a child's room, or even in a kitchen!

Have a great week, everyone!

Linking this to...Skip to My LouSerenity NowTatertots and JelloLil LunaCreations by KaraOopsey DaisyEvery Creative EndeavorLolly Jane

Saturday Seven Party {No. 12}

2012-02-04T19:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Saturday, friends!

Thanks for making me a part of your Saturday night!

New to Positively Splendid? Each Saturday marks my Saturday Seven Party, a time when I open up the PS stage for YOU to share your projects!
Last week's most-viewed link:

9 Ways to Fake an Immaculate Home @ Organizing Made Fun

A few party guidelines:

Feel free to link to any project, recipe, tip or idea. Basically, if you created it, I would love to see it!
Please do not link to giveaways, Etsy shops or anything you are selling.
Be sure to link up to a specific post on your blog and not your home page.
Please link up a new project each week to keep things exciting!
If you are reading via email, head over to the blog so you can join in the fun!

Saturday Seven Spotlight

2012-02-04T06:57:00.000-06:00

Poring over your Saturday 7 links has truly become one of my favorite parts of the week! I have such talented readers!!
Below you'll find seven of the ideas (in no particular order) that caught my eye from last week's lineup.
one. Nutella Peanut Butter Chocolate Croissants @ Serenity Now

I think I can gain about 5 pounds just by looking at these gems!

two.

Football Party @ A Pumpkin and a Princess

The perfect spread for any football gatherings you have planned for the weekend!

three.

Fabric-Covered Cork Board @ Michelle Lea Design

Love the mod look of this, and the functionality, too!

four.

DIY Vinyl Raincoat @ Ruby Jean

It's raining cats and dogs here today. My girls each need one of these!

five.

Ruffled Skirt out of Old T-Shirts @ Suburbs Mama