most loved house

Moving the Blog

2013-04-26T11:21:00.001-06:00

The blog is moving. mostlovedhouse.blogspot.com is becoming mostlovedhouse.com. The most recent post can be found over there. Thanks for all the love!

Activity Days Binder Sheets

2013-01-08T21:08:00.001-07:00

There is this group called "Activity Days" that my church does. It is kind of like cub scouts, but for girls ages 8-11. I just got put in co-charge of one such group. Since finding out about this assignment (which I am really excited about by the way) I have been very busy developing pages to create binders for both the adult leaders and the girls. It has been a lot of work, but I am pleased with how it turned out. It is not house related, but I thought I would share my work with the internet since I know that there are other groups out there that are getting ready to start another year of activity days.

Feel free to print any pages you wish for personal use only (see below). These pages are not to be reposted, redistributed or sold in anyway. I spent a lot of time making these and wish to keep them my property.

Good luck with all your activity days endeavors!

(PS. My apologies to any groups that do not meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday.)

LDS Activity Days Binders by Heather Rollins Nelson

Hall Makeover: The Beginning

2012-12-06T09:19:00.001-07:00

I came up with a hair-brained scheme for an improvement to the hall right inside the garage door of our house. There is a coat closet right there for jackets, shoes, etc.; but with toddlers and backpacks and church bags, a rack of hooks seemed like a good option to get everyone (yes, even me) to put their stuff away upon coming inside. Besides, the little boys are too short to hang up their own coats. But according to my plan the hooks are actually the last thing to go up.

Look at me getting ahead of myself. Here is a concept drawing for my plan. (Okay, "concept drawing" might be a bit of a stretch.)

Phase 1: Paint trellis

Phase 2: Paint white below trellis

Phase 3: Paint gray above trellis (and the adjoining wall to the left)

Phase 4: Install chair rail

Phase 5: Make and hang hook rack

Last night I finished phase 1. It took a week of painting (stretched over a month), but I finally finished it.

Remind me to show you what brushes I used to paint it sometime. (Hint: they were tiny.)

A Dose of Awesome-Sauce

2012-11-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is me and my little sister Melissa, the art student. (In case you are wondering, this photo was taken during a break at her bridal's photo shoot.)

2010

Anyway, she is an amazing artist. She drew this lion for my son last Christmas. Isn't it amazing! I'm hoping she can draw one for each of my kids over the years.

(click to enlarge)

This piece is very appropriate for Eric. He had a very rough two-month early start in this life. But he fought his way through it and is doing so great now. He has the heart of a lion. Through that experience, I found that I have one too.

In addition to sharing sheer awesomeness, I also wanted to point out that family photos and pieces crafted by your own two hands or by someone who loves you make the best wall decor ever.

Oh, Snap!

2012-11-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever shrug and put your name on a wait list just for kicks but don't really expect your name to ever float to the top? Yeah, well it happened to me.

A few months ago I was thinking about how I miss attending conferences like I did in college, such as Small Sat. (Hi, my name is Heather and I'm a nerd.) Anyway, small satellite design isn't really a part of my life anymore, so I was checking around to see if there was a DIY home decorator's conference. That search landed me at this post on The House of Smiths where I was introduced to SNAP! Conference.

From their website http://snapconference.com/about/:

Welcome to SNAP, where you’ll find creativity at your fingertips.

There is something a bit different about being a creative blogger…Instead of dissecting life and examining the pieces like many online writers, we’re busy dreaming, sharing and building things up.

We inspire one another and when we connect in ways that comfort and sustain, it is something truly extraordinary.

That is why we launched SNAP – a community where imaginative bloggers can come together; learn from one another and walk away invigorated.

The hallmark of this community? A three-day conference April 18-20, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah, targeting the best bloggers representing modern handmade, contemporary craft, mind-blowing events and DIY.

Take a step away from your busy life and join us for lots of laughter, hugging and replenishment. You’ll walk away with a stronger sense of community, enhanced skills and an even greater sense of self.

Let's see...
Home decorating? Check.
DIY? Check.
Blogging? Check.
Entertaining? Check.
Close enough to home to travel? Check.

It was completely sold out, of course, but I figured what the heck? Might as well put my name on the wait list. I didn't expect anything to come of it. How very wrong I was.

Two weeks ago I received an email informing me that I had a slot if I wanted it and to act quickly before this opportunity became a fading memory. After reading the email, I fretted and bit my lip for a while. Money... travel... two little boys... Aaahh!

Fortunately that's about when my amazing, incredible husband stepped in. He quietly told me to go for it and not expect anything else for my birthday next year. I reminded him of how unworthy (and lucky) I am of having a spouse like him.

Long story short? I have my ticket and will be attending SNAP! 2013 next spring. I hope I can make some friends to hang out with while I'm there since, as it stands, I won't know a soul when I show up. Here's to life's little adventures!

Hit the Bench

2012-11-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

I've thought for a while now that a bench at the foot of my bed would be a great touch for that side of the room. I couldn't get anything I wanted (like this one) for less than $200 (which, I will admit, really isn't that bad), so I decided to go ahead and make one.

I've never made a piece of furniture before, but why would that stop me? (Cause me pause? Sure. Stop me? Never!) It really wasn't that bad.

Materials List:

1 yd. 5" foam
1 roll polyester batting
2 2/3 yd. blackberry uncut corduroy
2 1"x2"x6' poplar lumber
2 2"x2"x2' poplar lumber
1 3/4"x16"x4' plywood
1 1/4" Kreg pocket-hole screws
Minwax PolyShades - Espresso, Satin

Tools List:

Miter saw
Power drill
Clamps
Kreg Jig Mini kit
Kreg driver bit
Natural fiber paint brush
Glue
Scissors
Heavy duty stapler
Hammer

Here is my pile of supplies in the "workshop" on Saturday morning. (Yes, it's in the unfinished basement.)

Here is that same pile after I cut what I thought was all of the pieces I would need--four 12" legs, two long side pieces and two short side pieces. Then I changed the design for structural reasons and cut two more short side pieces for a total of four, and a cross brace to go in the middle. The legs were the only things I measured. Everything else I held up to the piece of plywood and marked where it needed to be cut to fit.

I spent the next hour or two drilling pocket-holes using my new jig. Seriously, I love this little jig. The pocket holes look awesome and don't leave any exterior screw or nail holes to deal with!

For more info on using this little jig, just search for the name. Basically, you use a clamp to hold the jig in place then drill away. The instructions that came with the kit explained everything really well, I thought. (Note to self: scan instructions so that you don't lose them.)

This is what the frame looked like all assembled. Thanks, Dear, for helping with this part.

I think it turned out pretty well. Don't those pocket-holes look great?

On Monday I hauled the frame out to the garage and applied three thin coats of satin espresso Minwax PolyShades. The back of the can says to wait six hours and sand with fine grit steel wool between coats. I went with an insider tip and applied each coat before the last one dried all the way. I waited about 1-2 hours between coats. No sanding required and I got it all done in half a day. Win-win.

While the last coat of stain was drying, I started on the upholstered top. I cut my 2' wide piece of foam at 16" intervals using an electric knife--the tool of choice for cutting foam (I keep one in my craft supplies just for this purpose)--for two 2'x16" rectangles. You see where I'm going with this since the plywood is 16"x4', right?

After cutting, I paused to wonder how I should glue the foam down to the wood. I wasn't a big fan of not gluing it and hoping it wouldn't shift. I decided to try good 'ol Elmers white school glue. When that didn't seem to be working, I got online and found that a lot of people were recommending using liquid nails. I don't happen to have any, so I thought "Great. Now I have to make another trip to the hardware store. Oh, joy." (In case you didn't catch it, that was sarcasm right there.) However, I came back after doing my research/being distracted by kids/talking to the Mr., and discovered that the white glue had worked! It just needed that hour to set. Woo-hoo! Elmers white school glue wins again! It's amazing to me how often that happens.

Flash forward to Tuesday. Tuesday was upholstery day. :D I covered the foam/plywood structure with quilt batting and stapled it down, trying to leave enough room for the frame so I would be trying to screw through staples later.

This is how I folded the corners. There are YouTube videos out there that show how to round the corners, if you prefer that look. I also trimmed the excess batting.

Here I set the top on the frame to see how it was shaping up. Lookin' pretty good!

After prewashing the corduroy to help get the wrinkles out since one can't iron this stuff (not to mention that prewashing fabric is a good idea anyway), I spread it over the top on the frame, wrong side up, and pinned the corners, like so. I really wanted that professional, tailored look, so I sewed the corners of the fabric cover.

The tops of the corners were sticking out funny, so I grabbed by nearest favorite cylinder (my pencil can) and marked rounded corner stitch lines.

It's hard to see in this photo, but this is what the final corners look like. They lay much better.

Here's a fit test to make sure everything is looking good before I go on to the next step.

It passed the fit test, so I turned it right-side-out...

..flipped it upside-down and started stapling.

A few notes on stapling: pull the fabric as snug as you can, make sure the excess fabric on the corners is not bunching up (I pulled mine toward the center of the short ends), give each staple a few whacks with a hammer to make sure that aren't sticking out at all. And don't skimp on the staples!

Trim the excess fabric, screw the top on the frame, and voilà! One custom 16"x48"x18 3/4" bench. Not too shabby.

One day I plan to add silver-toned nail head trim to the lower edge of the cushion, but part of me is secretly hoping that if I wait long enough someone will start selling rhinestone nail head trim. Hee-hee!

Making the Living Room More Liveable

2012-11-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Remember the living room? Yeah, it's a work in progress... and we made some progress!

Before

After

Re-stuffed the back cushions on the sectional
Replaced the rug
Purchased a credenza

The back cushions on the sectional were looking so sad and lumpy that I was making plans to replace the cushions or the sectional. But I decided to check the blog-sphere for a way to fix them. Apparently, all they needed was a little restuffing.

I found a 10lb. bag of fiberfill at Walmart on the sewing aisle for $25. (Who knew they sold that?!) Thirty minutes of adding fiberfill to the nasty factory stuffing breathed fresh life into the cushions. It was like having a new sectional! (Sorry, I don't have a before picture for comparison. It was too depressing.)

Next, the 5'x7' rug of yesteryear was replaced by this super comfy shaggy number from Costco. Twice as big and oh so fluffy. Seriously, we love this rug! I know I don't need to say any of this. The before and after pictures above state my case for me.

Last, we present the credenza. The way too small TV stand and old TV finally got the boot.

cre·den·za /krəˈdenzə/
Noun: A sideboard or cupboard

No, the credenza does not house a new TV. Instead it fills a much-needed game/puzzle storage need. And the lower cabinet spaces are a great place for storing throw blankets for cold winter nights we get in Colorado.

And there you have it. I still want to redo the throw pillows on the sectional (and build a mantle/surround for the fireplace), but those are projects for another day. For the moment I am satisfied with the vast improvements we've made.

Mini Bins

2012-02-20T12:57:00.001-07:00

I'm on an organizing rampage this week. I do not enjoy cleaning my house because of all of the clutter. Ugh! It drives me nuts.

I was reading about starting with organizing, not cleaning. I have a tendency to shove stuff out of the way (a closet, drawer, box, etc.) just so that I can do the actual cleaning. This week I decided to ignore the scrubbing part and just focus on making a place for everything and putting everything in its place.

On Saturday I started with my closet and bathroom. I didn't finish anything, but made some good progress. Also, in an effort to create a place for everything, I made some little organizing bins for my once-a-month products. They turned out so cute!

Here is the cabinet in the water closet where I keep all of that stuff.

And here are the new bins. Didn't they turn out well?

I started with some small, empty boxes that were literally lying around. I taped all of the edges with packing tape, and cut open the tops (formerly the fronts).

Then I covered them in fabric. The finishing touch was adding the large eyelets to the fronts. I tell you, hardware to a project is frosting to a cupcake. It's just not quite finished without it.

See how nicely the boxes fit in the cabinet? It's fate, I tell you. These bins were meant to be!

They're beautiful, solve a storage/organizing problem, and didn't cost me a cent! One can't ask for more than that.

Now if I can come up with cute storage for the products that go on the lower shelf, I can take the paper out of the door. One victory at a time. :)

On the Hook

2012-02-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

I need to finish the projects I already have going. Not dream and start planning starting new ones like imitating this entry way by Jenna Sue.

Jenna Sue: Foyer Board & Batten Reveal

Wouldn't something like that look great in my downstairs hall, though? This piece of wall is across from the garage door and coat closet. It would be great to have hooks there for purses, kids' coats, etc.

But I keep reminding myself that if I did put hooks on this wall, other stuff that I wish were hidden in the closet would probably start making an appearance. Oh, the burdens of living with three boys!

Hey Cupcake!

2012-02-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday night I saw the cutest little craft! To get the full details, check out the tutorial here.

Cupcake Take Along

I thought it was absolutely darling and decided to make one myself. I sat down for a few hours yesterday and created a suite of Silhouette cut files for each of the pieces. You can kind of see the cut pieces in this picture of what my table looked like last night. Did it feel a little tedious to create all of those files? Yes, but now that it's done I can make as many as I want in barely any time at all!

My Craft Table Last Night

I got most of it put together last night, but I'm still missing a few pieces. I ordered the tubes for the sprinkles (see the link above if you don't know what I'm talking about) and they should arrive tomorrow. I'm hoping to get it finished and share more details then. In the mean time, I have some dressies to sew before Thursday! Eek!

In Progress

PS. I am so grateful that I happened to have all of these papers and ribbons on hand. All I bought was the cake mix, icing, and the embellishment to the left of "Hey CUPCAKE!" Now I just need the tubes to arrive, and to track down some sugar hearts. That shouldn't be too hard this time of year. :)

Heart Felt Felt Hearts

2012-02-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

When I was little, my mom made felt heart pouches for our Valentine candy. Every Valentine's Day we would pick our favorite heart and she would fill them with our goodies. We are all old enough now that the tradition has died out (as far as I know).

Since I'm going to be away from my kids on Valentine's Day this year (Darin and I are going to Cali. So excited!), I decided to continue the tradition for them so that they will know they are loved even if we are apart. (Not that I expect them to get it since they are still toddlers.)

These are really simple. You don't have to sew them by hand, I just chose to since I wanted the stitching to be noticeable. Feel free to sew a pouch up on your machine, or just glue one together.

I started with two 6"x7" hearts. I embellished the front of one heart, and cut a slit in the back of the other heart. I reinforced the opening with a blanket stitch to help keep it from getting stretched out. Then I blanket stitched the front and back pieces together. Easy-peasy.

Here is the end result.

Decorated Fronts

Back with Slit Opening

Candy-filled Back

Candy-filled Front

I made both of these last night in a few hours. Despite the simplicity, I think they turned out cute. It also brings a warm, fuzzy feeling to my heart to see a tradition carried on. Happy Valentine's!

Projects in the Works (That I May/May Not Be Working On)

2012-02-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Heather and I'm a project hopper. I always have four projects going on at once. I get bored with one, start the next, have an idea for another one that I immediately start (sometimes finish), then decide it is high time to get crackin' on that project I last worked on six months ago. It's a disease, and I don't like to post about projects that are not completed, unless they are really big, multi-step projects.

So here is a look at what's on my figurative work table right now.

From left to right, top to bottom, I'm currently working (or not working) on what I'm calling a "map mirror", a ruffle pendant for my massage therapist, a growth chart for the boys, decals for my washer/dryer, dressies for my soon-to-be niece (due date is coming up!), and painting the water closet in the master bathroom.

Not to mention I also have plans brewing in the back of my mind for a ribbon wall organizer for this ever growing mess. (I know, not a ton of ribbon, but my collection is still growing!)

And I have intentions of doing something really cute with tea-stained sheet music soon. (Photo courtesy of The Decorating Diaries.)

The Decorating Diaries

Too many ideas and too little time. Hopefully I'll get something finished (and my cold will go away) soon so that I can share!

Anyone else out there need to join Project Hoppers Anonymous? Or have a better name for the support group?

Just the Way You Are

2012-01-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

If you haven't heard of them yet, there is a group called The Piano Guys, and I'm a fan. This is a little bio from their YouTube page:

Our vision is to create music and videos that inspire people. We want to take that music to the world and make a difference. We have something different to offer from any other YouTube channel. We like to put a new spin on classic stuff and a classic spin on new stuff. Whatever we do, we put our heart and souls into every note and frame.

Okay, now that you've been introduced, watch this video of their cover of Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are.

I love a good piano piece. *sigh* But that isn't even the best part. Did you see those centerpieces!?!

As evidenced by this post, I have a thing for those bare branches with crystals and candles.

One of these days I am probably going to break down and make one for myself. I'm thinking it will go on top of my dresser or bookcase. We'll see. I'd actually have to make it first! In the mean time, feel free to check out more of The Piano Guys videos and music on their YouTube channel. Happy Sunday!

Feather Pendant: Over-priced and Easy (Most Likely) to DIY

2012-01-25T17:21:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry, but why on earth would someone pay $2,295.00 for this light fixture? I haven't tried it, but I bet I could make the shade for less than $100.

The base is only chicken wire.

And cording was attached on the top.

My supplies list would look like this:

Old, ugly, bare chandelier
Spray paint
Washer-top lamp ring
Plain bottom lamp ring
Chicken wire
Feather boas
Small rope cording
Large rope cording
Fine gauge wire (for assembly)
Hot glue and gun

As I said, I haven't done it, and I just barely found this light fixture here, but I imagine that assembly would go like this:

Clean and spray paint old, ugly chandelier. Let dry.
Cut chicken wire to fit around the lamp rings, and produce the desired height. (Washer-top ring is the top.)
Build frame by wiring chicken wire to lamp rings.
Attach feather boas to frame with wire.
Hot glue rope cording around the top edge.
Fit washer-top ring around your freshly painted chandelier.
Install in ceiling.

So, really, why oh why would anyone pay $23k when they could make it for a fraction of that cost? Does anyone have any thought on improvements/problems with my DIY plan?

Original found at http://www.jaysonhome.com/lighting/chandeliers/emma-feather-pendant.html, and pictures used found here http://abodelove.blogspot.com/2011/04/feather-pendant.html. Thank you internet!

Stairs of Entertainment

2012-01-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

I have a crying baby on my lap, so hopefully I can be brief.

When we moved to Denver after graduation, I was overjoyed to have a real theater in town. Darin and I have seen The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Blue Man Group and The Lion King. We are too cheap to shell out the extra money for a collector's program, but I'm okay with the free programs that are full of advertisements. The covers still look nice and get the point across.

I still have the programs and tickets for Phantom and Wicked somewhere (I hope), maybe Blue Man Group, but I had a plan in mind to start hanging these mementos by the time we saw Lion King this past November, so I still knew where that stuff was.

The stairs leading to our unfinished basement has an entertainment theme to it. Since I eventually want a projector system with surround sound down there, this seems appropriate. But being that it is a basement stairwell, not well lit, and typically behind a closed door, I haven't felt the need to shell out the big bucks for nice frames. This is what I have done instead.

I found a two-pack of 18"x12" frames at Michaels for $8. Four bucks a frame? Score! Ideally, I would be able to use floating frames, but that is even more expensive than regular frames. I decided on a compromise by using black poster board as a background. Unfortunately, I didn't have any black on hand. After thinking about how I didn't want to go shopping for new sheets of poster board for two days, I decided to try an experiment with the yellow poster board I did have laying around--and that I would probably end up never using. (It came in a pack of assorted colors.)

Here we have the frame, poster board, program and ticket.

First I set the poster board on a self-healing mat and used the glass from the picture frame as a template for cutting the poster board using a craft knife.

I was able to get two 18"x12" pieces out of one sheet. I laid them in my "painting box" (a cardboard lid from a box for set of shelves we bought last year) and got ready to test my theory about painting poster board.

I didn't want the finished pieces to have an unnatural sheen, so I used flat black spray paint. I several light coats of paint. I kept on making passes until the poster boards were evenly coated. Then I let them dry overnight.

This is how it looked the next morning. I would deem this experiment a success! I'm so relieved that it worked so I no longer have to wonder what I'm going to do with all of those sheets of blue, green and yellow poster board I have. (They are left overs from when Darin built the boys a train for Halloween.)

Here it is all together. I used glue dots to hold the ticket in place, but the program is thick enough that the pressure between the glass and the backing is enough to keep it from sliding.

We also got a poster signed by the cast, that night. We would not have done it, but they were doing this thing where one could get a free poster for donating to a charity they were supporting. We decided to support the charity, so we got a poster. It is also mounted on a piece of black poster board, but in a larger frame I picked up at Walmart.

Here are the hangings at the bottom of the stairs. The blank one I hung just so that it wouldn't get lost/marred/broken. I'll fill it with a program and ticket with one of the other productions we've been too, if I find them; or a program and ticket from when we see Beauty and the Beast in March. Wicked is also back in town. We are still on the fence about whether or not to see it again since tickets can be kind of pricey.

Anyway, on the other side of the stairwell is a ledge that only makes sense when you see how they constructed the basement in relation to the garage. It's one of those oddities that when you first move in you look at it and think, "What am I ever going to do with that?" But I quickly decided that it was an excellent place for storing our ever expanding DVD/Blu-ray/Wii games collection.

This is what it looks like from the top of the stairs. I'm looking forward to filling the wall on the right over the years as we attend more stage productions. And we are almost to the point where we are going to start installing shelves on the left to make room for more disks. It's kind of exciting for me to look at stuff like this, all of that blank wall space, and see the opportunities in future years that it represents. :)

PS. I Bought A Saw

2012-01-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

Although I will not be able to write a proper post today, you can still check out the specs on my new compound miter saw. I've wanted one for a very long time now. I pulled the trigger, yesterday, on this one because it had good enough reviews, came with a stand (I don't have a work bench), and cost half of what I thought I would end up paying for a miter saw.

Would we be able to use it to build a deck in the back yard? Absolutely not, but I can do some trim projects around the house. More on that later.

Enjoy!

Craftsman 10" Compound Miter Saw with Stand | Sears

It's One of Those Days

2012-01-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

It is one of those days when the children are hanging off my arms. The memory card on my camera is full. I took a shower and got dressed for an event I am attending tonight, before remembering that I wanted to check out my new compound miter saw and I don't want to get sawdust on my clothes or in my hair. And I can't find half of the things I am looking for. It's just one of those days. :(

If These Walls Could Talk

2012-01-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Words are failing me this morning, so I will let the pictures do the talking. :)

I have here three vinyl lettering projects that I did last weekend. The first is a solution to a problem. I had a blank wall over the TV (boy, does that need to be replaced), and I've taken a liking to dictionary definitions vinyl wall decals. I found three that I kind of liked. (See them on Pinterest here.) I took pieces from them and the official dictionary definition, and pieced together one that I liked.

fam·i·ly noun,
A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered a group, and usually residing in the same dwelling place · the result of two people falling in love · individuals who share a common ancestry through blood, adoption or marriage · a group of individuals united in common beliefs · the family of human beings.

My walls are so textured that it took a while to get it all up there, but I eventually managed it. I am very happy with how it turned out. One would think that a framed piece would work on any wall, but sometimes it is just too much. I have found vinyl lettering to be the answer in all three of the cases I have posted here.

"Relax" for the downstairs bathroom. (Inspired by this popular design.) The white pops against the blue very nicely and goes with all of the other white in the room.

The display on top of the new cube shelves in my bedroom needs a lot of work still, but we're not looking at that. We are checking out the lyrics above the shelves. There are two chess sets on the shelves, which inspired this wall quote, "Treat her like a Queen, She'll make you her King." I love these fonts. And it has been very pleasant to wake up to this reminder every morning. :)

I have so many projects buzzing around in my head. I'm glad that I got these three done. I hope that I can get the others done this week so that I can scratch them off my projects list. :)

Updates to "The Wall" with Cameo

2012-01-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Everyone remembers The Wall, right? It's probably been my biggest project to date. No, wait, that would be painting my bed frame. The gallery in my stair well is in the top five, at any rate.

Anyway, there were two things that I was never quite happy with. (There are three others, but I'm not getting to that right now.) On Wednesday, I fixed that.

First was the anniversary calendar. I still think it is a sweet project. I'm even thinking about selling them in my shop. Unfortunately, I was never happy with how the colors turned out. Instead of printing a new one, I cut one from a piece of black cardstock that had a silver foil flourish with my Cameo. I've always loved this piece of cardstock. I'm glad I found a good place for it. (By the way, the light gray lines are reflections from the railing in the loft. I couldn't get a good angle and avoid them.)

Before

After

The second thing was this piece of wall decor. I was never in love with the font, but since I was cutting it by hand, I needed something more forgiving. Now that my days of cutting things by hand are over, I was able to replace the text with a font I liked better.

Before

After

Just a few small improvements. Did I mention that I'm loving my Cameo? Now I need to paint the big 'N' silver, the two cherry frames black and their mats white. Before I get to that, though, I have a lot of vinyl to cut and get on the walls. I was counting last night; I have eight vinyl projects in the works! I am so glad that my latest order from Sign Warehouse came yesterday. One of the items was 100 yards of transfer tape. Now I can start getting things done!

Solutions in Squares

2012-01-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

I had two problems. First, I was suffering from a storage shortage for all of my craft stuff. (Hard to believe I have a lot of craft stuff, right?) Second, I had a big blank wall in my bedroom and was drawing a big blank on what to do with it.

One fateful Friday (last week), I was perusing my Ikea wish list, and looking at the EXPEDIT 4x4 bookcase. Que light bulb and ding! sound effect. I have wanted one of these for a long time, but didn't have a specific place or use for one. Now I had both.

Ikea EXPEDIT Bookcase

I measured wall and it was just the right size for this bookcase. Add a few KASSETT magazine boxes for organization and I was set.

Ikea KASSETT Magazine Boxes

I hadn't even considered using this wall for storage since it is part of the bedroom part of the room, not the "mom cave" part of the room. But it was so perfect. The next afternoon, I dragged my family down to Ikea for a shopping trip.

Here it is in my room.

I'm still organizing, and have plans to get more magazine boxes over time, but I have no doubt that every single shelf will be filled.

Laundry Gets Some Love

2012-01-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Remember this post from a while ago when I stumbled upon the idea of adding vinyl decals to my washer and dryer? (I'm always looking for ways to brighten up the laundry room so that the task of washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes isn't so, um... cringe inducing.)

kevin {&} amanda

Sunday night I decided to take the plunge and do it. The hardest part was selecting an image! I put my Cameo and pink vinyl to work making several flower decals. Then I wiped down the fronts of my washer and dryer to ensure I had a clean surface to work with.

Applying the decals was just like applying a vinyl decal to any surface, using transfer tape. Applying the decals around the doors was a little more involved, though.

First, I placed the decal where I wanted using the transfer tape.

It looks great, but it needs a little work.

Second, I cut the vinyl along the seam using either a craft knife or small scissors.

Third, I cut the vinyl around the door frame using a craft knife. Tip: Don't throw out the parts you cut off!

Here it is five flowers in. Looking pretty good, so far!

I added another smaller flower, and spread around the extra petals that were overlapping on the doors. I put the cut ones up against the door frame for that nice continuous look. Waste not!

It's a work in progress. I've ordered some light gray vinyl to work in a two-toned effect and add some more petals. It should be here tomorrow. I'm so excited! (Is it sad that I get excited over rolls of vinyl and transfer paper being delivered?)

For another look at how someone put their Silhouette Cameo to work to dress up their laundry room, check out this post at Sugar Bee Crafts. :)

Sugar Bee Crafts

Tune in tomorrow to see how a blank wall and a storage problem are helped by a trip to Ikea.

Onesie + Dress = Dressie

2012-01-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

As mentioned yesterday, I got a new sewing machine for Christmas! Two days after getting home from visiting my parents for the holidays, I had a baby shower to attend. I really didn't want to go shopping (I was still in recovery mode from being out of town), so I decided to make a gift with my new sewing machine! :D

I spent hours racking my brain and perusing the internet to come up with a good idea for a something to bring for a girl baby shower. Finally, I saw a Onesie with a skirt and knew that I had struck gold.

I used this tutorial on Running With Scissors and it worked out great! I highly recommend it. She used Gerber 6-9 mo. Onesies for the dressies (Onesie + dress = dressie) she made. I was working with 0-3 mo. Onesies, so I used a 6"x19" rectangle for my skirts. I also used a blind hem stitch instead of a straight stitch for the bottom hem on the skirt; and I decided to forgo the cuffs.

Instead of stenciling the fronts (I am suffering from a severe lack of fabric paint over here), I decided to take a chance and try appliqués for the first time. I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the fabric, and it worked pretty well considering that I didn't have any stabilizer on the fabric. There were a few places where it didn't cut through all the way, but those were easy enough to cut with fabric scissors afterwards. (I have since bought some Wonder Under for next time.) I used this tutorial by The Idea Room as a starting point.

And finally, I made a pair of headbands to go with the dressies I made. One I made with shapes cut out of felt and a glued on rhinestone. For the other, I used this tutorial by Get Your Craft On to make a ribbon flower. I loved how the ribbon flower turned out and plan on using this method to make more in the future.

And now for the big reveal! (Sorry, I was in too much of a hurry to take pictures on the day I made them. I started sewing the morning of the shower. As it was, I was a half-hour late to the baby shower. It was totally worth it, though. I thought they turned out great!)

Pink Dressie with Black Stiletto with Pink Bow Appliqué and
Hot Pink Felt Flower with Rhinestone Headband

Purple and Green Dressie with Purple Flower with Button
Appliqué and Purple Ribbon Flower Headband

I am so pleased with how they turned out. I showed the pictures to my sister, and she liked them. She is expecting this spring, so I am planning on making a couple for her baby, too! I'm so excited about the designs I have planned. I'll be sure to share as soon as they are finished!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post where my appliances get some awesomeness!

A Big Christmas Surprise

2012-01-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

We are finally home from visiting my family for Christmas (all good, even with the stomach bug that went around), and getting back into the swing of things (at least a little). It is always amazing to me how long it takes to get back in the groove of life.

As you all know, I got my Cameo that I have been ~~using~~ wanting for Christmas. But I got another big surprise that I was completely clueless about.

It went something like this:
(I have a tradition of tying my hair back with a ribbon from one of my presents on Christmas morning, so I'm the one on the right. My sister is on the left.)

Yep, my mother bought us sewing machines. I was overwhelmed.

I give you the Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116.

I think I am still in shock. It is so nice and so smooth and can do so many things. There is even a built in table showing what settings to use for the most common stitches for weave, stretch and synthetic materials so you don't have to guess what tension setting or stitch length to use. It can even do a buttonhole! (That was my biggest problem with my old hand-me-down machine. I couldn't figure out how to make a nice buttonhole.) I love it.

THANK YOU, MOM!

Tune in tomorrow to see the first project I did with my new sewing machine when I got home.

I Am Waiting for Vizzini... Er, I Mean FedEx

2011-12-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

In the words of Inigo Montoya, I hate waiting.

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. I've been using a Canon point-and-shoot for the last four years. It has served us well enough. But a few weeks ago it started complaining about needing new batteries. You put fresh batteries in, and it starts complaining again after a few shots. I test the batteries and they are still charged, but you have to put in fresh ones anyway. Last week this problem reached new heights when I could only get off three shots before needing to change the batteries. That's right. Count them. Three.

My hubby and I spent the weekend shopping for a new camera. He has wanted an SLR for a while now, so this seemed like a good opportunity.

We settled on the Nikon D3100. It is a good camera for beginners and takes professional quality photos. We ordered a refurbished model on Monday at RitzCamera.com for $500, which is a smokin' deal for a piece of hardware of this caliber.

Nikon D3100 | RitzCamera.com

I am dying to get this camera so that I can start taking pictures again! It is supposed to arrive today. I hope it gets here before the sun goes down and I'm stuck with bad lighting for checking out our new toy.

I Love It When A Tool Kit Comes Together

2011-12-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

(Yes, that was an A-Team reference.)

I've been belly-aching to my poor, long-suffering husband about wanting a tool set to use with my new Silhouette Cameo. Today, I found one. The Cgull kit has all of the tools I'm looking for, and on ebay I can get one for ~$16! Eureka!

http://www.cgull.com/products/toolkit.html