I simply used a left over strand of ribbon and strung it between two walls. It is filled with all the new and used spools I found laying around. The ribbon organization system was super easy to put up and the ribbons are all continually accessible. Plus, having a bit of ribbon bunting hanging over my desk makes for a lovely display.

To secure the small loose strands I simply pinned them on with clothespins hanging between the spools. This would also look great with sewing thread spools floating above a vintage machine..

———–

The organization obsession is carrying over onto this little blog as well. I finally managed to update the DIY page. Check it out, now you will see a front post with pictures of all the DIY projects presented here. Easy to find what you are looking for and I hope it encourages you in blessing others.

Seriously, check it out- HERE where you will now find a weekly updated list of budget friendly & easy to make projects for parties, holidays and home.

Organize something small this week- it will make you smile, I promise.

blessings.

P.S. If you have used any of my projects to create your own I would love to see pictures. Just email them to me, I may share your project here sometime. PLUS we will soon be opening a flickr group so you can share your party planning, baby raising, and lovely DIY projects with one another…

We have been busy this last week doing all sorts of incredibly non-creative, boring, get our lives in order sorts of tasks. We have been paying taxes, re-filing life, applying for business licenses… and most dreadfully, preparing to take the California driving exam. Yup… it’s spring break for the hubby which is turning out to mean being beach bums at the DMV and other sorts of not very lovely places.

Thankfully in the midst of our files I found an overfilling folder stuffed with all types of relationship goodies from our past. Goodies like this instant message sent the first summer Matt and I were dating-

Making a strand of love flag bunting from these hidden treasures seemed a great way to liven up the week.

I simply scanned in each of the pieces, printed them out, cut flag shapes and hung with glue and thread. My treasures spanned from our first year together- through my first Mothers Day card including love notes and pictures.

I was right having these mementos hanging above did make filing taxes just a bit more lovely.

Because love is way better than taxes;) I would be so happy to hear how are you livening up your spring as well.

blessings.

Five weeks prior to the babies being born, in a craze of nesting instincts, I became suddenly obsessed with needing fancy, pretty burp cloths. I quickly bought a handful of the prettiest ones I could find.

As it goes- we didn’t use these, EVER. I think maybe twice. Instead we used large bathroom towels (because of reflux), we used swaddling blankets (because of accessibility) and we changed our shirts often from not using anything at all.

This week I decided they would make lovely little lumbar pillows and realized the project was the easiest pillow making endeavor that could ever exist, EVER.

Make it yourself:
Take a fancy unused burp cloth, that you probably shouldn’t have purchased-

Cut a slit in one side.

Stuff between the layers with a good chunk of lose batting-

Using a simple needle and thread hand stitch the hole.

A bit of justification for money poorly spent. I was able to make three with my leftover burp cloth collection.

Thanks for your entries in the rookie mom contest. The winner of the Rookie Mom Survival Guide is¬¨‚Ć Cerise who said “We live just outside Dallas. We love going to parks and taking walks. Although for a rainy day the best time we‚Äö?Ñ?¥ve had is going to the pet shop and looking at all the animals”. Congrats Cerise and please email me your address.

Random Number Generator Min 1- Max 22 = Result: 12 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

blessings

An easy piece to make that can speak volumes with just a few simple words.

To make: We used extra pieces of wood we had laying around and added home-made stencils. First I painted the wood the under color, then printed and cut out the stencils. I used the temporary instructions to spray adhere the words directly onto the wood.

Then I coated the whole piece in the top coat, doing 2 very careful coatings so the paint wouldn’t run.

We let it dry, pulled off the stencils and hung it up- drilling right into the wall. I love having these words right above our bed, so sweet to look at as I lay down at night.

I wonder what words do you enjoy seeing as you rest your head to sleep?

I am now thinking of making one for the nursery that says, “WE LOVE THEM”. It is pure joy to see these sentiments showcased in our home.

blessings.

Your comments were so fun for me to read and I certainly agree that I would love the very cool knocker, or the sprite tree to be mine, yum! What I do have instead is a lovely house surrounded by beautiful wood and brick- covered in old chipped paint. To some this might be an area to improve on but for me the chipping is beauty, it is history, it is life lived out and I love it.

Without further ado I give you the contest winner. # Five-

True Random Number
Generator
Min:
1
Max:
49
Generate
Result:
5
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congrats to Missy, who actually got the answer right and even had a very logical reason why, “I bet its the paint chipped white gate? Looks like the same tall trees as your sunset picture!” Way to think it through friend, I hope the covers will make you smile. For everyone else thanks for guessing and humoring me with the “why” behind your ideas they were all lovely.

Old chipped paint also serves as a great picture backdrop for a special occasion kind of day-

Today is a special occasion indeed: These shirts were given to us by our fertility doctor after the babies were born. It was Two years ago this week that we had our initial appointment- two years ago we walked into his office, scared but hopeful, trembling with anticipation.

Two years ago we began one of the most life altering experiences we would ever know, carried through it all by the loving hands of our God who brought us into a new way of life, into love deeper than we could have even imagined. A life of chipped paint, loud noises and messy toys. Beautiful to me.

blessings.

Like this wall.

Not exactly my style, it seems to make the wall look bruised- ouch!

The couple who own this home were sadly separated when the husband passed away, but not before he had the opportunity to paint a gaudy Venetian mural on the living room wall. Note, this is also the main wall you see when entering our home. We were explicitly told to not paint over this mural as she wants it saved as a remembrance of her husband, but hanging art on it is perfectly fine.

Here is our solution.

Wood boards painted and hung creating a new wall over the existing ghostly painting. Plus an already owned Ikea bookcase to incorporate the wall into what is now our reading room.

It’s great fun to work through the quirks and challenges this home is throwing our way. Do you have any experience with strange quirky old house issues? I would love to hear about them.

blessings.