Baby Shower Decorations to Decor

Hello, Friends!  Happy spring!  How was your weekend?  :)  I'm sorry I've been MIA.  The monkey was sick last week and was in need of some extra Mommy time, so my "fun" job (and my real job) were put on a bit of a hold.  We had a wonderful weekend that ended with a family dinner at our casa.  The hubs, the monkey, two Memas, one Nonno, one Papa, me, a pot of spaghetti, a big bowl of salad, and two pies made for one perfect evening! :)

Last weekend a friend of mine hosted a baby shower for her sister and she asked if I would make a few decorations.  The theme was "Under the Sea" to match the nursery.  I used the bedding as color and image inspiration.  Take a peek:

Isn't it too cute?!  I just love that little octopus.  He is adorable!

My first project was inspired by Michele over at The Scrap Shoppe.  She made these diaper and washcloth cupcakes!  I had never seen them before and instantly knew that they would soon become my GO TO baby shower craft.

I followed Michele's easy tutorial and ended up these cuties.  I wish with all my might I could have found my pinking shears (I hunted for a new pair, but wasn't willing to spend $25 dollars on scissors...I just couldn't do it).  I think the pinking detail adds the perfect finishing touch!

I topped each cupcake off with a pom pom cherry!  An idea I got from Lindsey at BABY BOKY.

Then I made a banner to display at the shower and then move to baby Ian's room when he comes home.  I used chip board circles that I got from the $1 bins at Michael's (all 5 for a $1).

For the octopus and turtle on each end, I uploaded the bedding image into Photoshop, used it to generate a black and white image, converted it to a .svg file using InkScape, and then cut the image using my Cricut.  It sounds super complicated, but it's just a matter of a few clicks.  Once the image was cut, I used a marker to add the detail.  Again, I used the bedding as my guide.

I tied it all together with some "bubble" ribbon.

Next, I made a diaper wreath to greet guests as they came to the shower.  This wreath would also look adorable hanging from the hospital room door and then the "I" can be removed and used as a door decoration for Ian's nursery.

I also made a signature frame so guests could sign with their welcoming wishes for baby Ian.  It's great for mommy to take to the hospital too.  This is a super easy and affordable keepsake.  I was able to make this 11x14 keepsake frame for less than $15.

Of course, you know I had to make Ian his own stylish freezer paper stenciled onesies!  I was inspired to create the "I" onesie by one I saw over at Gabriel's Good Tidings.  The star print onesie got a rockin' guitar and the nautical stripe onesie got a super cute whale.  These were a fabulous find at Wal-Mart for just $2 each.

I love to create decor that serves double duty for mommy and baby later!  Everything can be used as decor in the nursery or by baby after the shower!

Quatrefoil Grapevine Wreath

Hello, Friends! :)  I hope you are having a great start to your week! 

As I've said before, I don't usually decorate for St. Paddy's Day, but this year I added small touches of green around the house.  I started with the Quatrefoil and Four Leaf Clover printable and now I've added this:

I wanted to keep the quatrefoil theme going because it's so classic and add touches of green to the wreath.  This project was extremely affordable for the scale of the wreath!  I made it for just $16.00.

To get started, you will need: four grapevine wreaths, thin brown ribbon or wire, greenery garland, and ribbon.

Lie two wreaths side by side and tie them together with the ribbon or wire.  Be sure to make the knot snug.

Repeat the same process with the other two wreaths.  Then lay one set of two on top of the other to make the quatrefoil.

Now securely tie these together with the ribbon or wire.  I went around and through the grapevine.  The picture below is a close up of where I tied the wreaths.

Now weave the greenery garland in and around the wreath.  I simply tucked the ends of the garland into the wreath.  I did not tie it.  This will make it easy for me to quickly change the appearance of the wreath with the seasons.

Now do the same thing with the ribbon.  Again, I tucked the ribbon ends into the grapevine.

And there you have it!  I hung the wreath above the fireplace in the middle of a decorative wrought iron wall hanging.  It reminds me of an old garden gate.  :) 

The all green wreath is perfect for St. Paddy's Day, but I plan on changing out the ribbon and adding some fabric flowers for spring. :)

I'll be linking this project up to some of my favorite parties!

Sweetheart Wreath

Hello Dear Friends!  I hope all is well!  I'm sorry for my lack of posts this past week.  I have been traveling quite a bit for my "real world" job, and have had a hard time getting to the computer for my "fun" job. :)

Do you guys normally decorate for Valentine's Day?  I never have before, but I think it would be fun to have some sweet decor around the house to remind us all to give a little love.

I love those little conversation hearts and I love a good wreath, so I thought why not put these two loves together to create a new one. :)

I don't have a step-by-step tutorial for this one, but it was super duper easy to make.  I started with a round wreath form that was flat on all sides (round and flat?  LOL).  Then I wrapped the wreath in strips of pink tissue paper.  I hot glued on rows of Sweethearts on all sides and finished it off with a pink, satin ribbon.

I started gluing the hearts to the front first, then the inside, and finally the outside.  It took about four 7 oz. bags of conversation hearts and about an hour and a half to complete.  I just sat down in front of the TV and glued away.

I found that it was easiest to make one row of hearts all the way around the wreath, and then move on to the second and third rows (rather than gluing three across, then three below that row, and repeating the process all the way around the wreath).

I might have the sweetest wreath in town...literally! :)  ...and on a side note, I'm pretty sure I got about 437 cavities while completing this project. :)

I'll be linking up to these SWEET parties! :)

Burlap Puffed Heart Valentine

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is five, short weeks away?  Maybe a little early to decorate for Valentine's Day, but it's not too early to MAKE for Valentine's Day.  :)  I've never decorated for Valentine's Day before, but I've been thinking of a few things I would like to add around the house to make me feel all lovey dovey. :)

I started with this big, burlap puffed heart valentine for my front door.

It really was quite simple to make.  I was able to whip this up in two afternoons while the monkey was napping. :)  You will need:  red burlap, paper to make a template (tissue, newspaper, freezer paper, etc.), straight pins, chunky yarn, large eyed needle, plastic bags or fiberfill, hot glue gun and glue sticks, lace trim, ribbon, card stock, and letters for the message.

Begin by making a template for your heart.  I used tissue paper. Pin the template to the burlap.

Cut two hearts out of the burlap.

 Pin the two hearts together.  Stitch around the outside of the heart with the yarn.  I used a back stitch and left about a 1" border
. 

Leave a few inches open to "puff" the heart.

Stuff the heart with plastic bags or fiberfill and close the heart.

Hot glue two ribbons across the heart.  These will hold the message.

Hot glue the lace trim around the outside of the heart.  I found this trim at Hobby Lobby.  It has a nice, finished edge so I could glue right on top of the heart.

Add your message.  I decided on Welcome Love.  I cut triangles from card stock and the letters are glittered stickers in several different fonts.  The "O" in love is in the shape of a heart.  Take a look at the cute heart paper clip on the "O."  I learned how to make it over at How About Orange.  I'm not totally super duper wild about how the message turned out, but it will do for this year. :)

Hot glue ribbon to the back of the heart.

Hang on the front door and feel the love! :)

Have a wonderful week!  I'll be linking up to these super fantastic parties!

Fall Decorating {Credenza}

Happy Friday!  I'm so ready for this weekend!  We are celebrating Thanksgiving with my mom and sister early this year, so I'll be chowing down some turkey in two, short days!  Woowho!

I've decided that my home is as decorated as it's going to get for fall.  Here is a little vignette I put together on top of the credenza in my entryway.

I won this adorable Itz Fitz wreath a few months ago over at Mandpidy. 

A wire pumpkin, a bundle of wheat, and a raffia-wrapped antique spool acting as a vase are grouped together on one side of the credenza.

While this fantastic fall tree topiary, chocolate pumpkin, and Itz Fitz wreath sit clustered together on the other side.

I love seeing this as soon as I come in the front door.  It makes me happy!

As much as I love all of my fall decorations, they will be coming down this week to make room for Christmas!  :)  Have a wonderful weekend!

Fall Decorating {Mantle}

Hello and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Mine had a rocky start with a sick baby, but got better and better throughout the weekend. 

Last night I finally finished up my mantle!  I had taken down the Halloween stuff at the beginning of the month but struggled with this look until now.  :)

The staple on the mantle throughout the fall is the berry garland.  It is full of red, orange, and yellow berries and I stuff it a little more with fall leaves, and small pumpkins and gourds.  Then I pulled out this antique window pane (which has been sitting in my garage since I bought it a few years ago) and hung a beautiful fall wreath from the top with an orange ribbon. 

On either side of the window pane, sit chocolate pumpkins (see side note below), glass beaded pumpkins, and sunflowers.

Side note:  Do you ever feel like you share crafty brain waves with someone?  :)  Sometimes I'm hunting around blogland and see a project that is exactly what I had envisioned making or someone will leave a comment, "I was just going to make that!"  It goes to show you that great minds think alike!  I think Michele, from The Scrap Shoppe, and I were sharing crafty brain waves when we both decided to spray paint pumpkins brown!  Check out her's HERE.  She turned her brown pumpkin into a fall vase.

I decided to give these guys a coat of spray paint because they were cream and got lost against the creamy wall.  I wanted something dark and appropriate for fall so brown was the way to go (plus I already had a can from spray painting Kason's nursery furniture).  Then I dressed each one up with an orange ribbon.

Coming up this week:  Sutch an Inspiration, my fall credenza, and our Christmas card! :)  Have a fantastic week!