DIY Locker Cushions for my DIY Mudroom Lockers

  I am so excited to finally be done sewing my  locker cushions!  

I purchased  4" foam (with my 40% off coupon), which I cut into the T-Shape so it would fit snuggly in the seat and extend slightly longer than the corners (to assist with the head bumping that goes on when the kids get their shoes).  I borrowed my neighbors electric knife to cut it easily and straight (Thanks Laura:-)).

 The fabric is a Waverly print I got in the home dec section of JoAnns.  I was surprised to find a fun modern print in such a great tangerine color.   I watched a few of these Y-Tube Tutorials, and this one to make my own cording.  She's got a few how-to-sew-a-cushion videos. 

I've seen cute tubs for $15+ at the container store online, but then found these in the perfect color in the $2 section at Target! Score!!  I labeled them and the categories are:  Church, Returns,  Baseball, Soccer, Grocery Bags, and one yet to be determined:)

I sewed up the pillow (Amy Butler fabric) real quick with an envelope enclosure on the back.  I will be adding a few more pillows to the mix, but I will wait until summer to put them out when there will be less coats and winter stuff out.

See how my hubby built the lockers in this post with a link the the free plans.

This is the other wall (see how I painted it by making my own stencil), that I've made some additions to, that will be updated after it gets warm enough to spray paint my next project.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rosette Cakes

I've been busy making cakes lately. I found this cute rosette cake tutorial and wanted to try  it out.  The pink rose cake I made for my 2 year old sons's b-day (yes, it's pink, and he's 2 and doesn't care what color it is:-- next year he'll get a boy cake).  

The 2nd cake was one I made for our church's "Great to be 8" night, which was a special program for all the kids turning 8 and getting baptized this year.   It uses up a bunch of frosting, but is super easy!  It only requires a 1M tip (it's a very large star shape) and you make circles with it.  You can find the cake tutorial and the crusting buttercream recipe here.

I made four 9" cakes and then  carved a smaller circle out of 2 to make the top circle smaller (I realized later I should have just used my 6" pans for that, ah vell)

Now I have to make another birthday cake for my daughter who is turning 8 in less than 2 weeks... Not sure what we are doing for it yet, but it will be chocolate!

Accessories in the Boys Room

I've decided to keep working on the boys room.  It seems like it's easy to get distracted while decorating the house, and lots of things get partially done.  But I've noticed this trend and am going to finish rooms this year.

 Since my last painting post:

I added some race car pictures I put in inexpensive Wally frames,  sewed the bolster pillow out of old blue curtains and white curtains.   (I got the chevron pillows from this great Etsy shop)

 Just cut the fabric into strips, and traced a circle from an embroidery hoop for the ends and sewed it together, then stuffed with batting.  I had leftover red trim from an old project I found in my fabric stash.

Then on the west wall, I found this great framed cork board at TJ's, which fit this poster we already had of our favorite basketball player.

Jimmer!  

I re-arranged the old art in the room, and finally hung up these hooks I've had under the bed since we moved in.  I was up banging it into the wall at 9:30pm. The boys were thinking it was so great mom was in their room after bedtime, the husband- not so much:-) lol.  Sometimes I have to get projects done while I have the motivation to do it! 

Boys' Room Painted Headboards

Though this room is far from finished, I got the painting done and wanted to show y'all!  

 (I'm not from TX but sometimes wish I was:)

My boys are 5 and 2, and so once the 2 year old outgrows the crib (hopefully that won't happen soon), his bed will mirror his brothers'.  

Before:  

When we first moved in.

AFTER:

(updated 1/23/12)

So here's my painted headboards!  First I painted the wall red, that took 5 coats, then  used my level and I cut my own diamond shape out of card stock and traced the pattern on to the wall.  Then I hand painted about 100 white diamonds, using 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of white gloss paint.  I taped around the edges to get a nice white border.  I painted the matching headboard for when my toddler gets big enough for a "big boy bed."

Window Wall View:

I've had the lamp for awhile (from Marshalls), but got some blue ribbon on some christmas presents, and so I used sticky dots to wrap it around the lampshade and tied the ribbon ends together in the back to hold it on.  
I ordered the chevron pillows on Etsy.   I got the duvet cover from IKEA, (I don't think it's available anymore:( )

 I love the pillow combination in this photo, so I'll be adding a bolster and standard sham soon.  (Luckily my 5 year old likes his things "just so" and makes his bed just like I like it so I know he can handle 3 pillows)

Budget Friendly Projects to work on for this room:
*Buy blue standard shams for each bed, saw some at PB kids.
*Sew a blue and white stripe bolster pillow
*Toying with the idea of a roman shade with a white ribbon or greek key detail...(the window treatment now is a flat sheet bunched up with ponytail holders on the back and safety pinned around the curtain rod.)
*Artwork for over the dresser in simple white frames.
*A simple moulding to trim out the headboards.

Wishlist:
*Board and batten for the room.
*Get a new dresser- thinking of a red one from IKEA or one with a dark walnut finish. (to replace this cheapy we've had forever from Target.)

This project even got the hubby's approval:-)

Dinner in a Pumpkin

Last min dinner ideas for Halloween!

Dinner in a pumpkin is what I grew up eating on Halloween Night.

Here's the recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 small-med pumpkin

1 can mushrooms, sliced and drained

1 onion chopped

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 Tbsp Veg. oil 1 1/2-2 cups cooked rice

1-2 lbs ground beef

8 oz. sliced water chestnuts

2 T. soy sauce

2 T brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Saute onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown. Drain the meat. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms, and soup. Simmer 10 min, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into pumpkin on baking sheet. Bake 1 hour or until pumpkin meat is tender.

Serve, scooping out pumpkin with the meat mixture.

Serves 6.

* You can do this with a pumpkin that has been painted with acrylics or permanent marker.

I'll be serving this tonight with these yummy hotdog mummies!

Mad Scientist Book Case

This is what I imagine you'd find in a Mad Scientist's....lare? At least a Mad Scientist who had some sort of secret love a decorating. Like maybe Gay Mad Scientist.

Dr. Frankenstien, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and maybe even Evil Dr. PorkChop (toy story) are all pupils here.

My take on Bat Specimen. Loved making it and super easy!
Beaker bottles came from Target years ago, but I added the labels. Martha S. stickers I got at JoAnns.

Dollar Store Skull that needed a make over, and no Mad Scientist lab is complete without a lobotomy diagram either. So I went online and drew my own on the skull.
(and no Gay Mad Scientist lab is complete with out floral wall paper)
Eye Balls in a jar, more Dollar candy. They say "gourmet chocolate" on the package but who are we kidding? Last time I checked gourmet truffles don't have blood veins on the wrapper.
This adorable eye chart comes from Tatertots and Jello. It's a free printable! Check it out HERE
Mad Scientists! Classes start next fall!

Front Porch Pumpkins

The start of my front porch! I have always loved the "topiary pumpkins" I saw them in a magazine many many years ago! I was so excited to FINALLY be able to do them!
They are just so cute and festive!


(and they go with my Ombre Fall Wreath)
I added a little ric rac to the pumpkins for Halloween. Ric Rac is the black zig zag ribbon on the bottom pumpkin. I love ric rac...I have images chevron pattern dancing in my head.


I put a dab a glue at the top and a dab at the bottom so I can hopefully pull it off for next time.


The yellow pumpkin is sooo cool! I found it in the big gourd bin at Walmart.
I also added some small green ric rac to the small white pumpkins!


I did the same method with this lace that I put on these pumpkins that are on my Witchy Matle.

Use What You Have- Fall Decor

Fall decorating in the foyer using what you have around the house.

Plate from my dining room  (Marshalls)

White Pitcher- Ikea (borrowed from my guest room)

Orange Bow made from leftover fabric.

Glitter leaves from my Christmas tree topper.

Little witch sign I already had.

Berry wreath- Giant Eagle- only $15!

Black Spiders-made easily from black puffy balls, pipe cleaner legs and googly eyes.

Added some Halloween to my entryway topiary.

Outdoor front porch mums are blooming.

Looks like my other dollar store tombstone blew off... :-)

  These were $5 mums from Pettitis, I'll plant them in the yard later.

I tried to decorate more for fall, so that most of my vignettes will last until Thanksgiving.  Happy Fall!

My Witchy Fireplace

Need any spells brewed? My Halloween Mantle. I love how every year there's a new color that's introduced to the original Orange and Black. Years ago it was purple, then lime green, then last year, white and now Aqua. And can I say I'm LOVING the Aqua this year!
No Halloween house is complete unless it has a black tule tutu.

2 supplies: 2yards of Tule and a stitching hoop, Medium size was mine.

3 steps: cut tule into random 2"x6-2"x8" strips

tie to hoop

push close together

*hang by ribbon if desired!
Metal witch hat and my pumpkin on a candle stick. I glitzed up with some lace. I will show you more glitzed up pumpkins in a future post.
Yeah, my spells are cheap but you'll pay for it in the end!! hahahehahea (evil witch cackle)
Witching spell books.
I think I need to find a cauldron to make the transformation complete!