Mod Podge Washboard

So I've been reading a lot in blogland and found a fun crafty blog called Mod Podge Rocks. I decided to use the inspiration and finally use the leftover modge podge I've had sitting in my craft room for over 5 years. I found this old wash board at Good Will for $12, and decided to turn it into a place to hold keys, and sunglasses (I still have to put nails or ribbon over the fabric for the sunglasses).  I had some leftover paint, and then I mod podged some Heather Bailey fabric onto it.

Better after, no? 

Jewelry Organizer

I  had to share this jewelry organizer I have been pining away for forever and finally found one.  There are many cute styles of jewelry organizers out there, but this one is definitely my favorite. FORM follows FUNCTION baby! In  my experience, the ones where you hang your necklaces on hooks, etc.,  would always get tangled up, and one would fall off as I was trying to get another one off.  Enter the pouch organizer.  I first saw one of these a few years ago in an Avon catalog, then again at Marshalls.... finally I broke down and snatched this one  when I saw it at Steinmart* about a month ago.   I LOVE the pouches.  It makes everything easy to see and locate your accessories for the day. It's easy to put in and take out the one you want without dumping everything out of a jar or pulling open a bunch of jewelry box drawers searching for that black chunky necklace.   As a bonus, there are also pouches on the back, so it holds about 56 items. It comes on a hanger, so if fits right in my closet (or on any hook) and it hardly takes up any space.  The green isn't my favorite color, but they have tons of different cute styles, I just had to get this before they ran out. This little pretty was $19.99, but I have since seen them at Marshalls for $14.99.  Totally worth not having my jewelry in an untidy mess again.

*Steinmart.com usually has coupons you can print out and take to the store, like 20%off your purchase- nice!

Kiddie Apron

I've been having fun making a few more kids aprons. Here's one I made for my niece.  It's a little fancier than my daughters $1 apron.  I used 2 fat quarters from Wally World, black bias tape for the trim, added a zebra stripe ruffle and pocket, and used some ribbon for a bow at the top. Since I was giving it away  I put more effort into getting the seams straight, etc.   I am pretty happy with how it turned out.   These are so easy to make.  My kids love putting their aprons on and mixing up a treat with me.  

Improvising

Window Before:

Window After:

My original plan  included white ruffled panels for the window treatments (but I haven't added the ruffles to some old panels I got on clearance yet).  And I wanted to have something  as a window covering while our grandparents where visiting, so I was lucky my sister sent me these black and white pillow covers a few days earlier.  I just folded 4 of them up over the decorative molding that came with the blinds, and ta-da, instant no-sew window treatment.
*You can see the light blue wall color a little better in this photo under the window.

Much Needed Makeover

A peek at my guest room in progress.

 Blue and I are friends again, after an awful separation dating back from the 80's.  Blue tells me he's changed, and promised he wouldn't get dusty or invite his friend "mauve" around. The paint color is "Salt Glaze" by Martha Stewart (looks gray in the photo but is really a pale blue).  I am sticking to a monochromatic color palette of blue, black & white.  I found the lamp at Marshalls, white pillows with shams at Target. I threw in the two simple accessories before our guests arrived for the weekend. [the clock is from PB for our wedding, and small pitcher came with our dishes].  I purchased a mixed bouquet and nabbed a few of the roses for this mini-pitcher to brighten up the corner.  I threw a yard of fabric I had over an old nightstand.  I think it looks pretty serene.  I love walking by the room, (it's even prettier than my master bedroom) it also serves as my craft and sewing room.  Other projects I am working for this room are: spray painting the other lamp white, a lampshade makeover, paint the desk chair, and ruffling curtains.  More photos to come.