DIY: Stripe Plastic Kid's Chair

Phil Donahue once said he felt he had mediocre talent for everything in life except talking. So, he became a talk show host!  Do you remember Phil Donahue? 

I feel the same way as Phil Donahue and trust me you don't ever want to hear me sing to prove it. Except, besides (ahem) talking (which I can definitely do), my special talent also includes looking at crummy things that would otherwise go in the trash and seeing something better. Those who know and love me well might argue that is not, in fact, a talent. But for all intents and purposes of this blog post today, we will pretend it is.

Take for example this gnarly plastic chair my neighbor was throwing away. My friends might say that I need a trash finding intervention--but I saw a project. By golly a DIY project!!

So, instead of seeing a sticker covered and totally trash-worthy chair, I somehow envisioned a cute little black and white chevron or plain black and white striped chair. 

Naturally I ignored the advice of my friends (who love me, I'll remind you) and I got to work, cleaned up the chair and painted it.

Would you like to know how? (please say yes, please say yes)

I thought you'd never ask:

So tell me, what has been your proudest redo moment at home? Is there anything you've seen potential in   for a little makeover? 

p.s. click the badge and scroll down until you see me to vote!

Circle of Moms Creative Blog Nom(Click on the Badge Below and Cast your Vote)!

Hi everyone! Circle of Moms has nominated me Top 25 Creative Mom Blogs for 2012. If you like my blog, and you wouldn't mind heading over (just click on the badge above) you can vote for me. I'd be honored. This is the first time I've ever participated in any website blog voting, so I wasn't quite sure. But, Circle of Moms has a readership of 6 million people! It could mean good things for my little, but steadily growing blog if you would support me.

If you twitter or FB, feel free to spread the word that way as well. 

All good things. 

Love, 

Caroline

p.s. The voting ends in 21 days and I think I'm listed as #13 right now (I guess based on the voting?) but when you click the badge (image) above, you'll need to scroll down. 

straw painting gone viral

Do you remember this post about straw painting from a couple of years ago? Well, it has gone kind of viral on Pinterest. Who knew? 

Do you Pinterest? It's the new craze and I'm definitely getting the hang of it. Although, since the company only has 16 employees (and now millions of followers) they are still working out some kinks. For example, my account is one with "inconsistencies" (as they've explained in an email to me) in my followers numbers. Which basically means that sometimes when people follow my boards, it reports to my numbers and sometimes it doesn't. Oh computers! 

If you want to follow me, you can find my boards right here. 

So, tell me. Do you think Pinterest is just too much or do you like it? 

airplanes

on a plane with my son earlier this winter

What is it about airplanes? Whenever I fly, I love to look around and observe people around me. Some people sleep. Other people struggle with a crying baby (me) and can only relax once the baby is sleeping (me again). Others chat or read. Some are petrified. 


But somehow at least the thought of airplanes captures our imaginations and inspires us, don't you think?


  Did you ever make paper airplanes as a child? I loved to. 

This weekend I found some awesome airplane adventures that I wanted to share with you:

paper airplane garland from smile and wave

cross stitched airplane from mollie makes

paper airplanes hanging from a bike wheel from the fabulously creative lauren clark



Pretty awesome! 

Real Crafts for Real Kids (A New Series): Making Maracas

Wasn't that easy?

Most of the time when I am in a crafting funk (as in, I am at a TOtal loss for fun ideas) my four year old daughter helps me out. She LOVES arts and crafts. She makes up her own projects and some of them are getting so good that I've decided to give her a regular feature here. 

I'm calling it Real Crafts for Real Kids (as in not perfect looking crafts that kids can actually make) and they will be things that kids can really do on their own! 

What do you think? Are you in?

Yogurt Cup Maracas

(best for ages 4 and up)

What your child needs:

two empty yogurt cup containers

masking tape

rice

1. Take two empty plastic cups and fill one with rice

2. Stack the cups with the rice filled one on the bottom

3. Tape the cups together

4. and shake shake shake!

Have a gorgeous weekend!

DIY: Paper Flowers made from Streamers

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! 

As you can see, my computer is working (finger's crossed!) and hopefully that is the end of that. 

I bought some streamers (light pink, dark pink and white) and was thinking and thinking what to do with them. At first I thought, "I'll fringe them" then I rolled them up (after fringing them) and discovered they made the most adorable little flowers when rolled and fringed. I stuffed them in some muffin cups and instantly had some cute table decor! This idea would work well for just about any party--and would even be a fun craft to do at a party. 

Would you like to make some too? 

Okay then! Here's how:

Materials Needed:

Good quality sharp scissors (since you'll be cutting through several layers of streamers)

Three colors of streamers (or you could go the monochromatic route)

hot glue and hot glue gun (optional--used just to affix the flowers to the muffin cups and add some weight)

paper muffin cups

Step 1

Cut three pieces of streamers, equal length about 20 inches long

Step 2

Lay the streamers one on of the other and fold like an accordion.

Step 3

With your sharp scissors fringe the folded streamers making sure to snip the corner folds so there aren't wider pieces on the sides. 

Step 4

Once your streamers are fringed you can open them out and fluff them a bit. Lay them back on top of each other and begin rolling them, forming your flower. Once all rolled up, you can (this is optional) add a big dollop of hot glue to the bottom of your muffin cup. 

Stuff the rolled-up flower inside and there you have it!

Sunglasses

Since my computer crashed--these pictures are brought to you by my lovely ipod. 

I'm always looking for a great pair of sunglasses, but truth be told, I normally don't have luck because I am also always looking for a bargain. The two (great glasses and a bargain) don't always go hand in hand.

Well, not until now, that is...

Enter: GlassesUSA.com

So, the other day Glasses USA.com contacted me and offered me a pair of sunglasses to review. How could I say no? The prices at Glasses USA are affordable and the selection of both sunglasses and prescription glasses are great. I feel good about working with any company that offers affordable prices and a great selection of eyeglasses.

The sunglasses they sent me are pretty awesome. They have a nice Betty Draper vintage feel and I think I'm smitten. 

But what is it about sunglasses that makes us love them so much? 

Could it be that they enable us to gaze up at a sunny sky that might otherwise be lost in the bright blaze of the sun?

Or is it that they just give us a new perspective?

Or maybe sunglasses just remind of us an eternal summer day lazing around the beach reading our favorite magazine...

I don't know, but I do know that Glasses USA makes a great pair. And if you are in the market to buy glasses, I'd recommend them to anyone. 

For this post I was given a pair of glasses by Glasses USA. No other compensation was provided and the opinions shared here are my own. 

p.s. Glasses USA also offers:

• 110% lowest price guarantee and a 100% satisfaction guarantee

• A generous refer-a-friend program (You can get $30 for each first purchase a referred friend makes - and use the $30 towards your next pair of glasses)

• A Facebook page and Twitter feed with exclusive discounts for fans

• A fun virtual mirror that allows you to "try on" your glasses before you buy them. You can even send the pictures to your friend!