Pinned It & Did It: Easy DIY Duplo Table

Even though there never seem to be enough hours in the day (or night!), I can't help but continue to add projects to my to-do list. 

I thought I'd share a recent (super easy) success. This one was inspired long, long ago by this pin (original source) and turned out to be incredibly easy. How easy?

Lack + Gorilla Glue + Duplo Plate

I simply glued the plate to the top of the table (before attaching the legs) and weighed it down with the world's most expensive paperweights overnight. Be careful to go easy on the Gorilla glue and not get too close to the edges. 

A certain lil' lady has really enjoyed building on her Duplo table, as have her friends who have come over to play while it's been out. 

 

Have you done any really easy but really rewarding projects recently? 

A Pinterest Christmas: Linen Stockings

The time has come for this year's edition of A Pinterest Christmas to end. I thought I'd end with the project I made to go the distance: family stockings.

I fell in love with the Pinspiration project:

Pin. Source.

My version turned out to be pretty green. The linen was left over from another project, and the lining and rope loops come from old mailroom bags that I wanted to repurpose. I washed and dried both fabrics before starting, and I used a pattern that I made up and transferred onto heavy cardboard with the liner one being slightly smaller than the outer pattern.

The final product is intentionally plain. I have plenty of ideas about how we can change up some little accents each year (like adding decorative pins like the original, or adding letters like this). I made enough stockings for our whole family (George, me, and the total number of kids we hope to eventually have), so I'll probably find a permanent way to affix everyone's name to a stocking after we're all done adding members to our family.

For now, I like that they are a new tradition in the making while this year's colorful decorations get to take center stage.

Do you use the same stockings every year or get new ones? Are there any other Christmas decorations you count on seeing year after year?

Ready for more Christmas inspiration? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners

A Pinterest Christmas: Christmas Table Runners

Confession time: This project wasn't really inspired by any particular pin. Rather, I just decided that I wanted Christmas table runners. I also decided to frame some fabric to hang above the sideboard. So I did it.

Between my stash and some discount holiday fabric, I identified six coordinating fabrics to frame and use for table runners. The runners I'm using this year are the theme fabric with red accents, and I also made one with the blue/green accent fabrics that I'll use another year.

Recognize those trees? This year, I added a new green yarn tree and a new green felt tree, inspired by this pin.

They are busy enough that they don't need a whole lot added to them, and I'm especially loving my battery-operated (complete with auto timer!) pillar candles.

What's in the center of your table this year?

Ready for more Christmas inspiration? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Glitter Reindeer Silhouette

Today's project was inspired by this pin of a glittery reindeer:

Pin. Original Source.

For my reindeer, I decided to repurpose a canvas on which I had painted the Chinese symbols for double happiness for decoration at our old house. Even with a few coats of craft paint, the thicker under layer of paint didn't cover as well as I would have liked, but my reindeer still brings me a smile when I look at him.

Are you incorporating any faux animals into your holiday decorations this year?

Ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Wine Cork Tree and Wreath

I hope you've been drinking your fair share of wine because today I have two cork projects to share (not to be confused with the three yarn/sweater projects from yesterday).

Yep, I made another wreath. My mom always had wreaths hanging up around the house while I was growing up, so I'd like to think that I get my love of wreaths honestly. This one was inspired by this Good Housekeeping one:

Pin. Original Source.

It wasn't quite as easy as it looks, but I thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so that I spent making it with a friend. I modified mine by using silver bells and hot gluing the bells in place. Ta-da!

I also made some of my corks into cute little trees, inspired by this pin:

Pin. Original Source.

Bonus? Because hot glue holds corks together without being permanent, you can take the tree apart at the end of the season and use your corks for another fabulous cork craft project.

Are you making any projects that can be repurposed after Christmas?

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Simple and Cozy Christmas Decorations

I have three soft and cozy projects to share with you today. These guys are more winter than Christmas-specific, though I chose to do mine in red, green, and white.

Let's start with the simple yarn wreath, which wasn't inspired by any particular pin but rather by lots of cute yarn wreaths I've seen floating around the web. I made this by simply wrapping yarn around a foam wreath form. Easy-peasy and oh so flexible. 

While I had the yarn out, I wrapped some styrofoam balls to make yarn balls, a la this pin:

Pin. Original Source.

I ended up a dozen balls of varying size, depending upon how many times I wrapped them. 

As you can see, I also wrapped a couple of vases with sweaters. I should confess that this project was on last year's Christmas crafting list, and I never quite got around to making them. Isn't the inspiration pin beautiful? 

Pin. Original Source.

I don't think that mine turned out quite as well, but they make a pretty decent grouping with my yarn balls and battery candle. 

How are you making your home feel warm and cozy this holiday season? 

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Felt Toddler Christmas Tree

Last Wednesday, I showed you our family's Christmas tree. Today, I'm back to show you Madeleine's own personal tree, inspired by this pin:

Pin. Original Source.

The green felt of the tree was one big sheet of felt sold at Michaels. I cut the ornaments free hand from regular sheets of felt. I am the first to admit that I did the most basic ornaments possible because I was running out of Christmas crafting steam by the time this one got to the top of the to-do list. I chose to put the tree in the corner to make it slightly more 3D, and it's attached to the wall with poster strips (less successful) and picture hanging strips (worked great, but expensive and possibly hard on the wall).

Madeleine likes it and hasn't pulled it off the wall yet. Win.

What are you crafting for the little one in your life this season?

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Painted Pinecones

First of all - huge thanks to Misha's mother, who sent us a huge box of pinecones from their property in Idaho. They were far better than the ones we have here or the ones sold at the craft store and allowed me to skip that overpowering cinnamon scent.

This project evolved so that the final result doesn't look much like this original Pinspirational photo:

Pin. Original Source.

I tried a couple of methods to completely paint the pinecones, but I wasn't thrilled with either craft paint + brush or spray paint. To be fair, I might have been happier with a more glossy craft paint. Either way, I ended up being most satisfied with the method Misha used (go check out her gold beauties!).

Merry and bright? I think so.

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Tiny Bell Christmas Tree

While definitely Pinspired, I have a bit of a tutorial for you today.

I was originally enamored with this little beauty: 

Pin. Original Source. 

I decided to make mine using little colorful bells and linen. It's a pretty inexpensive project ($7 maybe) but a little time consuming for the size of the project (at least an hour, maybe even two). But, isn't she cute? 

Here is how you can make your very own:

You'll need fabric (I used linen), string or embroidery floss (only one, though I included both in the picture because I hadn't decided on a color), a needle with an eye big enough to accommodate your thread, a bag of mini bells, a star button, a mini embroidery hoop, and scissors, pen, and ruler (not shown).

1.   Lay out your arrangement of bells and button to make sure that everything fits and color placement works.

2.  On the back of the fabric, make a grid to show you where you'll sew each of your bells.

3.  Cut a length of embroidery floss about 6-8 inches long and thread your needle so that your floss is completely doubled over. Start sewing at one of your dots on the back, insert a bell on the needle on the front side, and sew back through your fabric a millimeter or so away (front to back), only pulling the thread about halfway through.

4.  Cut the thread to release the needle and double knot where you've just sewn (as shown), then trim the threads back to just beyond the knot.

5.  Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you've sewn all of your bells and your button onto your fabric.

6.  Put your fabric into your hoop and trim it back.

7.  Hang and enjoy!

It's the perfect welcome to a little girl's room.

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Felt ball garland
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

A Pinterest Christmas: Felt Ball Garland

It's time for another year of A Pinterest Christmas, where a few fellow bloggers and I post our favorite DIY projects based upon pins we've collected throughout the year(s). We're in no way associated with Pinterest other than using it as a source of inspiration...a bit of Pinspiration, if you will.

Now, if you're not already sitting, you might want to have a seat because I have a lot of Christmas projects to send your way this year.

To kick off the season, I want to share a couple of felt ball garlands that I made based upon this pin:

Pin. Original Source.

This is a suuuuuuper simple project that requires felt balls, some string (I used a soft bamboo string, but any sort of string or even embroidery floss should work), and a needle with an eye big enough for the string you've chosen. You could make your own felt balls, or you could cheat. I ordered my balls from Ornamentea in October and received amazing service and good prices (ordered Sunday night and received on Tuesday with free shipping and a BOGO special).

Here's my tip of the day: if you leave space between your felt balls, do not do this project in advance of hanging your garland. You see, I originally made about 30 feet worth of garland leaving 3-4 inches between each ball. When I went to deck the tree with my garland, I had this mess:

So, I cut the tangled strings and started from scratch, putting the balls right next to each other on the new garland. Even with all that drama, I have less than an hour in this project all together. I'm already itching to buy more felt balls to double our garland for next year.

Without further ado, I give you our 2013 Christmas tree, day and night:

The lower quadrant of the tree is decorated with toddler-safe ornaments, which get ripped from the branches as often as Madeleine enters the room. My "gently touch with one finger" rule has been a raging failure to say the least.

Before the great tangle disaster of 2013, I used some "extra" felt balls to make a garland to drape over a canvas that hangs above the fireplace. This canvas was used to stage our old house, then covered with a shower curtain last Christmas, and now (three coats of spray paint and a few painted letters later) carries this happy little Christmas lyric into our house.

Be sure to check out Kendra's take on felt garlands as well! And what about you? What are you wrapping around your tree this year?

Are you ready for more Christmas projects? Check out the rest of the Pinterest Christmas gang throughout the month of December:

Misha: Emerald City Diaries
Maggi: Greg, Maggi, and Rodney
Abbi: The Pena Family
Kendra: The Gilbertson Family

Want to see the rest of this year's projects?
Tiny bell Christmas tree
Painted pinecones
Felt toddler Christmas tree
Simple and cozy Christmas decorations
Wine cork tree and wreath
Glitter reindeer silhouette
Christmas table runners
Linen stockings

Pinned It & Did It: Four-Ingredient Pancakes

It's time to share my go-to pancake recipe, which I discovered via Pinterest. You're shocked - I know.

Pin. Original Source. 

I love that this recipe calls for items that are pretty much always in the house and can be adapted in about a million different ways. I pretty much always use honey Greek yogurt. If I make it without fruit, I tend to add some honey so that it's sweet enough for me. These pancakes are fantastic with blueberries, mashed bananas, or apples (and cinnamon!). Both regular and whole wheat flour have worked well, and I suspect that gluten-free flour would work well, too. The only time I managed to screw up this recipe was when I was careless with the baking soda and added way too much. That makes my success record something like 30-1. Not bad.

Here's the other thing I love about these pancakes: they freeze well and taste very nearly as good after being frozen and reheated as they do fresh from the pan. They're also pretty neat for toddlers to eat, which is why Madeleine gets fruity pancakes for breakfast in the car on the way to daycare pretty much every day that I work at the office. Minimal crumbs + no sticky hands = win.

The only downside to this recipe is that it makes a rather small quantity (roughly nine fist-sized pancakes). That said, the recipe doubles and triples very well and goes a lot farther as more and more fruit is added to the batter.

Pancake day comes at least once a week at our house thanks to this very simple recipe. Give it a try!

Madeleine says so.