another rendition

If you've been around here for awhile, you may remember, my tp roll art that I talked about in this post. Well, recently, when I was cleaning up my craft space in anticipation of my family's arrival (!!!) I found I had a bunch more empty rolls stowed away. Brainstorming what I could do with them, I decided to use the same general idea, but instead of wall art, I'd make a wreath.


For my inner layer, I just stapled my pieces together so they were all heading in the same direction. I did this for as many as it took to make the circle the size I wanted it to be.

For my next layer, I just started stapling the pieces together in different leafy-looking combinations. That's the beauty of this project - you really can't mess it up. If you don't like how your combo looks once you staple it on, take it off and re-try.


It took me about 40-50 pieces to make, and I cut 5 pieces per tp roll. So, save up 10 tp rolls and you're in business, people.

Next, I decided to add some paper flowers. For these, I just grabbed a few pieces of tissue paper and then I adapted the Martha Stewart pom-pom instructions to make the bottom side flat. (How to make these pom-pom's is permanently engrained in my mind after making over 50 of them for my wedding.)


I attached them to paper clips to make them easy to connect to the wreath.


I found a little piece of scrap fabric to tie into a bow and voila:


It's a perfect wreath for my entryway, being that my usual one is otherwise occupied.


The other really great thing about this wreath, besides that it was completely free to make, is that it is so light that I was able to use pins to hang it on the wall - no nail holes to patch for this girl!

Maybe you'll think twice before ditching that empty tp roll next time? :)

to my mother{s}

To my mother,

You are everything I aspire to be. You are a woman of God who serves her husband, loves her children, and cares for people. You are beautiful and gracious. You are giving and self-sacrificing. Thank you for your wonderful example of what a wife and mother should be. I am blessed to be called your daughter.

All my love,

Shelby

To my mother-in-law,

Thank you for raising a wonderful son who loves me so well. I know it is you I have to thank for his kind heart and sweet sensitivity. I look up to you more than you'll ever know. You have a love for the Lord and a quiet strength that I admire so much. Thank you for always making me feel right at home with you.

All my love,

Shelby

naturally photogenic

my new succulents were practically begging me to take their picture. they're pretty and they know it.

(all of the following pictures are totally unedited - they came straight from my camera, they did not stop in photoshop, they did not collect $200.)

vain little things, aren't they?

guest posting at remodelaholic

Hey guys! Today you'll be able to find me guest posting over at Remodelaholic.



I was so flattered when Cassity asked me to guest post about our homemade farmhouse table and the day has finally arrived! So be sure to stop on over and leave some love!

p.s. If you're new here via Remodelahoic, welcome! Thanks for coming over - I hope you'll make yourself at home and stay awhile! :)

you had me at hello

That's what I want people to say about our home. I want people to feel welcome when they first walk in the door. If our front door was more accessible, I think we would feel we've accomplished this. Unfortunately, our side door which leads into our mud room is right off the driveway and is the most accessible and most used entrance. Our mud room is still a work in progress - Josh and I are still not sure what to do with the space...besides hang our coats.

As we attempt to figure it out, I aim to still make people feel welcome in this disheveled space. So, I decided to make a sign that will greet people when they first walk through the door. greet them with a hello.

My first step was to pick a font that would translate well into a wooden sign; one that didn't have too many small cutouts. I chose the font Black Jack. Then I got each letter enlarged - you can do this at any local copy shop. Then I cut out each letter.


After they were all cut out, I taped them together and traced them onto my piece of wood. As you can see, I modified my font a bit. Truth be told, I wanted to free-hand it, but I knew it just wouldn't look as clean. But I did want the 'o' to look like the way I make my cursive 'o'. Hence, the modification.




This next step requires someone handy, unless you're allowed to use power tools, which Josh has informed me, I am not.


We (and when I say we, I mean Josh) cut out the letters using a jigsaw. Then he sanded the edges and the places where the jigsaw had made a couple digs.


Next was painting. I wanted a cheerful, inviting color, so of course I chose yellow. Happy day for me when I realized that I had picked yellow when ordering my free valspar paint sample. Dijon to be exact.


After a couple coats and some questioning remarks from Josh, I added some brown to tone it down and make it a more mustardy yellow.


And here is the finished product:


i love the bright yellow against the white brick wall. and it definitely makes me smile when I walk in the door.

more to come on the progress/styling of this room...

This project has been linked to:

The DIY Showoff

My Romantic Home

split{pea} personality

josh hates peas. he has made this very clear. whenever I make them or anything including them, he reminds me that when he was a child he always hid his peas in the crack of the table to avoid eating them. And now, as an adult, he boycotts them or picks them out.

josh loves split-pea soup. weird, right? i mean, the main ingredient is peas. maybe it's the delicious ham remnants, maybe it's my homemade croutons - I don't know, but the kid loves it. so, when I had a leftover ham bone from our Easter dinner, I knew what I needed to make.

Split-pea Soup

(or Stoup as Rachel Ray would say, cause it's thick like stew)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups dried split peas
• 2 quarts cold water
• 1 1/2 pounds ham bone
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pinch dried marjoram
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 potato, diced

Directions:

1. -In a large stock pot, cover peas with 2 quarts cold water and soak overnight. If you need a faster method, simmer the peas gently for 2 minutes, and then soak for l hour.

1. -Once peas are soaked, add ham bone, onion, salt, pepper and marjoram. Cover, bring to boil and then simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

1. -Remove bone; cut off meat, dice and return meat to soup. Add celery, carrots and potatoes. Cook slowly, uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Homemade Croutons

Ingredients:

Bread

Melted Butter

Garlic Salt

Directions:

1. -Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

1. -Remove crusts from bread slices. Brush bread on both sides with melted butter. Cut bread slices up into small cubes. Sprinkle with garlic salt (if desired). Arrange cubes on an ungreased cookie sheet.

1. -Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until browned. Let cool. Store croutons in a covered container or plastic bag. Serve in soups or salads.

(Both recipes found via allrecipes.com)

this or that

I am always in awe of the calorie math scenarios as seen in Glamour magazine:

YOU CAN HAVE THIS (left)

1/2 cup fudge-brownie ice cream 260 calories, 26 grams fat

OR ALL THIS (right)

A homemade brownie sundae: a 2-inch brownie, 1/2 cup light vanilla ice cream, 2 tsp. chocolate syrup, 1 tbsp. light whipped cream and a cherry261 calories, 15 grams fat

so, I decided to make my own awe-inspiring money math version:

Lunch at panera vs. yard sale finds

These are my weekend yard sale finds:

Fireplace tools (we found that maintaining a fire/cleaning up after is kinda hard without these): $2

Lighted cranberry garland (almost bought one of these after christmas for $7): $2

Hanging closet organizer (in a cute pattern, no less): $1

Cupcake stand (plan to spray paint white - no surprise there): $1

Large lot of Succulents (a bunch not pictured)*: $1

4 Dr. Suess books, You are Special by Max Lucado (great classics): $1

4 brand new letter sticker packages: $1

Taboo (game night, anyone?): $1

Ice cube tray**: $.25

Vintage table runner: $.10

Serving plate: $.10

*The planter these succulents are in wasn't included, I got it for $1 from a yard sale a few weeks ago. I got too anxious to pot them before taking a photo.

** You may be wondering, 'why the ice cube tray?' Well, that morning, I made myself some iced coffee to take along on our yard sale-ing and it got so watered down. Bleh. I bought myself this ice cube tray so that I can save my excess coffee and freeze it so that next time I will not water-down my favorite morning beverage!

I don't know about you, but I think I'll skip lunch!