Friday, January 31, 2014

10 Favorite Superbowl Pins

The Super Bowl is here and I know you are planning a party.  What is the Super Bowl without friends, food, and fun?

I found great ideas for Super Bowl parties.  If you are looking for ideas for your party of 2 or 20 any of these should be great.  All of these ideas were found on Pinterest but where possible I have linked the original webpage or blog.







Favorite #1:
   

Treat Display

 Love, love, love this display.  So great for the party and after.  And it has that farmhouse, shabby chic vibe.



Favorite #2:

Food Stadium

These are very popular this year.  The stadium can be individual size or something huge for a large crowd.  I love it can include the food you like and stations around the stadium.

So fun and interactive!






Favorite #3:

Nail Art

Every game gal needs a team spirit manicure.  I love the humor of these choices.  And they are perfect for after the game too!





Favorite #4:

Individual Three Layer Dip

Everyone loves layered dips but they are mess and hard to eat when in a big container.  These individual dips are genius!



 Favorite #5:

Kid Friendly

 Can't forget the kids.  This is a great, simple solution to including the kids during the game while making it as mess-free as possible.  




Favorite #6

The Table

Awesome table scape and decorations.  Just the perfect touch to set everyone in the game mood!


Wedding Elegance
Favorite #7
 

Bingo!!

Who doesn't love bingo?  This game is a great, interactive treat for the young and old.  It can be customized for game plays or commercials.   The kids can even make the cards.  Love!

Camp Kurtz

Favorite #8

Pin the Field Goal

Another terrific game for the kids and adults.  Super easy to make and manage too.

Pinterest
Favorite #9
 

Paper Chain!

Perfect activity for the kids.  A great way to involve them in the party planning and set up.  Make sure you use your favorite team colors.

 

Favorite #10
 

Playing Field Table

Love this table cloth.  It is perfect for any field game and just in time for the Super Bowl.


I hope your Super Bowl party is great fun.  Gathering friends and family to share the game, food, and fun games.  What could be better on a Sunday?

Cheers!






Sunday, January 26, 2014

Monday Funday

uncommondesigns

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Chalkboard DIY - French Country Style

Chalkboard is a very hot trend.  No wonder!  It is stylish, functional, and versatile.  Did I mention fun?  Yes, it's really fun. 


Tap your creativity to place chalkboard details in your house.  I am very excited about this project.  I think you will love it too.



I found this great mirror and frame at my local thrift shop.  The shape and details on the frame fit the French Country theme of my kitchen.  And it was 40% off an already incredibly great price!  Score!

First, I took the back and mirror out of the frame.  I'll store the mirror until I decide where to use it in the house.

Then I sanded and painted the frame.  I used the same silver / gray color I painted my kitchen cabinets.  It is a great color because it is not white but not dark gray either.  A perfect neutral.

French Robin Designs

While that dried I cut a piece of backer board ($8 for a 48" x 48" sheet) the shape of the mirror to fit the frame.  It was very easy to cut with a jigsaw (yea! power tools!!!!).

The backer board was primed with a color blocking primer I had from my cabinet redo.  

Time for the chalkboard paint!  I used a foam roller for cabinets because I didn't want brush strokes.  But a brush will work just as well if you don't mind the texture.  The roller left a texture that I really wanted -- like old school chalkboards.  Spray chalk board paint is available too.






I chose Rust-Oleum simply because it was there.  I didn't really spend a lot of time deciding on the paint.  Rust-Oleum is a great, reliable brand so I thought it would be a good choice for my project. 

Two coats of chalkboard paint, overnight drying time, and it was ready to mount in the frame.

This is the end result.  I LOVE this chalkboard.  It only cost me about $45 in materials.  A great buy when they are selling for over $100 for something much smaller.  It is placed in my kitchen -- the central part of the house!  The kids are sure to see my notes.  I'm looking forward to writing menus on the board (eliminate the "what's for dinner" question) and little notes for the kids.


Finished chalkboard.  Letter Y purchased from Woodland Manufacturing.





The green-blue letter Y (for my last name) was purchased some time ago from Woodland Manufacturing.  It is a great company... many letters styles to chose from, colors, hanging methods, etc.  

Use your creativity, experiment, and have fun with chalkboard paint.  Can't wait to see what you create!

Cheers -- Tammi

Friday, January 10, 2014

Organization - The Junk Cabinet (part three) FREE DOWNLOADBALE

Following my previously mentioned organization plan I skipped to what I considered the black hole in my house.  The junk cabinets.  Yes, not just a single drawer or cabinet, but multiple cabinets housing the miscellaneous, "I can't throw this away" pieces of clutter in my home.



Silly me, so eager to start the project, forgot to photograph the before :(  I really wish I had so you could appreciate the amount of junk we have collected over 13 years (in this house -- 22 years total!).



But we will solider on!  My house is a basic farmhouse built around 1900.  There have been additions and upgrades to some areas of the house through the years.  The laundry room / office is not one of them.  I love much about this room.  The cabinets are large and deep making great storage space.  The walls and ceiling are covered in real wood bead board :D; the doors are real wood, solid panel doors; real crown molding and large base boards; a built in canning pantry with deep, wide shelves from floor to ceiling; and the room is very large.



 I decided to tackle the storage cabinets.  These are over my dryer and are used for laundry supplies, light bulbs, batteries, tools, dog supplies, emergency supplies, etc. 



First I measured the cabinet spaces.  The cabinets are a deep 26", 18" high between shelves, and 20" wide.  The cabinet has three doors but the inside is one continuous cabinet with no divisions and two shelves. 



After measuring I thought about how I wanted the items organized in the cabinets.  For instance, I knew I wanted flashlights in one place, on a lower shelf so my youngest can reach them when the electricity goes out.  I also wanted to gather and organized all of the dog supplies (extra collars, waste bags, medications, etc.) 



The best solution for my storage cabinets were plastic drawers in a "tower".  I found three drawer units at a local big box store for $8.00 each (what a steal!).  I knew each of the drawer / frames came apart from the main unit so I could easily adjust the height to fit my cabinets.

Two of the three drawers.  I took one off to fit the cabinet.  Larger, outdoor light bulbs are behind this unit.



For the batteries I used a leftover bead organizer.  I found this idea on Pinterest and had to use it.  Batteries are sorted by type, easy to see, and easy to access.

Batteries sorted by type.  Love this idea! 




I also created labels for each drawer.  Here is a FREE DOWNLOAD for you to customize your own labels.






Then the fun began.  I pulled everything out of the cabinets, purged, and sorted.  The finished result is amazing!  I am so happy with the cabinets!  No more searching through piles of stuff to find that one item.



The two drawer units are placed one each shelf, labeled, and sorted.  Behind the units are extra, larger items.  Below is my tool bag and cordless drill (I stole it from my husband!).  I added a small basket for my small garden tools.


I would love to hear about your organizing projects!

Cheers -- Tammi













Friday, January 3, 2014

Linked Up

Link Party Palooza
 
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/
 

The Party Bunch Link Party -- Come Visit

30 Handmade Days

Organization Tips for the Home Office - Part Two

So last week I wrote about this big project I decided to undertake.  My home office is a multi-use room -- laundry room, pantry, office (for me and my husband), pass through, storage -- could a room have more functions??!!

I could not live with the chaos in this room any longer.  It was so distracting I wasn't getting any real work done.  A purge, clean, and organization fest was in order.  However, I failed to recognize the magnitude of this project until it was too late.

We have lived in this house for 13 years.  Thirteen years of collecting and hording screws, knick knacks, CD's, cables, and junk.  That's a lot of stuff to sort through.  Oh boy.

I say all of this to explain (excuse) why the room isn't done -- like I foolishly convinced myself it would be.

I did move some of the furniture as planned but I had to make adjustments for all of the technological equipment (I forgot the network equipment -- oops).  I did get some of the organization items (calendars) hung up.  And I did remove that really ugly shelving unit.

But some items remain, like the ugly faux wood cabinet.  I haven't had the time to shop for a new bookcase to replace it.  Hopefully I can tackle that part of the project this week.

I did get my work area organized!  Yea!  I moved my desk and shelving unit, bought organization gear, and rearrange everything.  I love the results!


French Robin Designs

I bought this 4 drawer cube unit  at a local craft store to organize completed, ready-to-sell jewelry.  Each drawer is dedicated and labeled earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and bridal.  Inside the drawers the jewelry is organized by invoice number.  Above is a photo storage box for work-in-progress.  The box easily transfer to a work table.


French Robin Designs

The pretty "French" style photo boxes were found at a craft store on clearance.  They hold crystal beads for beading projects.  The beads are organized by color between dividers. 

I LOVE the glass jar on top of the boxes.  I found this at my local grocery store on clearance!!  I don't know what I will use it for but it was too pretty to pass up.


French Robin Designs

Custom labels were made using a great French border from Graphics Fairy.  These are so pretty and feminine.  Each box and drawer has a label -- no more guessing what is in the box!


The bookcase is organized with bead trays and wire (found at a discount store -- they are meant for jewelry); stringing materials in photo boxes (gotta love them); tool tray -- very easy to move to a table; 5-drawer unit for seed / tila beads; shipping supplies; and tools sorted by type.

The tools are sorted into photo boxes in categories of hammers, small tools, adhesives, and soldering supplies.


This is a great little 5-drawer inexpensive unit.  The seed beads (left in tubes) are sorted by color family

 
 
A shipping area is very important.  If I had more room a table would be dedicated to boxing and shipping.  Because I don't have that much space I organized boxes, tissue paper, and ribbon in photo boxes on one shelf.
 
French Robin Designs



I found these great bowls at a discount store.  They are perfect for business cards, earring / necklace cards, and box labels.  They are easy to reach, see when restocking is needed, and pretty.



The bookcase looks great.  Everything has a specific place, is easy to find, and looks clean (the best part)!  The bag on the left is a great example of using an object for an unintended purpose.  This is a hanging jewelry organizer (presumably for the closet).  I use this to organize chain, jump rings, earring findings, and other small objects.  It is one of my favorite organization tools.



The desk has a dedicated space for each business (I have two) and the kids.  No longer do I fumble around looking for that specific paper or note.  Work flows faster now that everything is easy to access.


The progress on the office is great.  I am so happy with the results so far.  This type of project requires flexibility (the furniture did not arrange the way anticipated), focusing on one area at a time, time, and creativity. 

I'd love to hear about some of your organization tips. 
 
Cheers -- Tammi
 
P.S. if you  have a moment visit my latest blog A Wrestler's Mom. It chronicles my first-time adventures into the world of high school wrestling.  It includes tips, recipes, and anecdotes.