$10 DIY Shelves

Since we moved into our house in January, we have slowly worked on projects that have turned our house into a home.  These shelves were the perfect addition to the great room and can be easily customized to match your style!

The best part?  You will only need to purchase 3 supplies for a total of $20 ($10 per shelf!)

Supplies needed:

• 2 brackets per shelf - you can find these at a JoAnn's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Lowes, or Home Depot (mine were from Hobby Lobby) 
• 1 piece of wood per shelf - Mine was 3/4" tall and is about 7" deep and 48" long 
• Wood stain or paint - Color of your choice 
• Wood screws (smaller than the height of your wood)
• Drywall screws (count depends on your brackets)
• Drill

Directions:

1. Completely stain or paint your wood, let dry
2. Paint nail heads to match your stain or paint color
3. Once dry, measure and mark bracket placement on wood.  Make sure you measure the same distance in from the outside of the shelves
4. Drill screws into wood as tightly as you can
5. Next, you want to use the drywall screws to secure your shelves onto the wall.

*You can never be too careful making sure your shelves are aligned evenly.  I measured from the ground and made a small marking on the wall where I would be drilling.

Congratulations on your beautiful new shelves!  Share your success story/picture!

A Nautical Baby Shower

ahoy!

Angie is having a boy!

Let's celebrate the calm before the storm

Favors: "She's about to pop!" goody bags filled with bubble-gum, blow-pops, ring pops, and popcorn

Guestbook: A funny alternative!  Some favorites - "Take cover!", "Daddy does brown"

Gift/Drinks table

I was able to reuse so many items left over from our wedding and previous crafts. These picture frames were also used as our table numbers for our wedding. 

My attempt at a diaper boat ;)
Sail is a washcloth, bottom striped area is a receiving blanket

Prizes for the games!
Games played: Measuring Mommy, What's that smell?, & The Price is Right
I forgot to add an "Atta boy!" tag to these... but still cute

My favorite game!  I melted 5 different candy bars and had the guests smell the diapers to identify the candy!  Only one person got all 5 right... but a couple girls taste tested!

Amazing cupcakes & mini apple pies made by Danielle Davis - Sweet Dee's Delightful Treats

4 Generations of awesomeness ;)

$10 DIY Throw Ladder

What have I found to be the best part of being a home-owner?  Knowing that there is no rush to get projects done, because no matter how hard we work, there will always be another project waiting for us when we finish.  
Being a new homeowner, I've had SO many craft ideas running through my mind.  Unfortunately, other projects kept taking precedence and I was denying myself my therapy -- errr... craft time.  For 4 months, I had a laundry basket sitting in the corner of the room to store blankets and to "fill up space".  I was inspired by Pottery Barn decor (link here) to create a ladder to hold throw blankets. But was definitely not inspired by the pricetag of $179.
So how can you make one yourself for 5% of the cost?  You'll need the following supplies:

• 2 - 2x2s ($2 each)
• 2 - 1" dowel rods ($2 each)
• Saw
• Drill
• Screws
• Paint of your choice (I used a sample-sized wood stain for $3)

Step 1: Measure your dowel rods (mine was 48") and mark the rod at both 1/3 and 2/3 of the total length.

Step 2: Saw through dowel rods at marked areas.

Step 3: Paint dowel rods,  2x2s, and top of screws with paint of your choice.

Step 4: Measure total length of your 2x2s and divide by the amount of rungs you would like to use +1 

e.g. 78" in length/(5 rungs+1)=13"

Step 5: Line up your dowel rod perpendicular to the 2x2 the appropriate distance from the end of the 2x2 (e.g. 13").

Step 6: Using a drill-bit, drill through the 2x2 into the dowel rod (from the outside in).  Next, use the drill to place screws into the 2x2, holding the dowel in place.

Step 7: Repeat on all dowel rods, and again on the other 2x2, connecting all pieces of the ladder.

Step 8: Find a cute location and enjoy!

Decorative Coin Letter

As we're getting ready to move soon, the only room I seem to have decorative ideas for is the pup's room.  Black & white pictures of Bauer and all of his doggie friends will surround the walls in his bedroom.  

Cute, right?

I found this picture on Pinterest and used it as motivation for this craft.  I tried covering the "B" in pennies but it had awkward spaces between coins and didn't look clean.  There are so many options for decorating letters with coins: filling, outlining, designs, etc.  I happen to love the copper color pennies provide but you can use dimes, nickels, or quarters if you prefer silver.  The different sizes of the coins allow you to have some flexibility with the shapes and sizes of the letters.  

The best part about this craft?  All you need is hot glue, coins, and a base letter!

Godfather's Dessert Pizza

Dessert pizza.  This stuff is gooood.  It was always a Sunday treat to go to Godfathers Pizza and eat as much dessert pizza as my 7 year old stomach could handle.  16 years later, I've got a larger stomach and my own oven... dangerous, right?

Ingredients:
Pizza Crust: I used store-bought refrigerated but if you're feeling adventurous, make your own!
1 1/2 tablespoon melted butter

Streusel Mix:
1/2 c. + 1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. sugar
2 tablespoons Crisco
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon melted butter

Icing:
2 c. powdered sugar
2 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Spray pan with Pam.  Flatten dough to 10-12" , Preheat oven to 450'.  Spread melted butter across crust.  Sprinkle cinnamon on crust.
Mix all streusel ingredients together and evenly distribute on pizza crust.
Bake pizza at 450' for 6-8 minutes depending on the thickness of the crust.  Meanwhile, mix icing ingredients.
Once pizza dough is cooked through, remove from oven and top with icing.  Let cool, and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

Yum.
This dip only requires 3 ingredients and 5 minutes.  Is that even possible?

Ingredients: (yields 5 servings)

1/2 c. Natural creamy peanut butter

1/2 c. Fruit flavored yogurt

1/4 c. Powdered sugar

Optional Ingredients:

1/2 t. vanilla extract

Sprinkles of cinnamon

So tasty it's hard to believe how easy the prep work is!  

Step 1: Measure out ingredients for dip.

Step 2: Mix all ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.

Step 3: Prepare fruit tray and serve!  Some food that goes well with the dip - bananas, apples, strawberries, chocolate, graham crackers, etc.  Be creative - everything tastes better with peanut butter!

Please note: If you're serving more than 5 people, I would suggest making 2 servings.

Enjoy!

No-Sew Ruffle Wreath

Of course I would find a way to make a ruffle wreath without sewing... but it was so easy and only cost me about $7!

Materials needed:

• A 10"-14"Styrofoam wreath (I used flat edge since round wasn't available... either will work)
• A hot glue gun
• 1 yard Linen fabric
• Decorative ribbon or fabric (optional)
• Scissors

Step 1:  Cut 3 2"x1 yd strips of your linen.  Using hot glue, wrap tightly around your styrofoam wreath.  It doesn't need to be perfect since this area should be covered by the ruffles.  However, this step is necessary as the base of the wreath may show through under some ruffles.

Step 2:  Cut 20 2"x12" strips of linen (you may need more or less depending on the size of your wreath base (mine was 14").  

Step 3: On the back side of the wreath, place hot glue on the base fabric and attach one end of your 2"x12" fabric.

Step 4: Place a small strip of hot glue on your initial wreath base along the fabric line.  Pinch together the fabric before pressing into the hot glue, creating the ruffle effect.  Repeat this step, always placing the glue on the wreath base and overlapping the loose end of the linen over the last ruffle by about 1".  Optional:  If you want to add a little more decoration, use a different fabric pattern or wide ribbon repeating the same ruffle steps.

Step 5: Hang wreath from a ribbon and place on metal wreath hanger.  Voila - you're done!