Cute Animal Themed Kid Birthday

When my kid handed me a piece of paper with her 'vision' for a cake that included Littlest Pet Shop (see below), she knew that her smiling blue eyes would make it impossible for me to refuse to make it.  

We baked 2 cake sheets, frosted one with green dyed frosting, and cut up the other one to create the house.  We had a fun time doing most of it.....had to get a bit creative with the house, placing equally square cake pieces on top of each other with frosting sandwiched between them; then inserting two straws through them to brace them in place.  

 We decorated the cake with candy and green sprinkles (eating all but one blueberry jelly bean along the way), then added all the toys.  

QUICK DECOR

For decor we bought cute little buckets and star balloons from the Dollar Store, then using our construction paper, scissors and glue, we made a bunny, kitty cat, and bear faces, then simply taped the pieces to the balloons.  We filled each bucket with animal crackers.

ANIMAL GAME

We did not do a big bash to celebrate but still made it fun by creating a scavenger hunt for Littlest Pet Shop toy kangaroos.  After declaring that 'Our kangaroos are on the loose from our zoo and we need to find them!', I gave clues that led to other clues around the house.  One clue said 'your 'roo is eating leftover pasta', then after finding that next clue in the frig, it read 'What a naughty 'roo, she's drinking from the toilet!', and so on.

She laughed so much running around the house!

ANIMAL FOOD

We also made gross but fun animal food!

Cat Litter - crushed graham crackers with oval chocolates.

Doggy Food - crushed mint chocolate cookies

Fishing Worms - gummy worms

And we ate from doggy dishes with our names on each bowl.  

It was a delicious and silly day!

Change Up Your Coffee Table

I love my sectional - two TV watchers can share a sofa, some popcorn, and play 'footsie'.  And the corner wedge is great for additional seating.  For a few years I have paired my velvety gray L-shaper with a large leather ottoman.  My complaint? The large ottoman made it very unfriendly to slip into the sofa near the wedge.  You have to stretch out before hurling over the ottoman in a dive position to get in there.  So I did a search to see what people are using these days as coffee tables.  Turns out there is a lot of creative make shift ideas out there.  They include using multiple pieces together, rather than just one.  And these pieces including a mixture of sizes, finishes and functions!

I pulled my big ol' ottoman out of the way and replaced it with two garden stools and a Jonathan Adler tray table.  I kept it this way for a week and I was happily surprised with how much my family liked it like this!  The mixture felt unique, lovely and really opened up the space. 

 So this past week I talked about my research and showcased the ideas on WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise.  Check it out HERE!

I have also listed the photos HERE!

Recalling My Kids Farm Theme Nursery

I have been thinking a lot about how fast the years go by.  The little girl I once rocked to sleep in my arms in the chair you see above, is doing so much on her own these days. I came across a photo I took of her nursery and thought I would share it.  I wish I took better photos but this is all I have.  

A lot of thought went into this bedroom (focusing on the baby's room kept my mind off of how much I began to resemble a weeble wobble during pregnancy).  

I did not find out if I was having a boy or girl so the theme of the room was a take on 'Old McDonald's Farm'.  

Turning the walls into farmland: I started out by painting the upper walls a light blue color, then added the green paint by simply running my paint brush recklessly horizontally around the room -NOT IN A STRAIGHT LINE.  Very easy!  This created hills. 

I used stencils for the animals.  Holding each stencil up the wall, I penciled them on lightly and with a fine paint brush, filled them in with paint.  I made the stencils using clear acetate sheets I picked up at a craft store.  

You can't really see it, but above the closet doors I stenciled 

'On this farm there was a ......'

CLICK HERE for easy instructions on how to create your own stencils.  Its a very nice tutorial.  For the clouds I used the tip of finger.  I placed a little bit of white paint on my finger and dabbed it on the wall.  I kept doing it, until I had the shape I wanted.  Do not use too much paint or the cloud won't feel kind of translucent and 'fluffy'.  Take your time and have fun with it!  

A farm themed room is pretty easy to put together because you can find loads of accessories at flea markets, stores like Marshalls, and country craft strores.  You can use vintage looking shelves, animal sculptures, old signs; use anything red, plaid, gingham, tin.....I can go on and on.

For this room, I added a cute chandelier with roosters on it, and added plaid shades.  Also an antique wall sconce with a picture of a farm on it, red linen drapes, and of course, farm animal bedding (again, wish I had a picture of it but you can see the blanket from the cute bedding set draped over the chair).  I loved this room!  We have since moved but the baby's room will always be one of my favorite spaces.

P.S. Jeremy, if you see this blog post I hope you recall the wall letters you sent me.  I still have them hanging in my kids bedroom.  

This is a photo of me as a kid in my bedroom.  I have since shaved the mustache but the wallpaper lives on! :)

Quick Change Cork Board With Duct Tape

I purchased this cork board at Target today for $8.99

The Board Dudes Framed Cork Board 23"x35"

 It is the right size for my space but ULTRA BORING!  

Here is a super easy way to give your 'ho hum' cork board a make over in 5 minutes!

This works for blackboards also!!

All you need is duct tape.  Yes, I am on board with the super trendy fashion looks of good old fashioned duct tape!  This project, I am sure, has been done, by many college folk as well as grade schoolers!  This is just a quick reminder of how easy it is to update something you may have already at home!

INGREDIENTS:

1. Scissors

2. Duct tape (most craft stores, office supply store, and even home decor stores)

STEPS: 

Simply tape it down one end, cut it with scissors, then another, and another, and another.

AFTER 

DIY Home Office Desk Skirt Hides Clutter

Does your desk look like this underneath?

Looking for an instant way to hide your 'under desk' clutter?

I have a small work space that sits in an awkward area and accumulates a lot of clutter and wires underneath.  After staring at my crap long enough I decided it was time to conceal the mess-in a pretty way. 

This is great project for renters who have a work space they share with their living room or bedroom.  Also works super well for inexpensive plain desks!!

With little cost and even less labor, I created a table apron out of a single ready made drape! 

Now I no longer see the mess.

  

This desk apron can be removed any time and placed back on again because it is held on with Velcro!

MY INGREDIENTS:

1. A curtain from Target- Threshold™ Farrah Fretwork Window Panel

 (or any piece of fabric a few inches bigger than the size of the length and height of your desk will do!)

2. A pack of 'sticky back Velcro Squares' - Most office supply, craft stores and home repair stores carry this.  Choose black or white to blend in with your desk (I would have used white for this project, but wanted you to see the squares so chose black.

3. Stitch Witchery - Most craft stores carry this.  

4. An iron and ironing board.

5. Scissors.

STEPS:

STEP 1. 

Measure the length (width) you need from desk leg to desk leg and add on two inches on either side.  

 Fold the two inches over to the back side of the fabric on each side, and using the stitch witchery,  iron a straight line.  

STEP 2.

Attach one side of the Velcro squares along the desk as shown above.  They should stick on quickly.  Place the coordinating back side of each Velcro square on top of the matching square so the sticky side is facing you.

Stretch the newly ironed fabric along the Velcro squares pressing it firmly to the sticky squares as seen above.  YOU HAVE NOT CUT THE LENGTH OF THE FABRIC YET.

STEP 3.

The fabric is now attached to the Velcro on the desk as shown above.  Using push pins create a hem where the fabric hits the floor.  Remove the fabric from the desk.  The one side of the Velcro should come off with the fabric (if it does not, use a thread and needle to keep it  attached.) 

Now, like you did to the sides of the fabric, create a hem along the bottom with the stitch witchery, using the push pins as your guide.

DONE! FINISHED! TA DA!

Now clutter disappears!  

And with one swift movement of the hand, you can remove the apron and get to your clutter!

This is a fun and functional idea for small spaces!!

Bedrooms In Progress

Describe the perfect bedroom using three adjectives.  For me it is:

Soft.  Happy.  Comfy.

At LoveYourRoom we are having fun working away on a few bedrooms that I'd love to share with you; each completely different from the next!  Keep in mind they are works in progress:

Master Bedroom 

BEFORE

IN PROGRESS NOW

Guest Bedroom

BEFORE

IN PROGRESS NOW

Guest Bedroom

BEFORE

Once all the furniture and decor arrives a lot of work goes into installing it all!  
p.s. I seriously dislike ironing!

IN PROGRESS NOW
(we created the artwork above bed using graphic scrap paper! Saved us tons of $$)

Guest Bedroom

BEFORE

IN PROGRESS NOW

Using Outdoor Artwork At Your Home

This time of year many us have turned our decorating skills toward the outdoors.   Stores and online websites carry an abundance of choices for furniture and floor decor.  There also seems to be a large amount of outdoor wall art to choose from these days.  Adding art on a wall or fence can give life, color, and architectural interest to an exterior space just like it does in an indoor room.  

Yesterday on 69 News At Sunrise I gave tips on how to use outdoor wall art.  

VIEW IT HERE

During the show Eve Tannery reminded me that it was my two year anniversary on the show.  Its a fun short decorating segment.

Also go HERE to see a bunch of outdoor rooms I think are very well designed, get more tips, and find out where to get the artwork from the show!!  Like this one...

SEE MORE

'Spring Up' Your Entryway

COMBINE COLOR AND SOFT TEXTURE TO CREATE A STYLISH AND FUNCTIONAL ENTRYWAY

Now that spring is here, is your foyer longing for a little 'spring up'?  Now is the perfect time to clean the clutter and welcome the sunshine in!  

...as seen on TV.  Watch the video HERE!

GET THIS LOOK!  

See below for similar products that are in this photo.....

1. Rug- Surya MAT-5441 Rug

2. Artwork-Turquoise Coral Wall Art

3. Woven Basket- Serena Lily Round Belly Baskets or make your own (SEE BELOW)
Woven baskets are great for storage left out in the open because it is flexible, inexpensive, comes in many different shapes and sizes, and light weight.

4. Table lamp - Regina Andrew Lighting

5. Knob- Ceramic Melon Knob in Aqua

6. Faux plant- Potted 6" Succulant

7. Dish for keys/sunglasses/phone- Bird Jewelry Dish

Other Decor That Is Right On Trend

Birds, birds and more birds are perfectly perfect for this spring!  Here's how you can bring a winged friend into your entryway:

Bring birds in through fabrics-so fun to use in an entry way!

You can get this fabric through Kuhns&Heller.

 Try reupholstering a bench cushion or pillow or two in this adorable bold Kasmir fabric.

Bird decor can be found every where!  

Another way to bring the bird theme is by adding a bit of a bird habitat, like a lantern or bird cage!

Birds are always in style, so of course, this Yellow Bird Cage from Nordstrom makes a great addition to an entryway!

LOVE THIS IDEA!!

Mix metal baskets with your woven ones!  Fill them with ornaments for Christmas, and see what else you can add to them for other seasons (like lemons and limes for the summer, and apples for the fall-use faux fruit of course!)

The key to creating a good basket arrangement is to keep it interesting.  Make sure the baskets have: 

• Different shapes, tones and sizes
• Made of different materials
• Odd numbers work well

Love these funky pink baskets from Serena & Lilly!

DIY PROJECT THAT ROCKS

Kick up the boldness of a wicker basket by painting parts of it.  Try turquoise stripes, a red cross sign, or anything you can think of!  It's so easy.  All you need is:

• painters tape
• some paint 
• paint brush

*you can also use spray paint

Take any old woven basket you have laying around the house, or buy a new one, then have fun adding any color to it, creating a unique work of art! 

And don't forget how useful a big woven basket can be!  

Watch Shosh and Eve on TV