Baby Shower Cookies

DIY Nursery Closet Dividers

This was such a fun project!  I used several tutorials online to make DIY closet dividers for the twins' nursery this weekend.  Here's a step-by-step tutorial you can use to make your own!  I'm thinking these will be my new favorite gift to give at baby showers. 

Materials Needed:

(I found all my supplies at Michaels)
Eight Wooden Square Shapes
Solid Color Card Stock
Ribbon
Pretty Scrapbook Paper
Mod Podge
White Paint
Drill
Paint Brushes or Sponges
Baby Outfit Template
Letter and Number Stickers

The first step is to paint the sides of your wooden squares. The scrapbook paper will not cover the sides, so I decided to paint mine for a more finished look.

After the white paint has dried, use one of your squares as a template to trace on the back of your decorative scrapbook paper.  I could fit four to a page.  Don't forget to also make enough to cover the back of your dividers too.  I was making eight dividers, so I cut out 16 paper squares.

  

To make the baby outfit template, you can draw it or use one of many online templates.  I made one and used it to trace the others on my card stock.  I only put these on the front of the dividers, so I made eight.  

Now for the fun part!  I assembled all of my pieces using a sponge brush and Mod Podge.  This was the first time I've used it, and it was definitely a learning experience!  First, use the Mod Podge to glue your paper squares to the front of your wood shapes.

Next, apply a layer to your baby outfits and glue those on top of the paper and add your stickers.  Once all of the pieces are attached, add a final layer of Mod Podge to the top of everything to seal it.  

When the fronts are dry, attach the rest of your paper squares to the back of the dividers and apply more Mod Podge. Let this side dry.

Once everything is completely dry, get out the drill!  Or, you can let the hubby do this part like I did! Drill holes in the center top of your dividers.  This is where the ribbon will go through, so make sure your holes are large enough!  Insert your ribbon and these sweet dividers are ready to hang!

I'm so happy with how these turned out and can't wait to make more for my friends who are expecting.  Now I just need some sweet baby clothes to add to the closet!

Cell Phone Photo Dump

Pinterest Project - Silver Tray Wreath

With a little help from some sweet family members, my first big Pinterest project is complete!  A couple of months ago, I found this picture on a fabulous blog called Hammers and High Heels.

Love.  

But there was no tutorial.  So I did what I always do when I need home decor help and called my big sister. She is the queen of decorating on a budget! I sent her the picture and gave her my small budget and she hit the thrift stores to find silver trays. We started working on it while we were home for Thanksgiving. I tried to take pictures of each step, in case anyone else wants to take this project on! Here she is with a few of the trays she found and her helper, my sweet niece.

Once you've gathered your trays, lay them out to get an idea of the best placement . We focused on two sizes, small and medium.  Medium ones in the back, and smaller ones on top.  Once I was happy with the design, I took a picture on my cell phone so I could recall the order when attaching them to the frame.  Lay out the bottom layer of trays on your wood so you can decide how big your wood base needs to be.  

I don't have much experience with power tools, so I had to call in the big guns to help with the cutting.  My sweet Dad and brother-in-law stepped in to cute the base.  We cut a wood ring about 4 inches wide.

Once the frame is cut, attach the wire for hanging.  You can get these kits at your local hardware store. While you are there, be sure to get several tubes of a liquid nail product.  It's amazing!  And perfect for this project.  I placed all of my trays out on the wood base first to make sure it matched the picture I took earlier. Once you are happy with the placement, begin attaching your bottom layer with the liquid nails.  We used bricks to weigh them down as they were drying!

Once the first layer is set, lay out your smaller wreaths on top and attach.  That's it!  We let it dry more than a day before moving it.  I can't wait for a few of the trays to start to tarnish like the inspiration photo.  I have mine hanging on my dining room wall and love it.  I think it would make a fabulous focal point in any room!

Back to Blogging!

I've been away from the blog for a while...but I have a few good reasons!  We've been visiting family for Thanksgiving and celebrating my hubby's promotion at his favorite place on earth, Disney World! But I have missed blogging and am excited to get caught up.  I could post pages and pages of pictures from the past few weeks, but I've tried to just post my favorites!

Allow me a moment to brag on my husband.  He works incredibly hard for us.  There are times when I don't understand how he does it and balances our home life, but he does.  I am a blessed girl to have him and am so proud that he was recognized at work.  This is a picture from the night we found out he made partner.  A huge blessing and answer to lots of prayers!

We spent Thanksgiving with my family before driving the rest of the way to Disney.  This is my favorite picture from that day.  My mom and grandmother are wonderful role models of what strong, Christian women should be and I cherish these moments together.

Cell Phone Photo Dump

Cell Phone Photo Dump

Summer Loves

I just discovered La Croix sparkling water a few weeks ago and love it.  I have a hard time drinking enough water throughout the day and this has made it so much easier!  They are calorie, sweetener, and sodium free.

I'm skeptical of a lot of hair products, but this is one I've found I can't live without!  Moroccan Oil is awesome and allows me to love my long hair.

For those of you who came to my Favorite Things party a few months ago, you know how much I love these!  I keep one with me at all times.  It's a chapstick with sheer color shimmer and all of the shades are pretty!

My new love.  If you know me, you know I absolutely HATE to exercise.  I've tried it all and haven't found any form of it I want to regularly do. Until Pure Barre. The workout utilizes the ballet barre and small isometric movements.  It's seriously intense, but gets everything you need done in an hour, is set to really good music and is actually a lot of fun!  I've also found it to be a great stress reliever and I something I really look forward to doing! 

Love, love, love this moisturizer!  It lives up to its claims and really does even out your skin tone.  It's also light and feels great under make up.  The cleansing pads are great too!

Leave a comment and let me know what you are loving right now!  Note: I have not been paid to advertise any of the above; I just really like them!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I'm making my first attempt at gardening this year!  Since I altered my diet about five years ago, I've wanted to try my hand at organic vegetable gardening. Luckily, I have a very sweet sister and brother-in-law and a very ambitious father-in-law who all helped me with my planters. I'm just starting to see a few fruits of our labor!  Even my hubby, who isn't a fan of veggies, has tried the tomatoes, "since we grew them."  Whatever works! 

Tomatoes

Squash

Bell Peppers

Basil and Parsley