Patriotic Home Decor

Hello everyone, in honor of the upcoming Memorial holiday in the States where we honor the fallen from our armed forces, I created a patriotic home decor piece.  This can be used for anything Patriotic themed of course, but we are displaying it this coming weekend in memory of those who aren’t coming home.

America…land of the free, because of the brave!

So I found this awesome wooden cut out in the shape of the United States at my favorite dollar spot last year.  While I’ve used it in the past as part of the decor, kind of kept plain and in the background, it was time for this baby to take center stage! All it needed was a little imagination and creativity.

I will have a process video for this coming within a few days but until then, I’ll walk you through my process…

I started out with the idea to add a statement or phrase to the board but it’s a little bit on the small to medium size and more on the small size so I trimmed it down to one word. I considered “home”, “U.S.A.” and a few others but ultimately decided to state the obvious and go with “America”. I wrote out the word in my die cut machine software and sized it to 2″ h x 8″ w and cut it out of patterned paper.  I knew I wanted to re-use the board, so I adhered it with a temporary tape runner adhesive.

Next, I cut a selection of 3D flowers.  Some are layers upon each other like the red one assembled above and the red and blue trio of petals above that are patiently waiting to be assembled.  The others  are quilled paper flowers in various sizes.

These fun super dimensional flowers start off looking like a spiral.  I used a quilling tool to easily roll them up. You could also use a pencil or pen to roll your flowers. You simply insert the “tail” of the spiral into the slit in the metal part of the tool or wrap it around and pencil and start rolling it up.

I wrap mine tight for the most part and then pull the tool or pencil out and release the flow, letting it unravel a bit.  I used liquid adhesive but to speed up the drying process, you may want to use a glue gun. The glue gun also helps ensure the flower stays in place better than the liquid adhesive.  Knowing I wanted to re-use the board, I applied a small amount of glue dots behind each flower to adhere them to the board. Did you notice that I used one of the small ones as the dot for the “i”?

I wanted to add additional elements to it, similar to how I would a scrapbooking layout so I went into my stash and pulled out some stars I had leftover from another project and tucked them into the flowers.  I had to lift a few and re-stick them here and there but I was able to use the same glue dots so it was easy peasy.  I also added some puffy dots around the board.

So there you have it, a fun and easy piece of home decor that I plan to use this week and next to commemorate Memorial Day and celebrate the 4th of July.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

xoxo, Heather
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Supplies:
Land That I Love Land That I Love Patterned Paper
Land That I Love Boom Sparkle Pop Patterned Paper
Land That I Love America Patterned PaperLand That I Love Oh! The Place We Go! Patterned Paper
Land That I Love Fireworks Patterned Paper
Land That I Love United We Stand Patterned Paper
Land That I Love Patriotic Blooms Patterned Paper
Land That I Love Red, White, and Blue Dots Puffy Stickers

DIY Indoor BBQ Picnic

Hi everyone.  I am sharing a DIY Indoor Picnic Idea with you today.  I don't know about you but I love picnics. We do them as a family all the time but they aren't always a normal picnic at the park. We also picnic in the front and back yard but what my girls really love to do is picnic in the house. We basically layout out blankets and/or towels in a room other than our dining room and there's just something really fun and special about it.

DIY Indoor Picnic

I surprise my girls with an indoor picnic every couple of months because sometimes it just seems like the fun thing to do.  Just don't plan to do it on spaghetti night due to the fact that it can be a mess.  While you can certainly use your normal dishes for an indoor picnic, I figured we should make it fun by creating a picnic caddy for the house. As a result, it's basically everything we need in one little package.

Create a picnic caddy

You can use a box or a crate for this, an upcycled fast food drink tote or almost anything you'd like. I had cardstock and my die cut machine therefore, I chose to make one out of paper.

This is great for utensils, condiments, straws, napkins, you name it. While it's not carrying anything especially heavy, it holds up pretty good. You probably don't want to load it up with drinks unless you really reinforce it.

Add some custom plates

I wanted to create custom plates so I bought clear plastic plates and lined them with patterned paper.  Simply trace the center of the plate on your favorite patterned paper, cut it out and adhere it to the bottom with mod podge.  NOTE: only apply the mod podge to the bottom of the plate.  I'm pretty sure you don't want to eat from a mod podged plate since it probably has chemicals you may not want to ingest but maybe I'm wrong?!?!

Picnic themed invitation

Next, create a cute little apron card. I downloaded this one from the Silhouette store. Isn't the grill set cute?

This can be an invitation to the picnic, a menu (on the inside) or just a cute piece of decor in addition to whatever else you have planned.

Ready for the picnic

So there you have it... a fun DIY Indoor Picnic that's as cute as can be.  Just add your favorite food & beverage and dine in style.

Supplies: Sunshiny Days Ephemera Die cuts (733609), Sunshiny Days Daydream (733598), Sunshiny Days Flower Garden (733603), Sunshiny Days Fresh Squeezed (733605), Sunshiny Days Flip Flops (733599), Sunshiny Days Cardstock Stickers (733608)

Red, White and Blue DIY Party Decor

Hi everyone.  I'm here today discuss my favorite topic - DIY Party Decor.  Whether your planning a mini celebration or large scale with all your family and friends, these ideas are sure to create a SPARK this 4th of July!

The theme for this particular party is red, white and blue for Independence Day here in the USA but all you have to do with swap out colors and patterns and you have a recipe for success.

4th of July DIY Party Decor

Today's party details include a fun backdrop, table decor and oh so fun firecracker cupcakes because it's not a party without a "poppin" dessert!

4th of July Banner

It's always fun to create a fun backdrop, whether it's for your tablescape or a photo booth.  Here's just one idea and what you'll need:

• patterned paper
• burlap
• "USA" alphas - Thickers or die cut

To create this banner, cut two 2-inch red circles and five 2-inch blue circles, two 1.5-inch blue starbursts, five 1.5-inch red starbursts, seven 1-inch stars. Those will make up the "dividers" for the banners.  Adhere them together as shown above.

For the USA, cut three 3-inch red circles and three 2.5-inch blue starbursts. Adhere the blue starburst over the red and add "USA" alphas.  Using your sewing machine, stitch the banner together  as you would garland, backing the "USA" bits with burlap triangles.

Firecracker Cupcakes

While you're baking up your favorite cupcakes, let's talk about how to make them POP! Here's what you'll need:

• white icing
• red, white, blue sprinkles
• medium sized marshmallows
• red candy melts
• twizzlers or candles
• patterned paper

First, determine how many cupcakes you'll have. Set aside one medium sized marshmallow for each cupcake. Also cut your twizzlers down to 3-inches and set aside.  Dip each marshmallow in the red melted candy and immediately stick the twizzler in the top before the candy melt dries. Add white icing and sprinkles to your cupcakes. Add the red marshmallow firecracker to the top.

Create festive wrappers for your cupcakes.  These just make it a bit more fun and decorative because they match the decor perfectly but you can also purchase fun wrappers.

You may consider adding additional decor.  I added burlap and bows to the floral decor and cupcake stand and then I brought in additional elements, like wooden stars, United States cut-out, etc. to tie it all together!

Supplies: Sunshiny Days Beach Day (733601), Woodland Forest Stitched Floral (733429), My Funny Valentine Valentine Wishes (733329)

Mini Summer Traveler's Notebooks | Quick Gift Idea

Hello everyone, I'm here to share a quick gift idea: Mini Summer Traveler's Notebooks!  Not only are mini summer traveler's notebooks a fun way to document your summer adventures, but they are so quick and easy, you'll want to make a lot!

Summer Traveler's Notebooks

We're taking a trip this summer with some friends, so I made mini summer traveler's notebooks as gifts to give to the kids using Pebbles' new summer line, Sunshiny Days.

I plan to take my little handheld printer to snap random shots and let them add them to the pages and add notes about their adventures. As I mentioned, these mini summer traveler's notebooks are very easy to make...let's take a look.

Start by cutting 4" x 6" covers.  I chose to use the patterned paper with the journaling cards for a cute front and back cover.

Next, cut the inside pages using coordinating patterned paper or plain cardstock.  Consider cutting them at varying sized to add a fun flair.

Also, cut them 1/2" smaller on the top and side so that they are 1/4" smaller around each edge.

After you've sorted your inserts in the order you want them, run them through your sewing machine and  stitch right down the middle. Make sure they are all facing the right way up. Using the journaling cards with the divider lines makes this very easy to do!

Fold these in half. You may want to use a bone folder to get an extra crisp fold.

I used a supersized journaling card as the inside center card for my summer traveler's notebooks. This can be used for a summer bucket list, bullet list, end of summer storytelling, or whatever.

Decorate your Summer Traveler's Notebooks

Once you've assembled your mini summer traveler's notebooks, decorate the outside with stickers and embellishments.  You may even wrap these up with stickers and embellishments for the recipient to add once they have their photos.

These only took about 45 minutes to whip up all 4 -- I wasn't kidding when I said these are a quick and easy gift idea! Thanks for stopping by the Pebbles' blog today!

Supplies: Sunshiny Days Hello Summer Quotes (733595), Sunshiny Days Pineapple Float (733600), Sunshiny Days Let's Float (733604), Sunshiny Days Summer Day (733606), Sunshiny Days Paradise (733596), Sunshiny Days Pink Flamingos (733597), Sunshiny Days Flip Flops (733599), Sunshiny Days Ephemera Die cuts (733609), Sunshiny Days Puffy Stickers (733611), Sunshiny Days Cardstock Stickers (733608)

DIY Mother's Day Bath Salt Recipe

Hello lovely friends.  I'm here today to share a pampering DIY Mother's Day idea. This is a perfect way to treat any guests you welcome to your home for this weekend's celebration, or any time for that matter. It's also a sweet idea for those moms who may be a bit hard to buy for.  Or, maybe you just want some time to yourself. Either way, this DIY project is sure to please!

Not only do these DIY Mother's Day bath salts add an extra spa-like element to your bathroom, they are also fun and easy to make!

Supplies:

• small jar(s) to hold the salts
• twine or ribbon
• Patterned paper for decor
• 1 Cups Epsom salt (unscented)
• 1/2 Cup Coarse Sea Salt - if you don't have this, add another 1/2 C Epsom Salt
• 1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
• 6 - 8 drops of your favorite essential oils - consider lavender, peppermint, citrus, geranium, frankincense, chamomile, or your favorite blends.
• Food coloring (optional) If you do not add food coloring, the bath salts will be white in color.

Begin making your DIY Mother's Day gift by adding all ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl; stir together until well blended.  If you choose to use multiple scents, mix everything but the oils together. Split the mixture into separate smaller bowls.

Add the oil or oil blend of your choice.

Add a few drops of food coloring if you choose to add color to your salts.

Once dry, add the salt mix to your containers. Store in airtight container for up to 6 months.

Lastly, add a little note and pretty bow to make them pretty. I used these from the Tealightful collection. Display in your bath and you're all set to relax!  Just turn on your favorite spa music and get ready to tune out the rest of the world for the next 30 minutes.

Fill the bath with warm water and add 2 - 3 scoops (approx. 1/4 C.) to the warm bath. Enjoy pampering yourself!

Supplies: Tealightful Tea Party Sentiments 12" x 12" patterned paper (733536), Tealightful Puffy Stickers Puffy Icons (733542)

DIY Decoupage Succulent Planter Teacher Gift

Hello everyone. Today I am going to walk you through creating a cute decoupage succulent planter as a teacher gift. I want to say thank you to all the teachers out there! As the school year is winding down, I'm thinking about ways to show my daughters' teachers some appreciation. Since they are an integral part of my daughters' development and growth, I thought it only fitting to create a one-of-a-kind teacher gift. See how to create this cute teacher gift to show your appreciation for all your kids' teachers do.

Begin by selecting a patterned paper from the Simple Life collection.  I wanted something that was neutral colored but also nature-themed, so this page was perfect for my vision!

Cut your chosen patterned paper in various pieces.  Here's just a sample of how I cut it.  I ended up using the entire sheet for the project.

Apply a liberal amount of decoupage mixture and adhere the paper to the clay pot. I worked all the way around the pot like this, ensuring there was enough overlapping the top and bottom of the pot.

I covered the entire pot, then went back over the top with more decoupage mixture to really seal the paper.  Repeat this step a few times, especially on the inside.

Next, fill your new planter with your favorite flowers or succulents. Finish off the gift with a couple small signs to insert into the pot.  I chose a sentiment and a butterfly from the Simple Life collection.

Do you think my daughter's teacher will like it? I'll add a coordinating gift card, but in all honesty I kind of want to keep it for myself! This project is the perfect gift for a teacher of friend who needs a cute gift for their kitchen or desktop.

Supplies: JEN HADFIELD SIMPLE LIFE DOUBLE-SIDED CARDSTOCK 12"X12" (733469), JEN HADFIELD SIMPLE LIFE DOUBLE-SIDED CARDSTOCK 12"X12"SIMPLE GREETINGS (733475)

DIY Easter Home Decor

Hi everyone.  I am excited to share some DIY Easter home decor I created.

I created this using a circular pallet design concept, a free bunny cut file and the delightful Pebbles "Tealightful" collection. Here's the supplies you'll need to create this:

• Pebbles Tealightful collection - paper, die cuts, stickers
• Thickers or die cut sentiment
• Canvas or pallet board
• Download the free Bunny Cut File (Silhouette only) I created
• Scissors
• Adhesive

The first thing o do is to cut your grass.  I cut 2"x12" strips and then fringe cut them to create a grass like feel.  I believe I used 7 strips in total. Once I had them all cut, I laid them out on the pallet to see how high I could place them.  Once I liked the way it looked, I adhered one over the other, starting at the top and layering each strip over the other until I reached the bottom.  I then wrapped the edges of the strips around the sides.

I used a 10" circular pallet board so I made my largest bunny approximately 8 inches and then just scaled the other two down to approximately 5 inches and 3 inches. Once they were cut, I tucked them in the grass at varying heights, overlapping the large mommy bunny just slightly.

Next, I cut some bunting from the banner patterned paper. I chose to use triangle and circular buntings for this project.  Once these were cut, I placed them at the top and tucked them a bit under mommy bunny's ears.

I used a combination of puffy stickers and a 3D rosette flower for the bunny tails and then just embellished with cardstock die cuts. To complete the page, I added a sentiment and cut little spring saying!

Supplies: Tealightful Patterned Paper - Bouquet (733527), Tealightful Patterned Paper - Teacups (733530), Tealightful Patterned Paper - Meadow (733532), Tealightful Patterned Paper - Patchwork (733535), Tealightful Ephemera Die Cut (733540), Tealightful Word Stickers (733544), Tealightful Puffy Icons (733542)