Calm Jar: Fail

I found an idea for a "calm jar" on pinterest.  My kids are anything but calm... this beautiful jar can solve all our problems, right?  Just watching those beautiful sparkles settle is supposed to have a soothing effect on adults and children alike.

Here's one thing I neglected to mention.  I'm not calm.  Even when I'm pretending to be calm I can't be calm.  Genetically and environmentally my children never had a chance at being calm.

Back to the jar.

I went to the store to get my supplies.  I followed the directions and made my calm jar.  It was beautiful and sparkly and amazing.

Now I want to see this thing in action... you know, really get those sparkles moving around.  Shake shake shake shake shake smash!!!!

It looked like a magical unicorn had vomited all over my kitchen floor.  Thank God the jar didn't break... the lid just popped off when it slipped out of my hand and the contents spilled everywhere.

Needless to say, I was pretty worked up.  And that's how I make a calm jar.

Blessings,
Jamie

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Sew IKEA Runners Into a Rug (for only $35)

I wanted a jute rug for almost two years now.

We really don't have the money for it.  Not even the one from Home Goods.  Also, the more I thought about it, I didn't want something quite so scratchy since the kids spend so much time on the floor.  So I came up with another idea last May (and yes, I'm just getting around to posting about it now).  It involved using table runners from IKEA... here's how it turned out

I usually attack projects... not so much because I'm confident, but more because I have to see if how it turns out.  I'm a little stressed until I get to see the final result; hopefully it isn't a total bomb/waste of money.

This one I really dragged my feet for some reason.

I started sewing the rug last Spring and it was looking pretty jacked up.  I was disappointed in myself so I hid it in the back of the laundry room, never to be seen again.  I considered taking it apart and returning the runners to IKEA; then it occurred to me they had been on my floor for a couple days so that wouldn't be a very scrupulous thing to do.  I'm desperate, but not that desperate!  Here's what it looked like when I pulled it back out of the laundry room

Then I saw this over at Tatertots and Jello

source: tatertotsandjello.com

Gorgeous, right?  The post was about the slipcovered sectional, but I couldn't stop staring at that rug!  It looked just like what I wanted mine to look like.  That's it, I'm going to finish it!

Here are the runners I used (MARIT table runners in beige and natural for $4.99 each)

I laid them all out and pinned them

Then I sewed them together

they got a little cumbersome in the sewing machine, but I got through it :)

They were all slightly different lengths so I hemmed the long edges.  And now I am sooooo happy with it!

This is exactly what the room needed... I feel like it cozies up the space a lot.  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Jamie

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Thumbtack Nailhead Table Redo

Meet "little purp".

She might not be the most beautifully designed piece you've ever seen, but she gets the job done.  And she's much better in our house than the ginormousaurus table we had in the living room before.

Anyway, sweet little purp had humble beginnings.  I found her at a yard sale on my way to work back in October.  She was $3.  I didn't think I had $3 with me until I checked the change bin in my car; She was paid for completely in quarters, dimes and nickels!

I would love to show you more 'before' pics, but we just lost all the photos we had stored on our external hard drive.  This is where you say, "awwwww".  I know, right?  I'm really hoping they can be recovered... we have ALL of our kids baby pics on that thing!  But you came here to see a table, not hear my sob story :)

I spray painted her in a plum color and dry brushed a little black on top

And then applied a coat of wax with a rag

But she needed something.  Thumb tacks, of course!  I have seen beautiful nailhead trim ideas everywhere lately... at Anthropologie, in magazines, and on Pinterest.

One of my resolutions this year is to learn to relax.  I can be a little high strung so I thought Little Purp could help me with this.

I printed out the word and taped it to the table.  Then I started pushing the tacks through the paper.  I only pushed them halfway down, so the paper wouldn't get stuck under them.

I peeled away the paper and pushed the tacks in all the way with the back of a screwdriver.  I tried using a hammer, but I ended up with broken tacks that way.

Here she is all finished

And I think her message is working...

Who am I kidding?  I only sat down long enough to take that picture.  It's a start though...

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings,
Jamie

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This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts

Sweater & Pool Noodle Valentine's Day Wreath

I wanted a Valentine's Day wreath that was snuggly-looking now that the weather is getting colder.  I had some old sweaters that just never looked good on me and a pool noodle.  I had seen the pool noodle wreaths around the blogosphere and I thought I might try wrestling that giant piece of foam into a heart.  After lots of wrestling, this is how it turned out

Wanna know how I did it?  You may have answered "no", but I'm going to tell you anyway!

I got all my supplies together

some old sweaters

a pool noodle

glue gun

serrated knife

*turns out you'll need some packaging tape too

I cut the noodle in half, on a 45 degree angle with a serrated knife

take the two cut ends and put them together to make a "v"

I hot glued it together, but it didn't stay.  So I tried screws.  They didn't stay.  Then I tried tape.  It worked!

Tape the heck out of it so it stays... you're going to be bending this thing and it's going to fight you.  A lot.  That is the top joint of the heart (where it dips down).

Now take your sweaters and cut off the sleeves.  Scary, I know.  I tried mine on one last time to make sure I really hated them before I cut.

I then cut each of the sleeves in half and in half again, so I had four pieces from each sleeve.  Start putting your sleeve pieces (I alternated colors) on your noodle form.  You're going to need to do this before you close up the other end!

Now cut the ends of the noodle on a 45 degree angle.  Make sure you try making your heart first to ensure you get the angle going the right way

Now close the whole thing up and tape it really well

Pull your sweater pieces around so all the noodle is covered and hot glue the pieces together.  I tucked the frayed edges under so it didn't look messy.

I put a ribbon on the back to hang it

What do you think?  Was it worth all the wrestling?  Let me know in the comments.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Jamie

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This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts