Switch Swap

This past month I participated in the Switch Swap hosted by Mollie on her blog Wild Olive. When I first started my embroidering ventures, I used her blog to gain knowledge of the simple stitches and I also look to her blog for inspiration! If you're interested in embroidery, her blog is definitely the blog you want to look at.

A "Switch Swap" is a very simple and fun little project. Anyone who wanted to participate could sign up, give basic information about your personal preferences (colors, motifs, etc.) along with your address. Mollie assigned everyone a person to sent and embroidery piece to as well as someone who will send you one! Rather than partners, it was more of a circle swap! You can learn more about the Switch Swap here.

I had been waiting to share the piece I made until I received my goody in the mail so I could group it into one post. I received my embroidery before I even began mine. I must say, it put the pressure on me to make something of quality! I received my lovely little package in the mail. I should have taken pictures but I was too excited and ripped it right open!

Look at that beautiful piece of embroidery! Just for me!

The lovely lady who stitched this for me is named Sun and she is from California (how appropriate, thinks this midwesterner!) She sent me this lovely card explaining a cool connection we have. I included my blog in my switch swap information (because what better way to get to know me than my blog) and she actually visited! In a twist of fate it looks like we also will share the same anniversary :) June 22! I think that is so cool! I was also thought it was so nice the thought she put into it. She saw I was recently engaged, and embroidered adorable lovebirds. I just love it. It is also very well-made and it is clear she really put some time and energy into this piece.



Oh, but it gets better! She also included this AH-MAZE-ING little wire ring that I just LOVE! Words can't explain. I so want to learn how to make this. Sun-- if you're reading! Teach me how!! :)

Now, it's my turn. The information I got on my swap-ee is that she likes the colors red, orange, and green. The motifs she likes are anything cute and kitchen-y. She left it pretty wide open, which made it a little harder, but a lot of fun! I focused on the kitchen-y motif and found a warm color combination that would be happy in any kitchen. I pulled the design from my brain.

I have been trying to think of a little something "extra" to add. I have been going back and forth between thimble flower pots or an embroidered iPod case. The only problem is I don't know if she has an iPod, so maybe another sort of embroidered felt piece? Who knows!

I love the idea of a switch swap and am so glad I participated! Mollie is hosting another one in the fall, I'll keep ya'll posted when she does!

Wrapped Headphones

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I'd give it my own spin. I first saw this idea here. I put my own spin on it to cut down on time and I looooove how it turned out!

Want to make your own? This took me a little over an hour, or one Jersey Shore reunion. It was very easy and it's a good project to put your own creativity into it without using too much brain power. Here's how I did it!

You need scissors, embroidery floss (any color combination will do!), a safety pin, and I also used clear nail polish to set the knots so it wouldn't unravel.

I attached a safety pin to a pillow to hold the headphone so I could pull the string to make it tight and so I could keep my sanity.

I picked two colors to start and tied a knot at the top of the headphone. I left a little slack and as I wrapped, I kept the excess close to the wire and wrapped it all up. That sounded real confusing. Essentially I wanted to wrap the very end into the headphone rather than tying a little knot and risk it unraveling.

I cut a looong string to start, about an arm's span. Then, start wrapping! I kept the two colors together and wrapped around the wire, pushing it up and keeping it tight as I went.

When I got to the end, I tied two knots and pulled it real tight.

Then, cut off the excess, ensuring your knot is good to go.

 I put a dab of clear fingernail polish to make sure it wouldn't unravel.

Do the same with the other parts of the headphones. The side of the headphone that had the volume adjuster in the middle was simple--I just stopped and started as I did the other strand. 

Here's a close up!

And here I am rocking my beautiful new headphones. I was a little nervous the string/nail polish wouldn't hold and it would unravel. I went on a run today and so far, so good! I was also a little nervous the thread would make the headphones heavy and they earbuds would fall out of my ears. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference. Another benefit of this little craft is that my headphones don't get tangled! Gotta love practical crafts ;).

I hope you guys all have a great weekend! The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend and I'm looking forward to it. We have absolutely no plans and I am very excited to spend some quality time with my boy :).

DIY Menu Planner

This may be one of my favorite crafts to date. I have been wanting to make one for awhile, and Kevin and I have started a little health initiative, so I figured this was as good a time as any! I also always have a hard time remembering meals I know how to make, so this will help with that as well. I present to you, my menu planner!

I bought a frame from Goodwill for $1 as well binder clips from Target for $2. Everything else I had on hand. I used spray paint, acrylic paint, a fabric quarter, fabric paint, bottle (ok, beer) caps, and sharpies. 

First, I spray painted my binder clips.

Next, I painted my frame. I let the clips and frame dry while I did the rest.

I measured out my fabric and with a 1/2 in allowance along the sides.

I used fabric glue to glue the fabric to the cardboard back of the picture frame. I discovered hot glue does not work well with fabric.

Once the clips were dry, I used a sharpie to write the days of the week.

I decided half-way through to use bottle caps as well. I just spray painted the tops and wrote "menu" with a sharpie.

I cut up some strips of paper to write the meals on. Rather than turning this into a dry-erase menu using the frame's glass like many I've seen, I wanted to be able to remember the meals I've made since I am such a terrible cook and have no imagination :). I made a little pouch out of fabric to put extra paper to write new meals on, as well as store old meals. I also thought it'd be a good idea to write recipes (when needed) on the back so I don't have to search through a cookbook.

Using fabric glue again, I cut out circles using the same fabric I used on the pouch and glued them on the frame, then I glued the binder clips on top.

I'm looking forward to planning my meals in advance which will hopefully lead to healthier choices! :)

Home Tour

I really love our apartment. A lot. I really hope we stay here for more than a year, as I haven't lived anywhere for more than a year in almost 5 years. That's a lot of moving! I am settled in here and I want to stay. As I mentioned earlier today in this post, I went on a cleaning frenzy Friday and the apartment is spotless. I literally walked around for probably far too long, admiring my handiwork. I'm not a cleaner, so this was a big deal for me. Well, us, as I live with two guys. I showed pictures of our apartment when we moved in in October, unfurnished, so I thought I'd share an update since the place was looking spic and span!

Welcome to our home! As I looked through the pictures, I realized I have a ridiculous amount of crafts in the apartment. I hardly have any store-boughten decorations. I'm actually pretty proud of that. I thought I'd link up to the posts of my crafts if anyone is interested.

(Yarn Wrapped Wreath)

As you walk in, you will see the living room, dining area, and kitchen. I should have probably shut the TV off for these, but I'm not ashamed to admit I was watching Boy Meets World.

 (Spray-Painted Vintage Magazine Holder)

I love how open our living space is. It feels very big and it is the perfect size for all of us. It's always so bright and sunny, too.

I love what we've got going on our coffee table. I have been loving the mustard and teal color combination as of late. I love all the vintage-ness going on there. I'm planning on using that suitcase for cards at our wedding, but I just think it's so cool and I wanted to find a nice place for it in the meantime without hiding it away in a closet.

(Thrifting Finds- Suitcase)

(Fabric Candle Votives)

 (Yarn Bouquet)

I love our fireplace! It kicks off so much heat in the winter and make our apartment feel so cozy.

(Sock Monkey)

(Yarn Bouquet)

Kevin has a thing for beer signs, and I will admit I like them, too. He's gonna have a badass man cave someday. When we were originally trying to figure out where to hang them all, he wanted them all over the apartment, which was a little much to me. I love them clustered in this nook, though, it's not as overwhelming but it balances out all the crafts and stuff I have strewn about.

And this is my little craft corner. Those drawers are all packed full of crafts. I can't wait to have a spare room/guest room/office to store all my stuff in! I used to have all my craft stuff stored in that green bucket there, thankfully mom got me some organizational drawers for Christmas.

Here is our dining area/crafting area/office. I do my sewing and crafting here, and the boys do a lot of work here. Nobody ever eats here! HA. The only time we've eaten there is when Kevin and I cook "romantic" meals for each other, like when we're celebrating Valentine's Day or anniversaries. I'm still not happy with the yarn balls over my crayon art. I'm thinking of switching the grey out for white to match the yarn flowers on the table.

 (Crayon Art)

(Pom-Pom Garland)

(Yarn-Wrapped Bottles)

(Yarn Bouquet)

I love our kitchen! I hope someday I OWN a kitchen that's as great as this kitchen. So much cupboard space and countertop room. It's a little dark for my liking for a kitchen, but it's just so fantastic, I can't complain.

This is the rest of the kitchen area, with our breakfast bar area. Nobody actually eats here much either. Sometimes I'll eat breakfast or read the paper here. We should work on not eating in the living room for every meal, huh? Mostly this is where we keep all our mail or food when we entertain.

You also get a glimpse of the giant light up beer bottle in the hallway. I guess I allowed the beer signs in the hallway, too :).

(Thrifted Shutter)

(Paper Tree) 

Here is our room! I love our room a lot and spend a lot of time in here when the boys are watching ESPN or something equally un-intriguing. I just got that-I don't know what else to call it other than fabric--at the end of the bed. It's a very pretty vintage fabric that is becoming the color inspiration for the room--pistachio, mustard, brown, and aqua. I am planning on making some throw pillows out of it soon.

(Burlap Framed Letters) 

Here is the other side of our room with my newly hung shadow boxes and thrifted mini shutter.

(Hanging Shadow Boxes and Shutter)

(Thrifted Shutter)

I am also infatuated with our big closet and I hope I can OWN my own walk-in closet someday. I recently reorganized it to allow for better storage to free up space in our room. 

Here is our bathroom, where Kevin proposed :). Another reason I want to stay in this apartment for more than a year. Such great memories!! I am planning some fun crafting for that boring green shower curtain that we inherited from Kevin's last apartment.

(Burlap Jewelry Display)

(Kevin's Proposal)

(Peas and Carrots Embroidery)

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed this little tour of our home. Believe it or now our apartment is still immaculate. (I left out Brian's room and his bathroom, I'd feel a little stalker-ish taking pictures of his room! I also left out our half-bath off the living room. It's nothing exciting.)

We spent the weekend in Webster City visiting Kevin's cousin Curt and his wife Kari. They just announced they are expecting, so it was exciting to see them and be excited about the baby. Our roommate Brian also came with us, as well as two of our good friends Matt and Emily. It was a really fun weekend just hanging out, enjoying the weather, and celebrating St. Patty's Day. The weekend flew by, I can't believe it's already Sunday night! Luckily for me, it's still spring break :) I have lots of crafts planned as well as productive grown up things, like cleaning out our cars and applying for more jobs. 

What did you do this weekend? Are you on spring break? Make this week a good one! :)

A Spring Inspired Wreath

I've never made a wreath but I see so many cool ones floating around the web, so I thought I'd try and make my own. I always associate wreaths with Christmas time and they always seemed outdated to me. After seeing such creative wreaths from fellow bloggers, I had a change of heart and made my own!

I have seen Styrofoam wreaths at craft stores but I always thought they were so expensive! I found a tip on a blog that inspired me to finally do it. She suggested looking at your local hardware store (Home Depot, Menards) in the plumbing section for pipe insulation. Kevin was rather embarrassed when I sent out on a quest to find this material (for a wreath, nonetheless!) but it was only $1.50 for a big long tube. If I would have bought a wreath at a craft store, it would have cost me about $8. Score!

I had no real vision in mind when I started this, I just started crafting. This is my favorite way to craft. That way I have no expectation and won't be disappointed with the outcome!

Here is my finished wreath! I love it!

Want to make your own? Here's what I did!

Supplies: Plumbing insulation, duct tape, scissors, yarn. I also used hot glue, felt, and lace.

I ended up just using the turquoise and green yarn. I chose the turquoise because it's my favorite color and I knew I wouldn't get sick of it. I thought the added green was a complimentary spring color, and it also looked neon when laid over the blue. I think this color combo will be good for the summer as well!

First, cut your plumbing insulation to make your desired sized wreath. I cut mine in half so I have enough to make another, maybe in another season or as a gift. Use duct tape to secure. You will need to bend it a little to get the kinks out and make it perfectly circular.

Pick a color yarn and start wrapping! To start I tucked one end of the yarn under the tape. You will want to push your yarn together as you go to hide the grey tube. This took me a lot longer than expected! I discovered it was fastest to cut a very long piece of yarn and pass it over and under, scrunching the yarn together as I went. At the end of each string, I would just tuck it under. This was faster than trying to pass the whole ball of yarn over and under.

 I didn't snap a picture of how I made the felt flowers, but I assure you, it is SO easy. I used this tutorial (it's for a headband, but just make the circle bigger and your flowers will turn out bigger.) Then, I simply hot glued the flowers to the wreath.

I cut a piece of lace to hang the wreath and used a small Command Strip Hook for the door. Since we live in an apartment that is not ours, I didn't wan to put a nail in the door.

Welcome to our home! :)

P.S. All photos were taken on my iPhone. Can you believe how great of a camera they fit in there?? I am very impressed by it.