before and after bench redo

April 17, 2018

This bench was just crying out for a little loving, don’t you think?

I just couldn’t resist updating this bench with some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and some Spoonflower fabric!

First, I chose a library themed fabric from Spoonflower and put in my online order for one yard of a cotton canvas. If you haven’t checked out Spoonflower before, I highly recommend it. You know how you may have an idea for a fabric you want and when you go to the fabric store to find it, you are really disappointed when they don’t anything close to what you imagined? Well, with Spoonflower it is possible to find a fabric in most any theme you may imagine!

I prepped the bench by taking off the cushion and I prepped the fabric by washing, drying, and ironing it.

The original color of the paint on the bench was black. I chose to paint it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in graphite. (I was a little bit tempted to choose a red paint, but if I bought a can in red, I knew I would never use the rest of the can!) Because I chose such a dark color paint, I had no worries about color showing through from the old finish. I simply painted the bench with two coats of graphite and waxed it with Annie Sloan clear wax. I let the first coat set and applied a second coat of clear wax.

I removed the old fabric from the top of the bench using a screwdriver and pliers. I was happy to find the padding in good shape since, beyond my labor, I really couldn’t spend more than the cost of the paint, wax, and fabric for this update. Using a staple gun, I carefully reupholstered the top of the bench in the super cool fabric I found at Spoonflower and reattached it to the bench.

The second coat of wax wasn’t totally dry when I took these photos. When it was, I buffed the piece with a soft cloth. Project complete!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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polar bear easter egg

March 20, 2018

Today, I am sharing another DIY Easter egg design. And, even though you may not be interested in making a polar bear designed Easter egg, you can use the technique I used here to create a design of your own.

I started with an emptied-out egg. The first thing I needed to do was to make a polar bear template to use on the egg. I used a mailing label to draw a simplistic design of a polar bear. Why a mailing label? Because, I would next adhere the sticker shape I created to the egg. Since I was dyeing the egg to contrast in color from the white polar bear, the shape of the sticker would resist the dye – leaving a white polar bear shape on the egg.

Removing polar bear shaped sticker after dyeing the egg.

After the egg was dyed, I splattered it with white paint, using the same technique I used on my constellation designed eggs. I really glopped the paint on, because I wanted to give a suggestion of a heavy snowfall!

When the paint was dried, I used a pair of tweezers to carefully pull the sticker off the egg. As you can see, it didn’t keep the spot perfectly white – some dye did get under the sticker. The effect is almost like a batik. Wax can be used in place of the sticker (like that used for Ukrainian Easter eggs) to eliminate any dye from getting through, but I really like the effect when some dye makes it under the sticker.

Finally, I used a thin, black, permanent marker to outline the polar bear shape and gave him a nose and some eyes.

Pretty easy, right? This same technique can be used in so many ways. I created the polar bear for a friend, but I may continue the theme by creating a penguin next! Are you wondering what has me thinking of such cold weather friends for Easter instead of bunnies and chicks? Must be that New England March snow!

I hope I have inspired you to create some new Easter eggs designs!

Thanks for stopping by and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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bunny ear napkins with eggs

March 13, 2018

Have you ever folded your Easter dinner napkins to look like bunny ears? You probably have.

Today, I am sharing how to DIY some Easter eggs to use with your folded bunny ear napkins! I like to make bunny tail eggs for my napkins!

Since I was making one to show you, I decided to also make one with the front of a bunny to demonstrate how easy it would be to include bunny face eggs as well. You can choose to make just the backside eggs to use with your napkins – like I do – or, mix up bunny backsides and bunny faces on your Easter table!

All you need are pompoms to glue to the eggs. Use a white one for the bunny’s tail and a pink one for the bunny’s nose.

To add a little character to my bunny, I first added some spots to the eggs so my bunny would not be pure white. I did this by making up a taupe egg dye and adding a little bit of color variation to my bunny. Black or gray dye work for ‘bunny spots’ as well. Once you have dyed your eggs – if you choose to – use a glue gun to add the tail and nose to your bunny eggs. A fine point permanent marker is perfect to add the rest of the bunny face detail to the egg with the pink ‘nose.’

Once the eggs are complete, Use the diagram here to help fold two napkins appropriately. Add ribbon to keep the eggs in place and to position the ‘ears.’

A perfect little DIY for your Easter table! Change up the bunny and napkin colors to best match your décor. I used taupe and white, but you can use whatever colors work for you. Eggs dyed gray paired with gray napkins work well too. You can also create a variety of different expressions on your bunnys’ faces. Have fun with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy constellation easter eggs

March 6, 2018

I love dyeing Easter eggs. Each year I like to come up with a new egg decorating idea. And, I love creating a themed series of decorated eggs! Remember the picnic theme, for example? (Click here to see.) This year I decided to create a series of Easter eggs depicting the astrological constellations.

I started by creating a backdrop for my star formations! I added purple and a little bit of black paste food coloring to a ½ cup of boiling water with a teaspoon of white vinegar. I used this to dye my eggs. Once the eggs were dry, I used an old kindergarten technique to splatter white paint onto each egg. This simply involves loading a stiff brush or toothbrush with paint and splattering it onto the eggs using a finger or popsicle stick flicked against the bristles of the brush. (Something I first used when creating leaf prints in kindergarten art class!)

Now that a night sky is created on the eggs, I can go ahead and create the individual star formations. For this, I am using little stick-on crystals from the craft store. I created a graphic for myself to use as reference for the placement of the stars for each constellation. I decided to use a thin white marker to add some definition to the star arrangement – even though this wouldn’t happen in the actual sky! I included a graphic here for you to use as reference when creating your own eggs designs.

These eggs are easy to create and I think they are really cool looking. Have fun with it! Create an egg with your own sign, the signs of each family member, or all twelve signs!

I made mine on emptied out eggs so that I can display them for Easter each year.

I hope I have inspired you to create some astrological sign designed Easter eggs!

Thank you for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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egg-actly that time of year

February 20, 2018

Yes, you guessed it, I have begun dyeing eggs! With the start of Lent and an early Easter this year, I couldn’t resist starting some egg decorating! We had a few inches of snow this past weekend, so I prepared by stopping at the grocery store and buying a dozen white eggs. Then, while it was snowing, I watched the British Baking Show and emptied out the inside of 12 eggs to prepare them for decorating!

How do I empty them? I use a needle to gently place a hole in both sides of the egg – one hole a little larger than the other. Then, I blow into the smaller of the holes to empty the contents of the egg. The most important part of this procedure is to puncture the yolk of the egg! Otherwise, the inside of the egg just will not come out! How is this accomplished? Using a needle or any long, thin object, to push it into the larger hole several times. Piercing the yolk is what helps the contents to flow out when you start blowing!

I am careful not to get any of the raw egg in my mouth and I wash the outside of the eggs with soapy warm water and rinse thoroughly. I stand them back into the egg carton overnight to drain any water still left inside. Once decorated, with no insides to go bad, the eggs will last forever!

For the maiden voyage of egg decorating, I decided to paint a few with succulents. I know, succulents are so 2001, but I have been working on a terrarium community service project and I have succulents on the brain! I decided to use 3 eggs. I dyed them a taupe color using paste food coloring. For my dye, I use ½ cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, and some food coloring. This color will serve as the backdrop for my succulents.

I added very simplistic painted designs – since I applied the designs with cottons swabs and toothpicks – with acrylic paint. It is hard to get too detailed without a proper paint brush! I used the same few colors on all 3 eggs to give them a continuity. My first decorated eggs of the year are complete – a trio of succulents!

So, the egg games have begun! I hope I have inspired you to think about your egg designs this year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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have a heart

February 13, 2018

It’s easy to get into the Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day spirit simply by using a heart shaped cookie cutter on something edible! Transform something ordinary into something extraordinary with a simple cut!

You have seen me use a cookie cutter on Valentine’s Day before…remember the Valentine stuffed French toast? The lavender shortbreads? Or, even the bird seed for the bird feeder?

Well, today I am taking my Fancy Watermelon Salad (click here for original recipe) and transforming it for Valentine’s Day, simply by cutting the watermelon rounds into hearts! Easy, right?

I hope I have inspired you to use a heart cookie cutter this Valentine’s Day! What will you use it on?

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, xo Jackie

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valentine candy craft diy

January 26, 2018

In the same way gingerbread houses are decorated for Christmas, or eggs for Easter, why not create candy skewers for Valentine’s Day? In my last post, I showed you some elegant Valentine’s Day skewers I created as gifts. Today, for Friday field trip, I am using the same idea as a fun children’s activity!

Just assemble a table full of Valentine’s themed candy and/or cookies, and add the children!

Just be cautious when using skewers with children – safety first! Consider the age of the children you are with, and be sure to supervise appropriately! (You can even cut off the sharp ends of the skewers if necessary.)

You may just find that the finished skewers never make it to a recipient! But, the children will have a blast creating (and eating) them!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine, read my lips

January 23, 2018

Doesn’t everything taste better on a stick? Think about cake pops – a bunch of cake crumbs instantly become chic when placed on a stick! Why not do the same thing for Valentine’s Day…elevating candy or cookies to a new level by simply adding a stick!

Using Reese’s peanut butter hearts to make these pretty skewers.

It is easy to transform treats into chic Valentine’s Day candy skewers to gift to loved ones.

One skewer can be a perfectly elegant gift (and very affordable!)

Or, create a whole bouquet of skewers!

I hope you are inspired to create your own Valentine’s Day skewers! If you want, package your creation in cellophane and add a Valentine’s Day note with a witty pun. For my lip bouquet, I added a note that said “Valentine, read my lips.” Leftover pieces of ribbons from holiday packages are perfect to tie to your finished skewers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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homemade chai spice

January 9, 2018

I really enjoy the flavor of chai. At least, what we here in the U.S. call chai.

In India, chai is tea. Although there are some variations, the basic components are the same – usually a black tea base, whole milk, spices, and a sweetener of white sugar. Cardamom is the most common ingredient used as a spice, but every family has a blend to suit its tastes. In the same way, here in the U.S., spices can be adjusted in a homemade chai spice to suit individual tastes.

That is what I decided to do. It took me quick a bit of experimentation on a recent snow day to come up with my own favorite combination of spices. I used Penzeys brand spices to make my mix because they are so very flavorful, but you can use whatever you have in your cabinet.

Since I try my best not to eat processed foods (especially with the beginning of a new year), my motivation was to come up with a chai spice to use as a change up for my almond milk. I will use this in warm almond milk, adding a small amount of honey as a sweetener – if I am in a really decadent mood! For a mug of heated milk, I use ½ teaspoon of my homemade spice.

This spice can be used to flavor tea, quick breads, smoothies, etc.

I hope I have inspired you to come up with your own chai spice mix. You can try my combination and adjust the ingredients to your own taste!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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ice, ice baby

December 22, 2017

Making homemade Irish Cream for the holidays is a tradition in my family. My mom and sister always put it in their Christmas morning coffee. I prefer to drink it cold. A great addition to the cold version is coffee ice! Making ice cubes in advance from leftover coffee makes this special holiday beverage perfect! But then, a hint of coffee flavor makes many things perfect…think chocolate!

Making special ice cubes is a festive way to enjoy your favorite beverage on Christmas. Depending on your drink of choice, you can choose to add fruit or herbs to your ice as an alternative to making coffee ice. For the children’s beverages, try adding mini gummy bears or crushed candy canes to the ice! What child wouldn’t like to see some gummy bears…or worms!…floating in their juice!

Adding extra fun little details at the holidays is a great way to make the day special!

Using decorative ice cube trays is another festive idea. Ikea usually has some cute ones! Make little ice cube trees, angels, or other unusual shapes. There are also trays available that make ice shot glasses if shots are more your thing!

If you want our family recipe for homemade Irish Cream, click here.

I hope I have inspired you to make some special ice cubes for the holiday…a cute and easy detail to add to your holiday!

Thanks for stopping by and remember to take pleasure in simple things!

Wishing you and your family much joy this holiday season, Jackie xo

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before and after bench redo

polar bear easter egg

bunny ear napkins with eggs

diy constellation easter eggs

egg-actly that time of year

have a heart

valentine candy craft diy

valentine, read my lips

homemade chai spice

ice, ice baby