MCM Felt Christmas Decor with Cricut

I have been feeling the Mid Century Modern vibe the last couple of years and want to bring more of that into my Christmas decor. This year, I got to work and used my Cricut and transformed a plain tree skirt, that I already had on hand, with felt (inspired by this post from Krys at Melo-Drama.) I also made some colorful felt house ornaments.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

Guest Bathroom Update with Rust-Oleum

Do you have guests coming for the holidays or is your builder grade bathroom in need of an update? My bathroom was not horrible, but it needed a refresh. Since my son  (who mainly used this bathroom) was away at college, I had some time to tear it apart for a few days. See how I updated our guest bathroom over a couple of weekends with some paint and new accessories...for less than $200!

I painted the vanity shortly after we moved in with a chocolate brown paint and it just made the bathroom feel a little dark. After I painted my kitchen cabinets with Rust-Oleum's Cabinet Transformation kit and had some left over, I decided to use it to update the vanity and medicine cabinet. Here is what the bathroom looked like when I started.

Two Ways to use Cricut Vinyl on Wood

It is no secret that I love giving gifts that I have made or personalized in some way. I have an easy DIY gift for you, that is perfect for teachers, neighbors, or a hostess. It is a Hot Cocoa crate with painted wooden spoons and snowflake ornament. I am also sharing two ways to use Cricut vinyl on wood.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

Craft Room Makeover - (One Room Challenge) Week 6

If you are new here, I am a guest participant in the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home and this week all of the participants are showing off their finished spaces. I have made it to the finish line of my Craft room/work space makeover.

I want to say a special thanks to Linda and the official ORC media partner, Better Homes and Garden! I have made new friends through this challenge and gained tons of inspiration for future projects, so make sure you head over to the ORC blog and check out the amazing Featured Designers as well as some of the Guest Participants.

5 Reasons I Love My Cricut Maker

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

I have had my Cricut Maker for about a year now and have used it for a variety of projects. If you are considering upgrading from the Explore series or buying a Maker, this post is a must read! Even though there are a thousand reasons I love my Cricut Maker, I am sharing my top five with you today!

If you missed my post introducing you to the Maker, you can check it out HERE

Features of the Cricut Maker

• Cuts 300+ materials, from the most delicate fabric and paper to matboard and leather
• Compatible with Knife Blade for thicker materials up to 2.4 mm (sold separately)
• Compatible with QuickSwap™ tools to quickly switch between scoring, engraving, debossing, and other decorative effects (sold separately)
• Bluetooth® wireless technology
• Fast Mode for up to 2X faster cutting and writing

Holly Lane Jewelry Review

I am partnering with Holly Lane Jewelry to bring you an unique gift idea. All opinions are my own.

One of the perks of blogging is being introduced to new brands. I only partner with brands that I am passionate about and enjoy being able to share them with others. I recently was introduced to Holly Lane Jewelry through one of the Christian networks I work with and I am always excited to share faith-based shops.

Holly Lane's line of sterling silver Christian jewelry is intentionally designed to create opportunities to share Christ with others, and to be worn as a personal reflection of faith. These unique designs are based on verses from the Bible and are meant to catch the attention of others and spark conversation. Each piece is designed by jewelry artist Tiffany Scott and handmade in Virginia.

Craft Room Organization - (One Room Challenge) Week 4

I am back with the progress on my Craft Corner for the One Room Challenge. To refresh your memory, this is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, that consists of 20 featured designers and over 150 guest participants showcasing a room makeover that they have to complete in just 6 weeks.

I skipped posting last week, because I honestly did not have time to make much progress. I am still waiting on the floor paint from Rust-Oleum that they are generously sending me. (Since it is a new product, there have been some delays.) In the meantime, I have been trying to organize my craft supplies a little better...mainly the rolls of vinyl, card stock, and chipboard. I have moved things around half a dozen times and think I have finally settled on a system...for now.

Faux Shirt Pocket With Cricut EasyPress Mini

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Cricut is really killing it this year with new products...Infusible Ink, new QuickSwap Maker tools, and the EasyPress Mini! It is the newest addition to the EasyPress family and is the cutest tool I have ever seen! Today, I am putting it to work and showing you how to add a faux pocket to a plain t-shirt.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

Geometric Accent Wall - (One Room Challenge) Week 2

I am back with my progress on the One Room Challenge. To refresh your memory, this is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, that consists of 20 featured designers and hundreds of guest design bloggers showcasing a room makeover that they have to complete in just 6 weeks.

In my last post, I shared my current craft space and overall plan for the makeover.
You can catch up on that HERE. 

Craft Room Makeover - (One Room Challenge) Week 1

Here I go again! I am joining the One Room Challenge as a Guest Participant. If you remember, I made over my kitchen this past Spring (and didn't quite finish.), but I did pull off a Mudroom from scratch in the Fall 2017 ORC. This time, I am taking on a much smaller project, so hopefully this will go much better.

If you have not heard of this challenge, it is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home that consists of a 6-week challenge where 20 featured designers and hundreds of design bloggers get to showcase a room makeover that they’ve completed in just 6 weeks. A few of my fave blogger buddies are participating as a Featured Designer this round, so make sure you follow along!

3 Halloween Projects with Cricut

If you have been following me for a while, then you will know that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! I love dressing up in costume and decorating my whole house. Buying decor every year can get expensive, so I have to get creative and DIY some projects. Luckily, I have my Cricut Maker to help me craft up some spooky goodness!

Today I am sharing 3 easy projects using card stock, iron on vinyl, and regular vinyl to make decor for three areas of my house.

How to Use the Cricut Maker’s QuickSwap Toolset

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Just when you thought the Cricut Maker could not get even more awesome, Cricut releases four new tips! When Cricut launched Maker 2 years ago, it made a promise to come out with more tools and materials, so that Maker could grow with creators as they master new crafts.  These tools can be used only with the Maker, because it was specially designed with an Adaptive Tool System. This system brings together three major technologies that give Maker professional class cutting versatility and performance.

Cricut recently introduced more tools as part of the Adaptive Toolset and they are part of the QuickSwap line, which allows makers to quickly change out the tools during a project. These new tools allow creators to utilize even more techniques, such as engraving and debossing, and materials such as metal, with Maker, further expanding Maker’s capabilities.

How to Contour Images with Cricut

Have you ever found an image that you liked in Cricut Design Space, but you wanted to change it slightly? It is possible to change most images using the Contour feature. I took two images and modified them to create a new image, using Ungroup and Contour.

One of my favorite things to do with my Cricut is to make personalized gifts. My friend was having a Taco-themed baby shower, so I wanted to make a baby gift to go along with the theme.

DIY Felt Wall Hanging with Cricut

This felt wall hanging is perfect for any teen's room or college dorm. You can customize it with any inspirational quote and can add pom poms, tassels, or decorative trim! I made this one in an afternoon, for my son's girlfriend.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

MCM Inspired Cinder Block Wall

Do you have a plain wall that needs a little color? We did! Our deck is built on a cinderblock wall that faces the pool area. We painted the blocks white a few years ago to make the area look a little more finished, but it needed something else. 

After seeing several bloggers I follow on Instagram painting murals all over their houses, I decided to give it a go. The worst that could happen, is I would not like it and I could just paint over it.

Tips on Getting Your Pool Ready For Summer

I am partnering with HTH® Pool Supplies to share my tips on how to get your pool ready for Summer, but all opinions are my own.

School is out, which means it is officially summer and time for long days by the pool. We always kick off Memorial Day weekend with a pool party and cook out for family and friends. This means I spend the week before cleaning the deck and area around the pool, getting it ready to open. HTH® Pool Supplies make it easy to get your water ready for swimmers and you can pick it up during your next trip to Walmart!

We have been opening our pool for about 10 years now and each time it gets a little easier. We are always looking for ways to get it open a little quicker so we can enjoy it. We start by using a small pump hooked to a hose to drain the rain water off the pool cover. Next, we use a net to remove the leaves and debris that has fallen over the winter. Once the pool cover is mostly clear, we remove the water tubes from around the edges and remove the cover.

Getting Started in Bible Journaling Using a Journal

The journal was provided to me by DaySpring to review, but all opinions are my own. 

There are many ways to study scripture and one of the ways I like to dive in to the Word is through journaling. It allows me to focus on the passage and be creative in the process which helps me retain what I am reading. Even if you do not have a Journaling Bible, you can still get creative while studying scripture.

This Devotional Doodle Journal is the perfect place to start if you do not know where to start. It offers a short devotional with lines for journaling and a prompt page to doodle on. The one I started with (shown below) was the simple task of drawing stars. 

3 Simple Graduation Crafts

My son just graduated from High School (cue the tears), which calls for celebration. No party is complete without a few DIY projects, especially when they involve my Cricut. I know Graduation season is over, but a couple of these crafts can be customized for birthdays or other events, so go ahead and Pin it for later!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

3 Ideas For a Girls Craft Party

I received product from Deflecto in exchange for hosting a Tryazon Party, but all opinions are my own.

It is no secret that I love crafting and craft organization, so when I had an opportunity to review a new line of craft organization products AND get crafty with a few of my girlfriends, I jumped at the chance. If you have not heard of Tryazon, it is a website dedicated to getting innovative products into people’s hands, in fun settings like this. They offer excellent product samples and savings for all who participate.

First let me tell you about the organizers. Deflecto creates storage products that help people stay organized at home, work, or on-the-go. Deflecto’s products have clear sides, allowing you to be able to see what is stored inside. They all work together to make the ultimate craft room! 

Tips on Installing Peel and Stick Glass Tile

Aspect Tile provided the back splash tile kit for this project, but all opinions are my own.

We recently updated our kitchen for the One Room Challenge. One of the things we did was replace the outdated tile back splash with Aspect Peel & Stick glass tiles. These tiles are available in metal, stone, glass, and wood and will fit in with any style of room.

This was my first experience with tiling, so I did not want to deal with grout. This product was easy to install; I did it in a few hours over a weekend.

MCM Kitchen Reveal (One Room Challenge)-Week 6

So here we are in the final week of the One Room Challenge...the long awaited REVEAL! If you are new here, I am a guest participant in the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home and this week all of the participants are showing off their finished spaces. I want to say a special thanks to Linda, official ORC media partner Better Homes and Garden, and my sponsors for making this possible! I have made new friends through this challenge and gained tons of inspiration for future projects, so make sure you head over to the ORC blog and check out the amazing Featured Designers as well as some of the Guest Participants.

Catch up on my weekly ORC posts here:

Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 

Installing Butcher Block Counters (One Room Challenge) - Week 5

Here we are at week 5 of the ORC, just one week away from the reveal! If you are just joining me, I am a guest participant in the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, where 20 Designers and over 200 guest bloggers make over a room in 6 weeks! Our kitchen is coming right along and hopefully (fingers crossed) will be finished next week.

One of the things we did in the kitchen was replace the tile counter tops with wood butcher block. This project definitely had its challenges, so I am sharing what I learned with you in case you are considering installing butcher block yourself.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas and Giveaway

Mother's Day is right around the corner so I am rounding up some of my favorite gift idea posts for you. Stick around till the end because I am also co-hosting a huge giveaway where you have the chance to win 1 of 3 gift cards worth over $100 each to treat your mom...or yourself!

Whether you want to make something special for your mom or just head to the store or click that "Add to Cart" button, I have several ideas for you. Just click the links to be taken to the post for more information.

How to Paint Wood Cabinets (One Room Challenge) - Week 4

Rust-Oleum provided the kit for this project, but all opinions are my own.

If you are just joining me, I am a guest participant in the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home. We are in week 4 and I am finally panting our cabinets. I am using Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation kit which comes with all the supplies needed to update your cabinets. I am always for products that make my DIY life easy and this kit comes with almost everything you need.

It is easy as 1-2-3...Clean, Paint, Seal!

MCM Kitchen Makeover (One Room Challenge)-Week 3

Here we are at the halfway mark of the One Room Challenge. To refresh your memory, this is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, that consists of  20 featured designers and hundreds of design bloggers showcasing a room makeover that they have to complete in just 6 weeks.

MCM Kitchen Makeover (One Room Challenge)-Week 2

I am back with my progress on the One Room Challenge. To refresh your memory, this is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home, that consists of  20 featured designers and hundreds of design bloggers showcasing a room makeover that they have to complete in just 6 weeks.

Special thanks to my sponsors: 

Rust-Oleum, Aspect Tile, and D. Lawless Hardware for providing product used to achieve this fabulous transformation!

Modern Kitchen Makeover (One Room Challenge)-Week 1

I am joining in the One Room Challenge again this Spring as a Guest Participant. If you have not heard of this, it is a twice a year blogger event hosted by Linda at Calling It Home that consists of a 6-week challenge where 20 featured designers and hundreds of design bloggers get to showcase a room makeover that they’ve completed in just 6 weeks. I transformed our Mudroom in the Fall 2017 challenge, which you can read all about HERE. This time, I am taking on my kitchen, which I am a little nervous about since it is used daily.

Each Wednesday, you can follow along with 20 featured designers as they complete a room transformation.  On Thursdays, there over 200 participants that link up with their own makeovers. Make sure you check them out, so you can be inspired by all the dramatic transformations.

How to Use and Store Vinyl Scraps

If you are a hard core crafter, then you probably save all your scraps to use in other projects. Today I am going to show you how I store my scraps of vinyl and how I used them to decorate a makeup caddy. If you are a 90's girl like me, then you probably had a Caboodles. I actually still have mine and use it to hole my makeup. When I saw that Caboodles recently introduced a new DIY one, I was inspired to decorate my old one with fun 90's images.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

Wine Glass Charms Using the Maker's Adaptive Tool System

Did you get a Cricut Maker for Christmas and are afraid to take it out of the box? Or, have you set it up, but not sure where to start? Don't let the machine intimidate you! If you are new to the Cricut Maker, head over and read my Cricut Maker FAQ post, then come back and check out how easy it is to change out the tools for any project you can dream up. Today I am am using the Knife Blade and Metallic Pen to make custom wine glass charms, perfect for Valentine's Day or for a hostess gift.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

DIY Stenciled Farmhouse Wooden Sign

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I can share one of the gifts I made, a stenciled farmhouse style sign. Farmhouse style signs are very popular right now and I am going to show you how you can make one for yourself. It was easy since I used my Cricut to cut a stencil out of vinyl!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience, which means I receive a small financial compensation if you make a purchase using this link. You can read more about affiliate links here.

How to Replace a Ceiling Light Fixture

Our house was but in the 60's, so we have those unattractive globe lights in our kitchen and hallway and they just have not been high on our list of priorities to update. A couple months ago, we ran across the most fabulous light fixture at Black Dog Salvage that was perfect for the entry hall! Of course, it did not fit perfectly (because nothing ever does in an old house) but I am going to show you how we made the light work.

First off, if you have never heard of Black Dog Salvage, which was made famous on the show Salvage Dawgs,  please go look it up. We are fans of the show and since the warehouse is only a couple hours away from us in Roanoke, VA we decided to take a day trip up there to look around. They have EVERYTHING you could ever want as far as architectural salvage, plus they also have a shop where they sell finished pieces made from salvaged items.