Search Results for “bird”

Craft a Faux Bird’s Nest for Spring and Easter Decorating

by H. Camille Smith March 20, 2013 11 Comments

Welcome back, spring — I’ve missed you so! The weather here in Knoxville has (thankfully!) warmed, birds are singing and flowers are popping up everywhere. My backyard is abloom with crocuses, daffodils, tulips, forsythia and lenten roses putting on a colorful show. I’m a flower picker from way back. There’s hardly a photo of a preschool me where I don’t have a bunch of wildflowers (and honestly, sometimes just plain weeds) clutched tightly in my chubby fist. So when my yard breaks into bloom, I break out the scissors and head outside to claim some spring color to brighten up the indoors.

I’ve also always been fascinated by that other harbinger of spring: bird’s nests, eggs and baby birds hopping about. Obviously, I’ve no plans to bring those inside — but – in under an hour I can turn aluminum foil, moss and hot glue into a realistic looking bird’s nest that adds a sweet spring touch:

Pretty, huh? It was actually easy to make – get the complete step-by-step instructions here>> The tiny robin’s eggs are easy to craft too, my instructions include how to paint and speckle them.

You can make your nest any size you like. I made this one large enough to work as an Easter basket of sorts:

Daily Delight: For the Birds

by Jessica Yonker March 19, 2013 12 Comments

The birds have returned to my neighborhood in full force. Even though they drive my dog (and my roommate) crazy, they’re a cheerful reminder that spring is finally almost here. To keep them around, I’m trying out this easy project by Susan Gibbs: fill an empty bird feeder with leftover pieces of yarn and your feathered friends will use the colorful scraps to build their nests.

Get more information and full instructions here >>

Designer MacGyver: Easy Yarn Crafts for Easter

by Briana Mowrey March 18, 2013 5 Comments

The forecast here in New York is calling for snow. Thanks, Mother Nature! But the vernal equinox (aka first day of spring) is two days away, no matter what the forecast says. Shake your winter blues away with pretty Easter crafts in spring palettes. Got some yarn hanging around your home? (If you knit or crochet, you know you do!) These ideas I spotted on Pinterest are perfect for using up scraps.

CHECK OUT ALL THE YARN CRAFTS

Daily Delight: Modern Pet Accessories

by Kayla Kitts March 5, 2013 3 Comments

So, I have two cats (as you know). One is a hefty 11 pounds, while the other is a petite seven pounds. Because they’re so different, we feed them different amounts of food in separate food dishes. This is a daily struggle. Mahala loves to eat out of D’Artagnan’s dish; D’Artagnan loves to eat out of Mahala’s dish; Mahala loves to sneak and eat out of both dishes. They just can’t seem to get it right. Maybe if I get these chalkboard food dishes and etch their names on the front, they’ll know which is theirs? One can only hope.

Chalkboard Bowl by Waggo

Dipper Treat Jars by Waggo

Engineer Stripe Circle Bed by Waggo

The Nursery Files: My Dream Mood Board

by Marianne Canada February 22, 2013 21 Comments

Around here, we are crazy for cute kids’ rooms (and even cuter kids!). With kid #2 due this June, I am rolling up my sleeves and diving head first into turning my neglected guest/junk room into a nursery for my little boy. Before I tackle the “before” (and yes, I’ll be showing you my Room of Shame in a couple of weeks), I’ve been having a blast creating my dream nursery mood board. It’s boyish without being babyish, and has a color palette of navy, grey, orange, weathered brass, and warm wood tones that fits right into my modern house in the woods. I’m not big on sticking to a theme, but there are definitely some elements that tie together here — sort of a vintage nautical thing.

My money-is-no-object nursery would have 3 crisp white walls accented by this gorgeous underwater wallpaper from Hygge & West. On the walls I want to mount a vintage model sailboat, graphic Frenchy artwork, colorful raindrops and an adorable piglet portrait. To warm up our wooden floors, I got lost in this constellation-inspired Calligaris rug, and I’d skip the rocking horse in favor of a rocking sheep. To rock baby to sleep, a sleek handcrafted rocking chair that’s an instant heirloom. I’d love to skip the changing table in favor of a changing pad on a low-slung classic mid-century modern dresser in gorgeous wood, topped with a constellation globe so my baby will always find his way back home. Wouldn’t this chunky vintage brass pendant be lovely lighting up the space? Lastly, baby boy needs a place to lay his head, so I’m ogling a modern crib that still manages to be cozy, this custom-made crib sheet in a tiny anchor print, retro elephant fabric for throw pillows, and a cozy, graphic blanket.

Sigh, it would be a stunning room. And if you tally it all up, it would probably cost as much as I’ve spent to decorate the entire rest of the house. Next week I’ll show you how I took this pie-in-the-sky mood board and created an affordable version that I actually ended up liking even more.

Make it This Weekend: Play Dough Valentines

by Marianne Canada February 8, 2013 4 Comments

Have any big plans this weekend? With the day of love right around the corner, I’ll be hanging out with my little lovebug Lulu, making Valentines for her classmates.

This year we are skipping the candy and making these sweet homemade play dough Valentines. I love this project because it’s a no-cook play dough recipe, so little kids can help out.

What about you? Do you go the homemade route for Valentine’s Day, or do you hit up the store for love letters from your favorite cartoon characters?

Free Valentine’s Day Printables

by H. Camille Smith February 6, 2013 6 Comments

With just one week till V-Day, it’s time for some quick-and-easy printables to put the finishing touches on your celebrations. From valentines you can print then embellish, to lettered tags perfect for topping gifts or treats, we’ve got you covered.

These charming printable tags can be cut into any shape to top their favorite sweets:

If an old-school valentine is more your speed, print one of our cute valentines onto card stock then embellish them with self-adhesive rhinestones and ribbon:

Home Survival Skills: 15 Amazing Uses for Spices and Herbs

by Jessica Yonker February 5, 2013 11 Comments

The spice cabinet is by far my favorite part of the kitchen. The aroma of cinnamon and red peppers, the endless flavor combinations waiting to be discovered . . . I could go on for days.

Perhaps you remember all the great ways you can use vinegar around your home. You’ll quickly find that herbs and spices are no different, offering natural solutions for both you and your home. Plus, it’s likely you already have several of these super-spices at home – probably more than you know what to do with – making them a practically free cure-all.

The Spices

Cayenne Pepper: An easy to grow hot pepper great for adding a kick to any dish, cayenne pepper is a powerful sinus-cleanser (as many hot-sauce aficionados may know) and also great for getting rid of pests.

Cinnamon: One of the most commonly used spices, cinnamon smells good and is good for you.

Garlic: Garlic isn’t actually an herb or a spice, but a member of the lily family – making it kin to other bulbs like onions, shallots and chives. Besides its numerous uses in the kitchen, garlic can do everything from clear up acne to protect your pet from parasites.

Ginger: Ginger root has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes such as treating digestive problems or a nasty cold.

Ginseng: Like ginger, ginseng is harvested for its healing properties and can also help you feel more energetic.

Mint: The mint family actually covers a wide range of plants that includes basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage. Mint is versatile and used in cleansers, can deter pests and can also soothe a tooth or tummy ache.

Other beneficial spices include – but certainly aren’t limited to – turmeric, parsley, saffron, nutmeg, cloves and countless others.

Tricks to Try

Defend the Trend: Are Balloons Fun or Overdone?

by Briana Mowrey February 1, 2013 6 Comments

BRIANA: Balloons seem to be everywhere these days. Design blogs, magazine shoots, entertaining spreads, even engagement photography. (Especially engagement photography.) It’s starting to feel a little bit like the movie Up out there. So, are balloons fun or overdone?

KELLY SMITH TRIMBLE: Saw this project on an event-planner-friend’s Pinterest board and thought it was cute for an outdoor party in cold climates:

Otherwise, balloons outdoors freak me out a little. They remind me of the 1982 World’s Fair when I tragically let go of my red balloon and, through tears, watched it float to heaven. Plus, they always end up getting popped and becoming litter.

Daily Delight: Superhero Valentine

by Grant Dudley January 31, 2013 5 Comments

Have a little boy (or heck, little girl) who needs Valentines for school, but who isn’t into the syrupy “Be My Valentine” sentiment that usually adorns cards? Jessica Okui of Zakka Life has the perfect idea for your little one.

MORE: HGTV.COM GOES ALL OUT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY