New Rooms on a Budget

After I posted yesterdays post about children's bedding I started thinking about redecorating bedrooms. I actually have never done most of these things but they are things that I'm thinking of doing when I get around to it! And everything on here is super affordable.
I have run across a few ideas for wall hangings. First, is this idea from the Homemade By Jill blog. Its just three blank canvases (use some 40% off coupons or, even better, wait until they are 50% off), decorative tissue paper, and mod podge. How cool is that?

Next are these wooden frames from Ikea. You just find your favorite fabric, stretch it tight around, and staple it in the back. I couldn't put a good picture on here but you can go to their website and browse the bedroom ideas to see how cool it can look. They had nine of them arranged in a three by thee square.

Don't forget letters. You can buy them in various fonts and sizes at JoAnns or Michaels. You can paint them or mod podge them with fabric, decorative paper, or tissue paper.

Here is something that I did do for Eliza's room. (Rachel-I think these are the colors you are going for too. Unfortunately, I got the quilt at Target and they don't carry it anymore.)

You can just sew coordinating ribbon or ric rac onto plain bed skirts, curtains, pillowcases, etc. Its super easy. I actually made the bed skirt myself but I bought the white curtains and coordinated them all with the same ribbons.

Here is another project from the Homemade by Jill blog. She just took an old, ugly dresser and mod podged scrapbook paper to the front and switched the nobs. I'm thinking I might try that on a book shelf I have, just on the inside of it. If I do, I'll take pictures and post them someday!

And don't forget the homemade headboard. The Pink Wallpaper blog has a good tutorial.

And, even though I'm too cheap to buy most things from Pottery Barn, they do have a place on their website with design tips. I liked this idea of a memory wall. (For a pattern to sew those little chairs, click here.)

Ok, so those are just some of the ideas I've had swimming around in my head. Its actually nice to get them all down in one spot, so when I get motivated to tackle some projects, I've got it all right here.

I'd love to hear your ideas, as well!

Affordable Children's Bedding

My good friend Rachel has a question that I hope we can help her with. She is wondering if anyone knows where she can buy affordable bedding for her little girls. When she looks online she can find very cute stuff, but out of her price range. Does anyone have any suggestions for her? Where should she look?
(She is specifically looking for something that is lime green, watermelon pink, soft pink, and white)

Altering a Waistband

Here is a tutorial from my sister. If you have waistband issues with your pants you might want to give this a try.
"My pants never fit right. Usually when pants fit my hips and legs, the waist is too large. I don't know if it is because I am oddly shaped or what, but I am thinking that maybe other people also have this problem. I absolutely hate wearing belts, so I have come up with a way to alter my waistbands so that I don't need a belt.
Start by making one inch slits with a seam ripper on the inside band of the pants about where both hips are.

Thread one inch belt elastic through the waistband. Pin one end so it is flush with the slit.

Using a satin stitch, sew over the slit so that it is completely closed and the elastic is secured.

Try on the pants and pull the belt elastic to the desired length. Pin in place and cut the elastic so that it is flush with the slit. Using the satin stitch again, sew over the second slit so that it is also completely closed and the elastic secured.

I also have super skinny kids and this can also be done on children's pants with smaller elastic. Often an extra step is involved with unpicking the stitching that is usually through the existing elastic. I usually leave that elastic in the pants and just add another piece of shorter elastic."

Thanks Abbie! Please share if you have any tips for altering your clothes to fit better.

Nativity Story

Ok-My good friend Nicole would like some ideas for telling the nativity story to her children on Christmas Eve. What scripture passages do you read? What do you do? Lets post some ideas for her-and soon! It's almost Christmas!!! I can hardly believe it!

The Hobby Barrel

My sister sent me this link. A fun crafty site to check out!
www.thehobbybarrel.com

The Comfy Couch

My sister wanted to see if anyone out there has any great ideas for a super comfortable couch that could use a little updating. 
"We have some really ugly, ugly most comfortable couches ever. I have a love hate relationship with them. I tried to buy some slip covers but they fit horrible and always slipped off and get tangled.I hated them more than the ugly fabric on the couch."
Does anybody know what she could try? She is handy with a sewing machine but doesn't know much about reupholstering. She would love any suggestions!

Ho Ho Holiday Baking

Recently my neighbor had the kids over to make gingerbread houses. They turned out so cute and she shared some great tips with me, so I thought I would share them with you!
First, instead of baking actual gingerbread, she makes sugar cookie dough and dyes it brown (because its easier to work with and the kids like it a lot more). Then she bakes it for a minute longer than a regular sugar cookie (so its not so soft and will be a sturdier building material). HERE is the recipe she uses for the sugar cookie dough.
Get creative with your decorations. Waffle pretzels make great windows and fences. Use lifesavers as wreaths. Make a marshmallow snowman in the yard. Do you have any ideas?
And if you just have too much to do already and don't have time to be baking in the kitchen-don't forget about the graham cracker gingerbread house. They are just as fun to make and its much easier on you. Just use a serrated knife to saw through the crackers and then design and build your structure.
A word about icing-You need to use royal icing so it will harden and luckily it is so simple to make. A lot of recipes say to use egg whites and I always get nervous about the raw egg thing, so I use meringue powder (found at Michaels with the cake deco stuff). Its still made from egg whites but it has been processed. Just mix 5 Tbl meringue powder and 5 cups powdered sugar. Slowly add 1/2 c. of water and mix until smooth. So easy!
You can pipe the frosting out of a decorating bag, or cut the corner off a ziplock, or get these awesome bottles (also from Michaels). This year I also used the bottles to decorate cookies with the kids and it was GREAT!!! Not nearly as messy and they could be more creative with them. (You might want to make the icing a little runnier so the kids can squeeze it out easily-use only 4 cups of powdered sugar)

And a tip for sugar cookies-Always watch them very closely while baking the first few batches, until you get the timing down. Do not let the bottoms brown like I did on a few batches. It really is so disappointing to have spent all that time rolling and cutting out!

Now I have a question for you. Does anyone know how to make frosting in bold colors? Red is always pink and everything else is pastel. Do I need to use something other than traditional food coloring?

Please comment and share any holiday baking tips you might have.

Abbiesolutely

My sister Abbie just started a new Etsy shop. Check out her patterns for childrens soft chairs, (similar to Pottery Barn's Anywhere chair). She helped me make one for Tyson a few years ago and I wish I had video of when I gave it to him. He was SO excited. It would be a fun project if you can't think of a good gift for your kids for Christmas. She also has printable games to download that she has made. I wish I could be half as crafty as her!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/abbiesolutely

Christmas Card Display Ideas

Do you ever wonder what you can do with all those Christmas cards you receive? I pulled together a few ideas for you. Please comment and share if you have any other genius ideas!

http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2008/12/leave-it-to-domino.html

http://www.countryliving.com/homes/holiday-decorating-1208

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/magnetic-photo-rope

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/good-questions/good-questions-holiday-card-display-ideas-070768

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-organizing-tips?lpgStart=1&currentslide=8&currentChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-organizing-tips?lpgStart=1&currentslide=7&currentChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-organizing-tips?lpgStart=1&currentslide=6&currentChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs

Choosing a School for Your Child

One of my good friends will be relocating to a new town soon. She has school aged children, so consequently, her children will be changing schools. She is wondering if we have any advice for researching and choosing good schools for our kids. If anybody has any tips or has been through this before, please comment and share!
Her question:
"What criteria should I look at with the schools when making a decision.  What do the different scores mean and what should I base the decision on.  Do you have any good websites that will help me understand the test scores and what they mean and what I should really look at when deciding?  Any help would be greatly appreciated!"