A generation ago, people wrote notes – as in handwritten notes. Everybody did it. Thank you cards, special occasion cards, love notes, letters to share news, drawings, poetry, or lovely ramblings to connect with each other – the handwritten note was a valued practice. Senders expressed all types of sentiments with colorful words and beautiful…
Home & DIY
Do-It-Yourself projects to make your house a home, try something new, or make your life easier! Some of our favorites include: DIY home organization ideas to streamline your busy life, kid-friendly DIY projects to make new memories with your mini-me, and DIY updates to save a buck.
DIY – Chunky Knit Throw Blanket Is Trendy, Comfy, Easy!
Knitting something out of jumbo yarn is so satisfying! One of the most stylish pieces you can craft using giant needles is a comfy, chunky knit throw blanket. In just a few hours during an afternoon, you can complete this on-trend, Pinterest-worthy project that showcases your skills and notches up your home decor. If you are…
Christmas Cookie Boxes
Phew! What a week. Like yours, no doubt, the holidays always come to our house with a whirlwind of activity – decorating the house, shopping for gifts, cleaning (or not 😛 ), and baking! Baking Christmas cookie boxes for friends and family has long been a favorite holiday tradition in our family. Why do we…
Too-Good Caramel Apples: the best NO BAKE bake-sale goodie
Try these caramel-coated, chocolate-covered candy apples once, and you’ll love them forever. The no-bake recipe yields a beautiful caramel apple perfect for fall bake sales, holiday gifting, or starting a new tradition with kids. An easy, festive, hugely-decadent sure-winner recipe during busy October? Yes, please. Did I mention the recipe starts with fresh, tart, crisp…
Be a day-maker! DIY gift baskets to say thanks
Looking to create upscale DIY gift baskets to send a special thank you to a special nurse, doc, teacher or care provider? Here are our ideas to say “thanks a bunch” for your service – a simple act of gratitude that can make someone’s day. Homemade gift baskets are a thoughtful treat for anyone who…
How to save on your DIY flower bouquet
How to build a better DIY flower bouquet for less – it’s easy! It seems we are always looking for a little gift for a friend. A thank you for a friend who helped us, a pick-me-up for someone who had a rough go, a thinking-of-you birthday surprise, a hostess gift for an impromptu party…for…
DIY Explorer Kits for Kids!
Just dug this article out of the archives and brushed it off for summer! Read on for a quick and easy “how-to” for our DIY Explorer Kits for Kids. We just love these kits this time of year. They’re perfect for curious, energetic kids, and an awesome activity to do with grandkids too! How do…
10 Tips to winterize your home: An hour today saves many later
Time to get organized for winter! Because soon we’ll be scrambling to get everything done for the holidays and crave an extra few hours for….well, anything and everything. We’re mostly organized (…with a little time we can find anything we need). But…we’re always trying to de-clutter. How about you? Find yourself shoving another thing into a closet…
Earth Day Kids Craft: Up-cycled, Rainbow Name Crayons
Here’s a razzle dazzle, super-fun “upcycling” project that’s a perfect DIY for kids – rainbow name crayons! And, what a special, personal gift to create someone’s name in all colors of the rainbow?! We used a letter mold, but you might already have heart molds for Valentine’s, Christmas shapes, flower molds and many more. Here’s…
How to Make Lined Drapes – Easy Step-by-Step
If you read the previous post about sewing sheer drapes, you’ll know we’re making floor-length window coverings for my daughter’s Craftsman-style house. The sheers are completed and hung – yeah! Now we’re ready to make lined drapes. Sounds a challenge or at least expensive? Not really. So far, we mounted the two rods that nearly…