Day 14: {Post #2} Simple Soda Bottle Centerpiece

My dining room centerpiece is ANOTHER “Pin”spiration (of course……)

Here’s mine…..

Here’s my “Pin”spiration: (from http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2012/01/diy-planter-box-centerpiece.html )

I love Shanty 2 Chic’s trough and her blog gives EXCELLENT step-by-step instructions. I WILL be making one for my mantle…. BUT in the meantime, I decided to go a slightly different route.

I was at Sams Club shopping about 2 months ago and bought the little “picket fence” looking box. It was filled with flowers (that I, and my black thumb, quickly killed 😦 … ahhhh well… they were pretty while they lasted). And I saved the box because I KNEW that I could find something to do with it.

After a trip to POPS (a fun Soda Pop store/restaurant/gas station here in Oklahoma on Route 66 – if you’re ever here visiting I recommend it as a fun place for you and the kiddos), my Family returned home with a variety of bottled cream sodas (YUM!) and I came home eager to fill my planter box.

After finishing the Cream Sodas (with me chanting …. Chug, Chug, Chug…. HA!), I cleaned out the bottles & simply placed them in my planter box. Then I  inserted a fake flower ( from Hobby Lobby) into each one. Voila…… Just like that… I had a simple, adorable, fun kitchen table centerpiece. Thanks for the “Pin”spiration, Shanty 2 Chic!

Have a beautiful day & Happy Pinning!,

Kirsten

Day 14: Burlap “Inspirational” Placemats

I have a large square dining room table that I ADORE. I love that when we have friends or family over we can all fit comfortably around our cozy table and eat… or play games… or just talk & laugh!  That table has to be my favorite purchase ever!……… BUT finding decorations for it has been difficult. Rectangular placemates don’t fit right and I’ve never seen a square placemat that I really like.

And then….. once again….. enter pinterest & it’s WONDERFUL “Pin”spirations!

Now…. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my table…. since finishing it over the weekend, I just admire it. It looks peaceful and warm. and happy. It’s not perfect…. but it’s WONDERFULLY imperfect!!!

I saw this “Pin”spiration on http://cottageandvine.blogspot.com/2011/11/great-idea.html (Thanks Rene!) and thought I’d try to make them for myself.

I cut 14″ x 14″ squares out of burlap. This left the edges very rough and raggedy.

Then I pulled out my sewing machine and made a simple straight stitch about a 1/3 inch in all the way around the burlap square.

After stitching all the way around the burlap, I pulled the strings to cause it to fray. I did this gently and just pulled until I reached my stitch line. This left all these little frayed strings:

I then took scissors to trim the strings to make the edge look uniform. Next I pulled out my stamps (found at Hobby Lobby), an ink pad (left over from a Pottery Barn project from Ella’s baby days), and a Black Sharpie.

I lined up the stamps in the lower right corner of the placemat, and then one by one dipped them in ink and pressed them on the burlap. This left a faint image of the word “PRAY” on the placemat. I then traced over that stamped word with a sharpie. I like how it turned out……

BUT didn’t love it!! (notice the black ink left over from the other parts of the stamp!… ick!) sooooooo……. Hobby Lobby Stencils to the rescue!

LOVED IT!!!!! After stenciling the rest of the placemats and then giving them a quick iron (I sprayed a lightweight starch and ironed them on the back side)….. my table was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Can’t wait to make more to change up for the holidays:

Thanksgiving: Gather, Harvest, Feast, Give, Thankful, Etc.

Christmas: Noel, Peace, Merry, Believe, Etc.

I think it would be cute to even do the “Fruits of the Spirit”  (Thanks for the idea Linda! ): Love, Joy, Peace, patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

Happy Pinning :-),

Kirsten