Making things Spring-y!

Sometimes, you just never find what you are looking for so you have to just make it yourself.  That's what I did today and I am loving all of it!

I have a plant that needs a new pot and I would like to take it to work.  No matter how hard I looked, I just couldn't find a planter that I liked.  So I decided to make my own.  I got this planter at the Dollar Tree, not because of how it looked but because I knew I could make it look how I wanted it to.

I painted it with 4 coats of a light pink acrylic paint called "Peony".  Love the color and the name! 

I wanted to put sweet little flowers on it and thought of several different ways.  I ultimately decided to print the flowers on clear labels and then cut them out and stick them on the planter.

Look how cute my little planter turned out!  It is exactly how I wanted it to look and it was so easy as well.   

 I painted another one in my other favorite color "Cloudless" and added a French graphic to it.  This one still needs something more, but I am sure I will think of something soon. 

And while I had the pink paint out, I decided to make myself a new pen holder for my desk.  This jar is also from the Dollar Tree and is smooth all the way around.  I painted it, added some shabby white flowers around the mouth and tied a bow using vintage seam binding.  It looks so pretty on my desk.

While I was printing things, I decided to make some cute little stickers to put on my new KitchenAid mixer.  I don't know if this kind of design could be done on vinyl, but it would probably last longer than this method.  I printed them and cut them out. 

When I got home, I cleaned and dried my mixer and stuck the stickers on.   

 I love the way it makes my mixer look.  These won't last long but while they do, my mixer will look adorable!

I wanted an aqua mixer but wasn't about to spend $100+ extra just for a color.  The white one works just fine and now I can change up the decorations whenever I want to.  That sounds like a good deal to me! 

Now that my mixer is looking so cute, I better get in the kitchen and get another batch of creme brulee going.  Since I made it on Valentine's Day, Cody has requested on a very regular basis.  He even went and bought me a butane torch.  I have to say, caramelizing the sugar that way makes it taste even better.  And I think making it in my newly decorated mixer will make it even better still!

Linking up with:

Masterpiece Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Make it Pretty Monday

Show & Share

Inspire Me Tuesday

Brag About It

Wow Us Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday

Worthwhile Wednesday

What's It Wednesday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Share Your Style

Simple & Sweet Friday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

New Office Makeover and Tour

We did a little rearranging at work recently.  Since our boss is moving on to a fabulous new job at the botanical gardens, we thought we would move around ourselves.  Yesterday and today, I spent time moving my office back and giving this space a nice and easy yet much needed makeover.  

Please don't mind the cords, they will be tucked away on Monday, but I couldn't wait to show you my new office.  This is the view from the doorway.  It is not a completely closed in office, I have pony wall in front of me where I can see into the entryway.  The window you see here looks into the hallway and is across the hall from my craft closet. 

 I had a lot of fun decorating this space. A lot of the stuff I already had and some of it is new.  I wanted to make this space feel homey and beautiful at the same time.  Of course having some of my favorite pictures hanging on the wall is the best way to go!

This wall has my creations on it.  The cone wreath on top and Paris banner down below were made years ago and have followed me.  The framed paper flowers in the middle I just made yesterday after seeing something very similar at Target this week. This is my take on it and the only thing I had to buy was the frame for $1.50 at the thrift store!

A closer look at my Paris banner.  All of these components were found at work so it didn't cost me a thing...the coffee filter flowers are my favorite part of this! 

I had to pick something up at Rite Aid this week and browsed the gardening section while there.  They had these super cute white birdcages in 3 different sizes.  They also happened to be 50% off!  I picked up the smallest one and paid $5 for it.  I should go get all three sizes.  I wanted to make a light out of it so I put some white lights in it and added some flowers to it.  I want to hang it from the ceiling but I am not tall enough to do that but I will find someone tall enough to hang it soon!   I also took apart some of the silk roses and layered the petals on the lights.  I used to do this in college in my dorm room and it always looked so romantic and pretty.

 I have this pretty metal aqua container that I have placed some flowers in.  It helps hide the plug in.

I got this rug from Kohl's, using Kohl's cash that I earned.  It is at the foot of my desk. 

I also got this memo board from Kohl's.  I love the Eiffel Tower in the corner and the twine bows.  It is the perfect spot to hold special mementos. 

Cody painted this file cabinet for me awhile ago.  The colors aren't quite what I had in mind, but it is way better than the mustard gold color it used to be! 

And I still have this big spot on the wall left to decorate.  One lonely little mirror is all I have hanging right now.  Yard sales and thrift stores, I hope you have something fabulous for me to hang here! 

This is the view I get to see out my window.  Spring is definitely here and the trees are starting to blossom.  This window opens and lets in a nice breeze.  I can hear students chatting, birds chirping, dogs barking and life going on all around me.  I am so happy to be in this office! 

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my new office.  I will be sure to show you any of the other fun stuff I get done to it, but now I better get to work!

Linking up with:
Submarine Sunday
Amaze Me Monday
Make it Pretty Monday
Show & Share
Inspire Me Tuesday
Brag About It
Share Your Cup Thursday
Share Your Style
Simple & Sweet Friday
Home Sweet Home
Feathered Nest Friday

Pies in a jar-Coconut Cream & Lemon Meringue

Sometimes when I see something on Pinterest or elsewhere, I just have to give it a try for myself.  These pies in a jar are just too cute and when I was asked to make the dessert for my dad's Birthday party this weekend, I knew exactly what I would make.  

My dad's favorite pie is Coconut Cream so I knew I would make that kind for sure.  And I love lemon meringue, especially this time of year, so I knew that would be the second one I made.  These are super easy to make but take a little extra time since you have to put everything into individual jars.   

I used Jello pudding mixes for both of these pies.  A small box of instant pudding for the coconut one was the perfect amount for 6 jars.  I whipped my own whipped cream, followed the pudding pie recipe on the side of the box and added half of the whipped cream and some coconut to the pudding.  I toasted coconut in the oven and sprinkled it on top of the pudding and whipped topping.  The crust for both pies is a graham cracker crust. 

For the lemon pie, I used the cook and serve lemon pudding in the large box.  The recipe on the side of the box works perfectly and once it starts cooking, it thickens up very quickly.  The egg whites that you don't use in the pudding mix will be used for the meringue.  The recipe for that is also on the box of pudding.   

Of course I had to dress them up a little bit by tying a piece of twine around the jars.  It works perfectly to hold a fork making these the perfect portable snack.  I have all sorts of ideas for these pies in a jar, especially once camping season rolls around! 

These pies in a jar are fun, easy and delicious.  I hope you give them a try.  I am pretty sure they will be a hit but only if you share!