Monday, April 22, 2013

Got Five Minutes?


 
Hello there! It's another beautiful day here - cool, but sunny. I just put a pot of pansies on my front porch (thanks Mom!), and I feel like it's really here. Flowers and GREEN grass are just around the corner!

One of my favorite Spring time things to do is force forsythia into bloom, but I (just) realized I don't have a forsythia bush at our new home! Bummer! Thanks to my sister, who has a whole slew of forsythia lining her driveway, fear not! I just filled the trunk of my car with branches. When I got home, I put the long, lanky branches into a vase of water.

They look like H-E-double toothpicks to begin with, but within a couple of days, they'll be a mass of bright yellow blooms! Here they are looking less than beautiful, but give me a few days and I'll post what they look like in full force.


While I was at my sisters, I snapped this picture of their woods - how sweet is it with the daffs popping up all through the woods?


It was beautiful!

I got home and had a little time to myself, so I did a couple of tiny projects.  I looove finding time to whip up something decorative or crafty. 5 minutes works for me!

We have an old step stool, that my sister and I had as kids, that now my lil man uses to brush his teeth.  The wear and tear on the stool is genuine - no sanding involved - so I just stenciled his name. If I have to trip over it every day, it may as well look cute!


While I had the stencil stuff out, I stenciled a K onto a piece of scrapbook paper, framed it, and hung it in our little half-bath. I framed two other pieces of the paper and hung them too.


They're just 12"x12" frames, but they take up quite a bit of wall space once grouped together.

 
Over the past few months, there were a few inexpensive, easy projects I did in under an hour.
 
I love this little recipe frame. I printed up two recipes on some brown packing paper, and staple gun in hand, I went to work.  I just measured the frames and the ribbon, and stapled the ribbon right to the back of the frames.  I left about 3" at the top and bottom. To hang, I used Velcro! It hangs by my pantry. And since the recipes are family favorites, I love seeing them everyday.
 


The little man and I painted these little mirrors that have been kicking around for years. We just gave the mirror a coat of white paint, over some vinyl letters, let dry, and peeled off the letters.



I love decals! I bought these from Amazon, for about $5 each, just followed the directions.  The first decal perfectly describes my family, and it makes me happy.

 
The second one, well, you know, I like to laugh. 
 
 
 
For my utensils in the kitchen, this is a dollar store vase, filled with dried lentils. (My spices and herbs from a local Amish store, are just stacked and left by the oven, I like the colors - and why change the packaging when they look so pretty? 

 
Two pretty napkins found at Pier 1, hung on a tension rod in over our kitchen sink, took about 3.7 seconds to "make".  


 
 There are so many more! And so many more I want to do... What are some of your quick décor projects or ideas? I would love to hear them!

Have a wonderful day! I'm off, rake in hand, to get some fresh air!
 
Party Time:
 
Tuesday

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Your projects are wonderful Julia! You are very creative. I love flowers so look forward to the forsythia blooms. Take care and enjoy the rest of your Monday.

Anonymous said...

What creative and quick projects these are! Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown said...

Thank you! I pinned your oxtails stew from today - looks delish!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

Very creative, I like all.
Nan
www.blogshe.net

Anonymous said...

How very clever. Had never thought of those things. Thanks. Here the trees are now all green, grass is green, azaleas are blooming, little violets popping up in the yard. LOVE IT.

Unknown said...

I'm soooo happy it's Spring!

Kim said...

The step stool is precious! Love the curtains too...that's my kind of "sewing"!

Kim said...

The stool is precious! I love your curtains, that's my kind of "sewing"!

Unknown said...

Hi Kim, yes that's totally my kind of sewing too!

MaytagNMom said...

Enjoyed your post on 5 min projects- and yup, it's true- not every project has to be huge, just meaningful :)


Thanks for sharing with us all :)

Visiting from If It's Not Baroque Linky Party
Smiles, Suz @ MaytagNMom
located in NW Illinois

Amy of While Wearing Heels said...

WOW. I am impressed with all those 5 minute projects you were able to whip up. Something tells me, if I attempted them, it would take me longer than 5 minutes, though. I love that you got your little man involved in some of the projects as well. How fun. The stool is precious but the recipes are pure perfection.

Jamie @ Domestically Vintage said...

So many great ideas! I love all the frame projects. I'm visiting from Tuesdays the Scoop link party at The Farmhouse Porch. Have a lovely day! ~ Jamie

Unknown said...

Thank you for visiting! I just love the little afternoon projects. Hope you're getting Spring weather in Illinois!

Unknown said...

The little one loves helping! Well, sometimes it's "help"!!!

Unknown said...

HI Jamie, thanks for visiting!

Selene @ Restoration Beauty said...

These are all so cool! I especially love your napkin curtains! Very clever!
Selene @ Restoration Beauty

With A Blast said...

Love all your projects, especially as they are quick to make ! Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party :-)

Linda
With A Blast

Unknown said...

Hi Selene, thank you for visiting! Trying to find some new Spring-like napkins or tea towels for the warmer months. Still lookin... :)

Unknown said...

Thank you Linda!

Unknown said...

I love the quick and easy projects... I'm all about instant gratification I guess! =)

Thank you for spreading JOY and sharing at the Oh What a HAPPY Day party.

Holly at Not Done Growing

Unknown said...

Thank you Holly! Me too!

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

Love these quick projects. That little stool is adorable. How perfect that it was already perfectly worn. Thank you for sharing it at to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great week!

Hugs,
Deborah

Unknown said...

Thank you Deborah!