insta.life {leap list, part II}

My apologies if you're not into the Instagram-ing thing, but right now, it seems to be the easiest way for me to catch the daily details. We are in the beginning stages of camera shopping (our first SLR might be on the horizon!) and then perhaps I will be excited to snap pictures with something other than my iPhone.

Until then..hang tight.

Here is the second half of my {mini} leap list, first mentioned about 2 1/2 weeks ago (first half here). I was hoping to have all nine items done by Leap Day and I came pretty darn close. Eight of the nine were completed in time, and I just finished up #9 today.

First up:

Mady's Pinterest-inspired, Ikea-hack, spice racks turned bookshelves.

I love this new little reading nook 

(it's in the corner of her room beneath two windows). 

Great light, comfy pillows, and toddler-appropriate reading material.

What's not to love?

Next up: conquering a new picture wall for Mady.
This Expedit shelf is new too, and it would have looked better staged if my two-year-old assistant hadn't walked off with the cute toy that usually resides in cubby #1.
I'm a recovering perfectionist, however, so I'm letting it go.

Again, like with Ella's collage wall, the frames were all re-purposed, the printables were free {owl, birds, love, child of God}, 

the tree is from Hobby Lobby, 

the newborn photo is courtesy of the fabulous Mindy Leigh, 

and the 'M' was handmade with love by yours truly.

It's a work in progress, but finished is better than perfect.

My {actual} Leap Day project was this bucket of cute, girly fabric-wrapped balls (first attempted here). I love how they bring an extra pop of color and personality into the room.

Truthfully, it seemed like a lot of effort at the time for a five-year-old's room, but it only took me a couple of hours to whip them up and after taking a step back, I realize that I do really love them. 

Also, being the mom to little girls is an honor and a privilege, and I'm going to take full advantage of my right to do frivolous, pink (!) things on their behalf.

Lastly, here is the final member of my {mini} leap list.

D & E are at the age where we need to start teaching them a little bit more about money and how to handle it. I was looking for a simple way to help them be more intentional about their spending habits. I first spotted this idea at Lil Light O' Mine. 

I found this DIY version (dollar store jars!) and went to work. 

I made more homemade chalkboard labels and Mod Podged strips of paper to pretty them up.

* * * * *

Long story short, this has been quite the spurt of crafting for me. The key (for me) has been to pick simple crafts with lots of meaning. It's been extra fun doing projects for the kids because they are eating it up.

Time to rest up. Craft Night {Make It For Them March} is right around the corner!

{Linking up}

 How To Nest For Less

insta.life {leap list edition}

I've been working my tail off this week trying to finish up some projects around the house. 

Due to a freak-ish burst of energy, I am happy to report that I can cross off five of the nine items on my {mini} leap list.

Three things you should know before we get started:

1) If you're looking for a little push to get started on some to-do's, post the list in a public place, i.e. your blog. Works like a charm.

2) This is not a normal level of productivity for me. The other 51 weeks of the year, you can either find me curled up with a good book or pinning furiously to my 50-some pinboards.

3) These projects were E-A-S-Y. Like only-requires-a-hot-glue-gun easy. As in your-five-year-old-can-be-your-assistant easy.

First up: adding names to my homemade chalkboard labels.

I cut the contact paper first, rounded the corners, and then sprayed them with 2-3 coats of chalkboard paint. I borrowed T's trusty chalk marker (because there is not one to be found in the greater Grand Rapids area.), slapped them on my fabulous new OXO containers and called it a day. Literally. 

I headed up to bed shortly after this photo was taken.

The next morning, while still in my PJ's, I screwed the legs onto an IKEA LACK side table ($7.99 and no tools required, thank you very much) and started lining up four blue Lego plates in a square. I added some blocks to ensure proper plate spacing and then went to town with a bottle of Gorilla glue. Remember: measure twice, glue once. 

Mid-morning, some friends joined us to work on a little winter break project: prayer pails. So often our kids either aren't sure who or what to pray for or they end up praying for the same things every night. To help spark their little minds, I thought this was a cute and functional activity. On the sticks, D & E wrote the names of friends, family and other people and things that are dear to their hearts. 

So far, they love pulling a stick or two out at bed time to focus on during prayer time. (Last night, Ella prayed for Caden and Dylan prayed for Nana Jen. So sweet).

Next up: a new collage wall for Ella. I realized as I worked on the Lego table for Dylan and re-organized Mady's room that my sweet middle child might start suffering from a teensy case of Middle Child Syndrome if I didn't send some attention her way too! We ended up moving her furniture around and as we did that, I realized she had outgrown the animal flashcards-turned-"art" that have been hanging in her room since she was a baby.

I am in love with how this turned out and the especially exciting part is that it was basically free. The printables I found on Pinterest here and here. The frames were sitting unused in my basement. The fabric came from my scrap pile (I feel so crafty being able to say that I have a scrap pile), and the 'E' was homemade by me at a previous craft night. 

The only real {kind-of} work was spray painting the three smaller frames Blue Ocean Breeze.  Voilà!

The new table is a big hit with our boy. Thank you, Pinterest. 

I am a better mother because of you.

One last project to round out the week. I had originally planned to wrap this letter in yarn too, but when I started to spot the fabric wrapped ones on Pinterest I knew I wanted to try it. 

Mady's new 'M' required hot glue-ing batting to the front and trimming off the excess. Then I cut a piece of fabric slightly bigger then my overall letter shape (leaving enough to tuck around to the back). I started gluing my way around the letter, folding around the corners the best I could, kind of like wrapped a present. 

Because of the angles of the 'M', I also needed to cover the sides somehow. I ended up creating a one inch strip of fabric by folding and ironing the edges under. I then did my best to carefully hot glue that strip around the edge. I am happy to report, it was a successful venture (with only one minor hot glue burn to report).

* * * * *
There you have it! I'm still a bit of reluctant/closet crafter but I think I need to step up and start owning it. This is fun!

{Linking up to}

InstaFriday @ Life Rearranged

Finding the Lovely @ Jeanne Oliver

Monday Link Up @ a {little} dash of ash

{mini} Leap List

Thanks to Honda's latest ad campaign, people are buzzing about Leap Lists - lists of things people want to accomplish before the next major milestone in their lives, i.e. getting married, having kids, turning 40, etc. {Note: I'd like to think that Theresa and I are ahead of the game with our Year 32 lists.}

The list that's on my mind right now, however, is less grand in comparison. Below is a list of small-ish {Pinterest-inspired} DIY projects that I'd like to accomplish before Leap Day 2012, two weeks from today.

my {mini} Leap List

Put together a DIY Lego table for Dylan

Prime, paint, and hang frames for Ella's wall collage

Choose printables + easy DIY projects for Mady's wall collage

Attempt a fabric wrapped letter

Prime, paint, and hang Ikea spice rack bookshelves

Create {more} fabric-wrapped balls for Ella's room

Make Save | Spend | Give money jars for D & E

Put together prayer pails with the kids

Write pantry staple names on my homemade chalkboard labels

Phew. That's a big list, but luckily I choose my projects primarily on the easy-peasy factor, and I already have most of my materials gathered. Also, I might save a project or two for our March craft night.

In addition, next week marks the start of Lent so I'll be busy purging 40 bags in 40 days {link up your list here!}

Want to place bets on whether or not I'll get it all done? What are your short-term, {mini} Leap List goals?

{Photo Credits}

1. Lego Table @ Creative Thoughts from an Ordinary Mom  2. Sunshine & Love Printables @ J & A and Company  

3. Owl Printable @ Mine for the Making  4. Fabric Letter @ Little Things Bring Smiles  

5. Spice Rack Bookshelves @ IKEA Hackers  6. Fabric Balls @ Landee See, Landee Do  

7. Money Jars @ A Thoughtful Place  8. Prayer Pail @ Lu Bird Baby  9. DIY Chalkboard Labels @ A Thoughtful Place.