Creative Kids : Storytelling

DIY Storytelling

 

Good Morning! The last couple weeks we’ve had fun practicing storytelling with Sydney, all thanks to Elmer’s Early Learners Academy. As soon as our fun box filled with supplies arrived, Syd couldn’t wait to open it up and get crafting! Continue reading

DIY Neon Animal Mobile

 

Last week I made a fun mobile to add to Sydney’s new reading corner!

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com

I’m so excited to share it with you. It’s a very easy and inexpensive DIY. The first thing I did was pick up some toy animals at the dollar store.

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com

I drilled a small hole in each animal, all the way through, (closer to the head to help balance out weight).

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com
Then I painted them different neon colors. I used acrylic paints, spray paint, and nail polish.

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com
I then added a glossy clear coat for extra protection.

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com

Next, using a needle and thread, I strung each animal onto a string, and secured them tightly with hot glue.

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.comI created the base of the mobile by simply using two wooden dowels, glue, and lots of string. Then I tied all of my threaded animals onto the mobile.

DIY Neon Animal Mobile, via www.thegoldjellybean.com

And that’s it! Sydney loves the fun, bright colors. The mobile is the perfect addition to her brand new reading nook!

Throwback Thursday : Dinosaur & Animal Photo Holders

 

Today I’m bringing back an old post from last spring. I originally posted this project on my old site Sunbutter & Jelly, and I wanted to get it back up on my blog to share with you! This is a super easy dollar store DIY. Using some spray paint and an x-acto, I turned these little plastic figures into photo / place card holders. I love the finished product, they add playfulness and humor to our decor!

Pick out the plastic animals of your choice.

Use an utility knife or x-acto to cut a slit in the top of the animal.

Be sure to cut deep enough to hold a card or pic, but don’t cut all the way through.

In a well ventilated and protected area, spray color of your choice.

Let dry, and then they’re ready to use!

You can even use them for place card holders. How cute would these be for a kids birthday party!?

Dinosaur Card Holder, via www.thegoldjellybean.com


And don’t forget to stop by and vote for me COM Top 25 Creative Moms of 2013!

Make It Gold

 

Good morning! This weekend went by way too fast! I spent some time working on new handmade items for my Etsy store. They’re almost done, and I can’t wait to share them with you! While I was working, I had the urge to break out the gold spray paint and give some of my tools a new look. Now my tape measure, seam ripper, scissors, tweezers, and xacto feel more like a pretty set. A few coats of clear enamel will keep them protected from scratching and flaking.

While I was working on my tools, Sydney wanted to transform something of hers as well. So, we gave a few of her hair clips a shiny new look.

Sometimes I wish companies would make household products simple with standard black, white, silver, and gold finishes. Like, why can’t tissue boxes just come in a solid black box? Oh, well… I guess that’s why I go through so much spray paint!

Jewelry DIY with Paint Dipped Coral and Gold Shells

 

I’ve had this DIY on my mind for quite awhile now, and finally got around to it last week. It all started when I saw, and fell in love with, these necklaces from Anthropologie. I immediately thought “I can make that!” I have had my shell collection stored away ever since we moved, and this was the perfect reason to sort through it. My collection is entirely made up of shells and coral my dad and I found over the years. So in the end all the necklaces I made have a special memory behind them!

Supplies:

I used nail polish to give the coral the paint dipped look of the inspiration necklace.

I was also inspired to transform the shells with a shiny coat of gold spray paint.

Then I used gold and other colored string to create necklaces.

Sydney even joined in on the fun! I assemble her necklace first, then let her paint away.

To finish off the necklaces you can either add a clasp to your string, or attach the coral or shell to a finished chain.

And that’s all there is to it!

Design Trends : Seeing Blue

 

There’s no doubt that when it comes to recent design trends, blue is in. I first fell in love with the color and brought it home when we moved to our current apartment last spring. We coated our 12 foot bedroom walls in the perfect shade of navy blue. The color has actually become one of my all time favorite paint colors, and I can’t wait to use it in another room!

The blue hue is the perfect color scheme if you’re looking to achieve a unique and globally inspired design. Earlier this summer Ikea launched their limited edition True Blue Collection. It’s an Indian-inspired collection, and, in my opinion, it’s to die for. I want to own it all, and have been eagerly awaiting a release of the collection in our local stores. Sadly, I have finally come to the realization that it probably won’t happen. Sigh.

Continue reading

Curb Side to Couch Side : DIY White and Gold Nesting Tables

 

I’m so glad it’s Wednesday, that means we’re halfway to Friday! But… that also means there is still so much that needs to be done before the weekend is here! Looks like we have a busy day ahead of us. I have a couple design projects that need to be finished up, and Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so Sydney and I better get working! While we do that, I wanted to share a recent table transformation with you.

One night last month my husband took the dogs out for their evening stroll, and came back with these old wood nesting tables. They’re solid wood, in good structural shape, and have nice bamboo style legs. They just needed a facelift. Continue reading

DIY Dollar Store Animal Place Card or Photo Holders

 

I have another dollar store diy project today. I spotted these cute little animals and dinosaurs in the toy section, near all the creepy crawlers I used in my insect magnet post. I knew I needed to use them for something fun. Using some spray paint and an x-acto, I turned the little plastic figures into photo / place card holders. I love the finished product, they add playfulness and humor to our decor! Continue reading

DIY Gold Striped $1 Candles

 

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! We sure did, Sydney loved her Easter basket, egg hunt, and just being away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a couple days. It was a nice relaxing weekend.

Today I bring you a diy project from a previous post, my spring centerpiece. I picked up a few simple white candles from the dollar store. I updated them and made them my own with the use of some painters tape and spray paint. Just tape. Spray. Peel. And enjoy! I went with gold to match our home and the centerpiece I was working on, but you could do this with any color! Continue reading

Bringing New Life to an Old Lamp

We have a few high quality old brass lamps in our place. I love them, they are classic and can go with pretty much any style. When we first acquired this lamp, we gave it a fresh coat of glossy black paint which went well against the white walls in our last apartment. But, once it was moved to it’s new home in our current hallway, it got lost against the charcoal walls. I wanted it to be shiny and gold again, but finding that original metal underneath the black was not an option. I love gold spray paint, however it just wouldn’t look right on this lamp. It would be too similar to the original finish, but not quite there. So, I decided to go for another metallic spray paint finish. Continue reading

DIY Horse Roundup

Our daughters room is still a work in progress, but this weekend we made some headway. We found 7 molded plastic horses at a local flea market and couldn’t pass them up! After getting them home and having a long debate on where they should go, we decided they would be most fun in a child’s room. They have been sitting around for awhile, and this weekend we finally cleaned them up, painted them, and installed them in their new home. Continue reading