Style Lush

Do It Yourself: Lego Table

By Elisabeth

I don't know what it's like in your house, but we've got Legos coming out our ears. I swear, once my oldest turned 5, two years ago, the gloves were off and Legos took over.

I have a few pieces in place to make our Lego experience an enjoyable one. (I don't think there is anything out there that can make a Lego NOT hurt when you step on one in the middle of night, but more order might make it happen less often?)

This Lego storage/sorter box is great for tossing in all those pieces when you want the floor to look clean FOR JUST ONE MINUTE. Just give it a shake and all the smaller pieces fall to the bottom sorting them out by size!

What problem my son still had was where would he build his creations? Then, where would he put them once he was finished? Isn't one of the best parts of building the Legos the chance to get to play with them after?

I have to be honest here. I took the quick and easy way out and bought my Lego table on Ebay. It definitely cost more than doing it myself, and now that I know how easy it is? GAH.

Four green building Lego plates.

 Side table from Ikea.

Some gorilla glue and voila!

From all the tutorials I have read, like My Little Gems, they suggest you line up your lego boards exactly the same when gluing all of them down. Otherwise, you are going to have some frustrated buliders on your hands!

Tell me, are you the type to whip out your glue gun and dive right into a project like this or are you more of a hit the buy button when it comes to getting your hands sticky?

I wish I was the former and hope to be a convert someday, but until then, I am sure glad I have an opportunity to purchase another gal's creation!

(Photos from: amazon.com, me)

 

As seen on Pinterest: Does it really work?

by Manda

As you all know, Pinterest is AWESOME! I mean! Dude! I learned how to make t-shirt scarves, then there's the lollipop Valentines ... so many cool ideas in one organized space. Recently a friend of mine posted about trying out something she saw on Pinterest that worked. It's the one where you cut the green tops off green onions, then put the white part in water and the green will grow back. Green onions forever!

Like so:

Source: thisisreverb.com via Liz on Pinterest

 

(original source here)

So you KNOW the first thing I did is run to the grocery store, buy some green onions, chop the tops off and stick the rest in water. AND IT TOTALLY WORKS!! Sure enough there are green shoots growing back. If I play my cards right? I'll NEVER buy green onions again. Right?!

There's a similar plant-pin going around about how to make a houseplant out of the top of a pineapple (and also, in the process, GROW a pineapple!):

Source: tickledred.com via Rebecah on Pinterest

 

(original source here)

Has anyone ever tried this one? According to the blog it takes two years for results. Which probably means it's not a good one for my house (a crowded house with two big dogs and two small children), but I still want to know if anyone's tried it!

How about you? Have you tried anything cool on Pinterest lately? Is it as EASY as they say it will be? Was it a total flop? Is there a pin that makes you wonder "would that really work?"

Screenprint art on Etsy. Cozy Blue

by Christina

I've placed two orders with Cozy Blue recently and am so in love with her work that I had to share her shop with you. I think I originally found her via pinterest with this family tree print. Sarah even posted about it. I knew I wanted the tree so I asked for it for Christmas. (spoiler alert, I didn't get it.)

Then a close friend of mine adopted a brand new baby. I wanted something personal and special, I scoured Etsy and ended up back at Liz's shop. I chose this.

It's hand screen printed and the bunting is real fabric with real thread and I was just in love with it. It was a gift well received. I was still dreaming of the family tree print and I did have a pay-pal credit...... So, this week I snatched it right up. I had a feeling it would be perfect and it is. The paper has gorgeous texture that you can see through the glass of the frame. I adore that the letters aren't perfectly in line. It's handmade in all of the right ways. If you're in need of something really special, or even if you don't know you are, take a peak.

(This post is not sponsored)

Thumbprint Valentine

By Sara

I suppose this post would have been more timely say, LAST WEEK, but my powers of procrastination meant that I didn't think about school valentines until yesterday (evening, at 7 p.m. to be precise). I realized that I would be out of luck if I tried to find decent age-appropriate valentines at the big box store so we were going to have to wing it with whatever we had at home. After a few minutes on Pinterest for some inspiration, I came up with an idea. A quick rummage through the craft drawer and pantry procured leftover white posterboard, a red ink pad and precisely enough lollipops to meet our 30 card requirement. 

Sixty thumbprints later we had a rather adorable and simple valentine for our preschool friends:

And nary a licensed character or cheesy play on words in sight! However, should you attempt this with your 3 or 4 year old, be forewarned that he'll most likely start whining that he's had enough thumbprinting about 5 cards in. Then you get to be that parent saying "Only twenty-five more to go! Keep it up!" while your kid attempts to run away taking his thumb with him. Not saying that happened to me or anything.

Free Valentines for 11th-hour moms!

By Manda

Oh you guys. I LOVE the cute Valentines that everyone is doing with the photo and the lollipop! Really! They are awesome. But guess what? My kid is in preschool, which means she will come home with a bag of Valentines that will soon be flung far and wide across my house, and over the course of the next 12 months I will find them in every corner and toss them. Sorry preschool buddies, you won't be making it into the scrapbook this Valentine's Day!! And the major bummer is that we aren't allowed to include treats with our Valentines (what will Mama snack on Monday night?! NO FAIR!). Last but not least, I don't have the time or energy to cobble together this project. I don't even have the time and energy to go to Target and pick out a box of Yo Gabba Gabba Valentines!

ANYWAY! I was so, so thankful to find this free printable from my buddy Brenda at Secret Agent Josephine.

{photo via secret-agent-josephine.com}

Not only are these Valentines free and easy to print out at home and cut up? They are ADORABLE! And I guarantee you no one else in class is going to bring these! Brenda always comes up with something cute and unexpected (a ninja?! DUDE I LOVE THE NINJA!). I plan on printing 40 of these bad boys out on photo paper on Sunday night, cutting them up, and writing my daughter's name on the back. DONE.

How about you? Did you make fancy Valentines for your kids' school exchanges or will you be sweating over the printer on Sunday night before the party like me? Any other free printables we 11th-hour moms need to know about?\

Lollipop Photo Valentines

We have been strongly encouraged by my son's preschool teachers to appear at school on February 14th with homemade Valentines.  I enjoy a bit of arts and crafts every now and then, but my kid is not interested.  We've bought him crayons and glue sticks and glitter and stickers and he indulges us for five minutes every now and then but, really, it's not his thing.

So I was delighted to spot this great idea on Pinterest and at Design Mom.  It qualifies as homemade, but does not involve doilies or Elmer's glue, and it's super cute.  Also, it's relatively inexpensive and requires minimal craftiness!

First, I took a photo of my child smiling sweetly and holding out one hand in a fist, like so:

 (This was an outtake.  Obviously.)

Then I doctored it up in Picasa.  It is one of my life goals to learn to use Photoshop, but until that happens, I can usually cobble together what I need in Picasa.

I used the "Text" tool under Basic Fixes.  The hearts are from the Bookshelf Symbol 7 font - type "W" and it gives you a heart.

I uploaded the finished product to Shutterfly, ordered prints to be picked up at Target, and just over an hour later they were in my hands for 19 cents each.  I also grabbed a bag of heart-shaped lollipops and an X-acto knife while I was there.  Total expenditure: $14.68 for 24 cards.  I ordered extra prints in case of goof-ups.  If I'd been able to find the X-acto knife I know is in a drawer somewhere, it would have been under $10, and even cheaper if I'd purchased the prints somewhere like Costco.

My son addressed each card on the back and handed it off to me.

I cut slits above and below his fist...

...and bent the card a bit so I could insert the lollipop stick.

Voila!  Valentine lollipops all around!

 

Fingerprint Charm

By Blythe

I have been quietly scoping out mothers' necklaces since my son was born. I would really like something subtle, high quality, and personal. It has to look OK as a single charm, since my son is most likely going to be an only child. Also, I'm really picky about jewelry. 

Did I mention my kid turned five a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. Really picky.

I have finally found a charm that I love. Send a fingerprint and this artist will create a sterling silver engraving with a name and birth date on the back.

Fingerprint Charm by Chris Parry

Chris's Etsy shop is full of clever items, including pretty fingerprint rings, personalized bar code cuff links, and engraved guitar picks. Love.

{photo credit: Chris Parry on Etsy}

Reminder Rug

By Leah

Every time my husband leaves the house, he pats all his pockets while chanting to himself, "Keys, phone, wallet. Keys, phone, wallet."

He so needs this doormat.

Just $18 at Urban Outfitters.

Or with a $10 rug, a can of spraypaint, and some alphabet stencils, I (he) (you?) could even make (y)our own.

{Image: Damn Good Doormats on Zibbet}

Valentine's Day for pre-schoolers

by Christina

I am so super excited about Valentine's Day for my 4 year-old, it's kind of silly. I was in the valentine section of Target this past week and was wondering -- do they make the tiny cards like they used to? I didn't see any. I looked around and really didn't see anything I'd love to send to school with him for his party that wasn't candy as he goes to a  lame candy-free school. Then I remembered something I'd pinned ages ago! I know the day is a good three weeks out but since these will be cut and sewn by hand, I figured I should share them with you now.

I mean, couldn't you just die? These images are from pinterest via Katie Did- I am so glad I found this, I can't wait to send him to school with these.

Chic Ring Holders

By Leah

I don't take my rings off very often, but now that I'm the owner of a brand new fancy bread machine (hooray, technology! you make me a better domestician), I need somewhere to put my jewelry that's safe and routine (so I don't forget where I put stuff) and also cuter than an upcycled lid from a old pickle jar.

I bought myself this little sweetie from Bed, Bath and Beyond (they had a display of about ten different animals at the cash registers) and I love how it looks perched behind the kitchen sink:

Here are some other pretty options:

Lotus bowl from dgordon on Etsy

Skultuna brass for only $122 (OMG, NO, but it is beautiful)

Handcarved oak cat from Boxnmor on Etsy

Vintage-looking circus-style animals from Luggage and Leather (I can't pick a favorite)

Tree branch from good ol' CB2