Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category

Site Sponsor Feature: Happy Birthday, Flourish Boutique!

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

flourish_boutique_gallery

Today I just wanted to say thank you to one of our advertising sponsors that has been so good to me over the years. Flourish Boutique is known for not only helping women find outfits and accessories to make them feel special, but also for being a unique but affordable places to shop.

Flourish is celebrating their 5th birthday and I will be traveling to the Savvy Blogging Summit instead of getting to participate in all of the festivities this year, which really is quite a bummer for a loyal shopper like me!

Here are just a few events that are happening in the upcoming weeks on their social calendar! 

June 20, 2013 (Thursday)

Flourish Boutique welcomes you to their 5th Birthday Celebration with an open house from 4-8pm at the boutique. A runway fashion show will be held at 6:30. Enjoy sips and snacks, and the first 150 guests will get free swag bags too! 30% off Storewide Sale. Giveaways. Free Admission.

June 21-30, 2013

Flourish Boutique will keep the party going for the next week, celebrating five years of business. Expect surprise flash sales, tons of giveaways and deals, special new inventory and much more!  Don’t forget to give them a Like on their Facebook page to follow those sales!

July 26-28, 2013

Our most popular sale, Overstock, is back and better than ever. We will slash prices with items starting at just $1 and all markdowns 60-90% off. Doors open at 10 am on Friday July 26th for this special and anticipated sale event.

 

flourish_boutique_gallery_2 Mother's Day Shoot_ Amy & Emily I with info

Emily and I recently had the best time posing for a beautiful campaign they shot for Mother’s Day. I had a hard time getting Emily out of those heels and beautiful accessories when it was time to go!  Who am I fooling? I didn’t want to give up my heels, accessories, or dress either!  (Photo credit: Julia Schwartz of Schwartz Photography)

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If you are unsure of what the latest trends are and what types of items you should be stocking up on for the season, Flourish Boutique has a great blog that showcases the do’s and don’ts for the latest fashions and how to achieve that look you have been dying for on your Pinterest boards. You can do it for less by visiting their awesome Sales page or head upstairs in their shop for their clearance items. You just might spy me there!

The store offers online shopping so if you don’t live around here, you can still partake of all of the amazing deals and steals that the store offers on their website. MomAdvice customers receive a 25% discount code. Just enter WEB25 when you checkout!

Thank you again to Flourish for being a valued supporter of MomAdvice and, “Happy Birthday!”

 

4th of July Flag Cupcake Pick Wreath & Easy Flag Bunting

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com.

4th of July happens to be one of my favorite decorating seasons and today I want to show you how to make an easy 4th of July wreath from flag cupcake picks.

This 4th of July wreath idea and easy flag bunting were inspired by a picture from a magazine that I found.

 

Good Housekeeping Magazine

This picture from Good Housekeeping magazine caught my eye and I knew I wanted to decorate my front door just like it.

Unfortunately, there were no directions on how to create this wreath, what supplies to buy, or how to execute this project.

When Walmart challenged me to come up with a 4th of July project for their customers, I just knew that I had to recreate this door.

My husband said I couldn’t do it.

His doubt fueled this wreath into its amazing flag glory…even when a little voice in my head wasn’t too sure it would look like the picture. If I can make a wreath out of yarn, out of coffee filters, out of Peeps for goodness sake, how could I fail at  a simple cupcake pick wreath?

If you are not crafty this is the project for you.

It requires no sewing, gluing, cutting, or any other crafty-type behavior.

I think that is why I am most excited about it because it is just so easy to do! 

Let’s get started with what you need to tackle this fun patriotic project!

 

Easy 4th of July Wreath - MomAdvice

 

4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com. 4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com. 4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com. 4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com.

 

Supplies List

Above are some pictures of the supplies you will need (for visual learners, like myself!) Prices listed are what they are listed at currently at the store!

  • 1- 16″ foam wreath form (that is flat on the back)- $6.99
  • 6 packages of 120 count flag cupcake picks (Note: These are NOT available at Walmart stores. You can find these, however, at your local party supply store)- $2.99 per box (approximately)
  • Jute Rope- $3.24
  • 12- 4×6 US Flags (found on the ends of the aisles in the office supplies)- $.68 each
  • 2- 20 count packages of mini clothespins (over in the office supplies)- $2.48 each

4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com.

  1. Take your flag cupcakes and insert them on a slight angle into your foam wreath form. These will not slide in and out easily so you will have to put a little oomph behind it.
  2. Continue filling them in, around and around until you can no longer see your wreath form peeking through. About a box of the flag cupcake picks (120 of them) filled one quarter of my wreath. 
  3. Once the front is filled, build up the behind it, but with a thinner layer, just to camouflage the back of the wreath a bit. Make sure not to stack these too deep so that the wreath can still lay flush against your door.
  4. You can fill in the center of the wreath as well with flags, again adding a thinner layer just to hide any of your wreath form, until all you can see is a sea of little flags. It took 720 flags to fill this wreath form. Yes, your fingers will hurt, but you will be so happy about your wreath, you will forget all about the pain!

4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com.

 

Easy Flag Bunting from MomAdvice.com.

Now that you have your wreath done, we can create our adorable flag bunting to go around the outside of your door, to frame your wreath!

 

Easy Flag Bunting from MomAdvice.com.

 

  1. Disassemble your flags from their mini poles. These are stapled on so I just pulled them off, or you can use a staple remover to remove the staples from the flags.
  2. Take two mini clothespins and clip the flags to the jute twine, spacing them evenly, until all twelve have been attached.
  3. Leaving a little bit of length, clip the end of the twine to finish your bunting.

Easy Flag Bunting from MomAdvice.com. This easy bunting could be added to a doorway, dress up a mantle, to frame out your patio doors, or to decorate a ledge for the holiday. I love that it is so sweet and so simple to create.

4th of July Cupcake Pick Wreath from MomAdvice.com.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of my door and the door I spotted in the magazine.

I am so proud how this turned out and I love that these decorations can be used year after year for the holiday!

I look forward to sharing more fun patriotic projects in the next few weeks with you!

I hope you enjoyed today’s easy 4th of July craft projects!

 

 

How to Make a Flag Wreath - MomAdvice.com

 

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How to Make A Flag Wreath - MomAdvice.com

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Cooking With Kids: Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Monday, June 17th, 2013

rotini_with_turkey_meatballs_header
As my kids get older, I am beginning to learn more the importance of cooking with them. Today I am sharing our family’s favorite summer pasta recipe of Rotini With Turkey Meatballs and I wanted to share with you a fun way to involve your kids in the cooking process.

Gourmet Garden HerbsGourmet Garden HerbsWalmart wanted to give us the chance to share about the Gourmet Garden herb line that you can find at your store. We are no strangers to the beauty of Gourmet Garden though and I guarantee if you open my fridge on any given day, you will find a tube of herbs in there.

There are several reason why I genuinely love these handy herbs in a tube. For us, it offers a little money-savings for seldom used herbs that need to be added to dishes. I hate throwing out herbs that go bad within a week where I simply need a pinch or so to create a dish. Garden Gourmet herbs last for up to three months, giving me the chance to make that dish many times over before I have to give my tube a toss. 

The second reason I really love these herbs is because it is an easy way to bring your kids into the kitchen with you and get them cooking and spicing dishes with you, without ever getting out that knife and cutting board. 

The bonus in all of this though is that these herbs are organically-grown and gluten-free; two things that we know are important to many of our readers!  

Basically, we love them and have been true Garden Gourmet enthusiasts for a long time!

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Throw on your mom’s apron, should you so choose, and let’s get cooking in the kitchen this summer with your favorite helpers. Both of my kids were very excited about getting to help make this dish since it just so happens to be our Dad’s favorite dish.

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs Rotini With Turkey Meatballs Rotini With Turkey Meatballs Rotini With Turkey Meatballs Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Meatballs are fun to mix, to shape, and…of course, to eat! We made our meatballs with Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (we just remove the meat from the casing for preparation) and mix it up with breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, a little squeeze of ketchup, lightly beaten eggs, and the Garlic and Italian Herbs from the Garden Gourmet herb line.

Roll out the meatballs into roughly the same size shape and place them gently on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake these at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes. The size pictured above were ready in about 12 minutes.

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Rinse four cups of cherry tomatoes and then (with mom or dad’s help) cut the tomatoes in half for the sauce.

Let the kids shape those meatballs while you prepare the sauce for the dish. I used the Garden Gourmet Chunky Garlic paste, the fresh tomatoes, and a little chicken broth to make a light summer sauce. If your kids aren’t a fan of the big tomatoes in the sauce, utilize an immersion blender or carefully pour the sauce into a blender and blend until smooth. Add the sauce back to the pan and slide your meatballs into the sauce until they are warm.

Prepare the pasta as directed on the packaging and drain.

Rotini With Turkey MeatballsFinish by tossing all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and add fresh Garden Gourmet basil in the dish and lightly toss until everything is incorporated.

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Sometimes I forget how much fun it really is to cook with my kids in the kitchen and just how proud they are when they contribute to the dish. They couldn’t wait to show their Dad their meatballs they made and we all agreed that they were far more delicious than the ones I make by myself.

I hope you can get in the kitchen and mix up something delicious with your family and that our recipe offers some inspiration for your family cooking time together! 

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs

Rotini With Turkey Meatballs
Recipe Type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Amy Allen Clark
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
An easy summer pasta dish made with fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage meatballs. This one is a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden Italian Herbs
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound Sweet Italian Turkey Sausages (remove the casings)
  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden chunky garlic
  • 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 2 tablespoons Gourmet Garden Basil
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Parmesan cheese, garlic, herbs,salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine.
  2. Make your meatballs the standard size and put them on a baking sheet.
  3. Bake at 400 degrees for ten to fifteen minutes.
  4. In a large pot, heat your olive oil and then add your chunky garlic paste for about thirty seconds. Next, heat chicken stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  6. Drain the pasta and then add the meatball mixture and two tablespoons of basil to the dish. Toss lightly to incorporate.

What’s your favorite dish to cook with your kids?

 

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Summer Backyard BBQ Ideas

Monday, June 10th, 2013

Summer Backyard BBQ IdeasFather’s Day is almost here and we have been stocking you with loads of ideas for celebrating the holiday from sweet gifts to printables. Today you will find me over at Snackpicks sharing how you can help Dad by throwing a backyard BBQ together. Backyard barbecues can be a breeze with a little bit of planning and preparation and my post today on Snackpicks shares some easy tips for pulling a great backyard BBQ off in honor of his special day. 

Head on over to Snackpicks today to find loads of fun and creative ways to celebrate a Dad in your life!

I am a Snackpicks contributor, and Snackpicks has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

 

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How to Make a Candy Bouquet Gift for Father’s Day

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

How to Make a Candy Bouquet

I don’t mean to brag, but my kids are so blessed to have such an incredible Dad. He is the ultimate go-to guy from helping the kids with their homework, to kicking around the soccer ball, to indulging my daughter in her fancy tea parties, to the ultimate bedtime storyteller.

This Father’s Day we wanted to make a gift that we just knew he would love to show just how special he is to us. Our Dad happens to have a sweet tooth so we decided to make him a candy bouquet that he could place on his desk at work when those sweet tooth cravings strike!

The best part about this gift though is that it only takes fifteen minutes to create, costs about $20 in supplies, and can be created with your kids in honor of their favorite Dad.

To find out how to make this easy craft, head on over to the Kenmore Blog to get the supplies list and directions for making these sweet candy bouquet gift for Father’s Day.

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A Monster of a Father’s Day Gift: Monster Cookie Bars & Monster Printable Cards For Dad

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.Father’s Day is just around the corner & today we wanted to share a monster of a Father’s Day gift with a cute spin on the monster theme with easy monster cookie bars and printable monster cards for a special Dad in your life.

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.

This week’s challenge from Walmart was to create an inexpensive Father’s Day gift that would wow your Dad. Well, if your dad is anything like our Dad, he is certainly wowed with homemade treats and funny cards with a great sense of humor. Our idea was to mix up a batch of thick and delicious Monster Cookie Bars made with rolled oats, peanut butter, mini M&M’s (found over in their candy aisle), and chocolate chips.

Monster Cookies can be a bit of a monster to create as a drop cookie because of their monster size. I choose to echo the words of an amazing woman I once heard speak these wise words…

“Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

Wise, right?

Bar cookies get a big fist pump from this busy mom and if a celebration requires a cookie, I often rely on these chocolate chip cookie bars to get us through whatever baking requirements are made for those occasions. These Monster Cookie Bars are equally delicious and offer that crusty exterior with that soft interior that makes, in my humble opinion, the perfect cookie.

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.

What Father’s Day would be complete without a card to accompany your sweet gift? We are so excited to debut these adorable Monster cards that you can print out to attach with your Monster Cookie Bars for your favorite Dad. We have included three fun printable cards for Father’s Day and then 1 that could be used for any occasion to accompany your sweet treat. Print these printables out on white card stock  and you will be all set for this Father’s Day!

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.



Printable Monster Cards from MomAdvice.com.

Download Your FREE Monster Card Printables HERE:

Happy Father’s Day From Your Monster FREE printable card

Your Gift is a Monster! FREE printable card

Eat All the Cookies FREE printable card

We Are Your Spawn FREE printable card

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.

I can admit that this family has had Monsters on our brain after getting a sneak peek at the Monsters University movie that is set to hit theaters on June 21st. While our family was at the Disney Social Media Moms conference, we got an exclusive sneak peek at the film. It is FANTASTIC, and dare I say it, even funnier than the first one. I have no doubt that your family will love it!

Our Monster Cookie Bars would really pull together a fun family night out to see this fantastic film and you can find loads of fun Monsters supplies in the party favors aisle of your Walmart store including fun cups, plates, and other party favors for an inexpensive night to enjoy while tackling your summer bucket list or our 100 Days of Summer Pinterest Board.

Now that you have the printables, here is the deliciously easy and tasty recipe for these Monster Cookie Bars. We recommend preparing these in a metal 9×13 pan for best results!

Monster Cookie Bars & Printables from MomAdvice.com.

Monster Cookie Bars
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Adapted from The BakerMama
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 15
Monster cookies made easy in a bar cookie. Be sure to pair these easy cookies with our free Monster printables.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut buter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mini M&M’s (approximately half a bag)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add the sugars and beat until blended. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix until light and fluffy.
  4. Gradually add the flour mixture until just combined.
  5. Mix in oats until well combined.
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and mini M&M’s
  7. Press dough evenly into prepared baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly golden brown and set in the middle. Let cool completely in baking dish then cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

 Happy Father’s Day to all of our Dad readers (I know you’re out there!) and here’s hoping you get spoiled by a few of your favorite monsters!

Be sure to check back this week for more great Father’s Day gifts on a budget!

 

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Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

In the summer I am always looking for fun summer cocktails to share with my girlfriends and this blueberry sangria lemonade is the perfect summer drink to share with a good friend. You won’t believe how easy this blueberry sangria lemonade is to create and just how easy it is to drink…well, you might believe that last part of the sentence. This drink just screams summer, backyard fun, and begs to be enjoyed poolside.

Each month Walmart is challenging me to create a recipe using one of their produce items. Last month I tackled strawberries with a fun baked strawberry doughnut recipe and this month it is all about the blueberries with this easy blueberry sangria lemonade recipe.

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

Blueberries are one of our favorite summer fruits and we love to enjoy our summer bounty all year long. A few years ago I started freezing my berries in a different way using the Cook’s Illustrated method for freezing my berries and I can’t rave enough about how much better my frozen berries taste. You should definitely add this to your summer to-do list this year.

As we await our annual berry picking season, I wanted to offer some advice for selecting the perfect berries at the supermarket. Be sure to select  a package of firm, plump berries with an indigo blue color and a silvery white frost. Avoid any with a green or red tint, which indicates under ripe berries. You will want to make sure there are no juice stains at the bottom of the carton or moldy or crushed berries buried inside of the cartons as well when selecting those berries.

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

Now that you have the perfect berries, you can start incorporating them in this easy sangria. All of the ingredients can be found at your local Walmart store. I recommend mixing this one up the night before your gathering to really allow the flavors to incorporate together and for the best flavor.

You don’t have to splurge on the wine on this one, but make sure that you buy one that you would enjoy drinking. I love the budget-friendly and always delicious, Barefoot Chardonnay for this recipe because it fits sweetly in my budget and really tastes great for an affordable wine.

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

If you grow mint in your garden, this is another fun drink to add a little mint to for fresh flavor. And don’t forget, that mint can be put to good use in our Perfect Mojito recipe too in those long and hot summer months!

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade
Recipe Type: Drink
Author: Amy Clark
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
These blueberry sangrias scream summertime. Let the flavors meld together overnight for a truly delicious drink!
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
  • 1 (12-ounce) can frozen concentrated pink lemonade
  • 1 bottle (750ml) Chardonnay, (I love Barefoot Chardonnay for this)
  • 3 cups lemon lime soda
  • 1/2 cup Brandy
  • Fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
  1. In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients and stir. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld together.
  2. Serve chilled.

Looking for more great blueberry recipes? Be sure to try these eight ideas for blueberry recipes!

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100 Days of Summer Pinterest Board- 2013 Edition!

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

100 Days of Summer 2013

Summer is just around the corner and I am so excited to share with you that I have gathered another 100 Days of Summer activities for you to do with your kids in the summer months. These are 100 activities that are all low to no cost, screen-free, and a fun way to build truly memorable moments with your kids in the summer months.

I had the best time creating our very first 100 days of summer activities board for our family to do and share with you and then last year’s 100 Days of Summer was another huge hit. It was so huge that I just knew I had to repeat it all again this year for you.

100 Days of Summer 2013

I am looking forward to tackling our own summer list and will be documenting our projects through mobile pictures.You can catch me on Instagram, where I am documenting our summer. Just search for the username momadvice and you will find me there. Just as a side note, I try to always answer all the comments on my pictures if I can. If you have questions about projects we are doing or just want to say hello, I will do my best to respond!

If you are on Instagram, you can join in on the fun by taking pictures and sharing all of your summer adventures through there. Let’s use the hashtag #100summerdays again like we did last year.

By tagging your photos, it will make it easy to find each other in the group and share the projects we are tackling together. You can add the tags to your caption or you can add them as a comment later. In either scenario, the tag will pull it into our summer group.

I still will be sharing our apron full of giveaways and our notebook of inspiration each week. I will also have fresh content through my freelance writing jobs this summer with Kenmore, Goodwill, Jack’s Pizza, & Walmart that will keep our site fully loaded with great ideas for your summer.

For the rest of my entries, I will be sharing what we are working on from our summer list through mobile pictures and quick notes on what fun activities we are doing at our house. I am hoping it will be an inspiration to you to get out and enjoy the summer with your children. I can’t say we will tackle a hundred activities, but I will be awfully proud if we do one cool activity a week.

100 Days of Summer 2013

This year’s list is AMAZING and my favorite so far from making chevron friendship bracelets, to building race tracks, to painting techniques on rain days, to creating popsicle light sabers. There really is something for EVERY age group this year.

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for inspiration for your meal planning, home, reading, wardrobe and more! I am one happy little pinner!

Happy summer to each of you!

xo,
Amy

 

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9 Ways to Spice Up a Goodwill Lamp

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

goodwill_lamp_makeovers

One walk through the aisles of Goodwill and I guarantee you will find a handful of great lamp choices just begging for a fun DIY lamp makeover that can dress up a corner in your home.

To inspire you, I have gathered 9 of my favorite ways to spice up an old lamp.

These lamp makeover ideas are so inspiring, in fact, that I can’t wait to snag a lamp for myself!

 

 

Be Bold With Paint

There is no need to go overboard if you lack the craft skills to tackle a more complex craft project and one way that you can easily spice up an old lamp is just to add a bright pop of color to it with spray paint.

With all of the fun colors in the spray paint aisles, the only hard part will be choosing your favorite color.

Be sure to browse around the Housewares section for other fun additions you can add to a table in your home and can spray paint in the same hue.

One bottle of spray paint will go far with a fun project like this. (Source: Mr. Kate)

 

 

 Make It Into a Bird Bath (Say What?)

Sometimes one has to rethink the original purpose of a thrift store item, that is why I am IN LOVE with this idea to turn a lamp into a birdbath for the backyard.

With this DIY, you simply spray paint your base in a fun color to match the colors in your patio set, and then add a bowl on top to create the perfect little birdbath for the backyard.

Why spend a fortune at the garden center, when a birdbath can be made for a fraction of the price? (Source: Thrifty Rebel)

 

 

 Add A Whimsical Accent to Your Game Room

Do you remember all of the fun I had with board games over the Fall?

If you remember how much fun I had with that, I am sure you will understand my enthusiasm for this adorable lamp for a family’s game room.

The best part about this one is that not only can you pick up the lamp from Goodwill, but you can even pick up the board games there too.

This is a lamp that you could definitely make together as a family and would be absolutely adorable in your game room, family room, or kids playroom. (Source: Apartment Therapy)

 

 

Make it Sentimental

Map crafts are just as popular as the book crafts we highlighted last month and I absolutely love this DIY lampshade makeover made from a map.

Select a map from a location that is special to you, perhaps where you honeymooned, where you grew up, your favorite family vacation, or where you live right now, and make an homage to that location with this sweet lamp.

Finish it with a grosgrain ribbon or an embellished edge ribbon trim from the craft store. (Source: Silver Boxes)

 

 

Rethink Your Fixture

Who says you need a lampshade to even create a light.

Have you ever thought of using a cake or jelly mold for a fun industrial fixture.

It is rare that I stop in a thrift store and don’t spy a cake mold with pretty fluted edges and they are often priced at a dollar or less.

Add a spray paint that adds a hammered metal appearance to them or go vintage with a pretty aqua blue.

These light fixtures are not only unique, but they utilized an item that is frequently donated. (Source: Poppytalk)

 

 

Add a Stenciled Accent

Stencils are all the rage in home decor whether it is a stenciled accent to a wall, to stenciled window treatments, to stenciled accessories in your room.

You can find beautiful stencils to choose from at your local hardware store in the paint aisle or you can create your own if you have a craft cutter, like a Cricut or Silhouette.

This stencil adds texture to the fabric, thanks to the Tulip Soft Fabric paint.

I love the fun bow and cute additions made to this lamp from a scrap of burlap and fabric.

I am sure you will love this one too! (@ Tatertots & Jello)

 

 

Add a Ruffle

Don’t sew?
No problem!
There are so many fun ways to add fabric to a tired lampshade that you might just be overwhelmed with the choices and few of them involve more than fabric and a glue gun.
This lamp that I created replicated a lamp spotted in Anthropologie, but was made at a fraction of the price with a little burlap and a hot glue gun.
This lamp redo is a great one to add to a craft room or to a little girl’s room for a feminine touch.
Spray paint the base any color to match the room and add a burlap ruffle in whatever shade you can find on sale at your craft store. (@ MomAdvice)

Add Some Script

I love when bloggers are inspired by expensive lamps they see in store catalogs and find  a way to replicate that beauty in their homes.

A $159 lamp might not be in your budget, but one created for less than $10 just might be.
Who wouldn’t love a love letter written right on a lampshade?
I am all about sentimental decor in my home and I have a feeling that this lamp makeover is as sweet as it gets (@ The Shabby Creek)

 

Rethink Your Shade

Industrial lighting is very in right now and one way that you can incorporate that industrial feel to your lighting is by simply creating a different lampshade from other items you might find lurking at your Goodwill store.
A metal basket is the perfect way to add that industrial touch to a lamp and when they are both spray painted in the same shade, it is a match made in heaven. (@ DIY Wilma)

Have you ever spiced up a lamp? Let us know in the comments what you have done with this frequently donated item!

 

This post contains affiliate links.

 

Don’t miss these other crafty ideas from MomAdvice.com:

 

DIY Lampshade Ideas

 

 

How to Reupholster a Chair

 

DIY Ottoman Serving Tray

 

DIY Bulletin Board

 

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Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe

Summer is just around the corner and before it gets here I wanted to share my favorite homemade sidewalk chalk paint recipe. Making DIY sidewalk chalk paint couldn’t be easier and many of the supplies are likely lurking right in your cupboard.

Today’s project is sponsored by Walmart and you can find all of the supplies you need to create this easy recipe, right at your local store, from the brushes to the food coloring to the paint storage containers.

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint RecipeDid you know that you can make sidewalk chalk paint from three simple ingredients? Homemade sidewalk chalk paint is made from a mixture of cornstarch, water, and food coloring. When visiting the baking aisle to get your food coloring, be sure to pick up the brightest and most vivid colors you can find to really make the colors pop on your sidewalk.

Homemade_Sidewalk_Chalk_Paint_Recipe_4 Proper storage of your paints will help them go farther. I love to grab lidded disposable containers to store the extra paint in and with a quick rinse of your brushes, your supplies are ready for the next day of painting.

Summer Bucket List

Of course, this isn’t the only recipe we have to keep your kids entertained in the summer! I am so excited to share with you that I will be doing another 100 Days of Summer AGAIN (third year running!) on Pinterest and will be sharing 100 SCREEN-FREE, FREE or PRACTICALLY FREE activities to keep your kids entertained this summer. Be sure to start following on Pinterest so you don’t miss the big reveal and so you can begin adding a few of these ideas to your summer bucket list! 

I think this year’s list will be the best one yet, but in the meantime, here are a few of our favorite activities we did this past year to get you inspired!

Summer Fun Inspiration

Glow-In-The-Dark JELL-O

The World’s Greatest Homemade Bubbles

Homemade Butterbeer Lattes

Easy Coffee Filter Posies

Easy Homemade Playdough

How to Make Car S’mores

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe
Recipe Type: Kid Recipes
Author: Amy Clark
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
Skip buying sidewalk chalk paint and make your own with this easy DIY recipe!
Ingredients
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • ½ cup water
  • Food coloring (as much as you desire)
Instructions
  1. Mix equal parts of cornstarch with water. Add your food coloring. This mixture will be thick. Use your paintbrushes to paint your sidewalk or driveway. Store excess paint in airtight containers.
I can’t wait to share more fun summer ideas with you and in the meantime, I hope you can give this easy sidewalk chalk paint recipe a spin in your kitchen!
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