The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 21: Contact Paper Hearts

Did you hear about Ana’s Valentine’s Day Cabin Fever Creativity Link-up?  Such a great idea.  I have zero talent in the clothes alterations department like she does, but her link-up instructions were just vague enough that I’m going to consider a kids craft “creative”.  


So with Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought I’d try a quick craft with the boys.  They were really excited because unfortunately, craft time has become scarce around here.  I just can’t seem to keep it together with a fussy baby and three boys going to town with paint and markers…and mess.  I think I’m a little more Type-A than I’d like to admit!


This craft was a good way to ease back into the groove.  No paint or markers (hurray!) and I did all the prepwork for minimal sibling bickering.  Here is the inspiration photo I had pinned: 

And here is our finished project!  The other hearts are love notes from the kids for their Daddy’s birthday.  I think this is just enough decorating for me.  

Be sure to link up with Ana, so we can see what crafty things you’re up to!  
P.S. There’s a giveaway involved too!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 20: Super Hero Cross-Stitch

When we moved into this house in September, we were surprised to see that every single  room was painted a different color…except for the two boys’ rooms.  These rooms were white – total blank slates.  I had a chat with the boys about what “theme” they would like and they answered with the obvious: Super Heroes!  

Now I know in the design world, a themed room is like the tackiest thing you can do.  And to some degree, I think they are right.  However, I feel like this is one area I have to let go.  When I was growing up, I had so much pride in how I decorated my room.  I picked out the comforter, hung up my bulletin board, and styled my bookshelf just to my liking.  I want that for my boys too.  

But enough of my tangent!  My vision for the room is to be quite classic (so it grows with them), while still embracing the super hero theme.  I also wanted to include something “Mamma-made” for each of them.  Hence these pins:

Justice League of America Pattern 

Batman & Friends Pattern
     
My plan is to pick a pattern for each of the boys, cross-stitch them on linen and then make throw pillows for their beds.  I’ll be sure to share when I’m finished!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 19: Laundry Room Roman Shades

I was hoping to be able to show you a finished product today, but I’m stuck.  So instead, I’m going to ask for your opinion!  I have a little window in my laundry room that I thought would be perfect for a roman shade.  I have pinned many tutorials, but once I collected them all together, I couldn’t decide which one would work best!


For a little context, this is the window in the room.  Note that there is not molding surrounding the window…a detail that is really making this decision difficult for me.


Okay, so here are the two types of roman shades I’ve pinned:


Faux Roman Shade from Whitney at the Cerniks
Number one is set inside the window frame and actually uses tension rods to create the folds.  Very easy to do with REALLY simple sewing.  
Number two is actually attached to a 1×2″ piece of wood and mounted high above the window, giving the illusion that the ceilings are higher than they really are.  This one requires more sewing, but nothing too hard.

So, dear readers, please give me your opinion!  Which one would you choose?

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 18: Young House Love

Do you read Young House Love?  John and Sherry’s blog was one of the first blogs I ever read and I’ve been checking in frequently ever since.  I gather so much inspiration from their home projects and they have given me confidence to be creative in my own home.  So when I heard of the release of their first book, Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love, I quickly pinned it and put it on my Christmas list.  After I briefly flipped through it on December 25, it sat on my bookcase untouched…until this week!

I read the entire book cover-to-cover and came away feeling much like I do when I read their blog – so inspired.  The majority of the tips are really quite simple, and even if some weren’t necessarily my taste, my head was still spinning with ideas.

I thought I’d end this post with a picture of a project I’m working on, influenced by the book.  Specifically, it’s Tip #143: Find Free Art.  I went around the house, looking for a few things I could add to my gallery wall in the nursery.  Here’s what I came up with:

  • I’m not sure where I acquired the print of the Madonna, but it’s one of my favorites and I think it would look lovely in the nursery. 
  • The pressed flowers came from the bouquet the boys gave me when I came home from the hospital with our girl.  I’m thinking one or two of them would be sweet in a little square frame. 
  • The kangaroo card was J’s first birthday party invitation.  I love the vintage vibe.
  • The crayon drawing was made by my sister years and years ago.  She painstakingly drew each flower and circle.  I love the design so much so I’m hoping to cut a piece out and add it to the wall.

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