Valentines in the Mod Ink shop- Coupon Code!

Valentines is just around the corner....I'm counting down the days. Mostly because that means the two week stretch of my hubby being out of town will be over, but candy and cards and a love filled day is a very nice way to welcome him home!

Bee Mine

My oldest daughter wanted Frozen themed Valentines this year, and instead of going the store bought route I made up some treat bag toppers! They are available in my shop, Mod Ink Design, with free customization and a 24 hour or less turn around time.

Frozen Olaf

Frozen Heart

Warm Hugs

I've also got some favorites from years past in the shop again. 

Princesses, Penguins, Rainbows and Superheros will always be popular with the kiddos.

  At just $4.00 these are a great option for a custom valentine! Print, cut, fold and staple onto your ziploc bag of treats, toys, stickers, etc. You can even buy the pre-bagged goldfish, pretzels, etc and staple the toppers right onto them!

Use coupon code LOVETREATS for 10% off your order through 2/13!

Mod Ink Design on Etsy

Recycled Crayon Storage + a FREE printable

Today I'm sharing a free craft, 

that like most of my other DIY/Printables 

is designed to help keep your home better organized. 

This is a craft I made about 6 months ago, 

and so far it is holding up great and getting daily use from my 2 girls!

This one is simple- I know it's not a *new* idea, but it is a *cute* and *free* idea.

Both of which make me very happy!

1. Take a large plastic container and clean it out

(I used a Costco Animal Crackers bin, 

but Target has similar animal cracker and cheese ball containers

 if you aren't a member of a Costco/Sam's Club)

This is a great size for LOTS of crayons & the lid screws on tight

2. My Rainbow Chevron 'Crayons' label downloaded for free

(I recommend printing on cardstock 

and printing a front and back copy, 

mostly because I was too lazy to scrape the old labels off

 and I needed to cover both sides!)

3. Scissors and Packaging Tape

Cut label to desired size and tape in layers on the entire surface

 (so the label is almost 'laminated' on)

Fill with crayons, give the kids some paper and CREATE!!!

What ways do you often re-use old plastic containers? Leave a comment and share!

DIY Entry Way Shelves

Our home, like many others, lacks a lot of storage space. One spot in particular that we were lacking was a coat closet. The previous homeowner was nice enough to build a lovely little sunroom addition to the front of our house, but lacked the foresight to add a closet for storage - not to mention make the sunroom wide enough to actually become a usable space for anything other than walking through. Ok, enough complaining...moving on....

Last November, when the hubs was on a business trip I got the itch to solve our coat storage problem. Or, at the very least, lessen the problem and make the sunroom look a little nicer. In came pinterest. Followed by countless hours of searching for the perfect way to make our room look like a mudroom, complete with board and batten, beadboard, and built in cubbies for everyone. Then I stepped away from the computer long enough to remember that I have a 3 foot walkway to work with, one that has the front door opening into most of it. Dreams.Crushed.

Ahh...dream space! source

Yes, I could still have done the beadboard or board and batten, but our home is very southwestern in architecture, inside and out. It in no way resembles a craftsman, victorian, or even traditional style home. So I kept it simple. I wanted hooks to hang coats and backpacks and I wanted shelves deep enough to hold small pots of succulents and some artwork for display.

Off to Home Depot with 2 small kids in tow! (really, that should not have an exclamation point at the end, but I have to keep you positive here...or I had to keep MYSELF positive about it at the time) My shopping list included several 1" x 6" boards (I think I got 6 foot long? Depends on your project wall length), Wall hooks, long screws, and a good primer and paint in white.

Before the project (cell phone pic)

I measured my pieces, made my cuts and primed and painted the boards on day one. Then on day 2 I started by finding the studs so I could secure the bottom boards, placed the board and leveled it, drilled pilot holes into the studs, and finally screwed in using a nail long enough reach into the stud well. Then I placed the top boards and drilled from the top back edge (where the two boards meet) into the bottom board, and placed screws. After that I touched up any paint and evenly spaced my hooks. DONE.

I've enjoyed decorating the space for the seasons and holidays, and my succulents love the southern indirect light they get all day. As long as we only have the coats we use on a daily basis out in the area (the rest are tucked in a bedroom closet upstairs) then it serves as a clutter free space to enter the house.

The Girls' Shared Room Artwork

About two months ago we moved the girls back into one room together.

mornin' sunshine...nice hair!

 They have previously been together from when M was about 3-6 months old, but because she didn't yet sleep through the night, her cries and my efforts to soothe them often woke K up. In an effort to keep our kids from becoming sleep deprived zombies (like their mother) we moved K downstairs to the guest room/office. It was hard for me. I felt as though she was detached  alone and vulnerable sleeping downstairs with the rest of us upstairs. To go along with my 'mommy guilt' there was also the fact that she continued to wake at least 3 times a week and either call for me from downstairs or creep upstairs in the dark. Both of which broke my heart even more. 

Moving them back in together, while not ideal, seemed to be the best thing for now.

Not only did it curb my guilt over leaving my 4 year old vulnerable at night,

 it was something we need to do because the hubby's new job requires he work from a home office. The downstairs room was our only option for that, well, it was that or the garage. Hopefully I'll get around to a blog post on the downstairs room makeover soon. 

I'll eventually get to the topic of today's post, I promise!!!

The girls furniture was squeezed in together, some taken out for lack of space, and lots of toys were sorted through and given away.

The furniture doesn't match, but I have a feeling that M will be in her crib for another year TOPS. 

(K started to escape at 17 months, which gives me 2 more months of crib confined bliss if M is the same!) 

We will eventually get bunk beds or re arrange the room so M can sleep on the trundle.

That will free up some much desired breathing room in the cramped space, 

maybe, perhaps to be filled with a much desired dollhouse!

Until then, I have done some simple things to decorate the space, and make it more fun for the girls. Both of them LOVE the letters and pictures I have above their beds. 

For the letters, I just grabbed some board letters from Hobby Lobby and 

mod -podged on scraps leftover from M's crib bedding.

I quickly typed up some fun prints for the walls, things I have always sung or said to the girls. 

I'll posting them here so you can grab them if you want!

I used some frames from the dollar store and painted them to coordinate with the room, then used 3M strips to easily(and securely) hang everything on the wall.

M regularly points to it after naps and wants to see her picture up close, 

and K knows that her special letter is there just for her! 

 Kinsey particularly loves the ABC print, 

since she is working hard on learning to write her letters with me lately.

                                                                  Sunshine Download Here

                                                                  Alphabet Download Here

Tutorial: Magnetic Cake Stands

Today I am sharing a quick and easy variation on the standard DIY cakestand. I grew tried of trying to find a place to store a bulky stand in my small kitchen and also wanted something that could be changed to coordinate with the theme of a party. The result of my brainstorming was this: A magnetic cake stand!

 You will need 4 simple things - 

-a candleholder of any style (green one found at Target dollar bins for $2, glass one from dollar store 2/$1)

- plate- plastic, glass, ceramic, etc. (plate shown is melamine from dollar store)

- flat magnets (purchased at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 with 40% off coupon)

- glue gun (or super glue if you prefer to stick your fingers together rather than burn them like me)

 Total Cost = $6 for two stands

It's as easy as 1,2,3! 

Glue a magnet to the candlestick, glue a magnet to the bottom of the plate, place them together! 

TA-DA!

***It is however important to check that you line up the polarity of the magnets so they attach to each other, not separate!***

 Candlestick is now still available to use to hold a candle & the plate can be washed and used as normal!

DIY- Cake Stands

For a while now I've been searching for a cake stand that is simple, sleek and crisp.....and doesn't break the bank. I mean, how often do you actually use a cake stand? Unless you are Martha Stewart it probably comes out of hiding 3-4 times a year (and no one really cares but you what it looks like but you).

So in my quest to do things the penny pinching, way I came up with a very simple concept for cake stands on a budget!

This entire project cost around $9, but I made 3 cake stands and have a whole tube of glue left over for more projects.

Supplies Needed:

Ceramic Plates- any shape, size or color will do....(I went with white because that was the simple look I wanted, but you could do a cake stand to match any occasion or cake. My plates were all purchased at the dollar store, but goodwill is a great place to find them too!)

Glass Candlesticks- again dollar store, cheap! (The small one shown was in a two pack for $1. I got the large one shown with the muffins for 99 cents at goodwill.)

E6000 Glue- $1.99(can be purchased at any craft store or superstore)

Spray Paint- $1 -White (or whatever matches your plate)

The first step is to measure out the middle of the plate and mark it with a pencil. My plates were easy and all had either a raised ring or a stamp marking dead center.

Next (and do this step outside...PLEASE!) put E6000 glue on both the candlestick and the plate where they will touch. Follow the directions on the glue and wait 2-5 minutes before sticking them together.

Then you can break out the spray paint and blend the 2 pieces together. (note: I do not recommend painting the top portion of the plate since most spray paints are not food safe...if you have to paint it to achieve a unified look please use parchment when serving on the stand)

 Reapply and let the glue set-up for 24-72 hours before washing and using.

Ta- Da! Super cute (and super cheap) cake stands!

DIY-Poster Board Wall Art

So today I am sharing a DIY/tutorial (my first so bare with me) that I recently came up with after seeing the high price of -oh so simple- wall art.

 Besides the price tag shock, I was also never really able to find the exact color palette I was looking for.....thus I created my own art!

 Don't be scared, this project requires NO art skills!!!

All you need is an eye for color/pattern and the ability to use an exacto knife and a glue gun...easy peasy!

Let's get started....first here is the supplies you will need: (some items not shown)

2 sheets of poster board ( I got mine for $1 each at the dollar store)

8-10 sheets of scrapbook paper in coordinating colors/patterns-(I find it's best to go with similar colors but fun patterns- mix it up- don't be scared and make sure you add at least one contrasting color or pattern!)

spray glue (or rubber cement, or mod podge, or a glue stick...whatever you have that glues!)

an exacto knife (for exacto cutting..hehe....make sure you also have cardboard or a cutting board to cut on)

a hot glue gun (and glue sticks...duh)

a ruler and pencil

3mm brand sticky strips for putting your finished product on the wall (I used a  small 4 pack)

Total cost for materials- approximately $10

First you will need to cut your poster board into squares, I chose to cut three in the full size of a scrapbook paper sheet (12" x 12"), Three in a rectangle (12" x 6"), Three in an 8" square, and ended up with Seven in a 6" square. I find it's best to cut odd numbers of squares to balance out the piece without looking too symmetrical.

Next layout the pieces on a large surface...just take your time and layer, nothing is final at this point so mix it up a bit!

Once you have a plan start spraying your poster board with the glue and pressing and smoothing your scrapbook paper on. For the smaller pieces, I glued the full sheet on and then cut the excess with the exacto knife. If you don't like the color spacing you can ix your pieces up again at this point.

Lastly grab that trusty glue gun and start sticking it all together.

If you have OCD you can use a level or straight edge, but if you are lazy like me you can eyeball it.

Use the directions on your 3mm sticky strips to mount onto the wall and voila! You have a super chic, totally original piece of artwork for $10 or less!