RUSTIC Starburst Mirror out of Napkin Holders and Twigs!

I know the starburst mirrors are ALL over blogland but I’m going to venture on a twist of the classic.  Yes, I plan to show you how to do a rustic, outdoorsy, almost wreath like twist on the ever popular, classic, starburst mirror.  (Are you excited yet?)

For most my crafts my ideas will just come to me, all of a sudden, and I’ll immediately have to begin the project before I lose motivation and have a finished product within the hour (or two, or three, hee hee) 

This project was one of those, as in it came to me, and I had to drive to the craft store immediately to buy my round mirror, come home and cut twigs in the back yard, wish I was rich enough to hire someone to pick up my kids from school because I had to STOP to go get them, take them to piano lessons, come home and frantically finish gluing on my twigs before it was too dark to take a picture of my finished project.  It has occurred to me that I may be just a little obsessive compulsive.  Just maybe…….

Because I’m a thrift store stalker I happen to have a collection of napkin rings that I picked up for a dollar at the thrift store, so I used them on this project. (FYI, the Dollar Tree also carries napkin rings!)

I bought a 7” round mirror for $1.90 at Michaels and arranged my pattern and hot glue the rings on.  I didn’t like that you could see through the rings so I glued brown felt on the backside of each ring. 

Next I just cut up twigs in my backyard an hot glued them in a circle.  I also glued on a plate holder (from the dollar store) so I had a hook for my starburst.

It’s as EASY as THAT!  What do you think?  My husband chuckled just a little and said, “Wow, it sure makes for an artistic entrance!”  I’m not sure if he was giving me a compliment or not?

I really like how it turned out – what do you think? It always amazes me how mirrors completely open up a space. (even little ones like this!)  I did a post a while back on 10 easy design tips, using mirrors was one of the tips!
                    

                                                             Total Cost: $4.00

I also tried it in my backyard.  I might even like it better there, the starburst is perfect for an outdoor setting.  I hope you guys are inspired to make one yourself! 

And look – I got my picture in before the sun went down!!!!  A Good Day I’d Say….

This type of twig mirror project was also in YHL newest book!!!
Linking up to their Spring Pinterest Party - fun!

Till next time my friends! 

~ Creative Juices Décor ~

Cowhide Dresser? You gotta see this.

I ran across Vivienne at the Vspot Blog and couldn’t believe what I was seeing, a DIY dresser with real cow hide drawer fronts - I LOVE it! Vivienne is fantastic with turning "trash" into "treasure", her blog is lots of fun.

The BEFORE: (craigslist purchase for 25 bucks)
Seriously, would you have been able to see any potential?  I’m pretty good at seeing potential and I’m not sure I could have gotten the vision for this one!

The After!




I just love the texture and the interest it creates. A definite conversation starter. Wouldn't it look amazing in a home like this!! I ADORE the nail head table and that wrought iron ball chandelier.  If you want your home to have a lot of character just think of ways you can add texture - it will spark a LOT of love in your home.

photo via full house

I have a very classic and traditional home but I think I just might attempt this……one day when I butcher the cows in my backyard!! HAHA….

~ Creative Juices Decor~

Final School Projects–A Candy Cane Invention

OK seriously, I’m supposed to make my daughter’s invented candy school assignment at home with her and what does she tell me she invented???  “Candy Cane My Way”  a tuttie fruity candy cane made with melted fruit roll ups and pop rock candy!  I was thinking, WHAATTT?  I don’t even know how to make candy (if you’ve read this blog for a while you know that I try to bake fairly healthy.) 

Step # 1, Google how to make pulled sugar (which is the structure for candy canes).  I found the “how to” and this is just one paragraph:

“Pulling and stretching the candy is intrinsic to the texture of pulled sugar, but it can be dangerous. Be very careful not to burn yourself when pulling taffy. Do not handle the candy until it is cool enough to touch, and beware that candy that feels cool on the surface can be burning hot underneath. I recommend wearing a pair of latex gloves (or two) while pulling candy, to prevent burns and overheating.” (about.com)

Doesn’t that sound like fun – I’d say she picked a winner!  So off we begin to make her “Candy Cane My Way”  (with no candy thermometer mind you, I wasn’t about to spend even more $ along with the corn syrup, sugar, fruit roll ups and pop rocks I had to buy.)

The funniest part about this was she had to write up a:
Candy description
Step by step instructions how to make actual candy
Candy name
Candy packaging description
Detailed illustrations

AND a Commercial script to preform!!!!!

I’m reading over all the stuff she has written up about how she “Strongly believes this candy is the best” and then I see this side note that reads, “if you are a healthy eater do NOT eat this”  I couldn’t stop smiling – so I have rubbed off on her!  Now all I have to do is explain the rules of making people want to buy your stuff

Overall it was a complete success! (yes, that surprised me a lot!)  Her invention was fantastic and we both didn’t end up with third degree burns!  YES!

Candy Cane My Way! 

   ~Creative Juices Decor~

Thrift Store Treasures #5 and Babylegs Giveaway Mom4Life

Congratulations to Rita #7, Kira #12, Greta#10, and Melisa#15!  You are the random drawing winners of the Stevia Giveaway!!! Please email me your full name, address,  & email. (no PO boxes) The NuNatural Stevia company will ship out your winnings!!!! Yey!  selina @ fusemail . com (no spaces)

Ah, back to Thrift Store Treasures!  I got this a while ago but wanted to take some detailed photos of it before I showed it to you.  I think this is my favorite find EVER!  I am so in love.  I splurged, 10 bucks at the thrift store.  Worth every dollar

You can see that lamp I fixed up from the thrift store and Mod Podged a lamp shade on this post.  Today, I’m here to show you this cute circle bunny mirror I found! (it was hiding behind really ugly mirrors – yey!)

I’ve always been a Beatrix Potter fan so this mirror made me smile and think happy thoughts.  I put it in my youngest daughter's room.  She’s almost 4 so I’m not sure I can call it a babies room.  (oh, so sad…..kind of……)

What do you think?  As cute as a button bunny? 

She’s such a goof ball – yes that is her “pitty leetle pincess feet” she is showing off in that picture.

Talking about FEET  (I love these Give-a-ways!)  my good friend Heather from Mom4life offered to give one of my readers a pair of these adorable White Burst (unisex)  BABYLEG legwarmers. Don't let the name legwarmers scare you off for summer.  I used these on the "little princess" above ALL throughout summer, especially in her crawling stages.  It was so nice to have her in a onesie and the babylegs covering her knees.  She could scoot all around without hurting her tender skin.  Older kids also love wearing these and they make GREAT gifts.  Check out all her other wonderful products too like the Hooter Hider and the Belly Bandit. 

My friend Heather with her baby and White Burst babylegs!

To enter all you need to do is:

Check out Mom4Life and leave a comment what you thought about it.  Is it easy to navigate? Easy to read?  She said she wanted unbiased feedback.  :-)

BONUS ENTRY (new comment, another chance to win) Tell us one of your favorite products on the site.

Thanks for letting me show you what I got!!!  Till next time!

~ Creative Juices Decor~

Bread Box attempt #2 - How to Paint a Breadbox

Ever since I posted about this Bread Box mess up,  I have always wanted to do another one – just to show you guys I really can pull it off! 

When I saw this at the thrift store for 2 bucks I couldn’t resist.   Unlike my previous attempt I didn’t have to use power tools so I knew things would be OK.  (I tried to turn my other bread box into a phone charger station with holes in the back, but I almost took out a finger instead.  OPPS!)

Here is the lovely BEFORE shot:

And I was going to use it to cover up THIS spot:

Here is the AFTER pictures:

It worked – now my little coffee station looks like this:

The rundown was:

1.) spray paint white – at least 3 coats
2.) sand edges to distress
3.) add a little brown glaze to age it even more.
If you want more in depth details see this post.

What fun! I hope I’ve inspired a few folks out there.  Just go for it!

Shown on The Shabby Chic Cottage - thanks Gina!

~Creative Juices Decor

thriftyhome

Inspirational Pictures– Kitchen eating nook and hanging beds

OK, this kitchen was just cool.  I love the idea of incorporating a kitchen table nook right off the island.  It seems that everyone loves to gather around in the kitchen and hang out so why not make it easy!  All the bead board and the mix of colored wood is great.

elledecor.com

These beds are crazy!  I think the rope is not really holding them up and there is a post in the center of the twin beds.  (I can only hope –right!)

And I want to live here…….seriously.

Come take a Tour of my own home!

~ Creative Juices Decor~

Healthy Banana Oat Bars and Stevia Giveaway!

This recipe came from Amy Green’s Simply Sugar and Gluten Free cookbook.  I LOVE her recipes!  (and she’s pretty fantastic too!)


A LOT of her recipes use Stevia. ( a natural, no calorie, healthy sugar alternative)

STEVIA DRAWING CLOSED - 5/16  Winners announced on the 20th.
I am a HUGE fan of stevia, in fact I use it on everything from my oatmeal to plain yoguert to all my baked goodies!  NuNaturals Stevia Company (they happen to be my favorite brand) contacted me to do a giveaway for them.  I figured if it means my readers could get FREE things sent directly their doorstep COUNT ME IN.  ( blog reader love, thanks you guys)

What you will win:  one (1) box of our NuStevia Packets, 50 ct. Box,  AND one (1) bottle of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Liquid, 2 oz. bottle

Here is how to win: (Continental U.S. residents only)


1. Please leave a comment below

2. You don't need to be a follower or subscriber to enter the contest but while you are here (hee,hee), take a look around and if you like what you see and decide to become one, (or are one) please leave a separate comment letting me know as this will give you your second entry.

Good luck my friends! 

If you would just like a few free stevia packets sent to you in the mail, on top of entering this giveaway see bottom of post.

I guess technically you’re not suppose to just copy a recipe from a cookbook and put it on your blog.  You’re suppose to tweak it just a little for it to be OK.  So, I increased the salt by 1/8 tsp. (I like my deserts with a little extra salt I guess!) and  I added chocolate chips to the top.  Honestly I think it would taste better just plain, or try butterscotch chips, that would be yummy.  Of course keeping it sugar and gluten free just do it “as is”.

Banana Oat Bars
Taken and slightly adapted from Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free by Amy Green.

Makes 16 (2 x2 inch) bars

½ cup pitted Medjool dates
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats, divided (not quick-cooking, and if you aren’t gluten sensitive you can use regular oats)
½ cup walnuts (I used almonds)
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (original said 1/8 tsp.)
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons grade-B maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
1 large ripe banana, sliced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chips (chocolate, carob, or butterscotch) is optional. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly mist an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
In a medium heatproof bowl, cover the dates with hot water. Set aside. Or, cover, the dates with water and microwave for 45 seconds.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process 1 ½ cups oats for several minutes until you have a coarse oat flour. Add the remaining ½ cup oats, the walnuts or almonds, baking soda, and salt. Pulse 10-12 times, for 1 second each, until the walnuts and oats are chopped but not fine. Add the applesauce, maple syrup, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Process until a dough forms. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the dates to the food processor, reserving the soaking liquid; there’s no need to wash the processor bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the soaking liquid, the banana, lemon zest, lemon juice, remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Pulse several times to combine, then process until smooth. The paste should be thick but still liquid. Add a little more soaking liquid as needed.

While the food processor is running, use wet hands to press two-thirds of the dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Once the banana paste is smooth, spread it evenly across the dough. Break the remaining dough into marble-size pieces, sprinkle them across the banana paste, and lightly press in.
Bake for 16-18 minutes, until the oat topping is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack. Cover and store in the refrigerator.

These also freeze well.

UPDATE: I also made these as APPLE OAT BARS!

Instead of using the banana/date paste in the middle I thinly sliced apples and softened them in a pan of boiling water (about 15 minutes cooking time)  I added the tsp. of lemon rind but because I used granny smith apples (very tart!) I didn’t add any more lemon juice.  It was FANTASTIC!  So it’s up to you. Are you in the mood for a banana date flavor (almost like Fig Newtons) or an Apple Oat flavor.  OH, how about a cranberry oat bar!!!!

Have fun and make this recipe your own!  (Amy always tells us to, “make the recipe our own”)

  APPLE OAT VERSION :

 
I think you are in for a treat with these.  ENJOY!


Continental U.S. readers  can receive " FREE SAMPLES " of our NuStevia Packets by sending a SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED, # 10 envelope to us at the following location :

NuNaturals , Inc.
2220 West 2nd. Ave. # 1
Eugene, OR 97402

If ordering directly from www.nunaturals.com enter  CODE :  BLG531 for 15% off your order!

Wine bottles, spray paint and chalk–Oh my!

As I was meandering through Michaels craft store I stumbled upon a collection of red tagged clearance spray paint bottles.  One of them happened to be spray chalk paint.  I had never used chalk paint before but from what I can tell off BlogLand that stuff rocks!  So I came home and it sat in the garage forever figured out a fun craft using my bottle of $1.99 chalk paint.

 

On to the project…….I am going to show you how I turned leftover wine bottles and chalk paint into a fun gift idea! 

 

First drink some wine 

1.) Prime the empty bottles

(if you are making bulk of these and you don’t have a lot of time to invest, you may just want to prime and paint the chalk area just over the natural wine glass.  That is a very pretty look too – you are just subject to the soft greens, amber or the clear color wine bottles come in. Remember, still prime the area that will have the chalk paint on it.)

2.) Spray paint them your favorite color