Pinterest Poser/Try It Tuesday Challenge Holiday Style

I look a little maniacal in this picture, which is how I feel during the holidays anyway so it works.

It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

This Tuesday I'm kicking off Pinterest Poser For the Holidays Four Weeks of Gift Ideas.  Or otherwise known as, four weeks of gift reveals for some of my favorite relatives.  Luckily, most of my relatives don't read this blog so they won't see the potentially crappy homemade gifts they will be getting.

The first gift idea comes from two separate pins.
Here:

via: http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2011/10/diy-make-your-own-halloween-dinnerware.html#.T7PwvUVYtfG

And here:

via: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects

So, I headed to the Dollar Store and bought a couple mugs and a plate, looked up some good quotes online and grabbed my trusty Sharpie.  

And I sat staring at the hardware.  I forgot I hate my handwriting.  Like seriously hate.

Ugh.

My handwriting sucks and I'm not very good at straight lines--walking in them, living in them or writing in them.

But oh hell, giving it my best shot is what this whole I'm not a poser exercise is all about.  So, here's what I ended up with...
This:



And this:

And this:

Double Ugh.
Pinterest fail?  Quite possibly.

I baked them for 30 minutes in my oven set to 150 degrees. Ran them through the dishwasher to see if the whole baking thing really ensured the Sharpie wouldn't come off.  The baking worked, sort of, only a little bit of my god awful handwriting came off. I would reccomend hand washing the finished plates/mugs even after baking.

"Well they can't all be masterpieces," my sweet husband said reassuringly as he walked by my Sharpie-d messes.

Okay, the plate, I could live with.  I could even give as a gift to someone who loves me and accepts my inability to be a straight-line, neat-writing kind of gal.

This is an incredibly easy and awesome homemade gift idea for all you people with sweet handwriting.  So easy and personal.

Are you planning on making any gifts for people this holiday season?  Do tell.  Share your project ideas or gifts that you've made before in the comments.

Check out some of the other Pinterest Poser Challenge projects I've made in the last month:

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here
Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Oh yeah, and come on over and follow my Pinterest boards too.

You can also find me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and Instagram @JumpingWithMyFingersCrossed.

Pinterest Poser/Try It Tuesday Challenge

It's time again for the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.  Or maybe it's not even on Pinterest, maybe it's just something totally new that I'm trying for the first time.  

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

It's been a month of projects, some turned out better than anticipated, some were just kind of eh, okay.

This week, I attempt furniture painting and show off a half-way finished project.

I moved into a new/old home last January.  The new/old home came with a lovely sunlit breakfast nook.  

The day we moved in and hence the last time this nook has been this clean.

A nook that was a little too small for a table to seat six and a little too big for nothing. So, I turned to Pinterest for ideas on how to fill the space.  

This was my favorite idea, a sitting corner.  I pictured homework being done and books being read in my corner.

Via Pinterest from EllaandElliot.com

So last February, we attempted to bring this Pinterest corner to life and make it our own.  We purchased a chest from Kmart for around $45.  

I had plans for a cushion, paint and eventually another chest.  But it just sat there, a lonely brown chest.  

Occasionally a child or two would play in it.  Bills and papers got tossed in it.  But it was not the corner I imagined.

Last spring I finally got a little crafty and made a cushion.  I bought foam and fabric from JoAnne Fabrics.  I cut the foam to fit the top of the chest and wrapped the fabric around the foam like a present and then I glued it.  Yes, I glued it because I don't sew.  I would love to sew, but I don't, yet.

I placed the cushion on the chest, added some old pillows from an old couch and it was closer to the corner I always wanted (since last January).  And lo and behold, a reader sat on my fancy cushion and read.  The whole build it and they will come philosophy/strategy works.

Last week (really last night), I took the Pinterest Poser challenge and got yet one step closer to my perfect nook corner.  I painted the chest.

I've never painted furniture before, so I was winging it.  I loaded up the baby and headed to Home Depot for some paint.  It was like a foreign country there and I didn't speak the language.  So many different kinds of paints, so many brushes and more.  I thought you just walked in, picked out a paint can and left.  A wonderful woman who worked at Home Depot set me straight, showed me the right paint, mixed it up for me and even gave baby Wade a sticker. 

While watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and drinking wine, I sanded and painted the chest bright red. It was so fun.  And easy.

I love the way it turned out.  Now I need to repeat the whole thing with another chest to complete the perfect reading/homework/chill out nook corner.

I hate the blinds.  That's a whole other project....what to put up instead of blinds, that won't cost a fortune. 

It doesn't look exactly like the picture from Pinterest at all.  But I probably never would have thought of the whole project without the Pinterest inspiration. That's what this Poser Challenge is all about.

So how about it, will you take the Pinterest Poser Challenge?  What have you made, painted, cooked, arranged, sewed, Mod-Podged from Pinterest?  Or did you try something new and outrageous?

Yup, I'm really having as much fun as it looks in this picture.  

Share it in the comments or leave the link to a picture of your project or meal or furniture or pumpkins....well you get the idea.  Check this out, here's a funny blog, Pintrosity, about Pinterest fails, projects that just didn't look like the pictures. So funny. Love it.  Click here to check it out.

Oh yeah, and follow my Pinterest boards too.

Check out some of the other projects I've made in the last month:

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

You can also find me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and Instagram @JumpingWithMyFingersCrossed.

Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge

It's time again for the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.  Or maybe it's not even on Pinterest, maybe it's just something totally new that I'm trying for the first time.  

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

What I'm learning with these Pinterest challenges each week is that it can get pretty pricey if you let it.  Just the ingredients to some of the recipes is mind blowing.  
But you know what's free? Dancing.  Dancing is free and it just so happens that dancing is one of my favorite things.

This week's Pinterest craft was based on the print/dish towel below, which was sent to me by a reader.  How awesome is that?  She totally gets me. Thanks Michelle!

I just happened to have a frame with broken glass and pictures of my two oldest kids as sweet babes in my basement.  I threw out the glass, tucked my precious pics away (okay I set them in a pile on my messy counter) and got to work.  A trusty can of spray paint, a Sharpie, Mod-Podge and scrap book paper and BAM, awesome kitchen picture/mantra/mission statement.

I was putting this little piece of fabulous together when I probably should have been doing the dishes, but that's no fun.

This isn't just some saying I put up in my kitchen...I live this.
Some of my favorite Kitchen Dances:

Our New House Dance



Kitchen Dance- Gangnam Style



I even made a Dance Lesson video in my kitchen---Safe Appropriate Dances for All Ages




So how about it, will you take the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge? What have you made, painted, cooked, arranged, sewed, Mod-Podged from Pinterest?  Or did you try something new and outrageous?

Share it in the comments or leave the link to a picture of your project or meal or furniture or pumpkins....well you get the idea.  

Check this out, here's a funny blog about Pinterest fashion called Pinterest Told Me To... Love it.

Check out some of my other Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenges:

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here

The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here

Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here

The pumpkin address-click here

Oh yeah, and follow my Pinterest boards too.

Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge

It's time again for the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.  Or maybe it's not even on Pinterest, maybe it's just something totally new that I'm trying for the first time.  

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

A Thanksgiving-y Project 

We were walking through Walgreen's the other day and they were doing some major rearranging.  The employees were hustling to rid any sign that Halloween existed.  They were in a hurry to make room for all the mini-Santas, faux garland, tinsel and miscellaneous Christmas paraphernalia. 

"What happened to Thanksgiving?" asked Lucy in her best Tiny Tim voice.

"Oh, honey, no one cares about Thanksgiving," I honestly explained to joked with her.  

The Walgreen's employee hunched over a box labeled Mickey Mouse Santas looked up and laughed a "you said it sister" laugh.

Oh but I do care about Thanksgiving.  And so do a lot of grateful people on Facebook--all those folks participating in the 30 days of gratitude who are thankful for sunsets, their amazing husbands and the like.  Mildly annoying, but I like their Thanksgiving spirit.

I've wanted to do a Thanksgiving-y project with my kids for a long time.  And the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge seemed like the ideal place to give it a go.  
The inspiration came from this pin from katescreativespaces.com.

This is all about a cute, meaningful way to enjoy fall.  I gave mine a Thanksgiving/Gratitude spin, as well as a much more simplified set up.

With a cheap puffy poster board from Michael's for $4.99, ribbon on sale for $1 a roll and old construction paper and push pins we had around the house, my Thanksgiving/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown was created.

This new tradition is going to be fun because I thought of it more as a game or lesson.  Each leaf represents a day closer to Thanksgiving and a lesson in gratitude--what to be grateful for and how to express that gratitude.  For example, one leaf says Family: Call your grandparents and tell them you love them.  Other leaves say Neighborhood: Offer to rake a neighbor's leaves; Health: Go for a family walk; Home: Clean your rooms (I'm sure that one will be their favorite.).

Today's leaf.  We are very grateful for democracy.

There are a few leaves that read like game cards: Pass It On: Do one extra nice thing for someone in your family.

So far, I think I love this challenge.  Again, it's not perfect and doesn't look as great as the cute picture in the Pinterest inspiration.  BUT I feel pretty happy with this challenge.  It's cute and has a pretty cool purpose.

So how about it, will you take the Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenge? What have you made, painted, cooked, arranged, sewed, Mod-Podged from Pinterest?  Or did you try something new and outrageous?

Share it in the comments or leave the link to a picture of your project or meal or furniture or pumpkins....well you get the idea.  

Check out some of my other Try It Tuesday/Pinterest Poser Challenges:

The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here

The pumpkin address-click here




Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here

Oh yeah, and follow my Pinterest boards too.