DIY NUMBERED CLOTHESPINS

through this DIY project, you will get a little clue as to how my brain works and organizes my thoughts. i created some numbered clothespins after mentally numbering my to do lists for years. i number each item on my to do list to prioritize it, so i start with number 1 and work my way through the list until i'm done!

materials:

to do list

clothespins

numbered pins or brads 

(i happened to find these numbered brads at michael's. 

they are sold by k&company and the entire line of products is so fun!)

tacky glue

using tacky glue, adhere one brad to one clothespin and let dry. i left the backsides of the brads flat, so they would glue to the clothespins and i actually liked the look. the good thing about the brads that i found is that they came with 20 brads. this means i could potentially have a 20 item to do list and still be able to prioritize it.

once the clothespins were dry, i was able to put them to use on my to do list!

DIY ALPHABET MAGNETS

who doesn't love magnets? here's a DIY tutorial on how to make your own. 

materials needed:

-bag of flat glass beads (i found mine at hobby lobby near the floral arrangements)

-1" circle punch

-package of 1/2" magnets (i found mine at michael's)

-tacky glue

-alphabet and numbers printable, 8 1/2" x 11" (i recommend printing on cardstock)

-glue gun

-scissors

first punch out the letters and numbers that you want to make into magnets.

next put a thin dime sized amount of glue (it's important to use tacky glue as it dries clear) onto the punched out piece of cardstock. then take a glass bead, flat side down and adhere the bead to the piece of paper. press firmly and let dry completely. i waited overnight, just to be sure. 

once you have all of your glass beads glued to each punched letter, it's time to turn them into magnets. i used a hot glue gun for this part. put a dab of hot glue (about the size of the end of a pencil eraser) onto the backside of your glass bead and glue a magnet to the back. press firmly and set aside to dry.

let the magnets dry completely, probably 30 minutes as hot glue sets up much faster than other glue. then put those magnets to use and hang some items!

isn't the ampersand print cute? i recently acquired from the girls over at ampersand design studio and it's now proudly hanging in my office. i love their work and this piece has added a bright pop of color to the office. i just love it. 

here's what the printable will look like. the outlines on the circles are very thin so if you cut out the circles and can still see the lines, don't fret, because they will hardly show when you put your magnets together. 

make sure to print this image on 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock. you can find the full size file here

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM LAURA PARKE

here's what my house is looking like today. 

i love valentine's day and the chance to make the house a little bit festive. 

simple banners made from foam, tied to our kitchen chairs. 

DIY: VALENTINE CRAFT PAPER PLACEMAT

just in time for valentine's day, i have the easiest DIY project to make your valentine's meal at home a bit more fun. this project takes less than 30 minutes, and most of that time is waiting for some simple paint to dry. i promise you have time for this one!

materials:

2 pieces of craft paper (approximately 12" x 18")
white paint
paint brush
red marker (or any other valentine color you want)

step one: paint circles in a random fashion onto your craft paper until you have painted enough circles to your liking.

step two: after the paint has dried, take your marker and draw hearts on each of the circles you've painted. i also decided to fill in a few of the hearts i drew, just for fun. who doesn't enjoy some doodling?

there you have it! with just two steps, you have a decorated placemat, made especially for your sweetheart. told you it was an easy one.

happy valentine's day!!!

BUNDT PAN WALL

here's a little snapshot of the home i share with my husband, eric. i started to collect bundt pans a few years ago and this habit has continued into married life. in fact, we purchased one of these while on our honeymoon in san francisco at a thrift store we happened upon. it seems like a strange collection, but we love them!

i want to know...what do you collect?