Inspired to Share...
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Dawn: Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2012 4:22 AM
As many of you readers probably remember, my childhood best friend has recently moved to Atlanta...a 10 hour road trip for me. I visited her shortly after she moved in...see this post...and another visit was calling my name something fierce. After first looking at airline tickets to fly, my hubby suggested that I just make the drive. GOOD IDEA, I thought. That means if we go shopping I can actually bring lots more home with me :) He will fly me there again next visit, I am certain! I bought Atlanta out!!! We don't have a Home Goods where I live, so it's a must visit when I am out to see my bestie... While I was there to shop, I also took the opportunity to play around in my bestie's house. She wanted some rearranging done and which is right up my alley! I LOVE to go into others' homes and show them how to use what they already have differently. The concept of the day was "groupings" and "a punch of color"! My bestie has some wonderful pieces to work with already and has a feel for what looks good. For example: And I love these decorative items in her girls' bathroom... This gorgeous grouping of picture frames welcomes you as you head upstairs to see more of her home. So...we began to play around in some other rooms in her house. Our first stop was her butler's pantry (which I am secretly beyond envious of!!! LOL) Bestie decided that she wanted this to be a seasonal display area...we started with fall... It's the little details that make the house so homey! I love the Halloween orange and black striped straws...just a fun punch of color for her kids. Those are the little details that make a room fun and inviting! The next task was to introduce some burlap into the home and bring the outside in and using natural elements to decorate with. She had held onto this little piece of inspiration, waiting on ideas as to what to do with the burlap. We had fun adding the natural texture to several rooms in her house. Next, we got crafty and tackled an unfinished letter for her to hang. We used scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and paint to add a bit of whimsy to the room. Of course, we used burlap to hang the letter... And finally...we rearranged the mantel for a final touch. She already had the apothecary jars, we just grouped them together on the mantle instead of having them separated throughout the house. Her 7 year old wanted to get involved so we sent her outdoors to collect pine cones and nuts to fill them for a touch of nature. She already had the collection of vases...we just spread them apart on the mantle and mingled them among the jars. The collection of pumpkins was the final touch. We moved the pointy ball to the top of another cabinet and will show that in another post. It looks a bit less crowded now. Bestie was satisfied! And there you have it...the adventures from my fall trip to see my bestie. Stay tuned...there is more to share, but it's 4 am and I am finally feeling sleepy! ZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZz Inspired, Dawn |
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Girls' Roadtrip!: Posted on Sunday, October 07, 2012 4:55 PM
So...today's post starts with a trip to Canton, Texas...known as the largest flea market. A group of girlfriends from church went alongside and it was, indeed, more than we could see in a day (or two, or even three!) We were prepared with a wagon and lots of large plastic shopping bags on hand to hold our treasures. This was a first time trip for several of us, so we newbies were tickled with excitement...well, maybe I am just talking about ME! I was GIDDY and kept saying, "I am so excited!" Even the weather didn't stop us from traipsing around... Nor did spilling every purchase in our wagon stop us!  The ONLY thing that did stop several of us was that we ran out of money or room to haul our finds back. Otherwise, we could have shopped until we made our rounds to every booth! For most of us, this trip was a welcomed blessing of time away from kiddos for a night. We enjoyed meals without having to care for any screaming kids with meltdowns or messes. The fellowship was completely wonderful!!! Before heading to bed that night, we found ourselves huddled around the hot tub soaking our aching bodies and feet. It was a warm and relaxing time of fellowship, and much needed for some of these tired mommas! :) The next day was filled with more shopping and then the long trek back to our homes 5 hours away. Here are just a few of the finds that came home with me... While we were still on the trip we began to toss around some dates when the girls could come over and work on their craft purchases from Canton (since I had a newly renovated work space...that's another post.) It was another excuse to get together to fellowship as well! Within the week, we were together again, hard at work on our creations... And...here are a few of their creations: I found this pillow, but added a bow so that it would better coordinate with my house decor... Stay tuned for more projects that were created from finds from this trip. AND...here is the link in case you ever find yourself wanting to attend the flea market yourself :) I was so inspired by this trip that I am seriously planning to go back in a few weeks! Such a great place for purchases AND to get useful ideas. If you have ever been there...share your ideas with us! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2012 7:27 AM
 I have been eyeing the wonderfully decorated pumpkins on Pinterest for a while now. While shopping with a friend, I came upon some faux pumpkins on sale for 40% off and another 20% off on top of that. So...I couldn't resist trying my hand at decorating a few. Polka dots were, by far, the easiest to dress up the pumpkins with as far as painting goes. That is what called my name for the first pumpkin...something easy...polka dots! Since the pumpkin was black, I chose a contrasting color, which was off white. I used a similar approach to decorate the smaller black pumpkin...just adding green and orange polka dots.For the top, I used ribbon (folded to make a loop) and then stapled (with a staple gun) to the top of the pumpkin. Lastly, I made a bow to top things off and added raffia for some fun, fall texture... The white pumpkin was for my daughter-in-love who is loving all of the new modern designs. She is currently in the process of redecorating her house... She's really fond of the chevron pattern, so here is my attempt to do a chevron pattern on her white pumpkin. After painting , the chevron proved fruitless and I thought a bit more smartly...and used some black electrical tape. Worked perfect for the job! :) I also used some of her recently bought leftover fabric to incorporate the patterns and coordinate with her house. These were fun to make and took an hour or less to create. Good luck to you...hope you are inspired to be creative this fall too! Enjoy displaying your cute little dressed up pun'kins for all to see... Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Saturday, September 22, 2012 8:01 PM
 It's only September, but I am beginning to think "Christmas!" One of my first projects for the holidays is this personalized canvas Christmas tree. I thought I would show you the step by step process as to how it was created... Step 1: Grab a canvas (size is your choosing). I used a 16 x20 because I wanted it big enough to display on the front door if I wanted. Using green paint, paint quick strokes that curl up slightly on the ends in order to get your tree. Step 2: Paint a yellow star on top and a brown tree trunk below... Step 3: Outline your frame by brushing short, quick strokes. Give your tree some fun polka dots too! Step 4: Now...the fun part. It's time to embellish the tree. Give the tree "highlights" using black and white paint pens. I just drew swooping lines and added a few white dots beside, under or at the end of the lines and used a similar technique on the red polka dots. Using left over burlap, I also added a few bows for texture and then jazzed it up with the help of rhinestones...hot glued both of those on. Don't forget to outline your tree trunk and the middle of the star on top! Here is another look... Step 5: Also, using a paint pen, write the name of each family member on the tree, spacing the names out nicely. Step 7: Using a Cricut machine or even stickers...Spell out "Merry Christmas as the top and the family's name on the bottom under the tree. Then adhere everything using Mod Podge. This also gives it overall protection and a shiny, finished coat. This step is optional. I don't always dress up the edge, but thought it looked like it need it this time. Using a ribbon, wrap the ribbon around the edge of the canvas, staple gunning in the corners or middle as you go. This just dresses the edge up a but and looks more finished. Using the same ribbon, staple gun extra length of ribbon to the top and the canvas can be hung on the front door. And now...Enjoy your decorated canvas! Yaye you! These are fun to make for your own family or to give away as a gift. The total project cost is less than $10 if you have a good supply of most of the basic craft supplies: canvases, scrapbook paper, ribbon, paint and Mod Podge. Good luck...and don't forget to share a pic of your creation so I can see :) Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Thursday, September 13, 2012 7:30 PM
It's been a bit crazy around here...first trying to prepare for a trip abroad and now trying to recover from the trip! It was such an honor to be invited to teach at the IMR (International Missionary Retreat) which was held in Pamukkale, Turkey this year. For those of you who know me, you know the struggle that I have dealt with and the guilt that I have felt over the years about leaving the classroom as a public school teacher, which I traded in for a job at No. 9257...I now proudly serve my family here at home. BUT...it was a difficult decision to make because I knew that I was called to the field of education as a 3rd grade student. My struggle lies in knowing that I was called to teach, but choosing to be a stay at home mom and Nana D instead. So...when opportunities such as this arise, I find that it fills that guilt that I feel that I am not using my gifts, talents and ultimate calling on my life. It was clear that God had plans for me to attend this Retreat because He had been convicting me to consider a trip abroad if the opportunity presented itself. About 3 months later I was approached about teaching in a VBS at the IMR in Turkey. Without much hesitation, I told our missionaries on staff that I had already been burdened about a trip such as this, but would pray about it. Our Staff Missionaries My biggest challenge was to raise the funds in order to go. Remember...I am a stay at home mom with an income of...$0. So, paying for the trip was a huge hurdle to jump! Of course, my hubby would have helped to fund the trip, but I felt burdened about raising the money on my own without having to dip into our own spending accounts. After much prayer and consideration, the fund raiser really presented itself on it's own. I had recently attended the wedding of a former student and made them an establishment board as a gift. Once I posted that on facebook, others saw it and wanted to order one...and so, the fund raising began. Orders came in by the dozens and at times I hired my 13 year old and daughter-in-love to come to my rescue and do a little prepping and painting for me. Within 5 weeks I had raised the $2200 needed for the airfare and hotel stay. It was almost too easy to raise the funds...that was the moment that I realized that God, indeed, was honoring my choice to say "yes" to the trip. God is AMAZING and I stand in awe of what HE does when my faith doesn't always believe. This was one of those opportunities where I was able to see God's hand clearly guide the efforts of this trip. Why do I doubt Him??? Well...because I am a doubter...sinful and lack the firm faith that God begs us to embrace. Needless to say, not only did God provide for the trip, He also allowed DB Décor to thrive and continues to be a small source of income for our family :) Hubby likes that!!! Oh, and DB Décor went from this: A small, but workable, closet... To a big new workspace ... Hubby got tired of coming home to this... But now comes home to this... So, for those that invested in my trip (and others), I wanted to share a few of the experiences while there in Istanbul, Izmir, and Pamukkale, Turkey... 3 day VBS We had LOADS of fun! Their sweet families have become more than just friends...I adore each and every one of them and admire their faith and obdedience in stepping out onto foreign soil for the chance to win souls for Christ...brave, courageous, selfless servants ~ beyond impressed by their faithfulness. Love the fellowshipping with each and everyone of these dear friends. So glad that I got to see some "old" friends again! =) While there, we also were able to do some sight seeing... Istanbul... Hieropolis Ahhhh! So beautiful... I must admit...everything I saw was beyond interesting, but some of the ruins starting looking all the same to me. Wish I could have picked up a few of the columns and brought them home with me though! So much to see in such little time, but thankful that we squeezed a few sights in between meeting times! Of course, you can't go anywhere without checking out the shops...so off we went. I wasn't in search of anything in particular...just taking it all in. But I found some hand painted ceramic numbers that I thought would be the perfect bit of whimsy to put on my small front porch. I couldn't wait to get home and start on the project. In the meantime, I found a beautiful hand painted bowl that I had no plans to purchase because it was so expensive. But after chatting a bit, we settled on a price that I thought I could afford. Sadly...the bowl didn't make it home in one piece. Upon opening my package and discovering the broken pieces, tears welled up in my eyes.  Then I remembered that it was just a "thing" and didn't compare to my injured toe that I came home with :( I know...yuck!  All because this is one clumsy girl and stubbed it on a bed...I think the 6th floor of the hotel may have heard the loud "thud!" My sweet companions on the trip made sure that I was taken care of with pain medicine, water and an adorable sunshine cookie...sure lifted my spirits at just the right time!  All too quickly, things were put back into perspective again! With some E6000 glue, the bowl was pieced back together again. I won't be serving spaghetti out of it, but it sure looks pretty displayed in my dining room! Needless to say, I didn't get to shop as much as I wanted because of my stinkin' throbbing toe, but I was able to pick up some hand painted ceramic numbers. My wheels were spinning with a project for them... I had just the project in mind...house numbers for my little front porch! Using a painted wooden board, I glued the tiles on with E6000. Let them dry overnight, put a hanger on and hang out for all to see...  My new house number plaque is on my little front porch to welcome guests...hope some of my new friends get a chance to stop by for a stay sometime! For those of you who helped in fund raising for this trip...I would like to thank you for being so gracious to shop DB Décor. Today, I am thankful and blessed for those who allowed this trip to be possible for me. Blessings to you all! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Sunday, August 26, 2012 11:36 PM
Well, when I left you last we were enjoying life as beach bums on the beaches of Pensacola. Unfortunately (and fortunately), we are back at home and back to reality...school starting, no more sleeping in, back to making lunches each morning and looking forward to Friday afternoons! I can't complain, truly...I wouldn't have it any other way! :) But, before leaving, I was inspired by the collection of starfish displayed in the transoms above the window at the beach house and I decided that I need some too. So the daughter-in-love and I took a trip out to shop in Pensacola for a few of these goodies to take back to ~ No. 9257 ~ I found a cute art print that was created by a local artist in the Pensacola area and decided that I would purchase it and frame it for my master bath.It did fit nicely with my other travel photos and framed prints from our favorite vacays.  Upon arrival at home, I was anxious to get started on my beach souvenirs project. Rememeber...I gathered some beautiful seashells to put into a shadow box. Lucky for me...shadow boxes were on the sale week I got home..whoo hoo! I even found one that already had burlap covering, which I thought would look just "beachy" :)  So...this is what I started with: With a little E6000 glue, I got to work on gluing the shells onto the shadow box board. I used the Cricut to cut out the letters to make the wording "Pensacola 2012" and adhered it, then sprayed the board a Mod Podge spray to make it shiny and protect it somewhat. Here is how it turned out... Sadly, saying goodbye to the beach was the hard part, but I love that I have little pieces of the landscape in my home to adore until I get to load up to head south again. Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:05 AM
Good morning, friends. Today, I am writing from a beautiful beach home in Pensacola, Florida!  Ahhhh...why can't my day begin like this everyday?!? Maybe because I would take God's beauty for granted and wouldn't appreciate His creations if it was my view everyday...but oh, how nice it is to wake up to this gorgeous view for a week.Last night, the teenage boys and mommas all went crab hunting...it was a very successful hunt! Since I am not too fond of catching crabs, I looked for seashells instead...and found a few, simple ones. The sea shells gave me an idea. Instead of buying cheap souvenirs, I try to find something that will be decorative or functional to add to my home to remind me of the places that God has blessed me to visit. So...a sea shell collection it is this year! When we get back home, I will be search for a 40%-50% coupon to Hobby Lobby or Michael's to grab a shadow box to add my collection to. Hoping for it to look something like this... We also discovered this unusual find that washed up on the beach. Any helpers that can identify this nasty looking creation? Looks like a lung or a piece of raw chicken to me, but it wasn't. Hubby said it's a crustacean of some sort...idk...pretty nasty looking!   See...told you...quite unattractive sight! Stay tuned for more beach memories from Pensacola... Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Saturday, August 04, 2012 2:07 PM
I can't believe that I am already preparing for fall and in the heat wave that we are having here in the south. These 105 degree days are getting old...so I thought maybe THINKING about fall would inspire me to have a better attitude in this heat! So today, I thought I would share some things that I have been working on. Of course, you can order anything that you see... This was a Pinterest inspired project using 3 8x10 canvases, painted and decorated, then attached with a ribbon on the back...ADORABLE way to greet people in the coming season! These are $30 to purchase... Boo to You boards...$15 What a cute decorative board to sit on a shelf :) Burlap Pumpkin...great to hang on the front door...$30 Here is one of my first Pinterest projects...a scarecrow! Love this little guy ( I mean girl!) This whimsical scarecrow looks good sitting on the shelf alone or attached to a wreath... $20 Working on fall wreaths soon...so stay tuned! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 10:18 AM
Thank goodness that I have friends and clients that are always looking for ways to challenge me with new projects. One of my latest projects was to paint a 2ft x 3ft canvas to be hung over the bed of two precious sisters. So, today I thought I would show you my step by step plan in case you ever wanted to take on this same challenge. Step 1...Have your inspirational piece close by. For this project, the mom had given me the pillow case and curtain tie back to look at for colors, so I had that handy to take a look at often.  Step 2: After giving the canvas an overall coat of paint, I also dry brushed a lighter color of paint over the base coat...this sorta gives the painting a "shabby chic" look that is perfect for girls. After drying...I tape off a few stripes to coordinate with the inspiration piece. Step 3...Paint circles (or whatever you want to enhance the painting.) Cut out your letters. I used my Cricut machine, but you could also paint these on at this point. I just don't paint letters well on canvas...at least I don't think so! I could have used patterned paper, but I chose a simple brown and then drew lines on them using a white paint pen. So many options with the lettering! Step 4...Lay it out and then adhere everything using Mod Podge and give the whole canvas a couple of coats. Then you are ready to embellish the canvas. I used rhinestones and feathers, buttons and ribbons... You can use a glue gun or E6000 (which is what I use often because they pop off often with a low heat glue gun.) Step 5...Admire your handiwork and take a look to see if you are satisfied. I felt it needed a little something more, so I painted peace signs to coordinate along with the pillow covering. Lastly...hang it and enjoy it! :) Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Monday, July 09, 2012 12:14 AM
It's been a bit since I have posted, but don't think I haven't been busy...whew! Since I left you last, a simple enjoyment of mine has turned into a glorified hobby LOL! Because I am raising funds for an upcoming mission trip to Turkey (where I will get to teach...my love!), I am working fast and furious on some new projects. Today I thought I would share them with you... 12x12 Alphabet Sampler...$30 ***SOLD*** Check back for availability of more! 16x20 Alphabet Samplers...$35 Screen/Burlap Creations...$30-40 Establishment Signs...$30 These can be painted in your color choice. The price will increase on this item in August...most popular creations!!! Painted Boards...$15 - $20 Teacher's Name Canvas...$25 Razorback or Personalized Pic Frames...$25 Holds a 4x6 picture. 3.5 x 3.5 Opening Pic Frames...$20 School Canvases...$25 16x20 Sports Canvases...$40 Cross Canvases...$20 I can do these in any color combination, just let me know what you are looking for. 8x10 Initial Canvases...$20 "My Prince Came Boards"...$30 Misc. Canvases...$40 You can order anything that you see and proceeds will go towards my mission trip until about August...I am over half way there...$1400 of the $2200 needed. ***UPDATE...all funds have been raised! Yaye!*** But...feel free to continue to shop :) Take a look at my new facebook page as well for more pics...DB Decor. Message me through the DB Decor page to place any orders. Thanks for taking a peek at my latest happenings! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 9:40 PM
It was just yesterday that we were welcoming our oldest son and daughter-in-love's first little one, Caden, into our family. That exciting and life changing day was just a little over two years ago... We had no stinkin' idea just how much joy this little hooligan would bring to our lives. His antics cause an unbelievable amount laughter within our four walls when he is visiting! I am not quite sure where he gets his personality from and... my~oh~my, how stubborn but fun loving he can be! We spent the last eight months patiently awaiting the arrival of his new little brother...the anticipation was worse than a kid at Christmas! Well... he arrived safe and sound on an early Tuesday morning just a few weeks ago...very uneventful, but memorable all the same! :) Just as planned, Caden spent the night before his little brother's birth over here at Nana D, Poppa T and Uncle B's house. We tried to create a memorable night for him as his life was ABOUT TO CHANGE...to say the least! We stopped for a treat, "fen fie" (French fries), at Sonic... Then he spent an hour playing football with Uncle Blane where he learned the "3 point stance!" Too funny... After a bath and a few new bedtime stories about the new little "baby" that he was going to (hopefully!) love, it was time for dreamland. I wondered what thoughts were swirling through his head as he drifted off the sleep... I must admit...there was a bit of anxiety building as the big day approached. While big brother, Caden, had been expecting a new "bruder", we were all sorta sitting on pins and needles to see his reaction on the day of delivery. My daughter-in-love was desperately afraid that Caden would immediately reject the idea of this new little creature invading his world...the thought of him not embracing this new life would be hurtful and disappointing! As you can see, little Caden is eager to share his sense of distaste for things... Do you get the sense that he MIGHT be just a BIT strong willed? LOL The next morning, we woke early to head to the hospital where he was treated to a few more new books to help him learn some "brotherly love." After waiting patiently... ...and lots of entertainment with sticker books and hospital toys... ...we soon got the go ahead to head back and see the newest addition to the Burnett bunch. Let me officially introduce you to the cute little guy and our youngest grand baby... Colby Brysten And then that sweet moment came after baby Colby's arrival and the question, "Will Caden like Colby?" was answered... Yes, he LOVES him! No doubt...it was a sweet and tender moment to see him respond so positively to this new thing invading his world. Caden was intrigued... ...and over-joyed! In fact, we were all over-joyed... He was born so perfectly perfect with scrawny fingers... and fat little toes... (BTW...how can people NOT believe that there is a Creator that created this amazing creation?!?...just sayin'!) We all watched in amazement Caden's adoration for his new adorable brother. It was such a wonderful feeling to see him so engaged and even protective of his "bebe" (baby!) What a burden lifted to see him so eagerly welcome his little brother into his world with open arms...such a sigh of relief as we held our breath for his response to this precious one that the rest of us had come to love before we ever laid eyes on him. This incredible, heartfelt and embracing love is the only example that I can fathom could be close to what my Heavenly Father and Savior feels for me. Our response to Christ's unfailing love is up to us...we can rejoice in it or reject it! Today Christ offers a life of joy and delight if we respond to His love for us. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)..".For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This love is what gets me through some days here at ~ No. 9257 ~ ...knowing that I am a Child of God and the fullness that that life brings...not always easy, but fulfilling! Praise God that He accepts me...my ugliness and all. I am honored to be loved by Him! =) I love the way that the smallest miracles teach us the grandest lessons! Won't you embrace God's unfailing love today? =) It will be a changing day... Loved and Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:29 PM
It's the month of May and I hear wedding bells ringing for several brides...'tis the season! =) Weddings are always such joyous events...for those who are attending and not planning the big day, that is! So, when a friend called on me for a bit of bridal shower decor I was happy to lend a hand. My dear friend called me to say that she was helping to host a bridal shower, but she found out at the last minute that the plans for the shower cake had fallen through. We tossed around the idea of rounding up a cake decorator at the last minute, but she decided that she would shake things up a bit and not serve a shower cake at all...WHAT??? Yep, you read that correctly! Instead, she opted to serve mini cupcakes and bite size cheese cakes... simple is sometimes the way to go. But every shower needs a cake as a centerpiece, right? Well, sort of! Pinterest offers some interesting choices for "bridal shower cakes," and I was anxious to explore the creative options. Here are a few more examples that I worked from... Wal-mart is where I picked up the supplies for this little creation. Here is what I bought... 1) 2 large white bath towels 2) 4 white hand towels 3) 12 white washcloths 4) 12 white dishwashing cloths (bar cloths) 5) package of clear pony tail rubberbands 6) package of medium size rubberbands 7) package of large size rubberbands 8) 2 spools of wide ribbon 9) package of confetti or paper shreds 10) tulle 11) a variety of kitchen utensils, including wooden spoons 12) cake platter/base for the cake to sit on Here are a few pics to show the process of building this gift cake: Step 1 Gather your supplies...   Step 2Place utensils at the end of a bath towel and roll the towel...secure it with a rubberband. Step 3 Roll the second bath towel and insert a wooden spoon into the lower tier bath towel. Set the top tier bath towel on top...this holds the two tiers together. Step 4 Place the two tiers on a platter of some sort. You can use a real cake platter or a simple cardboard like the one that I used, which was purchased at Party City. Step 5 Roll each hand towel and wash cloth, securing with a small rubberband. Encircle the large bath towels with the smaller ones to create a band around both tiers. Use the medium or large rubberbands to hold it together. Step 6 Tie ribbon around each tier to conceal the rubberband that is holding everything together. Tie a beautiful bow in the middle...I also added some utensils to dress this middle section up. Step 7 Cut squares of tulle and tuck between the rolls of wash cloths. Lastly, sprinkle confetti or shreds of paper to embellish the "cake". Step 8 Enjoy your completed project... Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 2:12 AM
 Since "Spring has Sprung" early here at... ~ No. 9257 ~ ...I knew it was time to get myself in gear with a few outdoor projects. First on the list was repainting the patio table and chairs. My patio table has recently become my work/craft table and has the permanent evidence to prove it. See...     I know...sooooo unattractive to look at, much less to eat a delicious meal on!  Nothing that a can of paint (already on hand) can't fix... Next, it was time for a new indoor/outdoor rug to bring a sense of the indoors out. I wanted the patio to be an extension of the inside of our home and longed for a bit of warmth and coziness out there. But, the rug alone didn't do massive wonders for the patio... My good looking yard boy (aka...hubs) had been hard at work getting the yard looking spectacular... ...and I wanted the back patio to match the beauty of the yard. It was needing some TLC as well! The back patio is a great place to open my Bible and take in God's Word each morning. The birds beckon me, day after day, to come and sit a while and enjoy the cool breeze and warm sunshine. Oh, sooooo incredibly peaceful! While out there, however, I was longing for some color and knew that it was time for my annual trip to the local nursery..."Four Seasons." I visit each spring, always wishing that I could take home one of EVERYTHING! This must be what Heaven will be like... Needless to say, after laying down a couple of Ben Franklin's I was able to spread some color around and the patio began to speak my love language! I ADORE checking out my lovely hanging baskets each morning...they greet me through the window so sweetly and beg me to come out to visit...how can I resist? Take a look...  The swing was a gift from hubs and my boys the first Mother's Day that we moved into our newly built home several years ago. There have been many chats that have taken place over the course of the last 7 years while dangling our legs and gently swinging. The green bucket was purchased at Wal-Mart for just a few bucks and houses the outside toys that every boy seems to have... baseball glove, baseballs, golf balls, frisbee, etc... This little project is a work in progress, as I would still like to add some patio decor, new plush seat cushions, and actually finish painting all of the chairs. For now...can I tell you just how much I enjoy spending some time among God's beautiful creations!?! If only I could get the little grandson to quit picking all of the blooms off of the flower baskets! LOL Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 4:04 AM
 Don't you love the Hobby Lobby 60-90% off sale? I stumbled upon it a few days ago and found a frame that was nicked up a bit, but the price was right...under $6. Yes, I know...I do remember that ~ No. 9257 ~ is a house full of rotten, stinkin' BOYS! BUT...I couldn't resist this frame, despite the girlie characteristics. It was in need of some TLC, so it was purchased with that idea in mind. Here is the BEFORE look... Take a look at the process of Next...I loved the polka dots and wanted to keep them, but the scrapes and scratches needed to be camouflaged. Fixing this was a matter or pulling out a can of paint on hand, which was used in another project, and dry brushing it on. Love this distressed and shabby chic look!  The picture frame could have been used with just the added paint, but I enjoy making life difficult...ha! So, I grabbed my hole puncher and some scrapbook paper...punched out some smaller polka dots and used my fave product ~ Mod Podge ~ to adhere them and give the frame an overall coat.  And then, you are ready to find your favorite pic and display it proudly. Mine will show off a pic of my youngest son in a smart looking pose... If only I can sit down long enough to print it! Hopefully, you will also begin to bargain shop with the "Needs TLC" thought in mind too! Good luck on your finds... Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Friday, March 30, 2012 9:28 PM
Our days here at ~ No. 9257 ~ are split between activities with our young (and very social) teenager and fun filled Wednesdays with our grandson.  This past week, I found myself at the store on two separate occasions...once to purchase a potty seat and new undies for Nana D's house... and again to buy some  acne cream for the teen! Yes, it's that time...for both of them. On top of all of that, the hubby decided that he was going to start the "learning to drive" process with our teen... *SIGH* WOW...talk about living in 2 totally different worlds! I am not sure what is worse... potty training an energetic two year old or teaching a teen to drive! YIKES =/ Because the little one is about the be a big brother, the time as come to begin to encourage him to use the big boy potty...6 weeks until the new little bundle of joy arrives at the home on No. 8030, my oldest son and daughter-in-love's cozy and sweet abode. (View the little one's nursery here.) So, at last...I was ready to introduce little Caden to Nana D's Potty Training Boot Camp (I borrowed this title from the bestie, as she is also training her youngest. She texted me a S.O.S. message about how her boot camp was going...which she discouragingly wrote "MISERY"! Poor thing!) Here is what I used in my approach with him... * a new Elmo potty seat * new Cars & Thomas the Train big boy underwear * much needed reward treats which were housed in a cute jar for the guest bathroom. Check it out... And so, the training began...  Caden wasn't quite sure what to think and wanted to take his Elmo potty everywhere he went, to which Nana replied, "NO"! Ha Ha He soon got the hang of the whole running (very quickly) to "sit on Elmo"...he never quite made it in time, but he sure enjoyed his 2 m&ms for trying. Needless to say, it was a good thing that we bought 2 packs of undies...14 in all. He tried on at least 9 pair of freshly purchased undies within an afternoon's timespan. Remember...this was Day 1 of boot camp! Whew...and it was kicking this Nana's booty!!!  Ok, so that was a hard afternoon. Maybe I will have better luck in teaching our teen the 4 steps in the face washing process... (Tip...label each bottle or tube with a Sharpie marker ~ #1, #2, #3, #4. Just makes life easier! No more searching and trying to figure out which to use in what order.) So far, so good with this one! Our teen has even decided that maybe he should shower twice daily in order to keep the zits away...heavenly idea!!! LOL Our day ended with the family enjoying great convo over a new Pinterest recipe... How utterly sweet to walk out and catch these two enjoying the back porch swing together while waiting on dinner to finish cooking... Ooooh...we heard the ice cream truck rounding the corner in the neighborhood...sounded like a great dessert plan to me! Thanks Poppa for treating us... And there you have it! A day in the life of our family. Sweetness! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012 12:49 PM
Hippity Hoppity...Easter is on it's way! That means...we are busting out the spring decor here at ~ No. 9257 ~ I found this cute little wire bunny at a local flea market for $2 and couldn't resist bringing her home. Because I live with a house full of guys, I am always looking for ways to play with some ribbon. This was the perfect opportunity to dress something up. =) This is what the inexpensive bunny once looked... My original plan was to spray paint the bunny black, and while I may decide to do that still, time just didn't allow on this spring day. I was eager to get the decor out of the attic and in the house to spruce things up around here. So...I opted for a single piece of ribbon (left over from another project) and tied it around the neck for a sweet, but contrasting look. Take a peek... Here is a pic of the guest bathroom where she sits...notice the sneaky Elmo bath toy that is peering around the shower curtain! It's a simple reminder of that precious little grandson of ours. My basket of eggs needed a touch of fun ribbon too... Another shot of the tiny space...  The picture above the bunny is a pencil sketch of "Tara Plantation" done by a very talented Arkansas artist. I actually picked the framed print up at a flea market because it reminded me of my bestie...Tara. I paid far less than what just the printed sketches go for. Lucky me! The room is also filled with other decor that reminds me of our childhood days of play and laughter... like this little flea market find... Be inspired to think outside the box...I used this metal magazine holder to house my tp for guests. That way, the guests don't have to dig around in a cabinet for more paper...it's easily found. The little stool was once used at my in-laws home for the grandkids, but she passed it down to me once it was no longer needed at their home. Now, it provides a helping hand to our little grandson when he visits. Again...using an item in a non-traditional way...this planter was the residence for a potted plant at one time. Now, it offers our visitors a magazine to read. =) A closer look... (The framed pic is my beloved bestie on her wedding day. That handsome boy giving her a kiss is my oldest son when he was a pre-teen. Precious memory!) I topped things off with a hand towel that says "celebrate" and that is just what I encourage you to do... ...Celebrate the risen Savior this Easter holiday. Hope you enjoyed the guest bathroom tour. Someday, may you... Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest! LOL Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012 7:42 PM
Recently, I was inspired to clean out a cabinet at ~ No. 9257 ~ ...again...imagine that! I found an extra trash bin that I wanted to use in the grandkids room, but it was (oh so) plain. Sometimes I long for the calming, clean lines and not so busy look, but in this room I was going for color. So, my project for the day was to turn this boring white trash can into something a tad more cheery. Here is what I started with... The B was cut using my Cricut. I had several of them on hand too and was happy to find a purpose for one of the monogram letters. Next, it was time for colorful POLKA DOTS! I used the circle dabbers and craft paint for these... Then it was time to bring out the Mod Podge!  I glued the monogram B to the center...but after looking at it I just wasn't satisfied! =( It sorta looked like it just threw up polka dots everywhere! Ha!The polka dots were too small and I wanted some that were larger...scrapbook paper and my circle puncher helped me out.  I also jazzed it up by adding ball fringe to the top... Hmmm...Hmmm...Hmmm? What else to do to it? I still thought it needed another touch of something. So, out came my black paint again to distress it a bit. Oooops! Got a little carried away with the distressing technique! The top looked "messy"... Never fear...mistakes don't scare me! I pulled out the nail polish remover to take the paint off. And this is how it looks with the other room decor... It's too cute to put trash in now... =) Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:46 PM
Coming Soon... Wait 'til you see this "Before" and "After" project using $1 tubs from the Dollar Tree. Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Sunday, March 11, 2012 7:56 PM
 I am thrilled to share this project with you all...probably because it is a testimony to perseverance here at...~ No. 9257 ~ Remember, Grand baby #2 will be here soon and it was time for his big brother to transition to a new big boy room. Check it out...here and here! Initially, I suggested that the daughter-in-love put these spice racks up to hold the wall of books. This inspiration pic comes from Jen at Iheartorganizing.com. She used the spice racks (freshly painted a bright red) for storing books in her boys' bedroom... HOW CUTE ARE THEY???  However, we live in an area where there is no IKEA :( I know! How can that be??? And the spice racks were not available online...in store only. So, we were off in search of plan B... In the wee hours of the morning (when sleeping seems to be a luxury for me), I stumbled upon a Pinterest pic that immediately caught my eye...it would be PERFECT for little Caden's new big boy bedroom. The project involved using gutters as book shelving. Who would have thought?!? So thankful for the creative minds of others! :) Within days, my son and daughter-in-love were off to Lowe's to grab a few gutters...costing around $30. They cut them down to 2 foot sections and then they were ready for a colorful paint job. This is where the perseverance came in...it took MANY coats of paint (and a few different kinds of brushes) to truly cover the white gutters. Thankfully, we had some paint on hand from a recently painted loft area here at ~ No. 9257 ~... My daughter-in-love started the paint job... ...but wasn't really satisfied with the progress, so I took them over to relieve her frustration. Indeed...it was quite a task to get these suckers looking red! But here is how it progressed... Here you can see that I used a coordinating brown color (again on hand from a previous project). This color added a little depth to the inside of the gutters. It also helped to disguise the coverage of the paint. While the last coat of paint dried, I was off to the laptop to create a monogram for 2 of the gutters... Then...the Cricut got some use... Mod Podge was used to glue the scrapbook Cricut cut letters and monograms on. Then an overall couple of coats was applied to the gutters for protection... Finally, the gutters were installed on the walls using gutter clips for support...cute, eh? :) Enjoy your adventures in reading, Caden ! Inspired, Dawn |
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Dawn: Posted on Thursday, March 08, 2012 9:44 AM
Yesterday was project day here at ~ No. 9257 ~ My little helper and I headed out to collect a few supplies for a creation that was requested a few days ago. Here is the inspiration piece that I was working from... The sweet grandson was in tow and I wasn't sure what to expect of our adventure to Michaels craft store. He's still a bit unpredictable, as most 2 year olds are! Thankfully, we made it out of the store with only what was on our list and no fits...whew! As a treat, Wendy's french fries was our next stop before our project could be started =) Our toddler didn't even make it back to Nana D's before his nap began, so I had a few minutes of project time alone...invaluable, precious moments! LOL Here are a few of the supplies that I used... You will also need: picture frame foam paint brush & foam circle paint dabber Mod Podge scrapbook paper for letters & E-6000 glue or hot glue gun Last week, I found an unfinished wooden frame, however...the opening was a 5x7 instead of 4x6 AND it didn't have glass or a stand . So, plan B was to purchase an inexpensive frame and just repaint it. Wal-Mart doesn't have a huge selection, but they happen to have had a frame for $3.88 that was the size I was going for. It needed to be painted anyway, so I didn't feel bad covering up the design that was originally printed on the frame. I had prepped my frame the day before, so the paint was dry and ready for something pretty... So, that brings us to this... And then this... Add some interesting detail... Using my Cricut, I cut out letters for two separate frames and Mod Podged them on... Now, for the fun embellishments! For these particular frames, I used feathers ($2 for a bag), ribbon (I found these at Wal-Mart for $3 each and will be able to make several bows out of each spool) and jewels ($2 for a bag of 12+ at Michaels.) I used E-6000 glue to adhere everything, but you can certainly use a hot glue gun as well. It's finished off with my "Handmade" info...DB Decor =) Somehow, I think the messy red unprofessional look on the back of the frame balances the cuteness of the front of the frame...Kidding! Looks like a "Hot Mess!" These labels were printed from www.vistaprint.com, which does make the project appear a tad more professional :) Don't worry...here's a tip for you! Use a nail polish remover felt pad to remove excess paint... Package it up and it's ready to go... Thanks for the challenge, Erica! Hope it inspires someone else as well... Now...back to playing with the little guy. When he calls "Nana" I just can't say no! Inspired, Dawn |
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