Necessary, practical, useful…

Not the words that come to mind when I think ~ Mother’s Day Gift.

More like luxury, beautiful, whimsical.

Add the words, sweet, handmade & thoughtful and it sums up the project I am sharing with you today.

Embellished Tea bags 

Nobody needs embellished tea bags, but that is what makes gifts like these so special!

Taking the time to say I love you in a way a pair of slipper never can.

If you already bought your mom slippers don’t get me wrong, slippers are a great gift and you still have time to make my project too! 

Making Embellished Tea bags is easy and open to all sorts of creative interpretation. Love that in a project!

What you need to make tea bags like mine:

• 6 tea bags with strings & labels
• decorative paper ~ adhesive or not
• an old book
• paper flowers
• 1 medium & several small buttons or beads
• a jar
• ribbon, floss or twine
• glue

What you need to do:

• cut the decorative paper & glue or adhere to both sides of the tea bag label

• cut small flowers from the old book pages

• glue paper flowers to label

• glue book flower on top of paper flower

• glue a small button or bead in the center

• let dry – curl up edges of the book flower

• for variety, mix up the patterns & make some with hearts

• place tea bags in a jar & tie some ribbon around the top

• make a small tag using the decorative paper & a button

• return the slippers ( I am just KIDDING! )

The adhesive paper & flowers I picked up at Michael’s and had all the rest in my stash.

Grabbed a box of Earl Grey at the market & I was ready to get my crafty on!  Love the bergamot scent of Earl Grey, don’t you?

Can you guess the book I pulled the pages from?

That was fun & easy, right? Sweet, handmade, thoughtful, a luxury, beautiful & whimsical ~ just as it should be!

 Oh and, tell your mom, she can cut off the embellishment after steeping & re-use for another project!!

Let’s raise our cups & toast to all the Moms out there ~ on earth, in heaven & forever in our hearts. 

xx Kelly xx

p.s. If your mom is a coffee drinker get her a French Press – here is how to use one!

The post Embellished Tea Bags – Mother’s Day Gift appeared first on My Soulful Home.

If you have been visiting here for even a little while you know I like to use things in ways other than intended.  

Burlap has not escaped this treatment, nor has scrub pads, heating ducts, pant legs & more.

Today I gathered up three of my favorite burlap projects to share.

Since the blog redesign, there are lots of new faces around here!  

Welcome, welcome welcome!!  

To those who have been with me awhile, feel the love ~ I am virtually hugging you!

Maybe you’ll want to PIN these projects if you haven’t tried them already.

Ok, let’s get to the…

Burlap Projects

Since I get asked about my burlap covered chandelier canopy by almost everyone who comes into my house, let’s kick off with it. 

Burlap Chandelier Canopy

Here is the tutorial.

Covering the wooden circle with the burlap & tapping in the nails is easy.  My own project had a few more steps as the chandy I used was vintage & didn’t come with a metal cover for the wires to thread thru.  Go see what I used!

While there, you will find my step by step burlap chandelier canopy tutorial.

I want to make an even bigger one for a crystal chandelier – burlap & bling.  Very farmhouse glam!

Ok, got that covered. How about this…

Burlap Covered Shelf

Here is the tutorial.

This project is even easier than the canopy.  Basically just wrapping a plank of wood with burlap…here is the step by step tutorial for making a burlap covered shelf.

This project takes the ‘open shelving’ debate to whole new level….burning issue of our time!

Painted Burlap

In keeping with one of my mottos, “If it stands still long enough paint it”. I share…painted burlap!  Very texture-y. 

How to Paint burlap tutorial here.

Again, super easy.  Just be careful not to get “blotchy”.  I tell you how to avoid that, along with the rest of the simple steps to a painted burlap transformation.

Three easy projects that really make an impact using inexpensive materials & a little out of the box or shall I say, beyond the bolt thinking.

While we are talking about thinking…

Quick, think of something you are grateful for – that made you happy right?

** Kelly **

The post Burlap Projects ~ beyond the bolt appeared first on My Soulful Home.

I said NO NO NO…

when the calendar flipped to June – well, maybe I said HOW HOW HOW???

Things seem to accelerate this time of year, especially when you have kids in school.

So much to get done in a short sprint to the finish – (hoping that finish lands me on the warm sand)

But before the sand gets between my toes, lots to accomplish – like putting together thoughtful teacher gifts.

Teacher Gifts with Style

These ideas & inspiration for teacher gifts are thoughtful, don’t cost much, are easy enough for kids of all ages to help create & some can be made at the last minute!

Tasty Treats are always appreciated.  Make up a batch of my Roasted Rosemary Cashews & package them in a Mason jar.

Add a spring of rosemary & some twine.  Write out the recipe & attach…or better yet just send them here for the recipe (just kidding!)

Another very tasty treat is the Starbuck’s Lemon Loaf by my dear friend Ann of On Sutton Place.  

This cake is the real deal – 10 out of 10 eaters in blind taste testing believed they were in Starbuck after just one bite.  Well they would have had we not eaten it all ourselves!  

Pair this loaf with a Starbuck’s gift card – homemade & easy – a home run of a teacher’s gift!

Or pamper your teacher with my Lavender Bath Salts.  

Epsom salts & dried lavender, a bottle or a jar with a top and some embellishments is all you need to make your teacher feel like a Queen!  Click here for the step by step instructions.

Flowers always make me feel special, so how about making a few grocery store bouquets into a stunning arrangement.  

Taking the time to design the arrangement is so much more personal than just handing someone a cellophane wrapped bouquet.  

Click through to my tips & advice on flower arranging, I promise your efforts will earn an A+.

Need a card or a tag for your teacher’s gift?

Susan of Love of Home has you covered with her printables.  

Click thru to download & also see the darling, practical & inexpensive teacher gifts my friend Susan put together in Mason jars!  Fill a jar & add a tag – done with style!

Teachers & students all deserve a round of applause for another year of learning.  

What was the name of your favorite teacher?

** Kelly **

The post Teacher Gifts – last minute with style appeared first on My Soulful Home.

Once filled with grain,

I may be insane

…but it is blue,

so I made it for YOU!

I have been going thru my stash in anticipation of our move.

Wow…I have a lot of supplies.  Some I just couldn’t pass up, others for a particular project (now what was that for…?).

Stuff with potential collected over the years…how can I get rid of it?

Well I can’t ~ but I can start making stuff.  Stuff I intended, stuff I hadn’t even considered and…stuff for you!

That is what I did today.  Well part of today in between rescuing a dog that was wandering around the neighborhood, having minor surgery, a house showing and shuttling the girls to & fro.

So I have a few more buttons to sew on & a glide of the iron one more time, but mostly it is ready for you!

Remember those grain sacks & feed sacks I scored at that estate sale.  Read here if you missed that post.

This pillow is made for you from one of the blue ones.  

Hope you like it! I took special care to leave as much of the sack in intact as possible.

This is why there is fold over flap closure.  It is weighed down with the buttons & allows you to clean it or change the insert.

To win this one of a kind pillow all you need to do is find it posted on my Instagram account, follow me on IG ~ @mysoulfulhome ~and tag two IG friends on that post. ( feel free to tag more than 2 )

If you are already following me just leave a comment on the IG pillow post saying so & also tag two friends.  IG post will be live at 7 am PST.

Your two tags can follow me if they want to enter and so on & so on…

Winner will be selected randomly and announced on IG on June 16th. 

I resisted IG, but now besides my blog, it is favorite way to connect.

Grain sack lovers – good luck!

** Kelly **

p.s. this give away is solely from my stash & my heart.  IG has nothing to do with it.  By entering you confirm you are 13+ and no older than 29 ( latter is a joke! ).  Also you release IG of all responsibility for the care of your grain sack pillow & agree to IG terms of usage.  Can’t believe I was a lawyer & wrote this kind of stuff for a living once!  

Enter, have fun , enjoy!!

The post Grain Sack Pillow Give Away appeared first on My Soulful Home.

I promised you this Tea Stained Tag tutorial … & since I made you wait a bit, I have…

a present to give you!

Enter to win a set of 10 finished tags, a crown stamp & 10 more tags so you can make another set.

You good with that?

If you are new here maybe you don’t know I promised to show you how to make tea stained tags.

Well, I did ~ here.  They are pretty, I can see why you wanted to know. 

Pretty and super easy to make.

Tea Stained Tags tutorial

This is what you need:

• a box of large shipping tags (Staples $8.99 for 500 & come in smaller packages)
• a stamp pad
• a stamp
• tea bags & water
• a large pitcher

This is what you need to do:

• brew up some strong tea in a pitcher with cold water, 5 or so tea bags

• let the tea steep in the sun for an hour

• while the tea is getting strong, fold 1/4 of an inch up from the bottom of the tags

• crease & tear – this is optional, but gives a nice fray

• put 5 or so frayed tags in the pitcher of tea

• stir gently occasionally – making sure they don’t stick together – let sit for several hours

• remove tags when they are stained to your liking

• lay flat on a cookie sheet to dry – flip once

• when dry stamp

Easy, right?

I love my crown stamp and I bet you do too ~ so I got another one for this give away!

All you need to do to enter is pop over to my re-purpose projects section – click ‘projects’ at the top of my blog- and that category will pop up.  

Have a peek around and tell me your favorite repurposed project in a comment.  These tags were originally seen on one of my favorites.

Glad I made good on my promise of a Tea Stained Tag tutorial ( say that 3 times fast!! ) and good luck in the give away!

** Kelly **

Winner will be selected by random by the computer & notified by email.  Give away runs one week.

The post Tea Stained Tags – tutorial & give away appeared first on My Soulful Home.

This time of year I see pumpkins everywhere…

Even in the toiletries aisle at the grocery store.  Yup, even there.

(can’t believe it, but I have another fantastic give away for you today ~ read on!)

This pumpkin started out as this…

A mesh shower pouf.  

I saw all those poufs (on sale for 10 for $10 ) lined up on the shelf and “poof” they were pumpkins in my head!

Now they are pumpkins in my hands & I love them.  But I didn’t stop there I made a wreath!

Let’s get back to the pumpkin poufs first.  They are super easy to make & you can simply plop them in a bowl.

Well, maybe nestle them into a nest of pages from a falling apart vintage book.  I think that looks nice!

How to Make Pumpkin Poufs:

What you need:

• a few mesh shower poufs
• a few sticks
• thin wire
• twine
• leaves ( optional )
• glue
• a pencil

What you need to do:

• scrunch up the pouf to get a nice pumpkin shape

• wrap about 6 inches of thin wire around the pencil - make a tiny slinky

• pull the wire off the pencil & wrap one end around a 2 – 3 inch stick

• put glue on end of stick & encircle with twine right over the wire

• glue stick with curly “vine” & twine into the center of the pouf

• let dry

• add leaves if you’d like

I had the metal leaves in my stash from a long ago yard sale.  If you want leaves you can cut some from felt, old book pages or even use real ones tucked in, not glued so you can remove them when they fade.

That was easy right? And if you bought 10 poufs for $10 like me, you’ll have lots to make a wreath with ~ let’s get it to…

Fall Wreath with Repurposed Pumpkins

What you need:

• materials for two pouf pumpkins ( see above )
• a circular wire frame wreath 16 or 18 inches
• 12 yards of 4″ to 5″ wide burlap ribbon
• leaves ( optional )

What you need to do:

• weave the ribbon in and out of the wire frame wreath, scrunching tightly as you go

• this burlap scrunching is an art not a science, so just play with it until you like what you see

• cut the loop on the decorated pouf in half & tie the pumpkin pouf onto the wire frame ~ repeat

• decorate with leaves if you like

• fluff & hang!

On to the Give Away…

Now something even easier than making pumpkin poufs & burlap wreaths – winning a $100 gift card to Decor Steals!  

There will be 5 lucky winners of $100 gift card each.  So the chances are good!  

Enter by downloading our app ~ bHome.  

Once in the app ‘Favorite” Decor Steals by tapping their star.  Do that & you will receive a message with the link to enter.  One TAP there enters you to win!  So two TAPS & you are entered – that is easy!

( give away valid for the contiguous USA – sorry if you are elsewhere, we love you, Decor Steals loves you, but shipping is prohibitive )

Hope you liked this project and are ready for some more!  A whole bunch of us bHome bloggers are sharing our ideas for fall.  Tomorrow I will post links to all the other projects, recipes, ideas & inspiration.

Prepare to be wowed – these bHome’rs know how to do fall right!

** Kelly **

The post Fall Wreath with Repurposed Pumpkins appeared first on My Soulful Home.

As promised, here are the FALL ideas & inspiration by a whole bunch of bHome bloggers.  

I can’t tell you how proud I am to be in the company of the talented, creative, hardworking & truly lovely women who have joined us on bHome ~ the app.  

Each bHome blogger is a  powerhouse of all things home & garden ~ together we are a tour de force!  Have a look to see what I mean…

The bHome for Fall tour has all a home & garden lover is looking for and something more – a of community of kindred spirits ready to welcome each new member.  So join us here if you haven’t already.  It is free, easy & addictive!

When you join us favorite Decor Steals, our Fall Tour partner.  To favorite Decor Steals TAP their star – then TAP the message you’ll get to enter to win one of FIVE $100 gift cards to Decor Steals.  

It’s the weekend, kick back, get something the drink and have a leisurely look at all the fabulous fall- ness the bHome’rs have served up just for you!

Oh, and if you liked my pumpkin re-purpose project have a lookie here ~ you’ll like this one too!

Enjoy!

** Kelly **

The post bHome for Fall Tour & Give Away appeared first on My Soulful Home.

More than the Christmas tree.

More than the first bulbs poking through the dirt.

More than the days getting longer.

I look forward to the arrival of pumpkins more than any other harbinger of a season.

What is it about those orbs of orange and white that make my heart skip a beat?

Maybe it is because fall has always been my favorite season, mixed in with the fact that you can do so much with pumpkins.

Countless DIYs and decor possibilities.

I know I am not alone in having a soft spot for pumpkins, so today a few bHome bloggers & I are getting together to share 5 of our favorite “perfect pumpkins”.

Before, I head off to the patch for another, let’s have a look…

Perfect Pumpkins for Fall

Jamie of So Much Better with Age ( I love that name on so many levels ) shares with us her favorite chalk paint pumpkin.  Jamie made this lovely pumpkin using creamy white chalk paint & dark wax. 

With Jamie’s chalky white pumpkin she, and you, can enjoy touches of fall that work beautifully in a neutral palette. 

I love the soft tones & aged look ~ see, so much better with age!  You can get the same look with Jamie’s help here.

Cindy at Edith & Evelyn Vintage went wood-landy with her perfect pumpkins.  Loving the moss, the natural elements and those darling stems.  Love a good stem!

Learn how to get this look using plastic pumpkins & preserved moss here.

From woodsy to glamorous!  Heather’s perfect pumpkin over at Setting for Four sparkles & shines.  Her’s is a DIY crystal pumpkin.

Isn’t that fun!  So pretty with mercury glass for even more dazzle.  Get Heather’s glam pumpkin tutorial here.

White pumpkins, like the white tiger, are rarer than the orange variety, but that doesn’t stop Yvonne at Stone Gable.  No need to hunt for a white one, just paint an orange one or two … or a few.  

You could paint them any color of course, but I love the white with the black & white bows just as Yvonne has diy’ed hers.  For the tutorial click here.

Me, I started with a perfect little trio of white pumpkins, but couldn’t stop there.  

While the three looked darling grouped on my sideboard, I had added a bit of this, a pitcher or two, some texture, a book, dried roses…and tossed in some acorns until I had built a fall vignette.

Come along with me as I take you step by step in creating a vignette including perfect pumpkins!  Click here for instructions & inspiration.

There you have it ~ our perfect pumpkins & tutorials.  

If you’d like to share in more from us, and all the other bHome bloggers, download bHome ~ the app here.  It is free, beautiful & addicting!

On bHome you can see what we are up to everyday & share your projects, ideas & questions with us too.  

Speaking of sharing with us ~ we’d love to see your perfect pumpkins on IG!  

Post a picture of your perfect pumpkin decor or project on Instagram.  Follow each of us & tag us so we see it.  Use the #perfectpumpkins in your description.  

We will each feature one perfect pumpkins on our feeds and all 5 on the bHome Instagram feed next Friday. 

Can’t wait to be inspired by your #perfectpumpkins!

Follow & tag us (our IG links are below ) so we see your pumpkin posts!!

** Kelly **

So Much Better with Age IG

Edith & Evelyn Vintage IG

Setting for Four IG

Stone Gable IG

My Soulful Home IG

The post Perfect Pumpkins – DIY & Decor Inspiration appeared first on My Soulful Home.

As you are reading this post, I am on the top of this mountain.

What??? 

I know, I am supposed to be packing up my house for our move & all that, but instead…

I am making memories.

When I am old & grey I won’t remember that I had all my boxes packed before the movers showed up, but I will remember all the laughs & adventures I had today & yesterday with my Goats.  Read here for some of our other adventures.

While I am off making memories thought I’d share something with you that I made before I left.

A trio of my Fanciful Fabric Pumpkins! 

I had planned to make 2 sets of these last year, but time got away from me.  In packing up my craft stash ( see, I am packing! ) I came across a bag with all I needed to make another set.  

So I did.  I LOVE making these pumpkins.  You can get my tutorial here.

Since I already have a set in these patterns, I made this trio for one of you.

If you would like to have me send you this trio – just leave me a comment here on a favorite memory…

and if you want a second chance to win follow me on Instagram.  Leave me a comment on my last post there that you did & you will have two entries.

I hope whenever given the chance you choose adventure over chores.  Life doesn’t present that choice very often so when it does drop what you are doing and go…

Hope you like my pumpkins & if you do ~ Good Luck!  Winner chosen at random next Wednesday & notified by email. 

** Kelly **

shipping as it is US residents only please

The post Fabric Pumpkins Give Away appeared first on My Soulful Home.

We LOVE Halloween here at My Soulful Home.

This year we will have just moved into our new/old house, which seems like it will be perfect for the occasion .

Afterall, there is truly a skeleton in the basement already.  We can drag her up to the porch & take it from there.

Sharing a well loved Halloween project today.  My girls love making them, my Girl Scout Troops loved making them and so will you & yours.

This year instead of just unwrapping candy, how about wrapping a Mummy Candle?

My crew always enjoys a craft after making the trick or treat rounds.  This one is a snap or actually a wrap to make.

How to Make a Mummy Candle

Supplies:

• inexpensive ginger jar candle (mine was $3.99)

• rolled gauze or cheese cloth

• black felt

• 2 googly eyes

• 2 buttons

• glue

Steps:

• remove label from the candle (submerge in a larger container of water & let soak – peel off )

• wrap the gauze or cheesecloth around the candle overlapping a bit & secure with glue in several spots

• let glue dry

• choose buttons to go under the googly eyes

• glue eyes to buttons & let dry

• cut felt into 6 strips – about .5 inch long & .25 inch thick

• glue eyes on tucking them under the gauze or cheese cloth just a bit

• glue on XXX for mouth

I tricked mine out with a bit of chain twined with a ripped length of white cotton.

The red translucent buttons look like they are glowing when it is lit. Bonus!

My mummy candle project is an easy fun repurpose for all ages.  If you have little or big goblins coming by this Halloween set the supplies out on the table & let them have at it.

If you liked this project you’ll probably like this one too!  Oh and, this one. I think it is my favorite!

What are you going to be on the 31st ?

** Kelly ** 

The post Mummy Candle – Halloween project appeared first on My Soulful Home.

Christmas kinda sneaks up on me every year.  I am thinking about all the wreaths & other Christmas decor I will make…

It is mid November – then it is not.

Then it is December 23rd!!

I always have more plans & projects in mind than those that get done, but that’s part of the fun…and there is, god willing, always next year.

Simple projects are best this time of year, unless you start your Christmas “to dos” in June!  

There is just so much going on that having a stock pile of simple inspiration & ideas on hand is essential.  Not too complicated, not too expensive & pretty are the qualities I look for in a Christmas decor project. 

To provide you with a resource of inspirational, easy & even inexpensive Christmas decor ideas, I got together with some of my  bHome blogger friends to share a few of our favorite Christmas decor ideas and tutorials.

Christmas Decor – easy, authentic, inexpensive & pretty

Sharing ideas that are not too complicated, not too expensive, authentic, handmade & pretty!

Speaking of pretty, Yvonne from Stone Gable  has the most beautiful decorating sensibility.  Her gorgeous bleached pinecones hold true to her style are easy & inexpensive to create.

Pop over to Yvonne’s to get the simple steps to transforming your pinecones.  

Christy from Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer shows us how to make gorgeous sweater stockings that look just like the expensive ones from Anthropologie.  

I love Christy’s version and it was FREE!  My kind of project!

Click over to get a top shelf holiday decor tip from Susan at Love of Home. 

It’s another FREE decorating idea you will love!

Signs are fun for holiday decor.

Ashley from Cherished Bliss created this JOY sign & will teach you how. 

Learn how to make this gorgeous Christmas JOY sign here.

Who doesn’t love a grain sack?  

That nubby gorgeous fabric goes with almost every style of decor!   Authentic, homespun and timeless – grain sacks and Christmas go together naturally. 

Using grain sacks in you Christmas decor can be as easy as a pile stacked with the red & green stripes revealed, a red striped sack draped over a chair or one wrapped around the base of your tree. 

If you have a bit of time, sewing grain sack Christmas stockings is wonderful way to create family heirlooms.  Learn about grain sacks, how to care for them and more ideas on using them in your Christmas decor from me here at My Soulful Home.  

If you don’t have a vintage grain sack, you can make your own!  

Julie shows us how to make simple little grain sack ornaments.  These little stockings add a vintage flair to your tree without breaking the bank or a branch.  They’re inexpensive to make & so light-weight (perfect for real trees).  

Get the tutorial from Lilacs & Longhorns here.

Christmas is just around the corner, ( it is NOT mid-November anymore! ) but there is still time to incorporate these ideas in to your holiday decor ~ ’cause they are sooo easy and because you can…

pin them now to your holiday boards and save them for next year!  

There is always next year!

Join us all on our app, the bHome App — available on both iPhone and Android!  Take us wherever you go on your mobile phone.  Inspiration is only a TAP away on bHome.

Do you have holiday decor to share with us – we’d love to hear your ideas!

** Kelly **

The post Christmas Decor Ideas – easy & inexpensive appeared first on My Soulful Home.

A day dedicated to love, pretty treats and sweets.

My kind of holiday!  And I am not alone in thinking this way.  Six of my blogging friends have decorated, crafted & baked in the spirit of Cupid.  

Today we share our inspiration & ideas so you can bestow even more love, pretty treats & sweets on the ones you love.

Let your arrows fly as we kick off 7 Sweet Valentine’s Day Ideas !

Seven Sweet Valentine Ideas  

Yvonne from StoneGable shares an easy, fun, and oh-so-pretty decor project.

A darling button heart picture that you can tuck into your decor or give as a gift.  No sewing and step-by-step directions.

You can make this Valentine Button Heart in an hour or less. If you have a crush on buttons ( i.e. a huge stash ) like I do, this project is perfect for you!

Me?… I am sharing one of my favorite & easiest projects.  

I found pieces of perfectly chippy wood and came away with kisses.  Not a bad trade! xx

Click thru for the easy tutorial on my rustic Valentine kisses.

If you like repurposed projects, I think you will love visiting my repurposed project page.  Visit here for all the My Soulful Home repurposed projects.

 Ashley from Cherished Bliss created a sweet craft and printable.

Give the gift of creativity this Valentine’s Day with Ashley’s Heart Shaped Crayon and Printable.

The perfect gift for anyone who colors your world! 

We have Valentine decor from Julie at Lilacs and Longhorns.

Julie created this lovely Valentine inspired mantle!

 Alice from Thoughts from Alice created a charming rustic no- sew banner.

Don’t know about you, but I melt for welt, so I will be making this banner.

Ok, I also have a stash of scrabble letters … it is not just buttons I horde collect.  

A girl has got to have supplies on hand when a project bubbles to the surface.  Let’s just say I am always prepared for a project.  So if you need buttons or scrabble letters…

Mary Beth from Cupcakes & Crinoline approaches Valentine’s Day from a man’s point of view (not wilty roses from the train station kind of man point of view)  The what does a thoughtful & crafty woman make her men for Valentine’s Day point of view.

Mary Beth, living in a house full of men, has to think outside of the ‘chocolate’ box.

Her Buffalo Check Mason Jar Cozy is great for guys.  The fabric reminds me of a flannel shirt and even though there’s a heart cutout if boys have this in their rooms they can turn it around.

Filled with your guys favorite candy this is the perfect “Male-n-tine”!

Last but not Susan at Love of Home shares her Pretty Pastry Hearts.

Even though they appear as if they came from a high end pastry shop, Susan crosses her heart that these “could not be easier to make.”  I trust her, so should you.  So whip up a few batches.

Susan’s Pretty Pastry Hearts would be perfect for teachers, neighbors or any of your Valentines.

So pre-heat the oven, get out your stashes of crafting supplies, clear off the mantle and turn on the printer!  

Let’s get started!  Visit the blogs to get the tutorials.  

Bet you could make all 7 of these in one day.

How fun would that be?!

If you do make any of these projects let me know & send a pic.  Then follow me & I will feature it on my Instagram !  

Speaking of … why don’t you follow me on Instagram so we stay connected between posts. We have a lot of fun over on my IG.

xx Kelly xx

The post Valentine Ideas from 7 bloggers appeared first on My Soulful Home.

I have been invited to a party!

Guess what?  You are invited too.

You don’t have to dress up or drive anywhere or bring anything.

But if you did make something or do something and you want to share please do!

We have been invited to the Sundays at Home link party hosted up till now by two lovely & talented ladies.

My friends Susan of Love of Home & Alice of Thoughts from Alice have invited me to co-host the party with them.

I couldn’t be more excited – I might even get dressed up!!

Susan ended up in my inbox several months ago and we have been friends ever since.

Have you seen her farmhouse – it is the real deal!  And so is Susan.

And Alice, I was pulled in by her sparkly chandelier, then fell down her rabbit hole into her relaxed, cozy vibe. Glad to peek around her house and call her friend.  So will you be!

Both incredibly talented & truly nice people.  If you don’t know them yet visit their blogs, peek at their homes and enjoy.  My friends are your friends.

Back to the party…

Every week we are going to feature the best of the best – curating last weeks links for you.  Then open the doors to brand new inspiration, creativity & fun.

Kinda like picking out the best hor’s d oeuvres & serving them right to you on a platter.  Then bringing out dessert!

So come to our party, enjoy, add something – link up – visit the other blogs and have fun!

Mix, mingle & get to know new friends.

I am doing that too as we will have a 4th co-host Corinna from A Designer at Home.

The party starts every week at 8pm eastern time.  

So even if your Saturday consists of PJ’s & a movie – like mine usually does – you can be at a party too!

In response to “how was your weekend?” – you can say, fantastic I went to a party with all these interesting, creative people & had a blast!

Link up – to be in the running for a feature simply link back to our blogs.  The easy instructions will be in our posts.

So see you at the party – I’ll be the one in pjs!

** Kelly **

The post We are Invited to a Party! appeared first on My Soulful Home.

Spring makes me want to get busy – well, busier!

The garden is waking up, there is cleaning to be done & fresh inspiration pops up everywhere you turn.

Like here today!  

Five of my favorite bloggers have come together with me to share our favorite spring projects & ideas.

Easy Spring Projects & Ideas

Learn to make this sweet smelling Spring wreath from Susan at Love of Home. Perfect to welcome guests at your door or inside so you can enjoy the scent too!  

Ashely of Cherished Bliss shares her rustic Spring Mantel.  A moss wreath, vintage wooden toolbox and gorgeous spring buds welcome in this lovely season.

I am sharing my everlasting faux flowering branches.  So easy to make, inexpensive and lovely.  

Dainty flowers on willowy branches ~ a true hallmark of spring.  Get the simple tutorial here with tips on making your faux look really real.

Nothing says spring like daffodils!  Bring the outdoors in with an easy and quick Spring craft.  

All you need is a tea cup and a miniature bunch of faux daffodils.  Get the details from Julie at Lilacs and Longhorns.

As soon as the spring temperatures rise, Alicia at Burst of Beautiful knows how to keep everyone cool & happy.

Her delicious Pineapple Raspberry Popsicles are perfect for a spring brunch, spring break treats in the freezer or anytime you want a taste of summer to come!

Yvonne at Stone Gable welcomes spring & all who come to her front door with a pretty, colorful and happy spring wreath!  

Simply choose the colors that suit you home best and follow Yvonne’s tutorial! Click HERE for the step by step instructions.

The spring cleaning can wait.  I have 5 projects to get busy on!

What is your favorite hallmark of spring?

** Kelly **

p.s. if you like these spring projects & ideas you also might like my Easter nest wreath.

The post Spring Projects & Ideas appeared first on My Soulful Home.

When you want to get crafty sorta spur of the moment, I have the perfect project for you.

My Wire Hanger Heart Wreath – aka Heart on a Wire…

No trips to the craft store needed for this repurpose project.  You’ll likely have all you need on hand.

How to Make a Wire Hanger Heart Wreath

What you need: 

• a wire hanger
• wire cutters
• needle nose pliers to make the loop
• a strip of fabric about 90″ long & 2.5 wide
• embellishments

What you need to do:

1. Untwist the top of your hanger & bend in half with the rounded top as extra.

2. Shape the two ends into the top of the heart.

3. Press the two sides together to check for symmetry.  Does not need to be perfect as the fabric will cover it.

4. Cut off the top of the hanger ( the part that sits on the rod ) leaving an inch to make a small loop with your pliers.

5. Lay out your fabric strip…fold it in half the long way.

6. Sew a seam down the length of your fabric so the wire can slide inside it.  You can have frayed seams or fold under to create a uniform edge.

7. Thread the wire into the fabric tube & scrunch it as you do.

8. Twist the ends of the wires together with the pliers.

9. Using the pliers, twist the extra inch of wire up to form a small loop ~ the loop will be where you attach ribbon or such for hanging and/or the embellishments;

10. Now the fun really starts ~ decorate your heart! Use ribbon, novelties, flowers… Fill your ‘heart ‘with things you love!

I used burlap, linen, a metal tassel that came off a yard sale shelf & a shell.

Do you have a favorite repurpose craft project?  Do share – I love a good repurpose!

** Kelly **

p.s. if you liked this project you might like my Lavender Bath Salts repurpose too. (repurposed the bottles not the salts of course! )

The post Make a Wire Hanger Heart Wreath appeared first on My Soulful Home.

No one group of people deserves to be treated better than Mothers.

We, who specialize in doing for others all year long, get a day to be pampered.  (maybe we need a union – lobby for a long weekend at least! )

This year we have a day.  So let’s get it right!  In case your others need little help in knowing what to do for you, I am sharing…

Six Perfect Mother’s Day Ideas

Leave this post pulled up on your computer screen, forward it anonymously … or use the inspiration, tutorials & recipes to treat your mom or anyone who is like a mom to you…oh gosh, even treat yourself !

Mother’s Day is a holiday so why not celebrate with a sweet treat first.  Cheese danish anyone?

These cheese danish from Susan at Love of Home are easy to make, beautiful and delicious! Perfect for brunch ~ the quintessential Mother’s Day meal.

Anita from Cedar Hill shares her beautiful tablescape. Fit for brunch with the queen of the castle – YOU! 

Check out this sweet mason jar gift idea for Mom from MaryBeth at Cupcakes & Crinoline.

This is the perfect gift for any Mom who loves gardening!

Everything tucks neatly into mason jars. 

My Frittata is the perfect meal three times over. Breakfast, lunch or dinner and especially perfect made-a-head for a holiday brunch – a 4th meal!

This one, made with sweet potatoes, arugula & goat cheese, is very light, yummy and easy to make.

Perfect for a Mother’s Day meal – especially if you are not only the star of the day, but the cook!

Make it ahead & put your feet up on Mother’s Day. Get the simple recipe for my sweet potato arugula frittata.

How about the gift of beautiful glowing skin?  Truly a gift that keeps on giving.

This moisturizing DIY Coconut Lime  & Mint Sugar Scrub from Heather at Settings for Four not only exfoliates like a dream, but it’s like a tropical vacation in a jar – with scents of coconut, mint and lime!  Two gifts in one ~ a scrub & a virtual trip!

The scrub is super quick and easy to make. Add it to a mason jar, tie on some ribbon, add a DIY gift tag ~ perfect! 

Breakfast in bed sounds dreamy especially when served these super easy, healthy and delicious banana oatmeal pancakes!

Lilacs and Longhorns shares a recipe that has become a family favorite!

I have one more…so make it 7.  Another gift in a Mason Jar – my Mother’s Day Embellished Tea Bags.

These are also terrific as hostess or teacher gifts.  The kids can help make the tags & put them together.  

Any special wishes for Mother’s Day?

** Kelly **

The post Treat your Mamma Right – Mother’s Day Ideas appeared first on My Soulful Home.

The season of holidays, festivities, parties, open houses and gatherings of all sorts is quickly approaching. 

We want you to be ready & fast, so here is another edition of 10 Minute Decorating!

I want you to be ready to head out to all those parties.

Ready to whip up a hostess gift in 10 minutes or less.

Ready to spend time getting ready, rather than running around looking for wrapping supplies.

Ready when someone calls & says “pop over for dinner tonight” ~ ” no don’t bring anything”  

Well, you have to bring something! 

Did you ever hear that Irish saying?  Never arrive at someone’s door with both arms as long as each other.  

Get it – you should be holding a hostess gift! 

So be ready – be ready with my quick hostess wine gift bag.

I call it Pant Legs to Wine Bags – you might call it brilliant ~ not kidding some people actually have!  That is a bit much for a craft, but I’ll take it!

So simple to make.  All you need is an out grown or thrifted pair of jeans – skinnies are best – and the embellishment of your choice.

Cut, sew a bottom seam, slip in the wine or olive oil or special vinegar and tie on the pretties.

From cutting to tying 10 minutes.  Then just assemble when you are ready to party!

Hostess Gift: Pant Leg to Wine Bag Tutorial

The simple instructions are here: Pant Leg to Wine Bag Tutorial.  

This is a set I made for Christmas parties.

Make up a batch of 6 or 8 bags & have a ziplock with the embellishments stashed with them – so you’ll be ready in 10 minutes or less.  

Use the extra time to get dressed, or more likely get the kids feed, dog let out, dishwasher unloaded….

But at least the gift takes care of itself ~ almost.

Hope you enjoyed this installment of 10 Minute Decorating.  Visit my partners in speed below!

** Kelly **

ROOMS FOR RENT

REFRESH RESTYLE

IN MY OWN STYLE

SETTING FOR FOUR

CLEAN AND SCENTSIBLE

STONEGABLE

KELLY ELKO

MAKING IT IN THE MOUNTAINS

  LOVE OF HOME

UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA

MY SOULFUL HOME

The post Quick Hostess Gift – Ten Minute Decorating appeared first on My Soulful Home.

When I make things I very often think of you.

Would they like this, how can I explain how it make it, maybe I should make a few & give some away.

These thoughts ran thru my head as I created sets of my fabric pumpkins.

I love making these.  From gathering the perfect stick stems on walks with Emmett.  To rummaging through my stash to find just the right fabric & embellishments to make them special.

If you want the tutorial to make your own pop over to my Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial.

If you’d like to win this trio read on a bit to enter.

Fabric Pumpkin Give Away

The world has no shortage of fabric pumpkins in all textures, but none in the world are exactly like mine.

The suede tassels are fringe vest from one of girls’ Halloween costume.

Strips of plaid fabric from an estate sale remnant.

Yarn flowers left over from a Girl Scout craft.

The quilted fabric of the medium pumpkin from a little girl’s skirt.

All in I made 9 of these pumpkins – 3 sets.

One set I gave away, one I kept and one I am giving to one to you.

To enter simply follow me on Instagram or let me know that you already do.  

Leave a comment here with your IG name. Then I know you entered and I can visit you there.

Good luck!

** Kelly **

winner chosen at random & notified on 10/27 thru Instagram. 

The post Trio of Fabric Pumpkins – for you – a give away appeared first on My Soulful Home.

Spring is fleeting in Southern California.

Really fleeting…

I think spring came and went from about 8:30 am to 11:45 am yesterday.

Then it was super hot and I was moving the umbrellas on the patio to shade my potted hydrangeas.

With this kinda of springtime, I have to move fast.

Fast like the Easter bunny looking for cover!

So I keep it simple.

**  read on for a beautiful Springtime giveaway **

Today I am sharing three fast, simple, yet lovely ways to decorate for Easter – our springtime holiday.

Not only am I sharing, but three of my dear & talented friends are too and we have a wonderful prize for one of you!

Simple Fast & Lovely Easter Decor Ideas

Let your eggs go au’ natural in browns & whites.

Mix them in with skeins of yarn for a simple twist on an Easter basket.

For more on this simple combination of eggs & yarn visit HERE.

Forcing branches is a wonderful way to bring the Spring indoors.  

But what if you don’t have budding branches outside your door?

Follow my super simple tutorial ( Got glue? Then you can do this. ) and you will have flowering branches every year.

( tip: I store mine in one of those wrapping paper plastic bins )

Click HERE for my tutorial on faux flowering branches.  That sounds like I am forcing you.  No pressure just pop over if you’d like!

The idea for a carrot arrangement came to me when I had no flowers for a impromptu Spring weekend lunch.

Sometimes great ideas spring forth from less then ideal circumstances.

I had a six pack of lettuce ( gardeners know I am not talking about a new veggie beer ) on hand to plant in my garden.  And I had felt in my stash and some carrots in the fridge…

Sooo, those things turned into a carrot centerpiece in about 15 minutes.  You can skip the felt tops and get it done in 5 minutes. Simple, fast and in this case, lovely and whimsical !  Get the tutorial HERE.

My friends have wonderful Springtime and Easter ideas for you too.  

Make sure to visit everyone today through Wednesday. Their posts are all linked below so you can easily click through.

Scroll down to enter to win the beautiful April Cornell hostess set.  

Again so simple & easy to enter.  Visit April Cornell HERE. Then come back and tell me your favorite pattern. Done – entered!

The winner will be selected at random at the end of the week and notified by email.  Good Luck & enjoy the rest of the tour!

Oh, one more thing…if you’d like to listen to more ideas on adding Spring to your home click the little arrow below to listen to episode # of Decorating Tips & Tricks, my new Podcast.  For those who have heard this episode a new one came out this morning!

** Kelly **

Monday

Celebrating Everyday Life

Cupcakes and Crinoline

My Soulful Home

She Holds Dearly

Shabby Art Boutique

Tuesday

Redhead Can Decorate

Garden Therapy

On Sutton Place

Debbiedoos

Wednesday

StoneGable

Housepitality Designs

FrenchGardenHouse

Duke Manor Farm

Love of Home

The post Easter Inspiration from bHome appeared first on My Soulful Home.

It is a great idea to have some handmade gifts on hand this time of year.

I have 4 to share today that are inexpensive, easy & fun to create and are sure to please the recipient.

Mother’s Day present, teacher or hostess gift ~ all 4 are perfect.  Make a few extra to have on hand throughout the summer.

Each of the 5 are less costly & more personal than the $40 candle or last minute bottle of wine. Not that I would ever turn you away with a bottle of wine in your hand.

Come on, let’s get our crafty on together today & whip up some gifts!

One of my all time favorite gifts to give the lovely ladies in my life are my Lavender Bath Salts.  It is a repurpose project, super simple & really pretty.  Get the tutorial HERE.

It truly is the “little things”.  My Embellished Tea Bags in Mason Jar are tiny presents your favorite tea lovers can enjoy for days & days, each time they brew up a cup.

I made these for Mother’s Day, but you can create yours for any occasion, person or event. Would be darling as a favor for a tea, luncheon or shower.  Get the tutorial HERE

Specialty foods are always a wonderful gift, especially when homemade.  

This recipe for Roasted Cashews in a Mason Jar is simple to make and addictive.  Such a yummy flavorful teacher or hostess gift, you’ll want to make extra! Get the recipe HERE.

For the person who has everything and loves their dog, why not spoil their furry bff with my Dog Biscuits & Bandana Gift.

This gift can also suit any occasion or time of year.  For example, make the bandana red, white & blue for the hostess of a Memorial Day BBQ.  

There are so many cute fabrics available you’ll have fun finding the perfect pattern for the pooch you have in mind.

It is very satisfying to create something with your own hands and sharing it makes it even better.  

Take some time this summer to get creative.  Get lost in the process, enjoy ~ then share!

** Kelly **

The post Four Easy Handmade Gifts: Mothers, Teachers, Hostesses appeared first on My Soulful Home.