Toy/ Storage Box

We go through lots of diaper boxes around here, so I try to find uses for them other than just throwing them away.

I use them for storing kids clothes that aren't currently being used, and I was using one in the living room because it was the perfect size for all of the balls that are everywhere.

The problem is...my kids think boxes in themselves make for a great play thing and they kept dumping all of the balls out of my makeshift toy box and then trying to destroy my box!

So I thought I'd see if giving it a makeover would help set that box apart and keep them from ruining it.

First I fortified it by hot gluing pieces from another diaper box to all the sides.

Purty, eh?

Next I watered down some Elmer's glue and glued some paper to the sides.

 (Modge Podge type stuff would work really well too, obviously!)

*side note* I used tissue paper because it was all I had, and while I can say that it "worked", it definitely would have looked better with gift wrap paper or any other kind of thicker paper.

See the wrinkles?

After gluing all the paper on the sides, I then did another layer of watered down glue on the outside of the paper.

So far it seems to have done the trick.

Don't know why, but the kids are less drawn to terrorizing the poor box.

(and it looks slightly better then a plain ole diaper box sitting in my corner.) ☺

Color!

I don't know if it's me suffering from the winter time depression or what, but I've been needing color in my life.

I always love blue but right now I'm totally digging the color orange!

I have this lamp that I made awhile back 

and this one that we got as a wedding gift.

I like the shape of both of them, but decided to jazz them up a bit.

Who's to say, it may be the pregnancy hormones and you know you aren't supposed to do drastic things, so we'll see!

It's just paint, so if I end up hating it in a month I can always do something different.

The lamps are now blue and orange, and the now blue lamp got a new lamp shade.

I also added a little pop of color to this throw pillow with some orange ribbon flowers.

So, am I crazy or what? ☺

ABC Pillow

Awhile back while browsing Etsy, I saw a ABC pillow that I thought was cool so I decided to make my own. I thought Aidan would like it since he's so obsessed with numbers and letters.

It's made out of felt letters appliqued on

I liked the look of the handstitch over the sewing machine, so I did it by hand.

I bought some letters to use as my template, measured out where the letters needed to go, and drew with a washable pencil where the letters were (roughly) and sewed them on.

I actually made a pillow the size I wanted it, then made the ABC part a slipcover so that I can take it off and wash it when needed.