NEW COMMAND CENTER

For some time, I have been wanting a Command Center.  Since my boys are now both going to be in school all day every day, and they are becoming more involved in separate extra curricular activities, I thought now would be the time - shortly before the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.

This is what I had last year.  It worked, but each "day" space was small - I sometimes had a hard time fitting everything in.

I definitely needed something bigger - and thats what I got...

My New and Improved, Bigger and Better - Command Center

It's located in our kitchen on the wall that leads in from our side entrance.  A wall that isn't really good for anything since it's in a high traffic pathway.

I loved all the ones I had seen on Pinterest using the large chalkboards, but since the walls in our kitchen are paneled, I didn't think the chalkboard would look right.  So I thought Dry Erase instead.  My original idea was to get 42 4x6 frames - one for each day, plus the SMTWTFS labels.  Even at Dollar Tree, that was getting expensive.  Then I realized I could use 8x10 frames, and get four days per frame.  I would only need 12 frames that way - way cheaper.  How excited was I when I got to Dollar Tree yesterday and found these 9x9 Square frames?

I then headed to Hobby Lobby and got the coordinating gingham check and chevron patterned papers.

I knew I would have space to the right of the calendar due to the light switch being there, so of course it had to be filled.  

I wanted something to be able to put appointment cards on, so while I was at the Dollar Tree, I also got a metal, electric stove, burner cover.  I painted the edges black, Mod-Podged some leftover paper on the face, and had gotten a few magnets - and voila a Magnet Board for my Appointment Cards.  That cute little plaque at the top that says "Appts." is also a magnet, and it's a chalkboard.  I got it at Target - love it!!

From all the Command Centers I saw on Pinterest, the one feature that I knew I really needed was something to corral all the boy's paperwork from school.  All last year, those papers kept getting lost and forgotten on my desk - I needed somewhere for them to go.
Hence the clipboards... These two items were the most expensive part of the project.  I found them at Staples and they were $5 a piece.  I could have saved six bucks and just got brown masonite ones, but I really wanted clear ones.  But one thing I didn't like about them was the Staples logo stamped into the metal clip - so I covered the logos up with little initial plaques.  And just in case I forgot what my little men look like, I hung little photos of them.

When I was at Hobby Lobby getting the paper, of course I had to wander around.  Because seriously, you can't go into Hobby Lobby for just one thing - right?  During my wandering, I ran across the "Bless our Home" metal sign - and it was 50% off.  So it came home with me.  It's the perfect finishing piece, don't you think?

I Love my new Command Center, and look forward to putting it to good use!!

Did I mention that I LOOOOVE it?  Oh yeah, I Love my new Command Center!!!!

SMILE :)

I have been working on the wall space above my desk every since we moved in six months ago.  Well, not really working on it... but thinking, designing and planning it.  Then, due to the Incredible heat we've been experiencing here in Central Virginia, I had the perfect excuse to stay in my Craft Cave (which is in the basement) and finish up a bunch of projects I had started over the last couple of weeks.  I'm so glad I did, because after I got it all hung yesterday, I just LOVE it!!

One of the projects was the magnetic bulletin boards.  

There are two of them, and they started out looking like this...

I found, what I'm assuming are cookie trays, at Goodwill for $.50 each, a couple of months ago.  I loved their textured pattern, so I bought them not really knowing, at first, what I would do with them.  Then it dawned on me that they would make great magnetic bulletin boards for my "Office" Collage.  I spray painted them white, and then took some old magnets, I had from Ikea, and either covered them with fabric or added fabric/felt flower embellishments.  They work perfect!

Another project was inspired by something I had seen a Long time ago in a craft blog Linky party.  I had seen this cute way of displaying pictures, and the idea really stuck with me. I just had to find the perfect frame.

Then, I was lucky enough to find this one at Goodwill.

After a couple heavy coats of white spray paint, and a roll of way cute contact paper from the Dollar Tree, I had what I had envisioned from the original inspiration.

Now, I'm not usually one for Inspirational sayings, but when I saw this one on Pinterest, it really struck a chord with me.  I used an old photo canvas, primed and painted it, and then using my trusty Cricut, cut out the letters.  Now if only I can follow it's advice.

This cute little initial is actually from a friend's wedding invitation from back in 2000.  I've saved it for 12 years, knowing someday, I would eventually do something with it.  The frame, I made probably 15 or so years ago.  It's made out of miniature bricks, which when I decided to use it as part of my collage, I spray painted white.

This funky artwork is also from a wedding.  It was actually the envelope for their invitation to their wedding in Hawaii.  I think I've been saving it for about 3 years.  I just loved the design.

This artwork is a pencil drawing I did the summer after I graduated college some 20+ years ago.  It was from a black & white magazine ad, but I can't remember what it was advertising.  The paper is starting to yellow, but it's one of my most favorite things I've ever drawn.  It also hung in both my boy's nurseries.

And finally, my new Lamp!  I found the lamp, back in February, at a garage sale for $10.  I LOVE the big chunky base and the over sized shade.  I think the whole thing overall, stands like 3' tall.  In this picture, it is sitting on a filing cabinet next to the desk, which is 8" shorter.  When I got it, I knew eventually, I wanted to try my hand at covering the shade, I just had to find the right fabric first.  And I think I did!  It's fun, funky, graphic and colorful!!

I just LOVE how everything turned out, and how nothing matches.

Every time I come upstairs, I have to stop and look at it all.  It just makes me SMILE :)

A LITTLE HOLIDAY CHANGE UP

Last weekend, starting on Friday, I got everything out and decorated for Christmas. Friday mostly consisted of putting together our artificial tree, which went fairly quickly thanks to the assistance of my little helpers.

Since this is to be our last Christmas in this house (more on that later), I thought I would do a little more decorating than normal. Being that I have two small boys (4 & 2), I don't normally put a lot of things out on low lying flat surfaces. Being that our house is small, we don't actually have a whole lot of low lying flat surfaces.

The first place that I started was my Entry table. This is the only place, other than our mantle, that I decorated last year. The Snowman and J O Y artwork are returning favorites, but everything else is a little different from last year's display.

First up, the branches, which I originally used them in my Easter display. For Christmas, I kept it simple with small red bulbs.

Since these branches are right in front of our security panel, every time we would set the alarm, the branches would get knocked and the ornaments would slide around. To remedy this problem, I simply tied a little green ribbon around the hook and branch.

The table scape has two new pieces... the scrapbook paper Countdown blocks, and the Decorative Tray. I made the Countdown blocks last year, they just weren't originally displayed on this table.

I found this adorable little tray at Dollar General for $1, and added the popular "Elf" movie quote...

Then I decided I wanted to add a little something to our Entry mirror. Originally I was going to do some kind of holiday bunting, but then I went this route. And really, it still has the "bunting" feel.

Santa and his Sleigh...

Flying Reindeer with Rudolph leading the way.

Before we put our house on the market at the beginning of the year, these three little frames had pictures of our three boys. Then to "Stage" the house, I put little Fleur-di-Lis' in them. So for the holiday, they needed something "Jolly".

This was a Christmas Card that we got last year. I LOVED it, and saved it. This year, I put it in a frame - one of the frames I used in my Farmer's Market booth. It's actually plastic - I found it at Goodwill and spray painted it.

This was another Goodwill find. This cute little metal bucket was $1. I added the vinyl saying and fabric rosette, and it works perfect to collect all of the Holiday Cards we will get.

In our dining area of our Great Room, I have these three chunky display shelves. This is the first year I've added any holiday decor to them. On the top shelf, I wanted to display all of the Christmas Cards that I have made over the last five years.

Three of them are displayed via these beautiful bejeweled place card holders... again found at Goodwill for $.50 each.

The other two are displayed using something that inspired me on Pinterest.

A cute little easel made out of a fork. There is an Etsy shop that sells them using Sterling Silver. I'm sure these aren't Sterling Silver... they're $.25 forks from Goodwill.

The bottom shelf (which now, 6 days later, I know was a huge mistake - shiny bulbs and curious little fingers DO. NOT. MIX. I know you're all saying you could have told me so) I kept simple. Colorful bulbs in square glass vases, and little red paper trees in these cute IKEA frames - two I actually got at IKEA, the third at Goodwill. Amazingly I paid the same price at both places - $1.

Have y'all seen this great contact paper at the Dollar Tree? I love the shade of green and the paisley/floral print.

The day I took these pics, our Holiday visitor, Peter J. Tinslesparkle (Elf on the Shelf's cousin), was hanging out on the top shelf.

My Cottonball Cone trees made a re-appearance this year, but displayed a little differently. This year they have been placed on one of my display trays from the Farmer's Market. Again, found at Goodwill, spray painted, and then added vinyl scroll work.

On Sunday, I decided to try to make a Coffee Filter Wreath. For the wreath form, I used plumbing pipe insulation wrapped around a circle formed wire hanger.

The Snowflake, Ribbon, and small Red Ornaments were all purchased at the Dollar General.

I think this entire project cost me just under $7.00

Then on Monday, I found these great little red Snowflakes at Target. They were 4 for $1.

I brought them home and using fishing line, tied them to a little 9" wreath that I found at Goodwill. I didn't want to hot glue them on because I want to be able to use this wreath for other things.

And that's my holiday decor for this year. I didn't show my mantle, because it's the same as last year - nothing new.

Did you change up your Holiday Decor this year.