Ikea Hack

Have you heard of an "Ikea Hack?"  This is the new jargon used to describe a piece of Ikea furniture that has been transformed after a little DIY magic (first spotted with this amazing transformation - lounge chair turned baby rocker).  I've always a fan of Ikea, thought admittedly I don't love the everybody-owns-the-same-stuff recognizable quality that some Ikea furniture has.  You know what I mean…when you survey a room and can immediately identify furniture pieces as "Ikea!"  However this website, Ikea Hackers seems like just the ticket - DIY twists on Ikea favorites, but at an affordable price tag.  All you need is a little elbow grease!

{loving this lego table}

Some other favorites: new cabinetry, an updated dresser, nesting table turned ottoman, and driftwood mirror.

via the soho

DIY: Hair Ties

I have been seeing fold over elastic hair ties EVERYWHERE!  I love the look, but the price - ugh, not so much.  At a salon near my house, they were selling for $3 a piece.  So I thought, hmm...am I really going to pay $3 for a piece of elastic.  Ah...no!  So one of my spring break projects was to make my own fold over elastic hair ties.

First step - purchase elastic.  I bought 10 yards via elastic by the yard on etsy.  Super easy and crazy cheap!  Plus I got to choose colors that matched my wardrobe.  Step two - elastic arrives in the mail, I measured, tied the ends, and voila - instant hair tie!  Amazingly easy and much, much cheaper than the salon alternative.

image/myphotos

Squash Vases

A smattering of squash vases - how perfectly fall. Must try this!

image/littlepaperhead

image/shopruche

image/blissiqueblog

Chalkboard Pots

Now this is a summer project I can handle...DIY chalkboard pots. I think the chalkboard would add a welcome *pizazz* to my herb garden, what do you think?

After cruising chalkboard images, I'm officially inspired! Now all I need is chalkboard paint!

image1/apartment.therapy

image2/julieannart

image3/bsquaredesign

image3/doityourself

Easter Mail

Next year, I'm totally doing this for my out of town family + friends.

Easter egg love in the mail...

Wouldn't that be the best surprise?

images/giverslog

Clip It

Today my students and I went on a class field trip, as an extension to our social studies curriculum. As a means to stay organized, I had all my field trip info, class list, and emergency contacts easily accessible on my handy-dandy clipboard...just in case. While our school clipboards are plentiful and definitely get the job done, it got me thinking that such a useful tool could use a little pizazz...

A Ha! My new spring break project is now going to be jazzing up one of my generic brown clipboards! Suddenly inspired, I began thinking of ways I could add a little individuality to an item I use so frequently in the classroom. And since my inspiration was running low, I turned to etsy, and searched my item of choice. Voila! Creative clipboards at your service. I especially love this one by vintagescraps! image/etsy