Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity at home with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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May 23, 2014 by Bre

Simple Gifts: Embellished Grocery Store Flowers

Hi, there.

You know what I love?  Flowers.

You know what I don’t love?  The price of flowers.  Fresh cut blooms are shockingly expensive, don’t you think?

But you know what I find to be shockingly inexpensive?  Flower plants sold at grocery stores.  They’re always like $4, which seems crazy to me.  These plants have roots and dirt and lots of leaves and little pots – way more stuff comes along with them than cut flowers.

So yeah, anyway . . . I think these little plants make great gifts – especially hostess gifts.  They’re an awesome pick up on their own, but with a little creativity (and perhaps some fabric, scrapbook paper, ribbon and/or pom poms), you can put an even more personal touch on them.  Just like this . . .

These little fellas came to me as plain janes in green paper-wrapped pots.

Of course their blooms were beautiful, but I wanted to give them a little something extra because I was giving them to extra special people – my grandma, my mom and my aunt.
So I used double sided tape to affix some fabric to the bottom of one, and then I tied some bakers twine around it and into a bow.
The next little guy got some scrapbook paper taped around the pot, and “i heart you” stamped along the front.
Finally, my last plant friend was a little sparse in the bloom department, so I brightened him up with some pom poms hot glued to lollipop sticks.  He also got a ribbon tied around the pot.
So happy!
Personalizing these plants didn’t take long at all and was totally fun.  No really, it was (I promise I’m not losing it)!  Why not try it next time you need to bring a little gift to someone to brighten their day?
– Bre
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Linking Here:
Monday:  The DIY’ers  // Frugal Crafty Home //  Inspiration Monday  // Your Designs This Time
Tuesday:  Do Tell Tuesday  // Hit Me With Your Best Shot // Sugar Bee Crafts // Brag About It  // The Makers
Wednesday:  Creative Spark // Make Bake Create // Work It Wednesday // Wow Me Wednesday
Thursday:  Artsy Corner Thursday //  Create It Thursday//  Inspiration Gallery //  Link’n Blogs // Live Laugh Linky // Thursday S.T.Y.L.E.  
Friday:  Frugal Friday  //  Link Party Palooza // The Party Bunch 
Saturday:  Show Stopper Saturday  // Six Sisters’ Stuff  // Showlicious Craft & Recipe Party
Sunday:  DIY Sunday Showcase //  Link it or Lump it // That DIY Party  // Sunday Soiree

April 28, 2014 by Bre

How to Make Pretty Fabric Covered Clipboards

Did you know that Teacher Appreciation Week is around the corner?  I don’t know how teachers do it . . . putting up with all of the craziness children throw at them on a daily basis.  Some days I can barely even handle my own children, let alone other people’s kids.  Teachers truly are special people, worthy of a week devoted to making them feel appreciated!

I always like to give teachers little gifts throughout the year, and one of my favorite teacher gifts is these DIY Fabric Covered Clipboards.  Swap out teachers’ boring, plain and uninspired clipboards for these fabulous fabric covered clipboards! This is a great Teacher Appreciation Week gift, or a gift for anyone who likes to be organized!  It's so easy to make these cute fabric covered clipboards!  No sewing involved!  This is a fantastic teacher gift idea, or a project for anyone who likes to be organized!  #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationweek #teachergiftideas #teachergift #clipboardideas

Seriously, how cute are these?!?
 
This project was really fun to put together and I love the end result.  If you want to make your own, keep reading!

Supplies Needed for DIY Fabric Covered Clipboards

This post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

  • Clipboard
  • Fabric of your choice
  • Mod Podge (I used matte finish)
  • Foam brush
  • Hot glue gun & glue
  • Rotary cutter, Xacto knife, and/or sharp fabric scissors
  • Optional: fabric stabilizer (see step six below)

How to Make DIY Fabric Covered Clipboards

It’s so easy to make these clipboards!  

These fabric covered clipboards with bottom pockets are an easy DIY project and make a PERFECT gift for teachers or students!
STEP ONE
Cut your base fabric slightly larger than the size of your clipboard.
 
STEP TWO
Cut a space out of the top of the fabric to accommodate the clip portion of the clipboard.
 
STEP THREE
Apply a layer of Mod Podge all over the clipboard.
 
STEP FOUR
Place your fabric over the Mod Podged clipboard.  Smooth out any wrinkles.  Apply a layer of Mod Podge all over the top of the fabric.
 
STEP FIVE
Once the Mod Podge has completely dried, flip the clipboard over and cut the excess fabric from around the clipboard.  I used a rotary cutter and it worked very well.
 
STEP SIX
You could leave your clipboard as is, but if you want to add a pocket to the bottom of the clipboard, cut a rectangular piece of fabric 1″ taller and wider than the bottom portion of the clipboard.  Flip the fabric over and fold three sides in .5″ and iron for a crisp seam.  Hot glue those pressed in sides to the bottom of the clipboard to form a pocket.
 
Note that I applied an iron-on stabilizer to the fabric I used for my pocket, just to give it some extra strength.  I also trimmed the top portion of the pocket with pinking shears to ensure that the fabric won’t fray with time.
These fabric covered clipboards with bottom pockets are an easy DIY project and make a PERFECT gift for teachers or students!
I love how the pocket can be used to hold pens and other small accessories, and I like how the contrasting fabric gives an extra dose of personality!
These fabric covered clipboards with bottom pockets are an easy DIY project and make a PERFECT gift for teachers or students!
These fabric covered clipboards are sure to be a welcome addition to any classroom!  How will you be recognizing the teachers in your life this Teacher Appreciation Week?
 
– Bre

April 17, 2014 by Bre

5 Simple DIY Hostess Gift Ideas for Easter

Hi, friends-

Easter is right around the corner!

I’m excited to celebrate this wonderful holiday with people I love.  I’m also excited that I’ve been trusted with bringing a vegetable dish to this year’s celebration.  My assignment has been upgraded from dinner rolls and beer, which is quite an accomplishment.  Apparently I can now be trusted with contributing “real” food.  I am officially an adult in the eyes of my family.

In addition to my vegetable dish, I will be bringing a hostess gift.  This will further solidify my status as a grown-up and will also show my mom how thankful I am for her hard work and her effort in preparing our special Easter meal.

If you’re lucky like me and don’t have to host an entire Easter brunch or dinner, perhaps you’ll want to bring a hostess gift, too.

I love DIY hostess gifts because I think they show that you put extra thought into what you are giving the recipient.  And, there are plenty of simple yet beautiful DIY hostess gifts that you can make for Easter. Six of my favorite are right here!

P.S. No time to make something? No worries!  I’ve got several options you can purchase on Amazon for speedy delivery at the bottom of this post!

1.  Bunny Napkins – Taste of Home:  Purchase some cute fabric napkins and fold them into a bunny shape with the linked tutorial.  This gift is festive and functional!

2.  Pretty Aged Terracotta Pots – from me, Average But Inspired, via my Facebook page.  For a floral gift that will last longer than a regular bouquet, paint a terra cotta pot and plant a pretty spring plant inside.  (Note: I used to have a link to a cute painted terracotta pot in here, but that blog no longer exists, so I had to delete the link.  You can see a picture of that project in the graphic above!)

3.  White Chocolate Easter Popcorn Mix – Life’s Ambrosia:  Food is always a wonderful hostess gift, and this popcorn mix is sure to be no exception!  Package it in a cute bowl or mason jar and you’ll have a tasty and pretty gift.

4.  Egg-Shaped Soap – Rook No. 17 (for My Repurposed Life):  Make the hostess some decorative soaps with plastic Easter eggs as the molds!  Packaging them in an egg carton is also an adorable touch.

5.  Easter Printable – Visual Eye Candy:  Download this adorable free printable and put it in a frame.  Your hostess will have a cute decoration for years to come.

6.  FREE Monogram Spring Botanical Pitcher Printable – from yours truly, Average But Inspired!  It’s available in all 26 letters.  Just download, print, and pop it in a frame!  So cute and so personal.  Download this free printable monogram botanical pitcher art!

No Time to Make a Gift?  Here are Some Quick-Delivery Options for You!

These are affiliate links.  Simply click a picture to shop!  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.


Happy Easter to all of you (especially to all of you hosts and hostesses)!

– Bre

March 24, 2014 by Bre

Mommy’s Special Coffee* Mug (and a Survival Kit for a Mom-To-Be)

Hi, friends!

How is the weekend already over?  Why do they always go so fast?

While you ponder these important questions, let me tell you that I had a pretty good weekend.  I got to watch Shark Tank (my favorite show, next to Real Housewives, of course), had a date night with my husband, and I went to a sprinkle for a friend of mine whose third baby is due any day now!  (For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a “sprinkle” is a smaller scale baby shower for a woman who already has children, and has presumably already had a full-blown baby shower.)

As a gift for the mom-to-be, we all went together and got her an insane baby monitor that can apparently read the baby’s mind and decipher what each cry means.  (Okay, maybe it’s not that advanced, but I hear that it puts all other baby monitors to shame).  In addition, we all brought her little gifts to help shower her and her little bundle with love.

My gift was tailored more toward her well-being, as opposed to the baby’s.  I figured that since she will be pulled in a million directions while caring for her newborn as well as her other two kids, she might need something to help her keep her sanity.

And that’s where “Mommy’s Special Coffee* Mug” came from.

I purchased a plain white mug and used a (affiliate link) DecoArt Glass Paint Marker in Gold to write “coffee*” on the front.  This way, nobody will suspect what mommy’s really drinking, wink wink.  Then, around the bottom, I wrote “*in this case coffee is defined as wine.”

{Okay, now before anybody leaves me a nasty comment, I just want to say that I don’t condone drinking while caring for children.  This is just meant to be a joke and in good fun for a friend who shares this sense of humor.}  
 
I added this to a pretty basket and made a survival kit of sorts for the mom-to-be: chocolate (it makes everything better); ear plugs (so she can nap when the other kids are up playing); lip balm (my lips were always dry when I had a baby around – were yours?); hand lotion (because she’ll constantly be washing her hands; pinot grigio (because she’ll probably need a drink at the end of the day (or the beginning.  Who am I to judge?  I kid, I kid!)); and coffee* mug (so she can drink her pinot grigio in something other than the box it came in).
Moms are constantly putting the needs of those around them first, so I sometimes think it’s nice to give a gift that’s just about the mom-to-be.  Especially if it involves wine.
– Bre
Let’s Be Social!  Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Bloglovin’
Linking Here:
Monday:  Craft-O-Maniac Monday // The DIY’ers  // Frugal Crafty Home //  Inspiration Monday  // Manic Monday
Tuesday:  Do Tell Tuesday  // Hit Me With Your Best Shot // Sugar Bee Crafts // Brag About It
Wednesday:  Make Bake Create // Work It Wednesday // Wow Me Wednesday
Thursday:  Artsy Corner Thursday //  Create It Thursday //  Link’n Blogs // Thursday S.T.Y.L.E.
Friday:  Frugal Friday  //  Link Party Palooza // The Party Bunch  
Saturday:  Show Stopper Saturday  // Six Sisters’ Stuff  // Spotlight Saturday
Sunday:  DIY Sunday Showcase //  Link it or Lump it 

March 19, 2014 by Bre

Make Your Own Custom Stationery in Microsoft Word!

I am a total lover of pretty paper goods.  One of my favorite things to do is stroll around cute paper shops and admire all of the adorable card, stationery, notepad and calendar designs.  Luckily I have a Paper Source nearby, so I can stop in for a dose of happy whenever I feel the need.

On a recent trip, I spotted their updated custom stationery line.  After I “oohed” and “aaahed” for a bit and conducted an internal debate on whether to order some of my own (all the while bribing my two year old with M&M’s to stay near me, stay quiet and stop touching everything in sight), I decided to try a DIY version first (primarily because I’d run out of M&M’s and the you-know-what was hitting the fan.).  So, I bought a set of plain notecards and envelopes and off I went.

I guess I’m actually glad my son is insane so I couldn’t order anything.  My stationery turned out pretty well and I saved myself about $17 for a set of 20 cards and envelopes.  (Manicure money.  Holla!)

If you want to try making your own custom stationery, I’m happy to share my tips with you today.  If you have a basic understanding of Microsoft Word, you should be able to do this with great success!

Tip 1 – Download Pretty Fonts
The first thing you need to do is find yourself some pretty fonts.  Search Pinterest for some good fonts and font combinations, and then download them (or similar ones), from dafont.com for free.  If you’ve never downloaded fonts before, make sure to install them once downloaded.  After you’ve installed them, you may need to reboot your computer for them to show up in Word.
Tip 2 – Search Pinterest for Free Graphics Downloads
Pinterest is full of links to great clip art and images that you can use for your stationery!  I found my washi tape clip art and my feather clip art right there.  If washi tape and feathers aren’t your thing, look for something else!  Just make sure that any image you use is not copyrighted and/or that the creator has given express permission for personal use of the image.  Nobody wants to receive a cease and desist over a notecard gone wrong.
Tip 3 – Format Your Page
Once you have your fonts and your graphics, you’ll need to format your page in Microsoft Word so that it corresponds with the size of the notecards you’ve purchased.  In my version of Word (2008 for Mac), you do this by going to File > Page Setup > Paper Size > Manage Custom Sizes.  Then you enter the width and the height of your notecard in the appropriate boxes.  At this time you can also change the size of your margins (the non-printable area), by entering those numbers in the Top, Right, Bottom and Left boxes.  The smallest margins my computer or printer would allow are .25″.
Tip 4 – Use Text Boxes
When you’re ready to enter your name on your stationery, don’t simply type it like you would in a regular document.  Instead, use text boxes to get the placement exactly where you want it and how you want it.  This is how I was able to achieve the stacked and staggered text in this piece of stationery.

In order to create a text box, all you have to do is go to Insert > Text Box.  Then use your cursor to create a text box in your document.  Once you see the rectangle appear on your page, you can start typing your desired text.  You can enlarge the text box by pulling the box with your cursor at the outside edges, and if you want to delete the text box entirely, just hover your mouse over the box and press delete.  You can also move the text box to a different part of your document by dragging it wherever you like.

Tip 5 – Insert and Format Your Image
To add a graphic to your stationery, simply go to Insert > Picture > From File, and then choose the appropriate file from the drop down menu.
When your image appears in your document, click on it so that it becomes active on the page.  Then click Format > Picture.  A box will appear that lets you manipulate the orientation, transparency, color, size, position, etc. of the picture.  I always click Layout > Behind Text.  This allows me to layer text and images, similar to my feather stationery.  (The tip of the feather image is actually layered underneath the text.)

It can also be helpful to make the image a bit more transparent if you’re layering text and images.  Basically, play around with formatting your image until it comes out just how you like it.

Tip 6 – Test Print
Finally, make sure to run some test prints before you print your actual stationery.  Although your notecards may look perfect on screen, the margins can require a little tweaking, the colors can be off, and text can run off the page unexpectedly.  If you do some test prints in fast draft mode on your printer, you’ll save ink and frustration.  Be prepared that your stationery probably will not print perfectly the first or second time.  But once you get it, you’ll be all set.

I hope these tips have you well on your way to making your own beautiful correspondence cards.  You can definitely mail me a thank you note later.  🙂

– Bre

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Bre of Average But Inspired

Hi, I'm Bre! Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll find ideas to inspire your creativity and beautify your home. If this is your first visit, check out the Popular Posts tab at the top of the page to see some of the best of Average But Inspired!

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