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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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April 4, 2014

Gift Bag Turned Wall Art

Let’s talk about trends for a minute. You know you want to! 😉

gift bag wall art

Has anyone else found themselves in a store recently doing a double take at the styles? I found myself in Target recently…ok…who am I kidding….I find myself in Target multiple times a week but that’s neither here nor there…anyhoo…I found myself in Target and stood there in the aisle between clothing and shoes and wondered if perhaps instead of walking through the front door I actually entered a strange vortex where I was suddenly back in 1985.

5 minute craft graphic

To the left of me were zippered jeans and mesh tops and neon colors and….GASP!!! Oh Lord have mercy, were those stirrup pants I saw? Then, after I picked myself up off the shiny tiled floor onto which I passed out, I looked to the right of me and saw gladiator sandals and little white Keds and high-top sneakers with crazy strappy things all over them.

I was shocked…appalled…chagrined. And not just because some of these (let’s face it MOST of these) trends were totally horrible the first time around and should never EVER have returned for a second act. But also because what was now considered “vintage” and “retro” trends with all of the kids (yes I realize how old that makes me sound) were things that I actually wore that first time around.

Sigh…

Gift Bag turned Wall Art from atthepicketfence.com


But, here’s the other thing about trends. Sometimes something totally classic that has been around forever morphs into a trend.

Take maps for example. I’m seeing them all over the place lately!

But, can geography actually be considered a trend? I don’t have the perfect answer to that question.

And, to be honest, I don’t care. Because I LOVE maps!

And when I found a giant map gift bag on clearance the other day I knew it wasn’t meant to just be a gift bag. It was destined for greater things. Like hanging on the wall!

gift bag wall art supplies

I dug out an old canvas that I had intended to use for another project which turned out horribly and left me with several canvases painted pale blue.

I covered it in Mod Podge…

making gift bag wall art

…cut the bag to size making sure to keep the handle in tact so that I could do this with it!

gift bag handle as hanging art

Trends will come and go.

gift bag wall art

Some of them I will embrace and incorporate into my own ‘look’ and some of them…ahem…stirrup pants…will never be welcomed into my world again!

But, if I can take a trend/classic and turn it into something fresh, fun and cheap! Well, I’m all over that!

What about you? How do you feel about trends? Or, more importantly, how do you feel about stirrup pants? 😉

Blessings to you from the Picket Fence today,

Vanessa signature

 

 

18 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Five Minute Crafts Tagged With: 5 minute crafts, cheap crafts, crafts, Five Minute Crafts

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Comments

  1. chelsea says

    April 4, 2014 at 3:53 AM

    I love it! Such a cute idea!

    Reply
  2. Lauren says

    April 4, 2014 at 4:44 AM

    Lol I had the same reaction at our Target! My 22 yr old girls were oohhhing over it all! Insane and yes ugly. Love what you did with the bag! Bags like napkins are something I’m always drawn to. Great job!

    Reply
  3. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    April 4, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    Adorable! I admit I’m in on the map trend. I just bought a vintage Deep South map and have big plans for it.

    HOWEVER, I will not be in on the mesh top or stirrup pant trend. Ever. Like, EVER!! 🙂

    ~Cheryl
    https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      April 4, 2014 at 11:29 AM

      Thanks so much Cheryl! And yes, the stirrup pants need to just go away and never come back!!

      Reply
  4. Katharine says

    April 4, 2014 at 8:32 AM

    LOL!! When you were young, the stirrup pants were already vintage! I can remember older girls/women wearing them when I was little–and I’m 62!

    Reply
  5. Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods says

    April 4, 2014 at 9:21 AM

    We are retro now? Neon orange and pink are still yuck!

    I’m loving the maps too. A project like this would be so much easier than wallpapering my half bath with brightly colored maps. 😉 Smart girl for keeping the handle!

    Reply
  6. Cindy L. says

    April 4, 2014 at 10:53 AM

    LOVE the bag idea. Hate the “new retro flashback” styles. Just last year I said that stirrup pants and shoulder pads were next to make a comeback…and big hair too. Can’t wear stirrup pants with out the shoulder padded oversized sweater and the giant hair. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    April 4, 2014 at 12:23 PM

    Love it, Vanessa! Such a great idea. Sometimes gift bags are just too pretty to use as gift bags.

    Reply
  8. grammygoodwill says

    April 4, 2014 at 5:00 PM

    I love how you used the bag handle as your canvas hanger! Creative and smart.

    Reply
  9. Nilza says

    April 4, 2014 at 10:57 PM

    So creative…love the idea!!

    Reply
  10. laura@top this top that says

    April 5, 2014 at 3:29 AM

    i love this idea…skipping the stir up pants though.

    Reply
  11. Barbara Ann says

    April 6, 2014 at 9:44 PM

    Great idea. I see so many gift bags that are great art. Now I know what to do with them.

    Reply
  12. A-1 Basement Solutions says

    April 8, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    Very creative idea! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. kristin says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:37 PM

    Such a simple and cute idea!!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  14. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    April 11, 2014 at 9:55 AM

    Brilliant! What a great quick craft!

    Reply
  15. Doreen says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:56 AM

    I saw a very similar gift bag at HomeGoods a while back and thought it was too pretty for a gift bag – sadly, I must have been distracted by something else and didn’t pick it up! Love this idea!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      April 16, 2014 at 8:23 PM

      Thanks Doreen! 🙂

      Reply
  16. malia says

    April 17, 2014 at 7:02 AM

    You are so clever! Beautiful idea.

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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