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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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January 24, 2012

Valentine’s Day Garland and Vignette

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Ok, so there are many wonderful things about having a designated Play-Room in our house.
An extra space where my rascals can wreak havoc play.
Plenty of storage for all of their junk toys.
The fact that it has a door which I can close and pretend that it doesn’t look like a tornado came through.
But, who am I kidding?
What I REALLY love about it is that it gives me another place to do some fun seasonal decorating!
And, when I spotted these little fabric heart ornaments in the Christmas Clearance bin at Michael’s, I knew  exactly what I would make with them and where it would end up.

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These were 10 cents each folks…10 cents!!
God bless Clearance bins.
A bit of twine and some hot glue and I had myself a super sweet little
Valentine’s Day Garland for the Playroom!

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My 80 cents garland inspired me to create a little 
Valentines’ Day vignette on top of the dresser in the Playroom. 

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The sweet red wooden chair was mine as a little girl and it just fit so perfectly there that I may leave it on top of the dresser all of the time!

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A white lacy bucket from Ikea and felt hearts from the Dollar Tree tucked inside rest on the seat.
I love the charm of the wear and tear and the fond memories it holds of my childhood.

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These plaques hang on the wall of the Playroom and fit in just perfectly for Valentines’ Day.
I think I’m hoping that by hanging them on the wall their message will somehow seep through my children’s brains through osmosis or something.
Some days it works, others…not so much!

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Now, I have something super special planned for that darling little cupboard but….

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…you will have to wait to see what it is when we join in the fun happening here with our sweet friend Ashley over at Cherished Bliss!

Cherished Bliss
Now, be sure to come back tomorrow when I will be revealing my
MUDROOM MAKEOVER!!!
Until then, thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence,

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

This post is partying here:
You’re Talking Too Much: Meet Me Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday
A Wee Meenit: Wait a Wee Meenit Wednesday

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24 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Good Ideas, Holidays, Valentine's Day

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Previous Post: « Welcome to Inspiration Friday #48!
Next Post: Mudroom Makeover »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. debbie refresh restyle says

    January 23, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    Great idea on the garland! Everything just says Happy Valentine’s Day!
    debbie

    Reply
  2. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    January 23, 2012 at 2:58 PM

    Super cute garland & vignette Vanessa!!

    Reply
  3. michelle says

    January 23, 2012 at 3:11 PM

    What a sweet garland and I love the bucket! I kick myself every time I see one for not getting some when I was there.
    The room looks so full of love. 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply
  4. ❀❀❀Ðαωᾔ❀❀❀ says

    January 23, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    That is just darling:)

    Reply
  5. Grammy Goodwill says

    January 23, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    Your banner looks so cute. I can’t believe you got such a bargain on those hearts.

    Reply
  6. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    January 23, 2012 at 4:21 PM

    Your 80 cent garland is so cute and makes for a lovely accent in your vignette!

    Reply
  7. Michelle Paige says

    January 23, 2012 at 4:52 PM

    Adorable and what a bargain! I can’t wait to see your mudroom!

    Reply
  8. NanaDiana says

    January 23, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    Vanessa~ What a cute garland. It is great to have a room like that..where the kids can go and make a mess and it doesn’t drive you TOTALLY crazy! lol I can’t wait to see your little cupboard makeover. I hope you have a wonderful day! xo Diana

    Reply
  9. Judy says

    January 23, 2012 at 6:05 PM

    Your garland is super cute. I really can’t wait to see your mudroom. I’m sure it’s going to be fabulous!!

    Reply
  10. Good Time Charlie says

    January 23, 2012 at 6:09 PM

    Love the little hearts in the cute bucket. I would put that anywhere in my home!

    Reply
  11. Bonnie ~ a wee Meenit says

    January 23, 2012 at 6:30 PM

    I wonder if there are any hearts left, I love that they are puffy & not flat!
    I would love for you to come and link this to my party, I have a giveaway on the same page too!!
    https://aweemeenit.blogspot.com/2012/01/wait-wee-meenit-wednesdays-link-party-1.html
    Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Magnolia Cottage says

    January 23, 2012 at 7:25 PM

    I love your Valentine’s Day Vignette, super cute! I wish I had a childhood chair …heirloom! Love the plaques about LOVE! When my kids were little I would place sign language and things they could learn about on the playroom walls from teacher’s toys! You would be amazed at what they pick up, little sponges! Thanks for sharing!

    Lisa

    Reply
  13. Fox Hollow Cottage says

    January 23, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    Cute~cute~cute!
    BUT…
    I can’t wait for that mudroom reveal! I’ll live through you, since I don’t have one =)

    Reply
  14. Full Circle Creations says

    January 23, 2012 at 9:05 PM

    Clearance items are the best!!!

    Holly

    Reply
  15. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    January 23, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    How cute, Vanessa. Those hearts were the perfect find, I really like them used as garland.

    Reply
  16. Kindra-At Home With K says

    January 23, 2012 at 11:38 PM

    You are such a good mommy to decorate the play room for your kiddos! I love that white bucket! So cute to add the hearts for a little love cheer!
    Thanks so much for linking up to the Be Mine Bonanza event!

    Reply
  17. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 24, 2012 at 12:18 AM

    Love your creativity. The garland is adorable..Don’t you just love Ikea?!..The nearest one to me is 2 1/2 hours away, so a full day trip..Need to plan one in the near future.

    Reply
  18. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    January 24, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    What a bargoon! So cute too Vanessa! I love crafting for Valentines day.

    Reply
  19. Lorna says

    January 24, 2012 at 2:00 AM

    Cute and inexpensive, couldn’t ask for anything more. Great job!

    Reply
  20. Crystal @ Ordinary Days says

    January 24, 2012 at 2:09 AM

    Adorable! I think I need to make a Michaels trip!

    Reply
  21. Amy @ Five Kinds of Happy says

    January 24, 2012 at 6:35 AM

    So cute! You did a lovely job! Lovely valentine setup

    Reply
  22. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    January 24, 2012 at 3:11 PM

    What great ideas. I love it. You’ve done such a great job of creating such cute Valentines decor. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  23. Ashley says

    January 25, 2012 at 3:28 PM

    Hi! Thanks so much for “pinning” my free Valentine Day Printable. I’m one of your newest followers! Also, I adore your Valentines Day decor!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. At The Picket Fence Valentine’s Day Recap… says:
    January 29, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    […] things Valentine found around the picket fence this month! Up first, Vanessa shared this sweet Heart Garland she made from clearance Christmas items! And this wasn’t all! She fashioned a gorgeous Tear […]

    Reply

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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