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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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August 9, 2011

A Winner & DIY By Design visits the Fence!

We are so thrilled to be welcoming a special guest today but before we get to that we have a little business to take care of! It’s time to announce the winner of the $100 E-Spree from…
joss-and-main-logo

And the winner is…
Lisa from House Dressing!!


Congratulations Lisa!
We will be in contact with you regarding the details and we know you will have fun on your
E-Shopping Spree!

And now, help us in welcoming one of our dearest friends to the Fence today!

picketfence_20010

Hi, I’m Judy from DIYbyDesign.

When Vanessa and Heather asked me to do a guest post for them – of course I jumped at the chance.
They are amazing people and I am so lucky to be able to call them friends.

I was in denial, but with all the TV I watched over the past week while I was recovering from eating some bad raw sushi, I can’t deny it anymore.  It’s almost back to school time.  Actually here in New York, my kids don’t go back until after Labor Day. However, much of the country begins even earlier.   The summer is flying and while I am trying to enjoy every second of it, it’s never too early to start getting organized for the school year.  So, unfortunately, it’s time to start thinking about back to school ideas.

Source
My daughter is starting Middle School this year and that means lockers.  Well why wouldn’t I want to decorate her locker just like any other space.  I just love this locker wall paper from the container store.  It’s cut to fit most lockers and magnetic organizers can be used right on top of it.  So cool!

Source
Gotta love the matching accessories as well.  
Source
Backpacks are on sale right now at Pottery Barn Kids and Teen…plus free shipping.  I love to get the matching lunch boxes as well.

Source
Looking for a super cute desk for next to nothing?  I found this one at Wallmart.com for $37.74.  It comes in five cool colors.

Source
Not to mention they have matching desk chairs for the same price.  
Once you have an awesome desk and chair, how about a memo board to go with it.  My daughter needed a memo board for near her desk.  She loves the memo boards she sees in Pottery Barn Teen.  However, those memo boards are $79 plus shipping.

Image from Pottery Barn Teen

But I knew I could recreate that same look.  I started out with a painters canvas from Michaels.  I also bought a roll of cork.
As it turned out, the cork had an adhesive backing.  Otherwise my plan had been to use a spray adhesive.  This was even easier.

The canvas I chose was 18″ x 24″.  I didn’t want something too big.  Just a nice spot for whatever she wants to pin up on the board.

I started by removing the backing and attaching the cork to the canvas.
Using my utility knife, I cut the edge of the cork to the exact size of the canvas.

I laid the canvas upside down on the wrong side of the fabric.

I cut the fabric leaving approximately 3-4″ on all sides.

Using my staple gun, I stapled the fabric to the wood frame on the canvas.
I folded the edges like I would if I were wrapping a gift.
I did this on all four sides.  I stapled every 4-5″.

It looked a little too plain so I went into my stash of ribbon and got a roll of pink grosgrain ribbon and stapled it to the top back corner.

I wrapped it around the front and stapled to the back of the other side.  I did this on all four sides.

Here is the finished product.

Here it is hanging in her room.  It is the perfect size and color.

It’s an awesome spot for her to pin some of her favorite things.  Here’s how the cost broke down:
1/2 yard fabric – $3 at JoAnn’s
Canvas – $7 at Michaels
Cork – $8 (although I only used half – I should only be charged with $4 for this project:) )
Ribbon – I had that already
Total cost – Under $20.

Hope you enjoyed my back to school ideas.  Thanks again to Vanessa and Heather!
-Judy
Thank YOU Judy!
You know how much we love your fantastic ideas and think you are one seriously talented lady!
It was an honor to have you here with us today,

11 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas, Guest Posts

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Comments

  1. housedressingblog.blogspot.com says

    August 9, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Whoo Hoo! I think that’s me who won! My blog is House Dressing, but my name is Lisa… not Liz, but will gladly change my name if it’s necessary to claim the prize!

    Reply
  2. Catie says

    August 9, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Great post. I LOVE that memo board she made. Looks great! I’d love to see the rest of that bedroom too. Guess I’m off to check out her blog. : ) Thanks for sharing ladies!

    Reply
  3. At The Picket Fence says

    August 9, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Don’t change your name LISA!! We had a brain freeze moment but YOU are the winner! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    August 9, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Congrats to the winner! I still feel a bit like a winner since I now get a little email with eye candy and dream bait from J&M.

    Loved that memo board. I made one for my older daughter for college years ago because we couldn’t find one we liked as much as what we could make.
    Cheaper too!

    Reply
  5. New Every Morning says

    August 9, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    Ooh! I love this idea! I might make one of these for each of my girls! Yay!

    Reply
  6. Ann Marie of At Home With Ann Marie says

    August 9, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    Memo boards have been a hot item for several years now, it’s so great to see an awesome DIY one! Totally customizable to the room colors! Great job! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Michele Smith says

    August 9, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    Congratulations to the winner! Love that board, super cute!

    Reply
  8. Modern Country Lady says

    August 9, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    super cute, Judy! Hope you feel a bit better by the way.
    XOXO
    Bea

    Reply
  9. Gypsy Heart says

    August 9, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    Congrats to Lisa!! What fun this will be ~

    I love this project! I’m going to ask my granddaughter if she would like one. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Pat

    Reply
  10. NanaDiana says

    August 9, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Congratulations to Lisa. She is a real sweetheart and I am glad she won! yeaaaa! xo Diana

    Reply
  11. Anne Lorys - Fiona and Twig says

    August 11, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “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! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year 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!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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