Have you ever searched for weeks looking for the perfect picture or mirror for your home? If so, this month’s DIY Quick Craft has the solution for your hard-to-find perfect mirror. With this month’s theme being "Bright and Beautiful," I decided to create a decorative mirror for you to see your beauty each day. This craft is quick, fun and inexpensive. If you don’t have a plain mirror at home you can find all the supplies you need with a quick trip to your local dollar store and the hardware Read more [...]

You don’t have to be a trained artist to create a work of art. Simple tools, a clean canvas and some encouragement are all you need to repurpose a simple household item — everything from a wooden picture frame to a wine glass — from ordinary to arty. And in the process, you can have fun, too. That’s the focus of a trio of local artists and friends who opened a new shop in an older building in downtown Okemos last month. Painter Vivian Dwyer, art professor Susie Brewster and Leslie Read more [...]

With this month’s theme being "Clean, green, the scene,” I decided to create a green scene with wonderful, fresh herbs in the form of a windowsill herb garden. I enjoy starting my herb garden indoors and transplanting it to our outdoor garden later in the spring. In our family we love to cook with fresh herbs. I personally love using fresh cilantro when making my famous guacamole. You can plant any of your favorite herbs with this DIY project. Utilizing the chalkboard paint gives you the Read more [...]

I wish I could say I came up with this idea on my own, however, I have to credit my 10-year-old daughter Emma. As we were discussing ideas for the DIY craft for March my creative sidekick came up with making a pot of gold. What 10-year-old or 41-year-old wouldn't love to find a REAL pot of gold! But, until we find leprechauns at the end of the rainbow with a huge stash of gold we will have to settle with a homemade pot of gold. This do-it-yourself craft can be done quickly and can be used as a Read more [...]

During the month of February, love is in the air as we celebrate Valentine's Day with heart candy, chocolates, flowers and special valentines! I love to decorate for every holiday. This year for Valentine’s Day I needed something for our kitchen table so I decided to create a centerpiece utilizing sticks and branches from around the yard and our favorite —conversation hearts. Sticks Spray paint (red, pink and white) Styrofoam balls Candy conversation hearts Valentine-themed ribbon Vase Hot Read more [...]

The holiday has passed and all the red and green decorations have been packed away. With winter in full swing, I decided this month to make a Wintery Wreath. This craft was super easy, fast and fun. I loved making this wreath because it only took about a half hour and the finished product is exquisite. I recommend displaying the wreath indoors. You can put you own personal touches to this craft and you can also use items found outdoors like pinecones, branches or leaves and spray paint them silver Read more [...]

Oh how I love holidays … I love spending time with my family, baking yummy treats and decorating the house for the season of joy. In our household I am in charge of all the decorating inside and my husband tackles the outside, stringing lights galore. My little one is, of course, the director of both inside and out. With all the hustle and bustle this holiday season below are instructions for a DIY holiday mantle that can be completed in under an hour. With the fire crackling and snow falling, Read more [...]

There's lots to be grateful for this month. For one, I love watching the season change. Not only in color, texture and temperature but also as the pace and activities of my days wind down and life simply becomes more peaceful. This time of year reminds me to sit back and appreciate the small details; a cup of coffee on a chilly, fall morning, the sidewalks covered in beautiful amber and mustard colors on an evening walk and of course the aroma of baked goods filling the house. When we migrate indoors, Read more [...]

Last week while browsing an antique store that had seen better days, I found these old glass insulators.They were thrown on the floor in a dirty, old bucket. I cautiously dug through them, waiting for something to scurry out — it was bit creepy in this place — and picked out three that looked most similar in color. Not knowing at the time exactly what I’d use them for or really what they were, I loved their weight, unique shape and embossed words on the sides. They had sort of an industrial Read more [...]

I’m a sucker for stylish utility. You know, the hammer with a flowered handle or the stapler in a great chartreuse, magnets that are in beautiful pantone colors and the list goes on and on. In my opinion having fun tools to work with and use can make any job much more enjoyable. So, in the spirit of styling the most mundane of tools — a pencil — I hope these will bring you a much-needed smile when you’re writing out those lengthy to-do lists! Plus they’ll look great on your desk. DIY Read more [...]

What’s my favorite type of entertainment? Whether it’s a frosty birthday gathering in December or a sunny soiree in August, my answer is simple — I love a good party. Since I’ve been in Lansing, my festive and crafty friends have bumped up my enthusiasm for themed get-togethers, and it’s no surprise that another creative opportunity is coming up this month. Our friend Julie Becker will soon be headed for the Creative Circus in Atlanta, Ga., so Dottie and I have been dreaming up a Read more [...]

I’m all for soaking up as much post-work and weekend sun as possible, so when it’s beautiful outside, I get excited about outdoor dining possibilities. After all, when summer’s here, I want to get out of the house and enjoy the friends who make these months so perfect! So, in the spirit of easy entertaining and finding new uses for things I already have on hand, I’m putting a bold, little drink cart I recently purchased into use as a drinks and snack station for my next backyard barbecue. By Read more [...]