MINIMALIST SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS DECOR

 For quite a few years now, I have kept my Christmas tree minimal with just white lights. Not only does it save time by not needing to hang ornaments, 

BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A MORE MINIMAL, SCANDINAVIAN LOOK!

Here are some more inspiration images that give off that simple and effortless neutral look...

via the merry thought

via an magritt

via maison de pax

via monday to sunday home

via rocky hedge farm

via the merry thought

via liiv blog

via pinja colada

via tine k home

via liiv blog

via francoise et moi

via liiv blog

via june home supply

AN EXTRA SPECIAL EASTER

My parents and I have been creating some separation during this uncertain time to keep us all safe.

BUT, NO MATTER THE DISTANCE, MY MOM WAS ABLE TO MAKE EASTER SPECIAL USING WHAT SHE HAD ON HAND.

Folding down a simple brown paper lunch bags top created an impromptu Easter basket. She then cut green construction paper into fringed grass, which lined the bag. Set inside atop crumpled up brown paper towels to create a soft nest were a few hard boiled eggs and two homemade cookies nestled inside a white paper ice cream cup. Such a simple, Spring treat.

  An Easter dinner of beef roast, rutabaga and carrot mash, fruit salad, and an Irish soda bread muffin was delivered on a compostable paper plate to my door. A little jar of ketchup was added for my roast making the meal more than complete!

LAST MINUTE EASTER IDEAS

As the snow melts, the ground begins to thaw, and Spring brings out its new buds and growth, we typically spend time reflecting in the days and weeks leading up to Easter.  With a limited sense of what day it is recently, or even what month, unfortunately for most we have not been able to set aside this time and Easter has sort of crept up.

I'VE GATHERED A FEW IDEAS TO COMMEMORATE THE DAY WITH FAMILY THIS WEEKEND - MOST USING TOOLS, INGREDIENTS, AND SUPPLIES ALREADY AROUND THE HOUSE. 

  Even with churches closed, there are options to listen online.  So, embrace the opportunity to include some sort of pastor led celebration in your day.  I so miss my home church in Atlanta, Trinity Anglican Church.  Even prior to the stay at home instructions, I have carved out some time on Sunday morning to have some quiet time listening to the prior weeks sermon while I enjoy some coffee and quietly get my day started.  The main church website normally has links to all prior sermons, however, currently sermons and podcasts alike are housed on apple through the link provided.

Start a new Easter tradition (or many!) this year.  Our family has an original one passed down from my moms family - using our coats as Easter baskets!  Read more about our special tradition here. 

Switch up Easter dinner by doing a pancake breakfast instead...no one gets out of their pajamas these days anyway! 

This pink rocky road with homemade blackberry marshmallows and raspberry jubes looks time consuming, but so worth it!  The dried edible rose petals really make it feel Spring.  And, how cute are these lemon curd egg sandwich cookies!  They look a little easier as long as the conversion to English isn't too difficult.

Craft projects are a great way to spend family time.  This pom pom Easter egg tree is so stinking cute I would leave up it up all Spring!  I've been seeing paper origami bunnies all over the place and have been wanting to fold some - good tutorials here and here.  These egg garlands are great for even younger kids and use craft supplies from around the house.

And, with grocery trips and options limited, now is the time to try your hand at dyeing eggs naturally.  So much fun and the array of colors achieved is the most exciting surprise!

MAY DAY BASKETS

Did anyone else handcraft May baskets (maybe a woven paper heart), fill it with wildflowers picked from the field, and hang it on friends and relatives front door knobs on May 1st?? This was a tradition every year I looked forward to growing up. And, miss it greatly! It was sort of a welcoming into Spring. And, the way it was supposed to go was that after you hung the basket on the door, you would knock really hard, and the person inside would open the door and chase after you, and if they caught you they gave you a kiss. I remember one year running and running and running as fast as I could to escape the son of our family friend who was the same age as me - so embarrassed to have a little boy kiss me at that age. 

 IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I HAVE HEARD OR SEEN OF ANYONE MAKING AND GIVING MAY BASKETS, AND I'D LOVE TO SEE IT HAVE A COMEBACK!

If you would like to help me make it happen, here are some wonderful ideas for handmade baskets...

via Hallmark

via Urban Comfort

via A Pretty Cool Life

via Becoming Home

via Satsuma Designs

via Brendid

via Not Quite Supermom

via mommyapolis

via Crafty Bug

via Homeward Found Decor

Fill with candies and picked (or handmade) flowers and let the joy begin!

VALENTINES CRAFTS FROM SUPER MAKE IT

I THINK I HAVE A NEW CREATIVE CRUSH...SUPER MAKE IT!

Super Make It creates projects using everyday supermarket items. And, they are oh so good! It's not surprising since founders, Jodi Levine and Amy Group Forbes, both worked in the crafts dept. of Martha Stewart among many other notables on their resumes.

 I'M FEATURING HERE SOME OF MY FAVORITE VALENTINES PROJECTS THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS! 

Can you believe the details on these Valentines and gift tags are made out of cupcake liners??! Find a huge selection of fun patterned cupcake liners, circle tags, and bakers twine to do this project in the fort & field shop!

I personally have leftover candy canes from Christmas in the cupboard. Don't you? This adorable project uses them to make candy hearts! 

Use freezer paper to make a stencil of virtually anything you desire to customize muslin bags.

♥ ➼ ♥ 

10 VALENTINES DAY CRAFTS TO GET STARTED ON NOW

This year is already flying by (just like last year!) and before we know it Valentines Day will be here. My goal in 2019 is to get ahead of the game for at least some of the big holidays so I'm not scrambling at the last minute. Valentines projects can be time consuming because you need a lot of multiples - the actual "Valentines" and any additional packaging for candy. If you get to Valentines Day and haven't prepped, no need to fret! There are plenty of adorable printable Valentines (often-times free). But, here are 10 Valentines Day crafts I've narrowed down that I'm going to choose from to get started on now! Some are great for kids, others for girlfriends.

I spent a lot of time at the library when I was little so these library card Valentines by  The House That Lars Built have a special place in my heart. She was asked whether she has ever gotten picked up in a library and she has not. Neither have I! But, boy wouldn't that be nice! Note to men...start picking up girls in the library. ;) 

If you're like me and have moved a number of times, you may have some long-distance friends you'd like to send some love to. Well, then these retro conversation heart care packages from Brit+Co are perfect! 

These paper tube lipstick Valentines from The House That Lars Built would be great for kids or best buds alike! And, are large enough to tuck a few treats inside.

Pottery Barn teamed up with A Bubbly Life to share this DIY craft. Glass water bottles are painted with a heart (or XOXO) for a fun gift! I've always wanted to try glass painting - the possibilities are endless!

Mr Printables comes up with some pretty genius ideas using paper! Including these heart glasses with pouch. And, we're going old school. No Silhouette or Cricut...just you, some paper, and a pair of scissors. So, you better get started. I have no doubt the result will be well worth it.

I have to admit not all of the projects I have tried from Martha Stewart have come out as planned, but these heart felt coffee cup sleeves would be well worth another try. How cute would it be to give everyone in the office one to use on Valentines Day??!

You'd have to eat a lot of Pringles to make too many of these dynamite Valentines from Sugar & Cloth, but no ones judging. 

I never made "peanut people" as a kid, but I sure want to as an adult! I saw this cute peanut Valentines project from Handmade Charlotte a few years back and have been wanting to make it ever since...it just makes me smile!

Hopefully you have an assortment of pom-poms on hand because you're going to need them for this colorful and quirky pom-pom Valentines card craft from Martha Stewart!

These hanging heart shaped containers from Martha Stewart remind me of Scandinavian woven hearts!

Hope you enjoyed this roundup of Valentines crafts! Do you have any bookmarked projects on your list to share?