Crafting 101 with Jerusalem Greer: Vintage Schoolhouse Chic

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

So I have a confession. Are you ready?

Here it is: I think I *might* be addicted to Vintage Schoolhouse Chic.

Just maybe.

I mean, if having a dozen chalkboards and maps and globes and rulers is considered excessive… Not to mention the chairs, the stools, and the light fixtures. Or the old books. Or the typewriters.

Alright, so there is no *might* about it.

I adore schoolhouse style (as seen above), and at our little urban cottage farm that is what you will find our home filled with.

A blend of farmhouse/schoolhouse style, filtered through the requirements of comfort and affordability and tied together through patina, texture, and fun, is what makes our home unique and easy going. I love a little industrial and a tad bohemian thrown in here and there to keep things interesting, but at the end of the day, what I love most is schoolhouse chic.

But maybe a full blown one-house-school-makeover is a little much for you. Perhaps instead you would like just a little touch here, or a little touch there. Or maybe you want to just incorporate a tiny bit into your Fall Decor? These are a few easy, low-commitment ways that you can still be head of the style class!

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Scrapbook supplies are not just for scrapbooking. Use themed papers and ephemera such as these to adorn gift wrapping, create cute magnets or to simply embellish simple picture frames.

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I know, we have all seen everything that will stand still turned into a chalkboard lately. But I can’t help it. I still love all things chalk related! Especially now that you can get chalkboard paint in such beautiful vintage colors such as this one.

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Vintage globes add an instant pop of color and style to any room. A small collection of globes in various sizes, placed in the middle of the dining room table makes a great display as you transition from your summer to fall decor. It is Back-2-School season after all!

Traditional globes too predictable? Take a paintbrush and get to work, creating a unique and world class statement piece.

I just love this piece of globe art.

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I had to throw in these stools because these are the ones we have in our kitchen and after figuring out how to adjust the seat and legs just right, I am completely in-love with them. A year ago I painted the matte silver with a variety of colors, but I am already am considering how I can make them over next. Washi tape on the legs perhaps? And if I ever get tired of the backs, I can easily remove them in just a matter of minutes!

These are just a few of the ways that anyone can inject a little schoolhouse chic into their decor.. remember – it’s as easy as A B C, and 1 2 3!

. Jerusalem Jackson Greer is a writer, crafter, nest-fluffer, speaker, urban farmgirl and author of A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting and Coming Together. She is a regular contributor for the At Home in Arkansas Blog, and both her home and her work has been featured in a variety of local and national publications. Jerusalem lives with her husband and two sons in a 1940s cottage in Central Arkansas with an ever-changing rotation of pets, including a hen house full of heritage chickens and a Hungarian Sheep Dog mutt. As a family, they are attempting to live a slower version of modern life. She blogs about all of this and more at http://jerusalemgreer.com

three fun 4th of july crafts

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Off to the lake? Don’t forget the glitter and glue! The immensely creative Jerusalem Greer is back, this time with crafts in celebration of the good ol’ US of A!

And while you’re at it, you might want to check out Jerusalem’s thrifty waterside inspired craft ideas too.

Happy July 4th!

CRAFT #1

CROWNING GLORY

This is a craft that is easily adaptable to any event or holiday, and is also a lot of fun to do with kids.

Let’s get started OK?

Here are the supplies you are going to need:

*4 coordination sheets of scrapbook paper in patriotic colors
*Craft Glue
*Glue Stick
*Glitter – your choice of color
*Printer
*Scissors
* Satin or Grosgrain Ribbon in Coordination color, no wider than 7/8″
*Hot Glue
*Hole Punch
*Paper Cutter
*Pinking Sheers or Scrapbook Scissors

STEP 1
* Prep your Paper.

Using your paper trimmer, cut off one 12x 3 3/4″ strip of each paper pattern.
(You can go thinner than this, all the way down to 12x 3 1/4″ , but I wouldn’t suggesting going any wider.)

STEP 2
* Layer Your Papers

You are going to want to layer 2 of the strips of paper on top of each other, creating a “front” panel and a “back” panel for your crown.

STEP 3
* Create Panels

* Once you have chosen your paper combo, glue the strips together using a glue stick. Allow one pattern paper to stick up above the other, showing about a 1″ to 1 1/4″ strip at the top of your crown.
(See picture above.)

Your finished panel will be about 4 3/4″ total width, and 12″ in length.

STEP 4
* Trim your Edges

Using pinking sheers or scrapbook scissors, trim the sides and tops of your panels.

STEP 5
* Add Glue and Glitter

Using a paint brush or a regular glue bottle, add a nice thick strip of glue along the seems of where your 2 papers overlap on both panels. After you have applied your glue, generously coat with your choice of glitter. (See picture above.)

STEP 6
* Cut your Circle

Using a circle cutting tool cut out a circle in one of your coordinating papers.
If you do not have a circle cutting tool you can create a perfect circle by simply tracing a common household object like a can of fruit or extra large coffee mug.
You will want your circle to be between 4″ and 5″ wide.

STEP 7
* Print Out Your Vintage Image

Next, using your computer, print out a vintage image to use to embellish the middle of your circle. Make sure to crop or shrink your image to a size that will fit inside your circle.
I printed image as a 3″ x 2 1/2″ size.

STEP 8
* Glue and Glitter Your Image

Next, using your glue stick, glue your image to the middle of your circle, then outline the image with a thin bead of glue and goat well with glitter.
Let dry.

STEP 9
* Attach Your Circle

After your circle has dried you can also trim it with your pinking or scrapbook scissors, or you can leave it smooth edged.
After you have chosen your edging style, attach your circle to the middle of your Front Crown Panel using a large dollop of Hot Glue.
Carefully press in place, making sure that your circle attaches to your panel.
You want only 1/2 to 3/4 of your circle to be on your panel.
The remaining amount should stick up above the top of your panel creating more height.

STEP 10
* Add Embellishments

Using the same star punch or pattern from the Candle Project (below), cut out several stars in fun colors.
Glue 2-3 stars to each of your panels, using your glue stick. Outline the edges of your star with craft glue and coat with glitter. This will give them a nice finished sparkly look.

STEP 11
* Hole Punch

To attach your 2 panels together, you are going to need to add hole punches to both ends of each panel.
Where you place your hole punches will be determined by the width of your crown, and the size you need it to be in order to fit. Obviously children will need a smaller crown size than adults.

My holes are 3/4″ in from the end edge of my panel, and there is a 1 1/2″ space between them.

I like to make my front hole punches first, and then use those holes as a guide for the holes I punch on my back panel. This seems to help the 2 panels line up better when I attach them.

STEP 12
* Attach Panels with Ribbon

Cut 2 lengths of ribbon, each approximately 24″ long.

To attach your panels you will need to start by running 1 piece of your ribbon through your back panel, making sure that the tails of your ribbon come up through the holes on the top portion of your Back Panel (as seen above.)

Next, pull that same ribbon through your the holes on your Front panel, also letting the ribbon tails come up through the top of your Front panel.
Repeat this on the other side of your crown.

When you do this on both sides your crown, in will suddenly come together and be one piece.
The ribbon will allow you to loosen or tighten as needed. If you need a tighter crown you can shorten your panels from 12″ to whichever width will work best.
Just remember to trim both the front and the back panels equally.

Also you will need to decide if you want a crown that comes down over the head or sits more directly on top of the head.

My sweet boy Miles was happy to model today’s project for me. It is a little big for him since I made it in an adult size, but you get the idea!

CRAFT #2

LYRICAL LIGHT

This craft is called “Lyrical Light” because it is a candle that is wrapped in sheet music.

Here are the supplies you are going to need:

*1 piece of vintage Sheet Music
*Hot Glue
*Craft Glue
*Silver, Red or Gold Glitter
*Printer
*Scissors
* Extra Wide Patriotic Ribbon, Paper Fringe or Crepe Paper
*Thin Ribbon in Patriotic Colors
*Jar Candle (I used unscented white Prayer Candle)

STEP 1
* Prep your paper.

Either using a vintage sheet of music (easily found at most flea markets) or the print out of the Star Spangled Banner PDF, prepare your paper by simply folding and tearing the edges off, creating a rougher looking edge (see photo below.)

STEP 2
* After you have picked and prepped your paper, wrap it around your candle, securing it with a bead of hot glue down the back seam were the ends of your paper overlap.

STEP 3
* Next you need to glitter the top and bottom edges of your paper.

Using craft glue, carefully and slowly trace the edge of your paper with a small bead of glue, going all around the candle.
If you have trouble controlling your glue stream you can either close your glue cap half way, creating a smaller and slower stream or you can use a small paint brush to paint your glue along the top and bottom edges of your paper.

STEP 4

* After your glue is in place, coat heavily with your choice of glitter.
Let dry completely before proceeding with the next steps.

STEP 5

* Pick your embellishments.
This next step is where you can begin to bring in your patriotic colors and elements.
I used a thick tri-colored velvet ribbon for my candle.
However you could use paper fringe, crepe paper streamer, tinsel garland, or other types of ribbon for this step. Whatever you are inspired by or have on hand will work great!

STEP 6
* Wrap your ribbon or other embellishment around your candle.

STEP 7
* Secure your embellishment to your candle at the back of your candle using hot glue.

Make sure to line up the seam of your ribbon or fringe with the seams of your paper for a clean and finished look.

STEP 8
* Create Star Ornament.

Using this STAR image or a jumbo sized Star Punch
cut out a star on scrapbook or cardstock weight paper.
Coat with craft glue, then cover completely with glitter.
Let dry.

STEP 9
* While your star is drying, pick your thin embellishment ribbon.

(I used a red and white gingham print in a 1/2″ Width.)
Cut it approx. 9″ long.
Fold in half and attach the folded part to your the center of your wide ribbon or fringe using hot glue.

STEP 10
*Next, attach your dried glittery star to the top of your ribbon, again using hot glue (or craft glue if you are patient!)

Voila! You are done! You have now created a lovely Lyrical Light to display at your 4th of July gathering.
These make great hostess gifts and party favors, and can provide great after-dark light for your holiday party.

If sheet music isn’t your thing, vintage book pages, wallpaper remnants and colorful scrapbook papers all make great candle wrappers.

Use a variety of jar candle heights and widths to create a great holiday mantle display or tablescape.
And remember, you can create a wrap candle for any event or holiday by simply changing up the embellishment textures, colors and shapes.

CRAFT #3

ROSES AND LEMONADE

This project is called Roses and Lemonade, but it could be also be called Daisies and Lemonade, or Lilacs and Lemonade, or Sunflowers and Lemonade… Even though I am going to be showing roses, you can use whichever flower you love most!

These flower arrangements are bursting with a fresh scent, summery color and an old-fashioned vibe, perfect for a lovely holiday weekend.

Here are the supplies you are going to need:

*Flowers of your choice (about a dozen)
*A bag of fresh lemons
*Kitchen Scissors
*Kitchen Knife
*Small American Flags
*Clear glass jars, vases or water glasses.

STEP 1
* Gather your supplies and fill your jars or vases half full with water.

(Mine are way too full in this picture! Make sure to only fill them half-way up to prevent overflow.)

STEP 2
* Slice your lemons.

(1/2 a bag of lemons per arrangement is recommended.)
*Make to sure to slice them pretty thin, less than 1/4″ thick.

STEP 3
* Start filling your jar or vase with the lemon slices. Make sure to hold out 4-6 slices per arrangement for later.

STEP 4
*Prepare your flowers.

No matter what type of flower you are using you need to make sure to remove all the leaves from the portion of the stem that will be in your water.
(Tip: Most flower leaves that get left in water will mold or rot, polluting and poisoning your flowers, causing them to die quicker.)
If you are using Roses, carefully remove the little green bud leaves that surround the base of each flower. Make sure to gently detach these leaves at their base, being careful not to rip your flower head off.
By removing these bud leaves, you are creating a cleaner look for your flower and your arrangement.

STEP 5
* Next trim your flowers down to the height you want them to be. I like my flower heads to look as if they are sitting right on the top of the jar.

To get a good measurement for where to trim your flower stem, bring your jar or vase to the very edge of your counter or table. Next, in front of your table or counter top, hold your flower up next to your jar or vase, lining it up with where you want to top of your flower to be. Cut off all of the excess stem that falls below the table or counter top.

STEP 6
* Fill in with leftover lemon slices.

After you have trimmed your flowers to the height you want them to be, place your flowers in their jars or vases. Next fill in around your stems with your remaining lemon slices.

STEP 7
* Add embellishment.

For your final step, add some patriotic flair to your arrangement. I like to keep this arrangement simple.
Ideas include:
*Adding a decorative ribbon around the neck of your jar of vase.
* Creating a patriotic tag, using shipping tags or a wire dangle to hang from the neck.
*Inserting summer pinwheels into the arrangement instead of flags.

These arrangements look great outside at a picnic, in a kitchen window, on a mantle or by your bedside. They are as refreshing and nostalgic as a fresh cup of ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day.

Want to expand on this idea? You can always achieve a similar look with limes and oranges, and again mix in your very favorite flowers of any variety!

Want to make some yummy summertime lemonade punch to serve up with your flowers?
Download my very favorite recipe here!

crafting 101 with jerusalem greer: thanksgiving inspiration

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

I recently came across this vintage Thanksgiving scene and absolutely fell in-love with it. From the colors, to the lines, to the busy family preparing their Thanksgiving feast, each and every person involved in the magic somehow, the whole image just makes me swoon.

While I love the Thanksgiving holiday, I don’t always love the decor. Heavy ceramics, dark colors, and ornate lines are not really my cup of joe.

So I thought I would rustle up a little inspiration for a mid-century style celebration, on the chance that you are on the hunt for a for a new take on a great tradition as well.

Vintage Dress

Love the pattern, love the cut, love the simplicity. This pattern would well on napkins or a tablecloth as well.

Table

A new take on a modern design. I love the clean lines of this table that is a great size for a crowd without taking up too much real estate inside your house the other 364 days of the year.

Traditional Headdress

Who doesn’t love hats? Order several of these kits to keep little and big hands busy while the turkey is cooking! Or make them ahead of time and use them as place cards, asking each guest to done his or her cap for the feast.

Jug

This green glass jug would look great filled with stalks of Japanese lanterns, cotton stalks or wheat. By keeping your decor simple you leave room for the real star of the day – the food – without sacrificing style.

Platter

Sometimes you just need to go as kitschy as you can and have fun. Nothing says Thanksgiving like a Turkey platter!

Song

And last but not least, a little entertainment – and history lesson – by way of song. Who says Christmas gets to be the only one to have fun songs?

No matter how you spend next Thanksgiving Day, with pomp and circumstance or a simple dinner by the fire, I hope that you are able to find a moment to reflect on all the day is about – thankfulness and coming together. And pie.

Cheers!

the family that crafts together…

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Leave it to Jerusalem Greer of Jolly Goode Gal! With our August Family Homes issue onstands and online, Jerusalem introduces you to a few of her favorite family crafts. To share with your own children or give away to friends, these handmade DIY Craft & Play kits will ignite any child’s creativity and imagination. (And they’re fun for adults too!)

When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I not-so-secretly hoped that I was having a girl. For lots of reasons, but primarily so I could have someone to craft and watch Anne of Green Gables with me. Well, life had other plans and 9 months later I gave birth to my second beautiful, amazing son. As it turns out, he is a crafting addict just like his momma. Life has also brought lots of other little and big girls into my life in a variety of ways, who are also happy to craft with me. Â These days our craft room is also our dinning room, which means that from time to time you might find some extra glitter stuck to a napkin or find yourself setting on a stray button or two, but the big table is the best place for everyone to gather and create.

My love for crafting has bled over into my gift giving as well. When Â possible I try and stay away from traditional store-bought gifts Â and give gifts that encourage creativity and imagination. Because I am also notorious for remembering the party/gift at the last minute and working with a tight budget, I try and create one theme a year and then stock up on the items needed when I find great sales and deals.

Here are a few of my favorite handmade DIY Craft & Play kits for kids of all ages:

Fort Building Kit
http://www.saltwater-kids.com/2010/12/thrifty-gifts-fort-building-kit.html

I love this idea because you can purchase many of the items at discount and thrift stores. Also you can customize the colors to each child. This is on my gifts-to-give kit for 2011/2012. The grown-up version of this is a picnic kit, complete with vintage tablecloth for the picnic mat, vintage melamine plates and cups, and mix-n-match silverware, his and her thermoses and a can of bug spray for good measure, all packed in a great basket or retro cooler. Want to give a great family gift? Give the fort and the picnic kits!

Crafty Suitcase
http://www.playfulearning.com/Playful_Learning/Blog/Entries/2010/9/24_Loving__Delightful_French_Kits.html

Occasionally you can find these suitcase sets ready made, but how fun would it be to create your own? Perhaps use an vintage train case? Scavenge discounts stores, estate sales and craft boutiques for a unique combination of supplies. This one shows only sewing and textile craft items, but you could fill it with any and all types of crafty treasures.

Books & Bag
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/by-the-book-987289/2/

A small personalized book bag with a few classics is a favorite. This is especially great for toddlers who are big enough to carry their own small bag on library trips. I have also given this to teenagers and adults, substituting books for magazine subscriptions at times.

Dress-Up Fun
http://www.thestudentteacher.com/journal/2011/6/8/childrens-gift-idea-a-geologist-kit.html

These have been a hug hit, especially with my boys. We have raided the Army-Surplus store for Adventure and Army themed costume kits and thrift stores are a great place to put together kits for future Doctors, Teachers, Chefs, Handy Persons, Princesses and Super-Heros. Throw in a few small â€œtools of the tradeâ€ and a book on the subject and you have a great gift that will ignite the imagination of any kid.

jerusalem greer shows how to create a gracious southern home

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

We love the South. In fact, we dedicated our entire October issue to Gracious Southern Living (click here). But while living here is wonderful for many reasons, more than we can count, Jerusalem pinpointed a few at the top that we couldn’t agree with more. The best part is, each can be created in your home with very little effort and at very little cost. So no matter where you live, you can celebrate your Southern roots!

If you have a moment, visit Jerusalem’s blog, The Jolly Goode Gal, too for a peek into her Southern home.

Thanks to the adventurous spirit of my parents during my growing up years, I had the pleasure of living all over the country. From the beaches of Florida to the glaciers of Alaska, to many points in between, we saw and lived it all. But even though each state, each region, had its own charms and beauty, there is no other part of the country where â€œgracious livingâ€ is so evident as in the South. My mother, a true Southern girl at heart, despite her gypsy ways, never completely left her past behind, and the result was that no matter where lived, our home and manners where always influenced by Gracious Southern Living, all of which I try to exemplify to this day in my home.

Here are a few things that my mother and I think are â€œmustâ€ haves if you want to craft true Gracious Southern style, no matter your zip code..

Porch Swings

Image here

One of the most underrated but valuable qualities of Southern life is learning how to take things slow, and enjoy life. Nothing else sets the rhythm for a gentile pace of life like a porch swing. I love them so much that I have two and so does my mother. Hanging on a porch or from a tree in the front yard, nothing else says â€œcome and sit a spellâ€ like swing. Donâ€™t have a tree or a front porch? Hang one inside and paint it to match your decor, adding pillows and a seat cushion for additional comfort.

Sweet Tea

Image here

My mother is famous for her Sweet Tea. Her mixture is so sweet it will make you pucker up and kiss your uncle. Whether served in the loveliest of restaurants with a simple syrup so that you can mix it to your liking, or served in a mason jar on the back stoop, Sweet Tea is a must-have beverage of Gracious Southern Living.

Comfy Seating

Image here

Southern stories and tall tales take time, and comfortable seating is essential when company comes calling. Every home needs soft places to land, deep comfy seats where visitors and family members can lounge, relax, read and daydream and to observe unofficial southern Sunday afternoon past-time–napping! Fluffy pillows are an easy way to add comfort to any Southern sofa. Whip up easy and colorful pillows using remnants of feed sacks, a patchwork of vintage fabrics or my favorite–cloth napkins in bright colors. Already cut and hemmed, you can stitch together two cloth napkins in no time to make colorful and unique throw pillows.

Cloth Napkins

Image here

Speaking of cloth napkins, neither my maternal grandmother, nor my mother, ever used paper napkins, with exception of our 4th of July celebrations. The rest of the year they only used cloth. Cloth napkins to me are beautiful additions to any meal, no matter how small or large, simple or fancy. At our house we keep baskets of cloth napkins on our kitchen and dining room tables so that they are never out of reach. Not only are cloth napkins lovelier to look at, more durable in wear, and economical, they are also a great â€œgreenâ€ alternative to paper. Canâ€™t find cloth napkins that you love? Want to get the kids involved? Grab a pack of white cotton tea towels and using fabric crayons or markers, buttons, ric-rac embroidery thread or other colorful notions, and have each family member design their own. Homemade napkins are practical, personal and lovely. What could be more Southern or gracious than that?

Books

Image here

Southerners are a storytelling people, so what could be more essential to Gracious Southern Living than being surrounded by books? Coffee table books filled with art, gardening books with tips on growing okra and crape myrtles, books of poetry, fiction and memoirs of days gone by, all help to nurture the well rounded Southern mind and imagination. All Southern homes should be places where a visitor can pull a book off a shelf and become enraptured for hours, their worlds widening with each turn of the page. Running out of bookshelf space? Create side tables out of out coffee table books. Simply stack the books to your preferred height. Worried about preserving your books? Add a great serving Â tray on top and, voila! A table is born!

Music

Image here

What would the South be without music? The Blues, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Creole Folk, Gospel, Rock, Soul…These are just some of the music genres that find their roots in Southern living. A Gracious Southern Living home honors these legacies. Whether it is picking out Happy Birthday on the piano for everyone to sing along, or guitar and banjo pickin’ on the porch, or picking the perfect mix of Zydeco, Rock and Bluegrass for backyard BBQ party, music is second only to Sweet Tea as a must-have for all Southern gatherings. A recent crafty trend that I love is the painted piano in spicy Southern colors, these pieces really make a statement and who can resist the lure of a mustard yellow piano, with keys just waiting to be ticked?

Family Pictures

Image here

A Southern home without family pictures is like a Graceland without Elvis. Itâ€™s just a house. Whether it is on a stairwell, hallway or the powder room, family pictures can be found just about anywhere and everywhere in Southern homes. Finding unique ways to display family photos, old and new, just adds to the creativity and storytelling. Decoupaging Great-Grandmaâ€™s picture onto the last piece of her favorite china is a way that you can honor her memory in more ways than one, and it will always make an interesting conversation piece at dinner parties.

So there are what I consider to be the basics to crafting a gracious southern lifestyle.

What would you add to the list?

Cheers and Blessing,
Jerusalem

have a happy pinterest thanksgiving!

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Come on, everyone is doing it! Pinterest, that is. Even At Home columnist Jerusalem Greer, of Jolly Goode Gal, can’t get enough. Check out her fave Thanksgiving-inspired pins below. And follow her on Pinterest too! She’s one of our all-time favorite Pinners…

PS- At Home also has an account! Check us out here.

OK, I have a confession. I am obsessed with Pinterest. Since the advent of Social Media, I have treaded slowly and cautiously. I like to blog and read blogs, I enjoy Twitter but can go days without it, completely forgetting that it exists. Facebook is what I call a necessary evil. I use it to stay up-to-date with local and social events and to connect with old or far away friends because it is convenient. Tumblr is still a little bit of a mystery, even though I have an account, and Â I managed to completely dodge the MySpace and Xanga all together. However, Pinterest has me completely whooped. I am fully under her spell.

Since I was a little girl I have been ripping pictures out of magazines and stuffing them into folders. From crafts to decorating to fashion, I have binders full of inspiration and idea boards scattered around my craft room. Now I have Pinterest, a beautiful, paperless, virtual way to create hundreds of idea boards all with a few computer clicks. From recipes to hair-styles to home building ideas to holiday decor, it is all there.

This year I will probably spend Thanksgiving eating Chinese food out of a take-out box, as I will be days away from submitting my cooking & craft book manuscript to my publishers. I will pack my boys up and send them to the grandparents for a happy holiday, while I buckle down to meet my deadline. However, thanks to Pinterest I can still dream of a beautiful homespun and crafty Thanksgiving, planning the perfect gathering, even if it is just virtual. If I were going to host Thanksgiving at my house this year, these are all the crafts I would want to make – all of which I found, of course, on Pinterest:

The Table

I have a large collection of vintage aqua plates that I think would look adorable in a setting like this. Â And look at the little berry, mini-pumpkin and mum baskets – how cute are those? I may have to add a floral table cloth under the natural stick place-mats, but over all this setting is perfect.

House and Home

The Mantle

I am going through a bit of a felt-phase and I think this leaf garland would be precious, hung in three or four strands on our white mantle. The colors are the perfect version of traditional fall tones for my home, the texture old fashioned, the assembly simple.

Everyday Lovely

The Kids’ Craft

Around our place the turkey has been known to take its own sweet time cooking, so I like to have a craft for the little (and often big) kids to work on, keeping them occupied and out from underfoot. This a great take on the traditional Thanksgiving Thankful Tree and it makes a lovely party favor as well.

Etsy

The Outfit

One of the things I love most about holidays is picking out what to wear. I love to add a little homemade crafty flair to my outfits whenever I can. This floral sash would be the perfect addition to a smart little fall dress, or even a skirt and thick sweater combo.

I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

The Treat

For thanksgiving I love to make one new dish. Something that looks yummy and holiday specific. As soon as I saw these little one bite pies I knew I wanted to try them. I am not sure about the filling, maybe I would change that. But oh the shape! How could you resist a golden flaky leaf pie?

Duhlicious

So those are my Thanksgiving Pinterest dreams, what are yours?

You can follow me here: http://pinterest.com/jerusalemgreer/ on Pinterest And you can follow At Home here: http://pinterest.com/athomeinarmag/

Happy pinning!

simply crafty, simply christmastime

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Jerusalem Greer (of Jolly Goode Gal) comes to your rescue with inexpensive, easy Christmas crafts that are a tad bit nostalgic to boot! We love the “Too Many Mittens” reference, and the sheet music. Goes to show that, when it comes to decorating for the holidays, personal is best. Use your imagination and have fun! And if you get stuck, these tips from Jerusalem are sure to get you going.

As I thought about what Christmas crafts I could share with the At Home blog readers this month, I realized that I should give the kind of gift that I love to receive: One that is personal and homespun. So for this month’s post, I thought I would share a few Christmas crafts from my own home. Not every craft I try is a winner (there was the disastrous snow globe fiasco after all), but every now and then my plan comes together, and I end up with a lovely new creation that my family and I can enjoy for many Christmasâ€™ to come. Below are a few of these successes that are both simple (because who has time for one more complicated to-do task on their holiday list?) and lovely.

Frame Vintage Christmas Cards

To create this look, simply layer vintage Christmas cards on top of holiday themed sheet music and place in an inexpensive frame. To keep this look clean and crisp I chose a white frame, which helped set off the vintage papers without being overly fussy.

Mitten Garland

One of my favorite childhood books is titled “Too Many Mittens.” In this book, a laundry line of mittens is a prominent feature. I recreated this look for my mantle. (For the full instructions and a mitten pattern, you can visit this link to my Too Many Mittens Craft (http://www.jollygoodegal.com/2011/12/too-many-mittens-weekend-christmas.html)

Snow in a Bottle

This project is one of my all time favorites and take less than 10 Â minutes to make. Using a funnel, pour a three part mixture of fake snow, white glitter and off white glitter into an old glass bottle. Fill about â…“ Â full. Stamp or write the words and phrases like “Snow Starter,” “White Christmas 2011,” or “Frosty R.I.P.” on a small shipping tag. Replace the string on your tag with a pipe cleaner. Fold your tag in half and place in your bottle. (If your tag doesnâ€™t pop open after you have pushed it back into your bottle, you can use a pipe cleaner to open it back up.) Next, hot glue a small to medium Christmas ball or ornament Â to the top, inverting the top of your ornament into the mouth of the bottle. Using a thin ribbon, tie a lose one knot bow around the neck of your bottle. Ta-da! A cute Christmas conversation piece.

Tiered Christmas Card Wreath

For years I was one of those people who could never find a way to display the Christmas cards our little family received that didnâ€™t look too busy or bulky. Finally, in act of desperation, I grabbed two metal wreath frames with contrasting grosgrain ribbon and went to wrapping. I wrap the ribbon around each frame. Then, using 5â€ flocked red ribbon, I connected the two wreaths with one simple loop. To top it all, I took another large piece of the same ribbon, ran it through the smaller wreath and knotted it, letting the tails hang down. I added a large glittered jingle bell as the final touch. To attach my holiday cards, I use stick pins and the folds of the ribbon. Maybe this year I will even add a third wreath.

Peace of Scrabble

I have made all sorts of gifts, including nameplates as teachers gift and jewelry for my sisters as Christmas gifts. Last year during the holidays, I created my own version of a peace sign, and this year I hope to add Love, Joy and Hope to the collection. If you are going to make your own Scrabble crafts this holiday, I would suggest hitting up estate sales and flea markets for great deals on used games.

However you celebrate this holiday, I wish each of you a wonderfully simple, beautiful Christmastime.

i heart valentine’s day

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Sending happy Valentine’s Day wishes to all of our readers today! Our gift to you? These great project ideas from Jerusalem Greer of Jolly Goode Gal. Which ones will you be trying?

I have a confession of the heart that I cannot hide anymore. Can you guess what it is? Yep. I Â confess, I love and adore Valentine’s Day. Â Not because of the romance (though I never turn my nose up at romantic gestures that happen to coincide with February 14) and not because of the chocolate (although that doesnâ€™t hurt either). No, my affection for what cynics refer to as a â€œgreeting-card holidayâ€ stems from this: Valentineâ€™s Day is simple. V-Day is a day that comes to us in the middle of winter, when there is not one colorful thing in bloom, when the skies are gray, and the temps are chilly, and brings us bear hugs, giant red foil wrapped candies and the cheerful happy colors of conversation hearts. Simple joys and small kind gestures, that is what makes Valentineâ€™s Day lovely to me. After all, isnâ€™t L-O-V-E Â what makes the world go round?

To spread V-Day cheer, here are a few of my favorite Valentine’s Day crafts. Some I have done and some are on my still-to-do list but all are happy, vibrant and the perfect antidote to the winter blahs.

Love Around the World

I adore maps. I have a fairly large collection of vintage maps and globes. How cute and easy would this be to make using old atlas or travel maps? Make it large or small, a poster or a card, but make one and pass it on to someone who needs an extra little boost.

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Youâ€™ve Won My Heart

How cute are these ribbons? Everyone is a winner with these adorable creations. Cupcake liners, paper hearts and craft ribbon combine to make adorable Valentineâ€™s Day prize ribbons. Not just for fashion, these ribbons would be the perfect way to embellish Â a box of chocolates, a simple greeting card or a small bouquet of flowers.

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Roll With It

Looking for a creative way to pass on V-Day greetings to co-workers and friends? Â Try this â€œRoll With Itâ€ candy-gram. In addition to Rollo you could also use Tootsie Rolls or Fruit Roll-Ups for kids.

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Iâ€™ve Never Felt This Way Before

All you need to know is this: Felt Heart Garland. Need I say any more? Whatâ€™s not to love?

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Love Letters

This is a great craft that keeps on giving. Our family has done this the past few years and we all love it. Each family member has his/her own mail box. Near the mail box and all around the house there are little stacks of note paper and colorful pens. We all write each other little love notes and hide them in the mail boxes, raising the little flags when a delivery has been made. Sometimes the notes are serious, sometimes they are silly, always they are special.

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Queen of Hearts

I have always loved the look of red heart playing cards mixed in with Valentine’s decor (perhaps it has something to do with Alice in Wonderland?) and have used them in a variety of ways over the years to accent my V-Day crafts. I love this garland that combines the hard straight lines of the playing cards and with the soft scrappy bits of fabrics to create an adorable accent piece.

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office space

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Back to school season approaches and our crafting expert, Jerusalem Greer, is back with a few handy ideas for decorating a classroom or colorful office space!

This week I go back to work. Back to my day job, my real-life life. I work at a school which means I get to participate in all the great back-to-school traditions just like my kids. What will I wear? What kind of bag should I carry? Satchel, messenger or tote? And just like my kids I get to buy my version of school supplies and fluff my work nest in preparation for another year of learning. This year I have moved spaces and exchanged some of my previous job responsibilities for new ones. The result is a fun new room, filled with books and other learning tools, that is the perfect place to try out some new clever and cute organization ideas I have been storing up.Here are my five favorite crafty ideas for a fun, functional and colorful office space:

Rolling Basket.
I love handy, functional storage. I especially love cute handy, functional storage. And there is nothing cuter or more handy than a basket on casters. While this basket can be found as is online for a nice chunk of change, I am going to attempt to recreate this look with some heavy-duty baskets I have and some vintage aqua casters I bought off Etsy years ago but have never used. I think by creating a simple base out of plywood and attaching the base and basket together using the casters. I will keep you posted on how this goes.

Painted Jars
In my office I love to have things in quick, easy reach. Pencils, pens, markers, Â scissors, glue sticks, rulers get used daily and often in a hurry. I also have a large collection of glass jars (not mason jars, those I use for canning) under my kitchen sink, taking up space. I keep these jars Â around thinking I will do something handy with them. I think I have finally figured out what that â€œsomethingâ€ is.

Calendar Corkboard
A large part of my job revolves around managing an events calendar, and since I am an incredibly visual person, a huge corkboard calendar like this may be just the thing I need to keep all those plates spinning. I think I could recreate this look using cork squares from any craft store and some paint markers.

Painted Desk
OK I just threw this in for fun. I love this blue desk! Such a happy color. I feel that something in my office will soon be this color. I am not sure what yet, but all inanimate items in my office should consider themselves warned.

Letters
I love letters and words. I love typography and things that are monogrammed. And now that I work in a room surrounded by books from floor to ceiling, Â I cannot imagine a better accessory than the word READ spelled out in some colorful covered letters across the wall.

{images via 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 }

Porch Swings

Sweet Tea

Comfy Seating

Cloth Napkins

Books

Music

Family Pictures

What would you add to the list?

The Table

The Mantle

The Kids’ Craft

The Outfit

The Treat

Frame Vintage Christmas Cards

Mitten Garland

Snow in a Bottle

Tiered Christmas Card Wreath

Peace of Scrabble

Love Around the World

Youâ€™ve Won My Heart

Roll With It

Iâ€™ve Never Felt This Way Before

Love Letters

Queen of Hearts

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