Hi, I’m Lisa-mommy to my boys, David, 9 and Matty, 8 and wife to Steve. I create handmade jewelry and love taking pictures. Stick around and get to know us!
this weekend i bought some inexpensive glass candles {plain white} at the grocery store and decided to get creative!
this project is pretty darn easy and very low cost. and the candles placed together makes a great impact!
first i found a font i liked and enlarged it and printed out the word peace. i carefully cut around each letter to create a relief stencil.
then i tore some yellowed pages from an old book and decoupaged them onto the front of the candle.
for decoupage i used two parts white glue to one part water.
once the decoupaged paper was dry, i placed the cut out letter over the candle and carefully sponged black paint over the letter. then i extended the black paint to create a box shape. once i covered the area with black paint i removed the cut out letter.
with a few snowflakes and a vintage frame, it makes for a simple, pretty winter display.i can’t believe next week is thanksgiving and then christmas is right around the corner. i’m so excited i can hardly stand it! we’ll put up our christmas tree right after thanksgiving. when do you put your tree up?
my mom was in town a couple weeks ago {come back mom, we love having you here!} and she wanted to decoupage pumpkins. we were inspired by country living magazine. also, check out this darling post on decoupage pumpkins {also inspired by country living!}
we used fake pumpkins from michaels and modge podge, plaid napkins, and toile and floral wrapping paper. using modge podge on both sides of the wrapping paper helped to soften it up and adhere to the pumpkins better.once covered completely, they needed a few hours to dry. so easy!
they found a home on my mantel alongside some gathered branches, real pumpkins and books. now the fireplace looks so pretty and fallish! as far as using the fireplace? well it’s supposed to be 94* here today, so i think we’ll wait a bit. what’s fall decor is inspiring you right now?On Saturday morning I made our usual chocolate chip pancakes, but this breakfast was extra special because I set the table for fall and used these darling chalkboard placemats.
Leslie sent me a set and they are so fun! The chalkboards are so smooth and erase nicely. I drew a different fall-ish picture on each placemat.
In the center of the table I put a few pumpkins, apples and fresh flowers. Super simple, but it made it feel special–and it made it feel like fall!
I know kids would love to decorate their own placemats too. So fun!
You can buy your own chalkboard placemats here. Love it!Do you have any special dishes or traditions to make a meal feel special every now and then?
i was at my local target last week when i spotted these flats. At $14.99 a pair, i grabbed both black and brown. After I got home, I decided to spice them up just a little bit.
I used olive green velvet ribbon and some small jewels from our local craft store to give the black pair a little personality. A quick dry adhesive worked perfectly. Just make sure to keep any embellishments above the crease when toes are flexed–this will help ensure they stay put.
I think they were cute before–but makes them a bit more unique.
For the brown pair, I added a bit of burlap and a brown velvet bow.
Still casual–with just a little more personality.And the price was just right!Are you working on any fun projects right now?
do you love succulents?
mix all dry ingredients:
5 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup wheat chex cereal {crushed}
for nuts below i used a nut chopped to crush them into smaller pieces}
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup peacans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
for the glaze, mix the following ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat until smooth
2 cups splenda
1/4 cup agave nectar
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 stick butter
salt to taste
cinnamon to taste
pour sauce over dry ingredients and mix well. sprinkle granola onto baking sheet and bake at 350* for 10-15 minutes or until golden. serve with yogurt and fresh berries.
what was the last yummy thing you whipped up in the kitchen?
hello friends! remember this bathrooom makeover?
well, i was absolutely thrilled when cottages and bungalows magazine asked if they could feature it in there magazine. i seriously love this magazine! i’ve been pouring over the pages. it’s surreal to see our bathroom in there. i showed matthias, but he didn’t seem overly impressed. but it’s exciting to me! there are lots of great projects and inspiration. such a pretty mag. thank you cottages and bungalows for featuring our bathroom makeover! we’re doing a giveaway! three lucky winners will each get a copy of the current issue and an oval wall hanging–customized with your own phrase and your choice of ribbon color!all you need to do is hop over to cottages and bungalows and ‘like’ their facebook page. and hey, leave them a comment and tell them lisa leonard sent you!
then leave a comment below and tell us how you would spend $100 in your home for a fast, easy facelift. we’ll randomly choose a winner in the next couple days. good luck!
we were able to grab a super quick dinner with my sister at new home a few weeks ago. they recently moved and chrissie has made such a beautiful home for her family.
she’s exceptional at creating collages of photos, frames and paintings. i am so inspired!
we found this metal peacock at a thrift store for $2. it was a fairly hideous copper color with irridescent feathers. she spray painted it aqua and gave it new life.
she also likes to have pops of red throughout her home. i love this vintage scale and fresh produce.the pic on the left is another collage and on the right is their cute pup.
a collection of vintage ‘R’s’ make a playful display in the kitchen. i love this leather chair with pretty pillows.
books, books, books–can you tell they’re a family who loves to read??
i would describe her home as warm and inviting with lots of dark wood and natural light. it’s vintage mixed with new and filled with art and photos. it’s peaceful and spacious and full of love.i love your home, sis!
supplies…lots of fun paper {i used scrapbook paper that was already a large square}, large, fun brads, scissors, dowels or wooden skewers, wire or hot glue to attach to stick.
1. start with a square2. fold in half diagonally
3. then fold diagonally again
4. snip off the very tip {just a tiny bit to create a hole in the center of the square}
5.unfold
6. cut just over half way up each fold
7. punch a hold on right side of each cut
8.gather four holes together and place a brad through all four
9. push brad through hole in center of square
10. fasten brad on reverse side
11. use two sheets of paper, back to back for double printed pinwheels
12. attach skewer or dowel to back of pinwheel with wire or glue gun
you’re done. so easy! these would make such a cute centerpiece for a summer party. or they would be sweet lining a pathway too!
