Established Name Sign

Since before the hubs and I were married I have been in love with these established signs that you can find on etsy. I just always thought they would be the perfect wedding gift, and I always thought I could make one instead of spending 50 bucks for someone else to make it and then pay shipping. So, I found the shape wood that I wanted at Hobby Lobby for $6.99, I had paint leftover from a paint sample, and I bought vinyl and transfer paper from Hobby Lobby.

I painted my wood with the paint and while it dried, I cut out our last name on the vinyl using the cricut, and then cut out our established date. I have never cut vinyl before with the cricut and did not really know what I was doing to be honest. So to make it easier on myself I left out the transfer paper but next time I think the transfer paper will ensure a straighter more even line. But c'est la vie. I still love the way it turned out!

all painted and trying to figure out the placement

and still working on placement 

( I originally wanted to put our wedding date but was having trouble with placement so I stuck with 2011)

I removed the backing on the vinyl and rubbed them onto the wood sign, just like a sticker. I LOVE the way it turned out and I wanted to find the perfect place to display it. I decided to put it on our entry way shelf. It looks fab, check it out....

Thanks for reading! :)

Monogram Door Decor

Spring is just around the corner, and although it only got into the high 50's the sun was shining this weekend and I was itching to freshen up some of our outdoor space, mainly our entry way. What better way to spruce it up than with a new wreath. Well, I am kinda burnt out on making wreaths so I decided to take a new twist on the tired old door wreath and make what I am calling my monogram door decor. Check it out

I bought the B (sorry no before pictures) from Hobby Lobby for $1.99. It was just plain mdf so I decided to grab some jute and wrap it. I knew I wanted to make flowers to put on it and I had planned on making my own, but I came across these on clearance for a buck! So I took that shortcut and I am glad I did, wrapping the B was a bit more tedious then I thought. I hot glued the jute to the B as I was wrapping, so it took a little bit of time. It probably took me 30 minutes to wrap it.

I had the brown ribbon in my ribbon collection, but I am sure that you could find your own ribbon at a very affordable price. I cut two strips of ribbon and hot glued them to the back of the B and then tied them around my hook and made a bow.

I rearranged the the front and decided to bring the owl that was inside out and it was the missing piece. Now you are greeted by this inviting entrance when walking up to my house.

Thanks for reading! :)

Bridal Shower Cake Gift

The hubs recently traveled down south and attended a shower for our really good friends who are getting married in April. I felt bad that I couldn't go but I really enjoyed having the house to myself for a few days and spending as much time as I wanted crafting away...He decided Friday at dinner that he was going and we hadn't picked up a gift or anything, but I was determined to not let him attend empty handed...that is a no-no! So, we dashed over to TJ Maxx after dinner and then ran into Michaels and I had everything I needed to put together this master piece.

I had recently pinned some similar projects and I thought that it would be easy enough to whip together, and I was right. It probably took me 30 minutes to assemble, and my hubs felt like a stud because of all the compliments he got, of course he gave me credit though ;). It was a win.

My main inspiration came from  Aly & Ash tea towel cake. I followed her directions for the structure of the cake. I bought a poster board and cut it into 2 strips and rolled them and hot glued them to a cake mat. I wrapped the towels around each piece and pinned them in the back to keep them together. I wrapped a ribbon around the bottom, and with my cricut I cut out their initials and hot glued them to the ribbon. I placed the utensils around the cake, and I was lucky enough to come across this adorable miniature dessert stand, it can hold a 8" cake.

Here are some more pictures.

The hubs added the frog salt and pepper shakers. He insisted on getting them because the groom loves frogs. They added the perfect amount of color pop to the cake. 

I couldn't be happier with the outcome of the cake, I can not wait to make another one. This would be great a great gift for any shower and it did not take any time at all to put together!

Thanks for reading! :)

Getting Back On The Wagon

Happy Sunday everyone!! I must admit I feel terribly guilty for abandoning my blog for a month! But sometimes, life gets in the way. But my sweet hubby reminded me how much he enjoyed my blog and how much everyone else does and that really gave me the extra encouragement I needed to get back to it! I have some awesome new projects that I can not wait to share with everyone...

But here's a little bit of what I have been up to..

We recently expanded our family by adopting an adorable, wild, crazy beagle puppy. His name is Zoubek (the hubs named him after a Duke basketball player, and I agreed because I thought Zoe and Zoubek sounded cute together) and he is a 7 month old beagle, and is absolutely adorable...

He is a BIG handful but now that he has started to adapt and learn the ways of our household I will feel more comfortable spending more time with my lovely readers and with The Inspired Collection...

My husband and I went to our first Duke game together, and they pulled out a WIN! Which was amazing, it was such a blessing to be able to experience that together. 

We have celebrated a few birthdays, and the hubs is turning the BIG 3-0 on Friday and I have a few surprises in store for him!

Special thanks to all of my followers, friends and family for all of your positive comments and for encouraging me to get back in the swing of things! For awhile after being so busy at work and sitting at a computer all day I was having trouble trying to find my inspiration to come home and sit at the computer more...but now I realize that my inspiration is my readers, and this is my release!! So THANK YOU everyone...

Stay tuned I have some very AMAZING projects this week! 

Thanks for reading! :)