Easter mantel in green and yellow

I designed this brand-new Easter mantel by "shopping the house" and making use of the chalkboard frames I originally intended for a gallery* (another project started before baby dude was born and just finished!). So I started out with using an old window frame, draped some fabric across it, added the metal cross I love but haven't found the perfect spot for. Then I filled things in with my beloved milk glass plus some other glass from my collection. And a nest! What would spring decorating be without nests! Hee. This particular nest was green grass when my mom found it but now it has dried to a pretty butter yellow shade. You might not be able to see it well in this photo, but there's a vintage mustard jar on the far right that has a smiling yellow sunshine on the lid. So cute!

Speaking of nests, they of course pop up over on my shelves. As does the milk glass and the color yellow to keep the the spring theme going. Now, something funny for you, doesn't the nest perched on the one lower vase look like hair? Hee!

*I am having second thoughts about where I intended to hang these. I think they would have gotten knocked off the wall by kids busting in with backpacks. So for now, they are going to be mine all mine for decorating here and there as I wish. Discussion has begun afresh about painting various wall(s) with chalkboard paint! The kids are all about it!

show me some spring…

…on your shelf, that is!

Simple collection of yellow and Easter themed items – saved cards, my silly ceramic chicks, a stuffed bunny, and a bit of a bird's nest.

And of course a whole shelf devoted to my nest collection – hee!

belated Easter eggs

We did not do our eggs until well after Easter. But we still did them! The little ladies chose a princess decorating kit, of course. And now the eggs seem like a special treat for breakfast. Who doesn't desire pretty pastel princess eggs for breakfast!

I have no special methods to offer, at least for this year. I did make a photocopy of instructions on making natural dyes from the book Naturally Fun Parties for Kids; Creating Handmade, Earth-Friendly Celebrations for All Seasons and Occasions. I really want to try such a thing but we just haven't yet. Maybe next year.

Easter basket upgrade

Similar to the way I decorated my older daughter's basket long ago, I am now beautifying a basket for my younger daughter.

Before – your basic thrifted treasure. If there is one thing that is plentiful at thrift stores it is baskets:

Painting with older sister's help. I just used some extra house paint from the basement:

Some fabric on the inside along with some strips of fabric scraps as "grass" on the inside:

Other uses for Easter egg dyes?

We got all done dying Easter eggs this year and the full cups of dye sitting there unused but for a single egg seemed like such a waste to me. A quick google search confirmed that other people had used the dye for fabric. So I cut up an old t-shirt and gave it a try.

"Now what?" you ask. Very good question.

If anyone has used the dye for something interesting or knows of a crafty blogger who has, please share with us!

Easter basket!

Basket & napkins: thrifted treasures
Easter grass: fabric scraps!
Eggs: basic dye (perhaps more creativity next year)

one person's trash...

...is another person's treasure!

We have an on-going treasure hunt in the breakroom at work. If you have something you don't want, put it on the first table and someone is bound to take it. A drink powder you didn't like? Overnight diapers? A purse? A sweater? Put it out there! I myself have contributed a wooden picnic basket. It didn't even last 10 minutes. We're a thrifty bunch, us librarian types.

Today's treasures are some vintage chicks for Easter decorating. I snatched them right up. They're just old enough that they've earned the title "vintage" as opposed to "clutter." Now I have visions of gathering up lots of ceramic chicks and clustering them in high places or marching them across the mantle. It could be an amusing springtime display!