Crafty Texas Girls

8/22/15

Teacher Luncheon + Free Printable

I hosted the annual "Back to School" Teacher Luncheon on Friday. The luncheon is put on each year by the PTA Hospitality Committee. It is a fun way to treat the teachers to a special lunch. The teachers are working so hard to get everything just right for our kiddos- they deserve a yummy lunch!

I had a lot of help this year. I am so thankful, because many hands make for a light load! These ladies and kiddos know how to get things done! Decor- check, food- check!

The theme of luncheon was "The Future is Bright" - so I made these printables for each table. You are free to download a copy and use it for your school too!

Download by clicking here.

The color scheme was black, white and yellow. We used school supplies, butcher paper, fabric, apples, and flowers to decorate. Lunch came from Olive Garden. And let me just say-- they were wonderful to work with. I highly recommend their catering.

The event was a hit with the teachers. I think everyone is ready for the big day! Back to school here we come!

To get the free printable for your school - click here.

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8/17/15

Free Monogram Binder Covers

School starts in one week! We are busy running around this week getting all those 'last minute' details taken care of. All those little things that make for a great start to the year :) A few new outfits, new shoes, and school supplies. My girls both had 'one inch white binders' on their school supply lists.
And as much as I love things that are 'simply white'- we felt like these binders needed to be jazzed up a bit.

Image via @Chicfetti - click here to download your own!

A quick Pinterest search led us to my new favorite site, "Chicfetti Monograms". And friends, let me just say, this site is like the holy grail of monograms. My girls and I scrolled through pages and pages of the cutest monogram prints. Florals, pineapples, polka dots, watermelons, bows! They are all free downloads that can be used for whatever you can dream up. Frame them and give as personalized birthday, baby shower, wedding, or teacher gifts.

Or do what we did, and slide them into the front of a plain white binder.

After downloading the prints, we simply highlighted the letters and replaced them with the letters we chose. Free personalization?! I'll take it. These were so easy to make, we will probably change them out every few months.

Afton May Conner

Maisy Lou Conner

I did sign up for their newsletter in order to download all the prints for free. Which to me- is no big deal. Free downloads and a free newsletter with Chicfetti ideas and printables? Perfect- because I love monograms!! Plus their website is full of fun things to make with their free monograms.

Image via Chicfetti. See how to make your own monogram products at Chicfetti.

Have your kids gone back to school yet? Did you personalize any of their school supplies?

7/29/15

Home Decor Update (Open Concept Floor Plan)

It is really, really hot here now. So each day, we are either in the pool or we are looking for places with cold air conditioning. Which for some reason has given me the 'decor bug' again. I think when you "stop and sit", you tend to see things you want to update :)

Here is the 'AFTER'. Can you spot the update in this room?

And it was on a 'stop and sit' kind of day that I realized how my once-beautiful natural fiber rug in the dining room had begun to disintegrate. I kept trimming and trimming the loose loops, but it seemed that I was loosing a battle with the rug. And if I kept at, eventually it would shrink from a 6x9 rug to a 3x5. So I began shopping around to find a replacement, an affordable replacement.

BEFORE

My sad rug was falling apart!

On top of that, I was on the hunt for a metallic end table for my family room. I wanted to open up the space on the side of the couch a bit more and add some height. The current end table was a hand-me-down and I was ready for a bit of change.

BEFORE

The small table to the side of the couch, imaging something metallic there.

Which brings me back to the whole 'find cool air conditioning' place to hang out... shopping is the perfect activity for a hot, hot day. And while I was beating the heat, I found this beautfiul rug at World Market. And even better it was on sale! On top of that I found a pretty metallic round side table there too- also on sale!

Here is how it all turned out. Little changes make a big difference.

BEFORE

AFTER

And the side table in the family room...

BEFORE

AFTER

Since my floor plan is open concept, all the rooms flow together. Which means that when I update the decor in one room, I get to enjoy it from another room :) And it also means that the decor that is one room has got to 'work' with the decor in the next room. I think the metallic table is a nice touch to the other colors and textures in my home.

Sources
Grey Bordered Chunky Weave Jute Area Rug (6x9 size) on sale for $169
Eden Side Table- on sale for $49

Oh and I also went out to the Nebraska Furniture Mart to look around (and hide from the heat). Lots of good things out there. If you are close by, go check it out. If you are far away, I would preview it online first to see if they have what you are looking for. I will say, I was surprised that they had a lot of "Restoration Hardware" style furniture along with traditional, modern etc. Also their furniture prices seemed great, but the accessories seemed a little high priced to me. I didn't buy anything that day --but I saw lots of things that I really liked :)

Nebraska Furniture Mart- it's big!

These would look pretty on a dining room table.

I thought this table and chair set were so chic.

I would love this in my dining room. The mirrored doors are perfection.

This coffee table and rug-- so pretty!

Hope you are beating the heat and enjoying some 'stop and sit' time in your home!

7/22/15

Easy DIY Tassel Jewelry

I have seen tassel jewelry popping up all over. I think I have 20 different 'tassel' tutorials saved on Pinterest. And in a moment of 'weakness' I actually bought a tassel necklace last year (gasp!! instead of making one!) Because sometimes, it's just waaaaaay easier to B-U-Y than D-I-Y.

But after making these beautiful necklaces at home, I am changing my mind. Making your own tassel jewelry doesn't have to be hard!

Be on trend! Here's how to make your own Tassel Jewelry.

Supplies Needed:

-Embroidery Thread (similar here)

-Beads (similar here)

-Scissors

-Hemp string for necklace (similar here)

-Or choose elastic if making a bracelet (similar here)

1. Cut your string- I used a hemp string for making a necklace. If you are making a bracelet, choose elastic. Make it longer than you think you will need- just in case!

Depending on how thick you want your tassel, you can just slip the string through and make your tassel.

OR- if you want a 'fatter tassel' like I did, then you need to open the embroidery thread package and double the thread over to make loop that is twice as wide but half as long. Now slip your necklace or bracelet string through the loop.

2. Snip off a long piece of the thread, use it wrap around the 'neck' to make a 'head' for the tassel. Tie in a knot to secure.

3. Now snip the bottom and trim to desired length.

4. Add beads and tie the string to finish!

Later, I used elastic string to make a bracelet. I used metallic thread to tie around the tassel- I love how it turned out!

Special thanks to my mom (aka At Home with Jemma!!) and girls for making these with me-- they are my favorite to people to craft with :) It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.