July 15, 2017
Hello and welcome to The Craine’s Nest! Thanks for dropping by!
Today, I hope to inspire with a quick and easy DIY for your record collection… the one that’s been hanging around your house, looking for somewhere to go, and collecting dust… you know that one!
June 1, 2017
Welcome to the Craine’s Nest!
Lately, I’ve been dreaming about Summer. Mostly the cooler, younger summers of my teen years spent on the Central Coast of California. I filled many an afternoon hanging out with friends, getting beautifully bronzed via baby oil (it was the 80’s, what can I say?!!!), and swimming in the salty ocean water. Not a care in the world… it was REALLY fun and sort of heavenly. Free as a bird and completely oblivious- you really don’t realize that kind of freedom ’til it’s gone, do you?!!! Soft warm sand, gentle ocean waves, seagulls flying free… I have sweet and happy memories of those sun-kissed days!
April 19, 2017
Hi there and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!
Today, I’ll be showing you a modern take on gift wrapping that’s perfect for your Spring Occasion. Whether your heading to a wedding, baby shower, or birthday party, you’ll be able to find something in this variety of wrapping options, that works for you. From bohemian to romantic to beachy, these gift wraps are beautiful and unique.
My usual practice is to grab something right before a party, throw it in a bag with some tissue paper, and call it a day… but, I do love wrapping presents (especially if I’m not rushed!), and I had fun creating these packages. Painting the wrap and making the boxes would be a great afternoon project to do with the kids, and if you’re an organized-planner-type, you can do it ahead of time. It’s always nice to have things on hand when you need them. Done in advance or on the spot, you’ll find that even the most practical person, really appreciates a beautifully wrapped gift!
Giving a thoughtfully wrapped present creates a bit of ceremony. The person receiving the gift knows you took the time to make it special, and in turn, takes just a little more time to appreciate it. It’s a “stop and smell the roses” opportunity. Also, having a beautiful package available for a gift to inhabit, might just inspire and motivate you to buy that present ahead of time, instead of rushing to get it at the very last minute!
March 12, 2017
Welcome to the Craine’s Nest!
Spring is here! It’s fresh, it’s clean, and even in Sunny San Diego, where it’s beautiful all year round, Spring feels different. There’s no sign yet, of Summer’s hazy gray smog or 95 degree days. Spring is blue skies and a relaxing breeze. It’s comfort and renewal.
So, to celebrate flowers, green grass, and a breath of fresh air, here are some unique and adorable DIY Nest Egg Planters… and just in time for Easter!
January 3, 2017
Hi there and Happy New Year!
It’s 2016 and I’m excited to start a new year! January means it’s time to put away the Holiday goods and refresh! Everyone is organizing, cleaning out, and throwing away… and there’s nothing quite like getting rid of ALL that junk, to clear your mind, and pave the way for new ideas. If you’re lucky, while scouring and purging, you may run across a few old things that seem new and interesting again. Finally, you have the perfect idea for that tacky goat’s head coat hanger you bought ages ago! I KNEW I could do something with this thing… and I’ve had lots of ideas for it along the way. First, I was simply going to paint it, and hang it on the wall. But that was too boring. Then I was going to decoupage strips of a white and gold Moroccan paper that I found at World Market, and hang it on a balsa wood backdrop. I think that would’ve been really pretty, but I never got around to it. Finally, after leaning it up against a terracotta planter, to move it out of the way while cleaning, I realized that was it! Serendipity!
So, here is my DIY Goat Planter. It was seriously easy to put together, and ended up being the perfect accessory for the empty space in my bookshelf. A little gold (or whatever color you choose), a little greenery, and voila! You’ve got an adorable Mid- Century-esque accent to brighten your home… and in this month of the goat, what could be a more perfect birthday gift for a Capricorn? Problem solved. You’re welcome.
This DIY is so simple, that once you have everything you need, it can be done in about an hour. Let’s get going!
October 9, 2016
Welcome back to my last Spooky Skeleton Post! This will round out the series. I’ve had fun making these creations, and I hope you’ve been inspired by them! In this post, I will be making 2 sets of Skeleton Serving Spoons.
This project is a snap, so let’s get these little guys ready for your Halloween soiree!
October 7, 2016
Hi there and welcome back! Happy Halloween!
Today, I’ll show you how to make this Ice Bath Skeleton Party Bucket. This is the third in my Halloween DIY Skeleton Series, and the second of my Skeleton Party Buckets. It’s SUPER simple to create, and a great edition to the first Ship of Fools Skeleton Party Bucket. If you’re having a Halloween gathering, these little guys will make your house Party-Ready!
All you need for this VERY easy Halloween DIY is:
That’s everything! Simple! Hopefully you have some of these things left over from the last project… let’s get rollin’!
October 5, 2016
Hi there and welcome back for the second creation in my Halloween DIY Skeleton Series! This DIY is fun, simple, and quick, so for those of you who like instant gratification, this is your project!
The Ship of Fools Skeleton Party Bucket can be used for ice and drinks, candy, or treat bags… just a few ideas on the menu! It holds about 3/4 of a bag of ice and 3 or 4 beers (if you really squish ’em in). Of course it can be used for soda, water, or treats!
October 3, 2016
Hi there and Happy Halloween!!! I can’t believe it’s that time again!
I LOVE Halloween because it’s the gateway to the holidays, and it represents Fall, with all of its beautiful, warm colors and rustic scents. I also love that you can go crazy with spooky decorations… anything goes at Halloween! Some go for the really cutesy decor. Some get really creepy and some are just a happy medium, but I think that anything is allowed. You can go tacky, or elegant, but the goal of this holiday, is to have FUN! I appreciate the houses that go really nuts, because those are the ones that make this holiday what it is- spooky, thrilling entertainment- and sheer joy for my 8 year old son!
This season, I’ve made a tray that is ghostly, ghastly, and just a little bit elegant, to add to my growing collection of Halloween paraphernalia (to see my album of Halloweens, Past and Present, click here). This will be the first in a series of Spooky Skeleton Halloween Crafts that I’m rolling out. This particular tray, the first in the series, can be used for food and drink, as a candle display, or anything else your heart desires! It’s adorable in a spooky skeleton sort of way. Festive and fun. Very Halloweeny!
September 3, 2016
Hi again and welcome to my second post! I’m so happy you’re back!
This is a follow up, to walk you through the making of the Ombre Wood Backdrop, for the Mid Century Sunburst. The Sunburst looks beautiful on it’s own, but on our tall, white, rental walls, it just sort of gets lost! As renters, we’re not supposed to paint our walls, so I have to find innovative ways to make our space more exciting. Don’t get me wrong… for all of its flaws and many a year of renters’ grime, it’s a great house. It’s a 1959 A-frame with a wood beamed ceiling, and a giant white brick fireplace in the living room. The kitchen is semi-open to the living room which is AWEsome, because I can cook AND watch my crazy (and adorable) 2 year-old daughter run all over the place! I also have a very energetic and wonderful 9 year-old son, who just started 4th grade.
Our living space is small, but feels much bigger than it actually is. When they built this house in 1959, the idea of the “great room” or the “multipurpose room”, as it was once called, was just catching on. The theme is not fully integrated here, but it’s a well-thought-out, small-version-attempt at the Mid Century idea, made popular by Joseph Eichler in the 50’s and 60’s.
The main wall in our living room, rises up to meet the A-frame, which is where your eye goes, right when you enter the house. I needed a fairly large piece of art to go between my bookshelves and above the TV. It’s basically the media center of the room, so my goal was to take the focus off of the television and electronics. We live in about 1300 sq ft of space, in total, which includes 3 tiny bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Our living room houses all that we do. We don’t have any extra playrooms or media rooms. I try to fit everything in, while still keeping the look uncluttered and pretty. My goal was to place the spotlight on one beautiful piece, that would pull your attention away from the chaos, while still providing a useful station.
And this is what I came up with!
