DAY 1: Unexpected Wreath DIY Ideas

September 28, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 1 of my 50 DIY Days: 21 Unexpected Wreath DIY Ideas

It’s almost my favorite time of the year, Fall and Winter, and I cannot wait to get ready for the holidays and wearing cozy sweaters. Even though I love wreaths on my door throughout the whole year, I enjoy a Fall and Winter holiday wreath the most. This collection of 21 unexpected wreath DIY ideas is full of inspiration that will get you ready for the holiday season.

If you want to check out all 21 wreaths with their DIY links, head on over to the original Better Homes and Gardens blog post.

Are you wondering what the 50 DIY Days is? Each year I share a bunch of holiday DIY ideas to inspire crafting during the Fall. Starting now, through early December, you’ll find a ton of great ideas to get you ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any sort of holiday gift giving. You can check out this link to explore past DIY Days.

– Chelsey, The Paper Mama

P.S. I am a paid contributor for the Better Homes and Gardens Style Spotters Blog. The photos from the first image are from: Strut, Flamingo Toes, The Black Bird Blog, A Beautiful Mess, HP Create, Design Fixation, You Are My Fave, BHG Style Spotters, The Paper Mama, Martha Stewart, Inspired By Charm, Craft Stylish, The Sweet Escape, Cleverly Inspired, and The Paper Mama.

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Tags: christmas, wreath

Categories: 50 DIY Days, BHG, favorite blogs

Portland Eats: Trifecta Tavern & Bakery

September 24, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Today I’m sharing another favorite Portland Eats: Trifecta Tavern & Bakery.

Found in SE Portland, Trifecta is the creation of Portland’s Ken Forkish (the guy behind Ken’s Artisan Bakery and Pizza). Bread is fresh, butter is made in restaurant (and it’s worth the $3 you pay for it), and the food is good. If you’re a lover of shellfish, you’ll find something on the menu here (this includes the oyster bar). If you want to skip the seafood, that’s not a problem. There’s also a wide variety of VERY yummy menu items that will meet the needs for the person that prefers their food to come from dry land. You don’t have to be rich to enjoy the food here. The bar menu is perfect and low cost and if you make it there in time, enjoy the great deals from the happy hour menu. The dinner menu is equally delicious, but it will cost you a bit more. Since I’m pregnant I didn’t get to enjoy the drink menu, but my husband and family assure me the beer is bubbly and the wine is perfect.

I’ve wandered over to Trifecta twice now and our table has tried the: Pimento Cheese Spread (on the delicious bread), Deviled Eggs, Wood Grilled Corn, Oyster’s Trifecta, Brioche Oyster Bun, Steak Frites, Confit Duck Leg, Pimento Double Cheeseburger and Fries, hot fudge sundae, peach pie, and mint chocolate ice cream bar (this was insanely good). I swear there was more than just me eating all that food.

If you find yourself in SE Portland and you need some nourishment, I highly recommend giving Trifecta Tavern & Bakery a try. The staff is friendly and the food is good.

To check out Trifecta Tavern’s site and menu (and all the tasty photos), head on over to their site.

– Chelsey

If you’d like to check out more of my favorite places to wander to in Portland, head on over to my Portland page.

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Tags: oregon, restaurant

Categories: local love, portland

Homemade Granola (with no refined sugars) in Yogurt

September 22, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

A couple of years ago I really wanted a granola that was NOT full of refined sugars and my hope was to find something store bought (so I didn’t have to spend the time to make it), but I did not find what I was looking for. SO, that’s why I came up with my Homemade Granola recipe and it’s been a staple breakfast item in our home ever since. For anyone that’s looking for a super sugary sweet granola this might not be for you. It’s very lightly sweetened with honey and applesauce and I love it (when I’m not pregnant I don’t really have a sweet tooth). If you do have a bit of a sweet tooth, you can always add MORE honey to the recipe to kick up the sweetness, but that’s totally up to you (extra honey can be added after cooking my recipe below).

I’ve already shared this recipe on my blog (the original post is here), but it’s been a couple of years and since I love it so much I wanted to share it again… especially since I’ve been eating it like crazy with this pregnancy (it makes my pregnant/starving belly happy).

Homemade Granola (with no refined sugars)

– 7 cups old fashioned oats

– 1 1/2 cups of slivered almonds (optional: food processor them for less crunch)

– 1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds (optional: food processor them for less crunch)

– 1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

– 3 Tablespoons of cinnamon

– 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

– 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

– 3 tablespoons pure vanilla (check the ingredients, most vanilla has corn syrup added…)

– 1 1/2 cups of no sugar added applesauce

– 1/4 cup honey

Directions:

– Set your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and blend. You wont the granola just barely moist. Add a bit of applesauce if it seems too dry (blend really well, get the wet ingredients mixed in well).

Place the granola in a 1/2 inch thick layer on 2 cookie pans (make sure the pans have sides, so the granola doesn’t slide off). Bake the granola in the oven for 40 – 50 minutes. Mixing up the granola blend every ten minutes. This will help the granola to cook evenly, and hopefully not burn. The outer pieces of granola will probably cook faster. This recipe made enough to fill two 24 ounce jars and one 12 ounce jar.

When you’re done, let the granola cool and then store in your favorite jar! OR, give these away as gifts for your buddies. You can also add raisins or other dried fruits to the mix, after it’s done cooking. My kid likes raisins and banana chips in the granola.

My favorite way to enjoy this Homemade Granola (with no refined sugars) is with one part yogurt and 2 parts unsweetened applesauce (and a pinch of cinnamon). Blend it all together, add some fruit, and you have a delicious, quick, and healthy breakfast!

I want to see your creations: Share what your making with me on Instagram. It could be one of my DIY’s, or any project you’re working on. Be sure to mention me @thepapermama on Instagram and use the hashtag #papermamafriends so I can find it!

– Chelsey

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Tags: breakfast

Categories: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, food

12 Halloween DIY Door Decor Ideas

September 16, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

I know what you’re thinking, “Really, Halloween stuff already?” Yup! Time will fly by real fast now that September is here (trust me). I have to start Halloween prep this month if I want to be ready by October 31st. I still need to make a door decoration, start my daughter’s costume, and get going on some pumpkin decorating. I know I don’t have to do all this… but I want to and I do enjoy crafting these Halloween decorations.

To get myself ready and inspired for Halloween this year, I found 12 Halloween DIY Door Decor Ideas from some lovely bloggers around the web. I haven’t quite decided if I’m making a wreath or just decorating the whole door. We shall see.

1) Transform your door into a mummy, on East Coast Creative.

2) Don’t eat all the candy corn, save some to make this sweet wreath, on Spearmint Baby.

3) Use an old frame and some yarn to make this spiderweb door hanging, on Dana Made It.

4) Create this Googly Eyes Halloween Wreath, on No. 2 Pencil.

5) This spooky spider web from a medallion, on A Night Owl.

6) Grab that black paper and make this cute Halloween Bat Wreath, on BHG.

7) Spray painting these flowers black really makes this a Halloween Wreath, on Martha Stewart.

8) This giant monster eye will definitely scare the kiddos, on The Paper Mama.

9) Loving this black and white striped wreath with a paper skeleton head, on Better Homes and Gardens.

10) I really think I’ll be making this Nevermore wreath this year, I love it. On Katydid and Kid.

11) Use some removable sticky dots to attach large googly eyes to your door, on Craftaholics Anonymous.

12) Skip a wreath and make this sparkly Boo Sign instead, on The Pinning Mama.

Guys, I want to see your creations! Share what your making with me on Instagram. It could be one of my DIY’s, or a project you’re working on. Share with my IG account @thepapermama and use the hashtag #papermamafriends.

– Chelsey

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Tags: halloween

Categories: favorite blogs

Backyard Studio Inspiration Board + Contest

September 14, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Backyard Studio Inspiration // Edison String Lights // Acapulco Side Chair // Outdoor Concrete Table DIY for Under $15 // Diamond Pink Outdoor Rug // Carmen Stacking Chair // You Are My Sunshine Outdoor Pillow // Striped Outdoor Pillow // Nick Nelson Outdoor Pillow // Nichiha Fiber Cement Siding // Masonite Vista Grande Doors //

Our home is pretty small and working from home these past few years has worked, but it’s been a bit tight. My current work space is our dining room table and I hate how messy it can get. I’ve been wanting a space I can leave messy for a day or two, and close the door to hide the mess. Ha! It’s a dream.

Since our home is small (and we’re already getting ready to squeeze a second baby into this house), I have wanted to build a backyard studio for myself. It’s been a dream for years now and my husband and I are finally at a spot in our life where we can make this come true! In the next month we will be tearing down our really old (and almost falling down) detached garage, and replacing it with a beautiful backyard studio. We will be building this dream space ourselves, so I’m expecting we will be working on this space though to the Spring. BUT, when it’s done it will be amazing.

In the photo above you can find some inspiration for the outside of my studio (I’ll be sharing the indoor studio inspiration later). This space will have some beautiful siding from Nichiha, and double Vista Grande doors from Masonite to let all that light in (See below to find out how you can win your own set of VistaGrande doors this month). We will also have a little mini porch, with chairs and decoration, to hang out in front of the studio on our days off. I cannot wait to get started. Keep an eye out because I’ll be sharing studio progress reports here on the blog.

On to the contest:

Enter Masonite’s Take Back Your View Contest for a chance to win amazing prizes, including up to two all-new VistaGrande doors from Masonite, specially designed to bring the outside in.

Upload your photos here between now and September 30th, then encourage your friends and family to vote for your entry on Facebook starting October 1st. The 25 entries with the most votes qualify to be one of 15 lucky winners. Masonite will then judge the top 15 entries, awarding five grand prize winners up to two VistaGrande doors of their dreams! Another 10 winners will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Winners will be announced on October 27th.

Good luck you guys, lots of prizes to win!

– Chelsey

P.S. I was not paid for this blog post. Masonite is providing a set of Vista Grande doors and Nichiha is providing the siding for the backyard studio project.

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Tags: giveaway, studio

Categories: announcement, paper mama house

Outdoor Drink Holder DIY

September 10, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

I love sitting outside with a delicious drink out in the yard, but I don’t like holding any drinks in my hand (and they tip over if I set it in the grass). I do have a couple outdoor tables, but they are very heavy and awkward to move around. And this is why my outdoor drink holder diy, that I made for the HP Create blog, is so lovely. They are easier to store and move around the yard than a table. These would also be perfect to take with you on a camping trip.

Supplies you will need to create this Outdoor Drink Holder DIY:

One wide mouth tin can (I used coffee tins)
¼” – 20” x 36” threaded rod
Two ¼” hex nuts
Two ¼” washers
¼” drill bit
¼ yard of cute vinyl tablecloth fabric
½ inch wide ribbon
Hot glue
Drink holder printable
Art Plaster mix
Colorful acrylic paint (I used satin Martha Stewart paint)
Clear acrylic sealing spray (optional)

Directions:

STEP 1: Clean up your tin can with soap and water, then dry completely. In the center on the bottom of the can, mark the can with a marker in the center. Use your ¼” drill bit to drill a hole in the bottom.

STEP 2: Measure the can from top to bottom. Then measure around the center (add a ½” to this measurement so the fabric can overlap a bit). Cut out a strip of vinyl tablecloth fabric to fit the outside of the can.

STEP 3: Use hot glue to adhere the vinyl tablecloth piece around the can.

STEP 4: Print out the free Drink Holder Printable onto the cardstock paper. Pick out the printable you want on your drink holder, and trim it to the same height of your can. Use the hot glue to adhere the trimmed printable over the vinyl fabric seam. Optional: now that you have glued the printable onto the can, I’d suggest applying a couple coats of clear acrylic sealer to the paper. This will help protect it from liquids (apply the spray in a well ventilated space, preferably outside). Let the spray dry completely.

STEP 5: Trim two pieces of ribbon to the same height as the can. Use the hot glue gun to adhere the ribbon pieces over the edges of the glued on printable.

STEP 6: Screw one nut onto the threaded rod down about 1.5 inches. Place one washer over the nut, then place the can over the washer (through the hole you drilled). Put the second washer and then the nut onto the threaded rod inside of the can. Tighten the nuts to secure the can.

STEP 7: Mix a small amount of the ArtPlaster (following the directions on the packaging). When the mixture is ready to pour, pour it into the bottom of the can. Tap the bottom of the threaded rod on the ground to get any bubbles out of the plaster. The plaster should cover up the nut and washer to create a flat base when it’s dry. When the plaster is dry, apply a couple coats of the acrylic paint. When the paint is dry you can add a couple coats of clear acrylic sealer spray (in a well ventilated space, preferably outside) to the inside of the can to seal the paint and plaster. Let dry completely. Tip #1: this Outdoor Drink Holder DIY is not 100% waterproof. Be sure to move this drink holder inside when you’re not using it outside. This will keep it nice!

When you’re finished, head outside and push this drink holder in the ground next to a favorite chair. Sit back and relax with your drink nearby!

– Chelsey

P.S. I’m a paid contributor for the HP Create blog.

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Tags: outdoor, printable

Categories: diy, For The Outdoors, HP

Roasting Stick DIY

September 8, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Summer is not over yet! There’s still some nice weather hanging around to give you a chance to enjoy a lovely evening by the fire. And, you know what goes perfect with a lovely evening by the fire? S’mores. OH man, they are so good and are definitely a pregnancy craving. So, a while back I made these really cute roasting sticks DIY and shared them on the HP Create blog. As a kid, we would use branches for roasting over the fire. My roasting sticks are so much better than a branch. They can be cleaned, are reusable, and pretty cute.

Supplies needed to create this Roasting Stick DIY:

Stainless Steel Wire – Four ⅛” x 36”
Saral Transfer Paper
Round dowel – 1” x 36” (this will be cut into four 6” sections)
Long drill bit – ⅛”
Black acrylic paint (I used Martha Stewart paints with a satin finish)
Four colorful acrylic paints (I used Martha Stewart paints with a satin finish)
Free Roasting Stick Printable
Pencil
Painter’s tape
Fine point paintbrush and ½” (or larger) paintbrush

Directions:

STEP 1: Cut the rounded dowel into four 6” sections. In one end of each dowel, use the long ⅛” inch long drill bit to drill a hole into the end. Tip #1: we used a compound miter saw to cut up the dowels, but you can get these cut at the store you buy them from, or carefully cut them with a hand saw.

STEP 2: Mix together a tiny drop of the black paint with a bit of water. This will make the black paint sort of a wash. Brush the black paint wash all over the four sections of dowels and let dry completely. Tip #2: I wanted to use a wash so I could still see the wood grain on the dowel.

STEP 3: Print and cut out the Roasting Stick Printable, or make your own. I created 6 different words you can add to the roasting stick, but you don’t have to use them. Maybe your roasting sticks have a name on them? To trace the word onto the dowel, tape the saral paper (color side down) onto the spot you want the word to go. Tape the word over the Saral paper on the spot you’d like the word to go. Use your pencil to trace the word onto the dowel. The Saral paper transfers the word onto the dowel so you can paint over it!

STEP 4: It’s painting time! Using the fine point paintbrush, carefully paint over the word you just traced onto the dowel with white paint. Let the paint dry completely.

STEP 5: On the drilled end of the dowel, tape off a little section of the dowel (I taped off about 1.5 inches). Grab some colorful paint and your larger paintbrush. Paint on a couple coats of the colorful paints onto the end of the dowel. Let dry completely then remove the painter’s tape.

STEP 6: Grab a finished dowel handle and one stainless steel wire. Push the wire into the drilled hole. To get the dowel all the way into the hole, tap the end of the dowel onto the ground a few times. Tip #3: The hole is tight enough that it should just hold the steel wire in place. If you want to really secure it, you can use some wood/metal glue.

You’re ready to start cooking with your homemade roasting sticks. Just be sure to clean the steel wire after each use with soap and water.

Total cost to make 4 – 6 roasting sticks: under $20. I only made four roasting sticks for our family, but with the supplies you buy for my tutorial you have enough to make 6. That’s a pretty good deal.

– Chelsey

P.S. I’m a paid contributor for the HP Create blog.

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Tags: printable, summer

Categories: diy, For The Outdoors, HP