This week’s Try-it Tuesday could be titled so many things it’s not:

“How to use what you already have to spruce up your decorating.”

“How to make duct tape your best friend.”

“How to add color to a coffee filter wreath.”

“How to capture precious moments between your children.”

In the end, though, the point of this post is to show you a little door decorating I did yesterday afternoon, so let me just show you that, and then I’ll (try to) tie in how everything else relates.

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I don’t have a single detail about the coffee filter wreath for you because I made it eons ago before I started blogging, but The Nester has an awesome tute, and it’s really just about the easiest thing in the world if you have some time and a high tolerance for hot glue burns.

I do have a fun little tip for you.

But first, the before:

You may remember this shot of our living room (one of my favorites, for sure). But did you ever notice that white wreath above the window?

So, what about this one?

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Yeah, that’s the same wreath.

So, how did it go from bright white to its current mellow shade?

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Yup, that’s right.

I spray-painted my coffee filters.

I’ve seen all kinds of tutorials for staining your coffee filters with tea, but that always sounded like a lot of work.

So, I decided to put that “everything’s better with spray paint” mantra of mine to the test yet again…

And you know what?

It worked out fantastically!

Just be sure to keep the coats light so the color is evenly distributed and you don’t oversaturate the filter paper.

Oh, and if you’re wondering where the fabric bunting came from, I stole it from the reversible “Love Letters” banner I made a loooooong time ago.

That little project gets around, I tell ya.

It started out here:

And then I framed the letters for the living room wall:

Displayed the reverse side of the bunting over our entryway desk nook:

And now finally attached them to the bottom of the wreath for a bit of oddness whimsy.

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(That black speck is a bee, by the way).

Oh, and if you’re wondering how I a) hung the wreath and b) attached the bunting, the answer would normally be hot glue, but today the quick fix of choice was this:

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How long will it hold up?

Not long, probably.

But I already admitted I’m terrible about seasonal decorating anyway, so it’s really no biggie when it comes down.

And even though the sprucing was kind of fun, it doesn’t even come close to the joy I got from capturing these sweet moments (the two youngest were hanging out on the porch with me while #1 took a nap…and boy did he need it after the knock-down drag-out we had to get through school that morning):

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I took a break from fiddling to rock Della for a while, and then I got up and went back to work.

When I turned around, Simon had climbed up into the rocker, pulled Della up with him, and was gently tilting back and forth as he held her around her tummy.

She loved it.

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Della needs hugs.

Whenever I’m on the couch working, and she’s trundling around playing, every ten minutes or so, she’ll stop what she’s doing, climb on the couch, straddle my lap, and lay her head on my chest.

It’s like she’s refueling.

(And I’ll admit it’s a nice top-up for my love meter too).

So, after a moment or two of rocking with Simon, she wiggled around in his arms until she could straddle his lap and lay her head on his chest, just like she does with me.

I so wish I had gotten the shot where she was facing the camera with her cheek against his shoulder and a huge smile on her face, but the one above is pretty cute too.

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It’s uncanny how much these two look alike.

And it’s a little bit overwhelming sometimes how much I love them both.

Today’s spring door décor: $0.

The fact that my children love each other: PRICELESS.

P.S. I totally forgot to mention it earlier to day (although I crowed about it on our FB page), but Beckie from Knock-off Décor featured my Anthro Candlestick Knock-offs today! Too fun!

I’m linking up with:

Rhoda’s Spring Door Décor Party

and Thrifty Décor Chick’s Spray Paint Party

…and these fun parties:

The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming

Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia  ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse

Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims

Thursday ~ Thursdays are Your Days, Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue

Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can’t Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate

Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride  ~ Lolly Jane

0 Comments

  1. THat is so cute and I really like how you redid something you had just done! Great idea!
    Thanks for linking up this week – hope to see you back this week!
    STacey of Embracing Change

  2. First of all your children are adorable! How resourceful are you?! Re-using parts of crafts previously done and it turned out so pretty. I’ll have to try the spray painted coffee filters looks like you did the hard way! I’m visiting from Inspiration Friday.

  3. Oh my word… my ♥ beat sped up a little… I LOVE! your living room. And that wreath is beautiful! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!! I can’t wait to dive deeper into yours!! – Jaime

  4. Your wreath looks so fluffy! I also especially love both of those banners…I am kind of a sucker for banners! Love your choices of colors in your home…fresh and springy! Visiting via Rhoda’s party today!

  5. If she’s a hugger now, she always will be. Mine is 11, almost 12 and STILL every 30 minutes or so, I get enveloped in a hug. Whether I think I have the time (or patience) for it or not. It’s a very clear reminder that still, I am the Center of his World. I am the post that holds up his tent. I am the mast holding his sails as he charts his course.

    It keeps one humble.

  6. You know, Abbie, as good as it is to know that I can spraypaint a coffee filter wreath, what really thrills me is the photo of Della being rocked by Simon. Almost anyone can spraypaint… But it takes a really special person to raise little people to love each other that much.

    Thank you so much for sharing that image. It’s going to stick with me for a while.

I love hearing from you guys!