Nursery Project #3 ~ Numbered Burlap Baskets

Hello, lovely friends!

I have been working on too many nursery projects to even count. I am trying to post them in order, not that it even matters, but I like to be organized.

I found these super cute burlap baskets on Pick your Plum. 

Do you follow Pick your Plum on Facebook? You can find their page here. You can also sign up to get their e-mails about their daily deals here. If you don't already you really should check it out! I have been 100% satisfied with everything that I've ordered from their site! Everything is super affordable and cute! These jute baskets cost me $3.95 a piece + $5.95 for shipping & handling. A total of $29.65 for 6 baskets is not bad at all!

I bought three square and three circle baskets (I'm still deciding about what I want to do with the circle ones)

I decided to use the square ones to hold some of Olivia's books

I borrowed my sister-in-law's stencils and bought some Sharpies.

That's all I used for this little project!

I didn't even tape the stencils on, I just held them in place.

I just filled the baskets with books for a hard surface for stenciling.

Easy as...

Ha -ha! I couldn't resist!

The finished product on the bottom shelf of my newly painted book case.

The burlap baskets are now completely filled with books, as are the rest of the shelves. For my family baby shower, everyone brought a book for Olivia's library. We also have received many books at my other showers and from friends and family. 

A gift from my oldest sister. I can't wait for Olivia to enjoy these!

Vintage books that my Dad or myself have found on thrifting travels.

My child will be raised with the classics early on! I'm still waiting for Sense & Sensibility to arrive from Amazon.

Lots of Peter Rabbit books from my sister-in-law and cousin-in law!

I hope my love for reading will be passed on to our little one!

~*~

My due date is June 26th so the countdown has truly begun...28 more days to go!

 Love,

Linking With ~

TwelveOEight ~ Pretty Things

Better with Age ~ Give me the goods Monday

The Farmhouse Porch ~ Tuesdays the Scoop

A Stroll Thru Life ~ Inspire Me Tuesday

A Diamond in the Stuff ~ Time to Shine

Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow us Wednesdays

Saving4Six ~ Think Tank Thursday

Lamberts Lately ~ Create it Thursdays

The Fine Craft Guild ~ Link Party

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

Common Ground ~ Be Inspired

The Shabby Nest ~ Frugal Friday

My Repurposed Life ~ Catch as Catch Can

My Romantic Home ~ Show & Tell Friday

Dear Creatives ~ Inspire Me Spotlight

Funky Junk Interiors ~ Party Junk

Love of Family and Home ~ Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop

Creative Home Expressions ~ The Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop

The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

Ginger Snap Crafts ~ Wow me Wednesday

Ivy & Elephants ~ What's it Wednesdays

Almond Pound Cake Trifle Recipe

Hello, dear friends!

 I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day!

I made a dessert for our family gathering. The original recipe comes from Tastefully Simple. You can visit their website here.

Almond Pound Cake Trifle ~

1 Box Krusteaz Almond Poppy seed muffin mix 

1 5.1 oz. package instant vanilla pudding

1 16 oz. container whipped cream

2 1 lb. container strawberries

1 pint blueberries

Prepare the almond muffin mix for the loaf pan directions on the box (save the separate poppy seed packet for something else). 

After the cake cools, cut into cubes.

Prepare the pudding according to the package directions and refrigerate until you're ready to prepare the trifle. Mix a little more than half of the whipped cream with the pudding.

Rinse the berries.

Hull and cut the strawberries.

Now you're ready to assemble the trifle.

Layer the cubes of almond cake, spoon the pudding mixture next, and then add the berry layer. Repeat two more times.

Delish!

I usually do a whipped cream layer on the top and then garnish with a few strawberries and blueberries. Since I was travelling with the trifle, and I ran out of room anyway, I didn't end up doing it this time.

This recipe couldn't be any easier and it's perfect for the Summer months as it's such a light desert. I usually make this dessert for Memorial Day or Fourth of July as it just looks patriotic with those colors.

Enjoy!

 Linking With ~

TwelveOEight ~ Pretty Things

The Farmhouse Porch ~ Tuesdays the Scoop

A Diamond in the Stuff ~ Time to Shine

Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow us Wednesdays

Ginger Snaps Crafts ~ Wow me Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants ~ What's it Wednesdays
The Wilderness Wife ~ Wicked Good Wednesday
Saving4Six ~ Think Tank Thursday

Lamberts Lately ~ Create it Thursdays
The Fine Craft Guild ~ Link Party

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

Common Ground ~ Be Inspired

The Shabby Nest ~ Frugal Friday

My Repurposed Life ~ Catch as Catch Can

My Romantic Home ~ Show & Tell Friday

Dear Creatives ~ Inspire Me Spotlight

Funky Junk Interiors ~ Party Junk

Love of Family and Home ~ Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop
Creative Home Expressions ~ The Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop
The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

Nursery Project# 2 ~ Painting the dresser and the shelf

 Hello, friends!

I am finally done with my big painting project. The dresser/changing table & shelf are completed.

The Paint ~

I painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White, clear wax, dark wax & Provence mixed with Old White

I mixed about half a sample pot of Provence with about a quarter to half  a jar full of Old White. I stirred and shook the jar until it was a lovely shade of sage. 

The Furniture ~

My dresser/buffet that I painted black over a year ago now turned

dresser/changing table

I bought this bookshelf several years ago. I believe it used to be a cabinet with glass doors. I used it for cookbooks, my china tea set, and other decorative dining room items.

Since I was no longer using either item in our house, it made perfect sense to just re-use them for the baby's room

Painting ~

The first coat of Old White ~ I let it dry overnight

I then did a second coat of Old White ~ I let it dry for a few hours and then began with my sage colored layer

I painted one coat of Old White on the back of the bookshelf and on the dresser drawers before applying the sage paint color. After the first coat of white paint dried, I taped around the areas where I wanted to apply the two coats of sage.

I like how the colors look without the wax in these photos. However, in actuality you could see some of the black still showing through. It really needed the wax layers!

I painted two coats of the sage so that there wouldn't be any black bleed through. I let the sage layers dry overnight, did my clear wax layer, let that dry for an hour, and then applied the dark wax.

The Dresser Completed ~

I painted the hardware in old white with dark wax

A closer look

I actually let the dresser and the shelf cure for two days before adding the hardware

The Shelf Completed ~

The dark wax distressing is a bit much in some places but the very aged look of it is really growing on me!

A closer look

Another look at the dresser ~

Now, I just have to decide if I'm painting my rocking chair to match. I also need to find a small side table to hopefully paint with the rest of my left over sage color to go next to the rocking chair.

The nursery is really coming along now! My husband and brother put the crib together tonight. It won't be long now until the nursery is completed and Olivia will arrive!

Love,

*UPDATE: I have only recently learned that expectant mothers should not apply soft wax themselves. Even though my baby is perfectly fine I should not have done so and I really tried to do a lot of research beforehand to see if it was safe or not and could not find any information at the time. Click here to read more facts about using Annie Sloan products.

Linking with ~

TwelveOeight ~ Pretty Things

The Farmhouse Porch ~ Tuesdays the Scoop

Knick of Time Interiors ~ Knick of Time Tuedays
A Diamond in the Stuff ~ Time to Shine

Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow us Wednesdays

So Much Better With Age ~ Give me the Goods Party
Ivy & Elephants ~ What's it Wednesdays
Saving4Six ~ Think Tank Thursday

A Stroll Thru Life ~ Inspire me Tuesday
The Fine Craft Guild ~ Time for a Party

French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

Common Ground ~ Be Inspired

Lamberts Lately ~ Create it Thursdays
The Shabby Nest ~ Frugal Friday

My Repurposed Life ~ Catch as Catch Can

My Romantic Home ~ Show & Tell Friday

VMG206 ~ Tickled Pink Link up Party
Miss Mustard Seed ~ Furniture Feature Friday
Dear Creatives ~ Inspiration Spotlight

Funky Junk Interiors ~ Party Junk

Love of Family & Home ~ Inspire me Please Weekend Blog Hop

Rooted in Thyme ~ Simple & Sweet Fridays
Seasons of a Homemaker ~ Seasons on Sunday