House Shaped Tissue Box Cover

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It's that time of year you guys! If colds don't get you sneezing and coughing, allergies sure do! ...at least in our household. I don't know where my new allergies came from, but over the past two years they have kicked up and kill be slowly haha. We have luckily been pretty healthy since our bout of strep during winter break **knock on wood**. To say the least, we have a box of tissues sitting around somewhere in our house year around. Remember those crazy ugly tissue boxes back in the day? Ugh. Well, at least now the tissue boxes luckily come in pretty cute patterns, so they aren't horrible to display. ..But really, it's not something you want to display. I know there are tissue box covers that are super cute you can make or buy, I just never have. That is until now...

I was scrolling through Amazon like I usually do. I seriously need to get that app off my phone! But, if that was the case, I wouldn't find cute things like this to share with you! I found this little white house tissue box cover for crazy cheap.

(link to purchase)

I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it. So, I bought it (obviously). I then threw a design up on my Silhouette. I used "The Skinny" free font I found somewhere. Just google it :) Or find a font you love! I made the size roughly about an inch smaller than one of the faces of the house box which is 5"x5". To make it more square, the "you" is taller and more spaced out than the "bless".

I cut it out, then transferred it to transfer tape.

I lined up the bottom line to make sure it was even on both sides and straight. Then pressed it on, and peeled the transfer tape off.

Next was to just add the tissue box!

Boom and done! Seriously the quickest project ever if you don't count the ship time :) I just love how the tissue looks like a plume of smoke coming out of the chimney. Clever!

I'm thinking this would also make a super cute teachers gift for teacher appreciation day or Christmas. What do you think? 

There's so many ways to decorate this tissue box besides vinyl. Painting it would be oh so fun, or even doing something with Sharpies. 

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

DIY Piano Stand With Storage

My littles started taking piano last year. While at home, they practiced on my 25 year old keyboard. Seriously. I got this keyboard around the age my oldest is. It was kind of fun to see her play it and remember how much I loved it and learned on it. And the fact that it still was in great condition and worked was a surprise to all of us! The only problem was that it isn't a true piano size keyboard and didn't have the soft touch and pedal etc that pianos have. It was great for beginners, but not advanced players.

My amazing brother knew how much my girls loved playing, and decided to buy them this awesome keyboard for Christmas. The only problem? It didn't come with a stand. My other one didn't have a stand either, but I didn't care about sliding it in and out from underneath the couch a couple of times a week. I wanted a more permanent place for this new one. One that as you walk on by, you just can't help but play it.

DIY Faux Shiplap Tutorial

I thought about all the spaces in my house that something like this would work, and I only had one option. I actually had plans to turn this hallway into a homework area with a floating desk a couple of years ago. I just never got around to doing it. I knew it would work perfect as a permanent home for this keyboard.

To make this, I used my floating shelf tutorial I used for making my bathroom shelves (tutorial link). I anchored the 2x2 into the studs, knowing how much weight was going to be placed on it. Even with doing so, I quickly realized that it wasn't going to be enough support. I used a 1x12 to hold the keyboard. With it being that deep, it needed something a little more. My vision of having a floating stand went quickly out the door. I had a few ideas to use corbels or brackets for additional support, but those would need to be placed into the studs... which weren't equidistant from the edges. That would have bothered me on the daily. So, I decided to stop by Home Depot and pick up some turned legs.

I already had this stand mounted into the wall at the height I wanted, so I wasn't going to move it. The legs came in 28" inches and I needed 25". So, I cut them! It's funny because I totally figured this would work, and then I asked my husband what he thought. He disagreed and told me good luck, and that I needed to figure out something else. Well...well...well.. I decided to proved him wrong.

First step was to use some pliers and untwist the bolt that comes at the top.

I then cut my 3 inches off the top using a miter saw. I drilled a hole using a drill bit roughly the same size as the bolt right down the middle. I then used the pliers again to twist the bolt into place. Done.

After that, I drilled a hole into the bottom of the stand, 2 inches in from each corner. I then twisted the leg into the hole. With a fresh coat of paint, it looked perfect!

Although I had a different vision for this at first, I absolutely love the legs. Someone mentioned to me that it looked like piano legs and thought I had done it on purpose like that. I'm here to tell you, that no I didn't, but I'll pretend that I did :)

I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to make a storage section. So, instead of connecting the front piece, I used hinges on it instead. Against my plans, I ended up having to have it open from the bottom up. I couldn't find a lock or clasp the size I needed for it to work with the piano on top. Which was fine. I also added three pulls I found from Hobby Lobby onto the front for some character, and of course, to help open it .

I think eventually I'll be switching these hinges to the bottom, and finding a magnet clasp that works on the inside. I just think it would be easier for the little ones.

To keep it pretty, I also painted the inside white. There's essentially three little cubbies that are the perfect size for piano sheets and books.

It's so fun coming up into this hallway now. The storage table I had hear before got to be quite the mess really quick. I have a problem with throwing away my kids artwork. I do throw away a lot of it, but I still keep a lot too. So, that table was just jammed pack full of papers and it was getting to be an eyesore and an anxiety inducer. I have yet to figure out what to do with all the artwork....so, it's actually just hiding behind this picture on the other part of the landing :)

But, for now, I like to just enjoy this little section of simplicity.

As for the extras on this piano stand, I added a hook for the piano bag that holds all the music for piano lessons. I added a little extra light with this cute lamp I found at Hobby Lobby. You couldn't tell from the pics, but this space gets almost no light. It's soooo dark. I had to open up all the windows up here to get some decent lighting for pictures. But, when the windows are closed, and when it's night time, there's a big need for a little more light.

I decided to forgo the music stand that came with the keyboard. In it's place, I tacked up this large paper clip (is that what it's called? haha). It's easy to take on and off and add sheet music, and even music books to also.

As for the wires, I drilled a hole large enough to fit the cords through so I didn't have wires going all over the stand.

As for the height of this table, the bottom of it hits 25 inches off the ground. The piano the girls practice on at their lessons has a keyboard height of 30 and a half. When I measured that on this wall, it felt soooooo short. I know that is just how pianos are. But, I kind of wanted this to work as a piano stand and a possible desk too. Most desks legs are 28". If I had this where it was supposed to be, it would have been about 5 inches shorter than the average desk. The way I see it, if my kids need to sit on a phone book to have it be comfortable until they are tall enough, then so be it :) ....if I can find a phone book nowadays! haha

Can I just tell you how much I love transforming spaces into totally useful ones? This area was seriously the worst. It didn't help with how dark and dingy it used to get.

I have a goal this year to do more DIY projects and builds than last year. Which won't be hard. I feel like I didn't accomplish much last year. By this time next year, I want to look back and see all I did and feel good about the year :) I totally felt the opposite about 2019. I don't know what it was about last year, but my creative juices just weren't flowing! Here's to a productive 2020 :)

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Entryway Table Decor and Storage Ideas

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We have lived in our house for almost 11 years now, and have literally had a bench in our entryway since we moved in. At first, I just placed one there because the long hallway looked so empty, and I wanted it to be a place for people to take on and off their shoes. Yes, I'm one of those people who get the heebie-jeebies when you walk into my home with shoes on. Then we started to have kids, I realized a need for shoe storage. I upgraded our little bench to a storage bench. This thing has worked amazing for the past few years. After 11 years of having a bench here, I bet this bench was used to sit on maybe a handful of times. Maybe. It did function well for shoe storage, but that was it.

Over the past few months, I realized I wanted a table in here instead. My kids throwing pillows off the bench every.single.time. to grab shoes was getting frustrating. I know...my own fault. I dealt with it. To ease my anxiety, I started brainstorming ideas for tables and shoe storage. I thought of a lot of ideas. I'll share them just to give you guys ideas on what you can do also :)

My first idea was building another table just like this one I did for my mom. I loved the size and the storage possibilities. But, I really wanted to use some old wood from my outdoor table. In order to do that, I would have to wait until warmer weather since it is currently soaked under a foot of snow. I wanted something now :)

Tutorial Here

Thinking about the storage idea, I was gravitating towards the idea of using cube storage from Ikea. I'm not a fan of the cube look, so I was going to add some legs to it and then make doors. Each kid would have 4 cubes, which would be so perfect! Great for backpacks, mittens and scarves, plus all of their shoes. It be something similar to this one I made for my kitchen but with the 8 cubes:

Tutorial here

I played around with the idea of using a simple sofa table, and putting large baskets underneath for the shoes. I would top these off with blankets to make it look prettier. This would have been my cheapest option since I already had a table in storage. On that note, this was not that table or else I would have kept it :) I pulled this table from behind my sofa where I want it to stay.

So, I was on the way to Home Goods to get some large baskets. You know, totally going with the cheapest option. I then found this beauty. It was narrow, and had two shelves with a partition in the middle. I tried all I could to think why I shouldn't buy it, but then someone else was looking at it. And you know how that goes, my competitive spirit kicked in. ha! So, I snagged it. Totally planning on just bringing it home and hating it, then returning it. But, alas, I loved it and it works oh so well!

For the shoes, I have the baskets divided. Each side is for one child. The top baskets are for boots, the bottom for smaller shoes. I've had this for about 2 weeks, and seriously have no complaints. Getting the shoes is so much easier with them divided like this.

Plus! ...and of course most importantly. I have a new space to decorate! I've never really had an entryway table to decorate. I have the small one in my front living room, but that stay's the same for the most part and really acts more like a side table. So, this is new territory for me.

I put these arches up around Christmas, and am still not sick of them. I like the space they take up on this big wall.

As for the tabletop, I went with my staples. Books, candlesticks, beaded garland and a clock.

This table isn't as wide as I would have liked for the space, so I flanked it with this pretty little faux fiddle leaf fig.

And then kept my blanket ladder on the left side. Swagged it with some beaded garland and a wreath.

I love this view looking into my living room!

And here's the view of my whole staircase. I like how the arches kind of mirror the mirrors above with color. It ties the two areas

Here's a closer look at the side of the table. I love this detail and the color.

Sources for everything: 

Home Goods: Entryway table, top baskets

Hobby Lobby: Bottom baskets, candlesticks, clock, lamp, tray, wreath

Michaels: Aged terracotta pots

Ikea: Faux greenery

DecorSteals: Ladder, fiddle leaf fig

Beaded garland: Handmade or similar (link)

Jute Rug: Amazon (link)

I did a lot of searching for a cute entryway table before I found this one, here are a few of my faves! (click on the picture for the link)


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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”