Today, Kate from Uniquely Undone is here for a visit.  She’s got some ideas for those of us that just don’t have the space for an office or craft room.  My “Craft Room” also houses a queen size bed and side tables for when we have guests.  It’s not a big room and all my craft stuff got shoved in the closet before company got here one time.  Since then, it has exploded out of the closet and all over that queen size bed… These are ideas I could use.  So, here’s Kate.

Some of us are lucky enough to have a separate room for an office. Others carve out space in a closet or the kitchen. I, have neither! However, I was once blessed with an entire room for my office when I ran my business from my home. But if I had to do it all over again, I’d go with the “nook” option. Either in a kitchen, hallway landing, or perhaps a closet (which is nice since “out of sight, out of mind” rings true when company is coming!!)

Here are just a few of my favorite “nook” offices that are way more than just a spot to get down to business…they are oh so fabulous!

Traditional Kitchen by Alexandria General Contractors Harry Braswell Inc.

So versatile…kid work station, office, craft post…what I couldn’t do with this in my house!

Traditional Home Office

Wow. Organized. Clean. Perfect.

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Curious Leigh

Tobi Fairley

Better Homes and Gardens

My Design Chic via Fieldstone Hill Home

A Thoughtful Place

Pretty Handy Girl So…which are your favorites? Don’t these make you want to get to tackling those bills rather than run from them!!

Thanks, Kate!  Great ideas.  The nook from A Thoughtful Place has me drooling.  Lots of things all in their places.  Eep!  That gives me hope.  Maybe I will be able to contain the mess… someday.  Go check out Uniquely Undone and all the great things Kate has to offer over there!

Last week, Mr Napping was off in Colorado, riding four-wheelers in the frosty morning air and I was wiping boogers off my shoulder and cleaning up the third, no fourth, mess of the morning.  It was 8am.  You know how there are some days that, no matter what you do, are just going to drag on and on and on… This was one of those days.

Around 10:30, I’d had enough Magic School Bus, Handy Manny and Jake and the Neverland Pirates to last a lifetime – ha, wishful thinking – and decided now was the time to do that project I’d been wanting to do with my kids.  “Stained Glass” leaves.  I knew Little J (1.5yo) was just a little too young for this project, but hoped he’d sit and watch.  Ha.  I should’ve known better.  This kid doesn’t “sit” for anything.  Really, he cries when you put his car seat straps on because he’s “stuck”.  Big J (4yo) thought this was cool.  The first leaf.  After that, he was less impressed, but still checked back in.

A real quick recap of the week:

Congrats, ladies and thanks so much for sharing.  I wish I had more time for features, because there was a whole lot of cool stuff last week.  Check it out.  Thanks to everyone who linked up.  Awesome stuff!

Oh, and don’t forget to enter the Pick Your Prize giveaway.  Giveaway closes on Wednesday!

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Annnnnddd…….. GO!

I find it so interesting that my nieces and nephews and even the neighbor kids– always want to craft with me, but my own kids…I have to beg!  I think maybe they’re a bit tired of having their picture taken during each step of the process? Last summer they decided to join together and start their own blog.

I love crafting and being creative with kids, but I have to tell you…

I especially love it when the kids’ crafts, don’t look like kids made them!

This tissue paper wall art looks so good, you’ll hang it proudly on the wall and won’t have to worry about cotton balls coming off, glitter getting on everything, or worse– others asking, ‘what is it?’
It’s a lovely, creative piece of art.

Supplies needed:

1) Colored tissue paper

2) Canvas board or canvas panel (any size)

3) Mod Podge

4) Foam paint brush.

Did I mention it’s super easy?  Just 4 supplies needed and 5 easy steps!

Step 1:  Choose your tissue paper colors.

My niece wanted to hang this art in her new bedroom.

(Her family just moved into a new home–closer to me–the favorite aunt!  Yay!)

She chose greens, pinks and yellows to match her bedroom decor.  I love her style!

Step 2:  Tear strips of tissue paper
and lay them across the canvas board.

With tissue paper, you never know what bumps and ridges it will have while you tear it.

This is what makes this craft perfect for kids.

Just rip up paper and lay it out across the canvas board.

Hills and valleys, thick pieces, thin pieces, short pieces, long pieces– anything you want!

Step 3:  Arrange the pieces however you’d like.

Some of the tissue paper pieces lay completely over the sides of the board, other pieces don’t.

There’s no right or wrong way!

Do whatever looks good to you and the child.

We put white spaces between our colors, but you don’t have to.

Now here’s the fun part!  Time to get a little messy!

Step 4:  Mod Podge!

Pour some Mod Podge onto a paper plate.

Using foam brushes, brush the Mod Podge over each piece of tissue paper and cover the entire board.

You’re basically painting on the glue.

Isn’t it fun to ‘paint’ when there’s no lines to stay in?  I told you this was a kid’s craft!

Go ahead and glue down the pieces that hang over the sides of the canvas, too.

Trim any side pieces that are too long.

Step 5:  Let dry completely.  

If some tissue paper wasn’t fully covered the first time, go back and do a second coat of Mod Podge.

Proudly hang on the wall.

Be sure to have the child autograph and date the back.

(You’ll want proof when someone disbelieves your art work was made by a child!)

I’d love for you to come by Michelle Paige and see even more kid craft ideas like:

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