get your wreath on

I love classic holiday wreaths. Evergreen and deep red velvet bows are so lovely together. They instantly put a Christmas-y touch on anything. You simply can't screw it up. Loop some red ribbon through the top of a wreath. Tack it to the top of a window pane and voila, instant Feliz Navidad.

Here is a sample and tutorial:

{Southern Living}

{Wreath Hanging Tutorial from My Serendipity} 

Happy hanging!

puppy love

So, I had posted previously that I really liked this PB Kids costume:

{dalmatian from Pottery Barn Kids}

Here's what I ended up with after doing a little DIY and using some of this Parents mag tutorial.

Have to say the subject is pretty cute with or without the costume :)

did you DIY it?

Have you made a ghost Halloween bag? Send (littlehappycamper@gmail.com) or post a picture here!


I've been looking for another DIY Halloween project. Here are lots to get your spooky crafting juices flowing:


Living Locurto Halloween Door Decorations
Storybook Costumes from Scholastic
How Does She? Candy Corn Wreath

diy: Ghost Halloween Treat Bag

I love these Pottery Barn Kids Tote Treat Bags for Halloween, especially the personalization. 

{Adorable PB Kids Treat Bags}

However, if you don't have the scratch for the tote + embroidered name ($16 + $6.50 = $22.50). Try out this DIY project and make your own for as little as $2.50. I did and I am pretty happy with the result.


Here's What You Need:

--orange tote bag (made of felt or similar material--I got one for $1.39 at Hobby Lobby. Size is 13.5" H x 9.75" W x 2.75" D.)
--9" x 12" felt pieces: (1) white and (1) black for this design (25 cents/piece at Hobby Lobby)
--embroidery floss: white and black (35 cents/piece at Hobby Lobby)
--embroidery or similar needle
--Tacky Glue


Here's What You Do:
1) Cut out LHC ghost pattern including the eye holes and mouth hole. Pin to white felt and cut around ghost pattern. Cut out eyes and mouth.

2) Adhere ghost to bag with Tacky Glue.
3) Choose letters you need for personalization. Cut out letters from letter pattern. Pin letters onto black felt. Cut around letters.
4) Adhere letters to bag with Tacky Glue above the ghost.

5) Use contrasting embroidery thread and stitch on the ghost using a basic straight stitch. Begin stitching about 1/8 inch away from the edge of the eyes, mouth, and shape of ghost. Stitch about 1/16 inch from edge of letter. The Tacky Glue will hold the pieces in place while you stitch.


Stitches on ghost should be about 1/4 inch long and you should leave about 1/4 inch between stitches. 

Stitches on letters should be 1/8 inch in length and 1/8 inch between stitches.

6) Fill with candy and enjoy!

holy cow design

I didn't know that my hideous Western basement was housing a current design trend. Steer heads, anyone?


I came across Restoration Hardware's home accessories section and low and behold:

{Cast Resign Horns & Antlers}

I have been handed down a steer's skull from my grandfather's farm. It was partly a joke because we inherited an icky Western basement when we moved into our home four years ago. (We've yet to make a change. The clock is ticking.)

Now, I'm thinking that we need to do something with ol' Bessie--that's the cow skull I'm referring to, folks.

Not sure how it would work in our home. We sort of have a wildlife motif in our bedroom. Maybe I should take up my glossy white spray paint and try it out.


As Tim Gunn would say "Make it work!"

The wonders of spray paint

I read this post from Young House Love last week. I had to pick up some spray paint. I am ready to get trigger happy. 


More inspiration...

{PB Rooster. As my son would say, "Bock, bock."}

{CB2 Buddha Head}

{Williams-Sonoma Bugs}

{Wisteria Sheep. Baa Baa.}

Just think of the damage you could do with a $4 can of paint and some Goodwill figurines.

diy: car tracks shirt

Easy DIY project for a little boy (or tough girl) in your life. Car track shirt or onesie!


What you need:
-fabric paint 
-pre-washed ironed shirt
-scrap material for testing
-various cars with good tire track tires
-pan/dish for paint

{the goods}

What to do:
1) Gather materials.
2) Pour fabric paint into pan or dish.

{'nuff said}

3) Roll car wheels through paint. Test on scrap material by "driving car" over fabric for desired effect.
--NOTE: I found that lifting the back or front of the car so only one set of wheels touched the fabric worked best. My car was a Hot Wheel, 89 cents at Target, but a bigger car or truck would be awesome. Just experiment!

{no need for a license, just drive!}

4) Once you have worked out your "kinks," apply car tracks to shirt in random "skid" designs.

{learner's permit?}

{ta da!}

This would be a great project for a little one to do, if he or she is coordinated enough. My guy is too little at 14 months but see what you think!


I only had black paint but brown would be fun on a colored shirt for a good muddy look.


Post or email (littlehappycamper@gmail.com} a picture if you try it out. Enjoy!

you're my inspiration

I've got this awesome box that housed an even awesome-er birthday gift. I can't get rid of it. So, I'm gonna have to diy it. I've got some ideas...

{Kate Spade clutch box. Forgive the quality--camera phone!}

Stay tuned!

let's get organized, organized!

My craft area is in dire need of some cleaning/organization. Since I started my Etsy shop, it has become a disaster area. A crafting twister has come through and tossed bits of fabric, thread, Steam-a-Seam and paper about everywhere.

I need some inspiration:

1) Here's what I love about Martha. Not only does she have an "Organization" section on her Web site--she has "100 Easy Organizers."

{Craft cupboard from Martha Stewart}

2) There's never a time I don't look to Target for some help. itso, a storage and organization line, has a cool "builder" on Target's Web site that allows you to plan your space with their system including colors of your room, flooring and their materials.

{itso stinking cute polka dot fabric bin from Target}

3) May I have this office please?

{Bedford Corner Desk Set by Pottery Barn}

4) Feeling ambitious? Make a project table yourself.

{Do-it-yourself plans from Knock-off Wood}

Or, make 107 storage/organization pieces yourself. Knock-off Wood is crazy cool!

You know you have too many projects on your plate when a project includes a "project table."

show me some young house love

My basement is totally hideous. In Googling a solution for wood paneling I came across, Young House Love's post on the project and a plethora of "How-To's" I could implement (in my spare time). Here's their example of the project:

{Before - How-to wood paneling on Young House Love}

{After - wood paneling from Young House Love}

I love their site. I'm having my own young love affair with it. The photography is great. The guides look easy to implement. "House Crashing," a section that explores other's fabulous homes, is fun. I especially love their Design Advice service of $250 for a "review of your photos and any parameters you’ve set (paint color can’t change, table must stay) and within one short week we'll send you a mood board chock full of simple yet stunning design solutions to get the ball rolling and help you see your room in a whole new way."

Their site has inspired me to make some changes because of the aforementioned paneling and other scary items I don't even want to mention (barrel bar, cedar shake shingles, oh my!).

just coasting through life

{DIY Coasters with Amy Butler Designer Paper}

Latest project... DIY coasters using Amy Butler paper. This was super easy to make and didn't cost me a dime. I used scrapbooking paper I already had and white tiles leftover from our kitchen remodel. All I did was follow Prudent Baby's tutorial on Hostess with the Mostess. I did two sets. One I may make into a wall hanging... I'll let you know how it goes.