1. Rainbow Trees

Predicted to be the biggest trend this season, this colourful look is sure to make a statement. You can easily create this design by picking up a few boxes of different coloured ornaments. A great tip from www.housebeautiful.com, keep in mind you’ll need more boxes of the colour on the bottom of the tree as it gets wider on the way down.

2. Wicker Tree Skirts

The absolutely perfect way to cover the worst bit of your tree. This collar covers up not only the trunk but also the never attractive water basin. You can get one in any colour you like, from white to dark brown, so they suit any palette.

Christmas Decor

3. 80’s Vintage

Oh the 80’s. A decade where our Christmas’ were filled with tinsel, multi-coloured foil stars, glass ornaments that shattered if you breathed on them and false trees so sparse they looked like they were attacked by termites. But despite all of this, or maybe because of it, you just can’t beat the nostalgic feeling of having a few of these kicking around the house.

This must be why 80’s vintage is making such a huge comeback this year, with stores like Michaels even coming out with an entire vintage inspired collection. Pick up some vintage decor here.

4. Mother Nature

Natural elements have been a part of Christmas decorating since the beginning of, well, Christmas decorating. It all started with evergreen wreaths, berry garlands and pinecone ornaments.  This isn’t a trend that is going anywhere anytime soon and we can’t say we’re sad about that.

5. Warm Golden Lights

In recent years, since the LED bulb came onto the market, the trend in lighting has been icy whites with bold, electric colours. This year that will flip as we see a swing back to warm, golden tones. The glow from these lights will bathe your home in warmth and splendor. But don’t worry! You won’t have to go back to eco-unfriendly incandescent bulbs to get this look.

6. Barely There Christmas

Not for everyone, this hot trend is sweeping the decor world. If you can resist hauling all of your decorations from storage, this look can deliver a clean, crisp and modern Christmas. Our friends at A Crafted Passion have eleven inspirational strategies to get you started.

7. DIY Advents

Anyone remember those cardboard calendars with the not-so-great little chocolates in them? While those are still hanging around, the trend for 2018 is to make your own. There are unlimited tutorials out there – including our own. Options range from chalkboards, to felt, to wood boxes and everything in-between. There’s even kits that make it that much easier to get started – you can find some here. 

8. Plaid Stockings

The great thing about this easy trend is  you can pick up these beauties pretty much anywhere. Because they are so popular this year, every store from the local Dollar Store to Pottery Barn has them in-stock and ready to buy. Don’t wait too long though or they’ll be gone!

9. Folklore

Inspired by the Hygge (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) decorating trend, this Christmas style is sitting front and centre in 2018. Hygge – in a very basic sense – is the Scandinavian concept of feeling cozy contentment and well-being through simple things. With how crazy the world is feeling today, it’s no wonder this concept is so popular. Think candles, blankets, cocoa, and even sweatpants. Its not only about decor, its also a state of mind.

10. Pink

I’m dreaming of a Pink Christmas!! Say yes to this fun colour we don’t normally associate with the holidays. Think pink lights, ornaments, wreaths, dare we say… a pink tree?? While that might be pushing most of us past our comfort zones, don’t be afraid to add touches of this trendy colour to your decor strategy. Perhaps try starting with out funky pink photo box pictured above? Get the tutorial here.

We hope you found this list of Christmas Decor helpful and that you feel inspired to mix something new into your holiday decor this year! However you decorate your home, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

The post Top Ten Christmas Decorating Trends for 2018 appeared first on And Then Home.

No sewing machine needed here; just an iron and some decorative hand stitching. To be honest, I upgraded a $5 fleece blanket that I picked up at big box store but you could easily head to your local fabric store and grab a few yards of fleece if you can’t find one. Add some sheet of felt from the dollar store and some fusible interfacing – you’ve got a custom blanket for under $15!

DIY Popsicle Blanket

What You’ll Need:

• A fleece blanket
• Felt sheets in six colours
• Brown or burlap ribbon
• Scissors
• Paper (for making a template)
• Fusible interfacing
• An iron
• Embroidery thread and needle

Cut out a paper template to the size you want your Popsicle to be. It’s easier is you fold the paper in half and draw and cut your template from the fold. This way the Popsicle shape will be even on both sides.

Now we can make the first Popsicle. Cut the yellow felt in the whole shape, this will be your base. Cut an orange layer by laying half of the template onto the and half off. When you lay the orange felt on top of the yellow, it should only cover half of the Popsicle. Finally, cut the top blue portion by laying only the top third of your template onto the felt. When layered together, this makes our first Popsicle.

For our second Popsicle, cut out a full template in light green felt, like we did for the yellow layer in Popsicle number one. To make the Popsicle bumps, cut out two strips of dark green felt and then round both edges to make semi-circles. These will lay in the centre of the Popsicle, side by side.

For our last Popsicle, cut out a full pink template and then a half template in yellow. Lay the yellow half on top of the pink and your done.

To make the Popsicle sticks, cut out three lengths of ribbon and then round of one end.

Time to assemble all the pieces! This step takes some time, it’s not difficult but setting each layer takes patience. Cut out pieces of fusible interfacing (this can be purchased at any fabric store, it is a heat activated adhesive for fabric) to match each of the felt Popsicle pieces and the sticks.

Use an iron (follow the directions for heat setting, but be sure to turn of the steam) to attach each piece of felt together. Attach the sticks directly to the blanket, this will determine where the Popsicle’s will be so space it out before you iron them down. Once the sticks are in place, attach the Popsicle’s in place.

Add some stitches around the Popsicle edges in coloured threads for an added touch.

And it’s done! Curl up on the patio with a good book and make the most of the last few weeks of summer. Enjoy!

We hope you loved this DIY Popsicle Blanket!  Looking for more home decor?  Certainly check out this Beach Decor DIY Flip Flop Hanger or our Tie Dye Tea Towels.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products or services mentioned on this website.  Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

The post Perfectly Cozy Popsicle Blanket appeared first on And Then Home.

DIY back to school Jars

What You’ll Need:

• Empty jars with the labels removed
• Wooden candle stands
• Acrylic paint 
• Paint brush
• E6000 glue
• Letter and number stickers

Firstly, paint the wooden candle holders in primary colours.

Don’t forget to paint the lids! These will need a couple of coats and be sure to let each coat dry fully.

Secondly, add stickers to the jars for a touch of fun!

All done! Get organized and decorate for back to school.

Love these DIY back to school Jars and looking for more? Certainly check out our Hello Sunshine Canvas or these Beaded Wind Chimes for Kids.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products or services mentioned on this website.  Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

The post Back to School Up-cycled Decor Jars appeared first on And Then Home.

We’ve come up with the top 10 boredom-busting ways to keep everyone entertained indoors all day. Do something different on the next rainy day and try a new craft, recipe, game or activity that you maybe wouldn’t have thought of. Being stuck inside shouldn’t be a bad thing, make it a fun thing with these inspired ideas!

10 Rainy Day Ideas

1. Go to the library.

Your local library is a great place to spend some time during a downpour. There’s not much better than a room full of free books  and a whole day to try and read them all. Many libraries also offer programmes like story-time or crafts.

2. Play Board Games

Snakes & Ladders, Candyland, Clue, there are hundreds of choices. If you have a stack of them at home then endless hours of entertainment ahead of you. Once on game gets old, switch it out for another and them another until the dark clouds clear and the sun comes back out.

3. Bake Something

Baking is a great group activity. With most recipes having multiple steps, there’s always something for everyone to do. Check out this list for inspiration, Top 10 Soft and Chewy Cookie Recipes

4. Photo Scavenger Hunt

It’s a fact – kids LOVE playing with cameras. Make their day and set up a photo scavenger hunt. Make up a list of items throughout the house for them to find and photograph. Remember, the longer the list, the longer they’ll be busy!

5. Movie Marathon

Change up your usual watching space and throw every cushion you have in the house on the floor in front of  the TV. Have their favourite flicks lined up and let them watch all day. Don’t forget movie snacks – try this  Trial-mix (its not just for Easter!).

6. Crafts

Keep little hands busy and organize a craft or two. We like these Stocking Butterflies and Beaded Wind Chimes. Make them inside in the rain and put them outside tomorrow in better weather.

7. Host a Tea Party

Make a garden tea party in your living room. Gather houseplants to put around the table, with table linens, teacups, finger sandwiches and of course, fancy dress up. Invite teddy bears guests and you’ve got yourself a party. Try our Lemon Scones for a tasty teatime treat.

8. Go Bowling

Bowling is low-cost family friendly activity that kids love. Spend the next rained out day at the alley and bowl until the sky clears. Have lunch, plays some games and you’re certainly going to have a great day.

9. Go Swimming

Not in the backyard, swimming in a rainstorm can actually be dangerous, on the other hand, head to the local public pool. Many public pools have fun things like water slides, wave pools and rock climbing walls. Everything to make sure your kids aren’t bored for a single second.

10. Puddle Splashing

When all fails, embrace the weather, have the kids throw on their bathing suits and rubber boots and jump in as many puddles as they can find!  We hope you liked these 10 Rainy Day Ideas.

The post 10 Awesome Ideas for Kids on Rainy Days appeared first on And Then Home.

Let’s get started….

Cut 28 pieces of wood. You can either cut them from a length of building planks from a hardware store or buy pre-cut pieces of wood from a craft store. Use a few different colours and spray paint the planks. 

For this step you  have a couple choices. If you have a punch, cut some dots from some thin craft foam. I highly recommend using a punch for this step, using scissors will take too long and be very difficult.  When using a punch, avoid buying anything with an adhesive backing.  The glue will get stuck in the punch and will make it difficult to use. The foam will be water resistant and is a good choice for the outdoors. If you would rather use paper, you will have to seal the planks after attaching the dots, otherwise the paper won’t survive he elements. The last option is to paint the dots onto the planks. Using some acrylic paint and a stencil, paint all of the dots in place.

If you opted to paint on your dots, you can skip this step. Otherwise, glue all of those dots into place.  

Done and done! Pro tip: Store and carry the dominoes in a laundry bag from the dollar store!

We hope you liked these lawn dominoes.  Looking for an amazing recipe for your summer BBQ’s?  Certainly try these delicious Campfire Cupcakes!

The post Lawn Dominoes for Summer Fun appeared first on And Then Home.

1. Spring Cleaning

This is one chore that no one looking forward to but it is a necessary evil. Open the windows on the next warm day and dig in. Consider really getting into the nitty gritty –  scrub the walls and baseboards, move the beds and couches, wash the windows to let the sun in, switch out the furnace filters and soak all the faucets with vinegar to clear away the buildup. Try breaking the tasks up into a couple days work to lighten the load.

2. Go Green

The garden will have to be tended but first, let’s start indoors. Bring some green inside to liven things up. Real or silk plants are both great options (especially if your like me and don’t have the slightest green thumb). Try a terrarium for a modern take, ferns always look great, or fresh cut or potted flowers for colour.

There’s Still More Ways to Welcome Spring into Your Home

3. Outdoor Decor

I don’t know whats on your porch looks like right now but mine has some almost dead, very wilty evergreen branches and a winter wreath that winter storms really didn’t take care of. Renewing this area of your house brightens up the thing. New arrangements with spring flowers will really freshen your entryway. Don’t forget the front door – try Christine’s Chevron Door Hanger for a personal, fun addition to your decor.

4. Switch up Your Bedding 

Winter is ruled by dark shades and comfy, thick blankets to keep out the cold. Now it’s getting warmer, store all those dark sheets and welcome the new season with lighter, brighter shades of bedding. Try swapping out pillows for light colors and floral prints. 

5. Delight your Sense of Smell

Spring is a season associated with the aroma of nature. Let your home too, reflect the same.  Just get some citrus, rose, lavender or any other floral scented candles or essential oils to ensure that your home always welcomes others with warm, breezy aromas of the spring.

We hope you liked this list of ways to welcome spring into your home!  If you’re looking for more spring projects certainly check out our Spring Forward Umbrella Art.

The post 5 Ways to Welcome Spring into Your Home appeared first on And Then Home.

1. Food Coloring Painted Easter Eggs by And Then Home

An Easter classic and always fun for kids, you probably have everything you need in the pantry.

2. Easter Egg Carton Chicks by Paper, Plate and Plane

After you’ve made you Easter eggs, hang on to those empty cartons. This cute crafts lets kids turn recycling into little yellow chicks. They also make containers to keep small candies inside. 

3. Bunny Ears by Martha Stewart

Turn your little one into the cutest bunny ever with these headband felt ears by Martha Stewart.

Don’t worry! There’s still more crafts ahead…….

4. DIY Egg Popper Tree by Studio DIY

Turn a tree in your yard into the coolest Easter surprise. Make plastic eggs into candy filled poppers and let your kids pull and pop and gather up all the candies that fall out.

5. Easter Bunny Footprints by The Larson Lingo

Leave bunny tracks for your littles to discover in the morning. They’ll love seeing the evidence left behind by the fluffy giver of chocolates.

6. Hand and Footprint Canvas by Champagne and Sugarplums

A little messy but totally worth it! This craft really gets your kids involved and makes lasting memories of their tiny hands and feet.

7. Sock Bunnies by A Pumpkin and a Princess

These make great handmade gifts for Easter baskets that you can make for the kids or with them.

8. DIY Daffodils by Mend & Make New

So quick and easy but so sweet. Perfect for little hands and minds to create and keep for an Easter bouquet.

9. Popsicle Stick Chicks by Crafty Morning 

Simple and fun, your kids will love making these funny square characters!

There’s Still More Easter Crafts!

10. Cute Critter Treat Jars by Champagne and Sugarplums

These adorable little critter treat jars are a sweet way to gift a little Easter cheer to friends and family. Fill them with candy for an easy present that’s sure to please.

11. Yarn Wrapped Carrots by Easy, Peasy and Fun

A wonderful craft for kids in kindergarten and even some preschoolers! Wrapping the yarn around cardboard paper is an excellent fine motor exercise.

12. Peek-a-Boo Clothespin Eggs by One Little Project

Each egg takes less than 5 minutes to make but kids will have hours of fun opening and closing them to see the little surprise chick inside! 

13. Easter Sun-catchers by Everyday Dishes

Here comes the sun! It may not last long but kids will love making these sun-catchers with four different cutouts that are perfect for the Easter holiday.

 14. Salt Dough Eggs by Design Mom 

Who’s ready for bright colors, pastels, and anything green? Help mother nature along with the bright tones of these Salt Dough Easter Egg Ornaments.

15. Punny Easter Art by Champagne and Sugarplums

This clever little pun makes for a fun and quirky decoration, it’ll keep everyone giggling all weekend long.

We hope you enjoyed this roundup of Easter Crafts for Both Kids and Adults! Don’t forget to share your ideas and projects with us, we’d love to see them.

The post Fun Easter Crafts for Kids and Adults appeared first on And Then Home.

Food Colouring Painted Easter Eggs

• Hard-boiled eggs
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• Food colouring (about 16 drops per colour)
• Spoons
• Bowls 

1. Place your desired number of eggs into a large pot and fill with water until the eggs are submerged.
2.  Place the pot on the stove and turn the element on high to bring the water to a steady boil.

3. Reduce heat to medium, cover the pot and cook the eggs for about 12 minutes.  

4. Remove from heat, drain the pot and cool the eggs in a stream of cold water.

1. Mix the water, vinegar and food colouring a deep bowl.  The bowl should be deep enough to fully submerge an egg.  Use one bowl for each colour.

2. Place a hard-boiled (cooled) egg on a spoon and dunk it into the water/vinegar mixture.  Turn it occasionally to be sure it’s being coated on all sides.  Leave the egg in the mixture for at least 5 minutes.  The longer you leave it in there the darker the colour will become.

3. Remove the egg when you are happy with the colour.  Place it aside to dry.

Get Creative

• You can always add stickers to your eggs to create shapes.  Simply place the stickers onto the eggs and dye them as above, when they are dry carefully peel the sticker off to reveal the shape underneath!

• Try putting an elastic band around the eggs to make lines and ‘cracked’ designs.  Use elastics of different widths.  

• You can also try dying an egg lightly, add stickers or elastics and continue to dye the eggs darker.  Remove the stickers/elastics after to show coloured designs and shapes!

• Use multiple colours for one egg by placing the egg in different bowls when dying.

The post Food Colouring Painted Easter Eggs appeared first on And Then Home.

This blog post may contain affiliate links or ads. What does that mean? We may get a little commission if you make a purchase using our links, at no extra cost to you.

Easy DIY Kids Height Chart

The first thing you need for this height chart is a plank of wood.  I stupidly thought this was going to be a hard task and I obviously hadn’t spent very much time inside of a hardware store.  I ended up buying a piece that was 1’ x 6’ which is the perfect size.  Let me tell you why…

  Remember that when you hang your board, you’re not going to hang it flat on the floor.  You’ll want to hang your board a couple inches above the floor, at least above the baseboards.  So, a six foot board will give you a growth chart of about 6’5, which means you can measure you kids when their adults!  They’ll love it, I’m sure.

The longest part of this project is staining the wood.  Make sure you apply the stain evenly and allow it to dry completely before moving onto the next steps.  Pick any colour you like, but keep in mind you want to be able to see the numbered chart and more importantly your child’s growth.  For these reasons I chose a light stain.  This way I could use a black sharpie (keep it simple!) for the chart and also any colour sharpie/paint pen to mark the growth of my kids.  I could even do one colour for each of my girls.

Here’s how to make this DIY Easy Wooden Growth Chart

• 1’x 6’ wood plank
• Wood stain
• Brush or sponge 
• Stencil
• Permanent marker or paint pen 
• Ruler

1. Stain the wood plank, follow the instructions on the side of the can.  Apply it evenly and allow it to dry completely.

2. Using your ruler, measure and mark every inch along the length of the board.  Don’t press too hard with your pencil as it could indent in the wood.

3. Using your paint pen/permanent marker, go over every mark with the ruler making a 2” line.

4. Onto the numbers.  Begin number one at the 6 inch mark.  Then add the other numbers every  12” until you reach 6.  Use your stencil or freehand it!

The post DIY Easy Wooden Growth Chart appeared first on And Then Home.

Coffee Filter Art Project

What You’ll Need:

–          A blank canvas or canvas board
–          Acrylic paints in white, blue (light and dark)
–          Paint brushes
–          Coffee filters
–          Washable markers in greens and yellows
–          Spray bottle with water
–          Scissors
–          Foam adhesive stickers

Firstly, the Adult Part (or kids too if they are doing the whole shebang):

Cover the canvas in a thin layer of water to prop the canvas to take the paint better.

Paint the sky (the top two-thirds of the canvas) blue.

Paint some snow onto the bottom third of the canvas. Start with white paint and free hand in some soft curves for snowy hills. Add some low-lights in dark blue to add depth, using a wet brush to blend in the paint.

Using an at least a 1” or wider brush, splatter paint some white snowflakes on top of the sky. To do this, dip your brush into some white paint. Hold the brush sideways and above the canvas. Use your finger to pull the bristles in a quick upward motion so that paint splatters off of the bristles and onto the canvas. This gets messy so make sure to cover your work surface with newspaper or an old cloth.

Secondly, the Kiddos part:

Get the kids to colour the coffee filters in abstract lines and shapes with different shades of green and yellow markers.

When they are all done colouring, lay the coffee filters down flat on a table and spray lightly with water from the spray bottle. The ink will begin to run together and spread. Be careful not to spray too much water though because the colours with get over mixed and start to look muddy. Leave them to dry; it should take about 20 mins or so.

Draw triangle shapes onto the coffee filters and cut out the trees.

Finally, use the foam squares to attach the trees to the canvas background.

We hope you love this coffee filter art project!  Looking for more projects to help the winter go by?  Certainly try these Frozen Ice Globes or this Umbrella Art Canvas!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products or services mentioned on this website.  Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

The post Coffee Filter Art Project for Kids and Adults appeared first on And Then Home.