Writing on the Walls: One Year Ago

Today is our fifth anniversary! We were thinking we were going to do something fun like go on a cruise or get back to the Netherlands, but since we are still filling our piggy bank back up, we decided to stay close to our new home this year. (My mom came into town so we do get to go on an overnight date. Thanks, Mom!)

I was looking through some photos of our build and realized I never posted photos from our anniversary last year. What a difference a year makes!

One year ago: July 29, 2011

We spent our (very hot and sweaty)anniversary blessing the new house and writing Scripture verses on the ICF walls.

Hands in the pantry.

 The verse here in the in-law suite is, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing"--Zephaniah 3:17.

Kitchen: Taste and see that the Lord is Good--Psalm 34:8.

Command Center: For we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago--Ephesians 2:10.

Pantry: For where your treasure is, there you heart will also be--Luke 12:34 (NIV).

Dinette: Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce--Jeremiah 29:5.

Powder Room: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things--Philippians 4:8

Front Entry: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace--Numbers 6:24-26.

Mudroom: Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for (The de Jongs) we will serve the the Lord--Joshua 24:15.

Garage: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heaves are above the earth--Deuteronomy 11:18-21.

Great Room: It's hard to see, and I was guessing where the mantle would be... "I will thank you Lord, will all my heart, I will tell of your marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you--Psalm 9:1.

Office: Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for man--Colossians 3:23.

One lesson we learned is that it is very difficult to write on styrofoam! Sharpies didn't work well, but we had better luck with magic marker. We weren't able to write on the upstairs walls yet because this is what they looked like:

Yes, this was the only time D was not holding one of our hands when he was on the second floor!

We came back later (with magic markers) to do the second floor. Perhaps I'll make another post with those verses. I looked online to see if others had the same idea, and while I'm sure they did, I didn't find  pictures as I had hoped. Maybe these pictures will inspire future home builders.

Linked to:
House of Hepworths
At the Picket Fence
I Heart Naptime
Thifty Nifty Things
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

100,000!

It's a week of milestones. Niels and I are celebrating 5 years of marriage today and...we hit 100,00 views on this blog. Thanks to all the family, friends, lurkers and stalkers who have followed our journey of green building and green living!

DIY Laundry Room Decor

We had this blank space in our laundry room above the sink. I've been mulling it over for awhile and finally thought of some easy decor to make. Best of all, I was able to use items I already had!

The natural frames have been neglected since I moved out of my townhome five years ago when I married into dark Euro decor. All the cabinets in our new house are espresso except for the ones in our laundry room, so I was on a mission to use them there.

In addition to the frames, I used some scrapbook paper, glitter letter stickers, and some glitter tape left over from my mirror project.

My original scrapbook paper was too busy with the letters, so I chose this one instead.

I trick I learned is to use the glass of the frame as a template. It seems the glass size is not always exact so this save me a trimming step later on.

I had three frames, so I used three different words: wash, dry, sort.

 

I was an "R" short, so I had to improvise. I think it turned out pretty well.

First one done.

When I was all done, it still seemed like it needed something more.  

So I started playing with the glitter tape. 

I figured out that if I followed the angle of the wood on the frame, I could cut the tape just right.

I did the same thing to connect the two pieces of tape.

And done! (again).

Option one and option two.

 (I chose two).

 When we went to hang them up, I realized that the back stuck out.

Not a problem. I took it off and taped the scrapbook paper to the glass.

My hubby couldn't help taking this artsy shot.

Wash.

 Dry.

Sort.

And they go great with my mirror.  

View from the other side.

And now my laundry room is nearly complete!

Linked to:

House of Hepworths * Mums Make Lists

Glitter Mirror Tutorial

We had a little space above the sink in our laundry room that needed a little something. I had the idea of doing some sort of art with clothes pins. I found a round mirror at Hobby Lobby and was inspired. (I actually prefer rectangular mirrors, but thought the corners would be too trick for this project). 

Helpful tip: it's much cheaper to buy clothes pins from the laundry section of Target than in any of the craft stores. I bought 100 pins for the price of maybe 25 in the craft stores. 

The first idea was to simply attach clothes pins around the mirror. I like the natural wood with the natural maple of our laundry room, but it still seemed unfinished. 

Tip #2. The advantage of getting a mirror with a little chip in it, is that you can remember your starting point, which may come in handy later.

I've been intrigued with the idea of washi tape, but it hasn't seemed to find its way to my regular shops. I did find this glitter tape at JoAnn's. I misjudged the width of the tape, but didn't want to drive back to see if they had a smaller size. 

I just put the tape over the clothes pin and let it be.

Works for me!

Then I started attaching the pins again, alternating between glitter pins and natural pins.

Helpful tip #3. Put the mirror on a small bowl to make attaching pins much easier. (I wished I thought of it sooner!).

Close up of the finished pins. 

I flipped the mirror and placed a small bowl in the middle of it to space the pins in a nice neat circle.

I used krazy glue to attach a picture hanger hook. (Not sure if that's the actual name).

Once it dried--and I finished my other project--Niels helped me put it up... 

 ...and took this artsy shot.

Linked to:

House of Hepworths * Mums Make Lists