Totally Inspiring

Time to move!

mrsnesheim — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:51:35 +0000

I will be moving this blog to a different site that is easier for me to manage. Please visit me at www.totallyinspiring.tumblr.com.

If you have stored this blog in Google Reader, etc., Tumblr will work the same way.

I hope you’ll join me there!

New Year’s

mrsnesheim — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:24:47 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…New Year’s. Every year we visit my in-law’s for a fondue party. We fondue scallops, chicken, shrimp, steak and lobster in oil and then move to the dessert fondue: chocolate and caramel with yummy fruit, marshmallows, and angelfood cake. Delicious! Here are some fun New Year’s traditions and crafts to try with your family.

Idea from Martha Stewart

Instead of toasting with champagne at midnight, let the kids eat 12 grapes, a Spanish tradition, for good luck all year long. You could also put the grapes on a skewer as a garnish for the champagne drinkers.

Click here for other New Year’s traditions around the world

Idea from Martha Stewart

Create a breakfast to mark the special day- just place clean number magnets on the pancakes and dust with powdered sugar. You could also spell out a message for other special days.

Glorious Goblet Craft from Family Fun

Glitzy Glasses Craft from Family Fun

Time Capsule from Family Fun

Have kids write a letter to themselves to open the following year. They can list some of their favorites or predictions for the next year. Keep it with the decorations so it will be easy to find.

Time Capsule Ornament from Family Fun

Revisit the last year and create a fun Christmas decoration!

Shimmering Streamers from Martha Stewart

New Year’s Garland How-to from The Purl Bee

Countdown Toast Idea from Martha Stewart (love these!)

Countdown Decor Idea from Martha Stewart

Hibernating Animals

mrsnesheim — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:42:59 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…animals that hibernate. Kind of random but my son was talking about how bears go to sleep in their caves for a long time and then wake up in the spring. We looked up some other animals that hibernate and the list we found inspired me to play around on Etsy to see what I could find for each animal. The stuff I discovered was pretty neat!

Alphabet Print from The Paper Tray

Aren’t these colors great? I also love how the little animals accent a few letters.

Hedgehog Personalized Stationary from Invitations and Such

These little guys are so cute! What a great color combination!

Woodland Critters Series Prints by John W. Golden

I love everything about these little guys! The colors, the illustrations…totally cute!

I’d have a hard time choosing just 3 for the Pick 3 special- check out his shop for a million other amazing things.

Reginald the Little Raccoon, Butterscotch Tweed Fox, and Harold HoneyStorm by Sleepy King

I love, love, love Sleepy King’s shop. Check it out for some seriously adorable stuffed creatures.

Oren and Nero by Kilsook

Aren’t these guys cute? And I love the colors used- even the background!

Welcome Frogs Print by Dudadaze

I love the mixed-media collage style and the colors. Those frog faces are adorable!

Turtle Stack II by Barking Bird Art

I love the brown shades with the teal and white…awesome. There are tons of cute illustrations at Barking Bird Art.

Games

mrsnesheim — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:38:18 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…games. We received a lot of games for Christmas this year like Mad Gab, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Chutes and Ladders. Our family plays a lotof games at home and with the extended family. Here is some inspiring game packaging. Enjoy!

Chair Game (These are my happy colors!)

Invisible Playing Cards (I love this color combination, too!)

Jenga (Again with the colors!)

Scrambled States of America (The scrambled title is so cute! Maybe mix and match chipboard…)

eeBoo Life on Earth Matching Game (I love the colors, illustrations, and title…the box would make a great layout sketch, too!)

Blink (I like the font and colors)

Ruckus (Fun color combination and title)

Risk (Winning Moves 1959) (I love these colors together!)

True Colors (This game inspires me to alter the color of my photos and reveal the “true colors” of my son…)

Wordplay (the sunburst is so cool- it reminds me of embossed paper)

Color Sudoku Puzzle (I love these colors! I think it would be fun to put random circles around the page- like gumballs)

Sort It Out (I love the bright tile border)

Twelve Days of Christmas…Books

mrsnesheim — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:51:10 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…Christmas books. We went through our stash of holiday books and have been reading one each night before Christmas. I found a cute idea for a Book Advent Calendar on Babyccino. It’s so fun to read some classics like “The Night Before Christmas” and some new versions like “Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear.” The following books aren’t necessarily on our list (some I’ve never even read- so I’m not vouching for content!) but ones I found that had interesting book covers or art. If you would like more info or a larger picture of the book, click on the links below the pictures. Enjoy!

Olive the Other Reindeer

The Night Before Christmas (Golden Book)

A Very Marley Christmas

Christmas in the Manger (I LOVE Felicia Bond’s artwork!)

Dream Snow (I LOVE Eric Carle’s stuff, too!)

12 Bugs of Christmas

Snow

Little Match Girl

A Bit of Applause for Mrs. Claus

A Child’s Christmas in Wales

SantaKid

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Twelve Days of Christmas- Candy

mrsnesheim — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:09:12 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…candy. Mmm! My favorite Christmas treat is homemade caramels. Those little guys are addicting! I went in search of a recipe to make my own- though I’m not much of a cook. We’ll see how they turn out! Here are some fun candy images and ideas that will hopefully inspire you!

Citrus-Zest Lollipops- Martha Stewart

Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sticks- Country Living

Candy Cane Reindeer- Martha Stewart (reindeer template, too!)

Mint Chocolate Bark- Family Fun

Twelve Days of Christmas- Gift Wrap

mrsnesheim — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:44:29 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…gift wrap. It’s so fun to go into stores and see all of the different kinds of gift wrap. Sometimes I buy some and feel guilty using it because it is so beautiful! Here are some ideas for how to wrap your gifts, most courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Japanese-Style Newspaper Wrap

Button Parcel **Not from Martha** on Bugs and Fishes by Lupin

Twelve Days of Christmas- Gifts

mrsnesheim — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:41:03 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…homemade Christmas gifts. I wish I had the time to make gifts for everyone on my list but, alas, it is so much easier to buy! We used to do a gift exchange with my family where you had to make or recycle a gift. I made a “mommy necklace” for my cousin last year and the year before was a scrapbook collage for another cousin. Here are some amazing ideas for homemade gifts that I found on Martha Stewart’s website.

Towel Bibs- Martha Stewart

Decorative Pillar Candle

Beaded Flower Necklace- Martha Stewart

Butterfly Table Linens- Martha Stewart

Button Necklace- Martha Stewart

Silk Scarf Bag- Martha Stewart

Lip Balm- Martha Stewart

Jade Beaded Necklace- Martha Stewart

Map Coasters- Martha Stewart

No Sew Tote Bag- Martha Stewart

Zipper Flowers- Martha Stewart

Monogram Corkboard

Twelve Days of Christmas- Cookies

mrsnesheim — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:33:04 +0000

Today I’m inspired by…cookies. We will be going to my mom’s today to bake, bake, and bake some more. T is excited to make a “cookie house” like he saw at the grocery store. Here are some yummy and colorful cookies from different baking sites.

Poinsettia Cookies- Food Network

Giada’s Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies- Food Network

Stained Glass Wreath Cookies- Food Network

Sugar Cookies- Food Network

Chocolate Batons- Family Fun

Gingerbread Lantern- Family Fun

Gingerbread Train- Family Fun

Garland Cookies- Family Fun

Holiday Icebox Cookies- Martha Stewart

Cookie Art- Martha Stewart

Gingerbread Reindeer- Martha Stewart (how clever!)

White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread- Better Homes and Gardens

Cherry Walnut Balls- Better Homes and Gardens

Twelve Days of Christmas- Centerpieces

mrsnesheim — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:56:33 +0000

I love decorating the table for Christmas dinner. There are so many fun ways to “dress-up” the plain old card tables we use (well, unless you’re lucky enough to get to sit at the dining room table- but that’s usually taken). Here are some beautiful centerpieces from various websites.

Pottery Barn

Rose Hip Arrangement- Martha Stewart

Glitter Bird Centerpiece- Martha Stewart

Christmas Table with Chandelier- Martha Stewart

Candy Stripers- Martha Stewart

Better Homes and Gardens

Bulb Balls- Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Swirling Trees and Lollipops- Better Homes and Gardens

Cool Roses- Better Homes and Gardens