The reason I chose to have my house decorated for Christmas by November 1st??

Time. 

Time to enjoy the little things the Christmas season brings with it.

I didn't have time last year.

Or rather, I didn't plan and prioritize to ensure I had the time.

Perfect example: these little wood ornaments. 

I purchased these hand-crafted beauties at TJMaxx last year with the intention of repainting them and restringing them. The silver details and red ribbon (see below) weren't the woods + whites I was craving. 

I knew all I needed was a little time to sit down and paint over the silver details and restring them with a creamy white ribbon to make them exactly what our woods + whites tree needed.

I just didn't have the time.

So they sat in the bag, tags still on them, unpainted. 

I resented never having hung them...never having time.

With intentional planning and a little goal setting...they are officially painted...and hanging.

And I love them so much.

It's amazing how much a little paint, a little ribbon, and a little time makes!

I really LOVE how they turned out!

However, I especially love that I made the time this year.

It feels so good.

It feels so right.

I encourage you to find ways to find more time to enjoy the little things that bring you joy this holiday season my friends.

xoxo,

Jess

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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KEEPING IT REAL

So I still have one left to paint - the one I left unpainted to be able to take these pics to show the before and after. But hey...guess what? I actually have time to do it! *wink*

DIY | Pretty Fall Leaves Wreath

The Fall wreath I created two years ago popped up in my photos over the weekend and upon seeing it and remembering how much I loved it, I was inspired to create another one this year. 

I especially loved the simplicity of it and that's the vibe I'm trying to create on my front porch this year - with hopes of setting the stage for calm + cozy during a month that historically tends to be associated with chaos for our family. (three birthdays, Thanksgiving and prepping for Christmas makes for a crazy November). 

We, (Ella, myself, and a friend of hers), collected beautiful leaves together over the weekend and then yesterday I grabbed my glue gun and created this beauty.

The leaves were gorgeous on their own and I could've left the wreath alone. However, I  really wanted to add a softer element to it and remembered I had some leftover dried florals I had picked up at Fresh Market earlier this month.  I added the plumes and love how it turned out.

It's simple.

It's natural.

It's beautiful.

And it does a fantastic job representing fall in all of its splendor.

I sure hope you'll try this fun, easy, pretty fall wreath.

It took me longer to collect the leaves than it did to put it all together.

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration. 

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MATERIAL NEEDED:

1 - grapevine wreath - here's one similar to mine 

     but don't shy away from local craft stores - take advantage of their 40 + 50% off coupons.

1 - glue gun w/glue sticks - similar to mine...simple + tiny

Armful of Fall leaves - quantity really depends on the size of the your leaves + wreath

Dried Fall Florals - I used something like this reed grass

Ribbon, Twine, fishing line, or a wreath hanger - for hanging. I used THIS. 

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat up your glue gun.

Lay your grapevine wreath on a flat surface.

Place larger leaves on wreath to determine placement before gluing. 

Start hot gluing the leaves to the wreath.

Use smaller leaves to fill in any gaps - securing with glue.

Cut the reed grass stems until you've got maybe 1-2 inches of the stem to work with.

Tuck dried florals into the wreath, stem side first, along the outside and inside of wreath.

Use grapevines to continue tucking dried plumes into the wreath to your liking.

No need for gluing if they are tucked well in the grapevines - and will allow you to reuse them.

Use ribbon, twine, fishing line or a wreath hanger to display.

NOTES + TIPS

1. Face your leaves up, down, and sideways to create more character and dimension.

2. Be sure to allow some of the leaves to lay on the inner and outer sides of the wreath to add more

   interest. 

3. Stand your wreath up (or better yet, hang it on something), after you've got most of the leaves glued on. This will provide you with a better view of what it will look like when it's actually hanging and will help with placement of the remaining leaves. 

4. When gathering leaves, don't shy away from the "imperfect" ones. The rips, holes, curls and discoloration adds to the authenticity of your fall wreath.

5. I used raw muslin to hang my wreath by using three flat tacks to secure it at the very top of my door. Tacks cannot be seen and door still closes. Yay!

6. Although it may have been easier to start with the dried fall florals since they are the largest element of the wreath, starting with the leaves allowed me to fill in where necessary and avoid getting hot glue on the dried florals I'm hoping to reuse. 

• • • • •

KEEPING IT REAL

I was super busy with a Harry Potter Classroom transformation last week. (you can see it in my Instagram stories "HP Reveal" saved in my Insta highlights). 

So...I didn't get my Ranch Dressing or Taco Mix Recipes posted yet. Those are coming - and then so is the Chicken Ranch Tacos recipe! Although I'm seriously tempted to skip all of them and get straight to the pies! #pieismyfavorite

KITCHEN | Pantry Door Spice Jars + Shelves DIY

"The secret to a happy life is being inspired by the simple things!"

- jessica lyn kirkland

• • • • •

Affiliate links are included in just about every blog post I share here on Pen + Paper Flowers.

These links allow me to easily share with you the same or similar items and tools 

I use for recipes, crafts, or projects...while also earning a little commission. 

So THANK YOU for your clicks! 

They cost you absolutley nothing and yet each click supports my small business 

and allows me to continue sharing fun ideas + creative content with you. Yay!

• • • • •

THE STORY

If you follow me on Instagram, a few months back, you got to see the behind-the-scenes of my process of figuring out what to do with my less-than-desirable spice cupboard. It was a disaster; Not functional at all - unless you consider spice jars falling on your head when reaching for things "functional"! Ha!! (not kidding)

The first step I started with was repackaging all of my spices so things would be organized and uniform and PRETTY...because yes..."pretty" is important - especially for me because you guys know I'm in the kitchen ALL of the time cooking or baking. 

I chose square glass seasoning jars and LOVE them. They are simple, clean and stack beautifully side-by-side.

I decided to handwrite the names of the seasonings directly onto the jars using this pen.

It's so easy and fast. 

BUT...if you cringe at the thought of handwriting the names, the set of square jars I used actually comes with adorable, chalkboard labels! There are some pre-printed labels in the set with common spices and then there are blank ones with a chalkboard marker to write your own. AND...the set comes with a cute, pink silicone funnel with a wide dispenser to make filling the jars easy. (see my tips about filling your jars at the end of this post). 

After my jars looked pretty and organized, it was then time to decide how to store them.

I originally thought I'd just stick them back up in the cupboard.

I tried them that way with the addition of this spice jar riser. 

I did NOT love it for the mere reason I just have too many spices and felt it was cumbersome finding and reaching for the jars with as often as I cook.

So...I continued brainstorming storage solution ideas that would be cute and functional...and EASY!! 

IDEA ONE - Antique Cabinet

I tossed around the idea of finding a pretty piece of antique furniture specifically for spice storage; something that would'n't take up a lot of space since it would be on a wall in my kitchen. 

IDEA TWO - Wall Shelving

Then I decided shelving on the wall, photo ledges specifically, at the recommendation of some of my interior design friends and creatives on Instagram, might be a more streamlined option considering it is also connected to our long hallway. 

In the end, I realized for our particular situation and the layout of our home, putting something on the wall, (furniture or otherwise), would just add a cluttered-vibe to the area. I was craving an organized, clean vibe.

Soooo...this is what happened instead ----->

I found some shelving NOT intended for spice jars that just so happened to be PERFECT, and utilized the empty space on the interior of our pantry door! 

Guys!!!! I could not be more happy with how it turned out!

My kitchen has a significantly smaller pantry than the one in our last home so it's been an ongoing challenge trying to figure out the perfect storage solutions for all of my baking and cooking essentials...and let's be honest...all of the "non-essentials" too. *wink*

I could not be more happy with deciding on a storage solution that keeps my spices beautifully organized but also hidden with the close of my pantry door. Although the original ideas of using a beautiful piece of furniture as a spice cabinet or creating a visual masterpiece with the brilliant use of photo ledges are still wonderful ideas...THIS...this right here was exactly what my heart, (and kitchen), needed. 

I don't often feel that way when a project is finished. I usually start making notes with what I wish I would have done differently, etc. But NOT with this project. I love it. 100%.

And just in case you are wondering, I can fit 10 spice jars per shelf - so I currently have 30 spices hanging on my pantry door. 

These are all of my current cooking spices.

My baking spices, however, are currently stored in the same glass jars, nice and neat in one of my kitchen drawers. However, I'm thinking I may need to add another shelf or two to keep all of my spices in one place. 

My only hesitation with adding more shelves to the door is that I'm considering adding a few hooks to hang some beautiful linen + cotton kitchen torchons! (new word I learned from THIS BOOK)! I'm thinking hooks screwed directly into the door beneath the bottom shelf OR attached to the bottom shelf. If I do that though...there won't be any room for additional shelves. I'll let you know what I decide. 

Friends...I hope you've been inspired to dive into doing some spice organization of your own. If you have any questions about this project I'm here to help! Simply leave a comment.

If you try this "Pantry Door Spice Jar + Shelves DIY...

PLEASE let me know. I want to cheer you on and celebrate the accomplishment with you.

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram.
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• • • • •

SOURCES + TIPS BELOW

SOURCES

Glass Spice Jars set

Spice Shelf Set

White Pen

SPICE JAR TIPS

1. Clean them. Make sure you run your jars through a dishwasher or wash by hand with hot, soapy water before filling with spices. (ensures they are 100% clean and sanitary). 

2. Use a funnel. If you use the spice jar set I chose, it comes with a silicone funnel. I tried the silicone one but decided to use a metal funnel I already had since it doesn't catch any spice residue on the sides like the silicone funnel tends to do. BUT...if you don't have a metal funnel, the silicone funnel works great...just be sure to start with your fine, less fragrant powdered spices first and THEN the leafy spices - just to help prevent mixing. And I also suggest really banging off of the funnel into a trash can or sink between spices to help clean it out. (you don't want to rinse it off each time - moisture doesn't mix well with spices). *wink*

3. Paint pen. If you use the paint pen I used to handwrite your seasonings on your glass jars, the paint does not smudge or come off with everyday use. And yet, you can easily change or fix mistakes made during the labeling process by scrubbing with warm, soapy water. Yay!

SHELVING TIPS

1. They will fit together - I promise. It may seem, during the assembly process, pieces just aren't going to fit together. On occasion it even seemed impossible to me. But trust me...they do. You just have to use a little muscle and push them together. Promise.

2. Average quality. The shelving is mass produced - not the superior quality you'd find with custom shelving. BUT...they are a great price and are perfect for the interior of a pantry door. No complaints from me.

3. Spacing. Make sure when spacing your shelves you allow room for pulling jars out and putting them back in. Thankfully, I thought about that and didn't make the mistake of putting them too close together. (Mine ended up to be 3" apart - measuring from the bottom of one shelf to the top of the other. OR 9.5" from bottom to bottom if that's more helpful).

4. Level. There's a cute, mini level that comes with the shelving to ensure your shelves are straight when you put them together. You'll love it. I kept it for future projects.

• • • • •

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I assembled.

I measured.

I used a screw driver.

I made sure things were level.

I drilled. (never used one before and figured it out)

And guys!!! I conquered this project!

All. By. Myself. 

If I can do it - you can too!!

I literally smile every time I open that pantry door.

It looks beautiful, and cooking is so much more enjoyable with things nice and organized now. 

Yep! I even alphabetized them too!

I hope you love it!!

MAKE iT | Easy Fall Wreath DIY

I have absolutely LOVED using autumn leaves to decorate my home this year. I've cut dead branches from maple trees to fill an oversized olive jar and I've gathered fallen leaves from around my neighborhood to add some Fall charm to my home. (see Fall Home Tour)

Today, I thought I'd share the simple Fall wreath I made. I love how it turned out and figured if you are looking for an easy DIY project this weekend...well then look no further.  tutorial below

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1 - grapevine wreath - found this one on Amazon but I'm sure you could find one for a lot less at

                                 JoAnn's, Michael's or Hobby Lobby - use your 40% or 50% off coupon! *wink*

1 -  armful of fall leaves in various sizes and colors - I collected mine from around the neighborhood

1 - faux bundle of wispy wheat - here's what I used

1 - hot glue gun

1 - pair of scissors (to trim the wispy wheat)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat up your glue gun. Lay your grapevine wreath on a flat surface and start laying your fall leaves in random patterns around the wreath to figure out your spacing before you start gluing. Once you have a pretty good idea of how you want the leaves arranged, add a small dab of hot glue to the back of each leaf and secure to wreath. Once all of the leaves are in place, trim your wispy wheat with a pair of scissors and tuck the stems into the wreath, in between the leaves. No need for hot gluing these if you push them down deep enough. The grapevines will hold them in place. 

Design tips: 

(1) Be sure to allow some of the leaves to lay on the inner and outer sides of the wreath so it gives your finished wreath more dimension.  

(2) Stand your wreath up after you've got most of the leaves glued on. This will provide you with a better view of what it will look like when it's actually hanging and will help with placement of the remaining leaves. 

(3) When gathering leaves, don't shy away from the "imperfect" ones. The rips, holes, curls and discoloration adds to the authenticity of your fall wreath. 

Loving how this looks on our front door.

I crave simplicity and this was so perfect for me this year.

Hope you love it too and will try it out!!

xoxo,

Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL

This wreath is so easy to make Ella made one for her bedroom door. In fact, we made hers first. *wink*

Looking forward to spending the day with a sweet friend and her mom on Saturday.

She's taking me around to all of her favorite "hunt + gather" spots. I'll be sharing bits and pieces of the day on Instagram stories. Follow along!!

MAKE IT | DIY Corn on the Cob :: Cricut Explore Air 2 Review

Are these the cutest corncobs ever or what?

I whipped these up with my NEW Cricut Explore Air 2  and I must say...I'm impressed!!

That's right! There is a a NEW Cricut on the block my friends and I absolutely LOVE it!
The NEW Cricut Explore Air 2  comes in a variety of beautiful colors and the one my friends at Cricut sent me to review is a BEAUTIFUL mint color! (If you follow me on Instagram you saw me post it when it first arrived on my doorstep and it's a beaut - see video at the bottom of this post)

Anyway, you can use these cute paper corncobs as place card settings for your Thanksgiving table OR you can use them around your home to add some extra charm to your collection of pumpkins and Fall leaves.

Best part is, you only need a few supplies to create these!
These DIY corn-on-the-cobs are easy to put together...and the NEW Cricut Explore Air 2 helps make the process even faster than before. Let's get started...

SUPPLIES (for one corncob):
Cricut Explore® Air 2 machine
Circuit® Design Space  - (here's my custom corncob file created using the 3D Intricate Corn file) 
Cricut® 12x12” StandardGrip mat
Cardstock in yellow (or white if you'd like to chalk your corn - details below)
Raffia
Scissors - for cutting raffia
Hot glue gun

Optional:
Kraft card stock for cutting place cards.
Cricut 0.4 pen - black
Chalk - if you choose to use white cardstock

TIP
If you can't get the link to work for my custom corncob file, all I did was customize the 3D Intricate Corn file by eliminating all layers except for the solid corncob layer. I deleted all but one corncob and merged the two separate corncob pieces into one. I also enlarged the corncob to be 6 inches in length and then copy + pasted until I had the number of corncobs I needed.

To create the place card file for cutting, I searched "place card" in Cricut® Design Space and chose one that most resembled what I was looking for. Then I resized it to be 3.25" x 1.9"

DIRECTIONS for one corncob
1. Cut five corncob pieces from yellow (or white) card stock. (watch my video)
2. Use hot glue (or adhesive of your choice) and this .pdf file to assemble.  
    (don't freak out...the instructions are for an acorn but the same concept applies).
3. Cut a long bundle of raffia and knot one end.
4. Apply hot glue to open end of corncob and insert short end of knotted raffia to create cornhusks.
5. Squeeze together to seal and secure.
6. Display place card if desired or simply display with pumpkins and Fall leaves.

If you are using these for place cards you can cut some out using kraft card stock and then hand-write them using your Cricut® pen. 

TIP: You can also create a file in Cricut® Design Space to have the machine write names or even just Fall sentiments like "grateful", "thankful" or "blessings".

Now, if you'd like to take things to the next level, creatively speaking...

how about using white card stock instead of yellow and then use chalk to create the perfect mix of yellows and browns for Fall. Yes?

Just rub a mix of fall chalk colors onto the white paper corncobs and blend with your fingertips until you reach the desired result. I love that it mimics a watercolor effect. So pretty!

No matter if you keep it simple and use yellow card stock or if you decide to go all out and add your magic using chalks...the results are too adorable!!

The hardest part about this project was just trying to decide what I wanted to make in the first place when I perused the thousands of pre-designed images in the Cricut® Design Space. Ha!!

So yeah...if you are already creating your Christmas wish list...I think you're going to want to make sure this is on it. I know you'll love it and will find so many ways to create fun, personalized things for your family and friends.

With Ella's birthday party this coming Sunday, I've already determined I need to make her a personalized birthday girl t-shirt for her to wear AND a matching one for her American Girl Doll.

And probably some cute personalized party favors too! *wink*

So do you want to know what I love about the new Cricut Explore Air 2 compared to my Cricut Explore One?

1. The pretty color selections (rose, serenity blue, mint and classic ivory + gold)
2. The ability to cut or write 2 times faster

AND....

my very favorite thing about it...WIRELESS CAPABILITY!
No more ugly cords across my studio hooking my Cricut® to my computer when it's craft time. Yay!!

Want to know more about this amazing, beautiful machine?
Check out this YouTube video to see more specifics. 

Love you guys and hope you are inspired to get started on your Fall decorating...if you haven't already begun.

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THIS IS A SPONSORED POST BY CRICUT®

PEN + PAPER FLOWERS HAS RECEIVED COMPENSATION AND/OR PRODUCTS 

IN EXCHANGE FOR CREATING CONTENT AND SHARING PRODUCTS.
  AS ALWAYS, FRIENDS + READERS, I ONLY WORK WITH BRANDS 
AND SHARE CONTENT I'M PERSONALLY INSPIRED BY 

AND ESSENTIALLY FEEL WILL INSPIRE YOU TOO!

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KEEPiNG iT REAL
You guys! It's soooo pretty! Not even kidding.
I created this video using Snapchat and then posted it in my Instagram stories a couple of weeks ago.
Find me on Insta and Snapchat by searching: pnpflowers

Cricut-Explore-Air-2-Mint-5117 from Jessica Kirkland on Vimeo.

CRAFT | Modern Farmhouse Pumpkins

You guys!!
I've got the cutest Fall tutorial for you today!
It's an updated version of the Vintage Farmhouse Pumpkin  I originally shared THREE years ago.

I'm calling these Modern Farmhouse Pumpkins since I did NOT paint the mason jar bands this time allowing the silver to show through. (this gives it more of an "industrial" feel).  We're also wrapping them in some beautiful May Arts Ribbon instead of vintage paper which really changes the overall vibe of these adorable pumpkins!!

I LOVE how these turned out!!
The brown and ivory chenille dot center ribbon I chose to use for one of the pumpkins gives it a little texture and kind of resembles the cotton branches you're seeing all over the place when it comes to farmhouse decorating.

The Antique Brown/Gold textured ribbon on the 2nd pumpkin compliments the first one beautifully and makes a lovely pumpkin stem too!

I hope you love how these turned out and are inspired to try making one of your own!
May Arts has a huge selection of pretty ribbons to coordinate with whatever home decor style you gravitate towards but if you love my ribbon selections and would like to duplicate them exactly, I've got the direct links included in the MODERN FARMHOUSE PUMPKIN TUTORIAL over on the May Arts website!

xoxo,
Jessica

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THIS IS A SPONSORED POST BY MAY ARTS RIBBON.

PEN + PAPER FLOWERS HAS RECEIVED COMPENSATION AND/OR PRODUCTS 

IN EXCHANGE FOR CREATING CONTENT AND SHARING PRODUCTS.
  AS ALWAYS, FRIENDS + READERS, I ONLY WORK WITH BRANDS 
AND SHARE CONTENT I'M PERSONALLY INSPIRED BY 

AND ESSENTIALLY FEEL WILL INSPIRE YOU TOO!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

KEEPiNG iT REAL

To be honest, I wasn't sure how much I would love using the ribbon because I'm already so in love with how the the Vintage Farmhouse Pumpkin turned out using paper.

Well...I blew my own socks off with the results and I just LOVE when that happens.
(Thanks May Arts Ribbon!!) I think they are full of rustic charm and go beautifully with my home decor!! #winning

SaveSave

LIFE | Lemonade + Lollipops Stand

Lemonade stands are the best! Aren't they?
But how about a lemonade + lollipop stand? Even better!!
Especially when it's being manned by two adorable little girls that have been planning this day "for forever!" (in Ella's words). *wink*

Yep! Ella and her best friend Elise set up a lemonade and lollipop stand this past weekend and these little entrepreneurs did quite well together!

Our neighborhood was having a community garage sale so it was the perfect opportunity for them to sell their little hearts out!

Lucky for them, I had been working on a project for Hershey that allowed me to build the lemonade stand they used. My Hershey project and photos were due on Friday and the girls turned right around on Saturday and used the stand for their Lemonade + Lollipop stand.

DISCLAIMER: I did NOT build this lemonade stand all on my own. My stepdad came to the rescue and helped bring this to life. We worked together all while teaching me how to use a power saw, cut 45º angles and learn how to use and load a nail gun. I feel so empowered...because those skills are going to continue to come in handy for other projects down the road! Thank you Rick!!

Anyway, I thought you'd appreciate a peek at their adorable little stand!
The metal piece on the front came from Hobby Lobby and then I created a chalkboard sign, printed it at Office Depot, (and had them mount it onto foam board too). Then I added some strong magnets to the back to secure it to the metal. LOVE it.

And I'll love it even more when I replace the plexiglass top that's temporarily protecting the wood right now with some stainless steel or zinc or something cool! *wink*

Why would I go through the trouble and expense of building this stand when I could have easily covered a small table with a table cloth?

1. The girls will get years of use from this - and it's totally cute. *wink*
2. I've been saying for about 3 years now that I need a "standing" workstation in my studio to
    eliminate all of the hours of sitting I do at the computer or when I'm crafting. So this will be
    actively used in my studio and pulled out as needed for lemonade (and lollipop) stand use.

I thought it'd be fun to share this with you and that you'd love the turnout!

I'll be sharing the full Hershey project I did using the stand.
Including the DIY for the "lollipop cake" you see in these photos.

The sources for supplies and materials are listed below if you are curious.
Have a fantastic day my friends!!

SUPPLIES + MATERIALS
- Lemonade Stand - DIY by Pen + Paper Flowers (and my stepdad)
- Corrugated Galvanized Sheet (1x2) on front of stand - Hobby Lobby 
(couldn't find a direct link on their website so here's the item number from the packaging: #1245471)
- Chalkboard Sign - Pen + Paper Flowers
- Lemonade Dispenser
- Lollipop Cake - Pen + Paper Flowers - tutorial coming soon!
- Lollipops
- Chalkboard Box holding lollipops - Yankee Candle - from a few years back
- Free-standing Chalkboard sign (with lemonade pricing) - Hobby Lobby

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I was a complete freak on Wednesday + Thursday, prior to the Saturday the girls were setting up their stand. I was in the middle of trying to finish up the three projects for Hershey but I also really wanted to have the metal on top of the stand so it would blend nicely with the metal backing for the sign AND I wanted to make sure I had something to protect the table from spills and sugar and stickiness!

So I found myself calling numerous businesses and driving around trying to find a place that could accommodate my request. After several stops, I finally decided to let it go and just figure all that out AFTER the fact. Plus, my stepdad had a connection for the plexiglass and managed to get that to me on Thursday night! Phew! Yay!!