How To Address Your Christmas Cards!

In my last post about our 2016 Christmas cards, I told you guys I'd give you a little tutorial on how to address your own - and here it is!

YOU'LL NEED:

• Envelopes (That fit your cards, obviously. 😂)
• A Sharpie - regular or skinny. I used regular.
• Scrap paper to practice on.

First, you'll want to practice this alphabet a few times. Keep your letters long and tall, while putting your extra lines (like crossing your A, E, F, H,) up high on your letter. Notice how close to the top of the H the connecting line is in my image above where I wrote "Christmas."

You can also practice your alphabet with some of these alternate letter options, or invent your own. Sometimes I'll mix both alphabets together just to make things look more fun! And don't forget to add a little extra sparkle to some of your favorite addresses!

Before I start writing someone's name, I really study their full address to see which option (below) I should go with. Are their first and last names short or long? Are you going to add their kid's names? Do they have extra things like "apt #" or "cabin #" or things like that.

There are definitely more combinations than I included below, but these are the three I use most often!

So there you have it. Do your best not to over think it and enjoy it. Sometimes I'll totally mess up and write their first names so large I have to put their last name on another line. 😂 Or draw extra hearts in one area cause everything is so lopsided. But that's the beauty of it. Each one is different.

Be sure to tag me on Instagram @brookecourtney if you address your own and post a photo of it!

DIY Floating Plexiglass Frame

I am so excited to share this DIY Floating Plexiglass Frame tutorial with you all this evening! To be totally honest, I didn't event this - my cousin taught me how to do this when I was in 5th grade. She's a wonderful art teacher and used this method back in the 90's to cheaply frame students artwork and it's just as cool today as it was back then. Just like my glitter scrunchies. 

I've mentioned before on my Instagram how much I love the products from Artifact Uprising. Clean, simple, excellent quality. If you aren't familiar with their stuff, you should be! (There is a handy link for you in my sidebar ----->.) I printed this iPhone photo of June from our trip to Hawaii, for our bedroom makeover. I just love how cute and chunky she looks, playing under the sheets in our hotel room, and wanted to wake up to that image every day! I also ordered an iPad drawing she did, which is just so dang precious I can't even handle it.

So, anyway, when my prints arrived a few weeks ago from AU, I knew I didn't want to put them in heavy wooden frames. And that's when I remembered my childhood artwork! I went down into the dungeon - I mean - our basement, and dug out my melted crayon garden collage ( 😂 ) and took note of how the simple frame was made. With one easy trip to our local hardware store, and $28 later, I had four pieces of plexiglass (measured for my prints), 16 sets of screws/nuts and picture hanging wire.

It really is super easy to make! You could even use gold hardware if you'd like - kinda wishing I'd thought of that for myself. 😂 Next time! 

Here's what you'll need for (1) ONE frame:

• 2 pieces of plexiglass - cut to custom size
• 8 sets of screws/nuts - the screws I used were 1/4" long
• Clear tape
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Drill + bit
• Picture hanging wire
• Wire cutters

INSTRUCTIONS:

First of all, when you buy the plexiglass, it will be given to you with a protective film on it. LEAVE IT ON! Plexiglass scratches super easily. Don't pull it off until the very end (I'll tell you when below.)

Start by taping together your two pieces of plexiglass on all four sides. You don't want the pieces you move around when you mark them, or drill your holes. Using a rule or tape measure, mark the 8 spots for the screws. While did use a ruler, I also kinda eye-balled it. It was a little bit of both. Don't get to hung up on everything being exact. I placed the photo I was going to frame on top of the plexiglass, just so I could see roughly where it would go when the project was finished.

Using your drill and a drill bit, drill through the 8 spots you've marked with your sharpie. It might smell like melting plastic a bit, which is fine, don't panic. I really had to put my weight into the drill to make sure I was going through both layers of plexiglass in one clean motion. Also, be sure you're drilling on a surface that you don'd mind scratching up or drilling into. I used an old piece of plywood when drilling my holes.

With your drilling complete, gently remove the protective film from all four sides of your plexiglass. If any plastic formed a crust around the areas you just drilled, push or snap it off with your fingers, leaving the 8 holes nice and clean! If you feel your pieces need cleaning before you assemble them together, wash them with any window/glass cleaner and a soft rag - being careful not to scratch anything.

Decide which piece will be your bottom layer and place a small tape-donut in the center. Using a ruler, or just eye-balling it like I did, press your photograph down on the tape to lightly secure it in place.

With your photograph in place, start to push the screws through the top and attach them on the back side with the nuts. Some of my screws slid right through, while others required me to use a screwdriver.. either way, it's super easy.

Tighten the screw sets all the way around, minus the top two corners, where you'll attach your picture hanging wire. Cut a piece of wire several inches longer than needed and wrap the wire around the back of the screw, underneath the nut. Then tighten the nut and screw, pressing the wire in place between the two. Trim off any excess wire with wire cutters.

And there you have it! Your very own frame plexiglass frame. I just love how flexible and customizable this type of framing can be. Whether your image is large or small, horizontal or vertical, textured or flat - this'll work - and look super awesome in the end. I hope you'll give it a try! You can see the two frames I made here in my Bedroom Makeover post! 

Our Bedroom Makeover with method | #fearnomess

I want to start off by letting you all know that I am partnering with method on this post, and although this content is sponsored, all opinions are my own. With that in mind, let me tell you that I freakin' love method. Just come over and dig through my closets (or my shopping cart at Target) and that'll be confirmed. Soaps and cleaners and dishwasher pods, each smelling better than the last. So, naturally, I was honored when method reached out and challenged me to #fearnomess. It's also not a surprise that when I thought about a mess, I instantly thought about our bedroom. 😬

Our bedroom has long been the forgotten room in our home. Over time, every other piece of dark/black furniture in our house has been replaced, except our bed frame -- which left our bedroom feeling darker than I'd like and heavy. Our room gets beautiful morning light, but I just felt like nothing was pulled together, the room was boring, and it was always messy... which I'm sure you can see for yourself in the "before" images below.

Insert the #fearnomess challenge and I was READY. TO. GO. Get a fresh looking bedroom and have it smell like magical clementine in the process? Win, win.

We started by taking almost everything out of the room, stripping the linens off our bed, and taking apart the old bed frame. Behind the bed, which probably hadn't been cleaned in yearrrrrs, was so gross. Under our bed was more mess - bobby pins, books, toys, wrappers. 😂

Once the old bed frame was out of the way, I got to work cleaning. And I washed everything. Even the walls, which were so dusty and gross. Our house was built in 1929 and most of the walls are plaster.... giving them just enough texture to hold onto dust and dirt over time. After about an hour of cleaning, the room looked and smelled amazing, we were ready to start bringing the fun projects into the room!

Note: Penny looking down in judgement at the floor while I clean. June smacking T.J. on the head for comedic value, saying "boinggggg". And T.J. cassssually posing with the all-purpose cleaner while I'm trying to take my "before" photos.

Years ago we replaced a heavy and dated looking built in bookshelf in our room with this mantle that I found at a yard sale down the block for only $12! And ever since, I've wanted to add the faux brick inside the mantle. So, T.J. took out the boring piece of plywood that had been there, and we replaced it the brick! I love it. It adds so much more character to the mantle!

While I put two coats of white paint on the new mantle insert, T.J. started building our new bed from Ikea. Once that was complete, we unboxed our amazing new mattress from Tuft & Needle (more on this to come!).

I knew I wanted our room to feel lighter and brighter, but I also wanted it to have more personality. For being a photographer, I barely have any photos printed and hanging in our home. (Womp, womp.) I printed one of my favorite photos of June, from our trip to Hawaii, along with one of her iPad drawings and made plexi glass frames for them. (Tutorial to come +)

Then I gathered a handful of terra cotta pots from our yard/garage, washed them off and drew on them with a sharpie paint pen. Seriously, there isn't anything you can't make cooler with a sharpie paint pen.

Other than our mantle, there really wasn't any furniture in our room that could hold plants, photos, books, etc. So I decided to make a table! Well, I decided to screw together a few pieces of wood and attach them to these awesome hairpin legs we already had lying around. Since I already had the legs, the whole project only cost me $4.34! Yasssssss.

Once the table was in place, I placed the gallery wall frames into a design on my bed, and then transferred that layout to the wall above said table. Finally! Some personality in our room! I also framed two polaroids of T.J. and myself that we took of one another on our 2nd date. 😍

With the frames in place, I added the final artwork, and the remainder of finishing touches on the room! And before we knew it - voila! - a brand new bedroom. TAKE THAT MESS!

I have always loved that method is animal friendly. Their products are formulated to put the hurt on dirty without harming furry friends - which, in our case, is four cats. I am in full support of no animal testing or animal bi-products. Yay method!

And of course I had to have lots of thrifted items in the new room. So, here's a quick list of those items: night stands, peacock chair, velvet pillows, terra cotta pots, basket for cactus, horse book ends, basket for our shoes (below table), vintage bed spread and the pineapple dish on my nightstand!

I found a free image of horses online and fell in love with the idea of printing it really big, in black and white, to frame above the mantle! I took the file to Office Max and had them print it on their blueprint printer and it only cost me $2.08. That's my kinda art!

I love waking up every morning to see the gallery wall with June's art and picture, along with some of my favorite pieces from friends, in our ever-growing art collection.

Well, there you have it! I hope this makeover inspires you to tackle whatever it is in your home that you think is a total mess. You can do it! I believe in you! Just drink lots of iced coffee and spray everything in sight with that magical smelling method cleaner and it'll all turn out awesome. 😃

I'd love to know what part of the bedroom makeover was your favorite, too! The table? The art? Leo hanging out on the bed like a king? Yeah, that's my favorite thing too.

Easter Egg Tree / DIY

Ever since getting married, and especially since having June, I've loved the idea of starting traditions that are specific to our little family. When it comes to Easter, my side of extended family has the tradition of our Easter Egg Roll, where we all gather at the top of my Grandpa's long and steep driveway and literally roll our eggs down the hill. We have winners for furthest overall and yoke only. It's pretty awesome!

But leading up to Easter, I don't really have any decorations or anything special that we do. UNTIL NOW! I've wanted to make this Easter Egg tree for two years, and I finally have!

As far as DIYs go, it's pretty easy. Below are the instructions and supplies needed, as well as what I chose for each egg to represent so it can help teach June, and our future kids, the story of Easter.

* This post was originally created for walk in love.'s blog - Check it out HERE! *

SUPPLIES:

• Eggs (paper mache, wooden or hollowed real ones)
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Paint Pen
• Scissors
• Hot Glue
• String
• Branch
• Vase/Jar
• Paper to protect your table while you paint

INSTRUCTIONS:

Find your vase and branch and set aside. Trim down the end of the stick to fit into your jar or vase if needed. I chose to stick with white, black, gold, mint and pink for my colors. I wanted it to be simple and spring-ish! You may choose any colors you'd like. Paint eggs your desired colors. My eggs took two coats of every color, except black, for them to look well painted. If however you like the single-coat-brushed-on look, stick with it! Both are good options! 

Once your second coat of paint has dried completely, you're ready to start decorating them. I used a combination of my black Sharpie paint pen and actual paint for my decorating. You can decorate yours however you'd like! If you want your tree to have "tradition and storytelling" to it, you can follow my suggestions below - or find your own!

Here is what I decided on:

• Egg with Crown - To represent Jesus as Messiah, the Holy King.
• Egg with Eyes - To represent Jesus' miracles - Giving sight to the blind.
• Egg with Palm Leaves - To represent Palm Sunday.
• Egg with Paint Strokes - To represent the breaking of bread at the last supper.
• Egg with 30 black dots - To represent the 30 silver coins that were offered in exchange for Jesus.
• Egg with X's - To represent Judas's betrayal and kiss.
• Egg with Slashes - To represent Jesus being beaten sentenced to death on a cross.
• Egg with Crosses - To represent the cross.
• Egg that is solid black - To represent the darkness of the tomb.
• Egg that is solid gold - To represent Jesus rising FROM. THE. DEAD!
• Egg that is half white, half black - To represent life over death.
• Egg that is all white - To represent our sins being washed white as snow. A clean slate.
• Egg with Hearts - To represent accepting Jesus into your heart.
• Egg with Gold Dots - To represent our charge as Christians to be the light in a dark world.

Cut string to desired lengths and with a tiny dot of hot glue, attach string to top of your egg. Knowing what my branch looked like, I made my string lengths vary in size, so the eggs could hang at different heights! If needed, weight the bottom of your jar/vase with sand or small stones. Since the branch I found grew heavily to one side, the added weight of the eggs was causing it to tip over. So make sure you test it out before you load up your branch with all the eggs.

I hope that this little project serves as a reminder in your daily life of the great story of Jesus and his love for us. I pray it allows you to teach your family about Christ conquering death, or that it starts an otherwise un-had conversation around your dinner this Easter! (Side note: You could also totally make one of these and give it to someone as a gift for their home and table!)