diy business cards | simplykierste.com
o henry bars | simplykierste.com
may 2013 promo
Carters giveaway | simplykierste.com

{baseball board sign with chalkboard blue}

May
03
1
afullsign2

Hello!  It's Michelle From Chalkboardblue!  I'm excited to share with you a fun sign you could make to accent a Boy's or Girls Athletic Themed Room. I made this baseball sign for my son who loves everything to do with baseball! The finished sign measures 16 1/2 in. by 16 1/2 in. I took One pine board measuring 5 1/2 inches wide by 8 feet long.  ( I didn't end up using the whole 8 feet). I pre-stained and painted my board before I cut it.  I stained it first with a dark stain.  When that dried  I painted it white.  I did this so when you sand down some of the white in places, the stain shows through giving it a weathered or worn look. Using a miter saw, I cut 3 boards each … [Continue reading...]

{footprint rug}

May
02
11
footrprint rug | simplykierste.com

I am in love with capturing my children's footprints and hand prints. Seriously {LOVE}. For Mother's Day this year, I made my mom a footprint rug for her kitchen, and it is ADORABLE. That tiny little footprint, next to all of her siblings?  Darling.  I can't stand it, it's so cute.  ☺ It's perfect.  And...it's super easy!  I was SO excited when I came across this rug in the kitchen aisle at Target (only $8) last week, because I knew was going to save me a lot of time not adding the border myself.  It was exactly what I was looking for! The border frames the footprints perfectly, and the red makes the white lettering pop! {supplies} -kitchen rug (a plain color) -fabric … [Continue reading...]

{striped straw birthday candles}

Apr
30
1
striped straw birthday candles | simplykierste.com

It was my girls' birthday this weekend, and we had such a blast celebrating!  They wanted a pink cake, which was a pretty easy request considering what they've asked for in past years.  I made a simple pink cake, and when it was time for the birthday candles, it just seemed like it needed something more. I was getting out some striped straws for our hot chocolate, when I had an idea... The hole in the straw looked to be just a tad bigger than the plain birthday candles I had (just the regular white striped ones), and I decided to see if they would fit inside, and they did!  It was a tight fit, but I was able to slide them in just far enough that they were secure. SO CUTE!!!  It made … [Continue reading...]

{queen bee market giveaway!!!}

Apr
29
1
win 200 of handmade awesome from the queen bee market

Happy Monday!!  What a FUN giveaway I have for you today, to start the week off right! If you follow craft bloggers on social media, you may have heard about a bloggers' conference called SNAP that happened last weekend.  I REALLY wanted to go, but I was home...with my new baby.  :) One of the fabulous things they have there is called the Queen Bee Market, which is full of handmade goodness. This gathering is fun to browse through... and even more fun to shop at! I partnered with BlogPrizes.com and some of my awesome blogging friends to give YOU a chance to win some of the hottest items at the Queen Bee Market. And I really mean the HOTTEST. Several of these items were sold out before … [Continue reading...]

{simple DIY numbered labels}

Apr
25
8
labels three alone copy

I number everything.  It's true.  I do number things just to make them cute, but I also use numbers quite a bit for organizational purposes.  With six kids, numbers really come in handy, although I do feel a little like Captain Von Trapp. ☺ Each of my children have a number, and they have their own kitchen stool, coat hook, and more.  We have a front entry bench with baskets underneath it, where each child has their own basket for shoes. We used to have the whole family's shoes there, and the kids shared baskets, but they were quickly running out of room.  Now it's one child per basket, and it was time for numbered labels! These are highly used shoe baskets, and I needed durable, … [Continue reading...]

{paper sack mother’s day card} a child’s Q&A

Apr
23
57
paper sack mother's day cards | simplykierste.com

At my church, I get to work with the Primary children (kids aged 3-11), and I LOVE it. Mother's Day is just a few short weeks away, and this week I designed a super fun card that I think all their moms are going to love! I wanted to make a card where they could each express some favorite things about their mom.  I was talking to one of my best friends this week, and she reminded me of an idea that I have actually loved for a long time...in fact, my oldest son wrote a card like it for me when he was in preschool, and it's one of my most treasured possessions.  Asking a child questions about their mom--some funny, others serious--and putting it all together in a cute package was just what I … [Continue reading...]

{silhouette portait giveaway winner!}

Apr
21
1
april promo with code

A huge congratulations goes to Miriam Prantner...winner of the Silhouette Portrait giveaway!!! Check your e-mail for details, Miriam!! :) The promotion is still going strong, and will be through April 26th!! Premium vinyl is 25%, making it only $7.50 a roll!!  Time to stock up! {kierste} … [Continue reading...]

{2013 summer schedule}

Apr
19
9
2013 summer schedule | simplykierste.com

Yes, I know it's only April, but summer is soon upon us, and I've already started penciling in summer activities.  Summer camps, swimming lessons, and vacations have made their way onto my calendar, and there is more to come. I'm constantly learning about other fun summer activities, and I love having a place to keep them all straight, and reduce overbooking or overlapping.  I created this summer schedule several years ago, and loved it, so I update it each year and live by it the whole summer! It makes me happy!  :) There are a couple of ways you can use this: 1.  Download the PDF file, place in a frame, and use it as a dry erase board. (Use a fine point Sharpie--it won't rub off … [Continue reading...]

{silhouette GIVEAWAY and promo!}

Apr
18
10
blogger-promo-april-2013

I'm so lucky!  It's time for another Silhouette Portrait giveaway!!! Plus...this month's promo is also awesome, featuring my personal favorite...vinyl! It's also priced at an all-time low--you don't want to miss this! I use vinyl ALL.THE.TIME.  I label everything in sight, create tons of home decor, put it on my walls, use it on tags & cards, create banners and other party items...and more.  I think I'm kind of in love with it.  :) I'm in the middle of re-doing my twin boys' room (age 3), as they have now moved from their cribs into bunk beds. Today I used vinyl for a simple lamp makeover, and I LOVE it.  I actually only added one small thing--a number 2 (there are two of them :) … [Continue reading...]

{chalkboard & fence post family home evening board}

Apr
17
7
Family Home Evening Board | simplykierste.com

Every Monday night is a special one at our house...it's Family Night, or Family Home Evening as we like to call it. We put everything on hold, and don't put anything else on the schedule.  Everyone stays home, and we enjoy some really fun and quality time together as a family.  We do have a structure, not only to stay organized, but to also give each member of the family an opportunity to contribute.  We sing songs, have a simple gospel lesson from the scriptures, pray, eat treats, play games, have a talent show (you should see some of the crazy talents my kids have, lol!), and do some kind of activity--whether it's playing games, going on a walk, bike ride, or to the park, bowling, … [Continue reading...]