The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 169 & Girly Girl Inspiration

TGIF friends! I know it’s back to school time and everyone is thinking fall décor but wow, it’s hot where I live. I’m trying to think fall leaves and acorns but my mind is still in the sea blue and beach glass place. How about you? Are you excited for fall? As soon as it cools off a little, I’m right there with you. In the meantime, as we transition into fall, I’m sure everyone is busy with all the things that are happening this time of year – so if you didn’t get a chance to stop by this week, here’s a glimpse of what I shared.

Tie Dye Watercolor Scarf  |  Better Bake Sale via Martha Steward Living |  Pistachio Pomegranate Granola

A big thank you to all of you who shared projects this week on The Inspiration Board. The board was filled with wonderful ideas. Here are a few in the spotlight this week.

GOOD TASTE: Pistachio Pomegranate Granola

I’ve been trying to be healthier and snack on things like veggies, fruit and granola. It irks me every time I buy granola at the market because it’s so darn expensive. And I don’t even get the really good stuff – that’s just too pricey. I finally had some time and made up a batch and it is so good.

HOMEWORK READING: Martha Stewart Living ~ Better Bake Sale & Printables

Friends, the September issue of Martha Stewart Living is out and of course, it’s filled with timely inspiration. I loved this story on a Better (For You) Bake Sale. Jennifer Aaronson, Editorial Director of Food & Entertaining at Martha Stewart Living, brings us ideas for the "Better Bake Sale" which focuses on swapping in some better-for-you flours, oils, and food colorings. Favorite cookies, cakes, bars, and breads get healthful makeovers.

The Inspiration Board: Creative Party 169 & A Twine Sunburst Wreath

From my archives | Twine Sunburst Wreath

Happy Tuesday and welcome to The Inspiration Board Creative Party! Where did August go? I can’t believe we are on the last week of August and September and fall are around the corner. Time sure flies in blogland. If you’re new here, please leave me a comment and introduce yourself so I can visit and meet you. For those of you who have been coming around for awhile, I’m so grateful.

So, what have you been working on? I can’t wait to see. Let’s get this creative party started.

DRESS CODE: Tulip Tie Dye Watercolor Scarf

Friends, I have such a fun project to share with you today. As part of the Tulip Tie Dye Your Summer fashion team, I’m demonstrating Tulip Tie Dye but not in the traditional sense. When you think of tie dye, you think fun t-shirts with spirals of bright colors. I used Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye which is America’s favorite tie dye, to create fashionable scarves in a watercolor effect.

The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 168 & Pink & Purple Crush Inspiration

Happy Friday everyone! Well I’ve been an empty-nester for one week now and I’d doing fine. Yay me! I hope you all had a wonderful week and I wanted to thank each and everyone of you that stopped by, left a comment and linked up a project this week. I’m so grateful to all of you. In case you didn’t get a chance to stop by this week, here’s what I shared.

Caprese Crostini Skewers  |  Gold Leaf Concrete Planter  |  Willow & Sage Review

And now for the projects featured in the Spotlight this week.

GOOD TASTE: Caprese Crostini Skewers

If you’re a regular here at homework, you know I’ve been on a tomato, basil kick lately. But I think these by far are my favorite.

HOMEWORK READING: Willow and Sage

When you think of Stampington & Company, you think of stamping and paper and pretty crafts. So I was surprised when the editors of Stampington & Company emailed me to see if they could feature one of my scrubs in their next edition of Willow and Sage. I happily agreed because, you know, it was Stampington and Company. They explained that their first issue of Willow and Sage had just been published and sent me a copy.

The Inspiration Board: Creative Party 168 & Faux Felted Acorns

FROM MY ARCHIVES | Felted Acorns without Wool or Water

Welcome to The Inspiration Board Creative Party! I’m so happy you’re here and can’t wait to see what all of you have been up to. If you’re new to homework, leave me a comment and introduce yourself. I love meeting new creative friends. So, what have you been working on? Back-to-school projects, home décor, fall decorating? Whatever it is, I can’t wait to see.

So let’s get this creative party started.

ETCETERAS: Gold Leaf Concrete Planter

Happy Monday everyone! I’m so excited to share this project with you. This is another craft I’ve been eager to try. Gold leaf seems to be all the rage and I finally got some gold leaf sheets and tested out the technique. What fun!

The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 167 & Say Cheese Inspiration

Woot! It’s Friday friends! We crafted, baked, decorated and diyed through another week. Today is the big day when we move our son into his new college dorm and his new adventure. I’m so excited for him but of course, feeling like my little baby bird is leaving the nest. So while I pack up the car with what seems like everything he could possibly need, drive to his new school and get his room set up, enjoy the projects in the spotlight this week.

If you didn’t get a chance to drop by this week, here’s what I shared.

U.S. Pin Map  |  Tomato & Basil Salt |  Back-to-School Round Up

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And here are the projects in the Spotlight this week.

Homework: Back to School Ideas to Make Life Easier

Where did the summer go? It seems like a minute ago, the entire summer was ahead of us. I had big plans. I was going to get refreshed, organized and ready for fall. And then in a blink, summer is almost over and I’m not refreshed, organized or ready for fall. Oh well, like it or not, fall is around the corner and it’s back-to-school time.

I love all the back-to-school inspiration. I’m in awe of darling bento box lunches with sandwiches in the shape of animals and wonderful embroidered lunch bags. But for me, I need easy and make-life-easier type projects. Back to school means getting organized and ready for the hectic schedule.

I’ve rounded up some ideas that are easy to achieve and some that will make life a little easier as the school activities take over our lives.

GOOD TASTE: Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salt

Summer may be winding down on the calendar but here in Southern California it’s just heating up. My tomatoes are just turning red and I’m starting to enjoy the crop.

The Inspiration Board: Creative Party 167 & Fall Cornhusk Pumpkins

FROM MY ARCHIVES | Cornhusk Pumpkins

Hello, hello! Welcome to The Inspiration Board Creative Party! I’m so happy you’re here and can’t wait to see what all of you have been up to. Summer is winding down but it’s still hot so it’s hard for me to think about fall projects. Hopefully, some of you are ahead of me and will inspire me with your fall inspiration. It’s hard to believe we’re rounding the corner to another season. Before you know it, it will be the mad dash from back-to-school through the holidays!

If you’re new to homework, leave me a comment and introduce yourself. I love meeting new creative friends. So let’s get this creative party started.

INKLING: United States Pin Map

As part of the Lifestyle Crafts Studio Team, I also get to use the We R Memory Keepers line of products. So for this month’s project, I went back to basics and created a fun paper project. To make this U.S.A. Pin Map, I really went old school and only used a pair of trimming scissors, craft knife and cutting board. No fancy tools necessary for this project.

The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 166 & S’mores & More Inspiration

It’s Friday everyone! As happy as I am that it’s Friday, I have to say this impending college move-in day is looming ever closer. We move our one and only kid in exactly one week. As emotional as it is, I have to admit, ideas of redecorating his room are swirling in my head. I’ll keep you posted once the room makeover begins. In the meantime, the pile of dorm room necessities grows ever larger and so does my anxiety. In between checking items off the dorm room list, I shared a few things here this week.

Cook Once – Eat Twice Crockpot Shredded Beef  | The Unfinished College Blanket  |  Preserving Homegrown Basil

Thank you to everyone who came by this week and a big bloggy hug to those of you who shared your projects on The Inspiration Board. I appreciate each and everyone of you.

Here are the projects in the Spotlight this week:

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THE DIRT: Preserving your bumper crop of basil

Did you plant basil this year? I love it. It’s so fun to just snip a bit off and instantly add flavor to your dish. But the basil grows so fast and there’s no way I can use it that quickly. I did a little research and wanted to try a way to preserve my fresh basil. There are loads of options. You can make basil oil, you can freeze small amounts of basil in oil or butter, you can blanch it or you can make basil salt. I was intrigued!

NOTIONS: The Unfinished College Granny Square Blanket

I’ve mentioned here a few times that the teen is leaving for college soon. We only have one kid so we are going to be empty-nesters in about a week and half. When people say it goes by quickly, they ain’t kidding! When my son started high school I had just started this blog and wanted to learn to crochet. I must have mentioned it in a post because a reader sent me a crochet book.

The Inspiration Board: Creative Party 166 & A Repainted Gold Chevron Table

From my archives | repainted gold chevron side table

Hi everyone! Welcome to The Inspiration Board. I say it every week but I’m so happy you are here to visit and share your creativity. There are so many link parties and avenues to share projects and I’m thrilled to be on your list. Well, August crept up on us and now we are in full throttle back-to-school mode. Are you ready? I’m not because instead of buying new backpacks and stocking up on brown bags, I’m unbelievably shopping in the dorm and college section at Target and Bed N Bath. Crazy!

So help me take my mind off the impending college move and inspire me with your creativity.

GOOD TASTE: Crockpot Shredded Beef {BBQ Beef Sliders}

Crockpot recipes are popular for a good reason. We are all so busy, it’s hard to pull together dinner and eat at a reasonable hour. But with a little planning, you can have a delicious meal when you’re done with work.

The Inspiration Board: Spotlight 165 & Mellow Yellow Inspiration

Hello everyone! Happy Friday! Woot. Do you have big plans for the weekend? I’m still in college-kid move in mode, so I’ll be running around all weekend picking up more dorm necessities. I want to thank everyone who visited this week and especially to all of you who shared projects on The Inspiration Board. I love looking through all the links and it definitely takes my mind off my soon-to-be empty nest. If you didn’t get a chance to pop over, there what I shared this week.

A Twine Wrapped Clip Holder  |  A Little Eucalyptus  |  A Martha Stewart Giveaway

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And now for the projects in the Spotlight this week.