I’m full in on Spring at the moment, Sweet Friends. I’ve been making Carrots, and Bunnies and Easter Eggs. Now it’s time to do a little Easter Decorating. Easter Decorating Ideas is on the agenda for today.

My favorite time is Spring! My favorite thing is decorating! Spring projects = Spring decorating and that makes this blonde girl very happy!

Spring Decorating Ideas!

April is here and Easter is right around the corner. I’ve been creating all kinds of Easter decorating videos just for you.

This video is all about Easter Egg Decorating Ideas. I take wooden eggs and use Iron Orchid Designs Clay and Moulds and DIY Paint and create one of a kind unique Easter Eggs.

I can’t wait to see what you think.

The eggs are super easy to make, right?

Watch the video “Decorating Eggs with Moulds” here.

The video went live last week, so if you aren’t a subscriber you weren’t notified. You can subscribe to my You Tube channel here. You should subscribe….I mean, just in case you want to be one of the first to watch my videos! You know, the videos I make JUST FOR YOU!!!

And, I’m currently at 450 subscribers and trying to do a BIG PUSH to get to 500. So please, check out the video and share it with your friends! I’d be grateful!

Decorating for Easter with Bunnies!

But did you see my video Painted Drop Cloth Bunnies? And this one includes a story about my pups?

In this video I took old drop cloths and created no-sew bunnies. Then I painted the drop cloths. They were already paint stained and I kinda love to paint!

Styling for Easter with Eggs, Bunnies and Carrots!

What is super fun about these bunnies and eggs is that you can style them with the Spindle and Vintage Clothespin Carrots I made, as well.

Did you see my video, Spindle Carrots?

I also made a Vintage Clothespin Carrots video.

Which is your favorite video, Sweet Friends? You know how I love hearing what you think!

I’ve got the eggs video and the bunny video and the two carrot videos.

I just love all of my Easter decorations that I created, what do you think?

Will you try and recreate any of these projects. If you do, please share on social media and tag me.

I loved making all of these projects, just for you, which is your favorite?

Now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

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Hey there Sweet Friends, Easter is just around the corner and it’s almost time to get the table ready! I find, whether I am spending a holiday alone or with many, the table setting really brightens the time. Whether your table is already decorated or your looking for ideas, you are sure to get some fresh inspiration today at the Easter Tablescape Blog Hop.

Easter Table Setting!

Today is all about Easter Tablescapes. I want to wish you a warm welcome. If you are new to Create With Cynthia, please do subscribe and check out my other channels, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and You Tube. 

Easter is one of my favorite times of year and I love setting the table for this amazing holiday..

There are so many different ways to set an Easter table, but I thought it would be fun to create a centerpiece full of Easter Eggs and Spindle Carrots.

My Easter table was inspired by all of the Easter Crafts I have been doing in my home. Easter Eggs, Carrots, Bunnies and Flowers have been on my mind since March!

For this tablescape, I am using the centerpiece I created on my HomeTalk TV episode where I made Vintage Clothespin Carrots. Please hop on over to HomeTalk TV and follow me. If you hit the follow button you won’t miss my upcoming shows. Click here to follow me on HomeTalk TV. Thanks in advance.

I used an old shadow boxes for the centerpiece. I painted and added handles to the shadow box. Then I added faux grass with my Easter Eggs, Vintage Clothespin Carrots and my Spindle Carrots. For additional Easter centerpiece ideas check out “Vintage Spring Decorating With Carrots!”

Last week, when I was rummaging through my craft closet I pulled out my Iron Orchid Designs Clay, Moulds and DIY Paint. With those products, I created some Easter Eggs with flowers. They paired perfectly with the carrots in my centerpiece.

Dyed Easter Eggs just aren’t my thang anymore. Have you started Easter Egg decorating? If not, check out my video, “Easter Eggs with Clay and Moulds” on You Tube so that you can re-create these beautiful eggs. It’s a fun and easy project the whole family can participate in. You can visit my online store CreateWithCynthiaShop.com to purchase the clay, moulds and paint.

Every table needs some birds and a bunny, and these cute critters were found a couple of years back. This season I’ve also created No-Sew Painted Drop Cloth Bunnies and there is a video on You Tube called “Painted Drop Cloth Bunnies and a Story About My Pups.”

On my table I placed a macrame table runner. I love how the macrame pops against the dark wood table. For each placesetting I used cabbage leaf placemats, then Antique Scalloped Charger Plates and then my white Fiesta Ware dishes. I love using my Modern Vintage Goblets and Amber Drink Glasses. The silverware is from Ikea. These are my everyday dishes that make life super simple! Each placesetting has a small milk can full of flowers. I’ve folded the gold colored napkins under the salad plate to add a little more color to my table.

Here are the links for my place settings if you’d like to recreate this look. I chose the following:

• Caspari Leaf Die Cut Placemats from Amazon. 
• Antique Ivory Scallop Chargers from Pier One.
• Macrame Table Runner from Amazon.
• Fiesta White 3 Piece Classic Set Dishes from Macy’s.
• Modern Vintage Goblets from Macy’s.
• Amber Drinking Glasses I picked up at an Antique Mall last year. 
• The Flatware from Ikea.

And of course on the wall I hung my Easter artwork that I created last year. The artwork was stenciled using Essential Stencils and A Maker’s Studio paints. You can purchase these products through my website CreateWithCynthiaShop.com.

Now go out there and Create Something!

Cynthia

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I’ve got you covered in the Easter Egg Department, Sweet Friends. It’s time to start decorating for Easter and this DIY tutorial is just for you.

DIY Easter Eggs with Clay and Moulds!

I don’t know about you, but nowadays I just don’t prefer to dye Easter Eggs. Nowadays, I prefer to use other types of crafting mediums for my eggs. The sky is really the limit. I’ve used paint and clay and even modge podge and fabric and ribbon. For today, we are using Iron Orchid Designs Air Dry Clay and Decor Moulds. DIY Easter Eggs with Clay and Moulds!

If you’d like to purchase any of these items just click on the word and it will take you to the Create With Cynthia Shop.

Your purchases help support the blog and I am grateful to you for that.

Iron Orchid Designs Clay and Moulds!

Iron Orchid Designs has some incredible products and I love working with the Air Dry Clay and Decor Moulds. The clay is super easy to use and it dries over night. The moulds clean up well and can be used over and over again.

Materials needed for the Easter Egg with Clay and Moulds:

• Air Dry Clay
• Decor Moulds
• DIY Paint
• Wooden Eggs
• Putty Knife
• Wooden Trough
• Easter Basket
• Egg Plate
• Egg Cups
• Hot Glue Gun

Instructions on How to Create Easter Eggs with Clay and Moulds.

Step one: After you have gathered your supplies, start by seasoning your mould with Corn Starch. Use an old paint brush and spread corn starch inside the mould. Shake out any excess.

Step two: Use your scraper to cut a piece of clay from the chunk of Air Dry Clay.

Step three: Roll clay into a ball and press into the mould.

Step four: Use scrapper and remove excess clay from mould. The micro rim will assist in ensuring a flat surface on the back of the mould.

Step five: Once you have pressed clay inside mould, turn mould upside down and let gravity remove the clay from the mould.

Step six: Once your moulds are created and before each dries you can glue them onto the wooden egg surface. Use Titebond or Hot Glue to adhere the clay mould to the wooden egg.

Step seven: Paint your wooden eggs with clay and moulds.

Step eight: Seal your paint with a top coat or wax. I prefer to use wax with clay and moulds as it gets into the crevices and creates a beautiful look.

Don’t forget to decorate your eggs by placing them into a wooden box or basket or even on an egg plate.

Now, if you’d like to watch this tutorial on You Tube, you can check out my video, “Decorating Eggs with Clay and Moulds!”

Thanks for stopping by the Create With Cynthia website now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

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Do you avoid having people over because you don’t like how your home looks??? I felt that way until I did my Dining Room Makeover and you can read about it here.

Furniture Makeover DIY!

Do you feel like furniture makeovers are just way too much work and too much time???

Are you living on a budget and not able to go out and purchase expensive furniture???

So, what is it that’s holding you back from doing a furniture makeover? Leave a comment below and let me know?

You can read my post, “Creating a Feature Wall for my Home and a Story About FEAR” here. Keep in mind we have probably all been resistant to start a project at some point because of an Emotion that is holding us back.

What You Need to do a Furniture Makeover!

Today, I want to help you put aside any concerns around doing a furniture makeover.

Perhaps you just don’t know what you need, or where to start?

So, if your feeling that way. I totally understand, because, I’ve been there. I got ya Sweet Friend!

Today I am going to give you the quick and dirty of what you need to do a furniture make-over. And you probably have most of it in your home, besides the paint)!

10 Things you need to do a Furniture Makeover:

(and most you probably have laying around the house)

1. Drop Cloth or Blanket.  I picked up my Drop Cloth on Amazon and I’ll include the link below. In the past I’ve used old curtains or towels. The important thing is to protect your surrounding areas, and not make a mess.
2. Cleaner – If I don’t currently have any of my favorite furniture cleaners on hand then I usually will just grab something from the kitchen. Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner works great and I usually have it on hand because each month I receive non perishable type of groceries through Grove Collaborative. Here is the link to sign up. My favorite cleaner to use on my furniture makeovers is A Maker’s Studio Furniture and Cabinetry Cleaner. It really cuts through the grime on an old piece of furniture.
3. Sand Paper/ Sanding Block – An Orbital Sander is nice to have and I have linked my favorite below, but it is not necessary. I usually choose 200 grit sanding blocks below. But a paper bag can act as Sand Paper to smooth out a surface.
4. Paint – if you use an ‘all in one paint’, you won’t need a primer.  Check out some of my previous videos and blog posts on the products that I like to use.  I sell my Favorite Paints on my website; Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paint, A Maker’s Studio Rescue and Restore Paint and Sweet Pickin’s Milk Paint.  Some Paints even have a Top Coat/ Sealer in them, which allows you to skip #5.
5. Finishing Product; Top Coat, Sealer, Glaze or Wax – Debi’s Design Diary Diy Paint is one of my favorite paint products to use but it does not include the sealer in the paint. A Maker’s Studio Rescue and Restore paint does have a sealer in the paint, so two to three coats of it and your furniture makeover is be complete. Sweet Pickens Milk Paint also carry top coats and waxes and I love all of them. I won’t bore you with all of the details and paint brands, but it is probably the one thing that your money will be best spent on. Total Aside: If you are painting a dark piece of stained wood a light color, you may want to use a stain blocker. 
6. Brushes – If you have the money to invest in good brushes, I would suggest making the investment. You can shop my website for good paint brushes. That being said, there are many projects I’ve done with just a Dollar Store paint brush and the end result was beautiful.
7. Tools – Screw Drivers are usually needed on furniture makeovers so that you can remove the hardware. You may also need a hammer, drill, wood glue, clamps, etc. depending upon whether or not the piece needs some fixes. Sometimes I like to leave the hardware on and paint over it, but it’s also nice to remove the hardware, clean, paint and or replace it.
8. Beautifying Products – Products that add a “One of a Kind” element I call Beautifying Products. They are optional and are like make-up for your face. I carry a variety online at CreateWithCynthiaShop.com including Stamps, Moulds, Air Dry Clay, Decor Transfers and Stencils.
9. Time – Don’t give yourself too much time to work on a project. Be realistic about how long it should take you. Three to five days is pretty realistic in my opinion. If you give yourself too much time, you may get caught up in second guessing yourself. Remember, your project might go through a yucky phase like I explain in the Feature Wall Video. I’m merely speaking from experience. My video, The Buffet Makeover JRV Approved is another perfect example. Check it out here.
10. Desire – If you made it this far, thank you for reading and being a loyal subscriber. If you still don’t have a desire to do a Furniture Makeover, I get it! But if you look around your home and have projects you want to tackle, I hope I have inspired you to create with me.

When tackling projects that seem unattainable, the rewards can be larger than you expect.

Just like Debi of Debi’s Design Diary says, 

“I believe creativity is like a muscle and as you push against the resistance and the fear, you get stronger. I want to encourage you to keep building your creative muscle.”

I’m hosting craft workshops in my store space in Redwood City, California, if you need some inspiration and motivation to get started. You can read about them here.

Now go out there and create something beautiful.

Cynthia

Here are some of my favorite products to use on Furniture Makeovers:

Drop Cloth: 

Orbital Sander:

5 piece paint scraper:

Clorox disinfecting wipes:

Blue Shop Towels:

Sanding Sponge:

3M Tack Cloth:

HomeRight Heavy Duty Paint Sprayer:

Many of the links on this blog are affiliate links. CreateWithCynthia.com receives a small commission when certain items are purchased, but the price is the same for you. CreateWithCynthia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to certain companies.

The post What You Need to Start a Furniture Makeover! appeared first on Create With Cynthia.

Of course there’s ALOT more, but I’m hoping what I share can apply, to you, in your life.

Haven Conference 2019 – My 5 Take-Aways!

This message is not just for Bloggers out there!

Be Your True Authentic Self and What I Learned at Haven 2019!

Boy was it HOT in Atlanta and I’m not just talking about the weather!!!

Of course the humidity was sky high as well, but thankfully I spent most of my time indoors at classes and networking with Companies representing their Brands and other Bloggers/ Influencers.

BTW… Bloggers also like to be called Influencers.

Follow Your Dreams!

About 8 years ago, I started seeing the idea of blogging take form.  I started following many Bloggers – where I would sign up for their email or newsletter.  It was so fun, because each day I would read about these women and their stories and get ideas on creating or cooking fun things.  My favorite Blogger was KariAnne of Thistlewood Farms.  You can read my previous posts about her here:

• Treating Myself to Haven Conference in Charleston, South Carolina
• Texas Pinner’s Conference
• Guest Blogger, KariAnne Woods from Thistlewood Farms

I knew back then, in the year 2010-ish, that MY DREAM was to quit my Corporate World HR Job in Cubicle Nation and join the Wonderful World of Bloggers!  It took me ‘WAY TO LONG’ to get started and I am quite regretful of that, but here I am, now, with a little over a year under my belt.

Do you really wanna know why it took me “WAY TO LONG” to get started?

If so, leave a comment and I may be inclined to write about it!

Back to my trip to the Haven Conference 2019 and my 5 Thoughts/Take-Aways.

1. If you have a dream of blogging, go to Haven.  It was full of learning about everything Blogging and Technology and meeting a ton of amazing Influencers and Companies to potentially work with.  I had SO MUCH FUN!
2. Keynote, Egypt Sherrod was the opening speaker and you can find her as Host of HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins” and its long running show, “Property Virgins.”  Egypt also Hosted HGTV’s White House Christmas Special, the Rose Parade, and the 2017 & 2018 HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaways.  My Take-Away from Egypt was, “Always Work With Grace and Gratitude!”
3. Keynote, KariAnne Woods of ThistleWood Farms, gave an amazing speech (and received a standing ovation) on “Blogging Mistakes Every Blogger Should Avoid!”  KariAnne made me laugh and cry all within about an hour.  My Take-Away and honestly it’s a little difficult to just pick one…, “Never apologize for where you are in the Journey!”  This quote is something I have pasted on every mirror in my home!!!
4. Keynote, Amy Howard, A Maker’s Studio, who I love and adore, (and as you know, I am also a Maker Boss and am constantly Blogging and You Tubing about her products and projects) reminded all of us to stop chasing after followers and look to be our “True Authentic Self”.  My Take-Away from Amy was, “Pain Can Awaken Us to Our True Calling!” I kinda think that’s where I’m at…..
5. And finally, I learned so much at the conference that I will be implementing in my life and on the blog.  You might start to notice some minor changes to my website and blog posts in the upcoming weeks.  I hope to take all of my learnings and share them with my followers.

And from a VERY deep place in my heart, THANK YOU for reading and allowing me to pop into your email box each week.  You put food on the table for me and my boys and for that I am very grateful!

So, if you haven’t been to Haven, check out their website here and subscribe to their newsletter, because it is a conference you don’t want to miss, if you dream to be an Influencer like I did.

Have a wonderful day, Sweet Friends!

Cynthia

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Video on You Tube “Handmade Baby Gifts!”

Making gifts is a very personal and special thing.  It takes time and effort and is memorable.  I don’t always have time to make personal gifts, but if I can I will.

Three Things Needed to Make Handmade Baby Gifts!

You only need three things to make handmade baby gifts and once you have the craft items on hand, making the gifts over and over again is super easy.

1. A Maker’s Studio Gel Art Inks
2. A Maker’s Studio Adhesive Stencils
3. Onesies, Burp Cloths or Bibs – I purchase mine on Amazon, but you can always pick them up at any local store.

Here are some examples of the stencils I would recommend for baby gifts.  I usually try and have 3-5 of the Gel Art Inks on hand and that will give you a variety of colors to work with.

• New Baby Mesh Stencil
• US Map Mesh Stencil
• Alphabet 4 Mesh Stencil
• Adventure Mesh Stencil

Enjoy the video on how to make Handmade Baby Gifts.

Make it a great day!

Cynthia

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