Swing Set Make-Over: Summer DIY Project!

Reposting this DIY Project I did last summer. It's one of my most popular pins on Pinterest so I thought it was worth a repost!

 

So excited to share a little project I did this summer! We got a used swing set off someone on Craigslist. A great find and in good shape, but needed "prettied up" in my opinion. So off I went to Joann Fabrics for some fun, outdoor fabric. LOVE LOVE LOVE the bright pattern I found! Our backyard colors (on chairs, cushions, and accessories) are orange and green so this went very well with the rest of the decor, yet stood out as something special for a girlie clubhouse. :-)

I got about 4 yards of the fabric and if you keep an eye out, you can almost always find JoAnn coupons for 50% off. I used mine and only spent about $40.00. I also got 1 yard of a coordinating fabric to throw into the mix. You'll need to get some heavy duty thread to do the project, too.

First thing you want to do is lay out the old tarp that comes with it. Measure each piece and then add an inch to each side - allowing for the hem. Then cut and hem your fabric.

For the back panel, I wanted it to be double sided. This way it is pretty on the inside and outside. So I just measured out another piece the same size, hemmed it, and sewed the 2 pieces together.

Now you are ready to hang! Using the same holes and screws that came with the swing set, my husband and I drilled/screwed in the new fabric. It's been holding up great so far, but I think I may unscrew and take it down in the winter to keep it looking fresh and just put it back up next Spring. Only takes about 10 minutes to attach everything.

Made easy curtains with a rope and 2 square panels of fabric. Just hem fabric all the way around and then hem again on top, leaving enough room to fish the rope through. Then hang!

  I made a bunting banner to go across the top of the swing area to tie it in with the club house side. It's sewn on a thin rope and tacked on the wood beam.

My daughter and her BFF enjoying the new space.

Finishing touches: a few throw pillows and an extra square of fabric as hanging "art" for the wall.

Added in two terra cotta pots of bright colored petunias, and a planter with bright colored pinwheels. Old Little Tykes picnic table (in the background) got a make-over, too, thanks to a nice can of spray paint in Eden green. 

Last, but not least - a sign to personalize it. Spray painted an old board and then let Ruby do the rest! After watching the Little Rascals, she decided her clubhouse should say "No boys allowed!" But then she re-thought it and added in: "except Daddy".  Love it!

Wishing you all a fun summer! If you make your own, share it! Would love to see how yours turned out!

New Packaging for Pretti Mini!

So excited to have a new look to the shop, a new logo, and now a fancy new label to jazz up our packaging! There's a new website coming soon, too, but, SHHHHHH! (Don't tell anyone yet!) We'll be announcing the official news here when we're ready to launch. For now, here's how our goods will show up on your doorstep!

 

And this is how we are packaging our Pretti Pom Wands:

Funny how such a little thing can make me smile. I love how it turned out and that it's pink. Cause, you know, everything's better with a little pink!

Have a beautiful day!

xoxo,

Jen

Welcome Summer with an End of School Year Goodie Basket! (FREE PRINTABLE SUMMER FUN VOUCHERS!)

 

School is almost done for the year! Get the kids ready for summer with a fun goodie basket. It can be anything from a few beach toys and bubbles in a sand bucket to few little surprise tickets they can expect to use this summer.

25 fun ideas for what to put in a bucket or basket:

BEACH TOWEL

SUNGLASSES

NEW SWIM SUIT 

GOGGLES

SAND TOYS

WATER GUNS

WATER TOYS

BEACH SHOVEL

BUBBLES

SIDEWALK CHALK

NERF BALL

NERF GUNS

FRISBEE

JUMP ROPE

BEACH BALL (deflated)

POOL TOYS

KITE

CRAFT KIT

SILLY STRING

BAG OF WATER BALLOONS

GLOW STICKS

SMALL BOOK

SKETCH BOOK

GIFT CARD (See below for ideas or use our SUMMER FUN VOUCHERS!)

MINI PHOTO ALBUM FOR SUMMER MEMORIES

  I credit my assistant, Karla, for coming up with the idea for the gift basket. She is always full of fun ideas...especially when it comes to the kids! We had a good time tossing around all the things we'd like to put in their goodie bags or baskets the last couple weeks. Knowing how my daughter has always wanted to go to Hershey Park, I thought it'd be fun to surprise her with park tickets, too. We added season passes to our local water park - Sesame Place - and a few little gift cards for our local ice cream shop and movie theater. I had so much fun, I couldn't stop. I thought "what if I made cute little vouchers for them all?" So, here they are: SUMMER FUN TICKETS!

To present like a booklet, just punch a hole in the corners, then tie with ribbon.

To include things like theater tickets, park passes, or gift cards, glue the card to the front of the envelope & stash the goods inside. I stacked a few on top of each other then wrapped with a ribbon. 

Here is yours! Ready to print and fill out!

Ideas for your fun day trip or passes:

TRIP TO THE PARK

FATHER/SON OR FATHER/DAUGHTER FISHING DAY

MOTHER/DAUGHTER SPA (at Nail Salon or local Sweet n Sassy)

ICE CREAM PARLOR DAY

AMUSEMENT PARK TICKETS (taped to the back of voucher or in an envelope)

DAY TRIP TO THE BEACH

PICNIC IN THE YARD

LOCAL MUSEUM DAY TRIP

TRIP INTO THE CITY

BASEBALL GAME

POOL MEMBERSHIP

Rainy day ideas!

MOVIE THEATER TICKETS

SKYZONE TICKETS

BOUNCE HOUSE TICKETS

GIFT CARD FOR LOCAL POTTERY OR CRAFT PLACE

SHOPPING SPREE! GIFT CARD TO FAVORITE STORE

Last, but not least, - actually, some of my favorites - a few sweet and simple ideas to put on our 

SUMMER FUN VOUCHERS:

One special craft day with your child

One nature day with your child (go on a nature walk, hike, or visit local park)

One visit to local ice cream shop with mom or dad

Trips to the ice cream truck (With money for them already in the envelope)

Gift voucher to Rita's Water Ice

Weekend Trip to Grandparents house

Make up your own! (And comment below! I would LOVE to hear your ideas!)

What's great about this, is you have plans already in place for your child's summer and money allocated for the specific activities and places. Even ice cream money set aside! There were so many little trips and things we MEANT to do last summer and never got to. This year, I have a plan, the tickets, and it's all presented in sweet little envelopes!  It's gonna be a great summer!

WISHING YOU AND YOUR KIDS AN AWESOME SUMMER!

xoxo,

Jen