Friday, September 9, 2011

Our Launch Pad & New Weekly Calendar

When we were building our house one of my biggest concerns was the lack of an entry way closet. My first thought was "Where will we put all our bags, coats, and stuff when we walk in?"... Adam's thought was..."We always came in from the garage anyway!" Hmmm... good point! That got me thinking about the details of the "Family Launch Pad" I found this Ballard Design look alike at Marshall's and the fantastically big basket with a chalk board label at target for our many shoes. (This also happens to be one of Adelyn's very favorite past times... putting on everyone's shoes) Everything else was pretty much from the old house.
Aside from making this area VERY functional, I wanted it to be easily switched out for the holidays, as the open floor plan of our house leaves little wall or decorating space.
The area was inspired by my "Family Rules" frame for the old house. HERE is the original post on that. I loved the colors and whimsy of it, so I just went with it!
I found the exact same frame at Wal-Mart ($10) and made a weekly dry erase calendar. Here is the much asked for link to the frame.
This is my original calendar, which I also loved, but the colors just did not work here. The funny thing about this simple calendar is how much we all use it.... Adam checks it out to see what we are up to while he is at work and talks to the kids about their day. The kids use it kind of like a countdown... especially now that Mike is going to school on Tuesday and Thursday... he can see when it is coming. And me- well, everyday I use it because sometimes my weeks blur together-lol.
The big middle frame is a work in progress... I covered the back in burlap and I am still not sure what it will be... maybe lots of things. I started with this quote I found in Pinterest. It looks a little bulletin board like, but it still kinda works.
Since taking these pictures I have already added hooks and a dinner bell (must post that because it is pretty cute). I still have the book shelf to fill and I would like to make a few whimsical pillows for the bench.
And in true Kristy fashion, I am already thinking about switching it our for FALL!! Yay!
Tidy Mom
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

74 comments:

  1. LOVE YOUR CALENDAR!!! Love that quote too! You are GOOD!
    :) ~meg

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks great! I really need a new house to decorate... or maybe in a few months. Loving watching yours develop!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is such a great idea, it all looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great job Kristy! I'm loving seeing your new home evolve. I think Tricia, Donna and I need to come and invade to see it in person!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kristy Fey, please come decorate my next house! You and Erin have great vision and make things look good. You know I've loved that family rules from from the minute you made it! And the calendar...very cool!
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  6. looks great like it is perfect for that area so decorative and organized awesome come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your ideas! I'd like to make one for my classroom. How does it work with a dry erase markers?

    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello, there! I found a picture of your original calendar on Pinterest and made one of my own. What a great idea! Your entryway looks great, btw.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love this idea!! I pinned it..and now I'm going to make one :)

    I'm even posting all about it on my blog (tomorrow)

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOVE this idea. Love how you can customize it by the paper/fabric you put in each frame. MUST do this! Heading to Walmart today. Thanks for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yay- so happy everyone likes it. I use dollar store dry erase markers and honestly use my finger to earse it each week. I use fun scrapbook paper cut into 4x6 stuares and stickers on the paper.... the paper goes behind the glass and then you write right on the glass!

    ReplyDelete
  12. love, love how you house is turning into a home. keep up the good work, you guys seem so happy here. had a great time this past weekend. LaLa

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the weekly calander idea! I'm doing it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. LOVE this! Found it through Pinterest, and I made my own version of the weekly calendar w/the collage of frames. Thanks for sharing! You're super creative! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I agree witheveryone that these are just some fabulous and creative calenders! Such a great way to stay organized and keep it cute! And it just goes to show that picture frames can be used for so much more than just pictures! :) Great ideas! ANd I love the quote from the big frame!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. LoVe these! What a fantastic gift idea! Thanks so much for sharing!

    BTW...I featured them here:

    http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/2011/09/weekly-calendars-great-gift-idea.html

    Thanks again! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. K, that is cool! I was needing some kind of cute calendar type thing that would make me excited about my week.=) http://bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is so genius! I am thinking this would work so great for my to-do for the week and our meal plan for the week. I love it!!!
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is so genius...I wanna make one for our weekly meal plan to hang in our pantry. Thanks for sharing such a clever idea.
    Heather@A Revived Life

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is such a genius idea...I want to make one for my pantry as my weekly meal planner...thanks for sharing such a clever idea.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I want to make one of these to use as my weekly meal planner...genius. Thanks for sharing such a clever project.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What is the thing that says family made with and how to?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just want to say thanks for sharing this! I found you by way of another blogger (Annie's at Savor This Moment) who bragged about what you did here - and I'm so glad I came to check it out! Is is OK to do some creative copying??
    Corine :D

    ReplyDelete
  24. This may be a dumb question, but how did you do the days of the weeks? Just print them out on your computer?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks, Corine- go for it! And Lisa, I used my stockpile of letter stickers, but the computer, vinyl, or letter stamps would work, too!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yes they are 4X6. It is one big frame from wal-mart. Sometimes the frame is placed horizonal on the self at the store, but they all have this frame. It is just under $10!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh my GOODNESS! I HAVE to make one. Do you mind if I steal your family rules! That is just so cute. I think I am going to make a modified one for our "office/ piano room" it should be a dining room but really I have no need for that! I love the idea of changing it out for the seasons!!!! Keep the ideas coming! okay now I MUST get back to cleaning my sewing room! (Oh I might need to use fabric to create these!)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great ideas!! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi - I love this, but don't quite get how you make it. Where did you get the beautiful dry erase boards to use? I only see boring white ones.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  30. What size photo frames did you use for the weekly calendar?

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am trying to order this frame on Walmart.com do you know the name of it? Great idea BTW!

    ReplyDelete
  32. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=15833603

    here is a link to the frame i used... looks like it is sold out... surely not because of us right?

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a clever, stylish and practical idea!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love this...I think I will use the frame/paper/dry erase markers idea for chore charts for my kids. Their chores change on a weekly basis and this would be so easy for them to keep track of! Thanks for the great ideals!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love this idea. I just made my own!http://jandsbennett.blogspot.com/2011/11/picture-frame-calendar.html

    ReplyDelete
  36. How do you make the dry erase board part? Yours has cute designs on it!

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is so cool! Did you write on the scrapbook paper or how do you do it?

    ReplyDelete
  38. love pinterest because i discover really creative people i didn't know existed. great blog, love it, bookmarked it, will check back frequently.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Just bought the frame...working on this over the weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I LOVE the weekly calendar. How did you make it with the dry erase boards? Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  41. New here at Pinterest, and this weekly calendar was my very first 'pin'. With our busy family of six - ages 5 to 60 - this will go a long way to keeping us all on track! LOVE it!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Went to 2 Wal-mart stores looking for frame with no luck. Target had one for $25 (No Thank You!). Found it by chance at Meijer. Made mine...now to go to Jo-Ann's tomorrow for some cute letter stickers! Thanks for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Made the picture frame/dry erase calendar today! I used lightened family photos instead of scrapbook paper and it looks awesome!
    Thank you so much for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Where did you get the Days of the Week words? Are they stickers?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Amanda, please post a picture. I'm curious as to how it looks using pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  46. How do you do the dry-erase part? Do you just put fabric under the glass and write on the top of the glass?

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thanks so much for the idea! I bought the frame at Wal-Mart today and went to work. Just posted on my blog http://misty-snowlady.blogspot.com/.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This is so great!! Love the ideas. Thanks for the inspiration :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Soooo super cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love your stuff!!! Can you tell me what your wall color is-lol. Mine is similar, but doesn't looks as wonderful as yours. Thinking I would like a do-over. Blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I Love your stuff. Can you tell me what color your walls are painted? It looks similar to mine but I like yours better. I think I would like a do-over! lol Blessings to you,
    B

    ReplyDelete
  52. okay i've read all the comments but i still don't know how to do the dry erase. is it like someone said and you just write on the glass?

    ReplyDelete
  53. Yes, you just write in the top of the glass. Dry erase markers work on glass and even mirror. :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. B. That wall color is oldgold 5 from valspar, but my house is dark (not alot of natural light) and my camera is just an old point and shoot... it looks brown in my house than the store. I think I will a little post on my colors as several people have asked-thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love the Family Rules and the Weekly Dry Erase. Excellent Ideas. With a 2 yr. old and one on the way, those will be great additions for our household. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I copied your idea and used it for a menu/calendar for our family and will be sharing the result tomorrow! Thanks for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Wow, I love this. I could use it in my classroom for daily schedule or even for weekly objectives. what a creative idea!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Please explain how you made a dry erase with the pretty paper out of that frame. Please.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Did you glue the frames together?

    ReplyDelete
  60. I was wondering where you found the days of the week stickers?? did you create your own by using letter stickers or did you find them all 1 word??? I'm going to make this and was just wondering thanks!! birdies282@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Your calendar is wonderful. Thanks for sharing ღ

    ReplyDelete
  62. WOW, I absolutely LOVE the calendar idea!!! What inspiration, thanks :-)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Loved your idea!! I posted your picture of it on my blog for reference with a link

    http://confessionsofalazzymom.blogspot.com/

    thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  64. I am going to college and this is the perfect thing to keep me and my roommates on the same page. It can hold our menu for the week or schedule. Thank you for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Where are you ladies located that you are finding this picture frame at Wal-Mart? I can't even find it online there, much less anywhere else. Please advise.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Thanks so much. I have a hectic life, but am so blessed. Cooking is my creative outlet

    click

    ReplyDelete
  67. Featuring you as the first project on my new crafty blog, coming soon! Thanks for the idea and please stop by to follow/check out my take on your adorable project!

    ~Dianna @ http://getruffled.blogspot.com
    (Ruffled Feathers Blog)

    ReplyDelete
  68. I'm so glad that I found this. How awesome! =D Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  69. what are your favorite cricut cartridges. Trying to find the best one for letters.

    ReplyDelete
  70. The WalMart frames are out of stock, but I found them online listed as available at Sears. FYI.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Love your ideas! I would like to do an "OUR WEEK" frame also. I like your original calendar! Can you tell me what size frame that is?! Or paste the link! THANKS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Walmart still has the frames. The link on this blog is outdated - it's now sold under a different product number.

    Right here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-8-Opening-Black-Collage-Frame/20692205

    It's 11.96 online. Still not a bad deal for an awesome idea. :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Love this and finally made it today. Wish I could post a pic here. From one Kristy to another, Thanks for the amazing idea!

    ReplyDelete

Let's go make something,

Kristy

Our Favorite Things