{Paper Easter Basket - by Martha}

How sweet and simple is this little paper Easter basket?

It would make the cutest table decoration or place setting at your Easter table, or for a Spring brunch!

The best part... it's 2 steps:

- Grab a bag

- Cut the bag

Seriously.

You can get the full instructions here.

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{My Mantel is Having an Identity Crisis}

 Do you remember a few weeks ago when I created these inexpensive arrangements for my mantel?

And remember how I loved the simplicity of my mantel's new look?

Well, that was true...I did love it...
...until I saw
this post from Centsational Girl!

Can you believe how beautiful her mantel display is?

I spent about 5 minutes staring at it and becoming green with envy (that mirror!) until I realized that I can re-create my own version with a few things I already had...and a can of trusty white spray paint.

I "shopped my house" and came up with a few items that I thought would work, patiently waited for a non-windy day to spray paint, and then tried to set it all up in a similar way. 

Of course it's not nearly as perfect as CG's (that mirror!), but I am so happy with how it ended up, and the best part is....

I didn't spend any money!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Oh, and why, YES!  I do plan on doing something about that dirty brick fireplace and ugly shiny brass on the wood stove. Stay tuned...

Don't worry, my Dollar Tree Mantel Vases are happy in their new home...the front room.

Projects like this are a great reminder to me that I can have beautiful spaces that I love without spending a lot of money!

--Tammy



*Please click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*



and this fun event is going on this week, too:

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{SWEET BERRIES - For Sale!}

Remember the STRAWBERRY GARLAND I vaguely mentioned in my wooden HOME decor post?

Well, here it is!

All finished and gussied up and ready to come live with you!

There are actually 3 STRAWBERRY GARLANDS available for purchase in the

PEPPERMINT PLUM etsy shop

right now!

Perfectly SWEET.

Perfectly SUMMER.

Perfectly YOURS.

Each STRAWBERRY GARLAND includes 7 individually sewn and stuffed fabric strawberries strung on cotton rope and is presented in its own

Kerr {MASON} Jar

with a fabric pincushion top!

I currently have my garland hanging below my wooden HOME blocks:

You can display yours in any way you like!

All of the STRAWBERRIES can be removed from the rope to be used individually as play food or for any decor need you see fit.

:)

I had such a fun time making these and I am super excited that they are now available in THE SHOP!

Enjoy!

-Annie

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{Molasses Gingersnaps}

Today I'm going to share my sister-in-law's recipe for Molasses Gingersnap Cookies. They are soft and chewy and stay that way for a couple days, and they freeze well.

If you've never had a homemade gingersnap, you are in for a real treat! ...and even if you have, you are still in for a treat, believe me...because these things are GOOD.

{Soft Molasses Gingersnaps}

3/4 cup margarine or butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and molasses. Add spices then flour. Roll into balls and roll into sugar. Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes.

When they start to crackle on top, they're done!

--Tammy

*Click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

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{5 Dollar Berry Wreath}

I made this wreath last SPRING and just pulled it out to hang up again this year.

It was originally made for a $5 dollar blog challenge so I decided to get all of my supplies at Dollar Tree.

Since Dollar Tree is currently selling these little berry bundles again, I thought I'd show you the tutorial so you can make one for yourself!

These tutorial pictures are fairly self-explanatory:

Buy and gather your supplies.

You will also need scissors and your trusty hot-glue gun.

then

Take caution, as the hot-glue can and will easily seep through the open berry spaces and will burn you.  I promise.

Also, I do NOT recommend making this wreath anywhere around small children!

The foam berry balls come off quite easily and roll right onto the ground.

They look like delicious candies.

I had to stop myself from eating them.....

just kidding

But, please... be super-duper careful!

To finish it off, tie a ribbon around the top and hang it up!

There are other colors of berries as well:   blue, pink, purple...  you could make any color combo you like, or keep it all one color.

It would also be cute as a table centerpiece with candles or a mossy nest and eggs placed in the center, perfect for Easter!

-Annie

*Click HERE to see the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

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{Kitchen Art}

When I posted pictures of my newly painted kitchen, one of our lovely readers made a comment about hanging some framed prints on the beadboard that hangs behind the cabinets.

I loved the idea (thanks Tanya!) and immediately started brainstorming about what kind of prints I would want there.

Etsy to the rescue!

I found these really great prints from a seller named Oodles Of Color. Check out her shop...she's got some cute stuff.

I matted the prints in white and framed them in black (also suggested by Tanya).

I really love the way they look in my "new" kitchen!

--Tammy

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{Wooden HOME Decor}

All throughout our childhood, our mom had these little wooden houses set on a shelf as part of our home decor.

They originally had stenciled-on letters that spelled out

W E L C O M E

and I have always loved them.

They were painted in different shades of blues and pinks and mauve.

Definitely 1980's style colors, but still super cute.

When they showed up in of our garage sale boxes a few years ago, something told me to keep them.

I just knew there was a way to transform them into awesomeness!

Little wooden house shapes?  Too cute!

They had to stay in the family.

I took 4 of the best shaped blocks and got to work.

First, I found some block letter stickers and applied them to each block, spelling out H O M E:

I then painted a thin layer of acrylic paint over the top.

I used my favorite light turquoise paint color that I found at WalMart -- it's called CLOUDLESS:

Once the paint was dry, I inked all of the edges with brown distress ink:

Then I carefully peeled the stickers off to reveal the wood underneath.

I love how each block has its own natural wood colors and grain!

Isn't that a great improvement?

It took about 10 minutes, tops.... and that includes drying time.

You could do this with any small wooden cut outs you might have.  I think any shape would be cute.  I'm definitely loving my HOME houses!

I added small pieces of the command velcro strips to the back of each house so I could hang them on the wall, above my cork board:

..and they love living there.

:)

Stay tuned later this week to see more info on that darling stuffed

strawberry garland!

(soon to be in the Peppermint Plum Etsy shop as well)

-Annie

*Click HERE to see all the lovely linky parties we participate in!*

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{GIVEAWAY WINNER!}

Thank you to everyone who entered the GIVEAWAY!

We had 39 total entries, and the random winner is:

Comment #5:  DIXIE MOM

Shut up! I have been looking all over the place including the internet for those ever since you posted them! Seriously...I even have a friend in Kansas City driving all over! Ha!
I have been daydreaming about a project with them for weeks! So...pick me!
And I'm a follower already...have been!!

Awesome!

Congratulations, Dixie Mom!

Please email us at PeppermintPlum@hotmail.com with your name/address.

* * * * * * * *

And, since these little wooden figures are still so hard to come by, if I find another pair, I may just pick another random winner to send them to.

Thanks for playing, everyone!

-Annie

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{Surprise GIVEAWAY!}

*This GIVEAWAY is now CLOSED*

Don't you just love the sound of that word?

G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y

Ooh, chills!

Remember my {Bathroom Door Makeover} from last month?

Well, I got lots and lots of lovely comments about it, and also noticed that these little wooden flat people were hard to come by!

Michael's always seemed to be out of them.

Have no fear....

I found a pair of them and they are ready to come live with you!

Hooray!

But, that's not all:

So all you need to do is open your mail, paint the wooden peeps, stick on the velcro stickies and hang 'em up.

That is, if YOU are the LUCKY WINNER!

If you want a chance to win this stuff, all you have to do is leave a comment saying you would love to win!

If you want more than one chance to win, simply spread the word or follow Peppermint Plum on Facebook and leave a separate comment below letting us know.

We also ask that you become a follower of Peppermint Plum first... that way, we will have a better chance of contacting you when you win!

If you do not have a blog to link to your comment(s), you can leave your email address along with your comment.

　

Comment entries will be accepted until Thursday night and a random winner will be chosen Friday morning.

GOOD LUCK, PLUMS!

*This GIVEAWAY is now CLOSED*

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