Splashes of Spring & Other Simple Projects

I decided to add just a few more splashes of spring to brighten up the kitchen & the living room plus a few other simple projects. 

I found this white colander and filled it with coffee beans and set a candle in the beans. Looks kinda cute!

The cutting board was found at Goodwill. It was really ugly and much wider. I think it had a picture of a nursery rhyme (maybe mother goose). My hubby cut a little off of each side for me and then I painted it white, added some brown paint around the edges and also glued a base to the back side so that it can stand on its own. It works great when I am using my Kindle for recipes. 

I had been looking for a vintage bread box to add to my kitchen counter. Unfortunately they are pricey but I found a new one at a country store. It was stark white so I decided to "age" it a smidge by adding some rust colored paint to the handles, the bottom and a bit along the seam on the left side. It doesnt stand out as much now. 

I found this little warmer and thought it goes great with my decor. I love Mason jars!

I bought a basic plain lamp shade and cuts strips of muslin and hot glued them from the top to the bottom of the shade all the way around, and then took another piece and tied a little bow. I think it gives it just that little touch so that it doesnt look quite so plain. 

                                             It gives just a nice soft glow in the evening.

I also found another "vintage" warmer that I thought was so cute. It has an Edison style bulb which gives it that aged quality that I love. 

My hubby helped me make the white "herb" box to sit on the mantle. It is just simple particle board that I nailed together, then painted and filled with some "herbs". I still need to add some chalk board signs with the name of my so called herbs, and I think I am going to add a couple of handles to the side of the box. 

Update:

I decided the herb box on the mantle needed a little more character so I added a handle. I think it is just the right touch!

I wanted something in front of the fireplace that had some size to but I wasnt sure what. I was leaning toward a lantern but trying to find a large one is not easy (nor cheap), so the hubs was nice enough to cut some more wood for me and it basically became a lantern-ish design without the glass. I decided to put a topiary in it instead of the typical candle since it is so large.