• Home
  • Meet Karen
    • About me
  • Home Tour
  • Project Gallery
  • Contact
    • Get in touch
    • Advertise

A House Full of Sunshine

The art of making home

Make life beautiful.

Get my free eBook and learn how YOU can live a more

creative, organised and joy-filled life

at home with kids...starting today!

  • a house full of sunshine
  • Home
    • Home Tour
    • Decorate
    • DIY
    • Room Reveals
    • Organise
    • Eat
    • occasions
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
  • Kids
    • Play
    • Create
    • Party
  • Happiness
    • Inspire
    • Blogging

Pretty in Pink ? DIY Toy basket labels

Wednesday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

Toy basket labels

My daughter’s bedroom makeover is FINISHED!! And oh my goodness… it looks SO pretty!!

I can’t wait to share it with you, but I’m gonna have to keep you in suspense just a little bit longer while I wait for the video edits to come back. (In case you missed the news in my last post, I completed the entire room makeover in just four hours and had the whole transformation filmed live.) This is going to be fun, guys! The big reveal should be next week!!

If you missed anything, you can catch up on the design plan for this bedroom and all the juicy deets right here!

In the meantime, I wanted to share one of the DIY projects I did to transform this space. It’s a simple little project that I’ve been meaning to get around to for the longest time… adding labels to the toy baskets in Allegra’s room.

Since we don’t have a playroom in this house, Allegra’s room houses our toy storage unit for all the children. We have an IKEA Kallax unit with rattan baskets. And you guys… it was a hot mess.

Here is the cringe-worthy “before”:

As you can see, the shelves as a whole needed a really good clear-out and tidy up.

But first, let’s take a look at those toy baskets down the bottom.

While our toys are technically organised into categories, they don’t always get put back into those categories, because said categories exist only inside my head. Ha! The kids have a very loose idea of where things are “supposed” to go… I mean, blocks go together, animals go together, that sort of thing… but due to the lack of a labelling system, it was fast becoming a jumble of chaos.

Plus, who knows it’s frustrating when you have to pull out three baskets before you find the one you were looking for?

I ummed and aahhhed for ages about how to make labels for these baskets, which is why I put it off for SO long. I had a few requirements in mind, which had me stymied.

  • I wanted to create picture labels, since my two littlies are pre-readers.
  • I didn’t want the pictures to look overly colourful and cartoonish, because they had to fit in with the pretty and feminine vibe I was trying to create in this room.
  • The labels had to be sturdy and durable.
  • It had to be inexpensive.
  • I wanted the flexibility to change the labels easily as our storage needs and toy collection changes over time.
  • I also had to be able to do it without any special equipment. I don’t own a Cricut or a Silhouette (vinyl cutting machines owned by, I’m sure, every other blogger who has ever lived.)

So I had to come up with a good old-fashioned way to create my labels that ticked all those boxes.

I looked around for a really long time for small picture frames that I could screw onto the baskets… but I couldn’t find anything inexpensive enough to buy in bulk like that (I needed ten). I also struggled to find frames small and lightweight enough that they wouldn’t look all huge and bulky on the front of the baskets.

Eventually I was browsing in Spotlight when I came across these:

Toy basket labels

They are small, lightweight Polaroid frames made from thin but sturdy craft MDF. Absolutely perfect! They even had holes to attach them to the baskets!

I rounded up some similar alternatives on Amazon. There are quite a few options for Polaroid-sized frames made from lightweight materials like chipboard and acrylic.

Another alternative would be 4″x4″ or 4″x6″ wooden frames. You could remove the glass and screw them straight onto your baskets (or attach with velcro tape.) They can be pretty affordable when purchased in a pack.

All my frames needed was a bit of sprucing up.

I started by spray painting them pink, using this spray paint. So much better already! Then I added strips of thin double-sided tape to the back.

Next I did a Google Image search for pictures of toys in each of my major categories.

I clicked on “Tools” and changed the “Type” of Image I was searching for to Line drawing or Clip Art, and the colour to Black and White. This meant my search results pulled nice crisp images without all that cartoonish kiddy colour I was trying to avoid.

I haven’t included any of the labels in the post for two reasons – firstly, these images are only for personal use as some of them may have copyright restrictions. (When I make printables to pass on to you guys, I always purchase any graphics I use.) And secondly, because everyone’s toy categories are different, so it would be virtually impossible to create a set that would work for everyone.

But using this method, it’s very easy to completely customise a set of labels to your own needs – for free!

Having found the images I wanted, I measured my little frames, then drew a corresponding sized box in Word. My frames were 10×10, so I went into “Format” and input those numbers to get the right sized box. I made my lines 3/4 point and pale grey so they would look discreet.

Then I dragged the image from my search straight into my Word doc.

(Tip: always click onto the image to open the largest resolution available – don’t just drag the thumbnail!)

Once in the document, click “Format Picture”, then “Wrap Text”, then select “Tight”. This will enable you to drag your image smaller or bigger, and move it freely around your Word doc.

Drag it into the box you created earlier and centre it.

Once you’ve repeated this with all your images, print out your labels and run them through the laminator.

Then cut out the pictures and attach them onto the back of your frames with the double sided tape.

The last step is to attach the frames to your toy baskets. I used string and just poked it through the holes in the baskets, using a wooden skewer to help it through. I then knotted the twine securely on the inside.

You could add a piece of double-sided foam mounting tape at the bottom if you want the frames to sit flat. I left mine free-hanging  so it’s easy to flip them up and replace the picture if we need to.

Results? SO much better!!

I also did a major declutter of all these toy baskets as I went along, paring right back and only keeping the things they regularly use and play with.

(I always recommend a good declutter – this checklist is a good place to start!)

I can’t even tell you how much the declutter combined with the new label system has helped with getting the kids to pick up their toys and put them away neatly. There is now zero confusion about where things go.

I’ve also noticed the kids seem to be pulling out way less toys in the first place, I guess because they can easily reach for exactly what they want, rather than digging through multiple baskets to try to find things.

I gave the book shelves a massive clear out as well. Lots of books went to Vinny’s, and the ones we had left, I arranged into rainbow colours.

Not only does it look pretty, but it’s also solved another problem we had where Allegra would shove books back onto her shelves all higgledy-piggledy – backwards, upside down and on top of other books. No matter how many times I used to clear them out and reorganise them, they never stayed that way.

This time around, I gave her a little lesson on how to put a book away nicely, with the spine facing out so we can see the pretty colours and so Mummy can read the title.

I then told her that if she can keep her books neatly on the shelf like this (and keep her floor picked up!) I will read her a special bedtime story at night.

So far she has had a bedtime story EVERY single night! She is really taking pride in her beautiful new room, and it is lovely to see her keeping it so nice. She loves her “rainbow books” and has been taking them out and putting them back with so much care. Finally!!

I also cleared out the remaining shelves and gave them a good declutter. I’ll share more pictures when I do the big bedroom reveal next week, but here’s a little sneak peek.

I’m so thrilled with this room, and the unexpected bonus is that it’s solved a massive bug bear for me – the issue of this room staying picked up and tidy. We have tried everything in the past to try to get Allegra to keep her room tidy. She is just a super messy kid! Many nights I couldn’t even walk a clear path to her bed, there were so many toys in the way.

But now that she’s been gifted with such a beautiful new room, it’s like her whole attitude has turned around.

The toy basket labels have helped immensely. The major declutter and paring down of toys and books definitely helped too.

The thing I didn’t expect is that just having such a pretty room would help so much. Now she is super motivated to keep it looking this pretty, and she has really raised the bar for herself.

It’s amazing how when you really care about something and you’re invested in it, you actually WANT to look after it. Finally, she has taken ownership for herself, and I’ve been able to stop nagging. It just about brings a happy tear to my eye.

Stay tuned for the beautiful big girl bedroom reveal next week!

Meanwhile, here’s some other posts on how we control the toy situation at our house:

Toy Rotation System

Our toy rotation system

Best toys for toddlers

Best toys for toddlers (and the ones I would not buy again!)

250+ Things to Throw Away

 

And if you missed my previous post about my daughter’s bedroom makeover, you can catch up here!

The big girl bedroom mood board – take two!

Until next time, wishing you a house full of sunshine!

Pin325
Share
Tweet
325 Shares

Categories: Organise

« The big girl bedroom mood board… take two!
DIY Vinyl Pantry Labels »
Get my free eBook and learn how YOU can live a more creative, organised and joy-filled life at home with kids...starting today!

Lovely comments

  1. Elise Laney says

    Thursday at 2:29 am

    The IKEA Kallax unit is totally on my wish list – Mama needs to organize all those cakestands! 🙂

    The labels are so beautiful and PERFECT. I love your resourcefulness.

    • Karen Schravemade says

      Friday at 3:18 pm

      Thank you so much, sweet friend! Oooh, now that would be such a fun way to use a Kallax unit.

A blog by

Karen Schravemade

welcome!

Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SHARING

250 Things to throw away

18K shares

Free Vision board printables

29K shares

13K shares

33K shares

160K shares

COPYRIGHT

Sharing is always appreciated! Please keep in mind that all text and images on this blog are the property of A house full of sunshine. You are welcome to share 1-2 images if you link back to my post.

You are not permitted to remove watermarks, crop or edit my photos, use my images without credit, or share more than 2 images without my written permission.

Pinning is welcome and appreciated. Pin away freely, my Pinterest-loving friends.

A house full of sunshine 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 amazon.com. You can see my full disclosure policy here. 

INSTAFEED

ahousefullofsunshine

5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
⁠⠀
There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
⁠
I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
⁠
I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
⁠
It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
⁠
And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
⁠
Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
⁠
The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
⁠
If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
⁠
And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
⁠
A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
⁠
"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
⁠
Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
⁠
He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
⁠
💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
⁠
I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
⁠
Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
⁠
xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
⁠
For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
⁠
Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
⁠
Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
⁠
We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
⁠
Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
⁠
Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
⁠
Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
⁠
Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
⁠
There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
⁠
The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
⁠
But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
⁠
It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
⁠
We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
⁠
Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
⁠
Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
⁠
How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
⁠
We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
⁠
How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
⁠
I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
⁠
But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
⁠
He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
⁠
So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
⁠
So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
⠀
If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
⠀
If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
⠀
🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
⠀
Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
⁠
What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
⁠
It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
⁠
Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
⁠
Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
⁠
One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
⁠
P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
⁠
Here are the 9 types:⁠
⁠
1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
⁠
Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
⁠
I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
⁠
Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
⁠
I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
⁠
Yes, yes and YES.⁠
⁠
If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
⁠
Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
Load More… Follow on Instagram

a house full of sunshine

  • Meet Karen
  • Home Tour
  • Project Gallery
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2021 A House Full of Sunshine. Custom blog development by Moonsteam Design. Logo by Salt & Wood.