Home » Crafty » Reader Showcase: A Look Back at Winter & Spring 2015

Reader Showcase: A Look Back at Winter & Spring 2015

Happy weekend, friends.  And better yet, happy summer!

You know what that means…

school’s out…

The hills are alive....
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…the grills are heating up…

grilling
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…and in between those thrilling summer thunderstorms…

thunderstorm
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…the beach is calling your name!

beach hug fail
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Well, when the seasons change, I like to do a little event here at The Thinking Closet called The Reader Showcase.  What’s it all about?

Well, some of my favorite emails to receive are the ones where you send me photos of creations y’all made that were inspired by a project you saw here on the blog.  It just blows my mind.  And sometimes, you’ll link to me in your blog posts or tag me on social media, and I’ll catch glimpses at your creativity-bombs that way!

Well, like a little worker bee collecting honey, I gather up those photos and links throughout the season in a top secret list.  And then, on a special day soon after the season changes, I turn that top secret list into a public showcase where I get to shine the spotlight on you all.  And that day is today!

Now, if you have a memory like a steel trap, you may be wondering what happened to the Winter 2015 Reader Showcase?  Well, I’m sad to report there was no Winter 2015 Reader Showcase.  {Hangs head in shame.}

However, my failure to get my act together this March just means that today’s showcase is going to be doubly inspired.  Consider it a B.O.G.O. 2-for-1 deal!

shopping spree
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So, let’s get this partay started, shall we?

Winter & Spring 2015 Reader Showcase

Winter & Spring 2015 Reader Showcase at The Thinking Closet | Prepare to be amazed at the creativity and inspiration in the craft and DIY tutorials found in this round-up!  Reason #597 why The Thinking Closet readers are the best readers in blogland!

Note: If you’d like to pin some of these projects, please click through to the blogs from whence they came to honor the original source (if there’s a post on it). Also, I’ll link to the original tutorials in case others would like to give some of these a try, too. Now, let the good times roll!

DIY-ing

When Chelsea Rae emailed me photos of her newly painted vanity, I had one of those jaw-hitting-the-floor moments that you think only happens in cartoons.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  I think if furniture pieces could be friends, my Roll-Top Desk would be besties with this fabulous vanity.

Vanity Makeover by Chelsea Rae, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Vanity Makeover by Chelsea Rae

Don’t those peekaboo mint drawers just make you swoon?  Mm!

Vanity Makeover by Chelsea Rae, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Vanity Makeover by Chelsea Rae

And now, the onslaught of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint mavens!

First up, I give you Fawn, who made-over her table and chairs using Old White.  I love the gentle distressing she did on the edges.  So charming!

Table & Chairs Makeover with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Rumfield Homestead, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Table & Chairs Makeover with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Rumfield Homestead

Check out this beautifully repainted piano Katie took on–more evidence of the magic that is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  This piece is truly breathtaking.

Repainted Piano with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Out & Outfit, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Repainted Piano with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Out & Outfit

When Kelsey tagged me on Facebook to let me know she used my Beginner’s Guide when repainting her coffee table, it made my heart happy.  She’s one of my teacher colleagues from Ohio, and clearly her skills go beyond the school walls and into her workshop where she D.I.Y.’d a dramatic before & after.  Go Kelsey!

Coffee Table Makeover with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Kelsey, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Coffee Table Makeover with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint by Kelsey

Lasers aren’t just in Star Wars movies, people.  Kevin actually used my Dishwasher Magnets design and laser cut that bad boy into bamboo.  People never cease to amaze me with their innovation.  Air high five to you, Kevin.

Laser Cut Bamboo Dishwasher Magnet by Kevin Hoyt, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Laser Cut Bamboo Dishwasher Magnet by Kevin Hoyt

Crafting

So, if you remember my Gold Animal Place Card Holders, they were kitschy fun because that’s how I do.  Well, Carrie took some inspiration and ran with it, but managed to create a truly elegant addition to her mom’s birthday bash with these sweet gilded birdies.  Brava!

Gilded Bird Place-Card Holders by Good at Everything, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Gilded Bird Place-Card Holders by Good at Everything

With graduation season having just passed, my “If You Instagram” Printable made a comeback!  And I was delighted to see my Silhouette Challenge buddy Martha put her own creative spin on the concept.  I mean that graduation cap on the Instagram logo is just too cute for words, amiright?

"If You Instagram" Sign by Martha, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
“If You Instagram” Sign by Martha G.

And there were a slew of folk who were able to put my 12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Printable to good use.  Here’s Roshenam out on a date planned by her hubby!

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Roshenam, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Roshenam

And how adorable is Makoun’s mini-book with that bright red bow?  Tres bien!  C’est magnifique!

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Makoun, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Makoun

I love how Liberty used scrapbooking supplies to personalize the set she gifted to her husband this Valentine’s Day.

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Liberty, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Liberty

Sarah even went so far as to design her own set in her font of choice!  So purdy, and I’m sure so very appreciated by her beau.

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Sarah, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift by Sarah

And here’s a funny picture of a sweet couple, Marnie and Matt.  Just reading Marnie’s story of giving Matt the 12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Mini-Book gave me the warm fuzzies.  Here’s an excerpt: “More than that, he said it was the best gift I had ever given him – even better than the expensive watch and nexus tablet I had bought him for previous birthdays. Can you believe it?”  I actually can.  Well done, girl.

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates with Marnie & Matt, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
A Year of Dating & What a Gift It Can Be by Marnie Rogers

Niki was able to use some of the ideas from my massive list of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime when putting together a jar of Popsicle Stick Date Nights.  And my, don’t those homemade chocolate hearts look scrumptious?

Popsicle Stick Dates Jar by Niki, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Popsicle Stick Dates Jar by A Yarny Robin

Silhouette-ing

Angelica created a fabulously feminine version of the New Baby Congrats Card & Free Cut File I offered up.  Love the 3D sentiment and pretty pastels!

New Baby Congrats Card by Angelica, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
New Baby Congrats Card by Angelica

Sewing

Katherine is one of the very first blog buddies I made when I started The Thinking Closet back in September of 2012.  She’s also a sewing wizard!  So of course, I was tickled pink to see she had used my Burp Cloth Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist to whip up some fun burpies for a musical family.  What a fun way to personalize this gift!

Musical Burpies by Pillows a la Mode, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
Musical Burpies by Pillows a la Mode

Here’s a little inspiration for those of you who celebrate Christmas in July.  Now, not only did Laura sew the ruffles on her version of the No-Sew Ruffle Christmas Tree Skirt, but she added an extra foot to the diameter–no small “feat” (yuk yuk).  But look at this silvery star of an outcome, it was well worth the effort!

The Forty Hour Christmas Tree Skirt by Sew in Love, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
The Forty Hour Christmas Tree Skirt by Sew in Love

Blogging

Last, but most definitely not least, I have the honor of featuring one of my dear friends from college who has just recently become a blog friend, too: Gina!

I was so touched to learn she referred to my post on How to Revamp Your “About” Page when writing her own.  And I do not exaggerate when I say that reading Gina’s “About Me” page was like picking up a novel I never wanted to end.  Truly.  She actually made me want to revamp my own “About” page!  Her writing is just so inspired.

So, I urge you to head over to her blog and soak up some of her stories.  You’ll be hooked in no time.  (Here’s one of my favorites.)

"About Me" by Gina Booton, Featured in The Thinking Closet's Spring 2015 Reader Showcase.
“About Me” by Gina Booton

See…I told you this Reader Showcase would be double-double your delight-ment!  And if this classic Wrigley’s jingle wasn’t already stuck in your head, you’re welcome:

If You’ve Been Showcased….

…feel free to grab a “featured” button!

Featured Button for The Thinking Closet Reader Showcase
Right click to copy the url or “save as.”

Archived Reader Awesomeness

This marks the eighth quarterly-ish Reader Showcase…and believe me, each and every one has been a bevy of inspiration.  So, if you want to explore more, click the images below to do some time-traveling!  Prepare to be amazed.

Reader Showcase: Spring 2013 | The Thinking Closet
Reader Showcase: Summer 2013
Reader Showcase: Fall 2013 | The Thinking Closet
The Thinking Closet Reader Showcase: Winter 2014
Spring 2014 Reader Showcase at The Thinking Closet.
Summer 2014 Reader Showcase at The Thinking Closet.
Fall 2014 Reader Showcase at The Thinking Closet.

I Want to Feature YOU!

At the end of each season, I’ll be posting more of your projects inspired by The Thinking Closet here for the world to see. If you’ve ever created something in the past that was inspired by something you saw on this blog or if you do so in the future, I’d love it if you’d send me a photo or two of your creation to thethinkingcloset {at} gmail.com. And if you have a blog or are on social media, I’ll be sure to link to it!  Promoting my beloved readers is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world; and I ain’t lyin’.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!

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12 Comments

    1. Aw, it was my pleasure! I just love how your table and chairs turned out – – which is mega-inspiring for me since we’re planning on tackling our main dining table and chairs NEXT. It’s the circle of inspiration that always comes with each Reader Showcase I put together (and it moves us all…lol). Hugs!

  1. This was double-dare-you deliciously delightful to read! So much fun to see the creativity that was inspired by you and then how it doubled back to inspire you and the rest of us! Thanks for this winter and spring showcase! Pinned it to my craft ideas.

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