$50 Gift Card to Tiny Prints

Awesome $50 gift card giveaway to Tiny Prints going on at The Neat Things in Life.

http://www.theneatthingsinlife.com/2012/08/let-tiny-prints-help-you-with-back-to-school-and-giveaway/

Tiny Prints has Erin Condren!!

Enter today!

Erin Condren

Here's a great giveaway!! Two Erin Condren $50 gift cards.  I want a planner!

http://www.aboutfais.com/2012/07/erin-condren-giveaway-x2.html

a new giveaway

go to http://carolinafireflies.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-new-planner-erin-condren-giveaway.html and check out their latest giveaway!

Huge Giveway

Check out this huge giveaway!! Too many prizes to mention:

http://www.pinkonthecheek.com/2012/07/biggest-giveaway-i-ever-had.html

Great giveaway for Planner

Check out this great giveaway for an Erin Condren Life Planner:

http://www.klingercafe.com/2012/06/giveaways-galore-and-my-goals.html

Shutterfly card review

Since November is almost here, I’ve already started thinking about taking photos of my daughter and selecting the perfect Christmas card. I have always been a fan of shutterfly since their inception over 10 years ago. Some of my daughter’s first photos are still uploaded to their website safe and sound. (This was pre-digital). Shutterfly always has great sales on their prints and various products. The photos I have received from them have been of great quality.

Shutterfly has expanded their holiday card department and they have some outstanding designs. Start by just perusing the collection:

Photo Christmas cards can be found here:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

Christmas address labels:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-address-labels

Other seasonal cards:

http://www.shutterfly.com

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thanksgiving-cards

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/hanukkah-cards

We are going to take some photos downtown, so they will have an industrial look to them. I’m thinking about simple, but edgy card designs would complement the photos. Some of the cards I’m considering this year:

Hurry… cards are 25% off until November 3. Free Shipping on orders over $30.

Another dilemma

Thanks to Amanda for hosting another Decorating Dilemma party.

I seem to have plenty of dilemmas.  You helped me tremendously with my blank kitchen wall here.  I’ve decided on the row of shelves and I’m in the process of painting and adding molding.

Now, here’s another dilemma. 

Our upstairs “loft” is long and narrow.  Notice the grouping around the TV. That pretty much has to stay in that place due to the speakers, etc.  It’s the blank space that you notice in front of the drop-leaf table where I have circled.  Do I make 2 separate seating areas?  Do I add a game table and chairs?  

Here’s the opposite view.  The walls have already been painted Antique White and the rug is gone.  The small entertainment center and star will be gone as well. 

What do I do with this awkward empty space behind the sofa at the top of the stairs?

Target look-a- likes

Thanks to Pink Peonies, I just bought 3 pairs of these look-a-likes.  Click here.  Hurry, Spring is on the way!!

Crafty weekend

Just a few little crafty projects I worked on this weekend:
Project #1

Frame from HomeGoods that I already had.

Spray painted Heirloom White, added some ivory ribbon and a clearance pin from Michaels.
Project #2

Ceramic finials from Dollar Tree

A little Heirloom White spray paint.
Fun, easy, cheap projects.
Linking to:
Cottage Instincts Make It For Monday, Metamorphosis Monday, Made it Monday, Just Something I Whipped Up, Make Your Monday, Making the World Cuter, It's So Very Cheri, DIY Day

Attic Treasures, part I

My parents lived in Germany while my dad was in the Air Force in the 60’s.  Almost every weekend, they took a weekend jaunt to somewhere in Europe.  This was during the time of  Frommer’s popular travel guide, Europe on $5 a Day.  It was the first travel guide written to show Americans how to afford to travel in Europe. Again, since the prices were so affordable back then (Authentic Rolex watches $100!!!!), my parents brought back some really neat souvenirs.

Recently while visiting my parents, I decided to take a look in the attic and I’ll spread these finds over several parts.

Part I- Marble Lamps

My parents purchased the set of 2 at a marble factory across the street from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  These are the real deal.  My dad wired them and I added a simple shade I already had.  I want to get silk shades, but these will have work for now.

Look at the veining.  Love this.

A classic shape that is timeless.

Thanks MOM and DAD!

Decorating Dilemma

I’m joining Amanda’s Decorating Dilemmas Party.
Here’s my dilemma:

See that blank wall in my breakfast nook area?  It’s really big!!!  It's 12 feet wide and the area above the chair rail/beaded board is 6 feet tall. That table is my computer table (underneath is 2 filing cabinets with a board on top and burlap skirt).  On the opposite side of the room is the kitchen.


I’m thinking some wall cabinets like this: (painted white)

Or wall shelving:

source

Or Ballard’s cafe shelving?

source

I wanted a hutch, but the chair rail/ledge sticks out, so you really have to use 2 separate furniture pieces.

The only requirement:  cheap!!

I’m all ears….

Which came first?

While perusing the latest Pottery Barn catalog today, I noticed several accessories (for sale and just photo props) that jumped out from the pages.

Some of these are obvious:

and others…..

You have to look real close…..

 

I love Pottery Barn more for their catalog design ideas than actually purchasing their merchandise (can we say $$$$). But, I wonder if the ordinary weekend crafter/home decorator/antique collector/junker didn’t come up with some of these ideas before Pottery Barn.

Wonder if PB is reading the blog world?

Do you think these accessories/design trends can be traced back to decorating blogs?

Which came first?

1…2…3

Here’s another little project I worked on this weekend.

before

after
I purchased a Cricut on craigslist and some black sign vinyl, then cut the numbers.  I love that little machine!
I’m linking to several parties:

Make it for Monday
Metamorphois Monday
Made it Mondays
DIY Show Off
Make your Monday

Go here to The Craft Monkey's blog to enter a giveaway for a really cute propeller clock.  Fingers crossed for me because this would look great at my lake house.

SNOW and ROLL TIDE!!!

We are home for a snow day today and are anxiously awaiting it’s arrival.  Oh, and case you have been under a rock… Alabama is playing for the National Championship tonight.

ROLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!

Hopefully I’ll have snow pics to show you.

Country Living…. at Kmart??

Wow! Check out some of their cute offerings:

Accent Chair $99

Dresser $149

China Cabinet $219

Love this apron!!  $10.39

There’s tons more at www.kmart.com.  Just search “country living”.  They have a great selection of kitchen linens, glassware, dinnerware and vintage-style accessories.  Perfect for that farmhouse/country look!

Completely Coastal giveaway

Go here to enter a drawing for items made from recycled sails.

Burlap Pillow

So, I know I’m late to the burlap party, but I finally made these pillows that I’ve seen all over blogland:

This is my first attempt at a tutorial, so please bear with me.
Supplies
burlap fabric, pillow or pillow  form, iron-on transfer paper, sewing machine, computer, printer, design or clipart
You could also use iron-on tape adhesive instead of machine sewing, but the burlap is pretty thick and might not hold up to wear and tear as machine sewing.
1.  Pillow form- I used 18” square down pillow forms that I found on ebay, but you could use any size pillow or form.
2.  Design.  I found some design examples online.  Just Google, “burlap French pillow” and you will find a lot of inspiration. I also use books from Dover Publications. They have tons of books with clipart (you can also find these at your library).  Search Google also for French clipart- crowns, laurel wreaths, Paris, etc.
3.  Computer.  I created my design in Microsoft Publisher, but you could use PowerPoint, Photoshop, Word, etc. I combined an Old English font and the design.
After you create your design, be sure to flip the design to reverse the image.
  Print out your image onto the iron on transfer paper.

Cut 2 pieces of burlap 1” larger than your pillow size.  For example, my pillows are 18x18”, so I cut my pieces 19x19”. (might want to iron them)

Fold into fourths.

Cut a rounded corner. This helps prevent floppy corner pillows.

Lay your 2 pieces of burlap together and sew all around except for an opening at one end. (I don’t worry about seam allowances- I just eyeball 3/4” or so.

Turn your pillow right side.  Poke out the seams and iron so they lay flat.
Center your design transfer paper onto the pillow and iron according to the directions for the transfer paper. Iron on a flat, hard surface. (I used a wooden cutting board).


Stuff your pillow inside the pillow cover and then machine or hand whipstitch the opening closed.
Voila!! You have completed a decorator-style French grain sack pillow for pennies.
 

Please leave comments if you have questions. Have fun making your own designs!

I'm linking to The DIY Show Off Home Accents Party

Before, After…

I thought I would start showing some interior photos of my home.  There are a few “before” shots taken when we put our house on the market about a year and half ago.  This was right before the economic downturn and not a great time to sell a house.  We decided after about a couple of months to stay put and instead, we purchased a lake house. (photos will be appearing soon!)

Let’s start with the kitchen:

The walls here are Benjamin Moore HC26 Monroe Bisque.

 

We have now painted and the walls are Behr Antique White.  Also, you will notice new light fixtures (Pottery Barn knock-offs) and new bar stools.

I’m dying to paint the cabinets white, but my husband is very hesitant.  Not so much the color, but rather the labor involved- priming, sanding, priming, painting.

What do you think about taking the cabinet doors off the top cabinets?

Any thoughts? 

More photos of the house coming soon!