Babysitters RAWK!

Tonight I am thankful for sweet friends who volunteer to babysit while I have a gilr's night out!!! I've had big plans with my gal pal, Jennifer, to see the midnight showing of New Moon for quite some time. However, with the hubbs gone, I knew it wasn't gonna happen. I told her to give my ticket away. Then a dear sweet friend called and offered her daughter as a babysitter. I am sooooo stinkin excited to see this movie. But more than that...I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends who watch out for me and have my back! I am blessed.

Hello, beautiful. I get to see this for the next two hours!!!

Yummy.

Don't they just make the cutest vampire/werewolf/human love triangle EVER???




My ten year old son started reading the Twilight saga this week. He is already on the second book, and I think that might be his last. They get a little too grown up after the first two. It makes me laugh that he is reading the same books I am...and also a little sad, because he is growing up.

Enough with the chit chat...I gots to go! Sweet dreams everyone...I will be getting about 3 hours of sleep before I have to get the kiddos off to school. Sooooooo worth it!

Clean Your House in Under 30 Minutes, and have a glass of this...

I have come to the conclusion that I am a slob and we live in filth. I used to be a clean freak. I couldn't even go to bed if there were dishes in the sink or toys on the floor. I was an out of control OCD fanatic. Not so much anymore. Where did that annoyingly obsessive girl go? I need her to come back and help a sister out! I just can't seem to get it together or keep up with the 9,478 things that need to be done around here on a daily basis. Hello? Where are you... my former obsessive compulsive uptight cleaning machine self?

You're being paged.

Well, since she's apparently NOT coming back...I had to find myself a little help. I need a schedule. But something that wouldn't overwhelm me to the point that I avoid said schedule and stop cleaning all together. I remembered reading about something like this in my Real Simple magazine, so I went on a search. I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but I think this one is just as good. It is a daily quick cleaning checklist, just a basic plan to get your home neat in under 30 minutes a day. Ummmmm...yes, I think I can handle this! Here is the link if anyone is interested in printing out their own copy........

Daily Quick Clean

And OHMAGOSH......I found the yummiest drink on the planet..... Diet Pomegranate 7up. It is DELISH. It's only carried at the holidays, so I better stock up now. I usually cannot stand sprite or 7up..eeeewwwwww, gross. But this stuff is so yummy, with that tart little kick of pomegranate. And, p.s.........it is on sale at Walmart right now for 78 cents for the 2 liter. Shamefully, I am on my 3rd 2 liter since Saturday night. And I'm the only one who drinks it in this house. Sad, I know.

Oh, and I just have to give a little shout out to my new bestie, Lou. She is having a fabulous giveaway on her blog right now that you definitely do not want to miss. See that picture up there? That is her beautiful master bedroom, with a gorgeous vinyl monogram that she framed above the bed. Stunning. Well, if you'd like to win a big 'ol monogram of your own, hop on over to The Life of Lou Lou, and enter her very first giveaway! Thanks Lou...love you girlie.

Fabric covered Letters and a .......WINNER!!!

I could be really mean and make y'all wait through this entire post to find out the winner of the giveaway.......but I won't. I love giveaways and I'm too excited to announce the winner, and way too impatient to hold out! Random.org generated the winning number, and the winner is.........

Jen @ Losing The Shadow Behind Me

Comment #67

CONGRATULATIONS JEN!

This weekend I got to work on a custom order for a baby's nursery. My friend wanted the letters covered in a coordinating fabric to the crib bedding. She special ordered the fabric and had it sent to me. Ummmm...stress! Did I mention that I've never covered letters in fabric, only paper??? For the life of me I could not figure out how to get the fabric on there without fraying. All of you seamstresses out there...please don't laugh! I don't sew....AT.ALL. My sewing consists of hem tape and hot glue. It's sad, but true.

I went to Hobby Lobby looking for Wonder Under, but found this stuff instead and decided to give it a try. It came with 5 sheets of double stick fusible web. Love, love, love it! It was so easy to use and worked beautifully.

I had these gingham letters I bought years ago for super cheap that just didn't match anything! They've been one of the many projects on my list that I've never gotten around to. I just flipped the letter and traced it the wrong way onto the paper.

Iron the protective paper and webbing onto the fabric.

Cut out the letter and peel the protective paper off (absolutely no fraying whatsoever).

It has the webbing on the back of the fabric now, but it is still repositionable.

Love that. Makes it much easier to work with because you can move it around on the letter until you get it just right!

Then I literally just ironed it right onto the letter. I was nervous to try this, but it worked perfectly. I was amazed. So quick, so easy, and really fun!

I made these to go over the upholstered headboard I made for the girls' room. But, I ran out before I could finish. I still have 4 more letters to do and I can't wait till Hobby Lobby opens in the morning.

These are part of the custom order I'm working on. Isn't that the sweetest fabric? You know I am loving that pink and green plaid! I hope they send me a picture of the letters in the room. I would love to see what it looks like all put together. With colors and fabric that cute...you know it'll be fabulous!

My Father's Gift

My Dad has a gift...actually he has many. But the one I'm talking about today is his gift for creating beauty out of something ordinary. He turns old stumps, scrap wood, and salvaged wood into these absolutely breathtaking pieces of art. He is a self taught man. When he gets an idea in his mind...he will find a way to make it happen. He's good like that. Literally, he can do anything! He has taught himself so many things, it really amazes me. Let's see...he built a barn, added a huge room onto the house, taught himself the art of woodworking, photography, handcrafted the most beautiful mantle from scratch for me, built numerous pieces of furniture, married a perfect woman, raised 5 imperfect kids, he's a teacher, a giver, a father, and a friend. I love him so much and feel so blessed to have him as my dad. And each time I look at one of the bowls he's made...I feel that love ten fold! He takes great care to craft these one of a kind pieces of art and spends hours working on each one. There is a lot of love in these bowls. That's just like my dad. He is full of love...and selflessness. He is one of a kind, just like these bowls!

This is my absolute favorite. The imperfections really speak to me.

So beautiful.

Every so often he'll say...ok, everybody pick a bowl. And we all scramble like little kids to get in line. It is such a thrill every time he wants to share them with us. We feel privileged. I treasure each and every one that he's given me. This is my collection so far.

He writes or carves on the bottom of each piece what type of wood he used, the year, and his name.

Priceless.




This one reads..."cedar mantle piece & 2x scrap"
This is the popcorn bowl he made for my Grandpa...his Dad. And how honored am I to have it now? A real family heirloom.

I love and admire my Dad so very much. I am grateful that he passed his love for reading writing, and the creative arts on to me. He never pushed anything on us kids, but encouraged us to be ourselves. And always with unconditional love. I hope that I can be half the parent to my kids that he's been to me and my siblings. As I make this uncertain (and thankfully temporary) journey into single parenthood, I will look to his and my mother's example. They were and still are the most loving, kind, and genuine examples of what a parent should be. And I am so blessed to be their daughter!

A Little Pick Me Up...and a Giveaway!

Hey friends! I am so sorry that I have been absent the last week. We had some unexpected family circumstances come up, and truthfully...my full attention was needed by my family. They are my first priority, and I need them to know that! To briefly let you know what's going on, I'll try the edited version. My husband has been reassigned to an Army medical facility, where he will stay for the next 6 months to a year...10 hours away...without his family. He got the call Monday afternoon that he was to report the next morning, so he threw his stuff in the truck and had to hit the road. It all happened extremely fast and unexpectedly and we are still reeling. At least, I am! It has been a rough week adjusting to some major changes in our lives, but we are making it. I keep reminding myself that things could always be worse...because I know that's true. I am thankful that we are all healthy and happy (for the most part), and that is a blessing!

In the midst of my meltdown, I received a package in the mail. I had forgotten about the cutie patootie vintage fan I ordered from Etsy last week. It was a much needed pick me up when I really needed it the most. My friend, Kate...Centsational Girl, opened her etsy shop recently and I absolutely fell head over heals in love with this little fan. As soon as I saw that it was my signature color... I knew it had to be mine!

And because I am a loser and didn't even realize my 1 year Bloggiversary came and went...I'm having a giveaway to celebrate...a month late! It's a great little package full of some of my favorite things. The most ginormous nest you've ever laid eyes on. The BEST Martha Stewart book...Crafts and Keepsakes for the Holidays (hardcover). A sweet little apron made with the most adorable Amy Butler fabric and pom pom fringe! And a personalized Christmas ornament made by ME for YOU.

Look at these precious stockings made with old sweaters...buttons, collars, and all! This is one of my favorite craft ideas from the book. It is absolutely full of wonderful ideas. Martha never disappoints!

Seriously? Isn't this the cutest thing ever?

It has chandeliers on the fabric...adorable!

To enter to win, just leave a comment on this post...nothing more, nothing less. Easy peasy. I will leave the giveaway open until Sunday November 15 at noon, and announce the winner Sunday night.

I just want to say thank you to all of my wonderful readers, who I feel, are also my friends! I am so glad that I started this blogging journey, and never could have imagined what it had in store for me. I've met some lifelong friends who I treasure and look forward to meeting many more! I am truly blessed to be a part of something so special. So...thank you...for reading, commenting, coming back every day even when I'm not here, being my friend, and sticking with me! For that I am grateful!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO ~ Amanda

Holiday Sale on Etsy!

From now until the end of November I am running a special holiday sale in my Etsy shop. First time customers will recieve 15% off any order over $20 and returning customers will receive 10% off. Now is the time to get some Christmas shopping done before the stress and craziness of the season sets in! I don't know about you, but for me, December becomes a blur of last minute shopping, decorating, baking, and family gatherings. So take advantage of this November sales event and get that shopping done! I have lots of new items I've been working on the last few weeks and will be listing new items frequently throughout the month. Here is just a sampling of some of the things you'll see.....

Personalized Christmas ornaments....my most favorite item of the season!

This adorable elf stocking in all it's whimsical glory is just too stinkin cute. It even has hot pink pom pom trim...love it!



Large retro ornament on canvas...simple and cute.



Whimsical tree ...precious.

More retro ornaments.

Adorable chandelier...can be customized with any colors!

And who doesn't love a crown? For the queen in us all!

These personalized ornaments really make a great gift for teachers, friends, baby's first Christmas, just about anyone. How fun would these be made to match school colors, your favorite football team, a child's room, or a fun themed tree? They can be completely customized to suit your needs, and come packaged in a cute little box, ready for gift giving!

If you see anything you are interested in, but would like a different color or pattern...just let me know. I am happy to work with you in creating that perfect gift...just for you!

Let's Take a Peek...

I am sooooo not even close to being done with this room, but I am LOVING it already! The white paint I so hastily chose, even though I knew better, turned out to be more of a blue-ish white. I was freaking out at first, but now I really like it. I think the stark white would have been too.....well, stark. I want to add in some soft blue accessories, maybe a blanket to throw at then end of the bed and some accent pillows. And please, please, please don't judge me on that hideous bedskirt that doesn't match! My new black one has been ordered and is on it's way...thank goodness. And hello.....I thought the zebra rug was fabulous in my living room??? I love it so much more in here! And I never would have even tried it if it hadn't been for my anal retentive self that was having a panic attack over some kid at the Halloween party accidentally spilling on it. Right before the guests arrived, I rolled it up and moved it in here and put my very forgiving shag rug back in the living room. It was love at first sight...it's not going anywhere!

The bamboo shade really doesn't go, but I'm pretending it does for now. It camoflauges a really fugly 1970's window and also acts as a headboard...until I can make an upholstered one. Sometimes you just gotta work with what ya got! I hung the black feather wreath in the center to bring in a bit more black and try to take away from the brown shade. It'll do for now.





This $2 yard sale chandelier candle thingy hangs right above my desk. I have had this beauty in a closet just waiting for the perfect spot...and this is it. Pictures of the desk will have to be seen at a later date...work in progress.

This is the wall that I'm planning on hanging some beautiful black and white plates on, as well as my kid's silhouettes. Once again...work in progress.

The bathroom area still needs a light and mirror hung, and a vanity skirt. The back wall is primed and painted, but the rest is only cut in. It's a slow process, but it is getting done. You know...I have this other full time gig called wife and mother that takes up 99% of my day. So all of this extra stuff comes last...like midnight when everyone's in bed! A few more late nights and I think we'll be in the home stretch.

And just because I cannot get enough of this rug in the room...another litte pic!

Stay tuned for more progress...I'll keep you posted.

Take it or Leave it!

And because I am busy with the room redo and I got nothin'...this is what you get! Take it or leave it. This picture made me laugh so hard...I thought I'd share the joy with you. I live in a house full of Star Wars fanatics...they LOVE this kind of stuff. You, on the other hand...may not appreciate it quite so much.

Sorry.

The Naked Bathroom Vanity

Update : This post is linked to Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party

How many of you out there have this exact same builder basic bathroom vanity? Apparently, they were very popular in 1975...2009, not so much. It looks like it has a peg leg or something. I think it's meant to house a little seat for us ladies to sit on and leisurely do our hair and makeup. Ummmmm, yeah...I usually have about 3 mintues to get ready in the morning. I'd rather give it a cute skirt and use it for storage. So, last night when I got tired of doing this......

I decided I didn't have nearly enough projects going on at once, and I did ...

THIS in our main bathroom!

A fashionable skirt for my nekkid bathroom vanity. A bit of leftover fabric from my dear sweet friend, Richella...some trim, hot glue, and few staples...and there you go. Wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am!



And now I am off to finish painting the other bathroom. Yes...I am aware it is midnight, but that's when I get my best work done! Oh, and did I forget to mention that I'm hosting our annual Halloween bash for about 40-50 people here tomorrow night??? I'm midway through a bedroom/bathroom makeover, my house is a disaster, and I'm considering painting my front door before the party tomorrow night.

I.Have.A.Problem!

Master Bedroom Redo...So I Can Breathe Again

Isn't this the most divine room on the planet? If I could have my dream room, this would definitely be it. I love the soothing colors, all the yummy soft draperies, the bedding, and the gorgeous exposed beams. It looks like the perfect place to relax and unwind. And so... I am using it as my inspiration while redoing our master bedroom/bathroom on a non-existent budget. Needless to say, mine will not be quite as luxurious, but I will do my darnedest to get close. I have lived with a disgusting excuse for a bedroom since we bought this house 3 years ago. I've allowed it to become the dumping ground for everybody's stuff, and all those things we just don't have a place to put. Bottom line...it was a cluttered, nasty, hot mess! There are so many "issues" with this room I felt overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. So I did nothing. And I was completely miserable...hated going in there. That door is the first one I close when the doorbell rings. I'm ashamed of it. But no more. I am putting my foot down, and hard! I.Need.A.Happy.Place.

This mirrored chest is another one of my inspiration photos. Hello gorgeous. I don't care if it's only a pencil cup...I will have something mirrored in my room!

And a wall full of beautiful black and white plates. I already have big plans to make my own silhouette plates...I can hardly wait!

I have never been a ruffle girl, but these pillows make me swoon. They will be gorgeous with my all white bedding. I get all vehklempt just thinking about it!

I scored on these drapes a couple months back at Target. I found two of these gorgeous panels randomly left in the rubbermaid aisle. They were originally $39.99 each, but marked down to $8.74... I felt giddy. I've been collecting accessories and such at yard sales and clearance sales for several months in anticipation of my room redo.



I am so ashamed to show these pics, but I feel I must. You need to know how terrible this room was. This is one of the bathrooms where the previous owners applied a not so lovely venetian plaster...gone horrible wrong! Did you notice I said one of the bathrooms??? Yes ma'am, apparently they liked it so much, they did it to both bathrooms. I'm pretty sure they were legally blind.

Oh heavenly days...the close up makes me want to puke. And sadly, it is even fuglier in person. If they weren't blind, they must have been toasted and wearing blindfolds. This stuff is so thick in some places, it's ridiculous. It sticks way out from the wall... I'm surprised it hasn't put someone's eye out. Oh, and the color...let's not talk about the muddy brown dirt shade that it is.

I forgot to take a before picture of the room, because I was chomping at the bit to start painting. I chose white. I know what you're thinking... snooze fest. But white is exactly what I wanted. Soothing, simple, clean, and calm. All the things that this room was not! This is an "in the process of" picture. Just imagine an exercise bike and 5 black garbage bags full of crap sitting there too. Shameful.

It is getting closer and closer to being pretty. Just painting the walls made a huge difference. Before, I felt like I couldn't breathe when I walked into my room. That's not a good feeling for a master bedroom. It should be a retreat. And it is well on it's way to being just that. I will keep y'all updated on the transformation.

Mad for Plaid...and Cute Hats!

The November issue of Country Living had a whole spread on plaid. And I LOVE plaid, so I was thrilled! Decorating with plaid, wearing plaid, eating off of plaid, wiping your dishpan hands on plaid, accessorizing your furniture with plaid...6 beautiful pages full of lovely. I might be one of those old school girls who never stopped liking plaid, even when it wasn't cool. Well, now it's cool again. Apparently, it's hot this season...it's everywhere. From the ultra fab pages of Anthropologie to the cute and cost efficient aisles of Target.

I died and went to heaven when I saw this absolutely gorgeous belted jacket. Oh, and I'll take that model body to go with it...thankyouverymuch!

I am loving this rosette necklace! I found a tutorial on how to make these, but I doubt mine would look so amazing. I.Want.That.Necklace.

Too cute ruffled plaid shirt. I can do without the couch

Yes, this is a bit much...even for a plaid lover like me. What drew me in was that fabulous bag sitting on the floor in the left hand corner of the picture. Adore!




On the other hand, this gargantuan clutch that is ridiculously long and 147% impractical...I could do without! But I'll take the gloves, and the pants, and the sweater.



These drawer pulls from Anthropologie are too stinkin cute.

Anthro jacket....beautiful and ridiculously overpriced.

The quails on this dishtowel have plaid bodies...how cute is that?

The scalloped edge on these dishes are actually plaid. Divine.

What can I say? This hat is adorable. And I think it would compliment my new red hair just right. Oh...didn't I mention that I went from blonde to red??? Many people think I'm crazy, out of mind for doing it, but I love it!

Sorry my cute new hat covers up most of my hair, so it's hard to see the full color. That's what you get when you haven't washed your hair and you have to actually get dressed and leave the house. Believe me...this is much better than me in greasy hair and pj's. I'm doing you a favor.

My Crazy New Rug

Ok, I am so super excited about my new rug. It was a major impulse buy, and I LOVE it! I have admired zebra print rugs in magazines and brave homes for a long time. Well, I finally got the courage to try one in my modest little home. I think it adds just the right amount of personality and pizazz to a space that sometimes seems very boring and predictable to me, sans the chocolate brown walls! And with a touch of aqua blue...yummy.

I love the way it looks with my giant black armoire and dropcloth tableskirt. Now I'm on a mission to find or make (hot glue) some cute pillows in a fun fabric. I'm thinking big aqua blue and white polka dots. Any suggestions? My husband is worried that it looks too busy, but I like this room's eclectic feel. Modern mixed with traditional mixed with yard sale treasures. The perfect brew of my self-proclaimed style... "Funky Traditional".

And just so you can rest assured that I like to keep it real...this picture for your viewing pleasure. As you can plainly see this was not staged in any way, shape, or form....several piles of folded laundry, dolls, toys, books, and more. I live in a real house with 6 real people who make real messes ALL.DAY.LONG. And I was way too tired to clean it up...even for you, my friends. So this is what you get...a big ol' dose of my reality!

Enjoy.

If anyone is in the market for a new rug, Overstock.Com has some amazing deals. The shipping for your entire order is always $2.95....gasp. But if you have a Paypal account, the shipping is FREE. They have great customer service, wonderful reviews on most products, helpful tips on keeping your rug clean, and a vast array of products to choose from. Man, it sounds like I'm being paid to endorse them...but sadly, I am not. I just wanted to share my deal with you all. Oh, and did I mention that this rug is thick and plush and wool?

Nice.

The Power of Paint

I'm not sure I have mentioned before my undying love for spray paint...really any kind of paint. It is amazing what a difference this small can of magic can make! See that picture of my fridge below? I used it for a post about clutter. Not until I posted it did I notice how horrible the handles of my fridge looked. I knew they were yellowing, but I guess I was in denial about how bad they really were. It's been one of those little projects that's been on the list for a while, just not top priority. Well, my hubby actually pointed out how bad they looked this weekend. When your husband notices something like that...you know it's bad! Lucky for me he thought it was imperative that those handles be painted ASAP, so he took it on as his little project.

Yippeee...one less thing I have to do!

Ouch...that's brutal!

Ahhhhhhhh.....that is so much better.

Be sure you buy paint made specially for plastic. Just don't buy this paint...it is horrible! We made do because they were out of the Krylon Fusion in white, but I wouldn't recommend doing that. Wait for it to be restocked...it's worth it!

Quality paint = quality work.

Oh, I cannot even tell you how happy those white handles make me. What a huge difference a bit of paint can make. What have you painted lately that made you smile?

Spiderweb Links

It took me a few days, but I finally got some links for y'all. There were several of you who were interested in making your very own ginormous spiderwebs, so here you go. My sister Jenny sent me the link she used:

http://www.my-mania.com/halloween/web.html

And reader Megan sent me a great tutorial link as well:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween_spiderweb/

Thanks to Jenny and Megan for doing all the work for me!

And I'd love to see your webs if anyone would like to share theirs when they're finished.

Good luck and have fun!!!

It's a Freaky Friday Blog Swap!

Hey girls...Happy Friday!!!

I have swapped blogs with my friend Becca from Blue Cricket Design for the day. Becca describes Freaky Friday as... "a chance for us to meet other totally awesome, amazing, awe inspiring, cool creators. We switch blogs for the day and introduce ourselves to each other's audience. What a great way to link creative communities!" Yes indeedy. Thank you Becca for inviting me to participate in your Freaky Friday blog swap. I hope y'all will show my new friend some bloggy love.

Take it away Becca.....

Hi there! I'm Becca from over at Blue Cricket Design! I am so happy to be on this mini blog vacation and visiting with all of you! I am a huge fan of Amanda and all her many talents!

I am excited to share with you a fun Halloween project I hope all of you will enjoy!
Introducing my...


Magic Halloween Bag!!!



One of my roommates in College has a wonderful family tradition! After Trick or Treating her kids leave their Halloween candy on the front porch and "Magically" it turns into a prize in the morning! I fell in love with the idea!!! I can't stand all the candy after the holiday! There is just too much! So I am adding to this fun tradition and I have created a "Magic Halloween Bag" to put the candy in! You could also simply make this bag for Trick or Treating! It beats the Pillow case I always used as a kid! They are just so darling!!!

Let's get started...

For this project you'll need a variety of Halloween Fabrics. I bought 7 prints all 1/4 of a yard. You will also need a yard of a fabric for the lining of the bag. I bought my fabric at Walmart and all together it only cost me $6

Cut each print in strips the width of the fabric. Vary your strip size for a fun random look.

Lay your cut strips out alternating the colors and prints and create your pattern. Start sewing the strips together until they are all sewn together!

Press this finished section with an Iron.

I used Ric Rack and other ribbon and added then throughout the strips. I sewed mine on with a zig zag stitch!


Now we are going to sew the finished section onto the lining of the bag. Be sure to place the striped section face down onto the lining fabric and pin it in place.

Sew the fabrics together leaving a small opening where you will then turn the bag right side out!

Press again with an Iron.


Adding the drawstring is easy! Lay a piece of ribbon that is longer then the width of the bag onto the top of the bag. Fold over an inch of fabric and pin in place!

Sew a straight stitch to encase the ribbon.

Fold the bag in half with the stripes on the inside and sew the sides together leaving the top open. Be careful not to sew the drawstring closed.

Turn it right side out and there you go!!!

I made up a Poem to go along with our new family tradition of trading in our candy! I will print it out on fun Halloween Paper and laminate it and then attach it to the drawstring.


It's always fun to Trick or Treat!
With lots of yummy things to eat!
Like M & M's and Licorice,
Handfuls from a candy dish!
But all that candy can't be great!
It might give you a tummy ache.
So toss it in
And close it tight
and when you go to sleep at night
This magic bag has a surprise!
It turns your candy into a PRIZE!




Thanks for letting me share! I would love for you to come and see all the other fun ideas I share on my creative blog!

Blue Cricket Design is my collection of craft projects, recipes, tutorials, giveaways and more!!!Come back often and join in on the fun!!!

Thanks Amanda!!!!

I Like Big Webs and I Cannot Lie....

EDITED TO ADD :

Here are 2 great links for those of you interested in making some big 'ol webs. Thanks to Jenny and Megan for providing them!

http://www.my-mania.com/halloween/web.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween_spiderweb/

Ok, sorry for the shameless reference to a bad 90's song! It just seemed perfect for my title. But now I can't get it out of my head. Oh well... that's what I get, right?

My sister Jenny came up with this fabulous creation for her porch. Isn't it just the absolute coolest? She knew I would be the only crazy person who would get excited about a ginormous spiderweb, so of course she called me to come and see it immediately. And of course, I rushed right over.

This is what she used to make it. Oh, and a staple gun. And a ladder and a super sweet sister to be her assistant!

I wish I could give you this wonderful tutorial with step by step instructions...but I have no clue how she did it. And I was there and helped make 3 of them. Yes...I'm good like that.

I do know that she started with a base by making an "X" or a "T". Then started from the center tying rope knots all the way around.



If you can't tell, we were seriously risking life and limb to put this thing up. But it was so worth it. Aren't they the coolest???



She has since done two more and I need to go back and take a final picture. She said she's never decorated for Halloween before. I think she's hooked now.

If I can get the link for how to make these ultra cool spiderwebs, I will come back and add it to this post tonight. If not...you're on your own.

Get those creative juices flowing and have fun!

Cricut, Cricut...Who Got a New Cricut???

EDITED TO ADD :

So many of you have asked about the cartridge I used to make my new signs. It is called "Home Decor" and I got it off e-bay for about $20 (brand new). I have found that you can get the best deals on cartridges as well as the machine on e-bay...that's where I got mine. I only have the 2 standard cartridges that come with the Cricut (Plantin Schoolbook & Accent Essentials) and the Home Decor one. For now that is all that I plan to purchase. I really don't have much of a need for a lot of cartridges, plus that can get expensive real fast. And I know plenty of people I can borrow or share cartridges with. Y'all know I'm too thrifty for all that! Oh, and there is also a program you can buy called "Sure Cuts Alot". It allows you to hook the cricut to your computer and use any true type font you already have. Now that is awesome. Maybe one day. I also included a picture of the graphics that come on the Home Decor cartridge. Just click on the picture to enlarge it.

I got a new toy last week and I've had so much fun playing with it this weekend! Look at all the fun new stuff I've made so far....

I'm sure most of you die hard crafters know about the Cricut (pronounced..."cricket") and probably have owned one for ages. I, on the other hand, have only drooled over theses fancy machines..thinking I'd never have one of my own. My sweet sweet sister let me borrow hers for a couple months and I got completely hooked. But I'm proud to say that I sold enough of my etsy wares to buy my very own . Whoo-hoo! Seriously, that may not sound too exciting to you, but to me it means so much. It means I am finally doing what I love, what I am passionate about. It means I've put myself out there for the world to see and come to find out...it's not as scary as I thought! It means I am feeding and cultivating and nourishing my creative spirit. And let me tell you...that feels soooooooo good! I don't plan or expect to make a living selling crafts, but it is so nice to feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment doing something that I LOVE.

Ok...sappy mushy moment over. Now I will gush about the wonderfullness of my new toy! I am amazed at how detailed and intricate this machine cuts. And to top it all off, it is super easy and user friendly. I am no techie...I NEED easy.

For reals! All I did was snap in the cartridge, type the chandelier button, set the size for 3 inches, and the quantity I want, load the paper...and VOILA! A whole stinkin page full of teeny tiny beautifully detailed chandeliers. I love this thing.

Not only does it cut paper, it also cuts chipboard, vinyl, and much more. The possibilities are endless. I have probably used about 1/100th of it's full potential, which is crazy, and I would be happy with that...but it can do so much more. I can't wait to see what we come up with together. Me and my new bff.

My other sister ordered a Halloween sign for her back door. She wanted spooky, but chic. Ummm...hello? She asked...Cricut and I delivered!


Total Cuteness.


But let's be honest here. Her back door is like the Taj Mahal of doors (I take pictures of all my signs at her house for this very reason). I could hang a little pile of dried up poo and it would look fabulous. Regardless, I'm glad we went with the cute sign and not the poo.
I don't know... I'm just sayin.

Pottery Barn Inspired

I have had this picture from pottery Barn in my idea folder for a long time. I love every single thing about it. From the classic black painted furniture to the gorgeous chandelier to the apothecary jars, but especially the chic look of black and white halloween decor with just a splash of orange. Love, love, love. There is something in this picture that I've wanted to re-create, but have not been able to figure out. Well, finally I got it and I tried my very own version of it. If you'll look very closely on top of the sideboard and above it on the shelves, there are some adorable cylinder shaped things with pumpkin faces. I fell in love with them the instant I laid eyes on them! Can you tell that they are made out of old books???

Precious.

This is my version of the P.B. originals. And I'll show you how to make your very own!

You can use any books, but I prefer the old, worn look with yellowed pages. Start at either end and begin folding the pages in, toward the spine of the book. Continue to fold and fold and fold some more until you have no more pages to fold. Lots of folding.

As you are folding, you will notice the pages start to curl around and form a cylinder. When finished, give them a nice fluffing and tape the two covers together in the back. You can add some little shapes to make a jack-o-lantern face or put black letters on there to spell out "BOO" or "EEK". In fact, I think I might make mine say "eek"...I like that better.

Mine are definitely not Pottery Barn worthy, but I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. Considering I've been drooling over them for more than a year!

And because I am in a Pottery Barn frenzy, I'll leave you with some more gorgeous eye candy. I could just die.... I love this room so much! Those plates on the wall make me salivate. Dreamy, right? I am now on a self imposed manhunt for a collection of black and white plates for my bedroom. I.MUST.HAVE.THEM.

Get Your Spook on!

Ok, so it took me a little longer than I expected to get my Halloween stuff up. Sue me. I put it off all weekend because I didn't want to get lost in the abyss of that closet. So much to declutter...so little time! I finally kicked myself in the hiney yesterday and lugged out all those heavy holiday boxes. Of course, the Halloween box was on the very bottom of the stack. I got most of it put up last night, but couldn't let myself post those pictures. Something just wasn't right...it all felt...off. So today I spent the day redecoranging and tweaking it and doing it all again. I know...I have a real problem. Finally, I am somewhat happy with it, but I'm sure I will continue to change it around and in a week it will all be completely different. It's a sickness, I tell ya!

I found these fun sticker labels at the dollar store last year. I wish I had bought more of them to have on hand. Creepy, but fun...right?

More dollar store accessories all spookified!





I like to call this look "Spooky Chic".

Love me some scrapbook paper wrapped candles...the perfect way to change up those neutral candles for any holiday!

Couldn't let the powder room feel left out of the holiday fun, now could I?

More white pumpkin love/obsession!

A rare full price splurge at Tar-jay...totally don't regret that purchase. I had forgotten about it, and actually squealed when I pulled it out of the storage box!

I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to Halloween decorating. I LOVE it. And I love this mantle set up so much I want to marry it, except that I'm already married, and it's weird to want to marry your mantle....right?

RIGHT.

Pearls...the perfect accessory!

This is by far my favorite thing I've used to fill up these beautiful glass apothecary jars. White pumpkins, gourds, mini skulls, skeleton hands, and spiders...all from the dollar store. It just goes to show that you don't have to spend alot of money to have fun and fabulous holiday decor. The dollar store has a wealth of options to choose from. On their own they may not look like much, but paired together and with nicer things, you can achieve that high end look. All you need is a couple bucks, a good imagination, and things you use around your home everyday.

Fun Halloween Craft

I thought it would be fun to start this month off with a "spooktacular" craft! Some of you may recognize this from last year, but I have a lot of new readers who probably haven't seen it...so I decided to repost it.

I started off with a cheap dollar store broom, lots and lots of ribbon and trim, and my trusty go-to-gal...my hot glue gun.

I wrapped the handle first. I used a bit of hot glue at the top, some in the middle, and a bit at the bottom to keep all those layers from slipping. Then starting at the bottom of the handle I added big loops of ribbon and strips of ribbon all around the perimeter. I just kept adding layers and layers of it till I got the look I was going for. Lastly, I topped it off with some pom pom fringe. You could pretty much use anything you have on hand for this project....just have fun with it!

So...what do you think of my wicked cute tricked out broom? This became one of my very favorite halloween decorations last year. I am in the process of pulling out all the bins and getting it all put up. That's one of my goals for this weekend. Hopefully, by Sunday night I will have it done and ready to show. I can't wait to share it with you!