The Evolution of a Frame

This week I've been lightening things up around here and adding simple touches of spring into my decor. I found a new shade of aqua blue that is my current obsession. Unfortunately it is in a tiny bottle of acrylic craft paint....Ceramcoat sea foam. It is the softest most beautiful shade of blue and I want to paint everything with it, but I'm trying to make that tiny little bottle stretch. I used it on my family monogram frame and distressed it to let the heirloom white show through. LOVE IT!

Have I mentioned how much I adore this burlap scrapbook paper? It looks so real.

This is how my frame started out a month or so ago. I loved the colorful pattern on this paper, but it quickly became too busy for me and I had to change it. Plus, you couldn't really see the monogram, which is my favorite part of this frame. So I changed it.

This time I went with something more simple, but still with a bit of color. I loved it for a few weeks, but of course got tired of it and wanted a change. Again with the D.A.D.D. (decorating attention deficit disorder).

I probably would have left it like it was, if it weren't for that darn craft paint I fell in love with. So I peeled off the vinyl lettering and started over. This is by far the simplest look, but I love it. The colors are just perfect for spring. And I found some gorgeous scrapbook paper that is almost identical to my new favorite paint color to wrap my candles in.

Welcome Spring!!!!

Miss Procrastination 2010

Have y'all noticed that I am the world's worst at putting things off and not finishing projects in a timely manner??? Well, if not...it's true....crown me Miss Procrastination 2010. This little project is one that I've had on the backburner for a couple months now....half finished. I covered these thrift store canvases back when I made over the infamous roadkill rescue headboard. They have been sitting around waiting to get all gussied up. I had no idea what to do with them, so I put them away and waited for some inspriration.

And 2 months later...it struck. I decided to use them as picture frames. I had these two adorable 8 x 10's printed recently, but couldn't decide where to put them. Again with the sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike. I know, I know....blah, blah, blah!

I used double stick tape to attach the picture to the fabric. Then I strung a drapery clip onto a ribbon and tacked it to the top of the frame with an upholstery tack. On one I clipped a big silk daisy, an acrylic scrapbook initial, and a teeny tiny picture of my sweet girl's hand on the day she was blessed! The other frame I kept simple with just an initial. I wanted the focus to be on those gorgeous, amazing eyes of my baby girl.




I have one hanging on either side of the bed. My girls absolutely LOVE having their very own pictures in here. They were so excited when I asked if I should hang them in their room.




This room is slowly coming together...kinda like the master bedroom. Yes.....it is still in progress too. Hmmmmm, maybe I should only start one project at a time. HA..... that's a good one!



I adore this itsy bitsy little picture of a brand new baby hand. I think that bracelet would fit on her thumb nowadays! So not fair that they have to grow up. This child told me just today that she DID NOT want to grow up. She liked being three and didn't want to be 4 anymore! Well, ok. I'll get right on that.

The inspriration for these frames came from this memo board, or my version of it anyway. I made it back when there was only one girl and she ruled the roost and the decor. Can you tell? This was a fun project and super easy. I love that it is not your typical memo board. It's a little out there, a bit quirky, and a lot cute!

Supplies:

canvas

fabric

staples or hot glue

ribbon

drapery clips

upholstery tacks

scrapbook embellishments

creativity

imagination

Keep Calm and Carry On

The infamous Keep Calm and Carry on Poster was commissioned by the British Government's Ministry of Information. It was meant to send a message to the people in the event of an attack during WWII. It is fast becoming a hot trend in home decor and is wildly popular on etsy. I had planned on ordering a print of my own to frame, but I just never got around to it. Over the weekend, I stumbled upon a forgotten can of aqua blue paint and a scrap of plywood in the garage. And from those scraps came a brilliant idea....I'll make my own version of the "Keep Calm" poster.

The plywood was already cut, it just needed a bit of sanding. After that I sprayed on a coat of white primer. I did this because I wanted the white to show through when I sanded the edges of the finished board. After the primer dried, I gave it 2 coats of the aqua, with drying time in between.

I used my cricut to cut out the white vinyl letters and crown. I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge set on tall ball for the letters and the Home Decor cartridge for the crown.

I really need to see this every single day! It is a great reminder to me to stay positive and focused during tough times. This season in my life without my better half is hard, but it is just that.....a season.....and this too shall pass.

Here is a closeup shot of the sanded edges. I did it very lightly, but now I'm thinking it could use a bit more distressing.

I am a hard woman to please when it comes to decor. I am very rarely happy with this area on top of and above my piano. I don't know what it is, but I can never seem to get it just right. But I have to say, this is by far my most favorite vignette to date. The balancing act of the dark chocolate walls and the piano and the lamps mixed with the white birdcage never really "worked" for me. But with this new addition, I think it balances out the dark and the light without looking weird. I'm happy....hey, maybe I'm not really that hard to please!

So many of you asked about the aqua plates on my piano and where I found them. Warning.....be prepared to hate me. I got them a couple years ago in the dollar spot at Target for $2.50 a piece. I have 4 of them and I wish I had 24! They also came in a beautiful shade of dark mossy green. But you know me and my obsession with all things aqua.....had to have them. I {heart} these plates sooooo much! And they look perfect wherever I put them. They have traveled around my house a time or two, but I think they've found a permanent home here. Well, as permanent as a girl with D.A.D.D (decorators attention deficit disorder) can get anyway!

Cute Shirts and FlowersThat Smell Like Poo

So I finally got around to doing something with those fabric letters I cut out with my cricut. Nothing groundbreaking here...just some simple appliques. I'm a newbie...this was my first time attempting to applique. It was so fun and easy to do and I am completely hooked. I still need to stitch around the letters and flower, but I might need some sewing help with that one. I'm pretty pathetic when it comes to the old machine. The fabric I used just so happens to match this skirt I got at a consignment sale last week perfectly! I love happy little accidents like that, don't you?

It made such a precious outfit and I had a perfectly adorable model....I just couldn't help taking a bazillion pictures of them!

Our impromptu photo shoot started out innocently enough. It was all cupcakes and roses, until...........

All of a sudden it wasn't anymore!

My little spitfire cutie was done for.






And who could really blame her. She just wanted to dance and spin in her twirly new skirt!

And smell the beautiful spring flowers. You'd never guess by looking at this sweet picture that right at that moment she was telling me the paper whites smelled like...poo.

This kid definitely has a her own way of doing things. She lives her life to the fullest and darn it...you better not get in her way.She is full of personality and spunk and humor and our family would be so incomplete without her......high maintenance drama and all! She makes me crazy and so fulfilled all at the same time. Is that weird?Regardless, I love it and wouldn't have it any other way!

I had an extra $1 tee shirt from old Navy and some fabric scraps, and I couldn't help myself from making another one! I was thinking about putting her initial in the center or maybe a button. But I also like the simplicity of this swirl right in the middle of the big flower. It reminds me of a giant lollipop. What kid wouldn't want a ginormous lollipop on their shirt, right?

Absolutely!

$2 Walmart Ribbon Transformation

Today while leisurely (hahahahaha) shopping with the kids at Walmart, I spotted this gorgeous chocolate brown and aqua blue damask ribbon for $2. I searched for more so I could buy it all up, but sadly this was the only roll. On a happy note, it was the only roll and I found it! There was just enough on the spool to wrap both my lamps and tie a cute little bow.

I love adding splashes of this beautiful blue against my chocolate walls...such a nice compliment.

I know that I have professed my love for ribbon over and over and over. But seriously, it is so versatile. One of the most inexpensive ways to dress up an area that needs a little extra punch!

The Transformative Powers of Moss

Have I mentioned before how much I adore reindeer moss? I love the color, the texture, the natural element it brings into my decor...pretty much everything about it....I love! So imagine my excitement today when my sweet sister gave me a bag of leftover wedding moss. I couldn't wait to get home and fire up the glue gun for craft time.

I started with an old paper mache letter that has been painted and mod podged to the brink of death. I came so close to throwing it away a while back...I'm so glad I decided to hoard it for a rainy day!

And...

I needed a styrofoam ball, but of course didn't have one. So I thought and I thunk and finally came up with a solution.... repurpose that tassel my 2 year old broke 5 minutes after my best friend gave it to me for my birthday. Problem solved.

I apologize Jennifer if you're reading this. Please avert your eyes so you don't have to see that I completely trashed your lovely gift. It was for the greater good, though....cause looky what I remade it into.

A nice springy moss ball (oh the google hits I'll get off that one)! These were super easy to make. You just need a bag of moss, a hot glue gun with plenty of extra glue sticks, and something to cover. And here's a little tip for you. If you use a low melt glue gun, you won't burn your fingerprints off and you'll come out blister free! I love the cute little vignette for the top of my fridge and the splash of color and texture my moss accessories add to my kitchen. A nice way to usher in springtime!

A Bloggy BFF and a Giveaway!

Today I'm highlighting one of my very first blogging friends. We became gal pals when I first started on this crazy journey and have been tight ever since! I guess we hit it off because we have so much in common. Decorating, thrifting, redesign, crafting, sassy cuteness.....need I go on? Tausha has been blogging for 3 years but just recently started a new blog dedicated to the business she and her mother started a few years back...Sassy Style Interior Redesign. Can I just tell you that this is my absolute dream job? How fun would it be to get paid to go into someone's house, rearrange all their stuff, tell them what to throw out, what to keep, and redecorate their rooms the way you envision it??? Ummmmm...hello? It doesn't get much better than that! Tausha loves her work and is passionate about what she does. Here is what she has to say about the work they do.......

I LOVE that! "It's still your space....only better!" What a great tagline.

This little shadowbox she made with thrift store eyeglasses is one of my absolute favorites. So stinkin cute and so unique.....even if her hubby doesn't "get" it!

I.Am.In.Love.With.This.Pillow.
Can you tell what it's made with? Yep....those really are dollar store flower petals hot glued onto a pillow! I am soooooooo stealing this idea. Tausha....this is genius, my friend!

The next few pictures show some of the beautiful vignettes she and her mom have styled in client's homes and their own. They have a real gift for showcasing everyday items and making them beautiful and unique!



I have a tiny confession.....when my mom is out of town and I'm looking after her house...I like to play redesigner! It's so fun to rearrange other people's stuff and make it look new and fresh. Usually I put it all back the way I found it, but once I left it, just to see what would happen. Well, let me tell you what....my mother obviously didn't appreciate it because the next time I came over every single thing was back in it's proper place. It was kinda funny to me...but I'm pretty sure she did not laugh.



I heart plates on the wall! They could be especially handy in the bedroom when you get hungry and need a snack, just pull a plate off the wall.....no crumbs in the bed!



I sooooooo wish I had a pretty laundry room like this. Hey, come to think of it.....I have that exact same glass jar and it's empty. I am so going to put my detergent in it tomorrow. Now if I only had a vintage metal scoop and a cute little clock, I'd be on my way to a prettier laundry room. I think I need Tausha at my house!

Shut.The.Front.Door.

These altered books were some nasty old thrift store books that she breathed new life into with scrapbook paper, buttons, trim, and a metal handle.
Another crafty project I will be copying! LOVE that handle hot glued onto the binding. Tausha also goes on a local tv show, Studio 5, once a month to share decorating ideas, tips, and tricks. She told me she loves what she does, and really loves sharing her creations with others. That is why she blogs. If others get inspired from things she does, she feels so very blessed.
Amen. Isn't that the beauty of blogging???

Tausha also has an etsy shop with really cute stuff. This reversible set of spring blocks is my favorite! One side is for Easter......

And the other side is for St. Patty's Day. More bang for your buck, it's like gettting two sets for the price of one!

And becasue she is a giver, Tausha is hosting a fun spring giveaway on her blog. It includes the cutest wooden block all cutesied up for spring, a darling bird, a handcrafted "lucky" plate, some springy dishtowels, a sign, and a beautiful black damask pillow.

Be sure to stop by and show Tausha some bloggy love...tell her I sent you! And while you're there, don't forget to enter her fun giveaway!!!

Fantabulous Fabric Feature

So, my new cricut friend, Leigh, sent me a link she thought I might be interested in the other day. When I clicked on it, I think I gasped...loudly. Just look at this gorgeous fabric giraffe. It is ironed on directly to the wall. HELLO??? Did you even know you could do that? Well I didn't, that's for sure. I'm pretty sure this is one of the most genius ideas ever. I already have plans to do something similar in my girls room on the big blank wall. Soooooooo excited!

The mastermind behind this project is Melanie @ Sewing for Scarlett. She provides a wonderful tutorial on how she did this step by step. Seriously, I am so in love with this idea I can hardly stand it! Did I mention she free handed the pattern for the giraffe? She's amazing. And not to mention, a very talented seamstress.

These little dresses are TO.DIE.FOR.CUTE.

She sells these cute rosette onesies in her etsy shop, along with some other really cute stuff.

And her ruffle jersey skirt that she knocked off from J. Crew is adorable! She has skills that I, sadly, just don't possess. But the fabric applique on the wall...now I can handle that! Me and my cricut are getting down to business on some wall appliques...stay tuned for complete and utter cuteness!