a lovely DIY idea

I love when I come across cute and easy DIY ideas. Because this girl does not do complicated...

So this morning I came across this lovely idea at The Small Object that I would love to try someday. (click on link below for the exact post) Too bad I didn't find this a month ago, or I could have come up with some cute Christmas gift ideas. Oh well, there's always birthdays, next years Christmas, or just because gifts. :)

Make Your Own Steno Pad

Craft Time!

I'm one of those people that loves crafts, but if it ends up looking homemade then I'm not going to bother making it or I'll do something with it after I'm done, like hide it. I think that's the perfectionist in me. I have painted many a canvas in my day, drawn beautiful pictures, made lovely craft projects, but you would never know this if you walked in my home because I don't keep them out in view. I have either given them away to friends and family or stashed them away in a box in my closet. It's sad really. I see so many people making their own art to decorate their home with and I love it. And yet when I attempt it, I see the imperfections, know that I made it, and put it away. I am not sure why I do this.

What's really interesting is that I was talking about something similar to this yesterday with my sister and also with my friend Liz. I had someone tell me Tuesday that they were really surprised to hear that I was passionate about interior design because they had never heard me talk about it before. And then Liz was shocked to hear that I had an SLR camera at home. She thought I only shot with my small digital. Apparently, I may not be all that much of an open book as I thought I was.

When it comes to my passions or my interest, I don't talk about them much. If I died today and someone, besides my family, went through my house, they'd probably wonder if they knew me at all. Boxes and boxes of photographs that I've taken over the years due to my love of photography, an SLR camera and accessories stashed in a case in my closet somewhere collecting dust. Boxes of art supplies and art projects literally stacked in the very back of my closet appearing as if I don't touch it at all...but I do. A guitar that no one knows I pick up and attempt to play almost every other night. A baseball glove and softball that is sitting on my shelf in my bedroom, also collecting dust. I love to play catch. I think it's one of those past times that I remember with my dad when times were good. I just don't know anyone else who enjoys that so I don't ever say anything. And my collection of art that I've collected over the years...spending way too much money for handmade pieces of art off the internet because I love it. :)

Yeah, I guess I just don't talk about this too much with friends. I'd like to think that I talk about it more here than anything though. If you went through old posts you'd good sense of what I'm into. I guess I'll try to work on this more.

Wow, I believe I just rambled on and on about something that was not even the intention of this blog entry. What I wanted to really talk about was this...

SNOW GARLAND!

I came across this lovely craft project over at Design Crush. She got the idea from Evie-S and they in turn got the idea from Craft Stylish. I love it. I think it's perfect for the holiday party Liz is hosting this year and so we plan on making it together to decorate her home with.
All you need is white floss and 1 inch, white, garage sale stickers. Go to Craft Stylish to check out the step-by-step tutorial if you need it.

They are beautiful, aren't they? I cannot wait to see how they turn out when Liz and I make them. I'll be sure to post some photos.

I love a good craft project! And this one won't be in my home, but in hers, so in some way I justify it. I'm weird...

Hope everyone is having a good day!

photos via: Craft Stylish

I LOVE This Idea!

Make your own indoor mini s'mores grill??? Could it get any better? :)

Make your own by reading all you need to do here.

And just last week I saw this recipe, S'mores on a stick!


Anyone hungry? I know I am.

I've been framed!

So I saw this lovely photo of a cupcake shop over at Armelle blog, and instantly had an idea. What if I went to one of the local hardware stores, got them to color match my new duvet, and painted and hung some empty frames above my new headboard in the same color blue?

Or, my other favorite color is the tuscan orange. What about frames in this color?


I don't know. If I'm going for a calm, peaceful feel, I might want to stick with the blue. Either way, I'm excited about this because it's fairly cheap and easy. I mean all I have to do is collect a bunch of old frames (thrift store finds), and then get the paint and vwhalla! So even if I end up not liking it, I didn't really spend a ton on the project.


Man, I have so many ideas. Here is a cute DIY tutorial for a jewelry holder, from Whip Up. I am thinking of making a rather large one to put as my entryway right when you walk in the door to hold my keys and etc.

I ran across this photo today on Mixed Plate and laughed as I related instantly.
I love to create stuff and attempt projects but with the way the economy is these days and being on such a budget that I feel as if I can't even afford a trip to the local art supply store. These days it seems you have to either chose between if you'd rather eat that week or pay for gas.

::images via Armelle Blog, Apartment Therapy, Whip Up, Mixed Plate::

It's been a while; (but I have been busy).

I admit that I'm not the best at this blogging thing. But maybe I should stop trying to do it for an audiance and only do it for myself. Then maybe "they" will come. :)

So as like most, I have been Christmas shopping, Christmas baking, Christmas decorating and etc. Everything Christmas. It's usually a hectic time of year for me. When I have a lot on my plate, many things tend to go neglected. Like my blog and laundry. :)

Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season. Unlike most northern and western states, Tennessee hasn't seen any snow, but maybe soon.

Here are just a few random pictures of what I've been up to lately. (One day I'll have better photos as well as a better blog.)

I got the idea to make these really cute and fun Christmas ornaments off some site I saw a couple weeks back. I know I should give credit where credit is due, but I have completely forgotten now what site that was. (If you know, please leave a comment.)

Anyway, I went to the craft store and bought several different colors of metallic card stock. I loved that I found the metallic because it gives it that shine that makes them that much more special. I made the ornaments, cut out some stars and then some little squares and hung them all with nylon string at work, infornt of our big window that faces the main buildings foyer.

TO BE CONTINUED.....(HAVE TO RUN)

Crafty Crafty

So I finally decided to start doing something with all these great art ideas I get from the great blogs I visit daily. You'd think after a year or so of "oooohhhing" and "aaahhhhing" over all the ideas I would have done something by now. Better late than never though.

Thanks to Threadbangers, I decided to make my own screen print.

Embroidery hoop ($1.19) +
Mod Podge ($1.29) +
Tights (had already) + image from computer (free) =Om!
My very own screen print! Once dry, I'll turn it over and lay it down on a shirt and squeegee on some fabric paint and vwhalla! It's obviously backwards now, but when it's ready to be turned over and used on a shirt, it'll turn out just right. :)
I'll post pictures of the end result when I'm done. Hopefully it will be this weekend.

Also thanks to Threadbangers, I'm working on making my own beads out of magazine pages.

I used the bottle cap just to show the size. And no, I won't be using sewing thread. That's just what I'm doing to hold them all together while I make them all. Once I'm done I'll go to the art store and actually get beading thread and jewelry clasps.

Man...this is a lot of fun. I'm finally doing something and it feels great! :)