Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Toy and Resolutions

Santa (otherwise known as my lovely hubby) brought me a Silhouette for Christmas.  Oh, how excited I am!!  I also find myself in a state of utter confusion in mastering the capabilities this fine piece of crafting equipment offers.  I have read page after page of instruction, but am struggling to understand what it all means!  

So, you can guess that what I am spending all my free time on, is in fact, the Silhouette.  My dreams are to create many lovelies - including wall art for my daughter's rooms and fun glass etching projects - as well as my New Years Resolution (well, one of them), which is to never buy a store bought card again.  That's right - my plan is to create every card we give this year - and (yet another New Years Resolution - a borrowed idea from my beautiful sis-in-law) being on top of every one of those lovely events - celebrating every special moment in our loved one's lives (birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, baby, etc.).

Another Resolution?  Organizing my home - top to bottom - ultimately creating a simple living environment...

What's one of your New Years Resolutions? 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Giveaway Craze!

My dear friend, Carey, over at www.withjoycarey.blogspot.com is at it again! She is amazingly crafty (yes, sometimes I dream of having even an ounce of her mind) and is sharing her skill with the rest of us out there!
Not 1, Not 2, but 3 giveaways! Can you say amazingness?!?
You just must enter to win!
Head over to her site at
Happy Entering!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Winter Wonderland

In my dream world my house would be decorated with an assortment of the like:
Naturally I will dream of accomplishing them all...
I love the personality in this tree - (oh and the birds)

This would be just darling as a centerpiece...

Country Living

I think this is what I want my kitchen to look like.... the bedboard, the chandelier, old table and chairs, hand crochet tablecloth... tree... it's all, well, perfection.
Country Living

Something about this tree is just dreamy to me - perhaps it's the golds and blues, or the stocking display, or the vintage chair adorned with (what I would have: a vintage potato sack pillow.)

Country Living

This will be my future family room. It just has to be...
Country Living


I am in love with this book page wreath - if I ever have the time, I will make one just like it.

My dear friend Carey with http://www.withjoycarey.blogspot.com/ sent me the link to this tree last month - she just knew I would love it. It's on my Must Accomplish List.



This stocking just caught my eye immediately - I LOVE LOVE it! The canvas - the use of dots, the authenticity, the rosettes - they all had me at hello :).
Birgit Kerr

Oh, if I could just have ONE of these beautiful pieces in my home, I think I would just be in Love - forever. Naturally I dream... hopefully I can accomplish.
Merry Christmas

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Pumpkin Bars

I think I may just HAVE to make these.... soon :D

Martha Stewart's Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Featured Site

If you haven't already, stop by this amazing blog created by one of my
closest friends - she is a creative genius!

Have fun!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Lighting

I am just in LOVE with these pendants/chandelier from Pottery Barn...
hopefully one day at least one of these pretties will make their way into my home.
Calhoun Glass Pendant by Pottery Barn


6-Arm Chandelier by Pottery Barn


5 Jar Pendant by Pottery Barn


Erin

Friday, November 5, 2010

Front Room

My biggest house project right now is the front rooms of my home. This is such a tough project because all the walls are vaulted - all the way to the top of the 2nd story. Painting will have to be in sections - and I am sure the whole project will take at least a month. Anyone up for a painting party? :D
This is the main area - otherwise known as the "pool table room".
1. PAINT!
My plan with this room is the same paint as the family room/kitchen area - "Wool Skein" by Sherwin Williams.
2. Hang Curtains - I picked some white linen 95 inch curtains from Target. I will use the same curtain rods for now - I originally purchased them from Costplus World Market.
This is the stairway (the sconces are new (old brown wood spray painted white) and will stay, as well as the table on the landing I got from Carey from http://www.withjoycarey.blogspot.com/ years ago. I plan on painting the picture frames white or gray. This stairway will be the same light color as the pool table room.
The wall to the right (both sides of the cutout) will be a dark blue - I found the perfect one at Dunn Edwards - "Silver Skate". I need to figure out something fun to do in the crevice (lamp has to stay until we get an electrician out to do a permanent light fixture above pool table). The wall not shown (to the right of the picture) will feature a oversized large mirror (hung horizontally) and a shelf - all purchased from Kelly R.

I have so much fun deciding, dreaming and ultimately doing all these re-decorating projects! I can't wait until they are all done - however, I have a long ways to go....

Erin

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Wall Art

I was inspired by my amazing friend
to create this fun project :)
I originally set out to make a pair for Lexie's room, but ended up liking this one for our study/drum room.
(sorry for the lighting - took this in the afternoon when the natural light in the room wasn't the best)
Here is how I did it....

Step 1: Canvas (I bought mine at Michaels during a 40% off sale!)
Step 2: Adhesive (I chose spray adhesive)

Step 3: 1st layer of paper cut to size

Step 4: Add additional layers

Step 5: Final touches (I used a Cricut machine to print the tag and letters)
Step 6: Add Hanger (I chose twine, but you could easily use ribbon) - secured with hot glue
The Final Result:
This one will (obviously) go into little Miss. Lexie's room (initials A.R.W. for Alexandria Rose)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Acorns, Acorns, Acorns!

My friend, Kelly, introduced me to these lovelies...
we hope to make our own soon!

Source

Source

Source

Happy Fall

Monday, October 4, 2010

a Vintage Tea Party Baby Shower

the celebration of new life. the joyful moments of friendship.
a vintage tea party baby shower

invitation by Christine

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the decorations

baby scale, wooden shoe forms, card holder courtesy of kelly
(as well as other miscellaneous items, dishes and decorations throughout)




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the brunch

lemon raspberry cupcakes by eva

homemade macarons - by aymee



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beverages
fresh squeezed lemonade

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tea

rose sugar cubes by le chic bakery boutique

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the favors
soap in a jar by dennis anderson

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myself and the guest of honor... julianna




in honor of little miss gabriella marie
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