Valentine Decorating Ideas - (LOVE)

Here is another masterpiece my mother-in-law and I came up with for Valentine decorating ideas.  I don't have any pink in my house and I don't put a lot of effort in to Valentine's Day decorations.  I like holiday decor that is simple, classy, and will match what I already have up year round.

I once again turned to Pinterest to find my inspiration for Valentine decorating ideas.  One girl had taken a canvas and place the letters LOVE vertically and in two rows.  It looked so simple and fun.  However, her's had bright splashes of colors for her letters which would not fit my house.  Thus the wheels started turning on how I could adapt this project and make it my own.

The best part is that this tutorial is super easy.

Supplies:

-large piece of canvas (my mother and I found a 2 pack at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% off coupon)
-newspaper or old book pages
-Modge Podge
-lighter
-chip board letters ($1.99 a piece at Hobby Lobby)
-black acrylic paint
-sponge brushes
-E-6000 glue

Step 1:  The Paper

Now had I had my way I would have found an inexpensive copy of Pride and Prejudice and started ripping out the pages.  However I didn't have one on hand.  Thus I took a newspaper and started ripping it into pieces.  I didn't wan't any photos or large titles that would stand out.  It's nice to use different shapes but I suggest trying to make your pieces of ripped paper fairly large.  It will take fewer pieces to cover the board.

Step 2:  Burn the Edges

I took just a handful of my ripped newspaper pieces and burned the edges just slightly.  I did this over my sink so that I could drop the paper if I didn't blow the flame out in time.  Please note the newspaper burns quickly.  Please use extra caution when do this.

Step 3:  Modge Podge

Next comes the Modge Podge.  I would take my brush and put a little bit of Modge Podge on the canvas where the paper was going as well as on the back of the paper.  Then I would place it down, smoothing it out as much as possible.  I would do this to several pieces of paper, layering them on top of one another and had them going different directions.  After I had about half of the board covered I would Modge Podge the top of the newspaper, once again smoothing out the ripples.  Repeat this step until the whole canvas is covered.

I then Modge Podged the burnt pieces on top, strategically placing them on my canvas using the same process.

I let the whole thing dry for an hour or so and then did one final Modge Podge layer on top.

Step 4: Paint Your Letters

This step doesn't need any explanation.  You can seal the paint if you like however I liked the matte look.

Step 5:  Glue

I measured the side of my canvas and my letters to center the L and the E.  I placed some E-6000 glue on the back and stuck them on.  This was easiest as I was able to match the side of the canvas up with the side of my letters.  I was then able to take my ruler and place it on the bottom of these two letter to match up the O and the V and just eyeballed it to make sure they were about the same distance apart.

Step 6:  Find a fabulous place to display your piece.

I would say that total this Valentine's Day project took me maybe an hour and a half (not including drying time) and took very little skill.

Perhaps one of the things I love most about my last couple of Valentine decorating ideas is that they can be used for more than just this holiday.  I could leave the LOVE board or my AMOUR banner up for a while and pull it out for special occasions like anniversaries or date nights.

How do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

Shabby Christmas Tree Skirt (DIY)

Once again I have finally finished another Pinterest Project!!! I found and followed the directions for this Shabby Christmas Tree Skirt from Lauren over at My Crazy Life.

The directions themselves are super simple, the time it takes to complete the whole project is another story.  It took hours and hours and HOURS of hot gluing to get all these beautiful ruffles.

I highly recommend using a canvas painter's drop cloth as your base.  I originally cut out a muslin circle but knew that it would support the weight of the ruffles.  I found a 5 x 5 square drop cloth at Home Depot so I didn't have to make any adjustments before cutting out the circles.

I used an unbleached linen for most of the ruffles and a white cotton with silver flecks for a contrasting color and to make it unique to me.  I cut out three inch strips in both colors and began gluing my little heart away.

Now is where you will have to start using your imagination.  Imagine I have a whole tree... one that has beautiful white Christmas lights, silver and gold and just hint or red Christmas balls, silver and gold garland, and brown packages tied up with string placed strategically underneath on my brand new tree skirt.  Are you seeing my vision for the perfect Shabby Christmas Tree?

While my vision may not come to life this Christmas I am excited that my skirt turned out so well and I can't wait to see everything come together for next Christmas.

What does your Christmas tree look like?

Easy DIY Apothecary Jars

Have you seen those apothecary looking jar ideas floating around on Pinterest? Ya me too. There were so many cute ideas however some of them were a little pricey to make, as in it would be cheaper to go buy a set already made. Sometimes there is more of a thrill when you can make something beautiful for almost nothing.

My sister in-law found an idea to use old pickle jars and candlesticks to make apothecaryesque looking stands. Too bad the husband and I don't eat pickles ever. However, I did have a few various jars I had saved.

My grandma has always lived by the principle of "Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without." I've always admired her frugal ways and started saving my glass jars. Above the largest jar was once filled filled with artichoke hearts. The one on the right was probably filled with salsa or tomato sauce and the smallest is a canning jar that once was the home to well something I had canned.

This DIY is seriously so easy and since I already had the jars cost me a total of $3 to make.

Supplies Needed:

3 Jars of Various Sizes

3 Candlesticks ( I got mine from the Dollar Store)

E-6000 Glue

Directions:

Put a little bit of glue on top of the candlesticks. Center your jars above the candlesticks and then place on top of glue. Let it dry overnight and Presto! All Done!

You could make so many great variations of this project. Say you wanted a black base... all you would have to do is spray paint the candlesticks before gluing. I have lids for all three jars that I may or may not spray paint silver. For now I really love the simplicity of it all.

It has added so much to my Christmas Decor and would be another great gift idea.

I'm in love.

Pinterest Project - (Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins)

I love pumpkins and hope to someday have a wide variety throughout my house. This Pinterest Project has been one that I've worked on for weeks and don't know if I'm done making changes. The inspiration comes from a photo scanned in by Dress, Design, & Decor. My holiday decor has a common theme of silver and gold mixed with a color or two. For fall I've decided that other color will be orange. I plan on decorating once for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Thus pumpkins and this color palette will work perfectly.

This first little pumpkin came already painted gold from Michaels. I added the metallic orange stripes. It's simple yet elegant.

The largest pumpkin is the one that has caused me the most problems. I started by spray painting it a metallic gold and tried to hand paint on an argyle pattern... and quickly decided I didn't have the skill to free-style it. Thus I re-sprayed the gold and used painters tape for the first set of diamonds in the argyle pattern. I used a grey acrylic paint mixed with a champagne finish. After the shapes had dried I decided that the contrast between the silver and gold was not enough. I tried adding a darker grey on one and hated it. I tried adding orange which too was a failure. I had resigned to spray paint the pumpkin again but in a metallic silver and add a monogram. However, I had too much paint for it to go on smoothly. Thus I began sanding it down. I left it out in this state during my Scentsy party where several people began complementing me on this particular pumpkin. Had I accidentally made something cool? The jury is still out on that and this particular photo makes it hard to judge.

My last pumpkin is rather easy. It came this orange color. I painted on the circles in gold and grey. I added the champagne color on top of the grey and gold glitter on the gold. The glitter really adds the glam I was going for.

Overall, I fairly satisfied with this Pinterest Project recreation and am ready to start experimenting on more pumpkins! Do you have any great ideas?

Pinterest Projects (Gifts For Him)

I have successfully completed another Pinterest project, too bad it was a few weeks late. The husband and I celebrated our fifth anniversary last month. If you are like me, your husband is impossible to shop for let alone surprise. Gifts for him are hard to find even online. I saw the idea on Pinterest to frame a piece of paper with the words, "Today I Love You" and then each day you fill in another reason with marker on the glass. The photo I saw was made more for a little child's room but the idea was perfect for an anniversary gift.

Thus I decided to create my own version and make it a little more masculine. My husband loves American History, Baseball, and is a Literature buff. Thus I combined all of those loves into my design.

The best part was when I gave it to him and he asked, "Are you really going to fill in something new each day?" It was honest excitement on his face.

He loves the idea, so I decided that I would offer this print download for FREE on my website under the "Download of the Month" section. It is available in an 11 x 17 size (meant to be trimmed down to fit an 11 x 14 frame) and 8 1/2 x 11 (also meant to be trimmed to fit and 8 x 10 frame).

Gifts for him don't have to be expensive. I paid about a dollar to have my 11 x 17 printed on cardstock at Staples and then the cost of my frame (which Michaels always has a good deal on with a coupon).

Now onto coming up with some more ideas for gifts for him as his birthday is just around the corner? Anyone else have a great project they would like to share?

Pinterest Success (Office Accessories)

I do more than spend hours drooling over all the cool projects on Pinterest... I recreate some of them. I saw this cute idea to take the states where husband and wife were from and place them into a frame. As you can see I put my own twist onto it and Walaaa, you get this baby. These office accessories are the first to be completed and the shelf is not arranged quite yet how I envisioned but I couldn't wait to show you.

My office accessories and color theme are going to be a combination of the following:

Grey

Pale Yellow

Lt. Blue

Red

Salmonish/Peachy Combo

I have several other Pinterest projects left to complete the whole look of my office but it's off to a great start.

Don't you just love Pinterest? Have you recreated any projects, if so leave a link, I'd love to come check out your works of art!

Tomorrow's topic is going to be using green in kitchens!