My favorite diy ever!

An up-cycle experience...

     

      This has to be one of my fav diy projects I have ever done. Turning an old dresser from my old apartment, into a gorgeous, mirrored dresser. The gorgeous mirror-front dressers, tables, etc. that we all oogle at cost anywhere from $500-$10,000 and my heart reaches out to them. I love them.  I want 500 of them so when guests enter my house they feel like they are in one of those fun houses on the boardwalk.

   So, when I was looking at them in a store one day, it hit me. "I bet I could make this!"- elle said out loud!  What an amazing idea this would be...and I had just the piece of furniture at home experiment on. It was a dresser from Ikea from my 1st apartment. It has been moved from that apartment, to a storage unit, to our current house so it is beat up anyway,  perfect excuse. I covered the front in fabric to match the room, but it was time to transform this bad boy. If it didn't work, hey I could always scuff up the paint and make it look like a white washed masterpiece.

    My husband, who now closes his eyes, laughs, and says " Ok...I trust you" whenever I re-paint or do any diy project to the house (which is often), was working late that night. So, I emptied out the dresser and gathered my supplies that I bought that week for the project. 

Supplies:

·                     White Paint. I use Benjamin Moore Paint for everything in our house! Great quality & most 

                importantly it is Eco-friendly.

·                     Mirrors cut to size. I asked the dudes in the red vests at Lowes to cut me 3 mirrors: 3ft long/ 11 

                inches wide. Happy to help! Be sure to measure exact before going and not guess!

·                     Glue. I use Liquid Nails for a couple reasons. One, its eco friendly. And two, I could glue myself 

                to the wall and not fall!  Strong stuff!

·                     Ah-dorable drawer hardware!

·                     Drop cloth

·                     Paint brush

Steps:

·                     Clean dresser with wash cloth and made sure it was dry.

·                     Removed hardware

·                     Painted a few coats of white paint. Let dry in between.

·                     Laid on back and glued on mirrors.

·                     Glued on adorable clear crystal knobs.

*Waited about 8 hours to stand back up.

Now, let's go make 499 more!!

DIY Teal Mason Jars

Those beautiful blue/teal mason jars are so gorgeous. You can glam them up, dress them down, do whatever you want with them...if you can find them. When you do find them, they usually a little more expensive than you think. So I decided to make my own. I experimented and found a way I loved. Enjoy!

First, start with regular mason jars. I had a bunch of them from weddings, but I know you can get them on Amazon, at Walmart for little mula.

I bought some pretty teal glass paint at my craft store and mixed alot of paint, with a little bit of acrylic paint glaze. I wanted it to be a shiny and a thinner teal so I could see-through them, not matte and bold. For ratios, I would say 1/2 cup of paint and 1 teaspoon glaze. Mix it good!

I applied 2 coats to each with a foam brunch, in an up and down streak-like way. I let it dry a little for 10 minutes or so, then added another coat. Be careful around the rims, the excess paint will bubble.

I let dry over night to be 100% safe. If it is wet at all, then it will "melt" and run down the jars when baking. I laid them upside down on a pan (covered in aluminum foil just in case) at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Be careful, they are hot!

Boy, do they look GORGEOUS! The only thing you will notice is what I said before, the excess paint bubbles around the rim, however, it seemed to go away, mostly, in a few hours and wasn't a big deal!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing everyone a day of fun & green beers! Be safe!

the diy from Martha Stewart here.

t'was the day before Valentine's Day

If you ask one of my brides, they will tell you how I stress that gifts between one another should be meaningful, not extravagant. If you are out of ideas, here are some last minute gifts & tips for him or her.

1. First, to any guys out there reading this, let me give you an insight on most women. When it comes to gifts, some women like designers, some women like a bunch of cute, simple ideas, some women flip for diamonds... but whatever category we fall into, we all have one thing in common…we want you to touch our hearts.  Again, I can't speak for all women, but I can speak for most when I say that the most expensive gift will never mean as much as an incredibly thoughtful one (in case my hubby is reading this, I will of course, take some diamonds :-).   So maybe this year instead of a bouquet from a grocery store, how about 20 daisies left in special places around the house for her to find. Instead of a paper box of chocolates from the drugstore, a box of her favorite childhood candy…

2.Write the story of how you fell in love. This may sound a bit corny, but think about it for a second. How intriguing it would be to see your love story through your other half's eyes. You know what you felt, what you thought, but having the tables turned and seeing your love transform from another point of view….now that is simply amazing. Not to mention, what a way to spend Valentines Day, reliving your happily ever after. Write in a love letter form, or even make a little DIY notebook if you artsy and creative. An easy tutorial courtesy of craftynest.com by clicking here.

3.New hobbies. Maybe he loves hiking but you are more of an inside gal. Instead of going out to dinner, put on some boots, pack a dinner and surprise him with a hiking trip. Make it special. Research some great trails and print out the map. Draw a heart on your destination where you will enjoy a little Valentines Day picnic. Or maybe she loves watching Chick Flicks and you hate them. Rent 3 of her favorites, make some popcorn, and spend the evening cuddled and watching them. Even "Ooh and Ahh" a little, for her.

4.Pamper. Now this could go two ways; the easy way & the fun way. You could buy a gift certificate at a spa for your loved one, or you could use that money to go buy aromatherapy candles, lotions, download some relaxing music to your ipod and be the masseuse yourself.  Bath & Body Works has an entire line called "Sensual".  Grab some new silky sheets, fill the room with flowers, and set up some strawberries and champagne for even more fun. Go ahead…start your car…I thought this one would excite you!

5.Is your love a foodie or have a sweet tooth? How about writing a personalized recipe book of recipes you know she or he would love! Not just recipes, do some research on restaurants and their menus. Include certain restaurants with menu items for you two to get to in the next few months.

6. Not exactly meaningful to a woman, but definitely to a man. Besides, what's a Valentine's Day gift post without something like this. Click here and get it overnighted {wink wink}
7.Perhaps you are not very savvy in the kitchen. You could make a beautiful meal of her/his favorite foods. If you want to spend a little money, hire a personal chef to come to your house and serve you. It is like being a restaurant where playing footsies is appropriate! Check some out in your area here.

*disclaimer: This advice is from a wedding planner and a girl, who is not in any way shape or form an expert on love, but is someone who can honestly say from her own experience that love & marriage can be easy, wonderful & full of happy tears if you treat each other right, realize what you have, love like it was your last day on earth, and realize love is not suppose to be played like a game or a theatrical performance...

For the Ladies..2 things.

1. Don't be naggy, or a drama queen, or hold on too tight. Give them a reason to want to do things for you and not be able to wait to come home to you.

 2. Never underestimate the power of lace.

For the Men…10 things

Chivalry is not dead. Men... open the car door, hold the doors, hold the umbrella, take her coat,  pull out her chair, pay the check, tell her that you often find yourself daydreaming about her, kiss her forehead, hold her hand…and if this last paragraph makes you smile and not roll your eyes…and you haven't done so yet for some silly reason….ask her to marry you already!!!!

diy love: memory book




Photo from Something Turquoise blog; diy project Mini Card Album



If you are a sentimental sap like me (you know the kind that cry in card stores and at hallmark commercials), you probably have a box full of things you have saved throughout the years, especially cards. I save every card my husband has given me from day 1 (enough, I told you, sap!). Little did I know, he did, too. I found this out on our on our wedding day. He had a gift waiting for me the day of our wedding and when I opened it, I couldn't believe my eyes. He bought me a gorgeous purse, but inside was filled with all the cards I had ever given him. It also had things he kept from our first date...through the present and one new card that read, "I kept these things because I knew the day we met that I would be giving these to you on our wedding day." (All together now, Awwwwwwww)

Ok, I know, I am sorry, enough, but this is exactly my point! What to do with all these cards sitting in a memory box on the shelf, the huge stack of cards from our wedding, our Christmas cards throughout the years...

Thanks to my friend Jessica F, I now know. I love the fact that she always sends me links she knows I will love, and she is always right! It is too cute of an idea not to share. It is from an adorable blog called Something Turquoise and it is a step-by-step. The blogger goes into very intricate detail, but you can go much more simplified. The idea in itself, is adorable! A Card Album!

see the adorable DIY by [clicking here]

photos from Something Turquoise blog; diy project Mini Card Album

 

in love with a diy

Totally, head over heels, in love with this DIY Bubble Chandelier from

Frou Frou Fashionista!

Check it out by clicking here!

Christmas DIY

from Under The Table and Dreaming blog

For written instructions, see here

Pretty! Pretty!

a too cute Thanksgiving diy

How stinkin cute is this fall d.i.y.! As a table centerpiece, on the fireplace, window sills, entrance ways...too many adorable possibilties!

...for Danielle Thompson's blog step by step tutorial Click HERE

real lovebirds

I cannot wait to see the pictures from the photographer, but 'til then, mine must do. What a wonderful couple to be able to design and plan a wedding for. Dommie, short for Dominique, and her now hubby, Jeff, had a gorgeous fall wedding on November 5th in her great grandmother's barn. Jeff is an amazing artist and she works as a graphic designer and a (quite impressive) scrapbooker as a side business and wanted the wedding to reflect their crafty, artsy lifestyle. When they first brought me on, they were deciding between a few venues but didn't have that *spark* with any of them. When I suggested a little revamp on the barn on her great grandmother's property they looked at each other and smiled. She handed me a teal, peach vintage purse for inspiration, said "vintage & different"  and  told me go to to town. I came up with designs and ideas, drew up sketches, she loved them and 9 months later here it was...

the details...

I tried to use as much of the barn as possible. Old stones thrown in the back of the bar were cleaned and brought out on to the tables. The bar was one of my favorite things I had done at a wedding. The pictures just don't do it justice. I painted some old frames a teal white-wash to show the menus and placed them on an old wooden ladder that was already in the barn.  We created a menu out of their fav drinks and had too much coming up with names. They love martinis so there had to be a martini section. Every juice in them was fresh squeezed that day.

and the vintage guestbook...

the place settings matched the purse she gave me to design the wedding after. Light golden peach, crochet, teal. No flowers except for dried wheat in vases.

rustic, dainitly, elegantly, vintage...

..and finally some organic, vegan, homemade blueberry jam by the Mother of the Bride.

a doily d.i.y. story...

One of my brides who got married this past Saturday, wanted different! Designing this one was fab because Dommie likes rustic and vintage with a colorful edge...sound like anyone you know?  {wink} She is a crafty lil lady for a living, so for her wedding she wanted a break and didn't want to do a thing. I wanted her wedding to be as unique & artsy as she is. They were frustratingly looking at venues when I came on board, and in passing mentioned a barn on her great grandmother's property...and a smile grew on my face! Done! Unique was off to a good start.

Dommie's criteria: A purse her great grandmother made for her.  It was teal and peach, ribbon sewn on like fabric, with a crocheted lace over top. It screamed to be a mascot for a wedding! So when it came to her place settings...this was too easy. Different, vintage, crafty, barn, crochet......

....doilies anyone?

each place setting had a doily cup. some filled with different local flowers & some with acorns.

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How I did it:

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-supplies: doily, sugar, measuring cup, pot, water, cupcake pan

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-equal parts water and sugar. (since you probably won't be doing 100 of them like me) 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar will be plenty and bring to a boil.

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-dip doily with a fork (be careful, hot and steamy!!) until covered.

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-lay in cupcake tray until dry (about 10 hours depending on thickness of doily)

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-paint or dye to your fav color.

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-feel too cute.

npp

Not just for a wedding...think outside the box; Thanksgiving table, Baby & Bridal Showers, Candy jar, you name it!

Happy Halloween! DIY come together

happy halloween

diy. chic. elegant. spook-tacular.

elleeventdesigns.com

Halloween DIY Weekend!

getting ready for Halloween Parties, one d.i.y. trick a day...

  

sundays's halloween d.i.y.

{a lacy & classy halloween}

this is one of the easiest diy projects that has ever popped in to my little, out-of-the-box, head. you can make it hard on yourself and go buy lace, measure, and sew for hours to make a formfitting "sock" for your items. or you can do this in 2 minutes with something every stylish chick has in her drawer...

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lace tights
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so where in the world did i get this idea. well...promise not to laugh? i was wearing black shorts with lace tights looking ever so stylish for a day out, when chandler (my furry child) decided to use my leg as a scratching post and my tights ripped. i was about to throw them away but i knew i was decorating a black and white halloween bash and it had to be used for something! oh, my dear black fishnets, what can i do? just then, out of the corner of my eye I saw the pumpkins around our house...and i thought, brilliant! an evil smile, similar to the one from the grinch movie, grew on my face. the material is form-fitting, hugs the curves of the pumpkin(which is the point of tights i guess)so i started with  more things and wa-la, ta-da, gorgeous.
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supplies:

-lace tights

-scissors

-things to beautify

-hot glue gun(optional)

directions:

-measure & cut to fit

-secure the dips and crevices with hot glue.
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how about a pitcher....

how about a diy dessert stand...

...hope you enjoyed all my diy crafts for a chic and elegant halloween party. check back tomorrow on halloween to see how it all came together for the halloween shin-dig i decorated, plus some other adorable diy halloween crafts!
happy halloween!



Halloween DIY Weekend!

getting ready for Halloween Parties, one d.i.y. trick a day...

  

saturday's halloween d.i.y.
[1 of 2]

{chic, halloween lamp shade}

supplies:

 there are two ways you can do this! the easy, easy way or the the easy way. if you have a lampshade chandelier, then all you need is the 1st item. if you want to make your own to hang anywhere, you need the rest of the supplies as well.

-black petticoat (children's or adult, depending on the size of your lampshade)

-lampshade

-removable hook

-battery operated tea lights

-ribbon to hang

directions:

1. lay the petticoat over your lampshade.

2. slide down until it fits perfectly over top.
{if you are doing this on an existing chandalier...congrats! you are done! marvel at the cuteness}

3. tie ribbon to center of lampshade to hang. I used a strand pearls

4. use removable hook to hang anywhere you like

5. for light, hang tea lights in the shade.
{ & now it's your turn to marvel in the cuteness...}

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tip: for a fluffier version, attach one inside the shade AND one outside.

tip: if using tea lights inside the shade for light, attach cutely and/or in tea light hangers...or add a 2nd petticoat inside so no can see.

 Ok, I know what you are thinking...how do you get those cute halloween pillows??? next post!