Homemade Birthday

After the Christmas overload, I knew there would be no toys purchased by me for their birthday. So now what?

L told me she needed clothes to get ready for spring...she is sooo my daughter!

O just wanted some music. She always makes it easy.

EVERY room in the new house remains a work in progress. This includes the kids' rooms. Then the PBK catalog came and I found some inspiration! I saw the butterfly pictured above and knew it would look great in both of the girls' rooms. Then came the sticker shock! $179.00! Remember...twins! That's $358.00! CRAZY!

So I went about the task of trying to see if I could make it myself. I went to the Pottery Barn store to stalk it. I mean see it in person and then gathered my supplies.

This is how it turned out...

My camera is terrible...

I bought 2 24x30 canvases, scrapbook paper, big hole punches, lots of buttons and some mod podge. That was all I needed.

My sister printed out the picture from the website, traced it and projected it onto the canvases. I used her lines as a guide and viola...a homemade birthday gift! This is quite an achievement for me! Remember, I have zero artistic talent and succeed only in copying the great ideas of others. I had never even been to Hobby Lobby until 2 months ago!


The PBK has EVERY button sewn on and EVERY paper circle had a stitch to make it look like buttons. Maybe later! That is WAY too much sewing. I think I will just use a fine tip marker and make pseudo-stitches on the paper.

My mess...not too bad!

Thanks to Wendy at The ShabbyNest for some crafting advice!

Happy Birthday, girls!

Mommy loves you soooo much!

Butter

Courtesy Restoration Hardware

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land did a post recently about the challenges of finding the perfect paint color. I don't know anyone that thinks this task is easy. I have had several disasters, many near misses and lots of success! Although the more times I have chosen paint, the better I get at it.

So I need a kitchen color...and decided to try Kimba's suggestion and use Restoration Hardware paint. It's even on sale this month!!! That keeps the hubby happy! :) And the budget intact...oh wait...there is no budget! I'm really bad about that.

I started looking and decided on....butter! I mean-it is a kitchen after all! What could be better than butter on the walls? Paula Dean should try it in her kitchen.

So...the painting was done on Saturday. It took hubby all day...1 coat of primer and 2 coats of paint. Now, I can't get a decent picture of the color to share with you. Stupid camera! I think I need a good sunny day for some natural light. You'll have to trust me that it is gorgeous! It covered really well and looks like butta! It truly is the perfect yellow without all the searching. Thanks, Kimba, for the advice!

The following are some more kitchen inspiration...all have yellow walls and white cabinets.

Love the glass fronts on the cabinets and white (not stainless) appliances. I have to love the white appliances because I am not getting new ones. See...kitchen redo on the cheap!

This kitchen has the touches of blues I want. Oh...and the rooster!


Had to include this one...check out the yellow KitchenAide mixer! My source of inspiration!

I think this final one is the closest to my dream...creamy yellow walls, white cabinets with a black island. LOVE IT!

More kitchen posts to come...

Kitchen Dreams

I LOVE my new house but there are still many unfinished (& yet to be started) projects. The biggest is the kitchen. It is spacious with numerous cabinets and a large pantry. The problem is that it is not my style. The light cabinets and counter tops, the ugly wallpaper...all not me.

Well, I have found my inspiration!!!

Isn't she pretty?! I have loved her for years now, but would never spend the money for her. Since moving into the new house, I have been cooking and baking a lot more. I think it is because we have such an open floor plan so I don't feel disconnected from the kids when I'm in the kitchen. OR maybe it is because the girls are in school ALL DAY!

Yes...it is the KitchenAid Artisan 5qt. mixer! SIGH! Hubby gave it to me as an early Christmas present and I LOVE IT! I love him, too!

Now on with the inspiration...the color. It is that beautiful deep blue that I adore. From this, I have developed a plan for my entire kitchen! Crazy? I don't think so.

This dining room is from Country Living. I think the fabrics are fantastic! I must find them! I love toile, even though I don't have any in my home. Well here is my chance to go crazy!

This kitchen layout looks a lot like mine. I love the creamy cabinets and the accent pieces. This, too, must be mine! I must start looking for white plates and roosters!

So...French Country it is!

Funny things is...I was planning this post since I got the mixer and just got around to writing it. Yesterday The Nester and Susie Harris both wrote about their kitchens and BOTH had beautiful roosters and white plates for me to gaze at. The Nester also had slipcovers on her chairs that I am extremely jealous of.

Enough already!

That is the inspiration but the actual creation may be months or more off. I'll keep you posted!

Christmas Copy Cat 2

Here I go again...copying for my own good. This beautiful idea is courtesy of Susie Harris at Bienvenue.... If you have never visited her blog, I encourage you to take a look at this creative lady's work.


What do you think? Not too bad if I do say so myself. I even found the same snowflake ornaments at the dollar store!

See the tassel hanging in the middle? That is from NoGreaterGift at Etsy. She makes great tassels and was even having a SALE!! I can't pass up a good bargain! Maybe Santa will bring more at Christmas...

Again, it's a work in progress. I think the ribbons are too long and hide the tassel, but I can't bring myself to cut them. I seem to have a problem with long ribbons...and bad photography!

Christmas Copy Cat

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I have ZERO artistic talent. However, I am a great copy cat! This Pottery Barn image has been hanging around my desk for a couple of months waiting to be copied. See the garland hiding behind the bed? That is what inspired me! I have been gathering small boxes for a few weeks now and thinking about paper and ribbon. I have thought about the colors I want and just the right place to hang it.

Just look at its beauty....who would not want to create such a garland in their own home??!! Too bad I'm not on time for the Holiday Garland Show & Tell at The Nesting Place. Maybe next year I can be more prepared!

Well, here is my interpretation.....


WOW...I really need a better camera!!!!!!

I don't think it is done yet. I don't care for the longer ribbons and I might stretch it out a little further so it doesn't hang so low.


Thanks to hubby for helping me hang it!! He didn't even complain after working all day in temps in the teens and then coming home to help his silly wife hang MORE Christmas decorations!