Summery and Festive

Well, I am officially done with teaching...for good.  I've graduated with my interior design degree and am working at the cutest little residential firm doing design assistant work and marketing!...mainly marketing, which I am really enjoying.

The city is having a 4th of July event right outside of our storefront, so we will be hosting an open house that day.  The city's theme is "Red, Rock, and Blue" so we are trying to come up with a modified red, white, and blue theme that's appropriate for the 4th of July.  Red coral has been suggested, which I love!...and it got me thinking how big coral is for the summer!

Here are a few of the inspiration photos I found along with a great Pottery Barn knock-off tutorial.

Dwellings and Decor

Project Wedding

HGTV

Willow Decor

Homegoods

It all reminds me of one of my favorite prints  {Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses} from my shop

...and of course, I love the idea of hanging bunting...

House to Home

Anyway, I am super excited about summer and this event!  I'll try to snag some pictures to share with you once everything comes together.

On that note, I'll leave you with a great tutorial with coral from Beth at Home Stories A to Z.  She made this for next to nothing!

Go check it out!

Happy Wednesday!



Green with Envy

Of course, in honor of the holiday, I will share with you some beautiful green things.

  

Shelter Pop 

Martha Stewart

By Moth Design

Swank Lighting

Real Simple

Real Simple

Country Living

The Tipsy Pineapple


...and, just as a side note/tip, don't try to eat an all-green meal-it doesn't work out in the long run. :)

Love is in the Air!

Well, Valentines Day is just around the corner and, for some reason, this year I'm all about it.  Usually I wear red and it's no big deal, but this year I've been feeling a little more crafty.  

I posted about the heart garland yesterday and promised pictures so, here they are.

I was very pleased with the way this turned out especially considering how simple it was.  Instead of using ribbon {like the picture}, I used twine which went well with my Martha Stewart French Country paper.  I also used a CRICUT to cut out the different sizes of hearts, but a simple stencil and steady hand works as well.

All of my {female} students loved it.

 

I also wanted to try my hand at this wreath but don't think I'll have enough time.  

It didn't seem too hard.  BHG suggests purchasing pre-cut hearts for this project, which seems like the way to go.

Have a candy and flowers platinum and diamond filled day on Monday!

♥♥♥

Ringing in 2011

Are you planning a new years bash?...or thinking of throwing one and wondering how to decorate for it?  Well, even though new years parties have, historically, been black and silver themed, it seems like gold and silver is where it's at this year.  Here are a few simple, sparkly ways to get your home ready for guests.

 use Christmas ornaments to mimic champagne bubbles

 

Don't forget the clocks!

  

Use silver cupcake wrappers as tea light holders!

These would be fun for the champagne!

...and these could be cute favors (although, maybe packaged in smaller quantities).

Happy New Year!  See you in 2011!

Wrapping up Christmas

So, I've finally finished my Christmas shopping (whew!)...just in time, which means that I'll spend tomorrow wrapping.  I like to use real ribbon when I wrap my Christmas gifts so wrapping takes a little longer than normal because I don't just stick a bow in the  middle of the box.  Everyone has their own method, of course, and if you're logical about it...'they're just going to rip of the paper anyway'.  I'm big on the presentation, though...so I'll spend the extra time on it if it means a beautiful box under the tree.  If you're like me and you still have a lot of wrapping to do, here are some creative ways to add that extra something to your gift presentation! 

Button Gift Wrap

This button-stamped gift wrap is fun to make. Affix button to a cork with double-sided tape. Place plain paper on a piece of felt or a folded piece of fabric (this cushions the paper so the mark will be even). Top with a pretty button tied on with baker's twine.

 

Eco-Friendly Paper Gift Wrap

Easy to find and work with, vintage and repurposed papers add pop to presents. Layer several colors and textures, or add vintage beads for a finished look. 

Clockwise from top left we used: Vintage wallpaper; Chinese newspaper topped with colored paper; recycled map; grocery bag with Japanese beads.

Natural Gift Wrap

Birch bark and fresh leaves are surprisingly pliable; just roll and secure with twine. Find them in Asian markets and outdoors. 

Clockwise from top left, we used: banana leaf with cinnamon, bamboo leaves with hemp twine, bamboo leaves with star anise, banana leaves with reeds, birch bark with a feather.

 

Cloth Gift Wrap

In Japan, the art of wrapping gifts in cloth is called furoshiki, and it's brilliantly eco-friendly. Secure open ends with a button, safety pin, or knot. 

Clockwise from top left, we used: vintage scarf; burlap rice bag; wool scarf with a knitting needle; tea towel with rickrack; scrap from a vintage kimono.

Potato-Chip Bag Gift Wrap

Give a new life to empty potato-chip bags by dressing up your gifts in them. Cut open a potato-chip bag along its seam to reveal the shiny white or silver inside of the bag. Flatten the bag, wash it with soap and water, and air dry. Then wrap your present and adorn it with ribbons and homemade cards.

Stamped Shopping Bag Gift Wrap

Have shopping bags lying around the house? Repurpose them into festive gift wrap. Cut an open paper shopping bag along one fold and scissor out the bottom of the bag. Wrap your gift in the paper. Dip one end of  a wine cork into ink or a dark fruit juice and begin stamping patterns

Kraft Paper Gift Wrap

Kraft paper makes an attractive yet sturdy wrapping for oddly shaped packages. Once wrapped, add special trimmings and gift tags to your package.

Yarn-Embellished Gift Wrap

Give holiday gifts unexpected panache by using leftover yarn in place of ribbon. Wind cotton or wool yarn around presents (solid-color paper looks best) a few times for thin stripes or several times more for thick ones. Use a fuzzy yarn to give packages a cozy texture. Combine different yarns for colorful striations. Knot strands tightly on the bottom of each box. If desired, tie a bow on top.

Kids' Artwork Gift Wrap

Children's drawings make for inexpensive and delightful homemade gift wrap. Have kids doodle on Kraft paper, calendar pages, shopping bags, magazine pages, and phone book pages

Doily Gift Wrap

Stick-On Design

Use blank stickers from an office-supply store to create polka dots or to spell out a name with rubber stamps. For the paper, stick to solid-color wrapping, which is versatile and economical (it's often sold in thick rolls). You can also spruce it up with bands of decorative paper.

Green and Brown Gift Wrap

Extend your palette with pretty favors in green and brown that are a delight to behold. Familiar materials -- paper bags, cardboard boxes, crepe paper, twine -- are easily made into sophisticated packaging for small gifts and favors with ribbon or decorative paper.

Ideas and photos courtesy of Martha Stewart

That's a wrap!

Kristmas Krafts for your Kitchen

Christmas is one of those holidays that makes you want to re-decorate every room in your house...and sometimes even re-arrange every room in order to make the Christmas tree fit.  I found this how-to at BHG (where else?!) on how to make a cookie cutter wreath!  I'm pretty sure I saw a package of Christmas cookie cutters at Joanne's this weekend for 70% off.

Even if you don't use the wreath this year, you'll definitely be able to store it away for future Christmas decorating.

 Steps:

1. Purchase a bag of seasonal cookie cutters for a few dollars
2. Form the shapes into a circle
3. Wire the pieces together
4. Attach a pretty striped bow with hot glue 
5. Hang the wreath from a nail

Go find your "after Christmas deals" now because everything's going on sale early this year!

Only 5 shopping days left!

A Mantel for the Holidays

Even though I don't have a mantel in my house now, I did growing up and, even though I live in Florida were "it doesn't get cold enough for a fire" (not!), it was always fun to add warmth to the hearth with Christmas decor.  When I was in college, I even made a "fire place" that had a plywood mantel.  I got one of each of my roommates socks and hung them up as stockings.

Since I don't have a mantel now to decorate, I reserve the "mantel-type" decor for the tv armoire which has a large display space on top.  It's near the tree and it works.  So, weather you have a mantel or not, here a few ideas of ways to decorate that special place...wherever it may be.

 May your mantel be warm and bright!