Paper Roses

     I adore the paper roses all over bloggyland. Some are created with pages from books, music sheets, crepe paper, fabric and even my new bff burlap!  So, what's a crafty gal to do but create her own. Simple enough right? lol !! Stephanie from Under the table and dreaming created a magnificent wreath I heart. Kim from Cheap Chic Home made an adorable orb with my roses. I started with such excitement!.

      I didn't know what I'd make but I know I'd love it! Great tutorial Stephanie!

     Whoa! No one really mentioned how time consuming these are to make- no, I really mean it. It took me about 3 hours from the time I cut out book pages until I glued up the last of the roses and guess how many of these beauties I made?  A whopping 18!! YIKES-at this rate I may complete a full wreath by next Christmas!  So, this is what I did-

   I decided to attach them to a frame in a heart shape-WOW-such creativity-I blew myself away!! But, I used tiny pieces of velcro-no siree-I wasn't gonna glue these babies to anything-I want to use them again and again, 'cuz I really doubt you'll ever see anymore here!

     I had the frame and the polka dot tissue paper so this project was free, at least monetarily but it was emotionally exhausting!lol!  I am soooo impressed with both Stephanie and Kim-kudos to you both.  I do love my roses but these 18 beauties will be part of my everyday decorating!

      Once the big love day is gone, they will remain-somehow, some where-I'm sure you'll see them again!(and again and again!!)  So, have any of you started making something you were so psyched about and burst your own crafting bubble because it consumed so much of you?
  Well, gotta fly-Claire

Decisions,decisions!

So, do you have trouble making a color decision!!  I usually find an inspiration piece that I go with, picking matching and complementary colors.  Well, the agonizing decision process can end for you if this cool online room decorating tool is used! I found it on Women's Day.com and its called The Voice of Color.  It is sponsored by Pittsburgh Paints but I didn't try it to promote them-I was curious!   The interactive screen asks you questions along the way like "What 5 words make you feel good ?" or 7 beautiful pictures of vacation spots are shown and you pick the one that makes you happiest!  At the end, you are told what color palette you fall into.  I'm water beads and harmony-This is very cool and makes it easy- I was given about 10 different color schemes that I should go with-So cool!!

                            

WATER BEADS

What's new about blue? It's all in the pairing. Add contrast and interest with chocolate browns or vivid reds, or go sleek with a neutral backdrop. Find your perfect blue in this lovingly created Water Beads Harmony Collection™.

It's all about blue.
The soothing colors of the Water Beads Harmony Collection suit any room where creating calm is essential. In the bathroom, the ocean hues suggest a fresh morning breeze; in layered pastels, they bathe generations of newborns in a soft, protective shell. Because of the serenity it creates, try blue in a screened-in porch, solarium or even your home office. Pair it with stimulating yellows or oranges to balance the relaxing effect.

Blue refreshes, soothes and induces meditation; it lends the feeling of protection to the frenzy of daily life. In loyal, darker shades, blue tempts you to sleep, while lighter, more vibrant shades stimulate creativity.


So, if you want to take a look at the colors that match your personality and fit your mood, check out this website to see what colors you are- well, gotta fly! Claire


http://voiceofcolor.com/en/colorsensegame/index.asp

Mercury "faux" glass!!

 This is one of those simple little DIY crafts that can make a big impact in your decor.  Silver mercury glass is tres popular these days but if you don't want to shell out mucho bucks for a collection of it, I say-make it yourself!!  Any glass you have lying around is perfect for this project.  A can of silver metallic paint is really all you need to buy. It sounds silly, but just spray the glass and voila, you have a beautiful faux mercury piece!!  It's amazing what spray paint can do for your home and psyche!!  Gotta fly-Claire

 

I found these cutie accessories at

Vintageweave interiors-My new

 fav eye candy website to window shop!!

Staircase re-do

        I do not have an elegant staircase.  It's abit narrow and quite dark.  The color was too muddy although it was from the cheap "oops" paint at the depot.  About 10 years ago, I decided to fill it with family photos.  I loved the look.  I had a ton of frames and sprayed them all black.  I then spent a few weekends scanning photos and printing them out in black and white.  I loved looking at the photos when I 'd run up and down the staircase.  As you enter my house, there is a tiny vestibule that leads directly into a horizontal hallway.  The staircase is also horizontal to the hallway so when you stop as you enter, you have a great view of a good majority of the pics!

     Fast forward -10YEARS- the last photo I framed was of my nephew.  He turned 10 in November.  You might ask, so what's wrong with that?  Well, nothing, except that since then, I have been lucky enough to have 4 more nephews and 3 more nieces.  Life gets busy but come on!!  So, I've decided I need a change.

     I'm heading back to the depot and I'll give you a hint.  When it's done, I'm hoping for a big bright  new look!! Haha-not quite the Wikipedia pictured here but.....

Image via Wikipedia

                      More like this staircase with the great mouldings!

This is my inspiration pics from DecorChick blog!  Mine will never be this intricate and involved because it will only be me working on this project.  Also, her staircase is wider and more open- let's face it- I want it to look like this-if it gets to resemble this from a far away distance -I'll be very happy!! So, I'm off and hope for some more snow days in the next few weeks so I can get a move on this project!! Gotta fly-Claire

A box is just a box!

An old box, just an old box. Found it at GW last summer. What to do,what to do with it? So, I painted it black and kept it that way for awile.  After the cricut coming into my life and my great love of monograms, a lightbulb turned on it my head.  So, I played around with sizing and cut out my monogram with some good ole' scrapbook paper.  Mod podged it onto the box and voila-here it is-I love it!!

Twiggy Tree

I love my twig tree-A Pier 1 clearance find a couple years ago and it warms my heart when I decorate it.  Now, don't get me wrong, the birds take it over most of the time. Throughout most of the year, white doves inhabit the tree but at Christmas time, the birdies fly south and I am able to hang my 12 days of Christmas glass ornaments that I cherish (a pottery barn gift from my sis!).  With the big Love day right around the corner, my red cardinals have appeared.  They always put a smile on my face and a song in my heart! Well, take care-gotta fly-Claire

A makeover for my chest!- LOL

     I have this dresser that needs a makeover. It's in great shape. No nicks or bruises and best of all, it was free!!  It's just not my style-what is my style, you ask?  Ballards and Horchow are my two fav decorating magazines-I LOVE them and am thrilled when they arrive at my door-so I can peruse to my heart's content and start checking off on my invisible wish list in my mind!! (Ignore the junk that's on and around this chest!)

     I love a handpainted look but the sides are in great shape so they're staying black!  I'm also a little lazy because I love me some classic black furniture so it's just the drawers that need some jazzing up and new hardware-the rich wood top is pristine so I'm not changing that either-I love adding the jewelry to the outfit, don't you?  So, what do you think, any of my inspiration pieces speaking to you?  I'll keep you posted-gotta fly-Claire