Tag Archives: DIY

Kitchen Reveal … Almost

Hey! Just popping in to say that I hope you’re having an inspired week! Things always take longer than planned when it comes to DIY. Not surprisingly, I am not quite ready to show the full kitchen reveal. But it really is coming soon! Very soon!

In the meantime, I will show you a very quick peek of one area.

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I told you it was quick!

As soon as I finish stocking my coffee station, tidy up my mail center and make my red amaryllis white, I will start snapping pics. I keep seeing other things I want to do to the kitchen, but I’m holding myself to those 3 things! The other ideas can and will be implemented later after I’ve had a chance to live with it for a while.

Back soon with more!

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Tomato Picking and a Sneak Before Peek

We are in the height of tomato season here and I am reveling in the juicy bounty. I can’t count how many BLT’s I’ve already had and I plan to have many more. Thanks to my husband for planting so many vines we have an abundant harvest and thanks to these little punkins, the tomato picking has been a joy.

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Burgers and salad anyone?

I hope you’re enjoying the summer. I’ve been soaking it in and am not ready for it to be over yet. I’ve also been finalizing my kitchen projects. I’ll have a full “before and after” to show you next week.

In the meantime I want to show you one “before”.
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The charcoal walls are now gone! I can’t wait to show you the new color along with my easy DIY window treatments and lots of other projects and vignettes I have put together to bring in the farmhouse feel I love.

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DIY Patriotic Sparkler Sprays

The following is a re-post which originally ran in June 2014. Since July 4 is right around the corner I though it would be a great time to share it again.

Summer is in full swing, with swimming, baseball, bbqs, nights on the patio, lightning bugs…ahhhh. And I’m starting to hear fireworks, a definite sign of summer. Today is #45 in my series, Girls Want Pearls, and I have a patriotic décor project to show you. It’s a play on my previous post here. I’m going to show you how to make Pearl and Bead Patriotic Sparkler Sprays for your July 4th table or buffet.

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The supply list is short: 20 gauge wire, pearls, red beads, blue beads, foil, glitter and glue. I have actually taken vintage mercury bead sprays and modified them but I’ll show you how to make them from scratch.

To create a bouquet of this size (2 sprays):
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Start by cutting 8 pieces of wire, approx. 14 inches in length. Twist 4 pieces of wire together approx. 6 inches from the bottom to form a wire spray. Thread the beads and pearls on, in solid or alternating patterns. Repeat steps to make the second spray.

Cap them at the top with foil using the method shown here:
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The above bouquet is 4 sprays.
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That’s it! You can make several sprays and place them as centerpieces or to beautify your buffet table.

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DIY Double Dip Flip: Maple Seed Butterfly Art

Welcome to DIY Double Dip Flip! Heather and I are excited to share our fourth project in this series where we start with an inspiration piece from either fashion or decor, then we each show you our unique take on how to use the idea to create something entirely different in decor or fashion. For this month’s inspiration I chose a Butterfly Smoking Slipper by Jon Josef.
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………………………………………………………………………The Shoes

I first fell in love with these adorable smoking slippers because of the style and colors. Then the butterflies jumped out at me. I had been planning on making some art work using a bunch of helicopters (a.k.a. maple seeds) I had gathered and I knew a butterfly would be the perfect subject.

And now I give you my flip for this month:

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I picked up an old window at the flea market for $10. I decided on a coral color scheme and created an ombre effect by mixing the paint myself.

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I love the way the helicopters look in their natural dried state, so I chose to leave them that way for the outer and inner borders of the butterfly.

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Now for the how to portion of the post. To create your own maple seed butterfly art you’ll need:

1) Maple Seeds (a.k.a. helicopters)
2) Old Window or Framed Glass
3) Craft Paints
4) Glue (I used E-6000)

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Spring and fall are the best times to gather maple seeds. After you collect them you’ll want to allow them to dry out. You can accelerate the drying process by laying them out in a single layer in a window sill. After a few days they will fade to the desired color.
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Decide on a color scheme and buy or mix your paint. If an ombre effect is desired you can start with the darkest paint as your base and then mix in white or cream to lighten the formula each time you paint a new layer.

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Draw or print out an outline of a butterfly sized to fit the frame you are using.

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Place the drawing beneath the glass, centered within your frame. Begin gluing the helicopters around the outer edge, following the general shape of the outline as shown.

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Once you have finished the outline you are ready to start on the second layer.

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Glue the second layer, overlapping the first layer and covering the seed pod.

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Continue gluing each consecutive layer in the same manner until your butterfly is complete.

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Thank you so much for stopping in. Heather has her own unique project to share with you using the same sweet slippers as her inspiration.

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She always has something creative up her sleeve! Visit her at Woods of Bell Trees to check out her interpretation of this month’s flip!

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Linking with:Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, Funky Junk Interiors

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Sea Shell Summer Project

Happy new week! I’m guest posting today over at the talented Megin’s of VMG206. She has a 30 Days of Summer series going on right now with all kinds of great summertime projects, recipes and ideas for making your summer fun and memorable. I hope you’ll go over and check it out.

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And please come back tomorrow for what looks to be my

ALL TIME FAVORITE

DIY project I’ll be sharing on Double Dip Flip!

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If Life Gives You Raindrops Take Umbrella Shots

Rain, rain go away! I am so sick of the rain and gloomy weather! I am about ready to jump in the car and drive as far as I have to drive to find sunshine. We haven’t seen the sun here for more than a few hours for weeks! Ugghhhh! I will say that I’m grateful that we haven’t seen the flooding or tornadoes that other parts of the country have suffered through.

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I have a small collection of vintage umbrellas like the one pictured above. I like to display them and sometimes I will even use the ones that are in good shape. The flowers are a bunch of peony buds that I’m drying.

Today I’m just sharing snapshots from my everyday life. I drink coffee year round whether the weather is hot or cold. I typically drink one cup in the morning and one cup in the afternoon. That way I get a good jolt twice a day which is good for a creative boost. Any more than that and I become immune to the caffeine boost; any less and my butt drags. So two times a day I look forward to my coffee time. I feel lucky when I’m drinking it. Is that weird?

Back in January I showed you my favorite wintertime cup. Here is my favorite summertime cup.

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It’s also a hint of what’s coming up in the next DIY Double Dip Flip. Be sure to come back Tuesday to see the fashion piece that inspired two DIY projects, as well as the two projects themselves.

Is it raining where you are?

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