my style: remember the chevron?

I know I said I loved this pattern, but I'm saying it again. I love this pattern! I love using it in my art journal and now I want to find a way to add some into my home decor. Like the rest of the world, I look to Pinterest, for inspiration.

photo credit: pinterest. please click on the photos to read more.

I love the bright pop of color the mustard pillows add to this classic style bedroom, and the wood chevron floors are to die for. And while I can't pull out my existing hardword just to re-lay it in a new pattern, I can toy with the idea of painting the studio floor in a chevron pattern when we pull the carpeting up next fall...maybe something cool like this-

photo credit: pinterest. please click on the photos to read more.

As for the toss pillows, there are dozens of gorgeous chevron print fabrics available now- like here.

I think I might just be doing some sewing here soon!

studio storage: accordion files & collage papers

It is no great secret that I love to be organized. And it is obvious by looking around here that I love containers and storage systems, but until now, I just hadn't found the perfect filing system for my collage papers. You know the ones? Those odd shaped and indeterminate sized scraps that we just have to keep! Enter these awesome little accordion file jackets. Oh my- is that a CHEVRON PATTERN I see? They are the perfect size for storing all of those odds bits and pieces I want to hang onto for collaging, mail art and card making. Have bigger scraps or a need to file your larger book pages and paper? I love these accordion files by Martha Stewart Home Office! Do you want to know the very best part about this little studio storage project? These little puppies were only $1 each in the Dollar Section at my local Target. Now making this will be a snap!

art stuff: a new stencil & chevron pattern love

The Chevron Pattern is hot right now! I love this fresh and funky motif and gravitate to it over and over again. No shock then, when I saw this Heidi Swapp stencil, and I had to have it! This pattern is modern and chic and just plain yummy when added to an art journal page.

I have spotted this pattern all over this week. A few of my favorites are these colorful bouncy balls, I found here, and these delicious folding step stools that caught my eye here!

I think I will explore how I can incorporate this new favorite pattern into my home decor. Stay tuned!

tutorials: recycled coupon organizer

I love coupon organizers. They are the lap dog of file storage and you can never have enough of them. I have been on a kick to organize my collage papers as of late and lo and behold all of my coupon orgaizers were being used for something already - what? I didn't have any extras on hand, but what I did have on hand was a stack of lunch bags. School will be out (YEAAAA) in a few weeks so I could afford to swipe a few for this project. Plus I could recycle some old papers too!

You also will need some pretty cardstock or paper- I used some vintage wallpaper I had in my stash, a piece of chipboard, a ruler, bone folder, paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive or hot glue, an eyelet and a barbed elastic loop or rubber band.

Step 1. Fold lunch bags into thirds, accordion style. Flatten each crease with bone folder for nice edges.

Step 2. Measure width of your folded bag and cut one thickness of bag to that width. Fold and crease, accordion style, until you have created enough "ditches" for each fold of your bag. This will be for the bottom of your coupon organizer. Measure the height of your bag and repeat, creating two folded pieces- one for each side of your coupon organizer.

Step 3. Apply a line of adhesive in crease of each "ditch" and carefully place each fold of your bag in the ditch.

Step 4. Repeat step three for each side of your organizer.

Step 5. Measure and cut your chipboard to make a cover for your coupon organizer. Allow a 1/4" on either side. You will want your cover to fold over the top of your organizer, covering it completely.

Step 6. Cut pretty papers to cover both sides of chipboard. Attach them using adhesive or you can stitch them on like I did.

Step 7. Add paper to the front facing bag of your organizer to pretty it up. You can stamp a word or add a small embellishment if you like.

Step 8. Adhere back facing bag of your organizer to the lower portion of your inside cover. Use a strong adhesive or hot glue.

Step 9. Fold cover over and position mark near bottom center of front cover flap. Punch hole, add an eyelet and your elastic loop or rubber band. Add embellishment to front cover if desired.

 

I think I will have fun filing my collage papers in this pretty and portable, recycled organizer!

in my house: living room redo part 2

So - I am finally ready to share my Living Room with you. Back in February I posted part 1-  what prompted me to redo my living room. I know it took me two months to get back to this, but I wanted it to be complete when I shared it with you again and with the exception of the finish on my coffee table it is all done!

Two items on my BUDGET BOARD were my intended focal point and grounded the room perfectly - this furniture and my antique chalkboard. I gave my old toss pillows a face lift with burlap & duckcloth shams, adding linen ruffles and medallions. The wreathe is one I made with recycled materials.

I tackled the dark laminate tv cabinet with one coat of this primer and two coats of this awesome paint which I had tinted to Natural White. Once dry, I sanded the cabinet roughly with an electric palm sander, creating deep grooves and rounded edges.

I loved the gray with the hard wood floors, so I opted to tie in a few antique pieces. I gave an old dresser a new coat of my favorite wax in Natural, and it now serves as added storage for games, coasters, and blankets. An oversized library table gets the same treatment and houses school and kids arts and crafts supplies.

I don't like things to be "matchy matchy" so I tied in a few old chippy painted pieces as well. I am in total love with this green side table. It just so happened to match my walls perfectly - which are painted a very pale shade by Ralph Lauren called Killington Traverse. This little round beauty still shows signs of the original floral tromp de l'oeil design visible on the table top surface.

I went ahead and bought the wooden lamp base at Target but found my burlap shade at Wal-Mart. The floor lamp also came from Wal-Mart. I just swapped out the original shade for this one.

 Because my Kitchen and Living Room are basically one giant room, it was mandatory that they tie together seamlessly, without being exactly alike. I was able to achieve that with color. The kitchen cabinets are a coordinating shade of white and the antique gold curtains picked up the warm hues of the wood and burlap. I like the cohesion this rug from Ikea gives the entire room and since my kids love to hang out on the floor I made two oversized floor pillows using duck cloth and left over linen and ribbon scraps from Christmas projects.

The small things on my BUDGET BOARD were easy. Metal trays and vintage ice buckets were picked up for pennies in local shops and at goodwill. Grainsack material covers a recycled oversized pillow. I had fun embellshing it with burlap and a hand crocheted flower with a vintage bling center. Books and more vintage trophies filled with flowers line the cubbies on the tv cabinet and giant metal stars I lugged back from PA years ago got a new coat of silver paint and hang on the walls.

I love it. That is a surefire way of saying I will tweak it down the road, no doubt, but I do love it.

my style: sparkle mod podge

I just have to start by saying what hundreds of other artists are saying out there - "mod podge rocks." Seriously. There is even an entire blog devoted to mod podge called just that - MOD PODGE ROCKS. It is filled with ideas for crafters of all levels using mod podge as a medium. I know that here in Florida it gets a bad name because of the humidity - but trying it on a different base may be all it takes to change your mind.

I admit - I have struggled with using it on chipboard and paper at times - but the more I work with it, the better I get a feel for it. I am really in love with it lately and have learned that I can use it on anything. Like this beautiful art journal I created for a friends birthday.

I created the base out of canvas. In the process I began painting on the canvas. I really liked the way it was looking, but it was lacking something. It needed a pop of something, that in this case, color wasn't giving me. I decided to try smearing on a coat of SPARKLE MOD PODGE. The recipient of this gift likes bling and so I knew she would love the glittery look. You could use matte or gloss finish as well.

When I was creating the cover of this journal I did all of my painting and stitching first, then I added a single coat of SPARKLE MOD PODGE over the top of all the exposed canvas areas, covering the paint and stitching alike.

I love the feel of this journal now. And it is not sticky. NOT. ONE. BIT. -and I love the pliable stability it gave to the canvas. The added sparkle gave it a pretty zing too! So - if you haven't played around with mod podge lately, I would give it another go. The perk for me? The price tag!

I created this project on my own and the makers of MOD PODGE, PLAID CRAFTS are not paying me to advertise their product. I just love it, so I thought I would give them a shout out!

on the worktable: hooked on scraps

I know I have posted several times on the love of using scraps of fabric but here I am again. I just can't bear to part with them. Just because they are small doesn't mean they aren't beautiful or useful - right? This time I paired that love with another favorite of mine. Rug hooking. What I got was an unexpected surprise.

Using a blend of fibers, hand dyed cottons, wool, tulle and more this bag turned out to be a textile lover's dream come true. Chunky, lofty, and just plain yummy. In rug hooking I take special care to vary the loft of the project, giving it added depth. I did the same here and this created the added bonus of shading- bringing out the vibrant color of the bag.

A reclaimed quilt block and vintage style spray made a perfect closure for the bag. I love the charm of the floral and tulle - a throwback addition to the funkiness of the modern hooked look. Touching this bag is wonderful!

Now can you see why I can't throw all those scraps away?

something special: i appreciate you

Teachers are the bomb. I know this first hand because I substitute teach and so I try to be one. A good teacher that is. It is a lot harder than it looks. They have to know and learn so much themselves, constantly updating their personal knowledge bank to keep our youngsters at the head of the line when it comes to education. And, more importantly, they love our children.

Even the tiniest of thank you's is appreciated by these hard working men and women. This year I was intent on sticking with my goal to use what you have so I came up with something simple that would allow me to use leftover papers and chipboard from a scrapbooking project the kids worked on last year.

FIRST: Gather your supplies.  FOR THE CARD: Buy some cute cheap thank you cards or create your own. I grabbed mine out of the dollar bin at Target or Michael's. You will also need some adhesive. I like to use EK SUCCESS 3D Dots but you can use anything. I also used some cute little vintage style party bag games. I bought these at my local Dollar Tree. And you will need some magnets or magnetic tape. I picked up some Kids Craft Magnetic Tape at Wal-Mart for super cheap. I also used a sheet of school themed scrapbook paper and some Crystal Clear Bags. I love these and use them for everything!

NEXT: Grab some numbers. I used recycled chipboard pieces from an old scrapbooking kit. You can use anything with a number on it, or you could print some out on the computer. Once you have your numbers, cut some magentic tape to fit and peel and stick to the back of each number, creating a miniature magnet. Next cut your scrapbook paper to fit your clear bag and slide it in, adding the number magnet on top. Seal the bag. Now adhere the party game to the front of your thank you card. Add a sentiment inside. Mine said-" Thank you for making learning so much fun!"

AND LAST: Let your child add a personal note to the card before stuffing it with a cute magnet. To your child, a teacher is a mentor and a hero. For the most part they love these people with all of their being. Let them say it in their own words. I promise you, teachers keep this stuff forever- I DO!

This is a really easy project that the kids can help with. And the best part? Your teachers will REALLY APPRECIATE your thanks!

Already have your Teacher Appreciation Gifts planned? This makes a great end of the year thank you as well!

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~ Henry Brooks Adams

instagram: a look at april

tiny worries. first blooms. on my desk. carline. in the middle. go green. doodle your way. sketching. funny. waiting. busy. glasses. my view. on the go. new journals. blue. reading. button. a place. my girl.

on the worktable: art journal peek

The story continues in this art journal peek. Incorporating more words with meaning and lots of color.