by Amy | Nov 14, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Design
Hi guys,
Christmas is coming up fast. I actually thinks that goes without saying. The season brings lots of things. Candy, cookies, warm drinks, White Russians, parties…and cards. Lots of cards.
Whether you send out a card or not…chances are you still like clever, cute photos. {I know I do!} So I made a few goodies for my goodies. You can use them to make your own cards…or just a really cute Facebook cover photo. Up to you!
Here are some examples that I made using the elements that I’m giving you today! Click the links below…that should take you to the free Google document so you can save it for yourself. Once you save the ones you like be sure to check out the tutorial on designing your very own custom cards!
I’ll start with a recent photo. The rest of these are a bit of a time warp…The stars and text are one solid graphic. Get it here.
We took this photo when we lived in Florida. It was a joke that this would be our Christmas card. We meant for it to be a bit awkward. At the time we really did miss snow…Now it’s all over the place….The tree and the thought bubble are available for you!
This is again from Florida. I guess we took good Christmas photos that year. This orange tree was in our back yard. How cool is that? The text and snowflakes are separate. There are three snowflakes for you. Here’s #1, #2, and #3.
Again…the snowflakes. Here’s a different text graphic for you. I really love this one.
Lastly, a little joy to the world.
The point of these is to be able to turn any photo into an awesome Christmas card or image to share with friends and family. Using these is super simple. Just save it to your computer, open your image in an editing program that supports layers {like PhotoShop or GIMP}, then open the layers and put them where you want!
If you don’t understand the “layers” talk…no worries. I’ll be covering how to use them tomorrow. I’ll show you how to put together your own Christmas card in GIMP. And if you really wanna go ghetto…you can always use these in Word. Create a custom paper size to fit your image. Open your image, then open the elements you want to use.
I hope you like them. I’m also cooking up custom cards for my Etsy shop. So get excited already!
Amy
by Amy | Nov 14, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Are you familiar with the phrase “Oopsie poopsie.”
Probably not. I think it’s a phrase my sister made up.
Well. Let me show you what an oopsie poopsie looks like. It looks like this:
They come in all shapes and sizes. But tonight I made a major oopsie poopsie. After working on a small project I screwed the lid on my Sherwin Williams sample jar and picked it up to put things away before dinner. Well, the lid was screwed on…crooked. I realized something had gone horribly wrong when I stepped in something cold and wet.
But alas, it was too late. The damage had been done.
Friends tell me that the bright side of brown, splotchy carpet is that it will hide everything. Turns out, the one thing it doesn’t hide so well is aqua paint.
Most of it came out. I’ll call it, well seasoned. Looks like the living room floor project just moved up the to-do cue.
I hope you’ve had an oopsie poopsie free day.
Amy
PS–Free photo elements tomorrow!!
by Amy | Oct 31, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house, Uncategorized
So, yesterday I showed you the finished product of my weekend of hard work on the stairs. I just couldn’t resist putting together one more B&A photo. Today I’ll give you the skinny on how I did it.
The first thing you need to know is that I’m not especially skilled. If I can do it, you can do it.
All it takes is some elementary school craft skills, painter’s tape and a little patience. (more…)
by Amy | Oct 30, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Are you ready?? Some of you may know that I was remaking my stair case while Derek was out of town over the weekend. This project started a month ago when I ripped up the nasty brown carpet covering the stairs. And it is now complete…ready to be crossed off the list.
So, yes. Between being locked out of the house and locked into the garage…I made my staircase look like one fit for a dollhouse. I’m impressed with myself. I knew I wanted them white with dark treads. Then I took it a step further {after spending some time drooling over this statement staircase} by making a statement. Hospitality is deeply important to Derek and me, so I painted “welcome” on the risers in different languages. {The top riser is braille! Fun, right?}
Want to know how I took the gross brown steps circa 1975 and turned them around? Look no farther…just click here!
And now I’ve got candy to make. {Another something you’ll be seeing in the coming days.}
Amy
Linked up at Home Stories, Savvy Southern Style and these other awesome parties!
by Amy | Oct 22, 2012 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Projects
A while back {see the cabinets are still brown??} I did a little fall DIY crafting. I got together with a girlfriend and we made these super cute burlap pumpkins. Her neighbor had one. They are all over the Internets. {Yes, sometimes I call it the Internets. With an “s.”} They are retailing on Etsy for around $35.
Well…you know me. $35 for something made of burlap?? Maybe if the burlap also came with a gift card for some fro-yo and breadsticks at Olive Garden. Maybe…
So anyway. We made our own and I think they came out pretty darn cute. And now is the perfect time to whip one up as you swap your scary-spooky for harvest-happy. The best part? Ours cost $6. For both. What up? The second best part? It’s an awesome way to upcycle your plastic grocery bags! {Remember what we did with paper bags?}
Here’s what you’ll need: Burlap 1/2 yard per pumpkin {Hobby Lobby carries it in orange} | scraps of tan burlap | white & green paint | paint brush {bonus points if it’s one of those nifty circle sponges} | scraps of felt or other awesome fabric | hot glue | plastic grocery bags {unexpected…I know}
1. Cut out your pumpkin. Double your fabric up so you have two identical shapes. Mine is about 22″ wide and 16″ tall.
2. Cut a stem out of tan burlap. I cut leaves out of some scraps from the fabric bin. Wool, felt, and flannel from an old shirt are great choices. Use a few other scraps to make some burlap roses. Tutorial here at the old blog.
3. Start gluing your small pieces together. Lay them flat and run a bead of hot glue around the outside, leaving a little raw edge exposed. Be sure that both right sides are out!! When you’ve almost got the whole shape sealed up stuff it with some plastic baggies. For the small pieces you may need to tear the bag into smaller bits.
4. Almost done. Lay a paper bag between layers of orange burlap and paint. These look best when they are kept simple. I went with big polka dots…but you don’t even have to include the dots. Swirls, stripes, whatever…it’s your project. Add a few curly-q vines to the top. Follow your heart. Then repeat the gluing process. Leave the top open and stuff it with plastic bags. Glue your stem in place {sandwiched between orange layers} then glue the top shut.
Add your leaves and roses with a bit more hot glue.
I used a pen to open up a whole in the weave of the burlap, then I threaded a piece of craft twine through to create a hanger.
Why plastic bags? It’s simple. First of all…they are free, and we all have way too many on hand. Second, if you are planning to hang this gem out for all to see…plastic is an ideal choice. It won’t rot or get nasty. The rain won’t hurt it. I’ve seen other tutorials use brown craft paper…which is dandy…if you aren’t putting it outside.
As always, I love to see your creations. Feel free to send me a photo of your version of this craft {or any craft}. I love new ideas! AND…if there is a project you are drooling over, but can’t figure out how to make it happen…email me. I’d love to find a way.
Amy
This thrifty project is partying at Home Stories, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, and these other great parties.
by Amy | Oct 21, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Hi all. I hope this weekend finds you well. Derek and I have been super productive around the house….which is always a good thing. Unfortunately, that means I haven’t been so productive in the kitchen and we will be ordering a pizza to eat while we watch our Sunday night line up {Once Upon a Time, Football, and Revenge!!}
Anyway, I’m simply stoked to show off our new light fixture. I saw it a few months back at Menard’s and fell in l-o-v-e. Seriously. Love. Like Valentine’s Day love. The price, however…I did not love. So, I snapped a photo of it on my phone to remember it by and went on my way.
As fate would have it, I just happened to look up my precious lighting fixture online…only to discover…it had gone on sale!! Now it is mine. All mine. {And a little bit Derek’s and Panda’s too.} Here’s a link to the product…in case you love it so much you have to have it too!
Gorgeous, right? I’m seeing the almost-finished-dining room in a whole new light. {I love a good pun.}
Besides hanging the new chandy I finished patching some dry way I severely damaged while removing an awkward piece of faux wood panelling. It looks good. Sanded…painted…no giant cracks or gouges in sight.
Meanwhile, upstairs…Derek is hard at work whipping up a built in cabinet for our towels and sheets. The current system is a hot mess. But that’s a tale for another day. So I’ll leave you with this. And a promise to show it off when it’s all done.
I strive to be a project finisher. And boy does it feel good when things come together.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 19, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
It’s that time of year again. Time to hit the Goodwill at the last possible second to throw together a costume for a last minute Halloween party. If you are like me…which I think a lot of you are…you like the costume, but you don’t like the work and you don’t like spending the dough. So don’t worry. As usual, I’ve got your back. Here is a collection of costumes you can make in one afternoon with things from the local thrift shop. Some I’ve done, some I’ve laid out how they can be done…take a peek, I know you’ll be inspired.
Now, without further ado…enjoy 13 unique DIY costumes that will be the hit of the party!
My favorite costume of all time. In 2010 Derek and I dressed as the Spartan Cheerleaders. Make it yourself. Here’s what you need: Two black tank tops | a white skirt | White headband | Red athletic pants | Two old white t-shirts | Red felt.
Cut up the white shirts into sashes, then outline them with red felt. Outline the sashes with red felt. Cut out letters in felt and hot glue, glue, glue! (more…)
by Amy | Oct 11, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
You all saw the B&A of my dining room/living room project, right? Well, that took several good days of painting. Over the years, I’ve become pretty savvy with a brush and roller. Here are a couple tricks I use every time…and a big awesome tip I just learned.
Trick #1
Yes, I know paint tray liners are only a couple bucks. But I always seem to be out right before I start a project. And the last thing I want to do when I’m rearing to slap the paint on the walls is make ANOTHER run to the hardware store. So I don’t. Instead, line your tray with foil you already have in your kitchen. It works great and crumples up really small…so it saves space in the trash can too.
Trick #2
I used to wash my brush out every time I stepped away. Dried paint in a brush or roller is a sure fire way to wreck it. But the problem I ran into was…when I was ready to paint again the brush would still be wet. Now, instead of washing them between coats or if a job gets interrupted {usually for a fro-yo run…} I wrap my roller in cling wrap and my brush in a sandwich baggie. It works great and saves you a washing. This will keep your brush moist even over night.
Who can spot the difference here?
Well, besides being two totally different images, it’s pretty obvious that the difference is that there is paint slopped all over the glass on the left. I made this mistake while painting my built in hutches. Don’t be like me. Do this instead:
Trick #3
After applying your tape, run an old debit card down the edge to seal the bond. I taped off the glass panes of my hutches…but as you can see from the photo above, taping alone can still leave a messy edge. On my windows I sealed the tape {photo above right}. I couldn’t even believe how crisp the line was. And this tip isn’t just for glass…it works with any surface.
Overall this is the trick that saved me the most time. Going back and gently scraping the messy edge of the hutches took an hour of meticulous work. Boo for that!
I hope this tricks come in handy for you. What tricks to you use when you paint? I’d love to hear them!
This thrifty list is partying at Home Stories, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, and these other great parties.
Amy
