✥ Feature: Mounted 3D Map Art ✥

I am so grateful Cheri wanted to come here and share a BRAND NEW craft she just whipped up with YOU all!! Cheri is a total go-getter. You know the type who is born to orchestrate things, who flourishes when they're busy and manages to get more done in her day than I can my my week?!

Case in point- Cheri works on three blogs and I can hardly find time to run 1!! 

I'm in love with her "Top 50" posts, which she runs on one of her blogs, Decor 2 Adoreable! They are a huge source of inspiration for projects! In fact, I've been super lucky to have projects featured on a couple of them! {Thanks Cheri!}

VIA

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I am so honored to be here today visiting with all of you sweet ladies. Becca is the sweetest blogger. I just think the world of her. She is so talented.

I will give you a quick introduction so you know who I am.

My name is Cheri and I participate in 3 blogs.

My main blog is Its So Very Cheri.

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I also blog at The DIY Club

and

have a new site

Decor 2 Adore{able}

where we feature bloggers projects and every Monday we have a Top 50+ Roundup.

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Every Sunday I have a blog party, at Its So Very Cheri.

I have 3 categories that you can enter:

1.Pinterest Followers--you just enter your Pinterest permalink so you can find new followers and they can find you.

2. Its So Very CREATIVE--for all of those creative projects

3. What's Cooking--lots of yummy recipes.

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We currently live in SW Florida but we are originally from Missouri. We are from a suburb of Kansas City called Lee's Summit.

Although we all enjoy going to all of the fun parks that we have here in Florida-we are all homesick.

If you ever go to Disney World check out my tips for saving time and money.

My sweet husband has been in school (we are all secretly hoping he finds a job back in the Kansas City area).

Since even I am secretly hoping for a move back to our friends and family, I decided a smaller scale project would be perfect then if we move, I have something smaller to pack.

You see--I have been planning on doing a few different map art project for a while now...oh let's say a few months.

I had even down loaded the maps, worked on the art and then didn't do anything with them. I know BAD BAD crafter.

Some of the projects are for some over sized Map ART but today's project is on a smaller scale.

It made the kids smile so that made me happy.

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I had some postcards from Canvas Corp and decided this would be a cute craft to use with the postcards.

Then Mandy from Sugar Bee Crafts posted her Map Art Wedding Gift and it inspired me to get my project finished.

First-I googled maps and found one I liked.

I saved them and then played around with one of them in Photoshop to give it a more "vintagy" look (I know that isn't a real word or maybe it is).

I added in a little color here and there.

(I used red, blue, aqua, yellow and brown)

using some brushes I added the touches of color here and there. Then I went over it with white at a 20% opacity to soften the colors and edges of the lines.

{then they just sat in my computer waiting for me to get back to them.}

I sized down the vintage map so it was a little smaller than the first map.

Then I printed off 2 of the maps on white card stock.

I trimmed around the state and ModPodged down the bigger (original) map towards the bottom of the card.

I grabbed some wood discs from my craft supplies...

...and glued 3 on top of each other in the center of the state.

I used a needle and thread to poke holes for the word HOME but I replaced the "O" with a heart.

I ModPodged the smaller map onto the wood discs so it added depth.

I cut out a little heart and painted it and ModPodged it onto the map right where Kansas City is located.

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Next I grabbed some wood from the garage and cut it to the size I wanted --just a little bigger than my 4 x 6 postcard.

I then cut lines into the board (just using a hand saw and working slow and steady to create grooves).

I wanted it to look like the wood had uneven slats. (I cut into the top edge of the board as well.)

I sanded over the entire piece to get rid of any rough edges and smooth out the surface. I didn't want it perfectly smooth--since I was going for a weathered look.

Then I began painting it in a dry brush method which basically means you are dragging paint over the piece.

I started with gray. When my gray dried, I added paint in khaki, gray, aqua, navy, black and white.

Once my paints were dry I went over it with a deep red paint. I used the dry brush method, just dragging paint over the surface but not completely covering everything.

I wanted a dark background so the word HOME would show up.

If you decided to stitch the letters you could paint the wood whatever color you want. I was concerned that a light background would cause my hole punched word "HOME" to not show up.

Once my paint was dry I glued 2 discs to the board, so the post card would be raised up off the wood.

Then I added a couple of DISChangers to the back so I can hang it. I picked out 2 tiny ones and I can grab a wire and balance it or hang them off nails.

If you have never used Dischangers they are so easy to use and my favorite hanging tool. You just wet the disc with a little water on your finger, set it aside for 5 minutes while the glue activates and then apply. Let it dry for a few hours or over night and it is done.

DISChangers are great for hanging plates on a wall as well.

I think this would make a really cute relocation "We're Moving" card (without the boards of course).

Thank you so much for having me today and putting up with me while I hijacked Becca's site for the day. If you want to come for visits and follow me at Its So Very Cheri, I would love to have you. I love getting to know bloggers. If you would like to find me on Pinterest--I Love to Pin.

Thanks so much ladies.

I hope I see you around blogland and please introduce yourself.

✥ Reader Feature: Vintage Style Home Tour ✥

I have a super fabulous home to share with you all today! I am so excited to show off Susan's, from Must Love Junk, vintagey home! She is a new blogger but has been widely welcomed into the blogging community- since her style is amazing! People cannot get enough- and I feel the same. In fact I went through her whole archives the other day- just reading and checking out the eye candy!!

{Susan will share a few glimpses of a few different spaces in her home. If you want to see more about that room- just click on the link. }

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This is the wall opposite my front door, the huge coat rack, and the stack of suitcases.  My talented friend Melissa made the cute little picture frame (she knows I love me some numbers!)

This wooden rack has to be one of my all-time favorite/best scores!  (And a funny story, too.) I was at the local flea market a couple years ago with my nephew Alex, who was visiting from Arizona.  He was maybe 13 years old at the time, and whenever he comes to town, I call him my 'flea buddy' 'cause he loves to go and look for model cars he collects (used to), etc.  So I look down the aisle, and spy this shoe rack, and grab his arm (nearly squeezing him to death) and tell him I've always wanted one of these, I'm freaking out, but to be cool (even though I'M the one that needs to be cool!)  So we get to it, and it's a little rough, and not the greatest one I've ever seen, but hey, that's fine with me, and I ask the guy how much...drumroll please...and he says "how about 20 bucks?"  Well, I heard angels sing, and about passed out!!

So once I recover, I pay him, and we go to load it into my small SUV, and it won't fit!  Now what am I gonna do? Well, he asks where I live (about 15 minutes away) and he then OFFERS TO DELIVER IT! Having no choice, I give him my address, and as Alex and I left, I'm fretting "Will I ever see the guy again? He could just take my money and scram!" (Not that I cared as much about my 20 bucks as getting my great find!)  And Alex is just rolling his eyes and so amused that I'm getting worked up over this piece of 'junk'. It gets better...

We're at home waiting, and sure enough, the guy comes rolling in (I was so relieved) and this cute girl gets out of the passenger's side, and comes to the door...and we know each other!  She sets up at the flea all the time with gorgeous linens and vintage jewelry, and it turned out that she's friends with the guy who I bought the rack from!  We were laughing so hard because she said the whole way to my house she was giving him such a hard time about offering to deliver a $20 item!  But she was happy it was me, and I gave her a tour of the house.  And I've enjoyed this 'piece of junk' ever since! Just had to share that. Click here to see the other details on this side of the room!

Now we continue my home tour into my front hallway/entry. Our house is a 1929 Colonial, but it's not a traditional layout...the front of the house is a big open hallway (basically unused space, but that's ok-more for me to decorate :) then the kitchen in the back of the house is TINY (but that's ok, too, since I don't cook!)  This gives you the perspective of walking out of the living room into the hall. I've got quite a collection of suitcases, but this is my highest stack. I especially love the 'striped' ones, as you can tell. 

Stop by to learn all about this huge piece in my hall- and to see all the other details on this side!

This is the room we spend the most time in (next to the sun room)...the "Living Room"...let me break it down for you:  this is the view from our front hallway.

We use an old factory cart for our coffee table-it's a true, old rough one; my hubby surprised me and stenciled "Dept No 3" on the side when I was out of town, because that's my favorite number!  I really couldn't believe he went and did that! (I absolutely can't picture him going into Jo-Ann's and buying stencils and a paint pen :)   We got the old roll-down school map at an auction when we lived in Columbus, for a steal!  The postal cart is one of my fav items-I splurged and got it on Etsy. 

And I found 2 crates/boxes that are more unison in shape and size to replace the bottom drawers!) My hubby also surprised me with the 3 connected 'stadium seats'-he's a keeper!

Stop by to see the other side of our living room!

We all love adding to our collections, don't we?  I have too many to mention!  But here are 2 of my favorites...ironstone and old seltzer bottles.  I know so many of us love ironstone-it's pretty easy to find, and usually fairly inexpensive.  I've gathered mine in a cabinet that my dad made for me using barnwood and an old window/door. I love how grouping together some simple items can make such a statement!

This is our 'office', right off the front hall/entryway. 

In here, I decided to go with more of an industrial vibe. The walls were painted red when we moved in, and we left them, so they just seemed to lean toward a more industrial look.

The red walls definitely aren't for the faint of heart (although they're not as bright as they seem in these photos!)   I've liked them, but it's time for a change, so we're thinking of painting them a gray. It should mesh well with all of the galvanized metal I've collected! 

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Totally great, right?! I loved the mail cart in her living room- and of course the railroad cart too. Susan's hubby sounds like a major sweetheart. I mean, aren't antiques always the way to a girl's heart? ;-)

 Oh- and did you see the tower of vintage suitcases!? I have a pic pinned just like that- now I can have 2! I am totally crushin' on all the little details- like tons of antique items filling the built-ins, vintage seltzer bottles, wood patina, and worn metal! (*sigh!) 

Although I love the design details, the best part of the blog is Susan herself. She is such a sweetheart!

If you guys want more- make sure you stop by and say hi to Susan. Even though she has a fairly new blog- there is a ton more eye candy to check out!

To the gals I'm meeting up with tonight for our Blogger's Dinner, I am so excited! It's gonna rock!

✥ Sponsors for Blogger's Night Out! {Woot! Woot!} ✥

Hey friends!

Just wanted to give you all an update on the wonderful sponsors we have lined up for our bloggers night out on Tuesday, July 10th. 

These lovely sponsors have been so generous & they are definitely going to hook some local Utah bloggers up!

 Cut it Out

My Vinyl Direct

 Sexy Modest Boutique

Jamberry Nails

Ginger Snap Crafts  It's going to be so much fun!  I hope to see some of you there!If you want to be there, send myself or Becca an email for the details! 

southernlovelyblog@gmail.com

berger.becca@gmail.com

&

✥ Reader Feature: DIY Bedroom Brick Wall {I'm in love}✥

Here is the"after" of Erin's {Lavender and Lemon Drops} incredible DIY brick wall! Are you kidding me right now??! I loooove it! You will not believe the transformation this room has gone through! I am both in awe and super jealous of this fabulous brick- I mean, I am. This is my idea of a PERFECT bedroom backdrop! 

{Just try to tell me this is not a pin-able room!}

Erin's room is still a work in progress- so these aren't even true "after" pics. She has a headboard project planned, amongst other touches for the other side. But, I asked her to share this tutorial- because, even if it is a "progress" shot, IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE!!!

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I’ve been promising a few “before” pictures of my bedroom…. well here they are in all their glory lol. Don’t be surprised that my bed isn’t made and there is a basket of unfolded laundry chilling in my room. I wasn’t about to load all 50 of my pillows on my bed and fold my clothes just to snap some before pictures ;)

This is the opposite angle of my room: I have a rather small room and a HUGE bed.

I’m almost finished painting so I’ve started searching for a few more items for my room. I’ve been looking for a new pendant light that is simple and sophisticated. I stumbled upon this new site that I LOVE calledAntique Farm House. As I was browsing around their site I found this lovely beauty……

{source}

Wired cage lights can be PRICEY but this had a tag of only $48 bucks! Are you kidding me? I added that thing to my cart and its on its way :) My Vision is slowly coming together!

It’s finally finished and I’m in LOVE! It took me a little longer than anticipated but that’s usually how my projects pan out! Here is the nitty gritty….

Brooke’s inspiration picture, and the faux brick wall that she created from it, were my inspiration. The messy brick look instantly captured my heart and became the missing piece for my room. I was determined to achieve this look!

:: source ::

 I purchased brick panels from Lowes and attached them to the wall using liquid nails and a nail gun.

 To give the wall a textured look I used joint compound in place of paint (Brooke used a white paint to cover the black grout and to create the “smeared” areas). To add extra depth and texture I used my finger to apply the compound to the grouted areas.


 I had to remind myself that I was after an imperfect look. The faster and thicker you layer it on the better it looks! After the grout was filled in I used a mud spatula to smear the compound in random areas. Again, aim for imperfection!

 Here is a little peak at what the room looks like with the bed against the wall. The missing piece was filled and my room finally has character! Here's a pic before my new bedding arrived- Oh-the kiddos love it, too!



Oh and just in case you were wondering…….







that’s what it looked like before! The wall looks SO much smaller and sad… really its screaming “add something marvelous to me please please please” ha!

A few more after pics of how my room looks now. I shared my bedroom vision here- I thought I would get a wide navy and white striped duvet, but ended up loving this one from West Elm!



Next up on the list: Reupholstering my headboard!! I found a great headboard for only 80 bucks! I plan to reupholster it, so I can get the exact look I showed my readers here.
Slowly but surely my room is coming together.

I hope you guys will stop by and visit me!
Erin

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Did I tell you, or did I tell you?
Crazy awesome, right? Now- how many of you are trying to figure out, how you can have this look in your home? I am, as we speak, cursing my rental! Why, oh why can't I be just like Erin?!

Honestly- I would not mind have an entire side of my imaginary house done with this treatment. Like  having every room on the west {or whichever} side of the house done in faux brick. To emulate the look of an old, East Coast row home. Wouldn't that be dreamy?

Obviously you can tell she is super talented- but prove it to yourself- here's the link to her DIY posts. You will NOT be disappointed!

➷ Homemade Vanilla Extract + Printable ➹

I had an interesting morning yesterday. It all started at 11am, when I got a call from my hubby, Z.
"I feel so dirty," he shouted into the phone before I could even say "Hello?" Surprised, my eyebrows raised and I could feel my eyes widen with fear, before he clarified with, "I just bought a big bottle of Brandy from the liquor store!" I waited a moment more, a smile pressing on my lips. "I've never bought liquor," he shouted. Now I'm laughing, I waited for his rantings to end. But then I learn that my husband, who served 6 years in the Marines, has never walked into a liquor store and purchased anything alcoholic, especially not hard booze.
It was no surprise to me {or anyone else with a heartbeat} when he explained how strangely everyone looked at him as he picked up the large, brandy bottle, all hunched over it, checking over his shoulder nervously, as he shouted at the clerk, "HERE'S MY ID!!!" Simultaneously he presses his thick, black-rimmed, "crazy man" glasses back up his nose.

Apparently the clerk checked it, as the "Hunchback of Berger Dame," snatched the brown, paper bagged bottle up, HISSED, and scurried out of the store. Pressing my number on auto dial, he was shouting, "I FEEL SO DIRTY," running to the Jeep. Ah... my hubby! Step back ladies, he's all mine;-) Such. A. Ham. Anyway, it's not my usual post day- but I thought I'd share the little gift I'd just whipped up. The idea's not unique- I saw pics all over Pinterest at Christmas time- but I thought I'd share my version along with some labels I made- for YOU. 

What You Need: Brandy or VodkaFunky BottlesVanilla Beans- I found mine through AmazonFunnel Labels

Making the extract is beyond easy. Some tutorials say to cut open the bean, while others say to just throw them in whole. The flavor is in the seeds, inside the bean- So I guess, do what you think is best.

 I kept mine whole. For my bottles, I put a few beans in each one. Fill the rest of the bottle with brandy or vodka. I heard brandy will taste better- so I went with that.
The mixture needs to cure or set for about 6 weeks {or more} before the rich bean's flavor will extract. Use it before that and you'll just be getting drunk! ;-)
 Store the bottles in a cool and dark place, like a closet, while it brews. Which is also a funny story, because as we closed the closet door, my panicked husband threw his hands up in the air and said, "Great, now were closet drinkers." I bit my lip trying not to laugh, but then he chased that with (no pun intended), "It's such a slippery slope." I couldn't help it, I lost it and laughed so hard my ribs hurt.

I found a few downloadable labels online, then adapted one into what I wanted.   You can PRINT YOUR OWN, if you want to!





  I added a "to" & "from" section on the label for those of you giving them as gifts- like me. If you don't need that part- just cut on the line instead, leaving that section out. I think these make super gifts- that's probably why they were all over Pinterest! {hee, hee}   One of the reasons this is also a great DIY and present is that the beans are reusable. They will actually keep for years! When your bottle is 1/3 full, you can add some more alcohol and keep an ongoing supply. It's basically a 1 time cost. Because of this and that we are giving them away, I invested in some gourmet vanilla beans. Pretty sweet, huh?  *I made sure to add the directions for refilling onto the label- that way recipients know exactly what they're getting and what to do with it.

My little grandma is back in town- so I'm having a great week showing her the sights and playing lots of Scrabble. 





If you live here in Utah- make sure you check out the dinner that Lindsay {Southern Lovely} and I have put together. Tons of great sponsors have don't FREE SWAG for the attendees!! {YAY!} I hope YOU can come!! 

Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Utah Bloggers' Dinner ✥

That's right- you read the title correctly! My dear bloggy friend Lindsay {of Southern Lovely} will be here in Utah for a few weeks. We were plans to do dinner, when were like, "Wait!! What the heck are we thinking?"

Let's invite all our other boggy friends! Then we can all meet, and talk, and laugh and have dinner!!!

So we set a date.

Tuesday, July 10th.

We felt pretty good about that- until we realized the only thing better than a bloggy dinner...

a bloggy dinner with some *swag*!

So there you have it- 

Dinner with us on July 10th!

With swag!

We know you need more details than that- so email one of us if you want to come. 

Becca- { berger.becca@gmail.com }

Lindsay's much more professional looking email! ;-)  { southernlovelyblog@gmail.com }

We had to limit the number of peeps that could come {due to logistical crapola}, so speak up!! Also-we'll be meeting up in the Provo Area- if that helps anyone decide.
Details about our sponsors for the night will be coming soon!

I hope you local gals will be able to come cuz it's gonna be fun!! It has been great getting to know you all online, so I'm really looking forward to meeting you "in real life!"!

✥ Reader Feature: Laundry Room Makeover ✥

Happy Monday to all my cute little friends out there! I hope you guys had great weekends- I had family in town AGAIN! I am so lucky and blessed for all these visits- but I am getting very little blogging done. Anyone else having that problem? With all the other fun stuff to do during the summer it's easy to get caught up in the fun of yard sales, pool time, camping, boating, vacations and so on and so on?!

Today's feature will be quick and short. I'm sharing Kim's laundry room makeover. She runs the adorable beachy blog- Sand and Sisal. All her projects are ooze of beachiness, hey make me long for the days the hubs and I lived in Hawaii.

I mean look at this before and after! I love that room- who would have though you could even say that about a laundry room? Not me! ;-) 

I just adore that light fixture- like I have a super big crush on it! I'm also loving how light and airy the room feels, like you may not hate spending time in there doing laundry, say what?!

The thing about Kim is all her projects look like a million bucks- each time she does something you stop and think, "Um, yeah. That could be from the Pottery Barn catalog." She is that good!

You guys will want to stop by Kim's place for the full post and all the dets. She'll tell you about the laundry sorting system she came up with, her item's sources, and even how she retired her not-so-awesome laundry knickname. ;-)

I rounded up a few of this post's tutorials- in case you want to jump right to them.

Install Bead Board Ceiling {Tutorial}

How to Install Lighting

How to Build Floating Shelves   <  I want to make these!

Framed Fabric Art

I hope you guys have a great Monday! Make sure you get out there and enjoy the summer. The weather is supposed to be in the high 90's over here. So hot that I may have to hide inside in the AC and get some more blogging done!