✥ My Stenciled Curtains & a Cutting Edge Stencils GIVEAWAY!! ✥

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
Here's the curtain tutorial- if that's what you're looking for!! 
Oh, and here's the tutorial for the curtain rods, including the bay window!

Hello ladies! I've have been painting like crazy over the last few weeks. Not because the project was huge, but because of the holidays- I had to start and stop a million times. But I love what I ended up with-  6 custom curtain panels for under 100 bucks! {serious!}

Not only do I love my end product, but  I am so ridiculously stoked to tell you guys Cutting Edge Stencils has agreed to give one of my readers a Free Stencil { $50 value + free shipping!}

Cutting Edge Stencil has an awesome reputation for making both trendy and classic designs.  Most of us have seen a stenciled wall or pillow, but check out these ideas-(all gathered from Cutting Edge on FB)

 Those aren't slip covers, they're not even fabric! Did you know you could paint and stencil leather? This was done with the Marrakech Trellis Allover Stencil {and I die for that kitchen!}

 Floor Stenciling, DIY RUG using Ikat Samarkand stencil?!! Oh my completely gorgeous-ness!

The ceiling! 

The ceiling, I love it. 

This is the Allover Trellis. 

There's also some great ideas on the page, for stenciling an entryway or even a coiffured ceiling!

And a different bathroom idea, who would've thought, stencil a shower door! Seriously great idea done with the Zamira stencil!

Here's one of their newest stencils, Athena Allover.

Doesn't it look a lot like my DIY Greek Key stencil for the the drum shade fabric I made?!

Basically, I love this brand of stencil!

 

Because [1] they have stencils that look like almost any fabric you are in love with- so you can copy the look!

 [2] they go above and beyond to make sure us DIY-ers have awesome results by providing free instructional videos and a channel we can turn to for tips, tuts, and techniques.

I like Cutting Edge Stencils on FB because that way I can find out about all their new products, sales, and giveaways. Not to mention see all the great projects others are doing and share your own projects! {more blog exposure!!}

To WIN a $50 Credit to purchase your own Cutting Edge Stencil plus Free Shipping  {followers only please ☺}

☛ Check out Cutting Edge Wall Stencils and come back to tell me what pattern you {love!}

Additional Entry

☛ "Like" Cutting Edge Stencils on their Facebook page, come on back and let me know you did so!

Don't forget to leave your email address on each entry.

Giveaway is open to USA residents only and is open until December 14th @midnight.Winner will be chosen by random.org, I will contact them by via email and they have 2 days to write me back!

I am so excited to pick a winner! Hope you guys liked all the stencil ideas, it makes me want to start creating! 
I'll be back in a day or so with a tutorial for painting curtains!

✥ Extreme Wreath Makeover ✥

 U.G L.Y. You ain't got no alibi, you ugly! That's right I said you ugly!

That pretty much sums up my feelings for my before pic. Can't you believe {dare I even say it?} that I had this up on my door, just like this last year! Aah! The shame! The horror! I have no excuse for explanation for this insanity.
The wreath was just...there, and well, I don't know-?! I just put it on my door! Ahh!

We bought a new wreath this year and the hubs was about to send this one to the dumpster graveyard, but then I figured some spray paint could NOT hurt.

{Is it even possible to have a worse after? Me thinks not.}

Anywho, I had this dollar store fruit makeover pinned, and I thought I'd give it the old college try.

I basically spray painted everything. {of course}

Gold poinsettias✒ Now Silver ✔

Weird Round Ball thingys✒ Now Silver ✔

Pine Cones✒Now either Silver or Natural ✔

Dollar Store Pears✒ Now Painted Chrome ✔

Fake Berries✒ Now White ✔

So then, I was all, "this fake greenery looks a little less fake, I think I'll out it back on my door."

AND I did just that.

But after a day or two- I started feeling rather blue.

Well, like I needed a little more blue up in here, so I pulled out my Martha Stewart Glitter and added some shine and some sparkle to the old gal. That glitter has been y best holiday purchase to date, and can I tell you I hemmed and hawed over it!? Tot-A-Lly worth it!   This is with my front door wide open, that's why it's lining up with the gallery wall.    So now, you can just stick a fork in it, cause it's done. Well- at least I think it is. You never can tell round here.

Happy Holidays!

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

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Christmas Tree Ornament ✥

How about we paint a "happy little tree?" {Bob Ross, anyone? Don't know him, you're missing out!} This ornament was a piece a cake to make, but I couldn't resist a glittery little Christmas tree. 

Simple and beautiful!

Oh yeah, I first tried super glue to hold the glitter on the glass ornament. Super glue is not the greatest at holding onto glitter. Which, when you think about it, is really ironic since I have glued my fingers together more than once or twice with that very same glue. You'd think, "glitter? No problem." Right? You'd be wrong. It's not even that the glue dries too quickly, cause I have the kind that dries in 5 minutes.

No matter, it was at this point I realized regular old Elmer's worked just fine and is so, so much easier to work with.If you're wondering, nail polish remover takes super glue off of glass ornaments and hands when fingers and thumb are stuck together! ☺

Are you guys making your own ornaments this year? What about any other holiday crafts!?

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

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Reader Feature: Foyer Makeover {& Bench Reupholser} ✥

Monday, Monday. Da, da, dat, Da dat, da da daa...
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Today I'm happy to introduce you to a clever and talented  interior designer, Sherry from Design Indulgence.
She authors a humorous design blog that features projects from her home and from the homes of her clients, as well as beautiful design inspirations.

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My first project in forever!  Seriously.  But this is like 2 in one because I finished the stripes in the foyer and dug out an old bench from my basement.  And believe me when I tell you...it has been down there for at least 5 years or more.  I always knew I would use it eventually because it has great lines.  

So lets see the foyer before.

See that black box on the glass console?  Well that is where we put our keys when we walk in the door.  It is a very important container because if my husband doesn't put his keys there, then they are lost in the bowels of the rest of the house and the search will begin.  By me.  BUT......

I was tired of that look and wanted to try something new.

So the stripes got repainted.

These were cream and kind of a gray with a hint of pink.

To black and white!

Then I moved out the console and this is where the trouble begins.  I wanted to put this bench in it's place.

Pre makeover.

And move this mirror to the foyer.

The big shabby blue one in the background.  But Mr. H said no...he did not want to bend down to get his keys. crickets.  huh.  AYKM.  Lame excuse.  I'm doing it.  The exercise will be good for you.  Remember to use your core when bending.

So here are a few pictures of the bench makeover.  Mind you I really had no idea what I was doing on this one.  Let's start with paint.  Chalk paint in Graphite.  Well that was after I killed the small colony of spiders underneath the sucker....or rather Mr. H did and then took off the welting.....or rather Mr. H did and then took out the bajillion staples....OK...he did that also.  But then he left because he saw where this was going and would rather sit in a cool office then do manual labor.  His parting words were "I think you should take this to a professional".....oh ye of little faith.

Here is a closeup after the paint and wax.  The fabric looks like burlap but it is actually a burlap and linen blend.  Less scratchy.  Also in this picture I wanted to show you that I put 4 staples in to hold it in place before I started hot glueing.

 Then I just folded it and glued small areas at a time right along the edge.  That dang glue is HOT as a MF.  Danger.

There she is glued.  It was a little tricky because she has curves....like me :)

Looking better than I thought.

Then I removed the 4 staples and use small upholstery tacks about an inch apart.

Hung the mirror and here she is!

For some reason it makes the SMALL foyer look larger.  There used to be a closet where the bench is and I took it out.  Who cares about hanging coats.  [Let me know when you get tired of me saying...see those pretty white floors!]

The mirror just fit with about a 1/2 inch on either side!  See my empty pot outside the door?  Yeah had some large ferns there but killed them.

I would clean up all the fuzzy stuff but you really can't see it.  Now I have to figure out a new place for the keys.  It's always something.

Phew....it feels good to have one room done. 

Happy Monday!

Sherika

Sha Ray

Sha Dazzle

or just plain....

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I'm obsessed with that after. I mean, I commented on it, I pinned it, and I asked if I could feature it. It showcases my favorite mix, old and new looking textiles, the texture, and the color gray. Hmmm, love it. {PS I'm dying for that pillow, I've got it pinned more than once! Christmas?!}

Make sure you check out Sherry's blog, you'll love her style AND her rockin personality!

While you're over there check out how she turned these discount and thrifted items into this AFTER.

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

I'm also linked up here.

✥ DIY Pottery Barn Globe Ornament ✥

If I'm being honest, I have to say- I debated about whether or not to share this ornament.

Try as I might, I could not get the lines perfectly straight! The joys of painting a globe on a sphere.

Well anyway, for 60-ish cents, I figured it wasn't that bad. {I hope...}

The inspiration for the ornament comes from Pottery Barn, well- from Pottery Barn via Pinterest. 

I love me some globes, although this in is ridiculously inaccurate. My apologies to Canada, I think you guys and the island countries took the biggest hits for on size and shape.

Wanna make your own? You'll need:

*Extra Fine Craft Glitter- mine's from Martha Stewart

*Silver Paint Marker {for glass surfaces}
*Glue, Elmer's is fine

*Painter's tape

I started with the vertical lines and used tape to get {at least} those straight. The painters tape will pull up the paint marker, so no overlapping- bummer.
Since I couldn't use tape to horizontal lines, I decided to skip ahead to the countries. That way there would be less open space to cover.
I painted on Elmer's glue, then used silver and a light turquiose glitter. The plain silver may have worked for PB, but for mine it seemed a bit washed out.

Lastly, I used the edge of a piece of cardstock to wrap around the globe to use as a reference for the horizontal lines. Basically, used it like a pliable ruler- now that I think about it, I guess I have one of those. Hmmf.

Anyhow, not a perfect system, but good enough. Like I said, for 60 cents I'm pleased with it.
Do you ever feel that way once you're finished with a project? Sometimes the results really exceed my expectations and then others, not so much. :)

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

I'm also linked up here.

✥ Magnetic Advent Calendar {Printable} ✥

It's December 4th, just about 4 days late for an advent calendar. Oh well, that's just how things go sometimes!  Advent calendars seem to come and go in my house. Like last year my Mom gave me the one we had when I was a kid. Then, she decided it was too sentimental to her and asked for it back. Haha! Of course I gave it back, no biggie. But it's totally rad with teeny, tiny little ornaments from the 70's, or earlier, all hung on a tree made of felt hand prints. A total classic.

This one is nothing like that! I made it with the same modern patterns I used in the Christmas banner I shared with the The Simply Klassic readers today. Pop over and grab my printable Christmas banner and grab my printable banner,  if you haven't already!

Now, on to this advent calendar!! You can see my little tins on my fridge. I had the idea for a spice/tin advent calendar that I'd position in a shadow box using magnets and magnetic paint. I planned to use a frame from Ikea and some cream burlap I purchased for my Christmas decor.  That is so not happening right now. I figured it's better to get this post out now, rather than wait weeks until I have time to get around to this calendar. That way you guys can grab the numbers if you want them and I'll get around to working on the display next year soon! 
So, for now, it's on the fridge- which is still cute, I think. Let's get down to business.

To make your own advent calendar, you'll need:

• metal spice or favor tins- you can buy them almost anywhere, like at the dollar store, Ikea, Amazon, Bed, Bath & Beyond
• my printable or your own numbers 
• glue or mod podge
• magnetic strips

I made up the patterns for the numbers by using the A-Mazing designs you can find on Sprik Space. If you've never been over you are missing out. There are a ton of patterns available and they come in 12-20 different colors each. Super rad!

I made the numbers to print off at 2 inch circles, but you can easily modify it to fit your needs. Oh yeah, and I made them square with a circle overlay in case you have the square spice tins. You could just as easily use scrapbook paper and numbers to make your own numbers with your own designs. This is a super versatile idea.

I purchased my tins from Amazon. It was less than 20 bucks for 25 tins. I have heard you can buy them cheaper at the Dollar Store and Ikea sells a larger version. I liked Amazon cause they sent it right to my house, 1 less errand to run if you know what I mean!!

My lil' sis helped me out by cutting out the circles. If you have a hole punch, then that would be easiest. I just glued my cutouts to the inside of the lid, using Mod Podge. Easy, peasy. 

Since I didn't have time to make the shadow box before I shared the end result with you all, I just cut some self adhesive magnets and attached them to the back of the tins. Wouldn't this be so fun for kids to place with on the fridge?

Then for the inside:

Add whatever little treat you'd like. I also love the idea of putting an activity inside each tin, things to help bring in the true spirit of Christmas: like do a service activity, go caroling, make your neighbors cookies, adopt a needy family, watch Christmas movies, read about Christ's birth, watch the Christmas devotional. SO many great ways to foster the spirit of Christmas in your life and in your home!
  Maybe I'll have this finished before the end of the year. Then again, maybe I won't hold my breathe. You know the drill, busy, busy, busy! How are you all keeping on top of this super busy month? What does your advent calendar look like?Do you remember the one from your childhood?  xoxo