Vintage Pink Baby Shower

I recently co-hosted a baby shower for my sister.  We decided to go with a vintage pink theme.  It was so fun to create!  Here are a few pics of our decorations.

We bought the burlap pennant banner at Hobby Lobby and painted her name on it with stencils and white craft paint.  When using these stencils, apply the paint with a sponge brush and make sure you blot the paint on rather than brushing it so that you get nice lines.

We bought several yards of pink cotton fabric and cut it into large squares.  We hemmed the edges but you could use Stitch Witchery to finish the edges if you don't sew.  These fabric squares were an easy and inexpensive way to add color to the tables.

We added ruffle trim to basic burlap table runners for a more feminine look.  Again, we sewed this but you could get the same look with Stitch Witchery.

To give the cutlery a special look, we rolled our pink paper napkins around the forks, added a paper doily and tied a burlap twine bow around it all.  This was also practical.  It's easier for the guests to grab their fork and napkin rolled up like this than getting both items separately.

We made these cute food labels with scrapbook paper, DIY label stickers and a paper cutter.  First, I made the labels using a free chalkboard label template I found online.  I printed the labels on regular printer paper and cut them out.  Then I used my Xyron Sticker Maker to turn them into stickers.  I cut out squares of scrapbook paper, folded them in half to make tent cards and cut the edges with a lace design paper cutter.  Then I put the label stickers on the tent cards.  This was so easy but it made the table look extra special.

For the flower arrangements, we painted several mason jars with pink chalk paint, tied burlap ribbon around the neck of the jars, and filled them with pink roses, white spider mums and baby's breath.  A small amount of flowers went a long way.  We were able to make seven arrangements with just a dozen roses, six spider mums and two bunches of baby's breath.

My mom had a few items personalized by West End Monogram.  We hung them on a piece of burlap twine like a clothesline and added a couple tissue paper pom-poms for more color.

I made the burlap print that we used to decorate the mantle.  It's now available in my shop if you'd like one of your own!  It's great for shower decor and also makes a great gift or nursery decor.

For favors, we used Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Sweet Pea scent.  I made labels using scrapbook paper, a circle cutter, hole punch and a "thank you" rubber stamp.  

For the favor table, I made this burlap print.  Check out my Etsy shop for more prints.  If you're interested in something like this, message me through Etsy.  I love custom orders!

Quick Door Transformation

I have been swooning over black doors for several months and I finally got around to painting the interior of my front door this week.  After much Pinterest research, I decided to go with Benjamin Moore's Mopboard Black in semi-gloss.  It did not disappoint! To my surprise, it only took two coats to transform my front door from blah and boring to bold and eye-catching.  I love the contrast of the black door against the white trim.  It really pops.

I bought one quart of paint for $25 for this project but I only used a fraction of the paint so this is a very inexpensive project.  I've seen many tutorials about the proper way to paint a door.  I kept it pretty simple.  I used a brush for the whole door.  I just made sure to paint with the grain of the wood.  It turned out great.  I don't see brush strokes and I didn't have to worry with the splatter of a roller.

This project was so easy and cheap that I may be tempted to paint all the doors in my house!  Before I get carried away, next on the to-do list is to accessorize and add color to my foyer.  I hope to provide an update on that soon!  In the meantime, here are a couple of decor items I've added to the foyer.

We switched out the very modern foyer light for this more traditional fixture we found at Home Depot.  The original fixture wasn't our style.  I love the slightly nautical look of the new light.  It works well with the large metal compass we found at a local antique/thrift shop, Class and Trash.

When we first looked at our house the foyer was one of the rooms that almost scared us away.  It was painted with a marble block faux finish.  Our painters had to mud and sand it twice prior to repainting it.  I'm normally a DIY-er through and through but all that mudding and the vaulted ceiling were out of my league.  Here's another before and after to show the complete transformation since we bought the house.

Latitude & Longitude Burlap Print

I'm working on a gallery wall for my family room and I'll share pics soon!  I shopped my home for most of the items in the new gallery wall but I made one of the items that I'm most excited about.  It's a modern burlap print with the latitude and longitude of our home.  I love how it adds a personal touch while remaining clean and modern.  I decided to add it to my Etsy shop.  In addition to a great gallery wall print, this would make a great housewarming, wedding or hostess gift!  

Burlap Silhouette Prints

I am SO excited to share my newest product offering: burlap silhouette prints.  You simply provide a digital photo and I will create a timeless silhouette on burlap.  These make wonderful gifts and are also a great addition to a gallery wall.  I can add text of your choice to the print.  For example, I can add a couple's names and wedding date to a silhouette of a photo from their wedding day.  A child's silhouette could include their name and birth date.  The possibilities are endless and I love to work with my customers to create a custom work of art for their home.  Stop by my Etsy shop and check out my prints!

Easy DIY Infinity Scarf

I'm so excited for fall and the cozy, layered clothes that come along with the season.  Infinity scarves are my current obsession.  I love how they can transform a t-shirt and jeans into a very put together look.  I'm also loving the plaid, flannel prints that are trendy this year.  I don't love the price tags of some of the cute scarves I've seen so I decided to try my hand at a DIY scarf.  It was so easy!

What you need:

• 1 yard flannel fabric
• Coordinating thread

Steps:

1. Start by cutting two 18"x33" rectangles from your yard of fabric.
2. Lay the two pieces of fabric one on top of the other.
3. Sew along one of the short sides (about 1/4" from the edge of the fabric and press along the seam you just sewed.  Now you have one long piece of fabric.
4. Fold the piece of fabric in half long ways (or "hot dog" style).
5. Sew down the long side opposite the fold.  Now you have a long tube.
6. Turn the tube right side out and press the fabric.
7. Take one of the short ends and fold the fabric into itself about 1/2-3/4".
8. Insert the other short end into the short end that you just folded to create a big loop.
9. Sew the two short ends together (about 1/4" from the edge of the folded short end).  You will be sewing through 4 layers of fabric (the two inside the other two).
10. Wrap that cozy scarf around your neck!!

Easy Fall Decor

Today I'm sharing some simple fall decor ideas.  First, you can't decorate for fall without pumpkins.  These painted pumpkins are my favorite DIY fall decorations.  Though you could absolutely paint real pumpkins, I chose to paint artificial pumpkins so that I could use them year after year.  Don't get me wrong, I love real pumpkins and I use plenty of those in my fall decor, but these little artificial pumpkins are a nice addition.  Also, after you go to the effort to paint them, it's nice to know that they'll last more than one season.  I bought my artificial pumpkins at Michael's for around $5 on sale.  Another nice thing about these pumpkins is they come in traditional orange, black and cream.  This is great because it can save you lots of time because you don't need to paint a base coat.

You can freehand your design on the pumpkins or you can use painter's tape.  I freehanded my polka dot and argyle pumpkins.  I used painter's tape to make the chevron and candy corn pumpkins.  For detail work like the dashed lines on the argyle pumpkins, I used paint pens.

The possibilities are endless.  In addition to my argyle, polka dot, chevron and candy corn pumpkins, you could also make monogram, damask, houndstooth, silhouette, or plaid pumpkins.

Chalkboards can be another easy fall decoration.  They have a natural, rustic look which is great for fall decor.  There are so many cute fall printables and quotes online.  If you find a printable you love and you want to transfer it to chalkboard, simply print it out on regular printer paper and use white transfer paper to transfer the outline of the image to chalkboard.  Here are a few of my favorite fall quotes.

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."      - F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Autumn paints in colors summer has never seen."
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise."     - Psalm 100:4

My fall-themed burlap prints also make a great addition to a fall mantel or other vignette.  Stop by my Etsy shop to check them out.

Custom Burlap Wedding Signs

My sister got married this summer.  The wedding was so unique and beautiful!  They chose a rustic, vintage peacock theme.  My sister is very creative and crafty and I was excited to help her bring their gorgeous vision to life!

My sister is a librarian so she chose some of her favorite romantic literary quotes and I made burlap table number signs with the quotes.  I incorporated her "official" peacock clip art in the signs to bring the whole theme together.  She used this same peacock clip art in her invitations and programs.

My sister placed my "Choose a seat, not a side" print at the entrance to the ceremony on a small table with the programs.

On the sweetheart table, my sister displayed the "Mr. & Mrs" print.  This print is great because it makes a wonderful addition in the newlyweds' home after the wedding day!

For their exit, my sister had the great idea to have the guests wave glowsticks.  I made a custom sign to direct the guests to the glowsticks.

I also made the fun initials pictured above.  These were super easy.  I bought the cardboard letters at Hobby Lobby, painted them with craft paint and then cut gift wrap to fit the letters and adhered it with Mod Podge.  I co-hosted my sister's bridal shower and we used these initials as a table decoration and my sister was able to reuse them at the wedding.

My burlap wedding signs are available on my Etsy shop.  I also love custom orders and I really enjoy working with brides to bring their unique vision to life!