I’m fairly new to the contact paper world.  In fact, I bought a roll of super cool stainless steel looking contact paper and had it sitting in my closet for months before I knew what to do with it.  I know, it’s shameful.  But after hours of online window shopping one day, it dawned on me.  This stuff can make anything look like a million bucks!  My first project:  classic clear vases.  Although they’re pretty on their own, with the help of some sticky paper, it now looks modern, fresh, and well…expensive.  Here’s what you need:

A rotary cutter or scissors, a ruler, an X-Acto Knife, maker or pencil (not pictured), and of course, contact paper and the vase

Measure the area you want to be covered.  I only wanted the bottom half of my vase to be covered, so I measured up to half of it and cut.  I decided a on a cool river rock pattern because the design is simple, modern, and cutting it out would be easy.  Then, carefully stick your new design to the vase being careful not to make too many bubbles or creases.  If you run across a bubble, with your X-Acto knife, just pierce a tiny hole and flatten.

Tada!  Enjoy a fresh new vase with minimal cost!  Ah, I ♥ crafting.

Pom Pom Flowers Tutorial by Domestifluff

I love Dandelions.  They’re probably the daintiest weed sprouting on your lawn and just the thought of them reminds me of my childhood–I honestly believed that if you made a wish on them it would come true.  But, I like many humans suffer from allergies, so it’s not always fun to play with them.  You can still get the look and it’ll last longer with this project from Domestifluff.com.  (By the way, how cute is the name of that website?)  These can make some great home decor accents, gift toppers, and much more!  Best part, no allergies.  Unless you’re allergic to yarn, wire, or creativity.

Just as I was about to write–no, film a tutorial of how to block your lovely knotted work, I plugged in my iron and found nothing. Nothing. That’s right. My iron is broken. No one knows how. Seems to be a mystery, but I guess that’s not important because the fact still remains that we need a new iron. Any suggestions? I need some serious steaming power on it.

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve blogged.  But don’t think that I’ve taken a break from pursuing my dream of becoming the next Martha.  I just haven’t had time to write about it yet.  :)  I have been crocheting myself a blanket (you can see the first about it here) but my granny squares have been coming out so wavy, I was starting to wonder if they were really going to reach 12″x12″.  So, I decided to try blocking them.

From what I’ve read, the majority say you’re supposed to block your work when you’re completely done with your project.  But, since this was really worrying me, I decided to block each of the 3 pieces I already finished just to make sure they were measuring right.

Now get ready for some pictures that will make you question if this is the work of Merlin.  Don’t worry folks, this isn’t magic…

Before Blocking (Ok, so this square wasn’t completely finished yet, but you get the idea)

After Blocking

I read SO many articles about how blocking could not be done to acrylic yarn (of course this was after I already bought a small mountain of acrylic yarn) but there were a few pioneers out there that said it could be done.  I will be posting a full tutorial on this when I get another moment to breathe.  As for now, I’m late to work.  See you soon!

I have a terrible confession to make.  I learned to crochet over 3 years ago, crocheted non-stop for about 1 1/2 years and then stopped.  Just stopped.  Up until yesterday, I had balls of yarn, crochet hooks, and old knotted samples just waiting for me in a bag.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t for the life of me remember how to even do a double crochet–let alone a pattern.

About a week or two ago, I was online looking for inspiration (that week I was going through a bedroom revamping phase) and I came across this awesome blanket.  But, being the organized person I am…I forgot to label what store it came from.  Sorry!  But it’s bugging me too!  I’m determined to find out where it’s from–it’s just going to take a while.  I’m not sure why I never really thought about it before but a blanket with giant granny squares just seems so fresh and updated.

Original Blanket of which I can’t remember its origins…

So, that’s what I’m doing.  For this project, I’m using Vanna’s Choice yarn from Lion Brand, and for the colors, it’s a very similar color scheme as the original.  In Vanna White’s words, I’m using Terra Cotta, Wild Berry, Pea Green, and Beige.  I’m considering a gray or taupe colored yarn for the border of the whole blanket, but we’ll see how I’m feeling at that point.

I looked up measurements of throws and it seems they’re usually about 5′x6′ and the squares I’m making are about 1 square foot, so that means I’m going to need 30 of these.  THIRTY.  Well, I’ve got 2 down and 28 more to go.  I wonder when I’ll go crazy…

My squares so far.  Ooo ahhh.  These aren’t blocked yet–and now I’m going to pretend like I’ve blocked pieces before.  I’ll let you know how that turns out.

Anthropologie’s Fabric Monogram Letters vs. My Version

I tell you, after working in fashion for some time, it really kills the whole shopping experience.  Knowing that wholesale prices are 50% (sometimes less) than retail prices…  It really makes me re-evaluate my “need” for the item.  Especially when I know I can make it myself.

I was in Anthropologie the other day and I saw these monogram letters.  I love the color choices they had, but I didn’t really love their $20 price tag.  (It says $14 online, but I could have sworn that they were $20 in stores, let’s just keep it at $20 for dramatic effect.)

I walked out of the store and found myself constantly thinking of reasons why I needed to march back into the store and purchase of these.

Example of reasons:

• You love letters!  Especially letters in your name/nickname!
• Pretty.  Colors.
• The letters are squishy on the front!
• You need to add character to your boring room!
• Think of the children!!

The last one really wasn’t much of a reason, but it always seems to tip over the decision scale.  But in an amazing display of self restraint, I fought my hand from wandering into my purse to pull out my credit card and dragged myself back to the car.

Last Sunday, I found myself bored out of my mind and decided that I would attempt to make my own fabric letter. I also found that I had all the supplies and tools I needed to make some.  I gathered together matte board scraps I had from an old project, fabric I bought a long time ago but never found a reason to use, scraps of batting, my handy X-acto Knife, spray glue, and hot glue.  And voila, without even spending a penny that day, I was able to make my very own monogram letters inn colors/fabric of my choice.  And, the front is also squishy!  ☺

Tutorial to follow soon!

I'm not sure how it got stuck in my mind that bedskirts need to be white and unexpressive. This beauty from Athropologie has proved to me that even something grazing the floor and covering up your "under the bed shoe collection" can be fun and vibrant. My favorite part:  everything.

via www.anthropologie.com