tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74233746710172058292024-02-18T23:08:45.751-05:00The Copy Cat CraftersHeather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-43692302814260049102011-04-05T22:11:00.001-04:002011-04-06T16:10:29.151-04:00Playing Dress Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9fXBdx6VkHLF2wBv4wkROHBAE037RH8JDtqRcrqjTy4sCogiZnenZNSAFuKE_dbJVip6CFeLaE9zscLG08p6YVfCI2gXtr-KwBiekgDt8i9do9GiRSS0WMO5RngnkouZOC1jqczbeOY/s1600/March+2011+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9fXBdx6VkHLF2wBv4wkROHBAE037RH8JDtqRcrqjTy4sCogiZnenZNSAFuKE_dbJVip6CFeLaE9zscLG08p6YVfCI2gXtr-KwBiekgDt8i9do9GiRSS0WMO5RngnkouZOC1jqczbeOY/s400/March+2011+069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my den re-do has been this wall:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyTLQFnSbDmfulMl-NlFHdGfjnGrHC_m5eu2qqVEBaJFBRO3VTBVC0AvTLwwuVYHejC9m6Q78aYiOZRBbP3ENqwke0g6QDPMiEV-s8PaXNSfboLIci6-CeZFQEMMowm-sclio_3UcO8A/s1600/February+2011+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyTLQFnSbDmfulMl-NlFHdGfjnGrHC_m5eu2qqVEBaJFBRO3VTBVC0AvTLwwuVYHejC9m6Q78aYiOZRBbP3ENqwke0g6QDPMiEV-s8PaXNSfboLIci6-CeZFQEMMowm-sclio_3UcO8A/s400/February+2011+012.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a focal point in the room—directly across from the windows and fireplace, and there were so many things wrong with it that it gave me hives every time I walked into the room. The mirror was too big. The table was too small. The lamp was not working at.all. But it was a collection of things we had when we moved into this house so we lived with it. We lived with it until I just couldn’t live with it anymore. Something had to be done. So I called up my good friend Craig and asked him if he had anything that might be of interest on his list. And boy did he come through.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the beginning of the year I’ve been <s>stalking </s>checking Craiglist for the perfect piece to go in this space. I knew I wanted a dresser- something solid with storage. I also knew that it needed to be a little bit longer than what we already had to help balance out the size of the mirror. So I searched. And I searched. I inquired about a few pieces, but nothing was quite right. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then one day, when I least expected it—there she was. The perfect size and shape and for only $30! I could not respond to that Craigslist ad fast enough! The seller listed that the only thing wrong with the piece was that it was missing a knob on the far right side. Since I was planning to replace the hardware myself anyway, I figured that wasn’t a problem.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE8E8O88m3hVCJ2znhJuDbYlJhwvmker47c0dDgKaHJDw6buiTIDhY2fLWBdcCV6gV6M1qqu_I5ngU8vqgaFFHM7p7-pnsBvQ-HodacMVsvmqUGqeLcaiaQgWIxj2ZRQkLid7G_ks-CM/s1600/March+2011+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE8E8O88m3hVCJ2znhJuDbYlJhwvmker47c0dDgKaHJDw6buiTIDhY2fLWBdcCV6gV6M1qqu_I5ngU8vqgaFFHM7p7-pnsBvQ-HodacMVsvmqUGqeLcaiaQgWIxj2ZRQkLid7G_ks-CM/s400/March+2011+074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Excuse me while I laugh maniacally in the corner. Apparently the seller does not have a keen attention to detail. Or eyesight. Let’s just say you get what you pay for. But I digress. Since I was going to sand it and paint it, and there didn’t appear to be any structural issues, I handed over my 30 pesos and went on my way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy09qd058339AY3UJiZpPtE12nmpClLsTwF2zlRePAutKzhHu58HkyqdwQ26pdr-VHEyi282wD5YQovrh1xqqfBp9mV-pF1Huq8Z5U6mTzBsuyM0H9rCXka_y4thgOgDufeXb9rIeTijQ/s1600/March+2011+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy09qd058339AY3UJiZpPtE12nmpClLsTwF2zlRePAutKzhHu58HkyqdwQ26pdr-VHEyi282wD5YQovrh1xqqfBp9mV-pF1Huq8Z5U6mTzBsuyM0H9rCXka_y4thgOgDufeXb9rIeTijQ/s320/March+2011+077.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>YIKES!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After I removed the hardware I spent the following Saturday’s naptime getting acquainted with the sander I borrowed from my dad. And can I just say Holy Arm workout Batman! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cWK3UkVZsQ1x6lDbitF3ZGcbZf3a6ObDXC1LOeM_MEfJK0ew4YmJEihhdX2b13fEXt0fR6imy4YIoHl83LY89EuB58LsbE9Ien4yz8foozxeCJMG-XWIANyGKNWysPwKk2zLGgm_cnA/s1600/2011-03-21+March+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cWK3UkVZsQ1x6lDbitF3ZGcbZf3a6ObDXC1LOeM_MEfJK0ew4YmJEihhdX2b13fEXt0fR6imy4YIoHl83LY89EuB58LsbE9Ien4yz8foozxeCJMG-XWIANyGKNWysPwKk2zLGgm_cnA/s400/2011-03-21+March+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used some leftover white paint that we already had and set to work giving this baby a new life. Three coats later and things were looking good.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_d0eQYQLftM4Q0kMQrhxN5QVliazn6KzMkn6ftAngu5fXb6KXu8erbB3evTZo_uSg18xPNkWCf4l4XGxIA1pY_2a1P7cfkqyPhtXe8FOWzj3QxSqhNcQqcWe43lvvYw_sHi4ZF8yw2E/s1600/March+2011+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_d0eQYQLftM4Q0kMQrhxN5QVliazn6KzMkn6ftAngu5fXb6KXu8erbB3evTZo_uSg18xPNkWCf4l4XGxIA1pY_2a1P7cfkqyPhtXe8FOWzj3QxSqhNcQqcWe43lvvYw_sHi4ZF8yw2E/s400/March+2011+083.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I grabbed some hardware for half off from Hobby Lobby. The knobs are a perfect fit but the drawer pulls have been a little harder to match up, so I’m still on the lookout for those. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSF6iJOsheiabW5wXo255Zv2cINolWlPk3faxtrkQ-QzkNS1KbxedkhjWbZDM6VJKN9KrIVsBQiyS9kEJ2A5hQgc8hWHUmZQmK5DdV_axbi5SPhI1GmOBiEBhNSahZbUoWBwK_OiSFh8/s1600/March+2011+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSF6iJOsheiabW5wXo255Zv2cINolWlPk3faxtrkQ-QzkNS1KbxedkhjWbZDM6VJKN9KrIVsBQiyS9kEJ2A5hQgc8hWHUmZQmK5DdV_axbi5SPhI1GmOBiEBhNSahZbUoWBwK_OiSFh8/s400/March+2011+103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I dressed up my new and improved dresser with a tray I picked up from TJ Maxx awhile back with accessories I gathered from around the house, a new lamp from Walmart, and I gave an old frame and picture a little boost by adding a simple white mat. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9tBDdYpf3kdI5NzGm1amwvrpG7_rfqhJMgFB6ugEWL7lfpXrdhxakESUb_hmN-owadt2lUIgzAa51gbBhqR5o5eE8I-8pTEyUUBnjD29VJm2zMTngBZdCA2K8jLEU2rBuo59VCbCCPY/s1600/March+2011+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9tBDdYpf3kdI5NzGm1amwvrpG7_rfqhJMgFB6ugEWL7lfpXrdhxakESUb_hmN-owadt2lUIgzAa51gbBhqR5o5eE8I-8pTEyUUBnjD29VJm2zMTngBZdCA2K8jLEU2rBuo59VCbCCPY/s400/March+2011+065.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8Wr4IRHdGjU7x9LFGomQ4WAkDhpUeevlkpjIRie8un4s_AIlQbU70I7dMVSkpN5QBIk3qbNLt8SYqWN6EzWSjeCD9HxqVF_4zChEXxiB1ZtiTuTiSUcrOHod9olJohsW_nKW3hBcQkI/s1600/March+2011+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8Wr4IRHdGjU7x9LFGomQ4WAkDhpUeevlkpjIRie8un4s_AIlQbU70I7dMVSkpN5QBIk3qbNLt8SYqWN6EzWSjeCD9HxqVF_4zChEXxiB1ZtiTuTiSUcrOHod9olJohsW_nKW3hBcQkI/s320/March+2011+102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqEwLii7G7Kejm2AEHCfKjjPNKXwRBCiqsVCzp2XFgJPyrhoWosaYjXXwv3awLysQX5I5xaieakuHydx-EAZEF4BbvO1aVNyyzbDpzc_tyGsFY0C8pQaWl46RhCUu1RVr-90Vgc8xJus/s1600/March+2011+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqEwLii7G7Kejm2AEHCfKjjPNKXwRBCiqsVCzp2XFgJPyrhoWosaYjXXwv3awLysQX5I5xaieakuHydx-EAZEF4BbvO1aVNyyzbDpzc_tyGsFY0C8pQaWl46RhCUu1RVr-90Vgc8xJus/s400/March+2011+091.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am IN LOVE with how this simple, $30 find transformed this space. It has brightened our den and made this focal point something I actually WANT to see. And suddenly, that giant mirror seems less imposing and more like a part of the space. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEw5fbgXu9TXes_vrsIF2qzHiiYtwpnKRE3EIA9kEujQXGo3GCgjL01luD351PjL1J8LY-n-1K3zzhsKfcxuOTztTOGTNi1ezBJVo4MSnV-kZJ8n7agbzzo9MtNXe6x-CZe70mjOzJzY/s1600/March+2011+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEw5fbgXu9TXes_vrsIF2qzHiiYtwpnKRE3EIA9kEujQXGo3GCgjL01luD351PjL1J8LY-n-1K3zzhsKfcxuOTztTOGTNi1ezBJVo4MSnV-kZJ8n7agbzzo9MtNXe6x-CZe70mjOzJzY/s400/March+2011+075.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s see that before & after again, shall we?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCa9sAK6o9olCEkOZwtlVt978Fy_oqYbwyh5HhDE50bPCnePWbO6sWeQhFmy0GoKXRVlR3lTvaJGglcNoXn0I-obkdJD8Y4xHv3NQhf_sjgrZCYoENsSndzSyB1vjdLkYpJQT7oBGlP8/s1600/2011-02-27+February+20111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCa9sAK6o9olCEkOZwtlVt978Fy_oqYbwyh5HhDE50bPCnePWbO6sWeQhFmy0GoKXRVlR3lTvaJGglcNoXn0I-obkdJD8Y4xHv3NQhf_sjgrZCYoENsSndzSyB1vjdLkYpJQT7oBGlP8/s400/2011-02-27+February+20111.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total cost for this project:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dresser: $30</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lamp: $30 ($15/piece for the shade and base)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mat for Frame: .75</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total: $60.75</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<a border="0" href="http://www.elements-interiors.net/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r87/mmoo1978/whassup1.png" /></a>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-35630255312627655982011-03-30T14:09:00.000-04:002011-03-30T14:09:27.640-04:00Built-Ins: The Biggest (Toughest) Puzzle You'll Ever Piece Together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2nCWPMXJ4XwqQpaTXdskUekblwvPkllskjm-6hAeGCTkkOyR3d-YQK6xk1arWoE2V2-juBcaihZE5QvwAsj8qfXomCuJxpBI3JXAE9fzLZmC6_zRWzxumgu64BWmVaPCrgQDuwj2Rck/s1600/March+2011+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2nCWPMXJ4XwqQpaTXdskUekblwvPkllskjm-6hAeGCTkkOyR3d-YQK6xk1arWoE2V2-juBcaihZE5QvwAsj8qfXomCuJxpBI3JXAE9fzLZmC6_zRWzxumgu64BWmVaPCrgQDuwj2Rck/s400/March+2011+047.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After the pillows set my world on fire, I spent many a night staring down the built-ins in our den wondering just what in the world I was going to do about them. You see, I suffer from this strange affliction when it comes to decorating and thus have a love/hate relationship with any type of shelf/surface/nook. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENOq6OQ8BCY9gfloLAnhWPg2kMgnyI0Q1hPpJ_ydpuvKA333uZhyphenhyphenka2v1GvC12icc-Ef-63EqT6oLa5ivciOU5IZQlM95abv-rewdlsJUbAM-xpW5bieGXZBp727tkFSKHtXjqRtQBYY/s1600/February+2011+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENOq6OQ8BCY9gfloLAnhWPg2kMgnyI0Q1hPpJ_ydpuvKA333uZhyphenhyphenka2v1GvC12icc-Ef-63EqT6oLa5ivciOU5IZQlM95abv-rewdlsJUbAM-xpW5bieGXZBp727tkFSKHtXjqRtQBYY/s400/February+2011+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>D</i><i>on't you like how I used this dark picture for dramatic effect? (It has nothing to do with the fact that I didn't change my camera settings and also only took one before pic. Oops.)</i></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>On the one hand I LOVE figuring out the perfect combination of decor items; when a frame is turned <i>just so</i> and the balance is right and I can step back and feel that *click* of recognition that I've nailed it. LOVE.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5Cp6Atjc95Gczd6OQNqK0fgrd5sZ2i3_UhSgG_7-hMbvgZXHR5lcAAcVIujA2HFey-UCHZ6jjLf_iFoyAnm4cJTYRFCAolkA3rOSRwqEIRE3NPx0F6cTpsfN-3EurfESWCDvDUMm_SM/s1600/2011-02-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5Cp6Atjc95Gczd6OQNqK0fgrd5sZ2i3_UhSgG_7-hMbvgZXHR5lcAAcVIujA2HFey-UCHZ6jjLf_iFoyAnm4cJTYRFCAolkA3rOSRwqEIRE3NPx0F6cTpsfN-3EurfESWCDvDUMm_SM/s400/2011-02-28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Seeing Red....Literally. Its time to say "bye-bye" to the darker hues of 2007.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>On the other hand, the interim is a hair-pulling, head-banging-against-the-wall frustrating dance of twisting, placing, removing, replacing, switching out, switching back, stacking, unstacking, shuffleshuffleshuffle of items. I literally stayed up a few nights well past my bedtime staring at these shelves. I wanted desperately to work with what I already had, and that made this challenge that much harder for me. <br />
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I started by ridding the shelf of anything that didn't go with the new color scheme and feel of the room (unless it was something I was planning to re-purpose with spray paint so that I could re-use it). Then I started shuffling. And tweaking. And shuffling some more. I took pictures and emailed them to my trusty gurus (Nat & Kelly, holla!) with desperate subject lines like "WHAT'S MISSING?!" or "WHY ISN'T THIS RIGHT?" but mostly just, "HALP!"<br />
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Finally, FINALLY we found the right balance. We shopped this house like nobody's business and came up with what has become on of my most favorite places in my home. It is the perfect blend of old and new, of new and re-purposed; and it epitomizes our family in a subtle way that I just love. While in the middle of this project, I searched the internet high and low for pictures of other people's built-ins for inspiration on what exactly one would use to fill shelves without making them fill heavy, dark, or cluttered. I thought it might be helpful to share what I ended up with here, in case someone else is stuck in the same predicament! <br />
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In the end, I think we ended up with a space that represents us and also makes the room feel a little bit lighter. <br />
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A few favorite pieces:<br />
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The glass jar of wine corks that we add to each weekend (and some weeknights!):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXT_3Wh2JX59Qia8mdocto3lJzNmVOlc9NBRdm805v_kr5tDfnqH901fxEv5l_vNwaN5DqeUcIduzTbmAcTIOBuuQ5GFnPdD-8mxauopW2wpaq2ru3UqJOdECWKSoNBcA7EKP8y6COTI/s1600/February+2011+153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXT_3Wh2JX59Qia8mdocto3lJzNmVOlc9NBRdm805v_kr5tDfnqH901fxEv5l_vNwaN5DqeUcIduzTbmAcTIOBuuQ5GFnPdD-8mxauopW2wpaq2ru3UqJOdECWKSoNBcA7EKP8y6COTI/s400/February+2011+153.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This "jar" was actually part of a more elaborate candle holder we got as a wedding gift 3 years ago. I just took it apart and voila! </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
The worn and tattered copy of Gone With the Wind that belonged to my husband's grandmother (no Southern home is complete without a copy of GWTW):<br />
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The juxtaposition of these two photos (placed beside a blue vase from Ikea): our first kiss as husband and wife (bliss) and the look of pure joy on our toddler's face as she swings high (also bliss). <br />
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A run-of-the-mill mason jar transformed with a little glass paint. (Yes, we MADE our own blue Mason jars! Hopefully posting a tutorial soon!):<br />
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A few other pieces of note:<br />
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I used spray paint to re-purpose a few pieces I already had so that they would work in this new space (and so I wouldn't have to spend any moo-lah!). The red vase, the two red crosses (both purchased years ago at Kirkland's) got a new life with coats of glossy white and avacado green. <br />
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The white and black metal sign (from Hobby Lobby awhile back, seen below with the newly painted green cross) got a coat of chalkboard paint on its back side, so I now have the option of using either side! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0ijn1upx8yBU0E_LwpYUXWMh7ZWPZGqXyhZp0esZHxZ3gtywyQ_MU83e1YwNXW_F4by3DEJQijgQkshYKCgnOHDCW_7rJY5eZOiFoZTyb0XaaxgtLhgcLnZ7I7WAf2UsEa9TinzD8CM/s1600/March+2011+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0ijn1upx8yBU0E_LwpYUXWMh7ZWPZGqXyhZp0esZHxZ3gtywyQ_MU83e1YwNXW_F4by3DEJQijgQkshYKCgnOHDCW_7rJY5eZOiFoZTyb0XaaxgtLhgcLnZ7I7WAf2UsEa9TinzD8CM/s400/March+2011+058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We shopped this house like crazy and found a few pieces that were so-so in other places, but became the perfect finishing touches for our den:<br />
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The white cup (sitting on a white flower dish I got on clearance at Pier 1 a few weeks ago) is actually one of the coffee cups that came with the place settings we registered for when we got married. We do not use these on a regular basis (if ever) so this one found a new home on the shelf. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6s2IdMPp31q5_QJB2VB09oJCvk4IUvTvWkiUY3HY-DS0fhpg0q_1unZBGDWJ1oKXKELpOsq1SmDY8bYtMtsjzCqSvM9D5hJlKyLUedfBq10qhYW2lpjfNYtGoSCjzgwxKjQwJ3rJ4us/s1600/February+2011+149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6s2IdMPp31q5_QJB2VB09oJCvk4IUvTvWkiUY3HY-DS0fhpg0q_1unZBGDWJ1oKXKELpOsq1SmDY8bYtMtsjzCqSvM9D5hJlKyLUedfBq10qhYW2lpjfNYtGoSCjzgwxKjQwJ3rJ4us/s400/February+2011+149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am embarrassed at the amount of Nicholas Sparks books that I own. But they are some of the prettiest uncovered volumes we have so my secret love for sappy love stories is not so secret anymore. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> I picked up those 3 white floral dishes at Pier 1 on a whim a few weeks back, because I loved the shape and they were super cheap on clearance. They sat in a cabinet for awhile but really came in handy during this re-do! In addition to becoming the saucer-to-my-re-purposed-cup, they now also nestle a white teapot I picked up at TJ Maxx ($4!) and this sweet gray candle from Ikea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This glass jar was a leftover from our 2008 wedding's candy buffet. We dug it out of my basement cabinets, dusted it off, and filled it with some homemade jute decor balls and these AWESOME split pea decor balls that we made using a <a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/02/07/split-peas-thank-you-the-decor-ball-edition/">recent tutorial from <span style="background-color: white;">Allison over at House of Hepworth's</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB1yp3rwFsPWj5b1dM3VOteq9pCjhCJieQ_TJVrckLECxHpJaWe45JGk0-dWbeNoA-P9ZaJUt2NefGxF52DR5knVq5chieal1MWv1NkhyTT5D9zvN2hyaLFk2avCYZmVYQ1d_aHRAQKQ/s1600/February+2011+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB1yp3rwFsPWj5b1dM3VOteq9pCjhCJieQ_TJVrckLECxHpJaWe45JGk0-dWbeNoA-P9ZaJUt2NefGxF52DR5knVq5chieal1MWv1NkhyTT5D9zvN2hyaLFk2avCYZmVYQ1d_aHRAQKQ/s400/February+2011+137.JPG" width="400" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am LOVING the pop of green from the split peas. Perfect!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Twine-tied books make a simple statement (an idea I stole out of Pottery Barn) and leftover fabric from my pillows made the perfect covering for a gift box I had leftover from Christmas and worked to tie-in to the new colors. <br />
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This re-do taught me a lot of lessons about making a space feel fresh and new without buying all new items to fill it. It also re-affirmed what I've been hearing from all the crafty-decor greats out in blogland. Buy things you love as you see them, because you love them. They will find a home eventually. Do NOT buy things just because you need to fill a space. Patience really does pay off in the long run.<br />
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Want to know how much I spent on this? $5.88. For serious. Cheapest. Re-do. Ever. The only things I had to buy were the teapot and the split peas. Everything else had been previously purchased and placed away in a cabinet or in another room of the house just waiting for its perfect spot.<br />
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Above all I'm learning how to "live with it". These shelves are a constant work in progress. They may never be finished or "complete" (a thought that gives the type-A crazy in me hives to think about). I would still like to try covering the backs of the shelves with fabric or paper to make them feel even brighter. And I'm sure that a future trip to TJ Maxx or Home Goods will bear a treasure that is <i>just right </i>for this space as well. But I'm learning to love the evolution of it all-- how simple changes can make a room feel fresh over an over again. And the more I think about it, them more I know, yeah, I can live with that. :) <br />
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<div align="center"></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-24527676860377589622011-03-28T20:20:00.000-04:002011-03-28T20:20:50.353-04:00It all started with the pillows...Over the past month or so (emphasis on the OR SO) I've been slowly working my way through a little makeover in our den. You see, its the heart of this house--its where we spend most of our time--and lately, it had been feeling a little too...dark? There are only windows on one end of this room, and even in the full sun of the daytime I felt the need to turn on lamps and I always found myself gravitating over towards the natural light in the room. And the black-white-and red motif I had going on wasn't helping matters. And honestly, that red tuscan style is more the me of 2006 than the me of 2011. These days I find myself craving the crispness of white, the coolness of blue, and I prefer to find my warmths in a warm chocolate brown than a dark shade of red. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB8sY1zIj32dOM0MEktn6wfvRWtO_ke2_OuB2n5FI0_EZ9rc1RKzyGgw1uLBzOBGCx8hVt4VahEeNUq9y7hWsFCHB4NetXyK7QH2umWb1MBNJGQNGw5z4QU2ygfnsMdMroyFpfDjjhXU/s1600/February+2011+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB8sY1zIj32dOM0MEktn6wfvRWtO_ke2_OuB2n5FI0_EZ9rc1RKzyGgw1uLBzOBGCx8hVt4VahEeNUq9y7hWsFCHB4NetXyK7QH2umWb1MBNJGQNGw5z4QU2ygfnsMdMroyFpfDjjhXU/s400/February+2011+006.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
So I set out dreeaming up ways to lighten this room up a bit <em>without</em> lightening up my wallet too much. You know how we roll. :) Since the sewing machine Santa gifted me back in December was still just collecting dust down on my craft table, I decided it was time to finally FINALLY get my sewing feet wet with some simple pillow covers. I spent a rainy afternoon at Hancock fabrics browsing for inspiration when I came across a <em>gorgeous</em> blue print in the upholstery section. It also just so happened to be right next to an even more gorgeous 50% of sign. :) <br />
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I carried my yard of inspriation around and chose two coordinating fabrics (also on sale!) and my new throw pillows--and the inspiration for my den's transformation was born:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKlfo5u6NFwsHCwZOj2_rGmw_OaFK6RS6BE725g5RzICljE2yjZAYGqsFVns16Yk-A_UGBONtAdNQ4ejrSHyIhOFqjVKVaR2cu1bsHcPZeQ8WjJmUIRjveOP6lkGN37EOSnun2z_2yHc/s1600/March+2011+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKlfo5u6NFwsHCwZOj2_rGmw_OaFK6RS6BE725g5RzICljE2yjZAYGqsFVns16Yk-A_UGBONtAdNQ4ejrSHyIhOFqjVKVaR2cu1bsHcPZeQ8WjJmUIRjveOP6lkGN37EOSnun2z_2yHc/s400/March+2011+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A fun floral print paired with a coordinating stripe makes the room look fresh without being overly girly, since my husband has to live in this room too. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lAqwiXDykFvyPufzvYw1qOUQzr9e2VIXt2T9E2YZ7Z2oGZDyJQB_UWaG8D5YkSr9h1FX_8xHTCzdTFS-36nhiCnx7OQiVXRvXg0pSvtHJLhAylVyDin7l4w2ZFJip6paB4nWnXtrqlo/s1600/March+2011+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lAqwiXDykFvyPufzvYw1qOUQzr9e2VIXt2T9E2YZ7Z2oGZDyJQB_UWaG8D5YkSr9h1FX_8xHTCzdTFS-36nhiCnx7OQiVXRvXg0pSvtHJLhAylVyDin7l4w2ZFJip6paB4nWnXtrqlo/s400/March+2011+007.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I fell in love with this creamy quilted fabric and so it became the big pillow for our big chair!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLusH6iVyDelpQoEPHI4csIhepyNZd3Idm9pX6qdhPGs6gc6TbnJUyaURYVAcEbTDlx91aEvTNNcC60bVAV1PV4kj_f6nE7266JrZfzpjJS8OI5Ak2W_-n9v5I45Iute0eYbFfVnGEw/s1600/March+2011+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLusH6iVyDelpQoEPHI4csIhepyNZd3Idm9pX6qdhPGs6gc6TbnJUyaURYVAcEbTDlx91aEvTNNcC60bVAV1PV4kj_f6nE7266JrZfzpjJS8OI5Ak2W_-n9v5I45Iute0eYbFfVnGEw/s400/March+2011+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"><em>Looking lighter and brigther already! You can tell this was early on in the makeover as there are still touches of red peeking out!</em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Its been said a million times, but it is SO true: throw pillows, particularly ones you sew yourself, are a great way to get a lot of decor bang for your buck. If you want to make a change without spending a lot of, well, change, this is the way to go! In total, the fabric for the pillows cost around $20 and the pillow forms I already had, but were bought on sale at Ikea for around $3/piece. So in total, for 4 new throw pillows, I only spent around $35. You just can't beat that price! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So this was phase one! And it just snowballed from here...check back in tomorrow for more! </div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em></em></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-89236593645538241222011-02-13T22:38:00.001-05:002011-02-13T22:41:09.807-05:00A Change of Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-UwGmo7ltNdlcX6YC8yHS-swBS-8r0zHykXHdhNYgO5_AAETbWmUQqDVp-OZv-cLITIvZJztKs_9CESwALRXTFVvbT3swj7ZC_RhKRM0zaflUbJlSo6U1_6CfojEJgVtp0DsmJpDQUM/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-UwGmo7ltNdlcX6YC8yHS-swBS-8r0zHykXHdhNYgO5_AAETbWmUQqDVp-OZv-cLITIvZJztKs_9CESwALRXTFVvbT3swj7ZC_RhKRM0zaflUbJlSo6U1_6CfojEJgVtp0DsmJpDQUM/s400/IMG_1594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Valentine’s Day, internet! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope your day is filled with copious amounts of chocolate and plenty of X’s and O’s. On this day of love, I feel that its time I make a confession. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve had, as they say, a change of heart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hi, my name is Heather and I am having a full-blown love affair with Valentines decorations. As a former red-and-pink décor cynic, I have found myself completely and utterly smitten with crafting heart-and-love themed décor in honor of the fourteenth of February. And I’ll be completely heartbroken when I have to take it down this week. Or next. (Shhh, don’t tell)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ryx3gp__1d3hKGHJ9mqU9_F5MC4vp0Qoay6JZiGuU2qR89nRuM0stnhdcDRLKhg_ac8tY1-j5fYhLO1cXNMKlzaUJAVOYnbJ-FhDJCzs6TmXSHcM_oYUKpomkvnY-zA0ELnDOyXqn24/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ryx3gp__1d3hKGHJ9mqU9_F5MC4vp0Qoay6JZiGuU2qR89nRuM0stnhdcDRLKhg_ac8tY1-j5fYhLO1cXNMKlzaUJAVOYnbJ-FhDJCzs6TmXSHcM_oYUKpomkvnY-zA0ELnDOyXqn24/s400/IMG_1582.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From my <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-mine-bargain.html">Be Mine platter</a>, to my <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-letters.html">Love Letters</a>—I’ve find myself gazing lovingly at my Valentine’s vignettes as I walk through the rooms in my house each day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NZ6FymGO13gg9Mn_3N0Gv8Hd8Miizw71doytAZCdJ21goR63WaYzSuqiJ2wQMiqiPbcZ5HZEEXh1Flfsa_mj3SSdsiLi32Y7SvIzZXoRywSoFN3Syswj5RVCVQO78Sy27OluJ2b83pY/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NZ6FymGO13gg9Mn_3N0Gv8Hd8Miizw71doytAZCdJ21goR63WaYzSuqiJ2wQMiqiPbcZ5HZEEXh1Flfsa_mj3SSdsiLi32Y7SvIzZXoRywSoFN3Syswj5RVCVQO78Sy27OluJ2b83pY/s320/IMG_1601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Candy hearts as vase filler are so sweet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwJJ1gs5lbD5dO8qjGQ2z61NDL_8XkfqRF7egI0Sfc5hn8RyBmENW8jF1XNxvJc_RL0vSnYtZaZGoUlsm4bOPbTPyfXxkT9hY6ja_7yNzn3ccMZ4iFcdv3E88Q5pD1foVvjZdq8puP1Q/s1600/IMG_1589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwJJ1gs5lbD5dO8qjGQ2z61NDL_8XkfqRF7egI0Sfc5hn8RyBmENW8jF1XNxvJc_RL0vSnYtZaZGoUlsm4bOPbTPyfXxkT9hY6ja_7yNzn3ccMZ4iFcdv3E88Q5pD1foVvjZdq8puP1Q/s400/IMG_1589.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And tissue paper rosette kissing balls? My heart may burst. (Tutorial coming soon, these babies are sticking around for spring!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVJLV12u1uJFoiS8pmtS25nB0h9nRMxwjI5xyO5Sbl1eM9orgG4tOafiNh5dO5fkswyCouKBY9S0ycrJWF2nf1a8LmVJGTVCqA5vkFMZEELCre_08miGK0r__sfUo6F2Nb_Z61gQnSAw/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVJLV12u1uJFoiS8pmtS25nB0h9nRMxwjI5xyO5Sbl1eM9orgG4tOafiNh5dO5fkswyCouKBY9S0ycrJWF2nf1a8LmVJGTVCqA5vkFMZEELCre_08miGK0r__sfUo6F2Nb_Z61gQnSAw/s320/IMG_1605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdvesWKgyMrf4rWTPz_PhmomjjLakGsCZt1fGpcS9BpwUmUNOSgf5sUV0BFhxwdwKOPWktMB1sbfXwkadqI2atcxj-rC9OzKt6hwP4akrKkfnpXO49-kYqyJFl3H6Z2xncUtyD_P-kZg/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdvesWKgyMrf4rWTPz_PhmomjjLakGsCZt1fGpcS9BpwUmUNOSgf5sUV0BFhxwdwKOPWktMB1sbfXwkadqI2atcxj-rC9OzKt6hwP4akrKkfnpXO49-kYqyJFl3H6Z2xncUtyD_P-kZg/s400/IMG_1598.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next year, my pretties. And fear not—my love for you will only grow in your absence. Making next year just as lovely as the one before it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lvKZFV4HrxrYgxHXagNRdX5vONu5GuCTvvrdHV7so4ZkGeoY8lkETPvo_-EmKx3yQDN8KaPDntiytQQi1uvj_RSsXZ8Yy5WWTPap_Fcv_2hSmhwYKg8FtOAfcAqToWRSlU1GNlDItE/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lvKZFV4HrxrYgxHXagNRdX5vONu5GuCTvvrdHV7so4ZkGeoY8lkETPvo_-EmKx3yQDN8KaPDntiytQQi1uvj_RSsXZ8Yy5WWTPap_Fcv_2hSmhwYKg8FtOAfcAqToWRSlU1GNlDItE/s400/IMG_1596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">XOXO, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your Copy Cat Crafting Cupid</span></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-24485450283202351232011-02-05T18:23:00.000-05:002011-02-05T18:23:07.061-05:00The Magic of Mama's Kitchen<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it just me, or does the food your mom made as a kid seem magical? Anytime I eat something my mom makes I’m instantly transported to a time when I sat around her kitchen table and my feet didn’t quite touch the floor. When boo-boos were kissed and tears were wiped away around a table where love, not just food, was served.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom is an amazing cook. There are MANY nights when I say a silent prayer that God will throw me half the culinary talent she has (and those are the nights her phone rings to me on the other line asking if the casserole should really look like that? Bless her.) And she still knows how to serve love on a plate. One of my most cherished recipes from my childhood may sound a little odd to some, but it is utterly delicious. It was the first thing I learned to master when I moved away to college and to this day when I take my very first bite I am instantly reminded of snow days at home sitting in front of a steaming bowl and feeling inexorably happy. Yes, I’m talking about macaroni and tomatoes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’re reading this and thinking I’m crazy, bear with me. I promise that this dish, while a seemingly strange combination to some, is both delicious and easy to make. Its comfort food the way God intended it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To make this, you’ll need the following:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ0jNiAtWptgK0Z4pEuPwf9akM3fmo3rBiXti-PgWpt6f4LbXDk67MEHNCT2faL3aPJ3H6I5_8UuU6yYrxmoS5n-35koVpWl9S9ageJnsRZynQmwVIar2bpeI93iS2-rbJyANliXqpg4/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ0jNiAtWptgK0Z4pEuPwf9akM3fmo3rBiXti-PgWpt6f4LbXDk67MEHNCT2faL3aPJ3H6I5_8UuU6yYrxmoS5n-35koVpWl9S9ageJnsRZynQmwVIar2bpeI93iS2-rbJyANliXqpg4/s400/IMG_1475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Start by boiling your macaroni until its tender. I add a dash of salt to my boiling water for flavor. I use a 16 oz box (or in this case, half of a 32 oz box). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE24K_DNaK7BGyDCTmV4lfi9BJyNL5gDpzznxgle7JN6IErkn1YgsCxlaIP_ZyZKeEh6vzUOfM-LGGcY1p53oR07X-dxclNDaGg2I8UuYc4HenZLBWW3NWNgSCTAWcR7m_FnHuZCHy8Q/s1600/IMG_1473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE24K_DNaK7BGyDCTmV4lfi9BJyNL5gDpzznxgle7JN6IErkn1YgsCxlaIP_ZyZKeEh6vzUOfM-LGGcY1p53oR07X-dxclNDaGg2I8UuYc4HenZLBWW3NWNgSCTAWcR7m_FnHuZCHy8Q/s400/IMG_1473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once its cooked, make sure to drain your macaroni well and give it just a minute to cool. You’ll want it to be warm when you eat it, but it can’t be too hot or the milk will curdle. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjB68snOGgWW6rQ4ZI53IZ3eTnh5f2lvjNTB8RlNJJMbyMnbmBw1D4CdOH-pn9J-oSNuW0tI9fahSQLQY0cD5DqYfhMhirzjdfGUUSMtFS55kyfeejYAGXXju90H5w-5q9sWAIDJ7yOI/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjB68snOGgWW6rQ4ZI53IZ3eTnh5f2lvjNTB8RlNJJMbyMnbmBw1D4CdOH-pn9J-oSNuW0tI9fahSQLQY0cD5DqYfhMhirzjdfGUUSMtFS55kyfeejYAGXXju90H5w-5q9sWAIDJ7yOI/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour your macaroni back into the pot and stir in your butter. I use about 2 tbsp, but you just want enough to coat all the macaroni once it melts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9PyF7W5DgskjKzyx9U7MR9szBa_1bZbKIh5_k2VTJzNHzGdEV5HtC37f_9a6QHu0xyUEeFsi9WO29U1ByrdPIQetp92RS64n_SAZjC2A1_kPr9S_ro2C-iemm47l5uYB7QxLbCYIwVI/s1600/IMG_1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9PyF7W5DgskjKzyx9U7MR9szBa_1bZbKIh5_k2VTJzNHzGdEV5HtC37f_9a6QHu0xyUEeFsi9WO29U1ByrdPIQetp92RS64n_SAZjC2A1_kPr9S_ro2C-iemm47l5uYB7QxLbCYIwVI/s400/IMG_1481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then you add in your tomatoes. I used two 14.5 oz cans of petite diced tomatoes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg263bXIxFyHpn_-kvMFs8l547jvWc699IchYwsbeARXMMJQizfAw9b38Sl4maY3DywLanybfzwLL9CYPnLtFaD-KJEZ9YXF9Ppoi6cE8UON6zzlaHSrkThphzRR-z4ceg9XAdu4RWOWU/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg263bXIxFyHpn_-kvMFs8l547jvWc699IchYwsbeARXMMJQizfAw9b38Sl4maY3DywLanybfzwLL9CYPnLtFaD-KJEZ9YXF9Ppoi6cE8UON6zzlaHSrkThphzRR-z4ceg9XAdu4RWOWU/s400/IMG_1482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mix it well. I was trying to use up what was left of my box of macaroni, so you will should have a slightly greater tomato to macaroni ratio that I have here:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dzUdCLcdKo-xSv-rmTzPXLunUR2cFT_x3uIHOUCribk4L8puScie2GrWddjukb_WozJ9pJLw_LkAVcjkqCkJuFEt7YS6sJPcfrk6S3YYzAVOuZFDqBqpo9CllRtvp1yIsnXfxOuSJ4s/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dzUdCLcdKo-xSv-rmTzPXLunUR2cFT_x3uIHOUCribk4L8puScie2GrWddjukb_WozJ9pJLw_LkAVcjkqCkJuFEt7YS6sJPcfrk6S3YYzAVOuZFDqBqpo9CllRtvp1yIsnXfxOuSJ4s/s400/IMG_1483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then you pour in your milk. Just pour until you get a light red “sauce”and give it one last final mixing. Salt to taste.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WxsLsGn29IKhSKKJwTl9_48yZjbkiHDZPeXLWnvbVuS4Jjs8qLfGJt8ogcNCxB66F0e1aEHO9LHoc6sn4E-cutF4D5TlGEnT0IOGnYUFYPXeULKSg6mgr6jJHTejTCDxNhNVhCmQlgk/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WxsLsGn29IKhSKKJwTl9_48yZjbkiHDZPeXLWnvbVuS4Jjs8qLfGJt8ogcNCxB66F0e1aEHO9LHoc6sn4E-cutF4D5TlGEnT0IOGnYUFYPXeULKSg6mgr6jJHTejTCDxNhNVhCmQlgk/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a delicious stand-alone dish or</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> with some cheese toast or crackers on the side. And of course, sweet tea is the perfect compliment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg70Rmrh4WUvrBl97f9QfcN-d3DCGyTYFqZrEGU1Z3veQgg_7tx8c10f8qx7Pdnt3vlDzDOXtAXFVB_y4XFXANcwXrEiqUchS6GkxSk7n3doOiEEknjumDNp3vAwOu9Ieawh0jiBXU5A/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg70Rmrh4WUvrBl97f9QfcN-d3DCGyTYFqZrEGU1Z3veQgg_7tx8c10f8qx7Pdnt3vlDzDOXtAXFVB_y4XFXANcwXrEiqUchS6GkxSk7n3doOiEEknjumDNp3vAwOu9Ieawh0jiBXU5A/s400/IMG_1485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It also makes great leftovers the next day. I love nothing more than making a batch to take for lunch at work the next day! It’s a tradition I’m hoping to pass along to my own kids. So far it seems to be working:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDxzVbeMcgtBqmP3BeBiD063ryTG9YtwCUaz8Q9HiqrEHr1CFB0XK4frbE2BF5iqP65zgqL5gze1nE8aASnTJChUz5pdc53BskV1-pzQkstjiDJNK1QIDj5aZmHergwCjU3QSj1JiN3Q/s1600/IMG_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDxzVbeMcgtBqmP3BeBiD063ryTG9YtwCUaz8Q9HiqrEHr1CFB0XK4frbE2BF5iqP65zgqL5gze1nE8aASnTJChUz5pdc53BskV1-pzQkstjiDJNK1QIDj5aZmHergwCjU3QSj1JiN3Q/s400/IMG_1490.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While it’s not the most impressive thing my mom cooks (by far!) it’s still one of my favorites. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks, Mom!</span></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-7541485887915177562011-02-04T21:06:00.003-05:002011-02-04T21:28:30.682-05:00The Big Reveal<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AuK-b975Y4VEWXlXFPd8wu2aSoTEnAQQwCuH8R-Sx5_jE9PbjDMO4B9RypLm1Lzfn3rRyXT185jnlFetTySJpmH5Z_q_WUjkQZ8TW4Ik1zkEcQLNH5Qolcax9GfHuWIEv0iL80pOhg8/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AuK-b975Y4VEWXlXFPd8wu2aSoTEnAQQwCuH8R-Sx5_jE9PbjDMO4B9RypLm1Lzfn3rRyXT185jnlFetTySJpmH5Z_q_WUjkQZ8TW4Ik1zkEcQLNH5Qolcax9GfHuWIEv0iL80pOhg8/s400/IMG_1417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well. Here it is! The moment you’ve all been waiting for. Okay, okay, the moment I’VE been waiting for. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The! Big! Reveal! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here she is-- my new and improved create space:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJDn1c9YiR4gn8QfdL8Dj8qQ751oBIKx6y644MXT97VBjuRyORq4iBH-L009Rehyphenhyphen8RajtSx5PDMs37O3Xx_pUTbyzlqpvkCv6q-1NrrkqYvKRv4qUXcgplWPs0VqYbMKQAPmxQQU1dso/s1600/2011-01-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJDn1c9YiR4gn8QfdL8Dj8qQ751oBIKx6y644MXT97VBjuRyORq4iBH-L009Rehyphenhyphen8RajtSx5PDMs37O3Xx_pUTbyzlqpvkCv6q-1NrrkqYvKRv4qUXcgplWPs0VqYbMKQAPmxQQU1dso/s400/2011-01-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I waffled for a long time about what to do to make the table look better and covering it in fabric ended up being the winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT. Even with a coupon, the amount of fabric it would take to cover the length of the table with enough to hang over the front (to hide any <s>mess</s> stored items underneath the table) would cost a pretty penny. So I bought a set of sheets instead. Yes, you heard me right. The “fabric” covering my craft table is actually the top sheet of a $14 twin sheet set (Better Homes & Garden brand from Walmart). I figured it was cheaper than the cost of fabric, and it if gets less than stellar treatment (from glue guns or paint) then it’s no big loss if it has to be replaced eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And better yet—the set came with two pillowcases and a fitted sheet which can be used for other projects. I already used one of the pillowcases to cover two of my cork memo boards. And I’m planning to eventually use the sheet to sew liners for my baskets!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip_5qwrc15CLW1xWFa-vGFUV2PUjGxBj-vSOUwLEi2gJle_qSjAu8kV92D5sJasHwM59ZoItQ-q_DQHqibqAEkze19EkkOC2-SFTzxv-BB69yAg9KnnDhv0Gbf2NhXJpZm5ALXP74LYo/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip_5qwrc15CLW1xWFa-vGFUV2PUjGxBj-vSOUwLEi2gJle_qSjAu8kV92D5sJasHwM59ZoItQ-q_DQHqibqAEkze19EkkOC2-SFTzxv-BB69yAg9KnnDhv0Gbf2NhXJpZm5ALXP74LYo/s320/IMG_1066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only other investment I made in the space was the bookshelf. For $25 (Walmart) it was a small price to pay for maximizing the organization in this space. Using baskets I already owned, I corraled all of my fabric, spray paint, and extra odds and ends. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhPBYYqsoeyu8a66SkQt-rwlW_3Wiij-B3SZ5u8waqpZ042Jz8dnM7dqgd6UYhJDdZOIExnn_R_VZrEW0sMzu6ROX4-FQ9ldmOdnUslKimXGTljsH9bz38QPfCAU9xFzotQRKn36TaCM/s1600/2011-01-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhPBYYqsoeyu8a66SkQt-rwlW_3Wiij-B3SZ5u8waqpZ042Jz8dnM7dqgd6UYhJDdZOIExnn_R_VZrEW0sMzu6ROX4-FQ9ldmOdnUslKimXGTljsH9bz38QPfCAU9xFzotQRKn36TaCM/s400/2011-01-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, I’m very pleased with the way this space turned out. Its not the fanciest craft room, but it works for now. And honestly, it looks SO much better, there’s a place for everything, and I have so much room to spread out projects and work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s brightened up the space down in our laundry room and I no longer cringe every time I run downstairs to switch out a load of towels. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D34K977boobxf0Gk_mJLVam1f57Etk-lrrhUNVlimtSvMd-eQC3ZMJ-0rAXkoNXaliewg7suKDYMldUXcwXn4d3uENGt2bKZqq1TRsJ6aay2WKrdg04SKPVLt6oihnAv6lKFOg-5KRA/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D34K977boobxf0Gk_mJLVam1f57Etk-lrrhUNVlimtSvMd-eQC3ZMJ-0rAXkoNXaliewg7suKDYMldUXcwXn4d3uENGt2bKZqq1TRsJ6aay2WKrdg04SKPVLt6oihnAv6lKFOg-5KRA/s400/IMG_1406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, oh yeah, I've finally been able to get my sewing machine out of the box! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVrdpZxFYFREzmEh7jwDGK0q8LrJqfFvQdg5zumnqyA996i2ErFqHN3LbunijPT2GJDVogqjxZrAyFZRaZO0bEODa8k3WopYpXG6NNk6KGSDNzZTry6nMJMIsFGnx8cBpYg5DQXfvSn8/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVrdpZxFYFREzmEh7jwDGK0q8LrJqfFvQdg5zumnqyA996i2ErFqHN3LbunijPT2GJDVogqjxZrAyFZRaZO0bEODa8k3WopYpXG6NNk6KGSDNzZTry6nMJMIsFGnx8cBpYg5DQXfvSn8/s400/IMG_1412.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the budget breakdown for this space:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four Cork Squares: $10</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sheet set: $14 (and I still have lots of fabric left over!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lamp shade: $7</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bookcase: $25</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: $56 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Organization and peace of mind: Priceless </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-60886397397597176622011-02-03T20:35:00.000-05:002011-02-03T20:35:12.235-05:00Get the Memo<div>The last leg of my Craft Area World Tour brought me to the wall space behind my craft table. There is a large plank of wood stored behind the table (It’s actually a piece of wood cut out to be a table-topper that turns into a train table. It belonged to my father in law as a boy and we’re holding onto it for our own kids. Pretty cool!) At any rate, it’s stuck where it is, and it isn’t exactly pretty to look out. It doesn't exactly scream "crafty". So I set out to find some solution for giving it a makeover without permanently altering it (painting wasn’t an option).</div><br />
I picked up a four-pack of cork squares at Michael’s on sale for $5 (they are normally $10 for a 4 pack). Using some fabric I found during my great closet clean-outs this month, I laid the square out and cut the fabric so there was just enough left around the edges to wrap it around. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7agblud07ucHC5v6xelGzJ_aZdIQFz5_gC-9La70DPbhDS_30Js73MrhuKOsbiQ3CUZY-FT6Psg1bRRJADAwaqLEY1gEJ0vPzsb9K4KwJ_6pcz9nA1TOvT6HMjljGwv6V7e8kfZ6jZcM/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7agblud07ucHC5v6xelGzJ_aZdIQFz5_gC-9La70DPbhDS_30Js73MrhuKOsbiQ3CUZY-FT6Psg1bRRJADAwaqLEY1gEJ0vPzsb9K4KwJ_6pcz9nA1TOvT6HMjljGwv6V7e8kfZ6jZcM/s400/IMG_1052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I secured those edges to the back of the cork square with a little hot glue.<br />
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**Helpful hint!** If you want to get “hospital corners” on a project like this, cut a small incision INTO the corner of the fabric. That will allow you to lay each side of the corner flat so you don’t have any ugly bunching. Make sense?<br />
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</div><div>Once my fabric was on, I took some ribbon I already had on hand and laid it out in a pattern that looked like a memo board. I pinned down the ribbon to hold it in place, and then fastened the ends to the back with hot glue.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyWvITUrJweUGZNeFh6_-NEluJT0JaKjoOlLg3PTXKmCNQpGdEhaNDGqxdnqAcdfsoL-abcL1t2Dvg__AbVERVG1lwfleubLOWZmg4I1EjFCNLsY3gNRnmcI12YuggS-ncivSD1pwvFg/s1600/IMG_1058+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyWvITUrJweUGZNeFh6_-NEluJT0JaKjoOlLg3PTXKmCNQpGdEhaNDGqxdnqAcdfsoL-abcL1t2Dvg__AbVERVG1lwfleubLOWZmg4I1EjFCNLsY3gNRnmcI12YuggS-ncivSD1pwvFg/s320/IMG_1058+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br />
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The ribbon isn’t exactly functional yet. In order for it to hold things on without the aid of a push pin, it will probably need a fastener of some sort at each cross section of ribbon. I didn’t really have anything on hand that would work, and I didn't want to spend any more moo-la on this space, so this will do for now. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiq2DKbvh5MuSMZfsmAm7RT5eQVt7io2OUvVwaaSPxazawZWztCPjwxVeyQAA003ccm221Pkkftp00O0_zfl7xdVj5hQPx1Dk7cxpygFc4kpHcfgXZmeyCtiYoroq4e3IMsRbjoGPRbo/s1600/IMG_1062+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiq2DKbvh5MuSMZfsmAm7RT5eQVt7io2OUvVwaaSPxazawZWztCPjwxVeyQAA003ccm221Pkkftp00O0_zfl7xdVj5hQPx1Dk7cxpygFc4kpHcfgXZmeyCtiYoroq4e3IMsRbjoGPRbo/s400/IMG_1062+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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Using the double-sided tape that came with the memo boards, I fastened this to the wall/wood behind my table. Not only does it help to spruce up the look of the area, it’s the perfect place for display pictures, inspiration I clip out of magazine and catalogs, or instructions, fabric swatches, and craft store shopping lists. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WGvdOfgji669NCa39KTAl6FJ3LFcpq_6tNp5Z1ftFdJbrss9q2ghG9NVPAQrFctTiAt26a80d1xFA4GfC8qmWBJQqAwkqV-0ecD0ckeQX2lIJYTiM1jAd_ijPUw00i-CauPH4wg6L3k/s1600/IMG_1061+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WGvdOfgji669NCa39KTAl6FJ3LFcpq_6tNp5Z1ftFdJbrss9q2ghG9NVPAQrFctTiAt26a80d1xFA4GfC8qmWBJQqAwkqV-0ecD0ckeQX2lIJYTiM1jAd_ijPUw00i-CauPH4wg6L3k/s320/IMG_1061+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br />
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<div><br />
The Copycat Rundown:<br />
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Total Cost: Five dolla! Holla!<br />
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Total Time Spent: About an hour for all four. I burned the HECK out of my finger with the glue gun during this project, so about 10 minutes of that hour was spent hopping around holding my finger and throwing angry looks in the general direction of the glue gun.<br />
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Would we do this again? Yes! I’d like to try my hand at covering an actual bulletin board next.<br />
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Credit: Yours truly. Its getting crazy over here, what with all the originality and all!<br />
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Check back tomorrow for--are you ready for this-- THE BIG REVEAL. Oh, dear. I'm afraid I've built this up so much you're going to be disappointed. But I'm excited! So, yay! </div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17656763197569225504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-86472673490679322252011-02-02T23:39:00.003-05:002011-02-02T23:43:41.460-05:00One man's trash is a crafter's....Ballard Designs Inspired Container?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Super easy craft alert!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With my craft space re-do in full swing, I knew I needed some sort of containers to corral crafting supplies like glue sticks, scissors, and foam brushes. I also knew that I didn’t really want to pay a lot of money for something, and I wasn’t exactly digging the plastic-and-metal options my local Dollar Tree offered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did what any other crafter would do and I started trolling through the blogosphere. And lo and behold,</span><a href="http://brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com/2009/12/twine-covered-cans.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Brown Paper Packages did not disappoint</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (as usual).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With her tutorial on these formula containers, I knew exactly what to do!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started by washing out some empty Gerber snack containers and made sure they were thoroughly dry.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hnjooTLVOzaR_Bqo5jDXbeUGSc5Lgm9SXOWZ7PVZ5jxXieOzJgaw85L8bSDts9AR2_BVjWFNhRCIcLq8gZMJs7VsFyMHgiB2gP2_87-LexkBMoNY4zRO3OSlyg7dO8nvxAD02Vi4Ci0/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hnjooTLVOzaR_Bqo5jDXbeUGSc5Lgm9SXOWZ7PVZ5jxXieOzJgaw85L8bSDts9AR2_BVjWFNhRCIcLq8gZMJs7VsFyMHgiB2gP2_87-LexkBMoNY4zRO3OSlyg7dO8nvxAD02Vi4Ci0/s400/IMG_1225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took them outside and gave them a quick coat of brown spray paint. Since they were going to be covered in jute, I didn’t worry too much about perfection with my paint job. Why paint these you ask?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N2Y-B7Wx157SyLN1RDJZqPL6glRV-e0zf5gg5marqOsnrxSO2NwXERmuwlmAR3CpcVxOByk0EqmFAEDUzJgtRpn4nWG3QdlpSHUPwCbAX5Gw9_2gKiNrgWQIHY5WlSydAGjpgfBwVsI/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N2Y-B7Wx157SyLN1RDJZqPL6glRV-e0zf5gg5marqOsnrxSO2NwXERmuwlmAR3CpcVxOByk0EqmFAEDUzJgtRpn4nWG3QdlpSHUPwCbAX5Gw9_2gKiNrgWQIHY5WlSydAGjpgfBwVsI/s400/IMG_1231.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well. I did a trial run with these and just started wrapping willy nilly. Since the jute is naturally uneven, no matter how tightly you wrap it, there are going to be gaps in between the rows. Which left me with some school bus yellow container peeking through. Not very Ballard-esque. And NOT what I was looking for. So heed my warning and paint first!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve already sung the praises of jute before, but seriously, if you don’t already own a spool of this stuff, RUN, do not walk to your nearest craft store and get some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stuff can be used for so many different things, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not having some on hand. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHHc5q0MFvgGeXUOcQQwjjp-FwupzXqtxmoWmxlEYhlQEqrYdypGnJ3Rnc3qiWIcnHUDPFEHPBHb7YD6dAVpVk7cCnvaiIkBGyN9a61pxgUdpy5rfLOlWgQJ9SZDwR4jnuMlzvPccLc8/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHHc5q0MFvgGeXUOcQQwjjp-FwupzXqtxmoWmxlEYhlQEqrYdypGnJ3Rnc3qiWIcnHUDPFEHPBHb7YD6dAVpVk7cCnvaiIkBGyN9a61pxgUdpy5rfLOlWgQJ9SZDwR4jnuMlzvPccLc8/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the paint dried, I got to wrapping. I started by gluing one end of the jute to the top of the container. I would put down a line of hot glue and then fit the jute on top of it, lay down another line of hot glue, fit jute over it, lather, rinse, repeat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A little time later and voila! A container that is perfect for keeping my craft room neat and tidy...and looking good while doing it. Can't beat that!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7z2zQczPC1qNAcbyk4FxO_uABYqJUL0YInQ-3cGAJ_5lP8r_R71TW9J-h5G2utYgDAi48En2YG9RsLsMpnfDH8202GQtN_gZ5eRvWDx4e3bWmukkNyfVpWJu_uU8bntkOMbGtyRgBr0/s1600/IMG_1068+%2528Large%2529.JPGcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7z2zQczPC1qNAcbyk4FxO_uABYqJUL0YInQ-3cGAJ_5lP8r_R71TW9J-h5G2utYgDAi48En2YG9RsLsMpnfDH8202GQtN_gZ5eRvWDx4e3bWmukkNyfVpWJu_uU8bntkOMbGtyRgBr0/s400/IMG_1068+%2528Large%2529.JPGcrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The Copycat Rundown:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Total Cost: FREE! A spool of jute costs $5 at Walmart and it will last you FOREVER. Just do it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Total Time Spent: About 2 hours for all three. I wrapped the jute while watching a movie, so the time flew!<br />
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Would we do this again?: Absolutely. I'm a total jute junkie.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Credit: <a href="http://brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com/">Brown Paper Packages</a>! While mine don't have cute labels like hers do, I figure its something I can at least work up to at some point!</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-79792997714708174882011-02-01T21:05:00.001-05:002011-02-01T21:10:03.266-05:00Create Space<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’ve ever done any amount of crafting then you probably already know what I’m about to tell you: Crafting requires a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stuff</i>. There’s the Mod Podge, the foam brushes, the extra glue sticks and scrapbook paper. There are piles of fabric scraps and tiny containers of pins and embellishments and spool after spool of ribbon as far as the eye can see. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And thanks to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stuff</i> can get a little out of hand if you don’t have a system for organizing it. In fact, it can get so bad that it looks a little something like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbZKuZs5YQwTRbNsbEy5e4beJFe3ZfGyGm-r2ij8UrYCkY4aHHZOUFMRyAbgya6kCfIL5hPw7B2MglT7gJqP0HRJrdqJBi6PTpDA7Zy3I7np4pZ1ylUisqf8-y6dTclmZOeZ2Xw4zF2w/s1600/January+2011+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbZKuZs5YQwTRbNsbEy5e4beJFe3ZfGyGm-r2ij8UrYCkY4aHHZOUFMRyAbgya6kCfIL5hPw7B2MglT7gJqP0HRJrdqJBi6PTpDA7Zy3I7np4pZ1ylUisqf8-y6dTclmZOeZ2Xw4zF2w/s400/January+2011+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Oh my. How embarrassing for me. (It’s no wonder my husband gave this table (and me) the side-eye and a huge sigh of defeat on multiple occasions.) Oh, and in case you didn't already notice--my craft table lives in my basement/laundry room/storage room. Glamorous, I know. :)</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in addition to being down-right ugly, this pile of crafting chaos was preventing me from seeing the supplies I already had—which is a recipe for a buying stuff you don’t actually need disaster. <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/seven-in-eleven.html">Something I am trying very hard to avoid this year</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention that I couldn’t even take my brand new sewing machine out of its box because there wasn’t a place to put it, let alone set it up and use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something had to be done.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FJGQfJs_ITNrUVq-k3_lVtcoYiREo8iTJynRH-uhVSIJLrLP3CJh0kB30T2rwx1vDVDf5t9L-dWko7WQanRCJbWSsBZc37QOoh8zGmHY7_Krd0qP_dSdpxqCT93Jpn5Nn3c9C0ilFzc/s1600/January+2011+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FJGQfJs_ITNrUVq-k3_lVtcoYiREo8iTJynRH-uhVSIJLrLP3CJh0kB30T2rwx1vDVDf5t9L-dWko7WQanRCJbWSsBZc37QOoh8zGmHY7_Krd0qP_dSdpxqCT93Jpn5Nn3c9C0ilFzc/s400/January+2011+014.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I wish I was kidding when I said I looked for that cupcake carrier no less than 5 separate times before remembering that, oh yeah, its on top of the sewing machine that is STILL IN THE BOX. Of course! Why wouldn't it be there? Makes perfect sense! Oy.</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So over the course of the last couple of weeks I have made some small changes in my crafting space to make it one that is both more visually appealing and functional. I’ve worked hard to do this on a MAJOR budget and to <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/seven-in-eleven.html">use what I had to make it work</a>. I’m going to show you some small projects I did for the space and work up to the “big reveal” of how it all came together later in the week. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For starters, I want to show you all a (super) simple transformation that took something we would have otherwise relegated to the Goodwill pile and made it fit and functional for another space. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP-CavjWH2Btt2xhS0sG6QtdBBNPYVwrZP_AECmB1JDkeozTv8oo6W-VuDVyH6504tMIG20S5URd0MvfJVMd2xWD5d9X6bCaxYUoYm428cISNtFodnkVYIVTctFX_QMI0mrVe7LFpwVQ/s1600/January+2011+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP-CavjWH2Btt2xhS0sG6QtdBBNPYVwrZP_AECmB1JDkeozTv8oo6W-VuDVyH6504tMIG20S5URd0MvfJVMd2xWD5d9X6bCaxYUoYm428cISNtFodnkVYIVTctFX_QMI0mrVe7LFpwVQ/s400/January+2011+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This little mail holder (from Walmart) used to live in our kitchen (back in the old days before the re-do) as a collector of mail, wedding shower invites, spare keys, and other odds and ends that landed on the counter as we came in the door each day. In short, it was a catch-all for junk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it drove.us.crazy. Rather than helping us to stay more organized, it became a crutch—the reason we didn’t sort through our mail, file our income tax statements right away, or put that $0.13 of spare change in the spare change jar. So we took it away—and now? Our countertop stays clutter free. Funny how that works, huh?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At any rate, it was just sitting downstairs among the crafty mess and so I figured why not give it a new life with some spray paint? Besides, it gave me a chance to use this puppy for the first time:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-f9bYwaanU_zix8OpwllUKbnHq5SaQwDcHBZmR1p_o8aAau3uaUaVq3NVBQ01lwWwfp65_9BvcmCVRUZBshzM1KjeURbJSTHU4qwbZCJC5qK4NAuIlyaHs1mFIggfYR_bHBoKaE9Saw/s1600/January+2011+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-f9bYwaanU_zix8OpwllUKbnHq5SaQwDcHBZmR1p_o8aAau3uaUaVq3NVBQ01lwWwfp65_9BvcmCVRUZBshzM1KjeURbJSTHU4qwbZCJC5qK4NAuIlyaHs1mFIggfYR_bHBoKaE9Saw/s400/January+2011+028.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And hoo-boy, did he make things a lot easier! Shout out to Mr. P for hooking me up with that little gem for Christmas! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few coats of primer and Heirloom White later, and we were in business. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcpIdWU7RSMTQLT6QpGiSYYKeCxVk7b9v6xa26iRmYAHeL20EzUE-QRzEBVCTI949VR4MNkajpNp8Hy8D3DlUEPOyELFMwo0h9DjWuo2-ggyoL2mRaSk9MDGaYQ5K9pt5EMIP9a1u_uo/s1600/January+2011+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcpIdWU7RSMTQLT6QpGiSYYKeCxVk7b9v6xa26iRmYAHeL20EzUE-QRzEBVCTI949VR4MNkajpNp8Hy8D3DlUEPOyELFMwo0h9DjWuo2-ggyoL2mRaSk9MDGaYQ5K9pt5EMIP9a1u_uo/s400/January+2011+026.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Now this little guy has a new life—holding my craft paints and Mod Podge, and those little drawers are the perfect size for holding my pushpins and little pieces that are harder to corral.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2BCXB9esOrTZxAbp4Nv4rRNQkJKOdf3uyIJhBYIqDxPMnzE5accNoF3u_lU48uZ2rmOGmwiEp55F91qdMyQcXqtdYstRjBydsyGppobfcIgVmJEM3KmuzCSPyhblzxrP1kZNsZopyu8/s1600/January+2011+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2BCXB9esOrTZxAbp4Nv4rRNQkJKOdf3uyIJhBYIqDxPMnzE5accNoF3u_lU48uZ2rmOGmwiEp55F91qdMyQcXqtdYstRjBydsyGppobfcIgVmJEM3KmuzCSPyhblzxrP1kZNsZopyu8/s320/January+2011+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ahhhh, organization. I do love you so! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn47RpYwaifoq7thD77ozpn-PWiZG9GgnoqOm0NSf0gGKa_qm_R3T5Uepo3aOFWsbOPvSgMpisSNnFgeQWCeTkbMjT_aAc8VS7GlWmanu9ucvTO-e-kQuqDASmMe5oytGM7pO7QdqRe2o/s1600/IMG_1068.JPGcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn47RpYwaifoq7thD77ozpn-PWiZG9GgnoqOm0NSf0gGKa_qm_R3T5Uepo3aOFWsbOPvSgMpisSNnFgeQWCeTkbMjT_aAc8VS7GlWmanu9ucvTO-e-kQuqDASmMe5oytGM7pO7QdqRe2o/s400/IMG_1068.JPGcrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em>Are you tantalized by the possibilities of the "big reveal" yet? See how I gave you just a little taste of what's to come? Oooh I just love the drama of it all! </em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stay tuned tomorrow for how I turned old Gerber snack containers into Ballard Design-like organizers!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Copycat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yeah, baby.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: About an hour including drying time for the paint.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? Y</span>ep!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Credit: Me!</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-86429138655086796982011-01-26T21:39:00.000-05:002011-01-26T21:39:33.249-05:00Be Still My Heart(s)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/much-ado-about-monograms.html">two undeniable facts</a> are being proven more and more with each post.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I LOVE BOOKS!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copying this heart punch Valentine's Day art has been on my to-do list since the day I saw it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnsy4QiHAO3cat7I0GyctTnGO5Uthp6xjeKGiu4FMNdi091a5PR7_xKf1aIQmg685owRwL3ZchTJt1Xpk2q1cEwLUqBSBNLLEplf5peJ9DnlEdyTOyp6rSxkXzjXCkc7uwdjUYoxJm4c/s1600/Heart_Punch_V-Day_Craft_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnsy4QiHAO3cat7I0GyctTnGO5Uthp6xjeKGiu4FMNdi091a5PR7_xKf1aIQmg685owRwL3ZchTJt1Xpk2q1cEwLUqBSBNLLEplf5peJ9DnlEdyTOyp6rSxkXzjXCkc7uwdjUYoxJm4c/s320/Heart_Punch_V-Day_Craft_10.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Ooooo, AHHHHHHH</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like any good book, there is also a lesson in this post. Learn from my mistakes my babies (channeling Conan O'Brien here)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things I assumed incorrectly in this project:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1) I had an 11x14 white frame. Wrong! I have an 8x12 and a ginormous IKEA frame.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2) It would be possible to use the ginormous IKEA frame. Wrong! One piece of scrapbook paper won’t cover the opening of the mat, so you’ll end up with a pieced together backing which is downright sad.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So after all of my incorrect assumptions, I finally got the right cast of characters (the right size frame, mat and scrapbook paper) which was TERRIFIC!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sarah at <a href="http://www.cozycottagecute.com/">Cozy Cottage Cute</a> was nice enough to offer her grid to save time on this project. You should definitely head on over to her blog and so kindly ask her for the grid as well, you won’t regret it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To get the hearts to line up just perfectly you can use her grid to make faint pencil marks on your scrapbook paper, that you can later cover with you foam dots and hearts. SO HANDY</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In true Copy Cat form I used a white 11x14 frame and double mat from Michaels. I too found an old tattered copy of Charlotte’s Web from my mom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I randomly chose words and phrases in the book and made sure to get “Some Pig” and “Radiant”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just kept thinking how much I miss reading books that have pictures </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkGVX27qDevdaJP_Gsb1qYS_-Dt-nk-TSYz3PuvL6to7dXcVYslIlACnqWtK8viYYCyQyS7kA8kBIikSfgEhUIuy7Uf8Pd9oELKGmBvqmch0JEWQcLF5csr0tsgvfJKvpdr0Foaj5Zeo/s1600/IMG_1111_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkGVX27qDevdaJP_Gsb1qYS_-Dt-nk-TSYz3PuvL6to7dXcVYslIlACnqWtK8viYYCyQyS7kA8kBIikSfgEhUIuy7Uf8Pd9oELKGmBvqmch0JEWQcLF5csr0tsgvfJKvpdr0Foaj5Zeo/s320/IMG_1111_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead of a scrapbook heart, I Mod-Podged and glittered one heart red.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiw7IiUIQza1m53L94acbS__pBbQYVxbohJfB_B_17bCjQ1hf-7l6RSLdy2HAihidiSJrdmEip-oVgIYFrYcmmdqdLrrZS-6IKgqh-acqdJ5C57cZCNTQIpOBUMTr-j0MiHwJCaihbIA/s1600/IMG_1107_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiw7IiUIQza1m53L94acbS__pBbQYVxbohJfB_B_17bCjQ1hf-7l6RSLdy2HAihidiSJrdmEip-oVgIYFrYcmmdqdLrrZS-6IKgqh-acqdJ5C57cZCNTQIpOBUMTr-j0MiHwJCaihbIA/s320/IMG_1107_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All in all I’m completely smitten with the final result and can’t thank Sarah enough for the inspiration!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuziJ4PBRgW_SVKXh6ifnHWuz0DyGzIL0fmslyZV5lcdtP4YQYZyCCwNdYoSwSh_SfF4OAjReanlS5JGtAXWr7bYyZn3jCEYWsKzJMKcwDmdTGSNWUHEIFMwEZZPFteYX2NaJMLbM17I/s1600/IMG_1101_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuziJ4PBRgW_SVKXh6ifnHWuz0DyGzIL0fmslyZV5lcdtP4YQYZyCCwNdYoSwSh_SfF4OAjReanlS5JGtAXWr7bYyZn3jCEYWsKzJMKcwDmdTGSNWUHEIFMwEZZPFteYX2NaJMLbM17I/s320/IMG_1101_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Copy Cat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: For me about 3 hours. Hopefully for you, this would only take about an hour to prep the hearts, mark the grid and adhere the hearts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: $17 for 11x14 frame, $3 for 11x14 double mat, $2 for foam sticky dots, book was free. Total of $22 but worth every penny!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? For sure. Sarah has another awesome version with <a href="http://www.cozycottagecute.com/2011/01/version-ii-valentine-heart-punch-art.html">brown paper hearts</a> and stamped names. This is next on my to do list!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: Props to Sarah at <a href="http://www.cozycottagecute.com/">Cozy Cottage Cute</a>. YOU ROCK!</span></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-73606979796346398962011-01-25T21:37:00.000-05:002011-01-25T21:37:24.302-05:00Love Spell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5SUBmqop55vTk6AqiETSijF7mDZcjuefB5WpiU84POubanJv38bC59xSvu87HdXtSOJQdYVQUqsfa8Odz9SKPP5eJ0xIbaGHaRTznzOAEVSOmVzD_4SvobAuzTQEN5b2FiGBAEfGvJo/s1600/IMG_1098+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5SUBmqop55vTk6AqiETSijF7mDZcjuefB5WpiU84POubanJv38bC59xSvu87HdXtSOJQdYVQUqsfa8Odz9SKPP5eJ0xIbaGHaRTznzOAEVSOmVzD_4SvobAuzTQEN5b2FiGBAEfGvJo/s400/IMG_1098+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love words. A lot. If you know me in person, then you know that I am a “talker” (and would probably say that term is a gross understatement). If you are a reader of this blog, then you have probably noticed by now that I have a tendency to be a little on the long-winded side. Verbose. Wordy. What can I say? I love words. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Naturally, I am drawn to crafts that feature words so when I caught a glimpse of <a href="http://granvillehouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/quick-easy-valentine-craft.html">this project from Melissa at 320 Sycamore</a>, I was instantly smitten. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best part of this craft? I already had all of the supplies! Which brings me to my most favorite word of all: FREE!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cast of characters: </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 dollar store picture frames</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scrapbook paper</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scrabble tiles</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hot glue/Glue gun</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hardest part of this project was deciding which scrapbook paper I wanted to use. I kid you not.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB0oaQk9OJpvzqqyilphzk2OVGOQ2nerhj1it3wyci3sdBj_8xVeHnw2lRgB2AOIhcNtaSC3eD_fAEyupUQVXg_N07VChh0oQBMZPsvoFrvY9lXe90RTA44uRJYhhnVlz5VSfmMZoGgA/s1600/IMG_1070+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB0oaQk9OJpvzqqyilphzk2OVGOQ2nerhj1it3wyci3sdBj_8xVeHnw2lRgB2AOIhcNtaSC3eD_fAEyupUQVXg_N07VChh0oQBMZPsvoFrvY9lXe90RTA44uRJYhhnVlz5VSfmMZoGgA/s400/IMG_1070+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started by cutting my paper to size and putting it in the frames. Since the tiles are 3-D, I didn’t want to put the glass back in. However, I did put it behind the paper to help stabilize it (and because I wanted to keep it in case I ever decide to use the frame for something else down the road). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once the paper was secured in the frames, I laid out my scrabble tiles and glued ‘em down. Just like that! Easy as pie. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And SO adorable! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGSUihuzMq8rAn5CacfhwwWJahDW-LdtOh4Ftcb4sdjhy9PrdMfCwwRhBFBMb49cr3PlczOvqamZFyBGXSPNhWVq3-Y0ujlEJ4cVaeXHR9_O7DA_kOAiZpXDBXDlG86MZG20Sn_3jSQI/s1600/IMG_1094+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGSUihuzMq8rAn5CacfhwwWJahDW-LdtOh4Ftcb4sdjhy9PrdMfCwwRhBFBMb49cr3PlczOvqamZFyBGXSPNhWVq3-Y0ujlEJ4cVaeXHR9_O7DA_kOAiZpXDBXDlG86MZG20Sn_3jSQI/s400/IMG_1094+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For now, one frame lives on my mantle, while the other one hangs on a kitchen cabinet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m swooning over here!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwND5lXcWzTvw-4oVl-fbJSAnrU1jBxXt8lCQBrMr8RkofFg9uuKwufaAy7fBZSiHW7kQDth9SvbRutSz2Bx5gqft9Cw-WVJ7y99MFCoyXj44RvH2QkoRJXBqQDRKO_VUk3ALA0DFrj0/s1600/IMG_1099+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwND5lXcWzTvw-4oVl-fbJSAnrU1jBxXt8lCQBrMr8RkofFg9uuKwufaAy7fBZSiHW7kQDth9SvbRutSz2Bx5gqft9Cw-WVJ7y99MFCoyXj44RvH2QkoRJXBqQDRKO_VUk3ALA0DFrj0/s400/IMG_1099+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Copycat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: I actually had everything on hand so it was free for me, but just for fun, the breakdown is this: Scrabble Tiles: $0.50 for a game of Scrabble at Goodwill, Scrapbook Paper: $.59/sheet at Michaels, Frames: $1 each from the Dollar Tree. Total Cost for both projects: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around $4.70!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time Spent: 10 minutes. For serious. So stinkin’ easy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? Well that’s a silly question, now isn’t it? YES.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: Big ups to Melissa at 320 Sycamore! Check it out<a href="http://granvillehouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-vignette.html"> here</a> along with the rest of her sweet valentine vignette! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For a girl who wasn’t into Valentine décor before, there certainly is a lot of love floating around this house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next thing you know I’ll be whittling a bust of cupid out of wood. (And if that happens, please call for help.) </span></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-4048860558657563242011-01-24T22:21:00.000-05:002011-01-24T22:21:02.266-05:00Much Ado About MonogramsTwo Undeniable Facts:<br />
1) I love monograms<br />
2) I love books<br />
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So these super cute book letters were a no-brainer.<br />
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I followed this <a href="http://littlethingsbringsmiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-letters.html">simple tutorial</a> and ended up with a surprisingly similar result! I only wish I had used a book with white (instead of yellow pages) but I was unwilling to part with any of my white page books!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9D7_uz_4whyphenhyphenJUdSuw0Ex-Tz7bVDM7OVNMjeFTNY89P4UDxGoJIT5T__Bx3nzoixtByo57h6y03KaOGtZDXUP3Ii-m4VdWjKD4WEG6cDC_rPZntZJRHZTk-6YJAFemVb86gsv08aHQFM/s1600/January_2011_025_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9D7_uz_4whyphenhyphenJUdSuw0Ex-Tz7bVDM7OVNMjeFTNY89P4UDxGoJIT5T__Bx3nzoixtByo57h6y03KaOGtZDXUP3Ii-m4VdWjKD4WEG6cDC_rPZntZJRHZTk-6YJAFemVb86gsv08aHQFM/s320/January_2011_025_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>N is for no-brainer! </em></div><br />
Sorry White Oleander, but now I have a cute monogrammed letter for my office!<br />
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The CopyCat Rundown:<br />
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Total Cost: $3 letter from Michaels. I already had the book and glue gun on hand. <br />
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Total Time: About an hour and a half. This definitely wasn’t a bad hour and a half though. I had to take breaks and come back to the craft. I would get burnt out and sloppy, so it helped to walk away and come back refreshed.<br />
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Would we do this again? Most definitely. Super easy and super cute. I can’t wait to add a rosette on mine!<br />
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Credit: Katie at <a href="http://www.littlethingsbringsmiles.blogspot.com/">Little Things Bring Smiles</a>. Thanks for the inspiration!Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-4419180326406075302011-01-18T21:57:00.002-05:002011-01-19T18:53:35.164-05:00Mirror, Mirror on the Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAl51ZJrO36u8i96tNo0iRtTBcqle9s6J5phERGvwBA1sJrIfOP99ams0ST7iqLoCXgHSmnQycgX0SlP3t0MIVJDVzBfRyjFG9VSDDfF5ZWuJST9c-Yzbfa_CqPjjclgY1WEu-boOf4u0/s1600/January+2011+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAl51ZJrO36u8i96tNo0iRtTBcqle9s6J5phERGvwBA1sJrIfOP99ams0ST7iqLoCXgHSmnQycgX0SlP3t0MIVJDVzBfRyjFG9VSDDfF5ZWuJST9c-Yzbfa_CqPjjclgY1WEu-boOf4u0/s400/January+2011+063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This past weekend I made the hour long trek from my house to The Promised Land. Also known as: IKEA. Where the décor is limitless, the prices are cheap, and the Swedish meatballs are DELISH (just ask my 15 month old. She ate 5.) <br />
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Among the multitudes of things I purchased on this trip were three wooden 10x10 mirrors. You see, we spent this past summer giving our kitchen a bit of a frugal facelift (something I want to blog about in much greater detail at another time) and there was this small space of wall between the cabinets and the windows that needed something but I couldn’t exactly figure out what it was. For a few months, it’s been a clock that I picked up from Hobby Lobby with a 50% off coupon. <br />
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It was…okay. But it didn’t bowl me over, and quite frankly it didn’t really jive with the more modern feel we had going in this room since the re-do. I had seen these small wooden mirrors the last time I was in IKEA but passed them by at the time. But I kept thinking about them. And the more I stared at that clock on the wall the more I knew those mirrors were the right fit for that space.<br />
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At $2.99 a piece, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. So I snatched up 3 of the unfinished wood versions (the only other colors they offered were black and red) and brought them home with me.<br />
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I’m sure that spray paint would have been a much faster way to cover these things, but it was cold outside so I opted to use the white craft paint I had left over from my <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-letters.html">Love Letters</a>. <br />
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It took SEVERAL coats. Any by several I mean somewhere around six coats each. That’s eighteen coats total for those who are mathematically challenged like me. I let each coat dry completely before covering with the next one to make sure the coats went on as evenly as possible.<br />
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<div align="center"><em>I think this is somewhere around coat four. I know its hard to tell because of the bad lighting (I'm a nocturnal crafter!) but trust me, they are taking on their crisp color here.</em></div><br />
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When it comes to hanging things, I consider myself a master eye-baller. I do not have the patience to measure things. Measuring is for weenies. And people who are good at math.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>TAAAA-DAAAA! Sorry for the craptastic night pic, but in case you haven’ t noticed, I do most of my crafting/blogging/decorating at night. That meatball-loving toddler is just soooo needy when she's awake! :) </em></div><br />
I’m pretty happy with them. For a $9 investment, I say you can’t go wrong! I love the clean, modern lines and the fresh contrast of the white against our brown walls.<br />
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Someday, when I have more time (and better lighting) I'll have to give you the tour of the rest of our kitchen. And tell you the story of The Summer We Remodeled Our Kitchen. At least you know it has a happy ending. :)<br />
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The Copycat Rundown: <br />
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Total Cost: Just over $9. I already had the craft paint and foam brush. I do love those Swedes and their cheap home furnishings.<br />
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Total Time: All in all, the painting took about an hour. I would paint a coat and come back to it a few hours later, then paint another one, etc. Attaching the hangers and hanging these puppies took another half hour. Not too bad!<br />
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Would we do this again? Sure! I think these little mirrors are great. I would love to hang them in a big grouping or even use them singularly. They are worth stocking up on and keeping around. You just never know!<br />
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Credit: The Swedish. Let’s all have a moment of silence for the awesomeness that is IKEA.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii164/Magnolias_Moonlight/butterfly-09-t-1.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWargylecopy-1.jpg" /></a></center>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-31115690908871410102011-01-13T19:57:00.001-05:002011-01-13T20:06:05.267-05:00Ready, Set, Rosette<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve all seen them in a store (ahem, I ‘m talking about you J. Crew), those headbands that are oh so cute but oh so expensive. These handbands often make me think, I could totally make that!</span></span> <br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well guess what? We did!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yeah, that’s right. We finally got around to making rosettes. Seems like everybody else in bloggy land already has, but here’s our go at it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We both willy nilly chose some scrap fabric out of our pile. Confession: after this step I was not much of a natural. Crafting doesn’t come naturally to me, I have to work at it, so if there’s hope for me there’s most certainly hope for you </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut a 6-10 inch piece of fabric about ½ inch thick.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you have your strip, tie one end in a knot and just start twisting like there’s no tomorrow. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While making rosettes seems like a one person task, we needed two. We’re special like that.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The twisted fabric should easily form the shape of the rosette. The knot should be sticking out at the end of the rossete. Now just pin the rosette to hold it in place. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-jvRrqq-EtO4xly8jPan9PcljCo70FzBBz8ZCFJTy0bhnrwBfgv6ePnBElm2zPgyscOQIYZIpAS7N39_kSbOubpUMF7GY4tK1jndYwQpQAoPMq4e6SjlDRsVcS0jxzQnP9isw-eBw5g/s1600/January_2011_052_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-jvRrqq-EtO4xly8jPan9PcljCo70FzBBz8ZCFJTy0bhnrwBfgv6ePnBElm2zPgyscOQIYZIpAS7N39_kSbOubpUMF7GY4tK1jndYwQpQAoPMq4e6SjlDRsVcS0jxzQnP9isw-eBw5g/s320/January_2011_052_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using a scrap of felt we secured the rosette to the felt with hot glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just traced the outline of the rosette added a little hot glue and then removed the pin. Better safe than sorry. Once the rosette is secure to the felt, you can cut of it's rat tail. hehe</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went back to our J. Crew inspiration and put’em on a headband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just cut another scrap of fabric and glue felt to felt around the headband. Basically make a headband sandwich.</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp2qFxm5FUCoXc4EkNnDDcXbpuMHjgNceCNTOY62kn3TFvmFqQIbYG7sum4DkKUCxAD9C4Zuq_q8Hcm4CuEafWN_W3TjMYjoSmggOHJXAY8yH8FWoK8vodngdLklmw_PbGOhC_rTTtRk/s1600/January_2011_109_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp2qFxm5FUCoXc4EkNnDDcXbpuMHjgNceCNTOY62kn3TFvmFqQIbYG7sum4DkKUCxAD9C4Zuq_q8Hcm4CuEafWN_W3TjMYjoSmggOHJXAY8yH8FWoK8vodngdLklmw_PbGOhC_rTTtRk/s320/January_2011_109_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Ta-Da.</em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTodkHcFZckrLNj3DYy3l2_GI0CznKF9uLtpQR_RrNa9RFjFbreIfGka5iNFRqf0-ACFv6hTAIQCE_HDGuDuKiyAeNAtC_wFgqA3VIJ8e9BacCOAQf5Bv-W9TuEB6Mku6fszAjDNJNDcM/s1600/Rosettes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTodkHcFZckrLNj3DYy3l2_GI0CznKF9uLtpQR_RrNa9RFjFbreIfGka5iNFRqf0-ACFv6hTAIQCE_HDGuDuKiyAeNAtC_wFgqA3VIJ8e9BacCOAQf5Bv-W9TuEB6Mku6fszAjDNJNDcM/s320/Rosettes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And on our lovely models. Oh wait! That's just us! </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Copycat Rundown:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: FO FREE! We had everything already, so this one was zero dollars. Take that economy!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: Three rosettes took about 20 minutes, including attaching them to the headband.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? Yup. No sweater or headband is safe!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: There are tons of rosettes out there, so this is just our stab at it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-72343388719373996922011-01-12T22:52:00.002-05:002011-01-13T20:06:27.134-05:00Be Mine Bargain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6OUYwASkJzGR3TIBQm-4lsGh7B3Y-HBdnCOYg7R31yDMiKm4wCkMKn29ttmOePvmMq98pGkpaaC1z03IIdz4dzHkByJ3K9DpIbhux6aoxzrPVwK_jBp84q2UFcb2roWAat3saU0C1Yc/s1600/January+2011+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6OUYwASkJzGR3TIBQm-4lsGh7B3Y-HBdnCOYg7R31yDMiKm4wCkMKn29ttmOePvmMq98pGkpaaC1z03IIdz4dzHkByJ3K9DpIbhux6aoxzrPVwK_jBp84q2UFcb2roWAat3saU0C1Yc/s400/January+2011+122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I do love a good bargain. On a recent trip to Kirkland’s I noticed that all of their sale items were an additional 25% off. This red tray from the Christmas clearance caught my eye. It was cute and I liked that it could be used for a lot of different holidays—but most of all I liked the price!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMiZUWufVxq19CUDh4ETFy3HcyxYiIw5l4KBajM39tYXbKce4QQUbN2CKMwNS5eTaF8uE_ICJFSVQjU6kiu-2f8VxOZmPfxutBEzAI7ecEr73lctkHE6Mr0LtMl-_mCtEyfzLr31F6Fo/s1600/January+2011+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMiZUWufVxq19CUDh4ETFy3HcyxYiIw5l4KBajM39tYXbKce4QQUbN2CKMwNS5eTaF8uE_ICJFSVQjU6kiu-2f8VxOZmPfxutBEzAI7ecEr73lctkHE6Mr0LtMl-_mCtEyfzLr31F6Fo/s400/January+2011+152.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Originally priced at $10.99 after the discount my total came to around $4!</em></div><br />
I brought it home and put it away until inspiration struck on what to do with this thing. <br />
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At a recent craft night, Natalie and our "craftspert" Kelly were having a session on learning the ropes of the Cricut machines Santa brought them. That’s when I had my “aha!” moment. I whipped out my tray and Kelly whipped out some super cute vinyl lettering for me. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EaCjUyDJIeKqw1CezRNUBiF_pWky4wK35GRI0tasQg11oH8o13xK-Eh3GxKfbyyCIPGswZeiR3dxb4kZ_vbknBHJFsEMVMavWQrcg5nFRvJLcqtpsCLOBNqlOZQK6-zC0OjtySO5QOM/s1600/January+2011+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EaCjUyDJIeKqw1CezRNUBiF_pWky4wK35GRI0tasQg11oH8o13xK-Eh3GxKfbyyCIPGswZeiR3dxb4kZ_vbknBHJFsEMVMavWQrcg5nFRvJLcqtpsCLOBNqlOZQK6-zC0OjtySO5QOM/s400/January+2011+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Because Kelly is much more patient than I am, she used a ruler to guide her in putting the lettering on the tray. That’s why she’s the craftspert!</em></div><br />
Voila! I’m 2 for 2 on Valentine crafts! How do you like me now? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxbBTQMc-i9bp6Dquaqo6qiGBpumx-SKXTfkWA9ccO_Oxulx96x5nviYBf8q-IhwH2Cy0ngGfhHILDPiH79dWbuy4KRUWVzoFWsgfbkB8GDS-45tkIdv1qzkho2FNJSwt7yUfAaRwA1Q/s1600/January+2011+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxbBTQMc-i9bp6Dquaqo6qiGBpumx-SKXTfkWA9ccO_Oxulx96x5nviYBf8q-IhwH2Cy0ngGfhHILDPiH79dWbuy4KRUWVzoFWsgfbkB8GDS-45tkIdv1qzkho2FNJSwt7yUfAaRwA1Q/s400/January+2011+120.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>No, really? How do you like me? Enough to be my valentine? :) </em></div><br />
I’m working up a Valentine vignette for this space in my dining room (in my head at least). But I think this is a good start!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRw0itex_yztCW6TsM2cUzq-pPRR36sutXSMXKt8bHoRWsXxpiZiPigxaGjNLoIIFD9qggoUcbGV3PMFK4toOlChQkf0VKf7j7stA23mK7EKJDPu1FwO94To21afOMR_KMldY2fKDAT8/s1600/January+2011+118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRw0itex_yztCW6TsM2cUzq-pPRR36sutXSMXKt8bHoRWsXxpiZiPigxaGjNLoIIFD9qggoUcbGV3PMFK4toOlChQkf0VKf7j7stA23mK7EKJDPu1FwO94To21afOMR_KMldY2fKDAT8/s320/January+2011+118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The best part of this project is that the vinyl peels right off, so I can change up the lettering for Christmas or take it off all together and use this as an actual tray. You know how us copy cats love to get more bang for our buck! <br />
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The Copycat Rundown: <br />
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Total Cost: Tray- $4, Everything else was FREE! It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. <br />
Total Time Spent: 10 minutes? Maybe? It was quick and painless, to say the least!<br />
Would we do this again? : YES! Count on seeing this baby again and again!<br />
Credit: Drumroll please….. ME!!!!! I do love it when I have an original thought. Makes me feel smart! And crafty!<br />
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Big shout out to my girl Kell for hooking me up with some Cricutty vinyl goodness!<br />
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<a href="http://sewwoodsy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb431/ktbright7/whatsupwednesdays-1.jpg?t=1287494472" /></a>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-58484981536544372782011-01-11T18:25:00.003-05:002011-01-12T22:27:34.340-05:00Love Letters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTEwWnwsXe5HOiSTtwYg0W8LxyL9FMcQBIN6kr9biLNwdy0lZEl5V0Xc4nYpzmTI5p_RYibT9L1zE-Z_u7Jv-jWmCVWa0J1qPlRRV26FjwwfnChgi6Wpb6fdcTW8mRO3RT2xyEPINz7w/s1600/January+2011+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTEwWnwsXe5HOiSTtwYg0W8LxyL9FMcQBIN6kr9biLNwdy0lZEl5V0Xc4nYpzmTI5p_RYibT9L1zE-Z_u7Jv-jWmCVWa0J1qPlRRV26FjwwfnChgi6Wpb6fdcTW8mRO3RT2xyEPINz7w/s400/January+2011+137.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it just me or do stores put out their Valentine’s Day decorations at 12:01 AM on December 26<sup>th</sup>? I mean, give the Christmas clearance a chance first! It’s so annoying isn’t it? You’ve barely put away one set of decorations and here “they” are, asking you to put out a whole <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new</i> set of decorations for a holiday that isn’t even all that significant and really that can only legitimately stay out for two weeks out of the year. So. Annoying.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And with that—I present to you—A Valentine’s Day craft! Oh, come on. You know you want to. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember back in December when Natalie put together those awesome, <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2010/12/no-sweat-noel.html">PB knock-off Noel letters</a>? Well, I was a little bit jealous. Okay, a lot jealous. But with everything else that was going on at the holidays I just couldn’t find the time to craft any for myself. But I was looking at those letters, with its “O” and “E” and “L” and the wheels started turning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One game of scrabble later and I had a full blown Valentine craft on my hands! Using the same instructions Nat used, I crafted the L-O-V-E out of chipboard letters, hot glue, and small strips of cardboard for stability. I used craft paint to give them their adorable, red-and-white hue. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSprXrd2XxFb4_5cB4DZYJbsnXK72Ri6uBQ1APopCsHqv6StHrLEYPpwvaUpviEKVbup25WMa4uyPC_kIslp4WByCHQATn6pQTB0ODE8JUHR_LGlFYa5sTQIJXAeUM_5iJKd81pZ7lJjw/s1600/2011-01-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSprXrd2XxFb4_5cB4DZYJbsnXK72Ri6uBQ1APopCsHqv6StHrLEYPpwvaUpviEKVbup25WMa4uyPC_kIslp4WByCHQATn6pQTB0ODE8JUHR_LGlFYa5sTQIJXAeUM_5iJKd81pZ7lJjw/s400/2011-01-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Once both sides were dry, I laid the letters out to get the layout I wanted. Using hot glue on the edges, I glued each piece together. Cut thin strips of cardboard (we used a leftover box from an Amazon order) to secure the backs. It doesn't seem like much but it really does the trick for making these sturdy!</em></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learning from Nat’s first go with this project, I made sure to paint the backside of my letters, in case I ever wanted to stand them up in front of a mirror, like it is here on the mantle in my study. If you get close, you can see the cardboard pieces, but if you’re that close to the decorations on my mantle then you’ve got other problems in my book. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHxDNJ5NLuYhB1LKsOkSjcCh9uleUXRJe0ShEjPIp0Pxf-G-u_5FBNk_SUN8paCvjjHNZjazyvvZk4nlFnhM9h7em61SQIh-_6dLwHK2Q6mwINfXz-3_aWSpAbC5ee9v9jHVCGh0kzzQ/s1600/January+2011+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHxDNJ5NLuYhB1LKsOkSjcCh9uleUXRJe0ShEjPIp0Pxf-G-u_5FBNk_SUN8paCvjjHNZjazyvvZk4nlFnhM9h7em61SQIh-_6dLwHK2Q6mwINfXz-3_aWSpAbC5ee9v9jHVCGh0kzzQ/s400/January+2011+128.JPG" width="266" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I adore them. I really do. And I don’t care if that’s cheesy or if they can only appropriately* stay up for two weeks. This craft was too easy and too cheap to pass up. LOVE it. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyBMF-dmYomdyassFsvpnOzRHOIuhgXu-ktgsr1mIFY-XZpD36hn2WcAatKh7GifR7hzlzRSc_8J2cCE46JiZJnovHga-Ktb__oPa2v0qrus_wEc2mHJ_SnvWbYQXUMRgudvWJcQ4LhY/s1600/January+2011+136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyBMF-dmYomdyassFsvpnOzRHOIuhgXu-ktgsr1mIFY-XZpD36hn2WcAatKh7GifR7hzlzRSc_8J2cCE46JiZJnovHga-Ktb__oPa2v0qrus_wEc2mHJ_SnvWbYQXUMRgudvWJcQ4LhY/s400/January+2011+136.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*I say appropriately because I’m sure that’s what Emily Post would want you to do, but I don’t know Emily and she’s not coming to my house so my letters are up in January and staying there until February 15<sup>th</sup> SO THERE.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbwAonjHOXdfOp3y3B2LKRsIQduEQoqQDqZ7RpjNfz2bvGYamtosSFAnNXg1H6Tsgz8nZDKNFFviAdwJWEN4IDfMSrXY45r8qC8qLI5grGO1mZ3c8eMoDHyXGrNtRdgogkc4Rvp9zBdw/s1600/January+2011+131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbwAonjHOXdfOp3y3B2LKRsIQduEQoqQDqZ7RpjNfz2bvGYamtosSFAnNXg1H6Tsgz8nZDKNFFviAdwJWEN4IDfMSrXY45r8qC8qLI5grGO1mZ3c8eMoDHyXGrNtRdgogkc4Rvp9zBdw/s400/January+2011+131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<em>Please ignore the otherwise barren state of my mantle. I am in a post-holiday decorating slump. Still trying to decide which direction I'm going to go in this room!</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div align="center"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The CopyCat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: If you include paint drying time, 2 hours total. I painted and did other things, and then came back to it, so it was really only a few minutes here and there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: The letters were $0.99 each on sale at Hobby Lobby. Craft paint was also $0.99 at Hobby Lobby. I had everything else I needed, so $6 total and I have lots of paint left over for other projects. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this craft again? There are plenty of four-letter word combos we’d like to try (no, not any of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">those </i>four letter words! Get your mind out of the gutter!) Half the fun is figuring out which words go with which seasons! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: Original credit goes to Sarah at <a href="http://www.lifesweetlifeblog.com/">Life Sweet Life</a> for her NOEL letter inspiration. And I have to give a shout out to my girl Nat for inspiring ME to give my own rendition of this project a try!</span></div><br />
<a href=http://www.happyhappyhousewife.blogspot.com/><img src=" http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/StacyRisenmay/linkypartybutton-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://bluecricketdesign.net" target="_blank"><img alt="Show and Tell Green" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/rdulgarian/showandtellcopy-1.jpg" /></a>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-54018093324015577522011-01-10T22:52:00.000-05:002011-01-10T22:52:18.057-05:00Because I watched One Too Many Episodes of Hoarders<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not sure what it was that happened, really. One minute I was going through my life just fine and the next I was suddenly surrounded by TOO! MUCH! STUFF! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere I turned in this house-every closet, drawer, and cabinet was stuffed full of something and I was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Quite frankly, it was giving me a bad case of the heebie jeebies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2011/01/seven-in-eleven.html">Remember my goals for 2011</a>? Well, not on the list, but ever-present in my mind is the goal to streamline the way I live. To be more about quality and less about quantity. To use what I have. And a big part of that is actually being able to see and get to the things that I do have. And not just buy another pair of yoga pants because the 5 I own are stuffed so tightly into the drawer (among other things) that I’m scared to open it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the past few weekends I’ve set a goal for myself: to clean out and organize at least 1 closet and 2 drawers. I thought that I’d have to really bribe myself to get into this and that my fiery passion would be short-lived. Boy was I wrong. I am straight up ADDICTED to cleaning out. No corner of this house is safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am ending each weekend on such an organizational high that I cannot be stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All this to say that I’ve been working my way through closets in my house and this weekend was the linen closet’s turn. I have not been through my linen closet since BEFORE I moved into this house after our May 2008 wedding. You hear that? It’s been 3 years since I’ve edited the contents of this storage space that we use <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every day</i>. That is sad. And a little bit stupid. Why am I keeping old, ratty towels? Why am I letting sets of sheets that I didn’t even know we owned (and certainly never used) keep me from easily storing the sets that we regularly rotate between? WHY? If I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn’t have had this problem:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqVHaDRWjIYCTplGrIozqOyyXpIUreXl1LFvej3pjS9VnqyHxgKnkdb3778uYR0m4DcNCz2YhHA1Ks1JSVaMMMNpJWyBliDCW1Iv-mk9P4NiJ8tO3dgBRgvQhBulor3Htqe4rcZKH144/s1600/January+2011+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqVHaDRWjIYCTplGrIozqOyyXpIUreXl1LFvej3pjS9VnqyHxgKnkdb3778uYR0m4DcNCz2YhHA1Ks1JSVaMMMNpJWyBliDCW1Iv-mk9P4NiJ8tO3dgBRgvQhBulor3Htqe4rcZKH144/s400/January+2011+156.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">YIKES. I cannot believe I am sharing this with the internet. I am about one washcloth away from an episode of hoarders. (PS-Sorry for the terrible quality of the picture. Its dark in that hallway and honestly, you probably don't want to see this in HD anyway because your eyeballs might bleed.)</span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started by pulling everything of each shelf one at a time. I’d go through, toss anything that was too old and ratty for donation (like old, used washcloths) and separate things that were more gently used into a donate pile. The things I wanted to keep went into piles of likeness. Beach towels together, sheet sets together, blankets, towels, and so on. And then I refolded each and every item into crisp, clean, organized submission. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltnnaE_jHGI_CujaHRyvg0z7oHlx26j0GzWVAPNMGVQ1WdGrz3Hl77K-Y3XfqV9A8qAoqGKb0rrBnJzI1V1wxP-q0aCKNL_BRePDfAEOx-2H9RFMtCxE8Gek_nxKGsz57OtXofVAkJ20/s1600/2011-01-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltnnaE_jHGI_CujaHRyvg0z7oHlx26j0GzWVAPNMGVQ1WdGrz3Hl77K-Y3XfqV9A8qAoqGKb0rrBnJzI1V1wxP-q0aCKNL_BRePDfAEOx-2H9RFMtCxE8Gek_nxKGsz57OtXofVAkJ20/s400/2011-01-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em>CopyCat Confession: That red "blanket" you see there is actually a Snuggie. But you didn't hear it from me!</em><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used a $4 basket I found at the Dollar General to corral the brand new washcloths I got for Christmas. (Yes, I asked for washcloths for Christmas. I am an old lady. I can’t help it.) I use a new one to wash my face before bed every night and having them easily accessible has been awesome. I am also thinking about trying my hand at sewing a new liner for the basket. Wish me luck!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFMJtyWRlsj6OuR14JwPeM1MDi5DENAyRF9E3r8w8ACxNUsO-vIZ1WPA4LMN2vgJG4HoN0TjrcMuqJfI-tXfpbmtdCu0Lgr4FZ8OxQoWy2nmMPO4DTB8UMJ-Dt-9Cl8dkTZtCGewKbA8/s1600/January+2011+183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFMJtyWRlsj6OuR14JwPeM1MDi5DENAyRF9E3r8w8ACxNUsO-vIZ1WPA4LMN2vgJG4HoN0TjrcMuqJfI-tXfpbmtdCu0Lgr4FZ8OxQoWy2nmMPO4DTB8UMJ-Dt-9Cl8dkTZtCGewKbA8/s400/January+2011+183.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided that I would not stack the towels in the front row so high that I couldn’t see what was in the back. I want to be conscience of everything I have so that I rotate among towels equally and don’t wear any of them out too quickly. Also, it looks pretty.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUMX7onWBKRXikEulobaYR2GJQ9sIjUvwRLy0JSMaD7aM-_D0-S-MltIX5H8JwT4oc_OsuhmQ0ZkWSlbkfF3zp1IOFUvOIi0fn6XGM77MUhTkeVUifMpjbFp4DFiGFRsw49IpHYZzDpU/s1600/January2011+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUMX7onWBKRXikEulobaYR2GJQ9sIjUvwRLy0JSMaD7aM-_D0-S-MltIX5H8JwT4oc_OsuhmQ0ZkWSlbkfF3zp1IOFUvOIi0fn6XGM77MUhTkeVUifMpjbFp4DFiGFRsw49IpHYZzDpU/s320/January2011+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Okay, I lied. I stacked the towels on the right four high. But they are all towels that go in my husband's bathroom so I gave up my big plan for the sake of doing What Makes Sense.</em></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sheets were a special challenge. Since we have a king sized bed, the sheets are GINORMOUS and are pretty hard to wrangle for folding. In the spirit of true organization and growth, I searched You Tube for instructional videos on how to fold a fitted sheet. It was very helpful (and a little embarrassing) but in the end, SO WORTH IT:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0RXCyzICI1xAM78QtwUXQs78TzAvcPEF63v3LPt25w3IewI-9BtKIW2WGB75GpbUo0VQFBcGMy56TlusqWyA0nmh14EYYaX5-lbDH4FRmlEHe-t_0AuN7o6ruijH2Sd0iqTlrDFR0ow/s1600/January+2011+181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0RXCyzICI1xAM78QtwUXQs78TzAvcPEF63v3LPt25w3IewI-9BtKIW2WGB75GpbUo0VQFBcGMy56TlusqWyA0nmh14EYYaX5-lbDH4FRmlEHe-t_0AuN7o6ruijH2Sd0iqTlrDFR0ow/s400/January+2011+181.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>What? Your bed is not also adorned in flannel snowman print sheets? Well then, you, my friend, are missing out.</em></div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bottom of this closet houses my cleaning products. I want to brainstorm a little on a better way to organize these, but for now, they are neatly arranged and corralled in containers from the Dollar Tree that I already had. If anyone has any suggestions for cute, cheap ways to organize cleaning products, I’m all ears!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqZu2B-G2C9ZG2jz5W0iECHaHwZbg81_FZwhzYq1DywcGcZmgcEOE9380xBiYmRXAOfdBfyxg3Jg8amMdGQqUa_A5FQ02W9zX9UUUyhmnnOtOAfDlWGEJCeLDrUoyQMBrEoOXtgoYHos/s1600/January2011+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqZu2B-G2C9ZG2jz5W0iECHaHwZbg81_FZwhzYq1DywcGcZmgcEOE9380xBiYmRXAOfdBfyxg3Jg8amMdGQqUa_A5FQ02W9zX9UUUyhmnnOtOAfDlWGEJCeLDrUoyQMBrEoOXtgoYHos/s320/January2011+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Either way, I am in love with the results.I keep opening the closet and staring at it, which is a little weird, but so satisfying:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyp3O_Q2OZBVHLLgXvrlEM1u6JYKl0xudfjhVXsspeSUuFNncVemIJSf0grRmkKuwHrInApSCBkl6zeWMAx48YPpGILnuQb8fn_x3W0v-7_1c-PwhuQx1htjmtcCVKkcUb9W60ER3pwE/s1600/January+2011+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyp3O_Q2OZBVHLLgXvrlEM1u6JYKl0xudfjhVXsspeSUuFNncVemIJSf0grRmkKuwHrInApSCBkl6zeWMAx48YPpGILnuQb8fn_x3W0v-7_1c-PwhuQx1htjmtcCVKkcUb9W60ER3pwE/s400/January+2011+174.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em>That light is not a closet light, it is the angels shining down a ray of glory upon the beauty of my folded linens. They are singing and there is harp music every time I open the closet door. True story.</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And with the five drawers I cleaned out along side it this weekend, it brought my tally of Bags of Good Riddance up to….12! That’s twelve garbage bags full of stuff out of my house. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m breathing a little easier. And my towels have never looked better. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The CopyCat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not a craft you say? Of course this was! Crafts are about creating something beautiful, and that linen closet is about the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: About 2 hours from start to finish. Re-folding all those sheets was a doozy!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: Free! That’s the great thing about a project like this. It doesn’t cost any money, the results are awesome, and you feel SO GOOD afterwards. It’s a win-win-win!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? I’m blogging with one hand and cleaning out a closet with the other! I kid! I kid! But, yes, we are organizing fools right now! Spring cleaning ‘s got nothing on us! </span></div></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-41568896680396455822011-01-05T20:18:00.000-05:002011-01-05T20:18:19.650-05:00Seven in 'Eleven<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We interrupt our regularly scheduled crafty blogging for an exercise in accountability. I’m going to be honest: ever since the clock struck midnight on this New Year, I’ve been talking a pretty big game. My poor husband, mother, friends, coworkers, clients, dogs, baby, and grocery cashier (among others) have been subjected to my endless droning on about how I’m not doing any resolutions this year, oh no, those have never worked out, and instead I’ve made a big to-do list for myself and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">goals</i> are MUCH BETTER and more manageable and inspiring than a resolution and blah, blah blah, blah blah, blah blah. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(And, yes, in case you were wondering, I do talk in endless run-on sentences without taking any breaths just.like.that. So. You’re welcome.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When January 1<sup>st</sup> dawned with all the promise and hope and motivation that any New Year brings I hit the ground running. I cleaned out, I organized, and I sorted. I reviewed and re-hung and refolded. And that was just my closet. Suffice it to say that I was feeling pretty proud of myself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then, something happened. Monday happened. Monday with its regular schedule and back-to-work and normal routine and not –enough- hours- in- the- day-ness. And my lone wonder: my clean and organized and beautiful closet was all I had to show for my fancy (and highly touted) list of “goals”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typical, right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not this year. And not this girl. I am determined to set a list of goals for myself this year and to STICK WITH IT. And in the spirit of making it happen, I figured what better way to hold myself accountable than by throwing it all out there to the internet and blogging my way through it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, without further ado (I mean, hasn’t there been enough already?) here is my list of seven things to do in 2011:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Learn how to sew.</b> Santa must have gotten my letter because a brand new shiny brother sewing machine is now gracing my crafting table. Still in the box. But tonight, I bought my first spool of thread and some fabric remnant for practice. I’ve armed myself with literature (Sewing For Dummies counts as literature, right?) and the internet, of course, and I’m committed to giving this a go. I’m dreaming of new throw pillows! Window treatments! And maybe, just maybe a new duvet for my bed! But first! Turning it on and threading the needle! Its all about the baby steps.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make my crafting more practical. </b>Don’t get me wrong. I love a glittered pig as much as the next girl. And don’t even get me started on seasonal decorations. I’m actually working on some valentine crafts as we speak. But I would like to branch out and get my hands dirty this year. Pick up a power tool or two. Repurpose some furniture, find new and thrifty ways to organize and simplify my living spaces. I want to turn this passion of mine into something that is not only fun for myself but that is useful and purposeful and helpful for my family.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Craft more gifts.</b> Since I’m still just getting my crafty feet wet, I didn’t feel confident that I could make something (besides hot chocolate!) that was actually gift worthy over the holidays. But as a gift recipient, I ADORE handmade, thoughtful gifts, and know that a lot of my friends and family do too. And I’d like to find ways to make gift giving less about the dollar amount and more about the time, energy, and thoughtfulness that went into it. My budget and my heart are telling me it’s the way I need to go.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Craft with my kid.</b> In the course of this next year, my baby will be turning two. TWO. Which means at some point in 2011 she is going to transition from a toddler into a kid. And the older she gets, the more able she will be to do some crafty projects with me. I want to make a point to do simple, safe projects that she can do with me so that I can pass on this love of crafting to her and also, so that my hobby becomes less about time spent away from her and more about something we love to do together.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Work with what I’ve got.</b> I’ve got my eye on a few home improvement/redecorating projects this year. And in my experience, it can be all too easy to just start picking out things you like when you see them and before you know it, you’ve got a house full of STUFF and a budget that is beyond busted. I want to be more conscious of using things I already have and repurposing them, be it through paint, Mod Podge, or even just using things in a new an unexpected way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to remember that I have scraps of paper, ribbon, and fabric instead of racing out to buy all new for each project.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I certainly want to make sure that no cabinet, drawer, or closet goes unturned before I head out to the store for supplies. It’s just not sensible!<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do something BIG. </b>It’s taken me some time and several small projects to get to where I am now. And it’s going to take a little more to get to where I want to go. I still don’ t feel like I could knit an entire sweater or build a bed frame or anything like that. But I do want to challenge myself this year to take on a big project. To get out of my comfort zone. To put down the glue gun and pick up the nail gun. Or something. I want to take on a project that makes me feel a little intimidated to think about. And then I want to tackle it head on and see where it takes me. I actually have a project in mind for this, but I’ll leave to the details of that for later. Don’t want to jinx myself just wet. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Copy less, create more. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll always be a copy cat at heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing quite like scrolling through my blog roll and coming away inspired and motivated and eager to try new things. But I also want to become someone who inspires and motivates. I want to see things with new eyes. I want to look at more things and say (with confidence) “I can make that”. I want to be the person people come to and ask crafty questions. And I want to have more ideas and projects that are of my own doing and not just an emulation of someone else. There will still be plenty of that going on. But it would be nice to feel like I had my own two crafty legs to stand on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what do you think? Have I officially lost it? Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill here? Probably. But I do love a to-do list. And I like having something to work towards. So here we go. 2011. Otherwise known as The Year I Sew. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I'm going to need some prayers (and some band aids) stat! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-50865409339196748852011-01-03T21:59:00.000-05:002011-01-03T21:59:30.124-05:00Some Pig!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While saving money isn’t specifically one of my New Year’s Resolutions (let’s be honest I have no resolutions, just a big long 2011 to do list!), it’s always a plus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if you have to sock away your pennies and dimes why not have something fabulous (that only costs pennies and dimes) to hold your savings!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a recent Dollar Tree outing, I spotted these simple ceramic piggy banks. Due to my recent obsession with all things Martha Stewart glitter I knew exactly what I wanted to do to these piggies to make them a good thing!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI6Deb-mG2754E8O6deJUk8ZpD6pYKoRtqQaMWzC08qUETju6FHaCFNKmuRWE7ymjgngAym_dSVznd2cNC0bjn0wdbWFSfg6qarmaO0uZkbMGLLIKbwylg-EN0QC5wF-1T72DLDCN1jM/s1600/December_2010_594_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI6Deb-mG2754E8O6deJUk8ZpD6pYKoRtqQaMWzC08qUETju6FHaCFNKmuRWE7ymjgngAym_dSVznd2cNC0bjn0wdbWFSfg6qarmaO0uZkbMGLLIKbwylg-EN0QC5wF-1T72DLDCN1jM/s320/December_2010_594_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>The simple cast of characters. DT Piggy, MS glitter and Mod Podge. </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just a thin layer of Mod Podge and a heavy sprinkling of MS Blue Sapphire glitter and I was ready start feeding this little piggy!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMhJsn6U0Ld1soYN8pyaqXJoEoHbY2LYrtkB4P7rgg-8YNGOuIXwBuuPmmCQ7Z-2DY0o0jvKHczZn79NvFh5acZ7v7F23Z4rejg0UUa6AI3nDvUKES_wukbuiRTbvLJvvPyula9exDgQ/s1600/December_2010_576_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMhJsn6U0Ld1soYN8pyaqXJoEoHbY2LYrtkB4P7rgg-8YNGOuIXwBuuPmmCQ7Z-2DY0o0jvKHczZn79NvFh5acZ7v7F23Z4rejg0UUa6AI3nDvUKES_wukbuiRTbvLJvvPyula9exDgQ/s320/December_2010_576_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Oh, we're halfway there!</em></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is definitely a pig that Charlotte would be proud of!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE36Y3x4be33UdumRqtmhqlkS7TSI8MSQwF_3aQFuq3EjbUmESBJgRIWoFQ2HhyphenhyphenS1DHN48e2xYgKK-eNj_jSvVt9uIEsMVWunPYWgIC48Mjsv-_7xVnXSXHTVeKXx0y8bN8ElOjedKcw/s1600/PiggyBank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfE36Y3x4be33UdumRqtmhqlkS7TSI8MSQwF_3aQFuq3EjbUmESBJgRIWoFQ2HhyphenhyphenS1DHN48e2xYgKK-eNj_jSvVt9uIEsMVWunPYWgIC48Mjsv-_7xVnXSXHTVeKXx0y8bN8ElOjedKcw/s400/PiggyBank.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Ta-da! Heather's in White and mine in Blue!</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BNWq7usEv9pTeJfB5YmCfULQK_wY3fW_2sLSXpDf_qmnuKlIjAHe-gFBBet2pqNd0MiEdv4-o4XqBj9R32J3yyODdoBswtMH2ca2VKR0mCfaD_Hjkqb-PL-BC4PqHIKBsfuXp6YgR9A/s1600/January_2011_015_%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BNWq7usEv9pTeJfB5YmCfULQK_wY3fW_2sLSXpDf_qmnuKlIjAHe-gFBBet2pqNd0MiEdv4-o4XqBj9R32J3yyODdoBswtMH2ca2VKR0mCfaD_Hjkqb-PL-BC4PqHIKBsfuXp6YgR9A/s320/January_2011_015_%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here's the white piggy in his new home. Addie B's bookcase. </span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Copy Cat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: About 30 minutes. It’s best to cover small spots of the pig in Mod Podge and glitter and allow to completely dry!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: $1 for piggy bank. Already had glitter, Mod Podge and brushes! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? Yep! This would be an awesome addition to any household in the New Year!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: Yours truly!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-13660260724183216572011-01-02T21:52:00.000-05:002011-01-02T21:52:05.654-05:00We're Baaaaaack!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy New Year, crafty friends! We can hardly believe that its 2011 already! We hope that each and every one of you had the happiest of Holidays and that your New Year is already off to a refreshed and rejuvenated start. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are happy to report that Santa received our wish list, and we are now armed with some VERY handy crafty tools in our belt (*cough*cricut*cough*sewing machine*cough). And we cannot WAIT to get our hands dirty with our 2011 to-do lists. We have some lofty goals for this year and we are itching to get started on some projects that (we hope) will turn us from Copy Cats to real life bonafide crafters. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SO. Now that the Christmas decorations have been packed up and put away for another year, and life is back to business as usual (womp, womp), we hope that you will stay tuned and stick with us during what we hope will be one of the most exciting (and yes, challenging) years of yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a New Year, and that means it’s time to GET CRAFTY.</span></div><br />
(PEA-ESS: If your New Year's resolution has anything to do with saving some dinero in 2011, then you may want to check back tomorrow for Nat's post on a little piggy so cute, he just begs for you to feed him your pennies!)Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-56990750521827719512010-12-20T20:50:00.000-05:002010-12-20T20:50:01.011-05:00No Sweat NoelWith less than a week until Christmas we've really kicked it into high gear at Copy Cat Headquarters. <br />
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We were getting into the holiday spirit this weekend by making Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls and last minute gifts for family and friends.<br />
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I also whipped up this super easy Pottery Barn "Noel" knock off. After seeing Sarah at Life Sweet Life's simple tutorial, I knew this was the project for me. Little time and little money (hey, it's getting close to the big day and funds are dwindling!)<br />
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I've been itching to use my oil rubbed bronze spray paint and this seemed like the cure for that itch. <br />
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Head over here to see <a href="http://www.lifesweetlifeblog.com/2010/12/diy-pottery-barn-knock-off-noel-sign.html">Sarah's simple tutorial</a>. I promise you won't regret it!<br />
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After a quick trip for letters to Hob Lob, I got cracking. To put it simply you spraypaint, position letters, hot glue and then secure with cardboard and you've got a genuine Pottery Barn knock off you won't believe!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbysMxyS2lTje-Y6oGHKXRN_zJU-ONq4GW_AsQC0ck2dGnjXdTp8b7ef6EmNTpNdrjWM6K4L0-q0mZBxiucmvqUxlqN8tuCOozR1z7guLrAdSsjMqgirQuZv498q7tecrOHIWrne25IGg/s1600/IMG_9321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbysMxyS2lTje-Y6oGHKXRN_zJU-ONq4GW_AsQC0ck2dGnjXdTp8b7ef6EmNTpNdrjWM6K4L0-q0mZBxiucmvqUxlqN8tuCOozR1z7guLrAdSsjMqgirQuZv498q7tecrOHIWrne25IGg/s320/IMG_9321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNqq9nziWRhePEutA_PPrIksIT_dsfDS7s00e0uojfOTAu2oFscpzqQXJfhPBC_qCcxw4fqf64EOuvOdicytoVXZpFTGChj_aRTiqoGqRInc8lYir5OyU4sbpNOYAyGvvJ0PQJ8acJ3Q/s1600/IMG_9321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yikes, the back of that N is blinding! Note to self: paint asap!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Learn from my mistakes and spray paint ALL of the backs if you're going to put over a mirror! <i><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Copy Cat Rundown:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Total Time: About 30 minutes to spray paint and assemble. All in all, you can definitely do this in one afternoon.<br />
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Total Cost: $2 for 4 letters=$8. I wasn't able to score mine on sale like Sarah! I had the spraypaint, glue gun and cardboard on hand. Still wayyy less than Pottery Barn's price tag.<br />
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Would we do this again? One Noel sign should be enough for a household, but I would strongly encourage all of you to make one!<br />
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Credit: Sarah at <a href="http://www.lifesweetlifeblog.com/">Life Sweet Life</a> gets all the credit!Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-28524460795542588802010-12-20T17:08:00.007-05:002010-12-21T11:35:47.325-05:00A Cup of Christmas Cheer<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiGeESJ2SsiSHABF1qHWQWMIDWxzeYXEStjALm6MCxo8g3J2DgEWxDfrSIDweIwjO-_fYQtID9DN-LmQK_zSKyuHJmPX5rrC1mvJ7nHRQ724f19G1T9HnZKmARPa2c-SJJQ6NV3riXv4/s1600/december+2010+197+%2528Large%2529.JPG"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT_mywovqeSIK84a6PTI8GEdRItr3MDQpY5H9Fyf_BSV3r9MyLt6PUl6kMy2FeQwuXQ-qXifS9PwTTSaWERibV4ASurBI0LwohrotNp2qn7G5-xghIcz7Kq1hcx0a3vayodB2yb-TmZU/s1600/december+2010+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT_mywovqeSIK84a6PTI8GEdRItr3MDQpY5H9Fyf_BSV3r9MyLt6PUl6kMy2FeQwuXQ-qXifS9PwTTSaWERibV4ASurBI0LwohrotNp2qn7G5-xghIcz7Kq1hcx0a3vayodB2yb-TmZU/s400/december+2010+086.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="266" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br />I’m about to tell you something very important: Christmas is less than a week away! I’ll wait why you rock back and forth in the corner and laugh maniacally about all the things you still have left to do between now and then. Its okay, I've been there and done that already this year!<br /><br />I am blessed with a very large, very close extended family. And spending the holidays in a house full of pesky great uncles, chattering aunts and the cousins who defined my childhood can make for a loud, crazy, and heartwarming holiday. It can also make for a preeeetty long Christmas list. And like most people, my budget was much smaller than my want for giving was this year (as it is every year!) so I had to put my thinking cap on for gifts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6a-nrgs8QpwgEyFcQ_VGEDVkc4JMQvv3GoebXsQ5JX5a0ibboF_swZIG1kmNfmvdT2thAFP0ZEryjyUwS75sKjpraJV2UxaAM-Xsjtdp8slwa0Co2jm_sxryMLAuf1QxO6DUvWy5ZMA/s1600/december+2010+210+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6a-nrgs8QpwgEyFcQ_VGEDVkc4JMQvv3GoebXsQ5JX5a0ibboF_swZIG1kmNfmvdT2thAFP0ZEryjyUwS75sKjpraJV2UxaAM-Xsjtdp8slwa0Co2jm_sxryMLAuf1QxO6DUvWy5ZMA/s400/december+2010+210+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="266" /></a></div></div>Personally, I love nothing more than a big cup of warm hot chocolate this time of year. To me, it’s a chance to take a moment out of the day and indulge in a simple pleasure, to unwind, relax, and let the stress of the day melt into my steaming mug. So I thought to myself, “Self?! Why not share a cup of cheer with those you love the most this time of year?” And that’s exactly what I did!<br /><br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6swXajVvXh2-CcEDCE9Vmircy7qw5OtCSsNlQJjgVpkqvsGlwLp1h8n6Oq0Ifa5_nAYO9oyEoK-qw0N0P9uKFcONwZy1HCNZvaDe_tostoF_xeh-0ERfJkWea9_vcCs2vg7F71QpseM/s1600/december+2010+058+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6swXajVvXh2-CcEDCE9Vmircy7qw5OtCSsNlQJjgVpkqvsGlwLp1h8n6Oq0Ifa5_nAYO9oyEoK-qw0N0P9uKFcONwZy1HCNZvaDe_tostoF_xeh-0ERfJkWea9_vcCs2vg7F71QpseM/s400/december+2010+058+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="266" border="0" height="400" /></a></div><br />I made two batches of homemade cocoa mix (see below for the recipe) and packaged them in these adorable jars I found at the Dollar Tree (can’t beat that $1 price tag!). The two batches of cocoa mix filled 11 jars!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIto2A4yOfJGTVYbP6EhB73HjfphWpjPQZuUO05cmzadkZPHwQXMP7j6FaRZ0bCJzD6BODvPhiqw9locnP-SB-gAe-ZhkQgZjw3McTyqEM6OlplfonWkb2F_Gr4aT55a8TWDZJcDYNrL4/s1600/december+2010+090+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIto2A4yOfJGTVYbP6EhB73HjfphWpjPQZuUO05cmzadkZPHwQXMP7j6FaRZ0bCJzD6BODvPhiqw9locnP-SB-gAe-ZhkQgZjw3McTyqEM6OlplfonWkb2F_Gr4aT55a8TWDZJcDYNrL4/s400/december+2010+090+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="266" border="0" height="400" /></a></div><br />I paired each jar of mix with two Christmas mugs (Which I scored for $0.60 a piece at Walgreens. What, what!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-5-kbDuErBwm5VghKkH7U2WZr6VPeZo-z05iadEQYpVBVwZfS5Oab9QX_aWrTFcrlbQmo8SoqQE27jO_leCWnGokRMOJMZ_NpzvikLklx1BlEoibA6gbn0BXrrwDGuYNSG50SXQm2So/s1600/december+2010+195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-5-kbDuErBwm5VghKkH7U2WZr6VPeZo-z05iadEQYpVBVwZfS5Oab9QX_aWrTFcrlbQmo8SoqQE27jO_leCWnGokRMOJMZ_NpzvikLklx1BlEoibA6gbn0BXrrwDGuYNSG50SXQm2So/s400/december+2010+195.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="266" /></a></div><br /><br />And a little bag of extras to make each cup just that much more delicious:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8V6lk_VSHquLadFXdG0z3DaLcXay1lM8wWjosaFcPadz6aOXw7nJ8MlybyfafPCrOGcK0AoR5hZ_RKAYKx7miNhbN3flgZukIR9331lOq_1IowK3xNQXCJn-7BTFKGG1HhH9XsHJgA/s1600/december+2010+219+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8V6lk_VSHquLadFXdG0z3DaLcXay1lM8wWjosaFcPadz6aOXw7nJ8MlybyfafPCrOGcK0AoR5hZ_RKAYKx7miNhbN3flgZukIR9331lOq_1IowK3xNQXCJn-7BTFKGG1HhH9XsHJgA/s400/december+2010+219+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="266" /></a></div><br /><br />I used the instructions from Brown Paper Packages for her chocolate covered candy canes (which are delicious, by the way, but I broke every.single.one.) and included them with a handful of mini marshmallows.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveDtEtNn1Su0PAEyhVRQjfzUu8a7MVa9PaB8bsP_KIZfGNoUZVNyhecaK-RcEMlRDFq4fysGemZDtmuqYbYt8_Qc-l4cpA7RPcO0YEgjrFVw4FR5AinMALl_D82553ckr0UBD_ngoK1o/s1600/2010-12-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveDtEtNn1Su0PAEyhVRQjfzUu8a7MVa9PaB8bsP_KIZfGNoUZVNyhecaK-RcEMlRDFq4fysGemZDtmuqYbYt8_Qc-l4cpA7RPcO0YEgjrFVw4FR5AinMALl_D82553ckr0UBD_ngoK1o/s400/2010-12-20.jpg" width="400" border="0" height="230" /></a></div><br />Put it all together and you have a very Christmasy cup of cheer: or, a very simple, homemade gift done on the cheap (and on time)!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCxO35PZmNeh0FpGZAqcG4ZA-uJu23hHr_sAKXX9uHKJbKS1_klPkXbVHDDIfVSW8pyymvRVxd0PD0uGSHsoadGyO8B28jGybJjx6JRJ0imYrFRzTPuUjQDHveYNAWtmYIBoYwMJJMdw/s1600/december+2010+213+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCxO35PZmNeh0FpGZAqcG4ZA-uJu23hHr_sAKXX9uHKJbKS1_klPkXbVHDDIfVSW8pyymvRVxd0PD0uGSHsoadGyO8B28jGybJjx6JRJ0imYrFRzTPuUjQDHveYNAWtmYIBoYwMJJMdw/s400/december+2010+213+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="266" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />::whispers:: Even better? There was some mix leftover. So guess what I will be doing tonight? Shhh! Don't tell!::<br /><br />Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe<br /><br />1 box (around 25 oz) Powdered Milk<br />1 16 oz container of Nestle's Quick<br />1 16 oz container non-dairy creamer<br /><br />Thoroughly mix all the ingredients (in a BIG bowl!) and enjoy! :)<br /></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17656763197569225504noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-28816103545313660772010-12-15T00:10:00.001-05:002010-12-15T21:14:19.189-05:00Window Dressing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6zBtxj6MfC-EaCzJOOqtN2T7AOBwv_41suGzDISF2kzk7RZDH5_QG4A3cnKt6tpKHEzFQnn5epIFN-MNxgi8uxGMsyJndLMe5mZLE_-K3bhOcP2z1Bnt0PAzX3wQWNYzAo7TD91vKlI/s1600/december2010+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6zBtxj6MfC-EaCzJOOqtN2T7AOBwv_41suGzDISF2kzk7RZDH5_QG4A3cnKt6tpKHEzFQnn5epIFN-MNxgi8uxGMsyJndLMe5mZLE_-K3bhOcP2z1Bnt0PAzX3wQWNYzAo7TD91vKlI/s400/december2010+071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the great success that was the <a href="http://thecopycatcrafters.blogspot.com/2010/11/thats-wrap-and-wrap-wrap-wrap-wrap.html">Yarn Wreath of Fall 2010</a>, I was hesitant to take My Precious down and pack her away to make way for Christmas decorations. Hence the current state of my den windows:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdrNR3EjGEbZ9x59Y9WvIjWeSoTEDyfvgCuF4esiqz_WiaPy_lY0Fs0NMg3Fr73k0E07FF5uvUzBtuX6Qg09Gn9ICpO0FCVyYgJSpOtUODx_fN-_C5j2FX5yrab3R3I7ApCBknFznq88/s1600/december2010+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdrNR3EjGEbZ9x59Y9WvIjWeSoTEDyfvgCuF4esiqz_WiaPy_lY0Fs0NMg3Fr73k0E07FF5uvUzBtuX6Qg09Gn9ICpO0FCVyYgJSpOtUODx_fN-_C5j2FX5yrab3R3I7ApCBknFznq88/s400/december2010+076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>My naked windows, let me show you them.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the glory that was my first major crafting success</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, nothing seemed right for that spot. I t</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ried a few different things, but nothing could compare to the yarny beauty of before.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is, until I saw <a href="http://thelittlebrownhouse.us/2010/04/08/frugal-friday-coffee-wreath/">this</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all its fluffy, ruffled goodness, a coffee filter wreath seemed like just the ticket. Here’s the supplies you’ll need for this project:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYyjV6K276f7hG0jHcJt_fM1O8nz64v6uHVRpxmWLsy_rIOwxl_hkgkeEQkSqC7u9RblHFpB-gVYMCIREKg0SDqtia7bC7Xe596Ppp_2CG9Vzcqim0wJDh44CLunz4RRCymTD0uHc1pI/s1600/2010-12-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYyjV6K276f7hG0jHcJt_fM1O8nz64v6uHVRpxmWLsy_rIOwxl_hkgkeEQkSqC7u9RblHFpB-gVYMCIREKg0SDqtia7bC7Xe596Ppp_2CG9Vzcqim0wJDh44CLunz4RRCymTD0uHc1pI/s400/2010-12-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wreath form (I used straw, but that’s just because it’s what I already had on hand), coffee filters (duh!), and straight pins.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This project is SUPER simple. Take one filter and scrunch it up to make a point at one end. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPTZy66oSU7ssDWqFfhVYu4j3p4JtguVA_QAe3CfESgBEkoQdq2DCmOyVwZhUbtkpQ5iobBmwV5e-o8-agZZGxAK2kSaKHzVSlxKyBekf4qrOv93Fp5bLJ9u_RHnh569zk-LO6k3E3EE/s1600/december2010+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPTZy66oSU7ssDWqFfhVYu4j3p4JtguVA_QAe3CfESgBEkoQdq2DCmOyVwZhUbtkpQ5iobBmwV5e-o8-agZZGxAK2kSaKHzVSlxKyBekf4qrOv93Fp5bLJ9u_RHnh569zk-LO6k3E3EE/s400/december2010+065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do the same to another filter and stick a pin through the two and attach them both into the wreath.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D-rNpPipxEciYiskkVOgtV5OwDZaPbh4kHqnOKKt84Zio8jcgmlc80Crx2LNpIJdOGLHyJLCzZx8Ksyxgjijl2z99FqZwh8B7exIKyN7-Yua94l3LM0_87fFkp31SIIr1thVaeCFCBM/s1600/december2010+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D-rNpPipxEciYiskkVOgtV5OwDZaPbh4kHqnOKKt84Zio8jcgmlc80Crx2LNpIJdOGLHyJLCzZx8Ksyxgjijl2z99FqZwh8B7exIKyN7-Yua94l3LM0_87fFkp31SIIr1thVaeCFCBM/s400/december2010+069.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Continue this around the wreath, filling in and fluffing as you go. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wAz815OHYQYd_xwTZ6StsZuu_KKttrFGHPTcnxu3iXLropnKtSRhh__FLe6y_Hl9z-hMv5b9ww72z-ZXY5D0jxdzxFo01yfmwEDjjcBLf4H7zr1buPKqqdJo_EaJCog_1YBStZgop8/s1600/december2010+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8wAz815OHYQYd_xwTZ6StsZuu_KKttrFGHPTcnxu3iXLropnKtSRhh__FLe6y_Hl9z-hMv5b9ww72z-ZXY5D0jxdzxFo01yfmwEDjjcBLf4H7zr1buPKqqdJo_EaJCog_1YBStZgop8/s400/december2010+084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you are finished, you will have a something like this:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3VhUFYH0Kl3wtjHgzuR3sw022OxDDlXdExEAa_VlhZo5is8-db0Jc91zliXOonvTwJ4hl_DgrYaDYzPei-8gqdCjnLhuV6dbgFewPOTHIeYxT1JEtmpuWfrsD9vZrHZ4rZS-GFMhD2g/s1600/december2010+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3VhUFYH0Kl3wtjHgzuR3sw022OxDDlXdExEAa_VlhZo5is8-db0Jc91zliXOonvTwJ4hl_DgrYaDYzPei-8gqdCjnLhuV6dbgFewPOTHIeYxT1JEtmpuWfrsD9vZrHZ4rZS-GFMhD2g/s400/december2010+091.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>It's a Christmas Miracle!!!!!!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used some extra Christmas ribbon I had leftover from wrapping presents to hang it up. The fact that it matches the red & white theme I already had going in my den was an added plus!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My beautiful, festive, fully-dress windows, let me show you them:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqvN9j1XyDkdg-RBlUFA2Od9K3TKhtD2ja-aVbJj7im63Slkfd9MG75A7_I3gFsfczwIeGDXGUnU40xc_WmaE4jrdFNDOB741unjqHe2IYxYWA1OW5_6bwndg9S7Aboutz5k1Mw7tHho/s1600/2010-12-14+december20101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqvN9j1XyDkdg-RBlUFA2Od9K3TKhtD2ja-aVbJj7im63Slkfd9MG75A7_I3gFsfczwIeGDXGUnU40xc_WmaE4jrdFNDOB741unjqHe2IYxYWA1OW5_6bwndg9S7Aboutz5k1Mw7tHho/s400/2010-12-14+december20101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Copy Cat Rundown:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Time: I sat down with this and was finished in about an hour. I just worked on it while watching TV and the time flew!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Cost: Coffee Filters: $0.89 for 200 (gotta love Aldi!), Straight Pens: $1.50 at WalMart, Wreath Form: $2.50 (50% off at Hobby Lobby). The only supplies I didn’t have on hand already were the coffee filters, so really, this cost me $0.89! If you add up the cost of all the supplies, it cost around $5! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do this again? For sure! Honestly, this project was therapeutic. I’ve had a stressful couple of weeks and sitting down with something simple was a great way to escape for a bit—and having such an awesome finished product gave me a total crafting high! And you can’t beat that price! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Credit: I followed the tutorial by the always awesome <a href="http://thelittlebrownhouse.us/">Little Brown House</a>. Check her out for another twist on this project-- she used brown coffee filters and I love the way it looks!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that I have this awesome wreath, the real question is: how will I make my coffee in the morning?!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="http://bluecricketdesign.net" target="_blank"><img alt="Show and Tell Green" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/rdulgarian/showandtellcopy-1.jpg" /></a>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-18926696260320228872010-12-13T20:33:00.001-05:002010-12-14T21:20:41.980-05:00A Copy Cat Crafter ChristmasWhen we heard that one of our faves, <a href="http://thenester.com/">The Nester</a> was hosting a Holiday Home Tour, we were pretty excited to jump on the bandwagon. Here at CopyCat HQ, we like to do Christmas up right. BUT--there's only so much typing space here on this little old blog, sowhat you'll see next is just a taste of Holiday explosion that goes on around here. <br />
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We'll start in the dining room, since, oddly enough, that's the first room you walk into when you come in my house. The dining room has a blue and silver theme and I love the way the different blues play off one another in the twinkling lights of the garland.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodNLSqCOuAr8tRNv8WPl10ZUxeGxaBnwv9bwE2jLkmMwraAgpmxiYqKqjoUimcs2e2dKwsO_IaIZReTLNRRJyUdRrYabZwdRv4oQvaETHAT6K7boA6QUJgygat_kTcBiwEGEJBPlkjaM/s1600/2010-12-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodNLSqCOuAr8tRNv8WPl10ZUxeGxaBnwv9bwE2jLkmMwraAgpmxiYqKqjoUimcs2e2dKwsO_IaIZReTLNRRJyUdRrYabZwdRv4oQvaETHAT6K7boA6QUJgygat_kTcBiwEGEJBPlkjaM/s400/2010-12-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Those mini snowflakes are actually napkin rings! And the snowballs in the Hurricane glasses (which I made from materials at Dollar Tree!) are just bucle yarn wrapped around styrofoam balls. So simple!</i></div><br />
Next we'll move onto the study, which is right off the dining room. This room has its own Christmas tree, the one we call the "fancy tree" because it has windows that face our street. And I couldn't do up Christmas without a tree you could see twinkling in the window as you drive home at night. It has a red and silver theme, and the ornaments just happened to work out that way. It wasn't planned!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHVJ8BiDzxqbQ0RdBW__qysXCIZAqm0wqkVzjZiBTC8VXFw1NW0RyD-jGWKe_So2I1i35rrMUUUli5oXkq9jR8VHFAzfI4XxlKhbofvVFPvLj03ELqP2bwy8EGm9C3iOTA4GlbXxFUc8/s1600/2010-12-09+november20101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHVJ8BiDzxqbQ0RdBW__qysXCIZAqm0wqkVzjZiBTC8VXFw1NW0RyD-jGWKe_So2I1i35rrMUUUli5oXkq9jR8VHFAzfI4XxlKhbofvVFPvLj03ELqP2bwy8EGm9C3iOTA4GlbXxFUc8/s400/2010-12-09+november20101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I got those candle holders for .$50 a piece at an after Holiday clearance sale! And that start on top? $3 from...wait for it...Walgreens!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next up, is the kitchen. Now, we just re-did our kitchen this past summer, so I haven't had an opportunity to get many holiday decorations that match our new color scheme. But I do want to keep it simple, so here's what we have so far:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H4TbImzbWZxf_Zcc5Nn5vaN7-vjFc7bowyTRHAUFtLVVdbi7qCQgTcGbO0M0LbRpX8A-PU76KHqbxnhoDufGLVdUTw7iqZlx_6uZGJqXt0Wai6F8xoyN_JYEe-xS2-xtH5wvUR5w1LU/s1600/2010-12-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H4TbImzbWZxf_Zcc5Nn5vaN7-vjFc7bowyTRHAUFtLVVdbi7qCQgTcGbO0M0LbRpX8A-PU76KHqbxnhoDufGLVdUTw7iqZlx_6uZGJqXt0Wai6F8xoyN_JYEe-xS2-xtH5wvUR5w1LU/s400/2010-12-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A holiday message on my picture frame-turned chalkboard, a little sparkle in my Ikea vases on the shelf, and Natalie's pinecone wreath which I promised to return to her after my Christmas party, which was....two weeks ago. I keep hoping she doesn't notice its still missing. :)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last leg of this year's home tour takes us into our den. This is the room we truly live in, and its the one that hosts our main, family Christmas tree. It has a red and white snowflake theme, which I love. The lights in this room make it feel that much warmer and inviting and I wish I could keep it this way all year round. There's nothing better than gathering by the fire with my family on cold winter nights and enjoying the twinkling lights of our Christmas tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JHnITcSbF5R9HZL1eYkbXHyYWam9spUtehsMRmIEq_nvBkvl3bAOUGC7dNpmPx9Q4v1-WNEB2YmtksUtu8lgsdy3qNP5XnrRzMjc7TJjWWKac27yeLSLr5WwNnnV5HYSTLnpTsOW0H4/s1600/2010-12-09+november20103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JHnITcSbF5R9HZL1eYkbXHyYWam9spUtehsMRmIEq_nvBkvl3bAOUGC7dNpmPx9Q4v1-WNEB2YmtksUtu8lgsdy3qNP5XnrRzMjc7TJjWWKac27yeLSLr5WwNnnV5HYSTLnpTsOW0H4/s400/2010-12-09+november20103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the windowsill....</i></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1OUaH6ZR3uKGQNDEIoKEM378hg-BTN0qp3qY9SUXT5G62DmYyOKy18gFW95BgUN33nj4Y9Cv3ezo3xfPeQjVn4IjRdizRwxHueb8egmMmL76Jq47Nkt1mCULvQk50_gKBTY_FddYxzQ/s1600/2010-12-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1OUaH6ZR3uKGQNDEIoKEM378hg-BTN0qp3qY9SUXT5G62DmYyOKy18gFW95BgUN33nj4Y9Cv3ezo3xfPeQjVn4IjRdizRwxHueb8egmMmL76Jq47Nkt1mCULvQk50_gKBTY_FddYxzQ/s400/2010-12-13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our stockings are hung by the chimney (and giant wreath) with care...the tiny tree I scored for $4 at Hobby Lobby this year goes great with the little sleigh...the garland I made for $4 using lights and ribbon I had...and our Christmas countdown sits proudly next to my favorite Christmas snowglobe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the center of it all:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9enJZkWmnMjAYH3Ao0lpHSlMlY7ATOrHgMNBYOlwRP74rDo-fjNLkNlgwhbcEbQYPGBo-KSeWRYuG-UwKsaZIHtDA3v8aiDcPty7kc41K_CWHVOa97o1sUbWN_z7vXvVgYKgYFJLHLY/s1600/november2010+181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9enJZkWmnMjAYH3Ao0lpHSlMlY7ATOrHgMNBYOlwRP74rDo-fjNLkNlgwhbcEbQYPGBo-KSeWRYuG-UwKsaZIHtDA3v8aiDcPty7kc41K_CWHVOa97o1sUbWN_z7vXvVgYKgYFJLHLY/s400/november2010+181.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I adore this tree because it represents our family. It documents our early lives as college students and then newlyweds, to our first Christmas as a family of three. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38TuHWwBuagGKFD4dkbWS-yBMQ1ABli2BkdxNuPqLoaUn51UXb3c8LmTOJpSMcm36nNUIVbTvgQla4H5lCfQD2S0O1PuFSmcYyaDYOeDu4mvn4BxkeT2qDQPZI2PROvFYuhpk1rdPvxk/s1600/2010-12-09+november20106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38TuHWwBuagGKFD4dkbWS-yBMQ1ABli2BkdxNuPqLoaUn51UXb3c8LmTOJpSMcm36nNUIVbTvgQla4H5lCfQD2S0O1PuFSmcYyaDYOeDu4mvn4BxkeT2qDQPZI2PROvFYuhpk1rdPvxk/s400/2010-12-09+november20106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It represents who we are and what we love and the things we enjoy in life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpBGZxWkCNV0ndAlqEZAg9Kl7Bze3qFePjMzTyU7BOKm_Dk5v550fBMH2brZpGOORINeQLmlJ0NGCf__ZHELzexbeVSF4sTX67KQHCO6_N4C7srcqGBShNBQVn6sOHXUXIfHLzA5lgI4/s1600/2010-12-09+november20107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpBGZxWkCNV0ndAlqEZAg9Kl7Bze3qFePjMzTyU7BOKm_Dk5v550fBMH2brZpGOORINeQLmlJ0NGCf__ZHELzexbeVSF4sTX67KQHCO6_N4C7srcqGBShNBQVn6sOHXUXIfHLzA5lgI4/s400/2010-12-09+november20107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>And underneath it all, sit the gifts we've bought for the people we love most in the world.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas, everyone!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFygwU6fMqG6aDmBmz_zqDGpKkUvfVBFa3DLeEv_ybnlPK2gCFyoRkc_-dE7EwGYGZzNBY1rQNI761W7ulvekTiJWanAYr6xW1OGvngk0rbpeMeeV0C2hLsn0x9RrjnxdU8E85R1RU8Y/s1600/Holiday_Home_Button_Sarah_thumb%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFygwU6fMqG6aDmBmz_zqDGpKkUvfVBFa3DLeEv_ybnlPK2gCFyoRkc_-dE7EwGYGZzNBY1rQNI761W7ulvekTiJWanAYr6xW1OGvngk0rbpeMeeV0C2hLsn0x9RrjnxdU8E85R1RU8Y/s1600/Holiday_Home_Button_Sarah_thumb%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div></div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423374671017205829.post-12045896777822534092010-12-10T20:02:00.001-05:002010-12-10T20:04:06.085-05:00Warning: You may gain 10 pounds just by reading this post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBV3MaYbxIBIzy7zkOfebI9MqtOXY2wrlHcRFWjyd4Nxw2g9PN5_uVS8IuUVuCzxek5ozlbVQJacaPrTFIfw-oM8t2UFoJ6nF8NXcSBQlKLSUTVJO9bBQHNSDMK1_Rjaq8QoLJzskt1w/s1600/November+2010+303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBV3MaYbxIBIzy7zkOfebI9MqtOXY2wrlHcRFWjyd4Nxw2g9PN5_uVS8IuUVuCzxek5ozlbVQJacaPrTFIfw-oM8t2UFoJ6nF8NXcSBQlKLSUTVJO9bBQHNSDMK1_Rjaq8QoLJzskt1w/s400/November+2010+303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
What could be better than a big breakfast full of stacks of warm pancakes, sugary pastries, and BACON? <br />
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Eating it for dinner, that’s what! <br />
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I don’t know what it is about eating breakfast for dinner that makes the meal seem so much more decadent and delicious than consuming it in the wee morning hours. It could have something to do with the fact that I am NOT a morning person. Or, it could be that pancakes and scrambled eggs are just that much better eaten with friends on a chilly night after a long day at work.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIVKFY6LT1nGef_CsQ4i-FYvDOdvluRiB24pza4qDjANfYcI0i93SseBa2X7YZFVKXsI4p5X00nqrow7IZnHbYDSn4YGzwWIIsGwbACMB0lIn6lMUvZ05DzXYzLqb66xwM9GGOFx67L4/s1600/November+2010+306+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIVKFY6LT1nGef_CsQ4i-FYvDOdvluRiB24pza4qDjANfYcI0i93SseBa2X7YZFVKXsI4p5X00nqrow7IZnHbYDSn4YGzwWIIsGwbACMB0lIn6lMUvZ05DzXYzLqb66xwM9GGOFx67L4/s400/November+2010+306+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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When we decided to do breakfast for dinner at a recent craft night, we knew that bacon & eggs just wouldn’t do. So we decided to go a little fancy with our meal and the menu looked a little something like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqdN196MZA2pJQpskuKI04H5nHWlAxjXh11mHxbpUbgExtyu1XjYCCLYZSiUpD_0vJ5F5paNKf5MW-LUhbDtEetNIQgbONodjv-GVfRtXk-1tji0naT1QCCyCaI6Z9DHOgbvwB6C52VY/s1600/November+2010+296+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqdN196MZA2pJQpskuKI04H5nHWlAxjXh11mHxbpUbgExtyu1XjYCCLYZSiUpD_0vJ5F5paNKf5MW-LUhbDtEetNIQgbONodjv-GVfRtXk-1tji0naT1QCCyCaI6Z9DHOgbvwB6C52VY/s400/November+2010+296+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Scrambled Eggs (Gotta have protein, after all!)</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3fr7mDjwKMJgk_YSfbi-DsaLI19QoO5tD9T7Iv3GPVbMN5ExClp60WaPKl4EWHE8EFlYweKGruboilgzt4Uhicl93-osMLL5suJ6gxXrOy1SKY84LTUHSexfivYb2H-Idg6dg5tqVTo/s1600/November+2010+286+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3fr7mDjwKMJgk_YSfbi-DsaLI19QoO5tD9T7Iv3GPVbMN5ExClp60WaPKl4EWHE8EFlYweKGruboilgzt4Uhicl93-osMLL5suJ6gxXrOy1SKY84LTUHSexfivYb2H-Idg6dg5tqVTo/s400/November+2010+286+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<em>Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple Syrup</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXarhXymyfaaN3l7DnbB6QIW3GlxDnFuWBL-LCAYQnPU9pQLScmw_RQuB24NDRZZxcnhXGIhtmk4pSUpBCgRKNl8iAsVZMS8tqhXo6he76fSL0MWqJWBUMDY3VOME9w6DAoQu7Xnth2I/s1600/November+2010+282+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXarhXymyfaaN3l7DnbB6QIW3GlxDnFuWBL-LCAYQnPU9pQLScmw_RQuB24NDRZZxcnhXGIhtmk4pSUpBCgRKNl8iAsVZMS8tqhXo6he76fSL0MWqJWBUMDY3VOME9w6DAoQu7Xnth2I/s400/November+2010+282+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/french_breakfast_puffs/">Pioneer Woman’s French Breakfast Puffs</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBKbKHloTsmGUV3M8JiDXdTnRSia2b3AahxXvnVHoGOYr0UtmDUsXPuKXt9R5jXVHTUnf8EM4C7ADfPxriS9QRbNI5lYrkyiB4YJlYmhxvEDnJAj5aHSHWtFcRBbXD3BQ5f0JPZE5Bs4/s1600/November+2010+283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBKbKHloTsmGUV3M8JiDXdTnRSia2b3AahxXvnVHoGOYr0UtmDUsXPuKXt9R5jXVHTUnf8EM4C7ADfPxriS9QRbNI5lYrkyiB4YJlYmhxvEDnJAj5aHSHWtFcRBbXD3BQ5f0JPZE5Bs4/s400/November+2010+283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Sausages, or, as we like to call them: Little Bites of Heaven (because that’s exactly what they are!)</em> </div><br />
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And no fancy breakfast would be complete without Mimosas served in champagne glasses. It wouldn't be proper, I tell you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1Jlxji3MPxFb2g0zPA4TBOUZTwQ-2U9brBly5-pJzuNMvuqEndP8B4tRLpmziggnAPu_iAKrpisorpnSIrOzsIjKSrfmTf9mG9GbCokTUUicJTQPirk2N-AwSpHSwxKbgL2X4vo0pmI/s1600/November+2010+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1Jlxji3MPxFb2g0zPA4TBOUZTwQ-2U9brBly5-pJzuNMvuqEndP8B4tRLpmziggnAPu_iAKrpisorpnSIrOzsIjKSrfmTf9mG9GbCokTUUicJTQPirk2N-AwSpHSwxKbgL2X4vo0pmI/s400/November+2010+254.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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To say it was delicious would be a gross understatement. To say that I gained five pounds in one sitting, unfortunately, would not. <br />
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<br />
But it was totally worth it. <br />
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Check out Pioneer Woman’s Recipe for the French Breakfast Puffs <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/french_breakfast_puffs/">here</a>. <br />
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And if you want to know what true happiness is, you’ll give these a try as well:<br />
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<u>Little Bites of Heaven</u><br />
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One pack of mini sausages (I use Little Smokies)<br />
One pack of bacon<br />
Brown Sugar<br />
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Cut your bacon in half (up the middle). Wrap each mini sausage in a half-strip of bacon and then roll your bacon wrapped sausage in brown sugar until it is coated. Place in a baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Honestly, its best to just keep an eye on them and once the sugar has carmalized and the bacon looks cooked, they are done. Here's how they look in the oven when they are about ready to come out:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mNoExj_sJ8QgO_NvASXzHQyt5EbmFt7xaiS9PBLVmCDa6IbKY7eTG4hmxvLiVOZo-SHO9AttRJMJZ1wNVtK62WanqdT4k7HL1tV1PTmg2sdkmEriXLMfNJ1WfxsAiPkkosDTHHih7t4/s1600/November+2010+264+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mNoExj_sJ8QgO_NvASXzHQyt5EbmFt7xaiS9PBLVmCDa6IbKY7eTG4hmxvLiVOZo-SHO9AttRJMJZ1wNVtK62WanqdT4k7HL1tV1PTmg2sdkmEriXLMfNJ1WfxsAiPkkosDTHHih7t4/s400/November+2010+264+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>The foil-lined pan makes for a much easier clean-up! These also make great appetizers, so if you have a party to attend this Christmas, these are always a hit. You can make them up ahead of time and then bake them right before you leave!</em></div><br />
But be forewarned. The faint of heart (or the diet conscience) need not apply. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Happy weekend, friends!</div>Heather and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322455747759447344noreply@blogger.com2