Golden!

I have a serious predilection for all things gold which makes me incredibly happy that I found this post at Brittany Makes on finding the perfect gold spray paint.  Clockwise from top, Montana Gold Acrylic, Design Master’s Gold Medal & Brilliant Gold, Rustoleum’s Metallic Gold and Krylon‘s 18K Gold.

DIY Wrap Star

via Camille Styles

Materials

• 8 ft piece of 1×2 lumber, cut in half (this can be done for you at any home improvement store)
• 9 curtain rods
• spray paint
• ruler
• pencil
• drill
• level
• screws
• wall anchor

Instructions

1. Spray paint 1×2 lumber pieces and let dry.
2. Using the ruler and a pencil, mark every 5 inches down the length of the wooden pieces.
3. Use drill to attach curtain rod hooks on pencil marks.
4. Measure desired distance between both wooden pieces on the wall (about 3 ft apart), then level and secure to wall by drilling screws into anchors.
5. Slide wrapping paper rolls onto rods, and place into rack.

DIY Inspiration Board

via Live Creating Yourself

Materials

• 1 oversized cork board
• 1.5 yards of duct cloth 
• 6 packs of upholstery nailhead pins
• 1 can of spray adhesive for fabric
• 10-20 mini nails (or a staple gun)

First step… Iron, iron, iron!

• Spray the adhesive all over the board, excluding the frame, and lay the fabric on it flat, as best as you can
• Use gloves! (because the adhesive will soak through the fabric as you flatten it)
• Spray outdoors.  Not only is the adhesive stinky but it’s super hazardous to your health
• To secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the board, use small nails to pin it in place (a staple gun will work best if you have one already lying around)
• Begin inserting the nailhead pins along the edge of the cork.  You shouldn’t need a hammer for this and you can space the pins as you like.

Et voila!  A stylish and super easy over sized inspiration board to pin all your favorite photos!

Centerpiece

via Camille Styles

A simple yet beautiful centerpiece of Paperwhites that is so easy, even black thumbs can do it!

Materials

• Paperwhite bulbs (they can be stored in a dark place for up to 6 weeks)
• Wide container with low sides
• Stones or beach glass

Instructions

1. Spread a 2″ layer of stones in the bottom of your container
2. Place a layer of Paperwhite bulbs very closely next to each other, root end down
3. Add a layer of stones around the bulbs to stabilize them, leaving the tops of the bulbs exposed
4. Add water until it reaches the base of the bulbs, and set the container in a spot that does not get direct sunlight
5. Watch them carefully, and add water every time the level gets 1″ below the surface
6. After a few days, the bulbs should be sprouting green
7. At this point, move them to a sunny spot and change your watering routine with the secret ingredient for preventing the Paperwhites from toppling over…
8. Hard liquor.  Ta Da!  Using a tiny bit will stunt the growth of the Paperwhites just enough so that they don’t get too tall and fall over (It does not interfere with their big beautiful blooms!) 
9. In order to determine the amount of liquor (vodka, tequila, whiskey, etc.) you’ll need to use, check the bottle for the percentage of alcohol, then mix with water according to the following chart:

• 20% Alcohol = 3 Parts Water to 1 Part Alcohol
• 25% Alcohol = 4 Parts Water to 1 Part Alcohol
• 30% Alcohol = 5 Parts Water to 1 Part Alcohol
• 35% Alcohol = 6 Parts Water to 1 Part Alcohol
• 40% Alcohol = 7 Parts Water to 1 Part Alcohol

What are your favorite tips for successfully growing bulbs indoors?

DIY: Restore Broken Powder Makeup

via Katrina Lomidze

If you’re anything like me then you have at least five powder compacts that are broken and lying somewhere at the bottom of a drawer.  Here’s how to resolve this unsightly, messy and expensive problem.  This works for any kind of powder based makeup, bronzers, blot powders, eye shadows, etc.

How To

• Add a few small drops of 75%+ based rubbing alcohol (the higher the alcohol concentrate, the faster it will dry but any percentage will do if you leave it overnight)

• After adding the alcohol to the broken powder it will seep through and the powder will become soft

• Smudge the soft soaking powder around, making it into a paste-like substance and re-form it by smoothing it out with your finger (use the back of a spoon to make it really smooth)

• Let it dry overnight for best results

Easy peasy!  Go ahead and try your new ‘old’ makeup!

Numbered Stenciled Mugs

via  The 36th Avenue

What You’ll Need

1. Mugs
2. DecoArt CeramicsPaint (Gloss Enamels for Ceramics)
3. Flat Brush
4. Vinyl Stencils

Tutorial

• Clean all mugs to be stenciled and let dry completely (follow directions on CeramicsPaint label)
• Make sure the shape of your lettering is flat (the stencil will wrinkle a bit due to the shape of the mug)
• Add tape around the edge 
• Paint the stencil by using taps, not side to side or up and down motions (once coat should do)
• Remove the stencil as soon as you’re done painting 
• In case of the paint bleeding through, use a pin to clean up the design
• Let air dry for an hour and put mugs in the oven for 30 minutes at  350º

Et voilà!  

Home Tour

Currently drooling over ‘Callie’s Home Tour’ via Little Green Notebook.  

Even better than the gorgeous pictures is how Callie decorated her home; through sales, free shipping and digging through Antique stores!  Needless to say that this was a work of love not just a desire to have a gorgeous home.  Through the usual suspect stores (eBay, Etsy, One Kings Lane) and some creative DIY‘s (custom cut mats, her own created artwork (!), discount fabric for curtains and repainted dressers/consoles) this is the outcome.  Creative, thoughtful and budget friendly, I’m in love!

Here are my fave six (head on over to the original post to see the rest).  Sources listed at the end of photos!

Entry

• Navy dresser – Antique store (paint from Benjamin Moore, pulls from House of Antique Hardware)
• Gold mirror – craigslist
• W mirror – Pottery Barn Kids
• Black lamps – Target
• White shades – Target
• Greek key trim – Walmart
• Gold Asian bust – Antique store
• Zebra wood frame – Pottery Barn
• Blue bowl – World Market
• Silver plated bowl – One Kings Lane
• Navy rug – One Kings Lane (Thom Filicia)
• Drum shade – Andrews Lighting in OKC
• Bird box – Anthropologie

Living Room

• Media console – Antique store (painted with black automotive paint!)
• Gold lamp – Horchow
• Blue vases – Antique store
• Pink orchid - TJ Maxx
• Small sunburst mirror- Hobby Lobby
• Coffee table – Horchow
• Burl wood tray – eBay (Williams Sonoma Home)
• Horns – Jayson Home and Garden
• Silver lacquer box – One Kings Lane (can buy at Plantation Home)
• Foo dog – Etsy
• Blue vase – Goodwill
• Gold bamboo frame – One Kings Lane (Lunares)
• Floral notebooks – Anthropologie
• Lucite nesting tables – CB2
• Foo dog lamp – Tuesday Morning
• Wood root – Antique store
• Horse statue – Etsy
• Burl wood box – Teavana
• Chiang Mai print tray- Furbish Studio
• Gold vintage chair – Antique store
• Mink fur pillow - Restoration Hardware
• Leopard pillows – A DIY from purchased fabric
• Cream nailhead chairs – Gilt and Overstock (Safavieh)
• Blue handblocked pillows – West Elm
• Greek key side table – One Kings Lane (Worlds Away)
• Grey ginger jar – Williams Sonoma Home
• Asian gold horse – Antique store
• Zebra wood box – eBay (Williams Sonoma Home)
• White coral – Pottery Barn
• Blue vase – antique store
• Pink Insignia pillows – Furbish Studio (Windsor Smith fabric)
• Wool and coral cotton pillows – Anthropologie
• Large gold sunburst mirror – Williams Sonoma Home
• Black jars – Pottery Barn
• Coral ginger jars – Williams Sonoma Home
• Silver task lamp – Williams Sonoma Home
• Cream drapes – A DIY from purchased fabric
• Curtain rods – Target

Dining/Kitchen

• Dining table – Williams Sonoma Home
• Chairs – Horchow
• Silver ginger jar – One Kings Lane
• Graphic rug – Williams Sonoma Home
• Cream pendant – Horchow
• Black frames – Target
• Black bamboo dresser – craigslist (paint is Rustoleum, pulls from Lee Valley)
• Cream porcelain lamps – Williams Sonoma Home
• Asian ladies – Antique stores
• Gold box – Antique store
• Green vase – Pottery Barn
• Gold bamboo frame – Antique store
• White vase – Pier 1
• Lines paintings – By Callie (frames from Garden Ridge, black mats from Hobby Lobby)
• Eagle mirror – Atique store
• Lucite counter stools – CB2
• Silver rim utensil holder – Pottery Barn
• Circles painting – By Callie (frame from antique store)
• Coral butter dish – Anthropologie
• Blue pot – TJ Maxx
• Silver bamboo frame- TJ Maxx
• Cream frames – Target
• Fuschia orchid – TJ Maxx
• Copper greek bust- etsy
• White pineapple – White Barn
• Ikat bowls – Anthropologie
• Various white, glass, and metal serving pieces- Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Target, and antique stores
• Black and gold mums paper – Paper Mojo
• Silver sphere pendant – Horchow (Solaris pendant from Crystorama)

‘Man Room’

• Leather sofa – Restoration Hardware
• Red plaid pillows – Ralph Lauren
• Wheat rug – Pottery Barn
• Round coffee table – Pottery Barn
• Brown leather tray – Pottery Barn
• Decanters and glasses – Pottery Barn, antique stores
• Vintage National Geographics – antique store
• Patch – Rugby by Ralph Lauren
• Wood side table – made by brother-in-law
• Silver lamp – own
• Marquetry frame – Williams Sonoma Home
• Metal R on wood stand – Anthropologie
• Silver microphone – own
• Small white H letterman’s patch – antique store
• Duke painting – Antique store
• Vintage baseball print – Antique store
• Large red H letterman’s patch – Antique store
• Fox hunt print – Etsy
• Black mirror – Target
• Metal W – Anthropologie
• NYC Census Bureau map – One Kings Lane (Barbara Cosgrove)
• Subway sign – Pottery Barn
• Curtain rod – Target

DIY Miu Miu Jeweled Heels

Perfect New Year‘s eve shoes?  I think so!

With one day to go, check out this amazing DIY for Miu Miu lovers and late shoe shoppers, which would look gorgeous with a little black, or emerald, dress and statement jewelry.  After NY‘s these will be incredible with basic tee & jeans.  

Hop over to HonestlyWTF to see all the steps you need to follow in order to do your own Miu Miu jeweled heels.

Best DIY Sites

Who doesn’t love a good DIY project?   With all the step-by-steps, videos and plethora of inspiration available online 24/7 there are no excuses!

Here are the top 20 sites for all successful and wannabe DIY-ers:

1. Instructables
2. DIY Network
3. 5min
4. DIY life
5. Lifehacker
6. Gizmodo
7. Craftzine
8. Do It Yourself
9. Make
10. Green Upgrader
11. Martha Stewart
12. Craftsy
13. Design Sponge
14. ReadyMade
15. Homepodge
16. Ana White
17. Centsational Girl
18. Curbly
19. Tip Junkie
20. Engineer Your Space

Christmas Candles – DIY

A cranberry tinted soy wax candle inside a plain glass oval container, painted and embellished with a glittery seasonal message.  Perfection, via CentsationalGirl.

Supplies

• Plain glass heat safe container
• Microwavable soy wax
• Chip board letters (or stickers)
• Pre-waxed wick
• Frosted glass spray paint
• White spray paint
• Glue stick
• Painter’s tape
• Glitter

Step One

Attach chip board letters with just enough glue from a glue stick to keep them in place.  You could also use stickers or Cricut letters here. 

Cover the top of glass with painter’s tape (or simply turn it upside down) and spray with two coats of frosted glass spray paint.  Allow to dry for 30 minutes in between coats. 

Note: Most ordinary colored spray paint’s are not designed for glass, but frosted glass spray paint is, therefore it acts as a good primer for any subsequent colored spray paint you choose. 

Step Two

Once your two coats of frosted glass paint are dry, spray paint your color coat of choice (seen here is Rustoleum’s Heirloom White).  After you’ve sprayed your glass with your colored spray paint, sprinkle glitter into the paint while the paint is still wet.  

Step Three

Remove chipboard letters. 

Melt your microwavable soy wax in the microwave and add any colored tint you choose. 

If you want to have a white wax but colored letters underneath, then use colored paint designed for glass to paint the inside of the glass before you add your white wax. 

Remove your letters and scrape away any residue from the glue stick or paint with a small flathead screwdriver or similar tool.

** I recommend doing the wax last, after you paint.  

 Step Four

Melt your microwavable soy wax in a microwave safe glass container (like a Pyrex measuring cup) about 2 to 3 cups at a time.  Add tint, then pour into heat safe glass container with a wick.  Use a chopstick or similar tool to support your wick as your candle cools. 

Once your wax is cooled and your paint and glitter have dried, your candle will look like this.  Lovely.