Monday, January 30, 2012

{TGIM} Super Excited about this Super Bowl!

I absolutely love any reason to throw a party. There is nothing like a good 'ole get together. Family, friends, food, and lots of fun. I was raised believing that the saying, "The more the merrier," was actually one of the [original] ten commandments.  Super Bowl Sunday was no exception. I remember as a kid we would lead the pack to our home, after Sunday night church, of course, for an evening full of Super Bowl commercials, chips of every flavor, and plenty of entertainment.  This week I 'kick-off' our countdown to the Super Bowl with a roundup of great Super Bowl parties of past. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration through pictures.  Pick up your great party tips and ideas to make for another Monday of truly great ideas...
SUPER BOWL XLVI !!!!

Keep it casual and fun with themed snacks and treats and sporty decor.



Photo by: TinyPrints blog



Kid-friendly Super Bowl party for the whole family to enjoy:


Photo by: TopPartyideas.com



Family-Friendly Super Bowl snacks:

Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

Turf Football Cupcakes












I love this anti pasta platter idea!!



Party Invites by Tiny Prints





Have a super party, everyone!

Monday, January 23, 2012

{TGIM} The Year of the Dragon

Happy New Year, everyone! (Chinese new year, that is.) 2012 is the year of the dragon and according to the Chinese tradition, nothing starts the new year better than good luck and fortune smiling upon you.  Start your new year off with ideas from this fun Chinese New Year party and good luck and fortune is sure to find you! Hang your paper lanterns, grab the chopsticks, and take an eggroll for this week's truly great idea.















Party by Christine at Pure Joy Events


I loved the styling for this party.  Is is so clean and chic, keeping true to the old Chinese traditions, but incorporating new party styling principles.  I also loved the tangerine and red color scheme, grounded with the black and wood accents.

I find myself being inspired more and more in unusual ways.  Inspiration and creativity is everywhere! So, maybe its too late to have a Chinese New Year's party, but, hey, it's never too late for some good Chinese food and fortune cookies! Maybe that's whats for dinner at your house tonight!?

Gung Hay Fat Choy, everyone!




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

{TGIM} Or-gan-iz-a-tion: noun

Organization.  It's a word many people refuse.  (Or maybe you just don't care.) Either way, Merriam-Webster defines organization as "arranging elements into a whole of interdependent parts." Its not too late to resolute to spend your new year clean, fresh and organized! Putting the Christmas decorations away is a great opportunity to start throwing away old, packing and arranging the new, and labeling the existing.(I LOVE! my label maker!) Grab that Monday cup of joe and get excited about organization with this week's truly great (inspiring) ideas!




Love, Love, LOVE this!!
themakeupboxshop.com

Many of us have way too much makeup. (Okay, so maybe its just me.) I am a Sephora junkie and I like it!  The Makeup Box Shop makes these acrylic makeup boxes. I love how you can see where everything is. The best part is that they are custom designed around particular store makeup brands, such as MAC eyeshadow, Bare Minerals, Napoleon, Benefit, Urban Decay, etc.. to ensure things fit nicely! And with the cute little drawer knobs it isn't an eye sore sitting on your bathroom counter. This is going on my Valentine's day gift list! :)



This is super cute. A cupcake holder made into a craft storage! Take a cupcake tree, spray paint it a cute and quirky color, then put glass gelato cups (thrift store finds for like a quarter) to hold little crafty beads and bobs, handy.


photo by: sewmanyways.blogspot.com

An old dresser without the drawers = brilliant storage idea! This would also be really cute if you painted the dresser a fun color, say orange for example, and then put all the same color contrasting boxes in it, like green boxes. (and label them, of course!)





photo by: bedifferentactnormal.com

Put shower rings on a hanger to loop all your scarves through!





Spray paint an old, decorative paper towel holder to hold your bracelets!



photo by: Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel makes these fridge bins now in various sizes. I love this idea. I think this would work great for us and all of Sophie's things. I love the juice boxes and pudding packs in there.  In my fridge, inevitably, Sophie's small containers get lost in the back and I end up buying more because I think I am out of it. 





I love this photo! Think of your organization project like any other home decorating project and start with the color scheme! Here we see a color scheme of greens, whites, and this pine wood finish. I love how they contrasted the green boxes with clear plastic or glass containers.  By keeping them all uniform it creates proportion and continuity. It looks intentional and well thought out.  And suddenly, all that hodge-podge of randomness serves as attractive displays of craftiness.  Take those canister jars on the top shelf for example.  They used the same canister and lid repeatedly and stored all their pieces of ribbon in them,  by color family.   Instantly attractive. 

Here are some other overall inspirational photo favorites:

















Thursday, January 12, 2012

January Color Scheme: Winter Whites

Pure. Pristine. Crisp.  The color white evokes a sense of purity, a sense of cleanliness and freshness.  I felt it only appropriate to start the new year's "clean" color slate, or scheme that is, with my color scheme for the month: winter whites.

White doesn't have to be stark and sterile.  It is becoming increasingly popular when combined with reclaimed wood tones and other neutrals. To avoid the cold harshness that white can often portray, opt for whites with warm undertones.  Warm undertones, such as whites with a red or a gold base, appear softer and cozier than whites with cool undertones such as blues and grays.  Something else to consider when choosing a white color palette: texture! Choose fabrics rich in texture and tone-on-tone patterns to help personalize the feel and create that sense of warmth and dimension.


Here are some of my favorite whites from Benjamin Moore:




1. Cotton Balls 2145-70
2. Bavarian Cream 2146-70
3.Alpine White 2147-70
4. Mountain Peak 2148-70
5. White Chocolate 2149-70















Okay, so there was some sentiment behind this month's color scheme pick.  January is my anniversary month and my husband and I just celebrated 5 years! And did I mention, we had an all white wedding??














Happy winter, everyone!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

{TGIM} Spray Paint

Spray paint is one of my most favorite options for DIY project transformations. Spray paint has evolved over the last few years with manufacturers creating spray paint for any surface and in any finish.  It really makes for endless possibilities for any project! Today I am going to share some truly great ideas for any spray painting project, as well as some tips and tricks from the experts!





I prefer spray paint over brushing on paint because it leaves a much more clean and professional finish.  Brushing paint on tends to show brush strokes, and if you use a cheap paint brush, you will find yourself left with the bristles from the brush.  What a mess! Spray paint also dries faster than brushed painting. With a good spray paint, you can apply coats within 10-20 minutes apart.

Some people may say that buying spray paint cans is more expensive than buying a quart of paint.  For me, my time is money. I can transfer any piece in a day with spray paint, whereas if I brushed the paint on I could spend days waiting for the coats to dry.  And in the long run, I have a smoother, cleaner finish and the piece looks more expensive than that bargain find that has been 'attacked' with a paint brush. 

My favorite brand of spray paint is Krylon.  Krylon has a vast assortment of colors.  I also prefer Krylon's nozzle over any other brands.  It allows for me to spray at different angles. Krylon dries faster and goes further than cheaper brands.

I would recommend choosing a gloss finish for all projects (Not a high gloss!!). Once the piece is primed, the finish looks more like a satin finish with the ability to be wiped clean should any little ones spill anything on it. 

Here are a few tips to spray paint:
  • I prefer to prime my projects.  My favorite is Kilz primer.  You can get it at the Home Depot. It helps prep your surface area and gives your paint something to really "stick" to. 

  • Spray 10-12" away from the project, spraying across your project in a sweeping motion and maintaining a constant distance from the item. Do not apply in one continuous spray; instead, release the spray button after each sweep. Overlap each sweep by one third to keep the paint finish even and consistent.
  • Use thin coats to prevent running and dripping.  Applying too much will cause an uneven finish.  If you do apply too much, you can take a high grit sand paper and spot sand that spot. Wipe off any sanding particles, and apply a few more coats to even it out.
  • Never buy spray paint from craft stores. Craft store spray paint is overpriced.  You can buy a can of Krylon at Walmart for $2.97.  Home Depot will also match any competitor's price and beat it if you don't see the color you like at Walmart.
  • Always spray any project in a well ventilated area.  I try and do most of mine outside with a drop cloth, weather permitting. NEVER spray inside your house!


Now that we have the basics of spray painting, here are a few truly great project ideas for spray painting:


Photo provided by: designmanifest.blogspot.com

 Spray paint different interesting chairs all one color.  Then, upholster the seat in the same fabric and make it your dining room chairs! Talk about a conversation piece!



Photo provided by: thegoldenoctopus.com

These little stools are becoming increasingly popular in home makeovers today. Finding them in a secondhand store can be a bonus! Don't let the ugly 1990 mint and mauve fabric fool you into thinking it has to be reupholstered! They make spray paint for upholstery and fabric now!! So even curtains can get the royal treatment! How genius! Check it out here.



Photo provided by: thedecorologist.com

If you have slippery surfaces, such as stairs, ladders, porches, or step stools, you can paint them with Krylon's Non-Skid Coating.



Photo provided by: thedecorologist.com

Small appliances! Grandma's old hand-me-down retro toaster?! Spray it to match any existing larger appliances! There is now a stainless steel paint that can withstand 200 degrees! 


Were you inspired by any of these ideas? Do you have any other spray paint ideas to share?