If you follow my blog, or even if you have just glanced in the sidebar, you’ll know I adore my dog! And I adore my sister’s dog Sadie too. I am a total animal lover, and I have to say until recently, I have always been a crazy cat lady. But now thanks to our little iggies I am a crazy dog lady too! For those of you who don’t believe in love at first sight, you just haven’t met the right dog yet. This dog is my heart, and no matter what type of day I am having, just having him here with me makes me happy! The other day I was taking pictures of my jewelry magnets in my bedroom at my parent’s house. The dogs love this room because the bed is right up against the window and it is warm and sunny all day. It is their favorite spot! As I was snapping my product pics, totally caught up in the rush of everything that needed to be done that day, I happened to glance over and see Beaureguard and Sadie happily snoozing in the sun. It completely melted me! I thought for sure they would move the second they spotted me taking pics, but they were totally chill and did not even notice the intrusion. Lucky me! It’s these little moments that I love so much! They captivate you and remind you to slow down a bit, relish the sunshine, know you are blessed by those you love, and remember that life truly is above all else, absolutely beautiful!
I Heart Etsy Fridays- Sushi Pot Vintage
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all have had an amazing week! Today I would like to share one of my favorite Etsy Vintage shops with you all, Sushipot Vintage. This shop is so wickedly quirky with items ranging from old rubber bouncy balls and wooden robots to antique glass slides and anatomy book ephemera. Suzanna Scott, the curator and owner behind the shop, is not only a great collector, but also an artist herself. She creates the coolest mixed media vintagesque art, which she sells in her other etsy shop Sushipot Studio Here. I hope to share more of her shop with you all sometime soon. Until then, here are some of my favorite items from Suzanna’s vintage shop:
Aren’t they all just so cool! Of course I love them all! Everything is so well photographed, the whole store is like eye candy. To see more of Sushipot Vintage check out the Etsy store Here. Also be sure to check out Suzanna’s original art at Sushipot Studio Here. You can also find her on her blog Here, as well as Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Happy Shopping!
DIY Framed Vintage Wallpaper Magnetic Board
Hi guys! I do hope you all are having a lovely week! Today I am going to share with you one of my favorite of my recent projects, a diy vintage wallpaper magnetic board. Vintage wallpaper is one of my absolute favorite things in the entire world! I just adore the prints and textures! It’s so wonderful! I love finding new ways to use it too. I recently came across this pattern from one of my favorite vintage wallpaper shops, Hannah’s Treasures, and immediately thought it would make a great magnetic board for the bedroom at my mom’s house where I stay on visits. Making this little board was really easy, and it whipped up pretty quick too!
Here’s What You Need:
*16×20 Frame (the local flea market or thrift store is a great place to look)
*Paint (optional)
*1 Yard of Vintage Wallpaper
*1 Sheet of HVAC Thin Guage Sheet Metal (I bought mine at home depot, look in the hvac department)
*Acid Free Double Stick Tape
*Framing hardware if needed…
*Heavy Duty Tin Snips
*Foam core ( optional for backing if your frame does not come with backing)
Instructions:
The first thing you need to do is paint your frame if you are planning on painting it. While it dries you can cut and assemble your board. To start measure the opening of your frame. Mine was 16×20. So I marked on the metal 16″ wide and 20″ long. Then cut the metal down to size with the tin snips. You can cut down the foam core to fit your frame as well if you plan on using it. Now, trace your sheet metal dimensions onto the wrong side of your wallpaper, leave an inch on the top and an inch on the bottom for folding over. So if I have a 16×20 piece of metal, then I cut my paper to be 16×22″. Mark 1″ up on both the top and bottom of the wrapping paper. Lay out your metal on top of the paper in between the 1″ marks. Run a strip of double stick tape along the edge at the bottom and top edges of your wall paper on the wrong side. Now, fold over the edges of the paper in towards the middle of the metal and tape down snugly so that the paper is nice and taught across the metal. Next, lay your board into the opening in your frame face down and close up the back. Add a hanger to the middle of the back of the frame and you are ready to hang.
I love this fun magnetic board! It looks great in the room! It is a pretty way to organize and keep little notes and things while I am at my parent’s home. It is a great size too. I just adore the wallpaper and I have quite a bit left that I can use for future crafting, yay! I love how easy this project is to customize just by changing the style of the frame and the wallpaper. The sheet metal in the hvac department at the hardware store is really inexpensive too, so you can always change out the boards if the style of your room changes too. This really is such a fast and easy diy! It would make a great gift for college bound gals who need a memo board for their dorms. I hope some of you will give this one a try! It is so fun and easy, you’ll have a blast!
Happy Crafting!
The Wonderful World of Pinterest- May 2013
Happy Wednesday everyone! Today I am going to share with you some of my favorite pins from my Pinterest boards over the last month. I haven’t had a lot of time to spend on Pinterest lately. However, I did manage to add a bunch of outdoor party pinspiration as well as a healthy dose of cute animals, and some fun diy and home decor to my boards. Here are some of my absolute favorites:
From my board Party Ideas:
I just love this picnic idea! It’s so dreamy!
Love these colors!!!
I love the packaging here, it’s so fun!
Just beautiful!
From my board For the Home:
Love the shelving!
I love this kitchen! I based the open shelving on the top of my cabinets off of this picture.
I love the cabinet and the fridge! So cute!
From my board Tattoos:
This is so sweet! It means “smile” in Swedish.
So cute!
From my board Pets and Animals:
I just LOVE this picture!
So sweet!
This cracks me up! So true…
and from my board DIY Ideas I Love:
This is great for summer!
So stinkin’ cute!
I absolutely love this!
Aren’t they all just fantastic! I love Pinterest, don’t you! To see more inspiring pins you can check out all my Pinterest boards Here. I’ll be back next month with more pinspiration! Until then…
Happy Pinning!
Shrinky Charm Bracelets Today at Free Pretty Things For You!
Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely day! I am so excited to announce that I have a little guest post over at Free Pretty Things for You today! For any of you who are unfamiliar with this fantastic blog, FPTFY is a free image and printables site chocked full of fun clip art, digital scrapbooking elements, craft projects, and tons of vintage charm! Keren, the fantastic gal behind the blog, has collaborated with me to create this fun printable sheet to use to make these fun charm bracelets! You can find my tutorial on the FPTFY website today Here.
You can find the printables Here and a lightened version made specifically for the shrinky paper Here
So definitely go check out the full tutorial and make some of these fun charm bracelets for your favorite gals! These are so fun to make! You’ll love them! And definitely go check out Keren’s blog, Free Pretty Things for You, Here! It is the absolute cutest!
Happy Crafting!
DIY Pampering Spa Facial Mask for Mother’s Day by Guest Blogger Kendra Thornton
As I am getting ready to share my post today with new friend Kendra, I realize that I have never actually been to a spa. Although I do think it would be lovely, I believe that with a rifle through your kitchen, you can create a spa like experience without even leaving the house. Today Kendra is going to share her recipe for this fabulous avocado and banana face mask. I decided to try it out myself and it is wonderful! It smells so good and I used it on areas of my hands that were really dry and it seems to have really helped. So Kendra, thank you darlin’ for sharing this awesome diy with all of us! Now, without further adieu, I shall turn it over to the expert….
Bio: Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I’ve found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have mixed my excitement for travel by bringing the taste of authentic cuisine and rejuvenating beauty remedies to my own home with some of my unique recipes and tips. Enjoy!
Do-It-Yourself Pampering this Mother’s Day
When I worked full-time in the travel industry I was fortunate enough to witness many of the wonders this world has to offer. The island oasis of Hawaii is most certainly one of those awe-inspiring destinations that I would recommend to anyone, young or old.
During one of my trips to Honolulu, I was able to spoil myself by indulging in a lavish spa treatment. Part of being on vacation is being able to relax and treat yourself – something that often gets neglected once we begin caring for our children. During my stay at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which ranks amongst the best hotels in Honolulu, I was able to truly relax and give my skin and my mind the refresher it needed!
The Royal Hawaiian offers their signature Abhasa Tropical Facial with all natural ingredients right from the island. This moisturizing face mask left my skin feeling fresh, rejuvenated, and new. Since my visit to Hawaii, I have used the treatment as inspiration for a DIY homemade facial that you too can easily recreate from your own home. As a remedy for stress and an excellent outlet for relaxation, what better way to spend Mother’s Day!
As a busy mom, it’s nice to be able to treat myself every now and then. So here is the recipe inspired by the Abhasa Tropical Facial from the beautiful island state.
Avocado & Banana Face Mask
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1 avocado
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1 banana
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2 teaspoons olive oil
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1 teaspoon honey
I think you will find that you may have most of these all-natural ingredients in your home already. To create the face mask, I combine the avocado with the banana, a teaspoon of honey, and a teaspoon of olive oil. Stir these in a bowl with a whisk, utilizing a fork to break up the fruit if necessary. It is so simple and easy to make! It takes me less than 10 minutes to put together the mixture and apply it to my face. But of course, if more time permits, leave the mask on as you daydream of your favorite vacation destination.
Your skin will thank you for this rejuvenating treatment when it looks and feels it’s very best. The best part? These ingredients are easy to find in any season, which means beautiful skin all year round! So treat yourself this Mother’s Day with a top rated spa treatment – from your own home!
DIY Linen Phone Sleeve and My New Shutterfly Case
Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday! So, today I am going to share with you which of my Shutterfly phone case designs I went with, as well as an easy tutorial on how to make a protective sleeve for your phone. I was so excited when I got my new Shutterfly phone case this past week! It is just so ME! I decided to go with the simple chalkboard design with my #1 buddy Beaureguard. The little banner at the bottom means “the little pleasures” en Francais, and it comes from the saying “La vie est faite de petits bonheurs” or “Life is made of little pleasures” and I believe bonheur can also mean happiness or what makes one happy. And I’m sure I speak for most of us when I say my dog makes me happy!
My mom is a photographer, so I am no stranger to photo gifts you can get from a lab. Most of the time the quality in my opinion can be a bit lacking. I have to say though, I am very impressed with this case! The printing quality is fantastic, and it seems to be durable and nicely protective. It is a nice thick polycarbonate plastic that snaps on. When I first bought my phone, I got a designer case which was plastic and within a week the design was scratched off of it. For the last year I have been trying to find a case that was both somewhat protective and cute. This one totally does the trick!
Since I tend to wear a lot of skirts in the spring and summer, which means no pockets, I have made this little padded phone sleeve to safely carry my phone on skirt days. This sleeve is made for my iphone 4, but you can change-up the measurements to suit your phone’s dimensions. This is a really fast and easy project! It is a great way to use up scraps too.
Here’s What You Need:
*Scrap fabric or around 1/8 of a yard of fabric
*Scrap Batting or 1/8 of a yard
*Leather Lacing
*Button
*Thread and Needle
Instructions:
The first thing you need to do is cut your pieces. I made mine for my iphone 4. If you have an iphone 5 you may want to make it about an inch longer. I measured my phone and gave it a couple of extra inches around for seam allowance and wiggle room. So, cut two pieces for the outside front and back and two pieces for the lining at 4.5×7″. Cut two pieces of the batting at 4.5X7″. If you’d like a little pocket, cut a piece of your lining fabric to be 4.5×5″. I added a patch to the front piece of my sleeve. If you are adding any patch or embellishment sew it on now. Next, lay the outside pieces front and back on the front and back pieces of your batting face up. Stitch the batting to the fabric with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Now, take your pocket piece and turn it under 1/8″ and press. Turn the top under again 1/2″ and stitch down close to the edge where you turned it under on the wrong side. Now you are ready to stitch together your sleeve. Place the pocket piece on the front of your front sleeve face up and sandwich it in between the front and back pieces. The front and back should be right sides together. Stitch all the way around the three sides with a half-inch seam allowance leaving the top open. Stitch the lining pieces together the same way, making sure that the right sides are together. Clip corners and trim the seam allowance down a little on both. Turn the front piece right side out. Fold a small piece of leather lacing in half and stitch down to the pocket side of your outside sleeve. Now, shimmy your outside sleeve into the lining so that right sides are facing. Carefully stitch around the top with a quarter-inch seam allowance leaving an inch or so for turning. Now, pull your outside and lining out through the hole in the top. Press. Stuff the lining into the outer sleeve. Now top stitch around the top about an eighth inch away from the edge. Pull the loop over the top and mark where to put your button. Hand stitch the button on the back side. And that’s it. Pretty easy eh?
I absolutely ADORE my new phone case and padded sleeve! I love that it is a perfect size for scraps. I paired up natural linen with a scrap from an old vintage cutter tablecloth, and a retro quilting fabric for the pocket and the lining. This little sleeve is so versatile, you can really customize it to your style and taste by the patterns and fabric choices you use. This sleeve fits perfectly in the large pocket of my purse. In hind sight I wish I had sewn a loop of ribbon in the side seam so I could attach a clip to it and clip in on the handle of my bag. Will definitely have to try that next time. I hope I have inspired some of you to try out this little phone sleeve. You will love it! And definitely go check out Shutterfly’s IPhone cases Here. They are so fun and easy to customize. There are plenty of design options. They are on sale at 20% off right now too, so you can snag one for under $30. Pretty cool! I’ll be back Thursday with another fun DIY. Until then…
Happy Crafting!
*Disclosure: I was given a promotional code for a phone case from Shutterfly. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own. No foolin’, this phone case is awesome!
Favorite Vintage Finds of the Week- May 6th
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Can you believe it is already May! Where does the time go? Since Mother’s Day is this coming weekend I decided to share some fun Mom themed vintage finds with you all today! Here are a few of my faves:
Check out this awesome Vintage Napcoware Mom Pedestal Mug from Old Like Us Here
Check out these beautiful Vintage Dodds Mom and Kitten Blue Rhinestone Brooches from The Roaming Eclectic Here
Check out these cool Vintage Metal Mom Letterpress Letters from Reverse Chronology Here
Check out this adorable Vintage 1950′s Androck Hand Sifter from New Life Vintage RV’s Here
Check out these wonderful Vintage Mother’s Day Card Collection from Munas Treasures Here
Check out these fantastic Vintage Ceramic Set of 3 White Deer Figurines from Vintage By Jade Here
Check out this lovely Vintage “Mother” Heart Rhinestone Brooch from Nevermore Vintage Here
Check out this fabulous Vintage 1950′s New With Tags Pleated Novelty Print Cameo Apron from Tallulah’s Junk Trunk Here
Check out these sweet Vintage Sweet Pink Ceramic Spaghetti Poodle Dog Figurines from Raspberry Robin Here
Check out this fun Vintage World’s Greatest Mom Anchor Hocking Measuring Cup from The Sisters’ Pick Here
Check out this sweet Vintage 1950′s Unused Mother’s Day Greeting Card from Hiragana Americana Here
Check out this lovely Vintage Embroidered Floral Mother Hanky from The Littlest Sister Here
Aren’t they all just so sweet! I know my mom would love any one of these, especially the hand sifter! I love them all! I hope you all enjoy browsing through these wonderful etsy vintage shops as much as I did! I will be back next Monday with more vintage finds. Until then…
Happy Shopping!














































































































































