Secret Project

I have a project I just finished up but I can't post it because I'm not sure who and who does not read my blog. So after Christmas I will share it, but for now here is a little tease:


I have no further comment at this time :)

Wine Bag

I saw this little project over at kojodesigns and since I am making a wine basket for my secret santa this christmas I thought this was a great little addition. And for $1 for both (versus $8 a piece at Pottery Barn), I thought I could swing it and stay within my budget.

All you need is:
a sweater sleeve
yarn
needle and thread, or sewing machine (it is only one little line to sew so if you don't want to lug out the sewing machine, doing it by hand would only take a second.)

All you need to do is cut the sleeve of the sweater, flip it inside out, sew the bottom (not the cuff side), turn it rightside out.

Then you can either make pom poms like I did, or use ribbon, or twine, or whatever your little heart desires to make the ties. I just wrapped it around the neck a few times, then crossed them and pulled to make a tight hold.

That's it! I didn't take step by step pictures, but over at kojodesigns you can get a full tutorial if you need it.

will be linking up to the following parties throughout the week as they happen:
SNS at Funky Junk Interiors
Met Monday at BTNOTP
DIY Day at ASPTL
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Cheap Paint

I am fairly new to DIYing and home improvement so I don't have a big stash of paint and supplies to make all of my projects really inexpensive. One of the things that I find myself purchasing is paint. Whether its craft paint, spray paint, or canned paint, I usually need to get some when I work on something new and don't want it to be white or black.

I think I found a solution to my paint problem! I was in the Habitat Store yesterday and I was debating a purchase so while I was thinking, I wondered into the paint room. It is a little scary in there since its just a bunch of used, beat up, paint cans, wall paper and some other random things. I was looking for a pea soupish green and a sky blue for a beachy project I am doing as a Christmas gift and I walked in there telling myself "there is NO way I am going to find the colors I am looking for."



I will never listen to myself again.

My "Elf Yourself" Video

I am sure that most of you have heard of the Office Max site called "Elf Yourself". If you haven't, it is a silly little site where you plug your loved ones faces into elf bodies and they dance to different types of music. Sounds really dorky when it's typed, but very funny when actually seen.

Well, I have made my annual ElfYourself video featuring yours truly, my BF, and our bulldog pup Stella.

Click here to take a look, and if you make your own, please post the link in the comments I would LOVE to see them!

Have fun :)

For the Love of Cranberries!

I'm not sure where my affection for the cranberry comes from, but I'm not going to try and fight it. There is something about that deep red color that just makes me weak in the knees!

So, I was meandering around BHG today and found some really cute ideas for decorating with cranberries I thought I would pass along to any fellow cranberry lovers out there...

Cranberries+Candles:


Cranberies+ Huge Upper Case Letter:


Cranberries + Tiny Hanging Topiary: (maybe the cutest little thing I ever saw)


Cranberries + Cake Stand + EverGreen:


Cranberries+ The Most Beloved Christmas Decoration of All Time (not including the tree of course):


Last on the list, but number 1 in my heart...
Cranberries + Place Cards


Anyone else got love the cranberry?

Or is it just me?

Cricut Confusion!

I know I am like 2 years late but, I need some serious help understanding this machine. First of all, I don't own one yet, but I want to get the skinny on this baby so I can become the proud owner of one.
I have decided to go big or go home. I want the Expression. Now, why I need your help.

I would like to be able to do wall monograms such as the one below. Does the Cricut do this? And if so what cartridge?


I don't even know a millionth of the stuff this bug can do so please fill me in :)

If someone would leave me a comment with a link up some work they have done with theirs and the cartridges they used to do them that would be great!

What is every ones opinion about them? Worth the money? Favorite cartridges? Is the Jukebox "the best accessory"?

Any direction would be super helpful! Thanks!!

Gift Guide 2009: HOT Victoria's Secret Sweater & Scarf Deal

Victoria's Secret has another awesome deal available! Currently, you can score 3 sweaters and a scarf for just $30.99 + tax shipped! Follow this deal scenario below:

-Go here and choose 3 sweaters--add them to your cart
-Then add this Scarf to your cart ($28 value)
-Before starting the checkout process, make sure to check the box under your purchases that states "Please check here if you have an Offer Code or Angel Rewards Certificate."
-Now enter these 3 code: vssave20, scarf09, and 3for30
-Final cost should be just $30.99 shipped (+ tax)

...Right now you can score a Victoria's Secret Reward Card with every online purchase and any in-store purchase of $10 or more thru November 30th. The reward card value is a mystery until you make a purchase December 1st-24th. Each card is at least worth $10 and thousands are worth $100 or more!

Thanks, Hip2Save

Ornament Wreath

I'm sure 99.9% of you have seen this over at Eddie Ross, or at one of the other 1,000 blogs of the women who have made this. But, I'm going to share mine because....well, I can.

I don't usually decorate with red, and I like that Christmas gives me a reason to add this pop of color to my usually very neutral house.





Total-
$10 for the ornaments from the dollar store! Great score when you see them priced like this (which I think is very not cute)

Check out all of the other great projects over at ASPTL's DIY Day!
Also linked up over at BobbyPins Boardwalk for her Bragfest!

Gift Guide 2009: Pottery Barn Monogrammed Beer Mug ONLY $7

Pottery Barn is good for more then just fantastic catalogue eye candy.

Right now you can snag this Pub Beer Mug with FREE Monogramming & FREE Shipping for just $7! For monogramming, you can use 8 characters PER line--up to 2 lines

This would make a great gift for those hard to shop for men (or women, who are we kidding) on your list this year!

Thanks yet again, Hip2Save

Desk Makeover Finished!

After 4 long days of speed bump after speed bump with this little beauty, it's finally done! But enough with the writing, on to the eye candy :)

Here is a reminder of the before: She was in decent shape structurally but her face needed major work. The wood was pretty scratched up and wasn't coming close to being as pretty as she could be.




And the after :)- pics taken at 11pm so pardon the yellowish hue!




Still working on the chair situation but right now it is enough to house my junk just in time for our Thanksgiving company!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday, and that everyone realizes they have so much to be thankful for this season!!

**Finished just in time for DIY day over at A Soft Place To Land
**Linked up over at BNOTP for Met Monday!
**Linked over at Bobbypins Boardwalk for the Bragfest!
And over at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday