As Nike almost says - Just Do It...Yourself!

Do It Yourself most commonly known as DIY seems to be all the rage these days, what with the economy and easy accessible ideas on pinterest, who could resist the idea of just doing it yourself?  I know the DIY bug has bit me and  I've been crafting all over the place.  My favorite project that I completed recently are my new chalkboard vase and candles.  I like them because I can mix up the decor by simply changing the writing! Plus they were so easy to do (and I thought of them all on my own, no pinterest needed!).  Here is what you need:

(1) Pack of stencils.  I purchased the Martha Stewart adhesive stencils from Michaels.  I used a 40% off coupon and scored them for around $6.

(1) Tube of multi-purpose chalkboard paint.  I used Martha Stewart paint again b/c it was on sale at Michaels and I had a coupon.  $2.50/tube!

(1) Sponge brush or a roller brush

Your  favorite glass candles, vases or really anything you feel like stenciling!

Chalk

Paper plate or aluminum foil.

 

Step 1 - Select the stencil you want to use

Step 2 - Apply the stencil to your candle or vase. This step can take sometime b/c you want to line it up straight (or as straight as you can, it doesn't have to be perfect no one will notice :) ) Note: I used bath and body works 3 wick candles. For the "Glow" candle I just peeled away the label.  For the "Light My Fire candle" I actually skipped the stencil and just painted over the label!  

Step 3 - Squeeze a little bit (nickle size amount) of paint onto your paper plate or aluminum foil

Step 4 - Paint over the stencil.

Step 5 - Write your fun message with your chalk

Step 6 - Sit back and listen to all the wonderful compliments from your friends and family on how cute they are!

Step 7 - Change your message whenever you want! 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 



Fall Into My Closet!

Fall is the time of year for all things new.  New football season (Go Bucks!), new season of your favorite television programs, and best of all a new back to school wardrobe.  What's that? You don't go to school?  Well neither do I, but I can't resist the urge to go back to school shopping.  Growing up in a small town where the nearest shopping mall was 2 hours away in a different state, my sister and I only got new clothes a few times a year.  On Christmas, our birthdays and every August when we would go back to school shopping.  Those shopping trips still provide some of my favorite memories.  One of my fondest memories is from the year Jess and I had similar haircuts making us look even more similar than usual.  We walked into a store and the sales lady asked "Twins?".  When we said no she follwed up with her next logical guess "Cousins?"  We both simutaneoulsy answered "Ummm sisters."  We still laugh about this today.  My fond memories of our back to school shopping trips are the reason why I have urges to shop, shop, shop when fall rolls around. Today's post is all about the fall fashion trends I am coveting for this season.  For all the looks of the season, just pick up the September issue of your favorite fashion magazine.  It will be as thick as War and Peace and filled cover-to-cover with fashion ideas. : )


Equestrian

I've always been a fan of this style.  It's classic and chic.  What I'm seeing this year, as a new fun twist on the style, are lots of sweaters, dresses and scarfs with horse prints. 


Lulu 'Horse' Print Scarf - www.nordstroms.com

Vintage Re-Issue Flap- www.fossil.com

Rogerr by Steve Madden - www.piperlime.com

                                                                              

Oxblood Red

Loving this color.  It just feels like fall! I like it best in small amounts. 


Oxblood Threadbare Bracelet - www.rocklove.com

Kelly Pointed Wedge - www.solesociety.com

Polka-Dots

I am loving all of the polka dot sweaters and I really love this trend on the bottoms too!


Cashmere polka-dot sweater - www.jcrew.com

Cafe capri in silky dot - www.jcrew.com

                                    

Novelty Sweater  

These are just so fun and cute for casual Friday and weekend shopping.                          



French Hen Sweater - www.jcrew.com

Longline Big Heart Sweater - www.forever21.com

What are some of your favorite fall must haves for your wardrobe?

Etsy Gimmies

Hi Everyone!  

Hope you are enjoying the short work week. Only three more days till the weekend. Woo-hoo! To help pass the time, check out some of my latest Gimmies from Etsy.

Archive Bag in Chestnut Brown Leather

Perfect weekend bag.

Gold Glitter Chevron Envelope Clutch

You can never have too many clutches.

Eco-friendly Hedgehog Push Wood Toy

I've been dying to get this little cutie for Wrenn since before she was born. 

Here We Go Marching Print

Seriously, in LOVE with this print. 

Vintage Brass Owl

I'm pretty sure I need this little guy to watch over my jewelry on top of my dresser.

Gorilla Rubber Stamp

A super fun gorilla stamp? Yes, please!

Happy Wednesday!

-Jessica

Try It Out Tuesday - Fall Wreath

Fall - It's the most wonderful time of the year.  You may associate that phrase with Christmas,  but every year when fall rolls around, I can't help but think that it's not Christmas, but the entire Fall season that is the most wonderful time of they year.  I've always been torn between which season I like the most.  I even found a diary I kept when I was around 12 and one of my entries was all about the seasons and how I just couldn't pick just one to be my favorite. I even tried to select my favorite by doing a pro/con list.  The pros went something like this; Spring -  it's the season of my birthday and warmer weather; Summer -  we get to go to the beach and no school! Winter - Christmas (nuff said) and then under Fall next to Halloween, was a legitimate reason to love the season -  "it gives me a warm feeling inside".  Cheeso I know, but isn't it true? Doesn't the idea of curling up inside watching  the leaves drift silently to the ground covering it with a blanket made of gold and red, while sipping a warm cider or cocoa drink just give you a cozy feeling all over?  Now that I'm older I do still believe all the seasons have their pros and cons, but I think Fall has more pros than any other season. So after all of these years I think I can safely say that Fall is my favorite season (well at least until Summer roles back around :) ).  As a tribute to my favorite season I am going to dedicate the next couple of posts to this deserving time of the year. 

I love to transition my home from summer to fall by making just a few minor changes in the decor.  The one thing I have been missing though is a nice fall wreath.  I just could never find one that I thought was worth the $$$ price tag.  I was feeling crafty this weekend and decided to take matters into my own hands.  Pulling inspiration from the below image I saw on Pinterest I headed off to Michaels to snatch up some hydrangea flowers. 



http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2011/04/hydrangea-wreath.html

After spending a good hour in the store selecting the right color combination, I loaded up my cart with my 40% off flowers and checked out with my 15% off total purchase coupon.  $24 total for 8 blooms! Then I headed over to Wal-Mart for the wood twine wreath that broke my bank at $3.50.  One last stop at the Dollar tree for a $1 wire cutter and I was all set.  If you click on the link above you will notice that she doesn't give any instructions and there is a reason for that.  It's so easy even I figured it out :)  All you need to do is cut the stems of the flowers down short enough that you can stick them into the wreath.  The different branches of the wreath are tight enough that the flowers just stay.  I have a screen door so my wreath will not have to deal with the weather, but if you do not have a screen door you may want to consider using a hot glue gun to secure the flowers a little better.

Here is my final product (my screen door has already smooshed it a bit). 

I ended up only using 6 of the blooms I bought so I popped the other two into a bark vase I have in front of my fireplace to add a little Fall to the living room.

Total cost of the project minus the two extra blooms was right around $20 and that included the wire cutter!

Final verdict - super easy and well worth the time and money.  I hope you try your own!