Vintage Suitcases Memento Craft Idea via A Drawer Full of Pretty Wishes

Megan of A Drawer Full of Pretty Wishes blog has got some serious fashion and craft talent, more on that in later posts. But I just simply adore her vintage suitcase ideas. They would make a wonderful keepsake gift, using mementos and special touches all in a nice, traveling package. Almost like a scrapbook or shadow box , but on a bigger scale. I pass by vintage suitcases all the time in thrift shops. If you made several, they would look adorable stacked in a corner together. Imagine, one for birthdays, seasonal holidays, then they easily fold up to be stored away until next year. I look forward to making some of these soon!

I love the dainty details of ribbon and lace. Personalized buntings and banners are easy to make with either fabric or paper and add an extra special touch. This dance themed case is complete with a tutu and vintage art of a ballerina. I know many little girls who would love this!

Love this frame idea. Paint and distress an old frame, than glue vintage rhinestone buttons or clip-on earrings or brooches to decorate it. Add a pretty saying or photo. Simple and sweet.

I love how she added sport items and comics for an 8 year old boy! Imagine making a Star Wars, Minecraft, Leggo, science, dinosaur, animal, military, cowboy or car themed case. They would make a cute table display at a birthday party.

Homefront: DIY Rag Garland Window Cover

I did a quick little fix during the week. Our front door has a window (and no peep hole) that lets in some light, but I feel exposed not having it covered, like any tall creeper can just peek in looking for me so they can sell me something. So my wonderful husby added these lovely taped up papers a long while back.

I wanted to make a curtain or faux roman shade, but couldn't hang a rod on the door, nor did I have any fabric laying around for that. I also saw a really neat cellophane/tissue paper tutorial for a stained glass effect, but didn't have the energy for finding the glue. But I did have an old piece of white fabric that I tore in strips, and some jute and command strips, I decided to make a little rag garland. I tied them like this easy tutorial here via Yesterday on Tuesday.
 

 

The fabric scraps weren't long enough to cover the whole window, so the little swag will have to do. To hide the command strips, I just made some quick fabric rosettes, kind of like this tutorial here, and hot glued them on, so they will peel off whenever.

It's not perfect... but compared to the alternatives, creeper peepers or ripped papers... it's an improvement in a shabbily charming sort of way. Have you ever made any last second, functional  fixes that turned out okay?

Adorable Paper Dots Garland Tutorial

I saw this paper dots beaded garland tutorial on Oh Happy Day and thought it was totally adorable, practical, inexpensive and easy. All you need is crepe paper! Maybe I will do something like this to create a little wall feature for the nursery? We've been busting our hineys the past few days to get the room ready... all craft supplies have been moved to our room and the baby's room is underway. Pics will follow soon!

Inspired Touches: Sunny Color

{via sfgirlbybay get the look spring style}

vintage glass bottles display pompom flowers (flower tutorial here), via ellemania; and lili diallo’s brooklyn loft in details (shot by annie schlecter); and emma lamb’s forever flower garland.

My home still feels so dark right now. I know with the dark paint and brick, I have to deal with it since it's  rental, but maybe I can do a few touches like these to bring some airy light back in here.  I love, love, love the aqua painted brick above. Oh, I can't wait to own my home someday, the damage Ima gonna do!

leah duncan’s sweet tea towel;  diy mason jar pendant lights via boots n gus tutorial via secret pocket.

cookie mag editors kids rooms heather pudew

dottie angel diy paper lantern with lacey fabric scrap tails tutorial

dottie angel blog, shop

tumblr (anyone know the actual source?)

Inspired Home : Little Glowing Lights

 Catherine of Little Glowing Lights has a warm, colorful, flea market style Australian home. In her interview with Victoria of sfgirlbybay, she shares some of her favorite pieces, books and haunts. For me, I adore the white walls, the random garlands, the mix of florals and stripes and the use of little vintage chairs, and the picnic table. More photos of her lovely home can be found here on Design Files. In her interview there, she states that her main consideration really has been a modest budget  – ‘I have decorated my flat with a very small budget and not buying very many brand new pieces at all. Most pieces have been hand-me-downs given a lick of paint or bargain finds. In the future I would like to splurge a little bit more.’  Love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homefront: Valentine's Mantel Decorating

 My mantel post is late this month! I kept it low key with only one obvious Valentine decoration, my large glittery red love bird heart. I couldn't find my Valentine decor box, but that's fine. After seeing the photos, there are some changes I would make, but I'm trying to not be too fussy right now. One thing I miss though, was my heart doily arch from last year in our old home.

 This little tiny pic of us was when we were engaged about 8 years ago. Our first Valentine's Day, was a tad over a month after we met. We exchanged Fossil watches (total coincidence) and was the first time he officially told me the "L" word... unless you count the other time he said it on accident when we were hanging up the phone one night, so we totally pretended it didn't happen ;)

I finally found our family pictures, so while I have no frames, I thought it looked cute on the clipboard for now.

I made my paper heart garland out of a newspaper and twine, it took 15 minutes to make, and my 5 year old helped. Just cut out lots of hearts, stick some tape on the backs and hole punch over the tape. Thread it on the twine and you're done. I got lucky in that my paper had lots of valentine and marriage references in it. Justiana Blakeney has a good tutorial on this at Design*Sponge.

I am rally wanting to hang this mirror above the mantel shelf. Can you spy something that doesn't belong in this photo?
 

*More beautiful mantles here and here.*

Earthy Orange

natural birdhouses ~ Tamar Mogendorff

It's not a secret that I love the color orange. Many people think it is a bright, obnoxious, glaring color, but the rustic orange I love has an earthy, warm, muted but not quite shy or timid feel. It makes me feel like I am wearing a dose of color without putting myself out there too much. Stuck in a lovely but sometimes sterile white and creme color rut, clothing or decor wise? Try a soft hint of earthy and natural orange to add a tender punch. You just might like it. I added touches in my decor here in this post. Or, even more orange favs here.

 

oranges ~ talis (lots of great orange prints in her shop)

 

autumn paper baubles ~ tanya mac

 

felted wool acorns ~ lil fish studios

 

garland gloves ~ Anu Tuominen

peace shells ~ brief moments

My all time fav orange sweater, makes my boring outfits feel so much more pulled together, love how we are 'picking' acorns together, in the crisp fall weather (last year) so fitting for this post.