Tag: Saratoga Springs New York

A Simple Idea for Customizing Store Bought Curtain Panels

Written by Jenna on February 11, 2014. Posted in DIY. 6 Comments on A Simple Idea for Customizing Store Bought Curtain Panels

After more work this past weekend on the master bedroom, I can say it’s almost done and I couldn’t be happier with the overall refresh.

Everything in the space has been upcycled, repurposed, or DIYed, so essentially little $$$ (money) has been spent on jazzing it up – that’s my favorite kind of room makeover.

Today, I’m going to share the details on the new window curtain panels. Now, you know I went darker with the focal wall, so that meant the layers in the space needed to go lighter to create balance and contrast.

I found pretty, but basic cream-colored solid velvet rod pocket curtain panels at Lowes and thought they’d be a perfect base for the room. Of course, I couldn’t just leave them as-is and had to customize them to give them a designer, custom look.

This is the result…

I forgot to snap a picture of the packaging, but believe me the ‘before’ was a simple cream-colored curtain. AND each of them were a wrinkled mess. Here is a peak at what they looked like.

Plain Jane.

Now the ‘How-To‘ on jazzing them up to give a custom, designer-look…

Materials Used:

Store Bought curtain panel(s)
Fabric for leading edge – 1 yd. was enough for 3 panels
Matching thread for leading edge fabric
Sewing machine
Iron
Measuring tape
Misc / typical sewing materials + supplies

When shopping for a leading edge fabric, I found a deep plum colored material that coordinated perfectly with some of the other accents in the room. I purchased 1.5 yds, but only used about 1 yd.

Once I determined that I wanted to have a 3″ leading edge, I layed out the fabric and marked off, then cut every 4-1/2″.

Here is the breakdown: 3″ finished leading edge + 1/2″ seam on side edge + 1″ seam on the other edge = 4-1/2″

I used chalk to make the 4-1/2″ line, but a straight edge could also be used. Then using the same straight edge or a scissor, cut the line.

One strip of fabric won’t be enough length needed to create the leading edge, so two strips will need to be sewn together to create one long strip (then depending on your panel length, you should have a longer strip than panel).

For my 3 panels, I cut 6 strips that were each 4-1/2″ wide, then put 2 of the ends together and sewed them.

Once the longer 3 strips were made, it was time to iron the edges to create (1) side that has a 1/2″ seam and (1) side that has a 1″ seam.

I used a tape measure to make sure my 3″ was consistent throughout the entire strip.

Once the 3 strips were ironed, it was time to attach them to the curtain panel.

I started off by placing the curtain panel and the leading edge fabric face down, leaving extra contrast fabric at the top and bottom. Then I tucked the edge of the curtain panel into the 1″ folded side of the leading edge fabric and pinned it in place.

It was time to sew.

I started by sewing the edge of the curtain to the edge of the contrast fabric.

Then I sewed the other edge.

Once each side was done, I was ready to deal with the 2 ends at the top and bottom of the curtain. At each end, I folded over the extra fabric and sewed.

Once the top and bottom were sewed, I trimmed the extra threads, and the panel was complete!

Instead of using the rod pocket, I used rings with clips to hang the panels.

Here is a good closeup view and you can see how the leading edge fabric is sewed all the way around onto the edge of the curtain panel.

The windows in my bedroom are large and here is a peak at how the space is all coming together…

It feels great to have this space almost complete – Finally after almost 2 years!

If you want to see some more ideas and inspiration on creating / embellishing curtain panels, take a look at these past posts:
How-To Make a Simple Lined Window Panel
Drop Cloth Curtain Panel with Leading Edge Detail
How To Add Decorative Trim to Curtains {for cheap}
How-To Hem Curtains
Adding Stripes to Curtains using Paint
The Right (and Wrong) Way to Hang a Curtain
10 Online Resources for Affordable Curtains

Have you ever jazzed up typical curtain panels? Or do you stick with the store-bought style? Have you had window panels custom made? Was it worth the cost for custom? It really is amazing what can be done with a little fabric and/or trim!

Desk Makeover using Make Your Own Chalk Finish Paint

Written by Jenna on February 7, 2014. Posted in DIY. 22 Comments on Desk Makeover using Make Your Own Chalk Finish Paint

OK, so let me start off by saying, THIS. IS. MY. FAVORITE. FURNITURE. TRANSFORMATION. yet

And the kicker is, I have a lot of furniture purging planned for the Spring and this desk was on the to-go list. Can you believe I was going to sell this beauty?!

Here’s the before and after + a few closeup shots. I’ll share the details of the transformation on the other side…

Pretty crazy that it’s the same piece, right?! And I am in love with the color.

So this month’s Lowe’s challenge for the Creative Team was to create / transform something using make your own chalk finish paint. Since I’m in the midst of my master bedroom makeover and this desk was about to go curbside, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to jazz it up. If the result wasn’t right, nothing lost, nothing gained.

The desk was purchased years ago from the Bombay company (during my dark-furniture-all-over days) and it’s served it’s purpose well, but I was ready to say adios.

The making of my own chalk paint made me a bit nervous, since I’ve only used the premade mix by Annie Sloan and that took a bit of getting used to (more for the wax application than the actual paint). But, I decided to jump right in.

Here are the supplies I used:

Latex flat paint (I used Valspar Signature latex)
Plaster of Paris
Stir sticks
Plastic bucket
Water (cool, not warm)
Measuring Cup ( do not reuse for food)
Sealer – wax or polyurthetane

Here is the formula I used:

In a mixing cup, add 1 cup of latex paint
Then add 1/3 cup Plaster of Paris + 1/3 cup cold water
Mix all together until the Plaster of Paris is fully dissolved

The mix will make enough chalk paint to apply about one coat to an average-sized 6 drawer dresser. I ended up using only 1/4 of the mix and apply 2-3 coats, so it makes a lot. Chalk paint goes a lot further than typical paint.

Once the formula was mixed, I was ready to paint!

It’s important not to have too much paint on the brush, especially when painting furniture. It’s better to apply thinner coats. When applying too much paint at once, drips and runs could develop in the corners and crevices of the furniture.

If that happens, no worries. Get as much paint off the brush as possible and drag out the “puddled” paint so it thins out and covers more of the furniture surface.

I forgot to mention this neat tid-bit about the desk… it actually opens up to a writing surface.

The difficult part was deciding where to start and stop the paint because I did not want to paint the inside – too difficult.

In the end, I chose a start and stop point for where the paint would go. At first I was only going to paint the legs, but wasn’t thrilled with the look. Here is a peak…

painting on the counter is so much easier than on the floor!

So in the end, I decided to paint the top as well, leaving only the line of the desk that opens, the original stained finished. It actually makes for a more interesting piece – well, I think.

Here’s the top with one coat of chalk finish paint.

2 coats later (3 in some spots), the desk was complete…

And ready to display in my room…

I sealed the entire desk with wax that I had on-hand. Others that have used their own chalk finish paint have used clear finishing wax (Lowes link) or polyurethane.

If you want to read more on applying wax, head over to this post…

The revamped desk fits perfectly next to my existing dresser with a new gallery wall above (more details on that coming soon – I’m still finishing it up)

The chair wasanother furniture transformation from a few years ago and I just recently added a new cushion using black and white striped fabric from The Online Fabric Store. The furry looking throw draped over the chair back is actually fabric that I plan on making some fun pillows with.

Check out what this space looked like before…

BIG DIFFERENCE!

Let me show you a few more ‘after’ shots…

What do you think?

What’s your favorite part of my desk? The new color? The lines of the desk? Or the ‘secret’ compartment of the writing desk? For me, it’s all fun, but I think I love the paint color the best. By the way, the color is Benjamin Moore Martini Olive. Lowe’s color matched it for me and used their Valspar Signature Latex paint.

My thoughts on making my own Chalk Finish Paint.

I really like it! Comparing it to other chalk finish paints, it is very similar and obviously the cost is a lot less AND you can make any color you’d like. With other chalk finish paints there are only about 30-40 different colors to choose from. When making your own, your color choices are limitless. The cost is also significantly less because the Plaster of Paris is about $6 and a quart of paint is about $15-20. Since only one cup is needed, a sample pod / tester most likely would have been enough for this project. Also, I could have used a latex color that I already had on hand (in my stash). Comparing the application process, it’s very similar and the finish result is about the same. A dull, chalky (but not grainy) finish is what you will get. Waxing is important when using any chalk finish paint because it seals the color and finish. I’ve also heard of people using polyurethane as a sealer, but I have never tried that.

Why chalk finish paint?

I feel the advantage of using chalk finish paint is the elimination of sanding, prepping, and priming the existing wood. When using chalk finish paint, you can simply start the painting process directly over the stained or painted finish. *If a piece of furniture has a hi-gloss, then I would recommend sanding and possibly priming first so you have a thorough base to paint.

I hope you enjoyed my adventure of making my own chalk finish paint. I love trying out new things and this is a winner! Have you used chalk finish paint? Have you made your own or have you used a premade mix? Would you try this on a piece of furniture?

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Loweâ€™s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad. Iâ€™m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration. And even better, this Pallet Christmas Countdown creation will be featured in the upcoming Winter guide â€“ how cool, right?!

Also consider following Loweâ€™s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers

Written by Jenna on January 16, 2014. Posted in DIY, Uncategorized. 2 Comments on Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers

Thanks all for loving my printables so much – I didn’t realize what a hit they’d be. I guess next time I should have more confidence… Weren’t all the other printables along the Blog Hop super cute as well? I am still in the romance mood (that sounded corny), and wanted to share with you a wreath I created last year. It was originally featured on Jen’s blog, but I wanted to give it a refresh and share it all with you. It’s one of my favorites to-date!

Come see how I made this Valentine Wreath with Paint Chip Flowers…

It wasn’t difficult to make at all and the flower petals were actually a bit calming to create.

The supplies I used for this wreath creation were:

Grapevine wreath ( I got mine on sale at AC Moore for $2.50)
Eucalyptus leaves
White spray paint (I used a gloss finish)
Paint chip samples in an array of pinks and reds
Hot glue gun
A heart punch or scissors to manually cut out hearts

I started off with the paint chip flowers.

Using paint chip samples in a range of colors from pinks to reds to purple, and a 1.5â€³ heart-shaped hole punch, I cut out about 40 hearts. I got this decorative paper punch at AC Moore for less than $10, but as an alternative, you could cut hearts out with plain oleâ€™ â€œold schoolâ€ scissors. The hearts may not result as exact, but the idea is still the same.

Then I cut a piece of felt about 3â€³ round (any heavier material will work as well), laid out 6 hearts around the outer edge, and secured them with a nice-sized dab of hot glue.

Then for the inner hearts, I curled the top edge using a pencil to create the look of a flower.

I layered (4) â€˜curledâ€™ hearts in the center, on top of the outer edge of hearts. To complete each flower creation, I added a small 3 dimensional piece of paint chip for the center of the â€œflowerâ€.

After making a few more flowers of different sizes (they donâ€™t all have to be this large size â€“ differing sizes make it more interesting), I added them to the wreath. Having the back of the flowers on felt, allows the ease of adding them to the wreath. With a dab of hot glue, I attached the felt-backed flowers to the wreath. Once Valentineâ€™s Day is over, the flowers can easily be removed from the wreath, and different embellishments can be added for other holidays or occasions.

This wreath truly was a joy to create and took only about an hour to make (I add the eucalyptus & spray painted the wreath Day 1 which took about 15 minutes, then made the flowers and attached them Day 2 which took about 30 minutes).

This festive Valentine wreath would be great hanging on a front door or inside the home. I have it above my fireplace â€“ itâ€™s the perfect centerpiece above my mantel.

Super cute, right?!

I like it so much because it doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day. It could really take you right through the Spring months. Wouldn’t it also look good with fall colored paint chips – Ooo, that gives me an idea!

Want to see some more of my Vday creations? Here are a few:

> The valentine burlap wreath with felt flowers that I created a few years ago

click on image for tutorial

> My ‘love’ connection wood sign. Do you see lame / dorky or wow, she’s really creative?

click on image for tutorial

Do you decorate for Valentineâ€™s day?

Central Command Center Revamped (again)

Written by Jenna on January 7, 2014. Posted in DIY. 16 Comments on Central Command Center Revamped (again)

The year has been a little slow going for me. With the 2 week christmas break for the kids + a couple involved (but uber-exciting) client projects + computer issues (my laptop keyboard stopping working due to a virus – UGH), I’m a bit behind. BUT, I’ve got something good for you… My Revamped (again) Central Command Center.

I Did It again.

This is the 3rd time I revamped our family central command center (the previous posts can be found here and here). Our hub of the home. The 30″ wall that keeps our family on track so we know where we are going when.

So why did I change it once again? Because our family needs have changed in the last year. Over time, I found that there were elements on the CCC that we weren’t using and I found that there were other things that we needed. Keep on reading and I’ll tell you all the particulars about the changes…

But before I share the 411 on the details, you might not know a little something. Our central command center (the previous version) is featured in this month’s (January 2014) Better Homes and Gardens magazine on the last page in the “I Did It” section. If you want to read more about the article + some behind-the-scenes footage, take a look at this post.

So onto the revamped (again) command center.

One of the major needs for our family (actually more so the needs of the 2 kids) were a spot to put ALL THE IMPORTANT PAPERS that they receive from school. Even though we are a “paper-less” school, a lot of 8.5 x 11’s come home each day.

When making the decision to revamp the CCC, I was on the lookout for some file folders. Obviously since the wall is small, I couldn’t get anything that was overly large. After a little searching and waiting, I found a great 3 file wire bin on Joss and Main. The size was just right, so I snagged it.

Each of the kids now has one opening and there is enough room for a few small folders for the different kinds of papers that come home (ie: school, sports, religion, etc). A cute little label front in an apple green hue pulls it all together and adds a splash of color.

So as you might notice from the before CCC, the black bins came down (after we redid the foyer, they weren’t needed anymore), and we reduced the amount of clipboards from 4 to 2. The clipboards that remain now contain our grocery list and a peek at the week ahead. The other 2 charts that went away – the chore chart and the reward chart – were relocated to another spot. BUT, I’m still going to share ALL the chart printables with you – see below.

The top of the CCC also had a few changes. I reduced the amount of inspiration framed images to one and replaced the others with a round wall clock. I realized other than the oven clock, we didn’t have any other place to tell time. Plus, an actual wall clock (which I scored at Target for less than $10) is great for learning versus the typical digital style.

The 2-month personalized calendar is still in use – a definite MUST-HAVE for our family to run!

One more change… The corkboards. Aren’t they adorable with the ikat pattern?! They are by Nate Berkus available at Target and each square panel was about $10. I put 2 together to make a rectangular look. With the previous command center, I didn’t have a place to pin ‘stuff’ like invitations, announcements, cards, etc. That was a major need, so now we have that.

The glass jar pipe clamp pen/pencil holders are still in tact and they are great + uber-functional.

And that’s about it for the updates.

The result…

And a breakdown of the changes I made for the revamped 2014 central command center…

Here’s an interesting before + after. The blank slate I started with 2 years ago and how it looks now…

It’s truly amazing how such a small wall can be used to the max. From floor to ceiling, side to side, this wall is 100% functional!

Okay, so I mentioned earlier in the post that I’d share the printables that I created for this wall. Some I still use and some I don’t, but were featured in the magazine article.

Calendar

Click to Print: Calendar Printable (for personal use only)

Grocery List / Weekly Menu

Click to Print: Grocery List (for personal use only)

Chore Chart

Click to Print: Chore Chart_2014 (for personal use only)

Reward Chart

Click to Print: Reward Chart (for personal use only)

Peek at the Week ahead

This is a printable I created for the BHG photoshoot, but the idea for this printable came from Jen at I Heart Organizing. I would never want to take someone’s idea and present it as mine, so I’m not sharing a copy of this for you to download. Instead I encourage you to print the one she created (which is much cuter than mine) or be inspired and create your own. Click here for Jen’s Peek at the Week Printable.

If you have any trouble downloading the printables, please let me know. I don’t often create printables, so I hope they are easy to print. From my end, they look good to go!

Later this week I will be guest posting about ways to create a command center in your home over at the Style Spotters blog on the Better Homes and Gardens website. Be sure to check it out and of course, I will share a link.

In the meantime, cheers to 2014 and getting organized + making life simpler for the New Year!

2013 Year in Review + {Link Up}

Written by Jenna on December 30, 2013. Posted in Uncategorized, Year in Review. 14 Comments on 2013 Year in Review + {Link Up}

What a year it’s been. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s gone by in a blink of an eye. Seriously. I don’t think a year has ever gone by so fast. Anyway, the past year has been filled with many unexpected and rewarding opportunities – I can’t be more thankful. As always, it’s fun to look back on all the DIY creations and projects that have been accomplished around the ole’ homestead. Let’s head down memory lane for 2013…

January started out with revamping my central command center with a new chalkboard wall behind. Who knew at the time that it would be chosen to be featured in a national magazine, Better Homes and Gardens (on stands now). Crazy. This 30″ spot in our home is incredibly functional and truly keeps our family on track so we know where we’re going when.

I will mention, since a year ago, this spot has changed once again (as our needs have changed) and it’s one of the first projects I’ll be sharing with you in 2014.

Along with this fun + functional wall, January was also filled with inspiration on starting a blog, fixing unaligned furniture, and turning trash into treasure (lamp to vase).

As we headed into February, the focus was on designing my new office / family room and all the new details that went into creating it like the striped window treatments using paint, the modern to industrial-style coffee table, and the creation of my GIANT inspiration board. The backstory of how the room evolved over the years is quite interesting…

What a busy month!

March was another busy month around my neck of the woods, along with a few client projects. The MEGA craft room with bright + vibrant colors that I had finished was finally ready to be revealed…

…as well as a newly renovated client kitchen. Both were such rewarding projects (and both were photographed for BHG and will be featured later this year). Pinch me again.

April was another exciting month with the start of my powder room makeover. And still to this day, I just LOVE it. The renovation started with removing the existing toilet and sink, then the following month I moved on to wallpapering the space, and installing the new toilet, sink, and accessories.

Also in April, I shared inspiring Spring porches + entryways, ideas for infusing color into the home, and superb Spring mantels. So much INSPIRATION to go around. The biggest project in April though was definitely the creation of the Vertical Garden Pallet for my front porch.

Spring was one of my favorite seasons on the blog because I hosted a beautiful blog series about Creating a Meaningful Home. Many of my blog friends contributed and opened up their homes to share how they’ve created a meaningful home. If you want to see the entire series, this link will take you there.

On the DIY front, May was a big month because we finally tackled the staining of our exterior wood deck. Looking back at the before picture makes me simply shake my head. I can’t believe how desperate it needed some TLC. It was a big project to tackle, but so worth it in the end!

In June, the Creating a Meaningful Home blog series continued, but it was also a month filled with making cute mason jar terrariums with the kids, sharing inspiration on 5 upgrades for a killer kitchen, and my new entry drop space. The entry upgrade has made the foyer space so much more user-friendly and even though it’s not a huge area, extra room for coats and bags has been wonderful.

As the summer rolled around, the powder room kept me busy throughout the month of July. Once it was finally finished near the end of the month, I was able to share the big reveal. What a CHANGE!

During the Summer, I was also asked to become apart of the Apartments.com team as a Brand Ambassador. Through my partnership with Apartments.com I have been able to share ideas + inspiration about living in an apartment and/or a small space. We’re all looking for strategic ways to maximize our space and often with a little planning and outside-of-the-box thinking, a better use of space is possible. As a Brand Ambassador for Apts.com, over the past few months I have shared many easy-to-create DIY projects, like these rope wrapped vases and glasses.

August was a slow month on the DIY homefront, but it was a busy month in general because my family and I hit the road for the biggest roadtrip we’ve ever taken. We headed to Atlanta for the Haven Conference in a 2300+ total mile trip. The trip truly changed my life. I finally got to meet so many friends that I had only known thus far through the computer. It’s amazing how blogging has made such an impact on my life.

Once I returned from Haven, I was still a busy DIY girl! I kept myself occupied with revamping my bookcase backs, sharing inspiration on ideas for open kitchen shelving, and my latest DIY creation – a new pallet gardening table.

Also in late Summer, I became a covergirl by having a space I designed featured on the cover. I had worked with a local magazine called, Saratoga Mama, and their Fall magazine featured a Kids Corner Craft area that I designed. It was such a fun project to be apart of!

As Fall rolled around, and we welcomed September + my 3 year blog anniversary, ideas for a foyer revamp started to fill my head. And when I set my mind to something, I usually can’t let it go. The best part of the foyer makeover was definitely the addition of wide horizontal stripes. Of course, I shared a few tips + tricks I learned to achieve the most perfect stripes…

A few other favorite projects + posts in September were how I created drop cloth curtain panels with a leading edge (one of my most favorite projects to date), my unique Fall wreath with plums + peacock, and ideas + solutions for the wall BEHIND the TV.

In October, I tackled quite a few fun and easy DIY projects like the creation of the stained yellow coffee table with dipped legs, the chevron patterned pillow, and how to bring the outdoors in with Fern Art…

October was also an exciting month because I got to share the final foyer reveal with you. The space has had quite the evolution of styles over the years!

November brought the start of the Christmas decorating season. We started early this year! But before I began showing you all things Christmas around the house, I opened up a secret door in the house. One that is often not revealed to anyone. What am I talking about?? The inside of the kitchen cabinets, of course. But I was okay with opening them up because I reorganized them and they looked fab.

As December rolled on in, the house transformed into a seasonal wonderland. I was honored to be apart of the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk Tour and opened my home for Christmas Tour. I was blessed to be apart of this well-known blogland tour and had a great time showing you around my holiday decorated home.

And to round out this blessed year, my kids and I are currently featured in the I Did It section of the Better Homes and Gardens January issue – which is on stands now. I shared all about the behind the scenes of the day just a few weeks ago.

What a year it’s been. To be honest, not until putting this post together did I realize how much we’ve tackled and accomplished this past year. Like I’ve said so many times, it’s been an incredibly surprising and rewarding year. I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings…

A few of my friends and I are hosting a link up for you to share your “Best of 2013” or “Year in Review” posts. These types of posts are great because they give a fantastic recap into the biggest accomplishments throughout the year.

After you’ve linked up, head on over to Beth, Carrie, and Jessica’s blog where they are sharing their recaps + your “Best of 2013” posts will be seen on their blogs too.

Beth, Unskinny Boppy

Carrie, Making Lemonade

Jessica, Decor Adventures

The only party guidelines: Visit the co-hosts and if you link up, perhaps publicize the party on Facebook or Twitter so others can find out about it as well. The more the merrier!

DIY: Personalized Word Christmas Ornament

Written by Jenna on December 18, 2013. Posted in Christmas, DIY. 7 Comments on DIY: Personalized Word Christmas Ornament

One week to go and Christmas will be here. Can you believe it?

As you know, my home has been decorated for quite a few weeks, but I have still been working on new holiday projects here and there to add to this years decor. Once the house is ‘set’, I still enjoy adding new and unique touches for the season.

Since adding in a second tree this year, which is more of a pretty tree versus the sentimental traditional tree we decorate as a family, I’ve had fun with the gold + brown theme. Along with the ball ornaments, I’ve added in some gold feathers (yes gold + feather in one combo: heaven) and just this past weekend, I jazzed it up even more with my latest DIY creations, word Christmas ornaments…

Super fun, right?! I got the idea from seeing a beautiful vignette in the Garnet Hill catalog. I didn’t see the ornaments for sale (not like I would buy them anyway because they’d probably be $10+) and decided to create my own version.

I started off by grabbing a box (set of 6) of clear bulbs and a gold Sharpie marker at AC Moore. With my 50% off coupon, I ended up getting both items for a few cents over $6. Not bad for 6 ornaments, which = about $1/ornament…

Before putting pen to glass, I wanted to find the perfect font and words to write. I decided on the words Joy, Peace, Shine, Merry. All words that are meaningful around Christmas. For the font, there was a toss up between Jenna Sue and Channel.

In the end, I decided on the Channel font because I thought bigger and bolder would be better, plus it’s a little more forgiving – I’ll tell you why in a moment…

I started out by copying the script font from the computer screen to the ornament.

The result… Not exact, but pretty close.

For each word, I started out with one line, then embellished each letter with thicker lines. This type of font is more forgiving because you can layer and add onto each letter instead of it being a ‘one shot deal’.

Once the first layer of gold Sharpie was dry, I added another layer for a second coat.

Each ornament took about 8-10 minutes, so within about 40-60 minutes, I was done with the project.

All 4 unique and personalized ornaments would be perfect for a gift. Any words could be used. Maybe each ornament could say a member of the family or something silly about the holidays…

Once I was done, the ornaments were ready to immediately hang since Sharpie’s take no time to dry.

So what do you think? A project you’d consider tackling? What type of project does it inspire you to make?

Cozy Adirondack Christmas Porch

Written by Jenna on December 12, 2013. Posted in Christmas, Decorating. 21 Comments on Cozy Adirondack Christmas Porch

Christmas is officially less than 2 weeks away. It’s crazy how the season is passing us by so quickly. Are you ready?

So I’ve got another surprise for you today… Yes, another secret!

Since I shared a tour of the inside of my home last week, it’s time to take you outdoors… to my newly decorated Cozy Christmas Adirondack Porch.

Welcome…

I’m usually so focused on decorating the interior for the Holidays, that the porch often gets little thought and sadly neglected – are you like that? Well not this year!

On a way-too-cold-to-be-outside day a few weeks ago, myself and the troops (a.k.a The Mister and the kids) ventured outdoors to decorate. After a few hours, way too many decorating edits, broken bulbs (and they were brand spank-in new), and a couple of trips to Lowes, I was finally satisified with the result of this year’s cozy adirondack-style front porch. And I have to say, itâ€™s our best yet.

Thankfully I can say that I live in the adirondacks, so having a front porch with a rustic, natural aesthetic is so apropos. (my interior doesn’t really reflect the same look, but that’s okay).

I didn’t start off the porch with a specific idea in mind, but as the family and I started decorating, it all came together (over many cold hours) to create a cozy outdoor haven. We began the transformation by removing some of the porch furniture that we have out for the summer. We left the pretty lutyens bench though, draped a blanket over the back, and added a few pillows – it was the beginning of the adirondack porch.

In front of the bench, I positioned a round table (which is actually an electrical cable spool that I found on the side of the road) and added some festive elements including “dressed-up” mason jars, a lantern, and some pine and berry sprigs.

I said to the Mister that afternoon, “Let’s get some hot chocolate, cuddle under the blanket, and enjoy our newly decorated porch”. Well we all ended up being too chilly and unfortunately ‘sitting and enjoying’ hasn’t happened yet, but it sure looks so inviting.

Would you stop over and have a cup of-something with me?

On the other side of the porch, I created a small festive vignette. I stacked two large slices of cut logs and topped them with a poinsettia and a small pile of pinecones. As a larger and taller anchor, I brought in the potted boxwood (which sits throughout the year next to the garage), two lanterns filled with a large candle, and another poinsettia. The varying heights and sizes of the elements, plus the differing textures, in the vignette, create an interesting composition.

Behind the poinsettia and pinecone vignette, I wanted even more height and added a leftover piece of pallet scrap, which I added a quick coat of white paint to and wrapped with twine. A super simple 3 minute project!

Of course, we needed some greenery on the porch and I surely didn’t fail in that department.

On either side of the front door are two small (3′ high) faux trees decorated with petite ornaments and twine for garland. Plus we added more greenery on the columns with a garland mix of pine and cedar.

The last element that we added to the front porch are the hanging ornaments. This was the last addition and definitely my favorite!

The overall porch…

And alittle more ornament action…

And of course donned on my front door is my whimsical winter wreath that I made a few years ago. Still a favorite.

Thanks so much for taking a tour of my newly decorated cozy adirondack front porch. The porch and/or entryway of a home sets the tone for what’s to come inside. Whether you have a simple wreath on your door or you go all out with lights, festive decorations always bring happy cheers and smiles.

Christmas Home Tour 2013

Written by Jenna on December 4, 2013. Posted in Christmas, Decorating. 35 Comments on Christmas Home Tour 2013

Surprise!

A secret that I’ve been keeping for too long can now be shouted from the rooftops.

I am one (#17 to be exact) of the 25 homes on the amazing Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour. I am so excited not only to show you around my home but to be amongst a great group of Bloggers who are opening their doors this Holiday season.

If you’re new here, you just headed over from the house tour by Vanessa of At the Picket Fence. Wasn’t it amazing?! She has a beautiful home and opened her doors for all to see in the Creating a Meaningful Home series earlier this year. She is just the sweetest person ever!

Ok, well let’s get this tour started. Are you ready?

Welcome. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer) and stay awhile. Let me show you around.

The new addition to this year’s Christmas decor is our new white Christmas tree. Wanting to have a bling, bling pretty tree, this new beauty sits in the blue room, a.k.a. my office / family room. With the dark hue on the walls, the white tree with varying shades of gold & brown ornaments, is the perfect contrast. This room is a favorite of mine in our home because of all the light that comes shining through from dawn to dusk. The filtered light accents the golds + my new disco ball just right!

The coffee table got a quick festive makeover by using a round mirror as the centerpiece topped with a montage of Christmas favorites – gold trees, ornaments, the light turned vase that I created earlier this year, and of course Santa.

Also on the coffee table is my newly created Nate Berkus knock-off wood block candle holder. What do you think? I love how it adds so much height to the vignette.

Transitioning to the dining room, I used a few similar ideas by using another mirror – the clock turned mirror – as the dining room centerpiece topped with more gold trees (that I scored from the Christmas Tree Shop last year) and a small tree adorned with miniature ornaments.

Simply, but elegantly set, our Christmas table is filled with a whole lotta candles – one of my favorite items to decorate with.

The buffet is set with treats for all to enjoy. As I shared earlier in the week, the sidebar / buffet in the dining room is filled with varying sized glass jars, ceramic houses, and other festive decor. My favorite element of the space is the charlie brown tree with colorful ball ornaments. Okay, well it’s really not really a charlie brown tree, but instead branches from my backyard put into a glass jar to bring height to the overall space. It would make a great table centerpiece too.

Also in the dining room is my kids favorite part our home tat the Holidays, the Christmas Countdown Tree that I made using pallets and leftover scraps of wood. It’s such a whimsical, colorful handmade creation!

Heading over to the last space in our home, the living room. Our hang out space…

And there is a peak at our other Christmas tree… The tree that is filled with our family’s sentimental ornaments that we’ve collected, made, and bought over the years.

The main wall of the living room features our mantel and it’s totally decked out for the Christmas season. A large wood panel is set as the backdrop with my newly created vintage-inspired J-O-Y sign as the focal point.

Other pretty festive elements adorn the fireplace and the creme de la creme are the felt + dropcloth Christmas stockings that I made a few years ago.

Another handmade element that we love + adore is the Christmas Card Holder where we treasure and enjoy all the cards and photos that family and friends send throughout the Christmas season. How do you display cards sent to your family?

Well that’s the end of the tour. I wish it wasn’t over, but I really hope you enjoyed our home decorated for Christmas.

Hasn’t the Holiday House Tour been fabulous?! We’re only on day 3 of the tour, and there are many more houses to see. So don’t stop here! Grab another cup of joe and head on over to my friend Roeshel’s house at The DIY Showoff. She is an amazing creator and surely won’t disappoint. ENJOY and Merry Christmas!

Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign

Written by Jenna on November 25, 2013. Posted in Christmas, DIY. 9 Comments on Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign

Happy Monday! What a busy week upon us with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and the official start to the holiday season. As the crazy Christmas sprint begins, I’m thinking simple, easy, and quick. So this weekend, I created this fun + easy vintage-inspired JOYful sign. Scraps of wood and a little bit of paint makes this a simple and very inexpensive creation. It would be great for the mantel, outside patio, or as a gift.

Here’s the breakdown…

Simple-to-follow tutorial on how to create a JOY sign

1. Cut the wood to your desired height and width. I used leftover pallet scraps to create this sign, but you could also use new wood instead. I like the old pallets because theyâ€™re free, plus they have a distressed, worn look, which means no â€œbeating upâ€ the new wood.

2. Create the sign and sand. If you have more than one piece of wood, youâ€™ll need to attach them from the back. Across the two pieces of pallet boards, I nailed two smaller pieces of pallet scraps on the back so the sign stayed together. Then I gave the wood a good sanding on the top and sides.

3. Paint the sign. I painted the base of the sign with plain oleâ€™ white paint leaving some of the raw wood to show through.

4. Outline letters. I freehand sketched the letters J â€“ O â€“ Y on the sign. You could use a stencil or silhouette if you wanted.

5. Paint the letters. Then I filled in the letters with red craft paint. I used about 3-4 coats, but it dried quickly. To give an even more distressed look, I gently went over the surface with a piece of sandpaper (by hand).

And thatâ€™s it. Pretty simple, right?!

Pallet Christmas Countdown

Written by Jenna on November 21, 2013. Posted in Christmas, DIY. 6 Comments on Pallet Christmas Countdown

Christmas is a comin’!

In less than 10 days, we’ll be counting down the 25 days till the arrival of Christmas. To make the countdown a bit more fun and bearable, since for every child (and maybe a few adults) thinks the 25 days leading to the special day are SO LONG, I created a Countdown Calendar in the shape of a tree using my favorite material, pallets and a few other leftover scraps of wood. Check it out…

Isn’t it so colorful? The ornaments truly make it come alive.

When Lowe’s challenged the Creative Team to come up with something for the Holidays, I was so excited to create something unique and perfect to celebrate the coming holiday. Last year, my December project was a creation for holding cards and this year, I wanted to create something just as dynamic. When thinking about a project, I realized we didn’t have a countdown calendar, so that’s what this years project would be.

The project started out by taking 10 steps outside to the garage. Yup, this creation was put together using only materials I already had on hand. This is what I gathered…

Pallet and wood scraps – the more dented and imperfect, the better
Nails (3/4″ – 1″ deep)
Number stencil
Black Sharpie
Hammer
Circular Saw
(25) Colorful ornaments

1. I first started out by looking through my wood scrap pile and leftover pallet scraps. I collected a bunch of pieces all in different colors and sizes. The more imperfect the better.

Then I took some time and put a drawing together to figure out how many rows of wood would be needed and how the 25 ornaments would sit on the “tree”. In the end, 7 tiers worked best and 2 of the rows have 4 nails, creating the 25 spots.

A little math is needed, but it wasn’t tough…

2. Now that the hardest part was over (a little mathematical equations), I laid out the pieces of wood to determine what looked nice next to each other and then the widths of each tier.

On the backs, I then labeled each row.

3. Then using a circular saw, I cut each piece to form the “tree” shape. Once that was complete, I added a scrap piece of wood to the backs of the pieces to attach them together.

Hammer, hammer, hammer using 3-4/” – 1″ nails.

I added a few more pieces of scraps (old paint sticks, to be specific) to the back. This looks kinda messy, but hey, who’s lookin’ at the back???

No more looking at the back. Let’s turn it over to the front where it’s prettier looking.

Now to the nails + the numbers.

4. By eye (no more math needed), I marked the locations for the 25 ornaments. Then I added a nail at each location leaving about 1/2″ exposed for the ornament to hang.

5. Once the nails were in, it was time for the numbers. Using stencils I had from a previous Martha Stewart project, I outlined the numbers with a black sharpie. Again, the more imperfect the better.

Once the numbers were done, the project was complete. And here’s the result…

Plain + Decorated.

I love how it came out…

It’s so colorful and brings such whimsy to our holiday home decor.

The kids love it too and they can’t wait for the 1st of December to arrive to start adding an ornament each day. While we wait, the ornaments that all came from this years Lowe’s collection, sit in the brass light turned container.

I hope you enjoyed my latest creation as much as I. It was fairly easy to make, and I loved that I was able to create it using materials I already had. How much better does it get?! The anticipation and excitement leading to Christmas day can be a bit challenging, but hopefully my countdown calendar makes it a tiny bit more fun.

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