. -->

view ALL Christmas decor themes! click here

Showing posts with label TOP TIPS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TOP TIPS. Show all posts

7.01.2021

summer sand pail centerpiece

beach style,coastal style,summer,DIY,diy decorating,dollar store crafts,entertaining,tablescapes,flowers,Fourth of July,seashells,TOP TIPS,yellow,summer tablescapes,summer home decor,home decorating,dollar tree decor,beachy summer decor
summer's here, and it's time to relax and kick back.
that includes taking it easy with decor for home & parties...
so i'm sharing one of my fave summertime decorating tips.

this easy idea is a perfect happy everyday accent -
perhaps on a hallway console or dining table, 
or even at your front door.
it's also fun for a party - and no, not just for kids!

pssst.... continue reading to find out two secrets about that sand!

4.02.2021

easy no-mess Easter basket grass

colorful home,Pantone color of the year,decorating,diy decorating,DIY,Easter,TOP TIPS,fast cheap and easy,dollar store crafts,gift wrapping,spring,simple solutions,re-purposing,thrifted,Easter baskets,Easter basket grass,yarn,use what you have decorating,Easter basket tips and tricks,Easter decorating,yellow,Illuminating Yellow,Pantone 2021,diy decorating tips.
while i have always loved creating holiday decor,
i do have my limits... Easter grass is one of them.

(my theory is it was created by the same people who invented Legos.
to drive parents - specifically the parent who does the cleaning - batty.)

since i hate the mess  of plastic grass strands wrapped around the vacuum bar!!,
i've found other materials to use in Easter baskets that reduce the mess and fuss.
yes, paper shred works - but it's still a mess.

i've found a way to get the same effect as grass
without the resulting mess and cleanup...
and you might be really surprised at how cheap and easy this solution is!

continue reading for my sly little trick (that has an added benefit!)...

11.11.2020

my top tree lighting tip...

Christmas, Christmas decorating, Christmas tree, Christmas tree lights, Christmas lights, Christmas decor, lighting, stylist secrets, decorator tips, holiday decor, holiday, diy holiday decor, diy, diy home decor, diy decorating, tree lights, December decor, winter holiday decorating, winter holidays, tree lighting tips
this photo may be a bit of a surprise after my last post...
before we get to the merry & bright colorful decor,
i have a tree-lighting tip to share with you that is guaranteed to up the sparkle factor
on any tree you decorate!

continue reading to see what my no-fail tree lighting trick is...

9.10.2020

3 upcycled paint palette ideas

painting, paint supplies, upcycled, recycled, repurposed, salvaged, art, crafts, crafting, hobbies, paint palettes, paint containers, thrifty craft supplies, use what you have, thrifty home decor, Tupperware, Trader Joes, craft supplies
paint.
it's a magical substance that can easily and inexpensively change everything it touches.

want a dark room to seem more light and spacious? paint it a light hue.
want a damaged piece of stained wood furniture to look fresh and new? paint it.
want to create stunning decor in a room without spending a lot? paint a mural or wallpaper effect.


i've been painting things all of my life, and along the way, i've learned a few things...
like supplies for painting & crafting don't have to be new and from the art supply store.
just like in diy home decor, it's easy to upcycle / repurpose household items!


continue reading for my top three ideas for paint palettes...

11.28.2019

deb's top tree lighting tip

When it comes to lighting the Christmas tree at home, I'm a purist...
I like white lights: Mini, C7, C9, bubble, whatever kind I use, they are white.
Maybe you like multicolor - or ONE color!

Whatever your preference is,
 
I have a tip for you when it comes to lighting the tree
(and how many of you are tackling THAT job this weekend?!)
that is guaranteed to up the sparkle factor!

continue reading to see what my ONE STEP TRICK is!

8.15.2018

refresh those dried topiaries!

art class, decorating, DIY, diy decorating, fall, farmhouse style, fast cheap and easy, junk makeover, junking, makeover, neutrals, rustic style, summer, TOP TIPS, transitional style, topiaries, crafting,
years ago, i unearthed these two identical topiaries at the bottom of a thrift store bin.
i actually pulled on the first one because i saw the brass urn shape - never expecting anything to be attached.
when i saw the TOPS of the topiaries, i was underwhelmed.
however, i eyed them with my 'well, MAYBE they could be SOMETHING' look, 
and paid the whopping 50 cents each to take them home. 

the photo above was taken in one of my booths at a vintage show, 
where those two cheap topiaries (after a blow-dry cleaning and a bit of 'fluffing') sold for $12. EACH.
one man's trash, right?!!! it's easy to turn junk into decor!
.
i see dried up and worn out topiaries all the time, and chances are you might HAVE one - 
so i thought i'd share some easy tips with you for 'refreshing' them.
continue reading for details...

6.07.2018

5 easy ways to summerize!

beach style, diy, diy home decor, decorating, slipcovers, white, summer, summer style, simple solutions, top tips, decorating tips, resort style, staycation style  
it's summertime... and the livin' should be easy!
it's time to simplify, lighten up, and create rooms that welcome a casual, fun, active lifestyle
to enjoy over the next few months.
i have a few simple ideas to make your home feel like a resort all summer long
without having to spend a lot of your vacation / stay-cation cash!

here are my top five tips for adding summer style to your rooms:

11.25.2017

oh, Christmas tree!

 my friends, I just don't 'do' Black Friday.
that one horrifying trip to the mall for a Cabbage Patch Doll back in the early 80's was enough.
I was an 19 year old new mommy and was seriously traumatized by it all.
.
ever since, I've spent the day after Thanksgiving 
happily hiding from the world and decorating my house for Christmas...
and then that turned into decorating other people's homes and businesses.
in the course of decorating all those trees
(about 25 trees each year, give or take - that's a lotta' tree decorating!)
I've learned some helpful tips and come up with some ideas:

i also turned a really cheap material into fun 'tomato cage' Christmas trees!

this year, I've been making some trees
 'found' materials have been a big part of that process...
 last year, I created and shared a 'vintage lace Christmas tree' on a tomato cage
this year, I shrunk the idea down to size!

recently I found some funky old bristle brushes in a thrift shop, 
and of course I don't SEE them as that - I saw TREES!
they turned out exactly as I envisioned them, and I really like 'em!
I mean, REALLY like them. I am torn about selling them.... 

I've shared a lot of Christmas tree decor themes over the years,
and I hope they continue to inspire you!

The tree is up and fluffed and lit in our living room, but I have NO IDEA
what the theme will be this year... we'll see what I come up with
as soon as I get alllllll those decor boxes out of the garage and into the house!
(The only tip I have for that is 'get help!')

to all who are visiting from the Funky Junk Interiors DIY Salvage Junk link party, welcome!

8.11.2016

project homeward: lovin' the laundry room

Since there are limited projects I can undertake right now, 
I'm focusing more on the 'organizing' part than the 'decorative'.
I try to work some decorating into everything, though ;) 

That was the case with the laundry room project... 
make it work well, AND make it pretty!
...and can I just say first what a JOY and a BLESSING it is to HAVE a laundry room?!
To not have to schlep everything out into the garage where the dust bunnies reign?
After spending a lifetime doing just that, my Mom is positively giddy over having this room!

Up above you see a 'before' on the left and an 'after' on the right.
It's small stuff, really it is - it just all adds up to a big change. And I did it all in one day!

I cleaned up the exposed shelves, arranging the contents as uniformly and neatly as I could,
many of them contained by function in simple plastic containers from Dollar Tree.
Then it was time to make it LOOK good!
I began with the tall cabinet... three coats of some white semi-gloss paint 
(which was the trim paint that we brought with us from the old house)
and it looks fresh and new - and also looks less 'heavy' in the small laundry room.
It now holds reusable fabric shopping bags and stuff we take to the pool!

You may remember that cabinet from this Thrifty Tropical Makeover post,
where it's shown out on the back patio at my parent's old house:
We're just re-purposing what we already have, saving money and being creative!
(Yes, we brought the patio furniture and the swing, too... more of them soon)

So as long as I had the paint out, I decided to get creative...

That space over the shelves is HUGE and needed a decorative touch.
I went into the garage and grabbed one of four vintage cabinet doors that I've had for a few years
(found them by a dumpster near my former storage unit!)
and painted a vintage-looking sign:
blank door, cleaned up                                   measured & penciled lettering  

 painted lettering first coat                           second coat, with more detail added

...and my BIG TIP? Use a 'Magic Eraser' sponge to erase the pencil marks! ;)
It won't leave marks or affect the paint finish like an actual eraser does. 

PS: yes, I freehand stuff like this. 
I've had years of practice painting things - from signs to furniture to murals - 
and I frankly don't want my signs to have a computer font that everyone else uses from a template.

The sign took me about half an hour, start to finish.
It fills in this big space, adding some contrast, visual punch, and graphic interest to the room.
It's actually the first thing you see when you look through the doorway...
Because I knew that there would be items sitting in front of the sign here,
I didn't make it complicated. Just simple letters.

After that sign was done, I made another one... using an old sign from one of my show booths...
 I repainted it white, sanded the edges to rough it up, and added the letters and graphic. 
I like the way it LOOKS - but I like the way it WORKS even better:
The hand towels hanging on it cover the unsightly box where the water hoses connect! 
(The washer & dryer sit opposite the shelves shown in the other photos.)

In a plastic storage bin out in the garage
(you've figured out that the garage is basically a storage unit filled with boxes, right?! No cars yet!)
I found bags of  heavenly handmade soaps and bath products from Tamila at Urban Farm . 
These were in my beautiful island farmhouse - in storage since I left it five years ago. 
They smell SO good, and look so gorgeous -  I knew I wanted them on display again.
And then I remembered the jars! Mom saves jars. BIG jars.
(we eat a lot of Kalamata Olives, what can I say?!)
I grabbed the jars, and quickly cut some stickers to cover up the original labels.
No, it's not cheating to not remove the original labels, OK?! 
It's lazy, but it's not cheating!


When I filled the jars with the soaps and bath salts, and put them on the shelf,
the room just bloomed with beautiful scents. It really does smell as good as it looks!
Plus, dig that sweet little label that was on one of the bath salt bags - JOY. uh huh.

You see some wrapping paper in there, along with a few plastic bags too...
AND a tiny tin can  - this is his backside. 
His front is a Pumpkin Face - one of my original Painted Pails.
The 'bucket' holding the plant on top of the cabinet is a stack of plastic pumpkin buckets, facing backward.

This stuff is here simply because it's orange...
I'm a sucker for a color story!

shared online:

cupcakes & crinoline | project inspire{d}

5.11.2016

Deb and the Disney Darlings



A few weeks back, I wrote a guest post for the Disney Darlings blog.

Haven't heard of that one yet? ;)
The Darlings share photos, video, news, and tips for enjoying all things Disney, 
contributed by bonafide Disney Fans & Experts who, like me,
have spent their lives being enchanted by the magic at The Happiest Places on Earth.

Chock-full of tips that will help you out on your next visit to Disney's Original Magic Kingdom,  
gives you locations in each 'land' in the Park where you can find 
a little bit of shade, quiet, a place to sit or get a snack, restrooms, and peace of mind.
That's especially helpful information to have when you take young children to the Park.




I've been lucky enough to have grown up visiting Disneyland. Visiting a lot...


My grandpa and uncle were electricians who helped build several attractions in the Park
(It's a Small World, Tiki Room, Mr. Lincoln, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean)
and we lived just blocks away.
I marched down Main Street USA with my high school marching band & color guard many times,
and I was a Cast Member at the Disneyland Resort, working in the retail stores as a visual specialist.
My whole family gathered at Disneyland in July, 2014 for a huge family reunion.


In the process of spending time there throughout my life
as a child, a teen, an adult, a cast member, an aunt, a parent AND a grandparent,
I've discovered some tricks and tips that can make all the difference!
When the opportunity came to share those tips with the readers of Disney Darlings,
I was honored to provide them with content on a subject so dear to my heart.

I hope you enjoy it, too...


Click on over to the Disney Darlings blog to read my post!


Do you know about the Baby Care Centers that Disneyland offers free of charge?
These locations offer quiet space where you can care for your infant/toddler's needs...
Learn more in this MousePlanet blog post!


3.13.2014

fool the eye spring flowers

We all love bringing beautiful blooms home from the nursery, don't we?!
Their happy colors bouncing on long stalks bring energy and life to our surroundings.
I had this pot of GORGEOUS yellow tulips - which you saw in the photo below in a recent post.

And then the Santa Ana winds blew. I think the yellow tulip petals all ended up in the Pacific Ocean.
And the potted tulip looked like THIS:


Well, as a stylist who has had to come up with instant solutions on a budget for client event decor, 
I have a fail-proof tip for making bulbs RE-bloom. In the SAME SEASON:

FAKE IT!
Yep.... use fake flowers.  
You just have to use them in a way that no one notices!
Here's what you do:
 * Grab some decent quality silk tulips in your favorite color.

* Strip the leaves from the stems, and bend the stems rather haphazardly to look natural.

* Insert the stems into the REAL FOLIAGE still in the plant pot.
[I stuck these down on the lowest tier of leaves, right up next to the real stem.
You can see the top of the real stem in the photo - I cut that down as low as I could after the shot.]

Five minutes later, you end up with a rather convincing blooming potted tulip:
I don't recommend this for table centerpieces, 
as they are too close to the viewers' eyes to pull off the fakery with class.
It's a GREAT solution for florals that will be located 
on a stage, at an entrance, or in a photo set backdrop.
Since the foliage is real, the flowers fool the eye into thinking THEY are real, too.
I used to tuck REALLY nice faux roses into the backs of large arrangements for events,
to help fill out the form and help the budget along (they can be re-used!).
I'm talking million-dollar events at wineries, photographed by media.
No one EVER noticed the fakes!

Last Spring, I shared another 'bloomin' flower secret'
and my tips on creating vintage-look faux flowers

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}