bee mine scrap wood sign

my unusual yellow palette for Valentine's Day combines with a honey of a theme
in this third of three related projects...

a small piece of scrap wood found in my garage became this cute sign,
which could hang on a wall or sit on a tiered tray or mantel.

the addition of dimensional elements makes it special - and still so easy to create!

paired with my last two projects, it forms a sweet vignette on my mantel.

you can do this! continue reading for the easy how-to...

diy decorative honey pot

my last post shared the darling buzzing bees shown above, along with the honeycomb heart.
those were created as part of an entire 'story' for my mantel...

in this post i'm sharing the second element, a honey pot -
and the easy, clever way i made that honey look SO realistic!

continue reading and join me in creating a BUZZ this Valentine's Day!

scrap paper heart wreath

my penchant for paper often pays off... which is good, because i keep EVERYTHING. 

  old magazines. brochures. cards. shopping bags. even business cards if they're cute!

this past year, i've been a bit better about tearing pages out of mags instead of keeping them.
(i almost broke a drawer in my studio because it was overloaded with heavy magazines.) 

so when my brain comes up with an idea for using said scrap paper
(usually at 3 in the morning)
i have a stash on hand that i can dig into, and it costs me nuthin'.
and you all know how i love making art & decor with everyday stuff!

in December, i shared a wreath like this made from old Christmas cards cut into circles.
this time, i cut paper into heart shapes - you could certainly make a heart-shaped wreath, too!
i even brought out a piece of paper that is one of the most valuable i have:
vintage. Disney. and i CUT IT UP. yeah, call me crazy.
but it's my fave part of this wreath!

continue reading to see how scrap paper becomes art...

diy floral painted hearts

 

there's no LAW that says Valentine's decor has to be pink and red, right?

in keeping with my current infatuation with the Pantone Colors of the Year 2021,
i've decided to adapt them to fit this sweet holiday!
eternally optimistic Illuminating Yellow and soothing, cozy Ultimate Gray
pair up with white in this painted diy project,
while the floral designs impart a romantic, country-fresh, sort of boho vibe.

the inspiration for this technique was inspired by two projects from last fall...
and by something of my Mom's that has always been in my life.

continue reading to see what inspired the patterns AND the before shot!

winter tablescape + diy candle wrap

since my focus for this new year is 'create . decorate . celebrate',
i'm making a concerted effort to do little things for myself more often
in 'celebration' of life and home.

case in point: making an effort to make mealtime more intentional,
 and setting a pretty spot to enjoy it!

cultivating this one habit is an opportunity to step away from the computer
and enjoy some nutritional food, nice music or the sounds of birds outdoors,
and moments of gratitude a few times each day.

it's important to me to make space for that,

and i think often we need a reminder that we don't have to save the nice china for visitors...
we should make the effort even if it's 'just' for ourselves. we're worth it!

continue reading for simple ways to set a pretty table... plus an easy DIY candle wrap!

optimistic outlook in my office

color really can change the way a room feels... and works!
at the beginning of a new year, color can energize us and our work spaces.

when i decided to 'try on' the current trend of a yellow and gray palette, 

i chose my studio/office as a test subject.

previously, i shared the new arrangement around my faux fireplace - 

this color palette also comes into play on my desk and nearby bookshelf
to help organize and cheer up my work space.

by curating not just the color palette but the amount of items in each area,
my office functions better. i have what i need every day at hand.
items i use less are stored in easily accessible areas, and don't overwhelm the space.

and honestly? this happy sunny yellow color affects my mood. (most days).
so if simply bringing in a new color to my space can do all that, i'm all for it!

continue reading to see how impactful a color change can be...

getting cozy for winter...

as i 'try on' the palette of white, sunny yellow and soothing gray
in my studio (my 'decorating laboratory'!),
i'm finding it very easy to get whole new look using what i have here at home.

bringing in soft textures (a fleece blanket, sweater-covered pillows)

and references to warmth (a 'fire' in the faux fireplace, candles, warm hues)

makes this space feel much cozier during these cold days of winter.

maybe you're not into the 'color of the year' palette,

but you're ready for a fresh new vibe as the new year begins...
let me show you how to pull together a whole new look using what you already have!

continue reading for some simple decorating tips...

color your winter decor

let's face it. we're all facing the same 'post holiday decor question':

what do i do NOW?
my house looks so empty after the Christmas decor is down.

do i do winter decor? if i really don't want to go with a 'snowy' look, how do i DO that?

or do i jump right to spring - or stop off for a short visit at Valentine's Day?

if you think that i don't ask those same questions, think again!
honestly? i struggle with the whole 'winter wonderland' look...
 i live in the desert in Southern California. it's cold here, but not snowy.
and i need color. the monotone snowy look isn't my jam anymore.

 
recently, a thought came to me:

color always inspires me, and mother nature never fails to offer inspiration

as each season unfolds with new hues, new color combinations, new life.

thing is, having color in your home doesn't have to look like my holiday theme did - 

a riot of every color in the rainbow. all at the same time.

sometimes, it is the addition of one hue to a soft neutral background

 that adds what i call 'a punctuation point' in a room.

just a touch goes a long way. and it doesn't have to cost a thing!

continue reading to see what is inspiring me this winter...

rainbow paint chip table runner

the two bright, colorful tablescapes featured in my last post
are built on top of this rainbow-hued runner.
made from paint chips and freezer paper and a glue stick. SO easy!
and right about now in the holiday season....easy is good.

continue reading for the super-simple 'how-to'...

colorful holiday tablescapes

Christmas is a time of year when adults actually get to behave like kids.
it's completely socially acceptable to love cute decor and cute wrapping paper
and watch all kinds of cute, animated movies and tv specials.

let's just take that idea and use it to fuel our imaginations
when it comes to creating a merry and bright tablescape!

it doesn't take much work - and the results are like Candyland...

continue reading to see two versions of a colorful tablescape,
along with a few 'table tips'...

diy painted gift wrap ribbon

 

faced with a creative challenge, i usually turn to paint as a solution.

unable to find THE ribbon i had envisioned in my mind, i made my own.

time consuming? yeah. but very inexpensive, and totally worth the effort.

and yes, you can do this, too - no advanced paint techniques needed.

continue reading to see how completely devoted to a theme i can be!

merry & bright gift wrap

half the fun of giving gifts at Christmas is wrapping them!

i've come up with some easy ways to make gift tags, bows, and even wrapping paper

that coordinate with my colorful 'merry and bright!' theme this year...

continue reading for some easy creative gift wrap ideas!

merry mantel paint chip decor

'merry', indeed!

in the first of three different mantel decor projects i'm sharing with you this week,

the element of paint chips in this years' holiday decor is at the fore...

both the framed art and the paper chains make use of a rainbow of colorful paint chips

(sourced from my local Sherwin Willimans dealer),

in simple art projects that both adults and kids will love.

continue reading for details! 

rainbow colorized wreath

switching up my holiday decor themes each year is a lot of fun,
and it doesn't cost a lot to make a change...

this white wreath was just $6 at a local thrift shop four years ago,
and i've reworked it with colorful ornaments to match my colorful tree.

most of those ornaments i already had,
a few i grabbed at thrift shops and Dollar Tree to fill out my color palette.
( all told, i spent less than ten dollars on this)
attaching them to the wreath was a quick undertaking,
and the impact is uplifting - indoors or out!

continue reading for a few wreath decorating tips...

diy paint chip ornaments

nestled in with the brightly colored ornaments in my rainbow garlanded tree
are these ornaments that i made using paint chips.

a note about using paint chips, if i may....

i sauntered in to my local paint store and asked for old paint chips - 

and they handed me an armload of fan decks! FREE!

(i nearly skipped out the door...)

i highly recommend making this effort to procure paint chips responsibly.
i emphatically discourage raiding paint chip displays in home improvement stores.
just to be clear.

making these ornaments is pretty simple - it's a scissors & paste kinda' craft project!

continue reading for the easy tutorial for all three styles of ornaments... 

rainbow colorized Christmas tree

i really think Joanna and Cleo of The Home Edit would LOVE this Christmas tree!
a brilliant white tree with bright color ornaments, arranged in rainbow ROYGBIVP order 
("it's a SYSTEM!" - if you know, you know)

a place for everything and everything in its place, right?!

okay, so, yesssss, i've been watching The Home Edit on Netflix. a LOT.
and yessssss, it has indeed had an influence on my Christmas decor this year.
i was also inspired by an Insta photo of a huge garland made of balloons...
that spurred the idea to create a 'garland' of colorful ornaments
that were arranged in color order.

continue reading to hear more about where those ornaments CAME from
and see how easy this approach to tree decorating is!

creative Christmas tree skirts

i'm going to confess that i have never used a store-bought tree skirt

on any of my own Christmas trees. NEVER.

it's not that my trees go bare-legged, it's just that i use different things under them than most people:
vintage petticoats, silky satin formal skirts, my wedding dress!, rugs,
old wood crates, and more tablecloths than i can count. Oh, and a fuzzy blanket!.
i've even used.... wait for it... pine branches. simple, right?

this year's happy colorful theme called for some FUN under the tree,

and i've come up with two different ways to do that by repurposing other items.
one involves some crafting, and will work on any size tree.
the other is for a small tree,
and was so easy i could hardly believe i hadn't thought of it before.

i hope they both make you take a look at whatever tree skirt you've been using
and think twice... about maybe trying something different this year.
now, let's get creative!

continue reading for the easy diy tutorials...

merry and bright

anyone else agree with me that we really need a MERRY Christmas?!

2020 has been hard. we all know that.

as the holiday season approaches, we all seem to be

looking forward to decorating our homes and trees and front doors

to welcome the joy of the season - even if we can't welcome guests.

while the holidays might look different than usual this year,

we can all certainly make the best of them - and of us.

let's look to our childhood memories to fuel our imaginations,

and create a mood that brings a smile to the faces of those we love.

let's make it merry and bright!

continue reading to see what inspired me...

diy paper paint chip leaf wreath

as i was preparing to create holiday content for the blog this year,

i sourced some paint chips (paint color cards, etc) as supplies for my chosen theme.

and i want to be perfectly clear about WHERE i sourced them:
i didn't take these paint chips from the displays at the hardware or paint store.
i asked the manager of my local paint store if they had any OLD paint fans
that might not be in use any more (because new ones come out every year)...
and they handed them over with a smile. FREE.
a very happy Deb with arms full of paint fans nearly skipped out the door.

but as it so happens, while i was in the midst of creating decor for Christmas... 
another FALL decor idea hit me. so i stopped, and created this fall decor.
(i endeavor to NOT anger my muse!)

it's so simple, you could make the leaves from any kind of paper -
gift wrap, paper bags, scrapbook paper, wallpaper scraps!

continue reading for more details and the easy how-to...

fall flip: guest room update

back in August, i shared the no-cost makeover i created in our guest room - 
a cool, refreshing boho mod style in tones of greens and accented with succulents.

no one has come to stay with us since then, but i've just updated the decor...

and even though there isn't a pumpkin or a leaf in sight,
adding the color orange really works to to bring in a 'fall' mood.
(it's still hot here. but it's October now, so i have to accept the inevitable!)

continue reading to see how a few small changes made a BIG difference

 in the way this room feels...