NEW sweet sweater SNOcakes!

after i posted my gingerbread sweater cake at the end of December,
i began seeing all kinds of 'sweater cakes' online...

this gorgeous image from Lion Brand Yarn came up in my IG feed 
and MANY others are popping up on Pinterest -
utterly gorgeous real cakes that are frosted to look like cable knit sweaters.

i was particularly drawn to the white winter-y ones and knew i could replicate the look.
since i had everything i needed to create a faux cake,
i got busy creating my own 'Sweet Sweater' version.
and since it's still decidedly winter, i thought i'd share it here on the blog...
it's too late for more Valentine's Day decor, anyway!

continue reading to see the details - plus a few surprises!

use heart-shaped cake tins as decor!

just in case you need a very last-minute Valentine's Day decorating idea,

here's a cute idea using heart-shaped baking pans and cookie cutters!

i mean, why NOT use what you have on hand to decorate?!

continue reading to see the details in this bonus post!

painted 'heart art'

Valentine's Day is almost upon us...
 i had a 'Valentine' project idea, and started on it... then stopped. 

it just wasn't going the way i wanted. 

after taking a break and surfing Instagram, i had a NEW idea!

(do you have any idea how MANY 'ideas' never make it to the blog?!!!
creating is a process - and sometimes, that process doesn't work as planned!)

the original project plan became THIS and i'm much happier with the results.

i owe that to two other people - continue reading to find out why!

'gilded' hearts

i guess i'm just different.
while the majority of people i see on social media are rushing to Target
for the release of new items every season and holiday,
i'm over here digging thru bins in my garage and studio
to find things i can revitalize and reuse to decorate my home.

case in point: these painted hearts.

i had an idea rolling around in my head to try to replicate gold leaf,
so i pulled these out and found two ways to try out my idea.
it cost me nothing at all! i had everything i needed on hand already.
and i didn't need any more storage space to keep a new project in!
(can you imagine if i kept every.last.project. i have ever made???
i'd have far more bins and boxes and shelves filled than i already do.
i'd have spent a lot more money, too!)

continue reading to see how i got these effects...

make a cozy pillow cover!

when i started this blog waaaay back in 2012,

i used the tagline 'fast, cheap & easy' - a LOT.

it's a big part of how my projects evolve -

based on my 45+ year career as a retail display designer & stylist.

in my profession, things aren't made to last forever - just a season.

that's a big part of why i use and RE-use elements & materials in my projects!

by doing that, i can avoid having even more stuff in storage bins than i already do

and i can have fun finding new ways to use everything i have on hand.

THIS 'fast, cheap & easy' project came about in the funniest way - 

continue reading to find out what i used and how easy it is to make!

cozy yarn-wrapped winter wreath

yes, Deb's gone a *bit* 'loopy' lately!
this soft chenille loopy yarn is finding its way into several projects around here
because it's so FUN - and makes me think of snow. (okay, and frosting! LOL)

i've found another way to use it for a winter home decor accent,
and i hope this easy tutorial inspires you to give it a try!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

cozy yarn-wrapped candles

you may have spied these in my last post...

they're a new take on one of my fave early projects:

sweater-wrapped vases. only these are yarn-wrapped vases!

they are a fun way to cozy up your home decor in wintertime.

this material has the effect of fluffy white powder snow that is perfect for the season.

continue reading for the easy how-to AND an important safety tip...

warm new year greetings

happy new year, my friends!
i hope 2023 finds you healthy and happy...
every year, i learn something new. sometimes MANY somethings.
and this past year, i think i could sum up what i learned as:
"sometimes, you just have to do the thing."

this winter i've added a new element to my studio, shown in the photo above -

it's a heater that looks like a wood stove, 

and it works perfectly in tandem with my fake fireplace mantel built in 2020!

i had been thinking about doing this for over a month, but put it off.
(procrastination is my biggest challenge, seriously.)

then in Mid-December the temps dropped waaaaay lower than normal,

and my studio windows frosted over.
sometimes nature gives us a lil' helping hand to get us moving.

continue reading to learn more about my solution...