Category: DIY

  • Who Puts Books in a Bookcase?

    This bookcase was old and in a scrap heap ready to go to the dump.  It was dark wood with a ton of stains.  I added a coat of primer and then two coats of Rustoleum’s Heirloom White latex in a can.  After I had a white bookcase, it still didn’t have enough character.  I took some scrapbooking paper with a pattern that appealed to me and used double stick tape to adhere it to the back of the bookcase.  After that, a few of my favorite pairs of shoes, some piggy banks (a girl has to save her money!), handpainted vintage leopard print martini glasses, and some of my favorite photos filled the case.  All my real books are on shelves by my desk.  This is where my pretty books go.

  • How To: Design a Tablescape

    My friends are always asking for tips and tricks on how to organize a fun and festive table.  First, pick your color scheme.  It can be anything.  Don’t limit yourself to what you think should go together… Go with what you like.  For this table, I picked blue, pink, and bright yellow.  I also wanted the overall feel to be chic, yet whimsical.  To achieve a lighthearted feel, mix patterns.  I mixed florals, stripes, and polka dots.  Remember, the only rules are the rules you make for yourself.

    ♥ Add fun and inexpensive touches to your table that go with your color scheme.  To highlight my love of bright yellow, I used lemons, candy sticks, and store bought lemon tea cakes put on a silver platter to appear homemade (cut corners and save time!) ♥

    ♥ Flowers are a great way to add pops of color (and fragrance) to your table.  Hot pink roses sandwiched between lemons inside mason jars were a perfect accent piece ♥

    ♥ I designed all of the menus myself.  Menus and place cards are a perfect way to bring all of your colors together in one place, helping the table to appear cohesive.  Don’t be afraid to mix different fonts and different size fonts.   If you don’t have the knack for graphic design, check out pre-designed menus and invitations online ♥

    ♥ Make sure there is plenty of stemware on your table.  You want your guests to feel welcome… and the more they drink, the more fabulous your decor will look! ♥

  • How To: Make an Inspiration Board

    Inspiration boards are vital.  Visual imagery is an important motivating tool and can also instantly improve your mood, drive, and outlook… Take a corkboard, some images, quotes, photos, anything that you love and tack it up.  The beautiful thing about this is that your inspiration board can change daily.  Fill it with whatever strikes your fancy.

    I covered my board with some of my doodles, favorite photos, cards from people that I love with encouraging words, my icon (Marilyn!), and ticket stubs that remind me of some fabulous events and concerts that I’ve attended.  Cover yours with whatever gets you going.