Desk Set-The Rest of the Story

Today we're going to finish up the Desk Set that we started a few weeks ago so that next month we can get on with some serious crafting in time for Christmas. (Make sure to read the whole post to learn about MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!)

A few weeks ago I showed you the beginning of the Desk Set with some pencils and pretty clips.  To round out your set and make your work space look ultra pretty we're going to add: a small container for paperclips, a picture frame, a pencil holder, and a drink coaster.

This project is so simple but in the end looks super cute.  Keep in mind that you don't have to use only one kind of paper.  Use different patterns from the same series or collection to get a really swank look.  My favourite paper to use right now is paper napkins.  They're the easiest to use with the glue and they come in so many beautiful patterns.

Basically, we're just going to decoupage anything we can get our hands on! Yeah!  I love decoupaging!

Here are the supplies I used:

Steps:
1) Cut your paper to fit whatever item you'll be applying it to.  Here, I traced the bottom of the small ceramic container and cut it out to fit inside.

2)Just apply your modge podge to the surface that you want to add the paper to:



I think it's time for a new brush!

3)Place your paper on top of the modge podge.  And now for the fun part....add another layer of modge podge on top.  This is when I usually pull out my Sparkle Modge Podge.  It seals the paper down and gives it a smooth and shiny finish.  And the Sparkle Mod Podge gives it an extra something.

Make sure to go just a little outside the edge of the paper to seal it in.  The glue will dry clear so don't worry about making a mess.

Now, we just do the same with all of the other pieces!


Drink Coaster

I used an empty pasta sauce jar to make a holder for all those pretty pencils we made last time:

Pencil Holder

This little alcove desk in my kitchen usually ends up collecting all sorts of junk.  I actually had to take away a pile of stuff before I took this photo:


My desk BEFORE

I think I've heard on both Nate Berkus and the Oprah show that when you have a nice looking space to do work in that you will actually use it and you won't clutter it up with garbage.


My desk NOW

I think they're on to something.  I've had my pretty accessories set up on my desk for a week now and it's still in good shape. Eventually I'm going to paint the wall behind with both magnetic and chalk board paint and get rid of that little inspiration board.

A whole set like this would make an excellent Christmas gift for a co-worker or someone who's going back to school~

And now for THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!

OK, here's the deal.  If you are signed up as a follower AND I have at least 50 followers by the end of November I will choose one randomly numbered comment from this post and giveaway one set of 4 pretty clips with 4 pretty pencils!

All you have to do is click that Follow button on the side bar and leave a comment at the end of this post telling me which colour you would like if you win, Asian Blue or Pretty Peach:



Asian Blue



Pretty Peach





Tell your friends and family to sign up.  There are no hidden shipping fees and it doesn't matter what country you're from...the more the merrier!

Good luck, have fun, and spread the word!

Whoo hoo!  I have a new top referrer this week.  Head over to Tatertots and Jello and check out Jen's great crafty ideas, linky parties, and giveaways~

As always I'll be posting this project at the linky parties throughout the week.  Check them all out under the linky tab at the top of the page.

Inspiration Shot-Notre Dame Gargoyle

This is about the spookiest travel pic I have.  On a very grey and rainy day in Paris a few years ago, I climbed to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral...and here's who greeted me:

I hope he helps inspire you as we head into Halloween weekend~

Show and Tell: Halloween Costumes

In the spirit of Halloween I thought I'd share some of my past Halloween costumes with you.

I can only remember one year, when I was about 3 or 4, when my mom purchased my Halloween costume (Barbie Bride).  From then on she always made my costumes, either sewing them from scratch or using things we had around the house, and I have proudly carried on that tradition throughout the years.

I was all set to go back to my university days and share my pics with you of me dressed up as a hippie, and a vampire, and a pirate.  And then I took a look at the photos, and remembered that they were all taken in the 80's and 90's.  I realized that I 'm not quite ready to share my big hair days with all of you just yet....maybe next year.

So for now, I'll show you my top 2 favourite Halloween costumes from my past:

#2-Star Trek (original series)

It's not a great picture but trust me this is a great costume!  So great that I actually call it my uniform...not my costume.  I made it from scratch with the perfect polyester fortrel and ironed on the communicator emblem.  If I could wear it on days other than October 31st I probably would.  I'm not even going to ask you if you think that's weird because I'm pretty sure I already know the answer~

#1-Flower Fairy

I love this outfit the most.  I just took a slip and hot glued lots and lots of fake flowers to it and then basted some netting onto the bottom.  It's so pretty!  If you look closely in the first picture you can see my home made wings too!

I was living in Japan when I made this and had only been there for a couple of months when I went to a Halloween party/dance in this.  Throughout the night people had to vote on their favourite costume and I made it to the finals!  Unfortunately I lost to a fellow dressed up as Kim Jong Il.  I'm not sure his costume would've been quite so popular or even recognizable at that time if we had been in North America but I have to admit, he really did look like him. 

However, I only just noticed now that my little number card that I was holding was backwards.  Maybe I should've won after all!  Hey!  Kim Jong Il!  Get back here with my prize!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  Are you a flower fairy kind of girl or would you like to spend some time with Jean-Luc Picard????? (Next Generation, I know, but don't make me get all nerdy on you and explain time travel~)

Hey you guys!  I just entered my Flower Fairy Costume into another contest.  Check out While He Was Napping and give me a vote.  I have some very, very good competition~

Disco Pumpkins

Have you ever hid something away for safe keeping so that you wouldn't lose it, only to lose your mind looking for it a week later????

That's what happened to me this week as I was preparing for this week's project.  It's still driving me a bit bonkers because I still can't find my packet of hot pink glitter.  In the end I bit the bullet and bought another packet, a girl can never have to much glitter right?  (I know there's a Mariah Carey joke in there but let's just take the high road and move on...)

So, I may have mentioned before that I don't have any kids living with me.  And that's probably the only reason that I don't go all out for Halloween.  This year though I thought I'd do at least a little something, even if it's only for the trick or treaters that come by for candy.

There are lots of sparkly pumpkins out there in blogland but I wanted to try it out with something a little less traditional.  So, I used pretty hot pinks and purples to go with the rest of the decor in my studio.  Just imagine Halloween in Barbie's dream house and then you'll get the feel for what I'm going for.

The first pumpkin I did was pretty straightforward.

Here are the supplies I used:

Steps
1) I started with the small plastic orange pumpkin and began by applying glue to one section of the pumpkin at a time and then sprinkling glitter on that section:

2) Repeat step one on alternate side.  I'm not sure if this is true on real pumpkins, but fake ones always seem to be divided into 10 sections, so you can line up your colours across from each other to maintain consistency and avoid running two stripes of the same colour beside one another.

I used a dry brush when I was finished with the glittering to sweep it off the next section.  Then I had a clean area for gluing.

3)Continue this with all of the other colours of glitter that you have until all sections are covered.

4)Top off your pumpkin with a sparkly hat and you're done!  If your pumpkin will be handled alot and if you want to keep it for more than one year, I would also add a layer of some kind of spray varnish to seal in the sparkles.

I had also picked up the little glass jar pumpkin too and thought I would do the same treatment to it until I saw this painted glass pumpkin at keen inspirations where Sharon painted the inside for a nice glowy mood.

So, I decided to give the striped glitter method to the glass jar on the inside this time.  Tacky glue dries clear so it works fine.  I do wish I had a smaller brush though, the sponge brush made things a little messy.

Did I mention that this project is a little messy???

I started with the lid because I wasn't sure I wanted to commit myself to doing the whole jar on the inside.  Here's the finished lid from the inside:

Before the glue had dried I was a bit worried about the outside.  It looked pretty bad and I kept wondering if it looked like something I would've made in grade two.  But when it finally dried, I was pleasantly surprised.  It actually glitters and sparkles on both sides!

I did decide though that I don't have the patience to do the rest of the inside of the jar.  It makes it look a bit more like an acorn but that's ok.  I'm happy with it this way and now I can actually put some candies inside and not worry about them being completely covered in glitter when they come out....although, like I said earlier, you can never have too much glitter!

What do you think?  Now that I'm covered in glitter I think me and my little pumpkin buddy are ready for the disco.  Are you going to join us?

Happy Halloween!

Make sure to check back next week....I'll be announcing my first giveaway for anyone who has signed up to be a follower here at Etcetorize!

Between Naps on the Porch was my top referrer last week so go check out Susan's blog for more fun ideas and giveaways!


I'll be posting the disco pumpkins at the other linky parties throughout the week, check them out on the linky tab above.

Inspiration Shot: Zanzibar

The name Zanzibar alone is enough to conjure up all kinds of exotic ideas but I like this photo too.  I love the way the colours of the sunset sky just gradually melt into one another.  The silhouetted boats add to the calmness.  Can you hear the water lapping onto the shore?



Zanzibar Sunset

Show and Tell: Kids Capes Sneak Preview!

I know I said this section was going to be only for things that don't make it into the Etcetorize shop but I'm so excited this week to be adding a new section that I just had to share it with you here! (So excited I'm even posting Show and Tell a day early~)

I sew alot (ALOT) for my niece and nephew but wasn't crazy about making kids clothing to sell.  Mostly because I figured whenever I'd make something I'd probably just end up giving it to them anyway.  But this past week I made a whole bunch of the same thing in different sizes and decided to post them on Etsy.

So, a brand new section of kids clothes will be opening up!  I'm starting with reversible capes that I think look super trendy for your little one.

Two capes in one!














Besides....this just gives me one more chance to show off my new model.  This was her first modelling job and I think she did great!

 

Capes are the IT item for fall according to all the magazines.  I love these because they're easy to put on and because they're two layers, they're still nice and cozy for fall.

Let me know what you think.  What else would you like to see in my new kids section?

Sharp Corners Ahead

I'm in the middle of a washroom make-over that I hope I'll be able to reveal to you someday soon...as in sometime before Christmas.  In the meantime I thought I'd give you a sneak peak into one of the many projects I have underway.

I've mentioned before that my home is very old and one of the great things about an old house is that standard rooms are rarely standard in size or character.

My washroom is rather grand by today's sizes.  In all likelihood it was probably a bedroom at one time in its life.  Right now it has a long make up table attached to the wall that needs a chair to make it a little more luxe.

I found this stool at a flea market quite awhile ago for about $5.  Even that was probably too much to pay for it but I could envision it the room and could see what it could be, so I handed over my $5 and promptly brought it home and painted it white (it used to be a lovely shade of flat brown~)

Today I'll show you how I made a cushion to add some style...and comfort.

Here are the supplies that I used:



Add some fibrefill or stuffing to this list to really make your cushion puffy.

Steps:
1)Cut your foam to fit the seat of the chair or stool.

2)Lay the foam on top of your fabric and measure 2" all the way around.

3)Create notches at corners by measuring 5/8" from each edge of the foam and extending.  Cut notches out.







4)Use your cut out piece of fabric as a pattern to cut out a second piece exactly the same size.

5)Sew long side seams together and one short end together with a 6/8" seam allowance.

-Don't worry that your seams aren't lining up right at the corner in the notches, they're not supposed to.

6)Pinch the corner and fold so that all edges are even and seams are matching.  Stitch a 6/8" seam across.

7)Do the same to the other end but only sew a couple of inches in on each end of the short end so that you can still create corners but leave an opening for you to insert your foam.

8)Turn so that the right side of the fabric is on the outside and squeeze your foam inside through the opening on the end.  I used 2" thick foam so I still have some wiggle room to add some fibrefill or stuffing to make it a little softer and fill the corners out better.

9)Slip stitch end to close the gap and....voila!

I love this method because you get nice crisp corners.  You can see this on my grey wool bag that I showed you the other day in this weeks Show and Tell.  The only drawback is the side seam but you can avoid this by wrapping the fabric so that you only have seams on three sides instead of all four.

Hopefully by the time the snow is flying and Christmas is here, the rest of the washroom will be done and I can share the whole shabang with you!

Let me know what you think.  If you have more washroom crafting ideas make sure to leave a comment to let me know~

(This project will be posted throughout the week at the linky parties from the linky party tab above.  Check out the sites for more great ideas!)

BetweenNapsonthePorch was my top referrer last week, so go visit Susan and
check out her site for other fab ideas!

As always, don't forget to check out Todays Creative Blog for more fun ideas.