Wednesday Decor // 3 Home Projects I Hope to Try

Back in February I posted my Home Organization plan for 2014 - well I kind stayed on top of it!  Yay for the word focus for this year, right?  Since I've been on an organizing kick lately I decided to add a few more things to the list of home stuff I want to complete this year.  Maybe this is part two of the organization plan...who knows!

Fridge Mat / Organization

From what I read from this post on I Heart Organizing, these are actual Fridge Coaster brand fridge coasters....redundant much?  But I've also seen using placemats as fridge coasters & since I found 12 bright yellow chevron placemats at Meijer for $0.50 each, I think I'm going to use those!  How fun would it be to have a gussied up fridge?  Weird but awesome right?

Laundry Room Baskets / Organization

Just like this little laundry area, our laundry closet has wire shelving and is just a plain mess.  Hopefully in the next renovation my laundry room dreams come true.  What, you don't have laundry room dreams?  I've been searching everywhere for wire baskets that weren't $16 a pop and finally found $5 baskets from Dollar General.  They were bright colors so I got some Rustoleum Metallic spray paint & had at it.  I can't wait to get the laundry closet all organized.

Bill / Finance / Etc Command Station

If there's one thing that is the biggest annoyance in my life - it's how I have the bills organized.  Pretty much when mail comes in the door I stand between our two desks and divide it up.  I get my stuff & Zach gets his stuff and bills.  So that means it gets misplaced or covered up and I forget when they are due.  The image above is from this post & that blog is where I got inspiration for my bills tracker in my planner.  The one provided in the post was 8.5x11 and I needed 8.5x5.5 for my half sized planner.  But I really want to get a central place for bills and our past bills because those are upstairs when bills are paid downstairs!

So here's to another 4 months of organizing!

What do you want to accomplish in your home during the rest of the year?

xoxo, Moe

I've been playing around with the app Wtrite365 from an awesome blogger Kam of Campfire Chic.  One of the prompts was 'DIY projects to try'.  So I skimmed my Pins to see exactly what I could do to stay on track with my Home Organization Plan this year.

Doily Valentine's Day Decor: Home, Office, Classroom

Doilies are, to me, the most essential part of Valentine's day.  I remember using the paper ones to create cards & decorations when I was little.  Crocheted doilies are the grown up versions of the paper ones we used to give to classmates & friends.

Check out the Valentine's Day Shop over at With Love to pick up some doilies in sets of 2, 3 & 4.  Perfect for classroom, office & home decor.  Use them as coasters during your romantic candle lit dinners or dress up your gift giving to friends & family.

Set of 2

Set of 3

Set of 4

Happy Valentine's Day!  What would you do with doilies?

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Dorm Dec Wednesdays: Velvet Crush

I have to say I am crushing on some velvet pillows right now! I have one from my great grandmother that is this olive green color.  It is always on my bed at school & that will probably be its permanent home:

its right there in the middle

I also noticed, even though I totally knew all along, that my grandmother on my dad's side has mustard yellow velvet pillows on her living room couch. I swear I am going to get a shot of her living room1  I already told here that I'd love the couch, chair & the pillows.  I'd be one of those ladies with plastic on the furniture though so as not to mess it up!

I am on the look out for circular pillows, I found some great one's on etsy:

Round Velvet Pillows in Yellow & Aqua @ Shabby Vintage Home

Isn't that blue just perfect? 

Vintage Purple Pillow @ Songbird Industries

Purple is my all time favorite color.  I love it!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Dorm Dec Wednesdays: Outstanding Organization & Do-able DIY

First off, I have to say I love stumble upon.  I can find so many unique things that I wouldn't know how to search for myself!  I was stumbling through some blogs today & found some inspiring photos of studios & organization.  Since I am very sure my studio/corner devoted to a bunch of my things will fall inside of my room in an apartment shared with my friend, organization will be key!

Here's some of the inspiring images:

original website: Nest Pretty Things

There will be lots of storage like this.  I love the brightly colored boxes

original from: Anita

And lots of things on a desk like this.  

I already know I am going to be needing some stackable drawers.  

Original from: Heather Bailey

I threw this one in because that chair is gorgeous.

I also have to say that I found these photos at Home-Designing but the links lead directly to blogs & websites, but not  the actual posts.  So I am trying to give the best credit I can.  

In the spirit of these awesome studios I've also found a great organization DIY: Storage Boxes.  I mean, full on DIY storage boxes made of sweat, tears, & cardboard.  Oh & some glue & cute paper.

photo credit: Make it and Love it

This is perfect for storing sheets in a closet buy making the dimensions a bit longer, for storing toys in a playroom, for storing electronics & cords in your den, for storing towels in your bathroom, or stick these on top of your upper cabinets to store other what not that may be in your kitchen.

take this

to this

to these!

photos from Make it & Love it

All you need is extra cardboard, hot glue & glue gun, spare fabric, & some mod podge & you have yourself some home grown storage boxes.  Definitely check out Make it and Love it's blog & the tutorial.  I'm so glad I discovered it.

Hope you're ready for New Years Festivities! Lets ring it in!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Dorm Dec Wednesdays: Faux Bois Fridge

So living in a rental, as we all know, doesn't have to be such a downer.  There are now things that allow us to hang what we want where ever we want with no nails, Ikea is stocked with awesome & inexpensive home accessories, & we all know how to create some awesome art to hang on the cheap.

So why shouldn't our appliances look their DIY best?  I just found this blog, Delightfully Tacky & am totally enamored.  Look at this awesome Faux Bois Fridge made using contact paper! I am totally going to try this one day!

source

How flipping awesome is this?  Just using contact paper! I totally saw some of this at the dollar tree the other day, I want to go back & pick up a zillion rolls!

Follow the step by step instructions here & don't forget to check out all the other amazing posts!

I think I may turn my other burner covers into faux bois memo boards....hmmmmm I smell another Make It Mondays coming on!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

It's My Birthday! Part Trois

Alright, snow delayed the family festivities but I took a picture of the cake anyway. :(  Like I said earlier.....it's hard to get us all together.  The snow here turned a bit to ice & I didn't want my grandparents driving in it.  Here's the cake:

I assure you, there is an M in real life...it looks totally photoshoped.

My skills are not that good at all!

I decided I'd also tell you how to make a tiny pennant bunting like I did. You'll need a colored plastic bag, a bit of embroidery floss or bakers twine (any string really), a needle & scissors.

Cut the top of the bag off, then cut a strip from the middle of it like this

Cut the strip in half at the seam

Begin to cut little squares/rectangles.

Cut the rectangles in to a pennant shape.  

I folded them in half & cut a triangle from the folded edge.

Use a needle to thread them on your string.

Make sure they are all facing the same way.

I am mailing out the second topper tomorrow & can't wait! This pennant bunting is not just for a little cake, you can string it in an empty frame, on your memo board (which you can catch @ Young & Crafty or wait until its over here on Sum Up Sunday), on your vanity mirror.  You can use this bunting anywhere!!

Hope you enjoy :)

Oh did you catch that the plate the cake is on is the cake plate I made my mother earlier in the summer?

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Cool Jellyfish Lamp

This lamp is so awesome!  If you love the sea you'll love this:

This is the coolest.  I'd love to have one of these!  Read about it & view more images here.

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Make it Mondays: Dream Catcher

I've rarely posted any tutorials on things for your home.  I've always done a quasi style how-to or recently a jewelry DIY but hardly ever do I mention things to make for the home.

Why is this? Well pretty much everything for my home is already made! I've been going at the DIY thing for quite some time & all of my friends think I am crazy for how much stuff I have in my room & apartment.  Its hard to not have inspiring things laying about!

So this is something else I've made this Harry Potter weekend (thats right, I watched it.  Both days!).  It is a DREAM catcher. Isn't that clever?

Here's what you need:
Embroidery hope mine is 7" in diameter
Letters to print (I used size 200 Baskerville Old Face in bold & in orange)
Coordinating scrapbook paper
Glue & string

Step 1: print the letters
Step 2: cut the letters out leaving a little border around them
Step 3: glue to the coordinating scrapbook paper
Step 4: cut around letters leaving a little border like in step 2
Step 5: use glue to adhere the string to the back (make sure you cut enough string to adjust height & make a knot
Step 6: tie strings to hoop in varying lengths
Step 7: Tie another piece of string around hoop & into bow to hang
Step 8: hang & enjoy!

Here it is along with all the crazyness above my bed.  I think I may change the level of the E..it looks rather funny.

Sweet Dreams!

Also don't forget about the Birthday Topper Giveaway! enter here!!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

The December Bed

Well, I can't believe it's December!  That means the semester is almost over, I get to see loads of great Xmas decorations, & I get to eat good food.  Have I mentioned I won't be able to fit in my pants til March?

Even though I'll be spending the greater part of December in my old bed at my parent's house, I thought I'd post the December Bed.

At my parent's house I have a twin bed.  Man, I am going to miss my bed in my apartment.  I love being able to spread out then curl up.  I still hang my feet off though like I have a twin bed.  

Do you have any weird habits left over from child hood?  Oh, I also ran up my gramma's stairs (still to this day as well) because I thought there was an alligator in her living room! What the heck is that!

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Tempted Tuesdays: DIY Stocking

So Anthropolgie has these amazing stockings that I recently saw on Skunkboy Creatures's blog.

via holiday @ Anthropologie

If you know how to knit this would be so perfect! I can also see a crocheted version in a whole bunch of scrap yarn (which I totally have!)

I've only ever crocheted 3 stockings in my life.  My ex-boyfriend & I traded gifts in them one xmas & then I made (a pitiful) one for my dog.  This has given me inspiration to make another one for my little pup. I hope I get it done in time for xmas!

I've also seen stockings made from a wool thrift store sweater.  Here's the idea from Crafting A Green World.  Use a crazy "Cosby" sweater or recycle that Ugly Sweater Party pullover you bought into a cool little stocking.

I am so tempted to buy these, but I know I can DIY!

What Christmas decor have you been tempted to buy but have DIY-ed instead?

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

DIY Inspiration

I really want to try to replicate these great lamps from Free People:

via here

Luckily they have a tutorial/explanation here.

I also love the idea of framing your jewelry:

via here

And aren't these lights great too?

here

PS. Don't forget to check out the link parties in the Side Bar or click here!

Make It Mondays: Lamp Redo

So I am sure you all have seen the great lamp re-do's out here in Blog Land so I thought I'd hop on the wagon.  I have a lamp that I've already "re done" by giving it a coat of paint & a new lampshade but the lampshade is plain ol' white & needs some sprucing up.

Here are some of my inspirations:

1. The first is the very first lamp redo I cam across a few weeks ago.  From then on it's gotten mentioned on blogs & keeps popping up in blog & link parties.  I love it! Check out the tutorial/post on Billie Monster.  I can't decide between covering my existing lampshade with fabric or painting it (or drawing on it with black sharpie!)
2. The second is a tutorial I just came across today! I love the globe lamps & even though my lamp doesn't have this element, I thought I'd mention how awesome it is!  Check out the tute here on Flea Market Trixie!
3. The final one is the painted lampshade inspiration.  I love the zebra print & how neutral it is! It is a well put together lamp.  If you check out Bon Temps Beignet's blog you'll see the before & after and get a well detailed tutorial.  Personally, I like the before too!! I struggle with that a lot too, I often love the before but can see it as a wonderful after! I want to buy two of everything!  I guess I just have to give in sometimes!

I also have a very college looking lamp.  When I move out on my own (in a real apartment that is really mine) I am going to spray paint it & make it better suited for, you know, real life :)

Happy Monday!

Fan Fridays: Can Do, DIY spirit

I have been blown away by the DIY decor I've been seeing on the blogsphere this past week.  I love perfectly personalized furniture & sprucing up what you've already got.

This week, instead of a usual Etsy shop or fashion trend, I am featuring some really cool furniture thats been spruced up in the most amazing way.  A few with a common household object & one in an uncommon color:

1. This faux zinc frame from Mustard Seed Creations rocks my mis-matched socks! Can you believe its made from tin foil & a paint glaze? I can't either!
2. Can you believe the color of this table?  From In His Grip, this side table is made in a traditional spray paint-then-distress fashion with a bubble gum pink pop! I love this color.  It would brighten up any place!
3. Finally, this night stand is done the same way as the frame.  Mandi from Vintage Revival took tinfoil & modge podge & created this master piece then aged it with glaze. 

These projects are so great! I think my childhood nightstand is going to get a makeover.  Now to decide which way to go.....

Check out Cross My Hooks for a fun update on my senior art project for our senior show in May.

Free People's New Scottsdale, AZ Store

I believe I've posted some stuff on here before about my love of Free People, branch from Urban Outfitters.  It is my dream job to work for this company! I love the style, the stores, & the inspiration I get from browsing their stores & online.  I go their a lot when I am look for something to make fashion wise & love their blog for decor inspiration from their displays.  It is my dream to work on their visual display team!

Here's a bit about Free People:
Started in the 70's by Dick Hayne, Free People was nestled in West Philadelphia.  Targeting young people who sought unique clothing and an idea of freedom in what they wore, Free People became two stores & changed its name to Urban Outfitters.  Eventually demand rose for wholesale items prompting a split in the company giving new life to Free People.  Moving from its junior label, Free People became a mature brand catering to 20 year old women.  This is who they design for now offering fun & functional clothing for the confident yet free spirited woman.  (information pulled from here. Click to read the full story of Free People)

Here is the storefront of their newest store:

Gorgeous right? I know!

The point of this post is to reveal how amazed I am at every store opening.  The displays are amazing, the designs impeccable, & the decor is so do-able! I love that a lot of the displays they use in the store can be reinterpreted by those with a can-do & DIY spirit.  Take this photo for example:

Hmmm? what is that orange thing in the sea of blues & greens? It really stands out and looks so cool with the fabric woven through it.  Lets continue through the photos:

Awesome jewelery displays.  Lets scroll some more:

Hey look at that! More orange stuff....hold on

Is that what I think it is?? YES! It's orange netting/fencing! Now isn't that just the greatest thing you've ever seen? This is why visual display for Free People is my dream job!  So creative and innovative. I love it. Please visit this post on Free People's blog.  All images are copyright Free People. 

Dorm Dec Wednesdays: My New Pad

I am fully moved in! There are still boxes sitting around because I am too lazy to take them down to the dumpster but other than that it is all done!

Here are some pics:

All of these are my room

bed

closet & dresser (messy craft shelves)

desk

These are the rest of the apartment

We have a couch & two chairs, a coffee table, two end tables, a big window just past that globe light there & the table in the foreground.

Tv & tv stand, blankets kept in that bright picnic basket at the bottom of the white shelf there, games & DVD's, kitchen in the background.

Still pretty bare in the rest of the apartment but so far so good :)

Check out weekly link parties here for some cool ideas!

Sum Up Sundays!

Five Sixteenths has been working hard on some new decor items & inspiration.  Whats been going on you ask? Well, moving into a new appartment can be rough, but to ease the pain, I've been crafting up some cute cake stands! Here is some of my inspiration:

images from http://www.thecoterieblog.com/2008/06/diy-cakecupcake-stand.html

My mother has been looking for the perfect one for quite sometime & when I found this I knew we both had to have them!  As I've mentioned before, I have a huge love affair with dishware so I know now some will get put to good use.  And who doesn't have some old vases/candlesticks laying around that are just itching to be made into something great? Check out the tutorial here on DesignSponge.

Pop on over to the tutorial.  What patterned plates will you use?