Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}

Vintage Medal Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

Today I'd like to share with you a sneak peek at one of my most recent vintage jewelry designs.

I combined two different vintage earrings to create the focal piece, then added an antique brass miraculous medal dangle. It all hangs from a uniquely-shaped vintage rosary connector that has a silhouette of Mary right in the middle of it.

It's embellished with glass faceted beads and my oh-so-favorite blingy rondelles, along with an equally blingy toggle clasp.

The beads change in color from a light topaz to a darker gold, depending on the light.

It will soon be in my Etsy shop, Love You More Designs, for anyone who is interested.

If you know you'd like it, just e-mail me and I'll be happy to hold it for you.

I'm trying to gear myself up for a jewelry-making marathon. Wish me luck!

Oh, and if you're not already a Follower, I'd love for you to join! You can follow my blog with Google Friends Connect, Facebook, or by e-mail subscription, all options in my sidebar.

You can also follow me on Pinterest and Twitter, also on my sidebar.

Hope you're all having a great week, friends!

xoxo

Wheat-grass Decor 101

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Sun, 19 May 2013 05:11:00 +0000

Easy-to-grow wheat-grass makes for some fabulous indoor decor. You see it in magazine photo shoots all the time. And what better time than spring to grow a little bit of it for yourself? Now I know some people actually grow it for their cats, and even for their own wheat-grass juice (yikes!) but I am in it strictly for the decor. Just sayin.

I've always wanted to grow some for myself. Then my friend Penny over at At Home in English Valley planted some and I was hooked. So chickadee number three and I picked up a bag of generic wheat-grass seed for $2.99 and went to town.

Then we waited.

And watered.

And sprayed.

That's right, sprayed. With a water bottle. The seeds need to stay moist, so I sprayed them pretty much every time I walked by. Within a day they had started to sprout like wildfire. It really was amazing to watch. Within four days or so it was magical.

My son and I really enjoyed watching the transformation.

Once they were sufficiently tall and fluffy I had to find a place for them. And what better place than my Ikea mini greenhouse? I know, don't even ask me why I even bought the thing, what with my black thumb and all. But I'm glad I did, since it ended up being perfect for them.

Right now I have them sitting on my vintage suitcase side table in the family room. I even broke down and picked up a small pot of "baby tears" to add into the mix. I think they go well together, don't you?

I really wanted to decorate the clay pots in some way, maybe stencil numbers on them or something. Still haven't gotten around to that yet. But overall I think they look really good.

Just a tip: We bought generic no-name seeds in a zip-lock bag for a really reasonable price. Don't be fooled by the fancy packets of seeds that say "organic" on them. Unless you're growing the grass for either feline or human consumption (which I was not) you don't really have to worry about the seeds being organic.

And since it grows so fast, be prepared to trim it every day. Seriously. If you don't, I promise that you'll have an extremely large, unkempt chia pet on your hands! But don't worry. Any pair of ordinary household scissors will do.

I'm hoping to hit a big flea market this weekend. It's one I've been looking forward to for a long time. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend, friends!

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

Homemaker on a Dime

Uncommon Designs Online

Boogieboard Cottage

Dwelling The Heart of Your Home
The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop
twelveOeight Pretty Things Link Party
A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday
Le Chateau des Fleurs Monday Link Party
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Fishtail Cottage Garden Party

Exciting News: My Craft:Boom! Internship

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:19:00 +0000

Hello, friends! I'm here to make an announcement, of sorts. For those of you who follow Charm Bracelet Diva on Facebook, you might already know this. For the rest of you, here's the news: I recently began a blogging internship as a contributing writer for a website called Sparkplugging :

(spark-plug-ing) transitive verb; giving life or energy to an endeavor.

Sparkplugging offers work-at-home resources for home-based entrepreneurs. According to Sparkplugging:

More businesses are starting at home now than ever before. Technology is transforming marketing, sales, & life balance. Sparkplugging supports today's home office workers - where life, work, & purpose are one.

So if you're one of those work-at-home types, or even if you're one of those Wanna Be work-at-home types, Sparkplugging's for you.

My niche over there is on their Indie Sellers blog, Craft::Boom! So far I've written two posts and I'd love for you to stop by and check them out. One post is about things you need to know before selling at craft shows. {I really have to thank my friend, Betsy, over at My Salvaged Treasures, for giving me permission to use one of her awesome craft show booth photos. Thanks, Betsy!} The other is about the pros and cons of turning your hobby into a business.

Are you with me now? Some of you know that Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home} started out a few years ago as a jewelry blog. It has since morphed into SO much more. I still love creating original vintage jewelry designs and selling them in my Etsy shop, as well as in local brick-and-mortar boutiques. But I also love scouring flea markets and thrift shops for just the right bargains, for things I can transform inexpensively into like-new, beautiful and fresh home decor. And I absolutely love sharing all that with YOU.

So I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how to seamlessly meld my two loves into one, while somehow making money in the process. I haven't quite figured out a definitive answer to that question, yet. But I think this internship thing is the beginning of a new road for me. A real game changer. At least I hope it will be. And I hope you'll choose to join me for the ride.

I'll still make jewelry. I'll still be a thrifty DIY home decor freak. And this blog will continue. But hopefully I'll find a way to maybe wrap it all up in a much prettier package for you, my friends and followers, who have stuck with me through thick and thin. I'd hate to see you leave me now.

The winds of change, they are a-blowin'.

So hold onto your hats.

Exciting things are in store.

xoxo

Vintage Suitcase Side Table

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:07:00 +0000

Ever buy something thinking it was one thing and later find out it was really something else? Not that I like to admit it, but sometimes in my haste to purchase a "score" at Goodwill I might accidentally overlook a flaw or two in the merchandise. Take this small storage bench, for example.

Not sure how well you can see from this angle, but once I got it home I noticed that the "lid" hung way too much over the sides of the bench. It looked really sad, actually. I originally bought it to freshen up and use for a small piano bench of sorts. Well, not now. The proportions were just too off. So I decided to use it for something else I had wanted to make for a long time: a vintage suitcase table.

I removed the ill-fitting lid and saved it for another day.

Then I painted the bench an off-white and added the suitcase.

And voila.

Here it is, sitting on the patio, adorned with my DIY-mercury glass votives and a thrift-store vintage glass pitcher filled with tulips. I really love the combination of the table with the suitcase. And did I tell you that I didn't even attach them to each other permanently? No, that would have been too much trouble! And this way, I can remove the suitcase and use it in other vignettes whenever I need it.

I filled the suitcase with linens, etc. that I really needed to store somewhere. And it's totally secure just sitting on top of the bench. But I can move it around if I want!

I can also store stuff in the bench itself as well. Sweet.

I had some fun moving the whole thing around the yard as well as inside the house for some photos.

The inside shots are being saved for another day since they include something else I want to show you!

I'm really pleased with how it turned out. And it was SO easy!

Sometimes I'm glad when I make a Goodwill "mistake." How about you?

xoxo

I'll be partying here:

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Dedicated House Make It Pretty Monday
Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday
Uncommon Designs Online Monday Funday Linky Party
Dwellings The Heart of Your Home Amaze Me Monday
twelveOeight Pretty Things Link Party
Home Stories A to Z Tutorials & Tips
Knick of Time Interiors Knick of Time Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop
A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday
So Much Better with Age Give Me the Goods Party
Not JUST a Housewife Show Me What Ya Got
VMG206 Brag About It
My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday
504 Main Tickled Pink
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground Be Inspired
Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday
Jennifer Rizzo Fabulously Creative Friday

Folding Table Transformation

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:02:00 +0000

Today I wanted to share with you the reveal of one of my $1.99 Goodwill folding "T.V" tables. I first mentioned them here, where I used them in the family room as props for my Captain's Lanterns photo shoot.

Don'tcha just love the lantern?

Anywho, there it is, in all it's glory. Plain old, plain old, right? But I just knew it was destined for greatness.

In comes Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Paris Grey, along with a can of Rustoleum

matte white spray paint. And voila.

I decided to switch up the foyer a bit just to show off this pretty little table in all her glory.

I finally took out the table that had been there for 9 years and replaced it with my cedar chest, swathed in another Goodwill purchase, an embroidered curtain panel (new from Target) I got for a song. The down pillows and striped pillow covers are from Ikea. I made the cake stand myself and the cloche is from, you guessed it, Goodwill.

I played around with putting the table on either side of the trunk, and here you can see the most recent spring visitors courtesy of my daughter and a little neighbor who picked them for us.

I was going to transfer them to one of my many glass containers, but I thought that they actually didn't look half bad in the ~~beer~~ drinking glass that my daughter put them in.

I'm liking it seated on the right with the cloche best.

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a great weekend!

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday
Jennifer Rizzo Fabulously Creative
Redoux Interiors
Homemaker on a Dime Creative Blogger's Party
Uncommon Designs
Dwellings the Heart of Your Home
Pieced Pastimes Saturday Sparks Link Party
The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday</>
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop
twelveOeight Pretty Things Link Party
A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday
Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired
No Minimalist Here Open House Party
Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday
The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home
Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday

Hydrangea School and Rusty Vintage Wire Basket

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:34:00 +0000

What is your favorite flower? Mine used to be roses. But over the years it's changed from roses to hydrangeas. I think the love affair started with our first house. Lucky for me it just happened to have a HUGE blue hydrangea bush next to the back deck. When I say HUGE I mean I'd never seen anything like it ever before. And the depth of the blue was absolutely brilliant.

Fast forward a few {um, like 13} years. In our current house, Mr. CBD {sweetie that he is} planted a bunch of hydrangea bushes in the back yard. Last summer was so sad, though, I could have cried. We had such a drought here in the Midwest that there was nary a blooming hydrangea head to be found all summer. At least not in our yard. But we're hoping for better weather this year, and in honor of that notion he went out and bought me two more hydrangea plants! Not like I hinted around that I wanted any, or anything.

Aren't they gorgeous? I placed both pots in a silver tub, and then I placed the tub in a rusty old wire basket. The basket is an awesome Kane County Flea Market find. It's just the right amount of rusty and it has red rubber handles. Looking back, I wish I had bought a few more when I had the chance. Unfortunately, I didn't have the extra cash at the time.

See what I mean about the basket? Awesome.

So I looked up a bit about hydrangeas in The Old Farmer's Almanac and thought I would share what I found with you here. So here goes.

Botanical name: Hydrangea
Plant type: Shrub
USDA Hardiness Zones:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Sun exposure:Part Sun, Shade
Soil type:Any
Soil pH:Acidic , Slightly Acidic to Neutral, Neutral , Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Flower color:Red, Pink, Blue, Purple, White
Bloom time:Summer, Fall

Did you know that you can change the color of the blooms by changing the acidity of the soil? I always thought that was so cool about hydrangeas. Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers; soils with a pH greater than 5.5 product pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH. To get blue flowers, you need to lower the pH, which you can do by adding sulfur or peat moss to the soil. To get pink to light red flowers, add ground limestone around the plant. Any change won't be instant, though. Color correction takes weeks, even months. It's easier to change blue flowers to pink than it is to change pink flowers to blue. Wait until the plant is at least 2 years old to give it time to recover from the shock of its original planting.

Planting
Most hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, somewhat moist soils. Add compost to enrich poor soil.

They prefer full sun in the morning, with some afternoon shade; however, many will grow and bloom in partial shade. This is especially true for the bigleaf hydrangeas. {I think mine get too much sun!}
Plant in spring or fall. {Guess I better get cracking!}
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.
Set the plant in the hole and fill it half full with soil. Water. After water is drained, fill the rest of the hole with soil.
Water thoroughly.
Space multiple hydrangeas about 3 to 10 feet apart. {Mine are WAY too close together!}

Harvest/Storage
Try drying hydrangea flowers to create a wreath or other decorations around the house:
{I love to do this!}

Harvest the heads when the flowers have matured and developed a papery consistency.
Remove leaves from stems, and hang upside down in a warm, dry, dark, airy room.
When completely dry (usually a couple of weeks), store in a dry location out of direct sunlight.
To enhance flower color, spritz dry flowers with diluted Rit dye. {I've never done this, not sure you even need to. Mine dry fine and seem to hold their color well without the dye.}

I don't know the specific type of hydrangeas they are since they didn't come with any identifying information. {Admission: they're from Costco.) I'm hoping that that doesn't automatically mean they aren't for long-term planting. I fully intend to give it a go and see what happens. Hopefully we'll be blessed with great cutting blooms throughout the summer and fall to come.

If you're interested in hydrangeas as much as I am you can always check out my Hydrangea Pinterest Board! I think you'll agree that most of the pins are swoon-worthy. Be sure to check them out.

On another note, I'd like to thank those of you who voted for me in the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycling Contest. I didn't make it to the finals, however, I did come within two places of being considered. It was nice to see so much support from all of you, my friends. {Not to mention my husband, he was a voting maniac! Thanks, babe!}

What color are your hydrangeas?

Do you ever dry them?

How do you use them in your home decor?

I'd love to know! Have a great week, friends!

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday
Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesdays
The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home
No Minimalist Here
Common Ground Be Inspired
Fishtail Cottage Garden Party
Finding Fabulous Frugalicious Friday
Chic On A Shoestring Flaunt it Friday
My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday
Jennifer Rizzo Fabulously Creative Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Outdoor Entertaining: Extra Large Wire Lanterns

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:59:00 +0000

Are you as excited about spring as I am? Yes, spring is finally here in our little part of the midwest and I'm pretty happy about it. I'm happy to be soaking in the warmth of that sun, and I'm also happy to be planning for some warm days and nights ahead. With that in mind,
the hubs and I recently purchased two {what I'll call} captain's lanterns at a local family-owned big box store (I know, sounds kind of oxy-moron-ish, right?). I fell in love with them at first sight. You tell me what store's style (initials PB and that's not for peanut butter, either) they remind you of?

The plain-jane side tables (from Goodwill, of course) will be featured soon, post-transformation.

Right now the lanterns are stationed in the family room since our patio area is nowhere near ready for the summer season. We've still got to set up the outdoor rug, wicker furniture and (new this year) a "cabana-like" tent to give us some much-needed respite from the brutal midwest summer sun. Once that's all set up I can't wait to play around with the "decor." But for now those awesome PB-like wire captain's lanterns will remain indoors with LED candles inside of them.

They're HUGE, like 14 inches high. And they so remind me of the beach, our most favorite vacation spot in the world. Aren't they really beachy? I love the nautical rope handles. They remind me of crab traps, down by the bay. So cool and so NOT expensive. I think they were like $14.99 each.

Once they're put outside I'll replace the LED candles with citronella candles.

So let the summer begin!

What outdoor decorating ideas are you working on these days?

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

The Dedicated House
Not Just a Housewife Show Me What Ya Got

Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired
Savvy Southern Style
TwelveOEight PrettyThings
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop
A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday
The Dedicated House Make it Pretty Monday
Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday
The Shabbby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

Spring in an Urban Outfitters Laboratory Flower Vase {Goodwill Score!}

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Please vote for me in the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycling Contest (yay!)

Details are at the end of this post.

ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE AND I NEED YOUR HELP!

REMEMBER: YOU CAN VOTE ONCE A DAY!

Thank you!

I love Goodwill. Can I ever say that enough? It never ceases to amaze me how I always manage to find incredibly fashionable home decor at my local Goodwill stores. And this time it was a perfect

spring decor find. Case in point.

No, not the tulips. But the laboratory flower vase, well, yes! The original store tags were still on it.

This type of vase has been quite popular-dare-I-say-trendy over the past year or so, and I love it. Despite the fact that I never did like chemistry lab my junior year in high school (sorry to disappoint you, Sister Lucilla!) I still think this is a great way to display flowers.

Urban Outfitters: $24.99

Goodwill: $1.99

Savings: $23.00

Score.

What's your favorite type of vase?

xoxo

*************

PLEASE KEEP READING!!!!!!!

By the way, in case you missed my last post, I NEED YOUR VOTES! I've entered the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycle Contest and would love for you to vote for my DIY Copycat Pier 1 Lace Lampshade.

Copycat Pier 1 Lace Lampshade

(Contest page 1, entry #4)

The link under the picture above will take you to the contest page it shows up on. If you have any trouble voting please let me know. {Their site isn't exactly the most technologically advanced one I've ever seen if you know what I mean:)}

You can vote once a day through April 22nd, so keep 'em coming!

If I win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place I get gift cards from Goodwill, Home Depot and Michael's!

Woot, woot!

So please vote!

And thanks from the bottom of my little ol' upcycling heart!

I'll be linking up here:

The Answer is Chocolate BFF Open House Party

504 Main Tickled Pink

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground Be Inspired

Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt it Friday

The Better Half's Humble Brag Link Party

Thrift Store Owl Takes Center Stage

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:33:00 +0000

{If you're looking for how to vote for me in the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycling Contest (yay!), details are at the end of this post. Thanks!}

I pride myself on not being TOO trendy, but sometimes the latest trend just gets the best of me. Like owls. I mean, who knew that they would become so popular? They finally got to me, too, and I picked up a few little guys during some of my Goodwill thrifting trips. And I've been torn over what to do with this one.

He's 3 inches tall and fits perfectly inside another Goodwill find, my tiny cloche. The cloche had no base to it, so I purchased the little silver tray/stand to go under it at the same time. I believe all three
pieces cost me somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.00. Right now he's sitting on my kitchen table, taunting me every time I walk by. Why, you ask? Well, I've been trying to resist the urge to paint him white but I can't seem to get the idea out of my head. And we all know that everything looks better when white, right?

He's sitting there pretty happily between two homemade mercury glass votives and some JoAnn clearance ($1.99 each) greens that I put out for a bit of springy-ness. For fake plants I thought they looked pretty realistic. (To say I have a black thumb would be an understatement, hence the ~~shhhh~~ plastic.)

I was pretty happy when I realized that the little pots fit perfectly inside the votives. You can see how I turned the plain glass into mercury glass HERE.

I wish I could have gotten a better picture of him but it's very difficult when you're shooting something under glass. The detail on him really is quite nice.

So what do you think?

Paint him white?

Let me know what you think!

xoxo

*************

PLEASE KEEP READING!!!!!!!

By the way, in case you missed my last post, I NEED YOUR VOTES! I've entered the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycle Contest and would love for you to vote for my DIY Copycat Pier 1 Lace Lampshade.

Copycat Pier 1 Lace Lampshade

(Contest page 1, entry #4)

The link under the picture will take you to the contest page it shows up on. If you have any trouble voting please let me know. {Their site isn't exactly the most technologically advanced one I've ever seen if you know what I mean:)}

You can vote once a day through April 22nd, so keep 'em coming!

If I win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place I get gift cards from Goodwill, Home Depot and Michael's!

Woot, woot!

So please vote!

And thanks from the bottom of my little ol' upcycling heart!

*****************

I'll be linking up here:

The Humble Brag Link Party
Pieced Pastimes Saturday Spark Link Party
Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers Party
Dwellings Amaze Me Monday
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday
Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired Party
Funky Polka Dot Giraffe Too Cute Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife Show Me What Ya Got
Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday

Visit the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycle Contest and Vote For Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:47:00 +0000

Okay, so there's this contest. I only found out about it a few days ago despite the fact that the entrance deadline was last night at midnight. It's an Ultimate Goodwill Upcycling Contest. Goodwill, you say? So how on earth did I NOT know about this??? It's a mystery, but now that I've entered...WAKE THE KIDS, CALL THE NEIGHBORS! I NEED YOUR VOTES!

I entered three different projects. You may vote once a day until the contest ends on April 22nd! {You may even be able to vote for more than one project per day, the rules aren't clear. It's worth a try!:)}

Here are the three projects I entered and links to their voting pages:

Copycat Ballard Designs Memo Board
(Contest page 1, entry #100, last entry on the page)

Gilded Chalkboard

(Contest page 2, entry #38)

Copycat Pier 1 Lace Lampshade

(Contest page 1, entry #4)

I've linked each project to the Goodwill Contest page it shows up on. If you have any trouble voting please let me know. {Their site isn't exactly the most technologically advanced one I've ever seen if you know what I mean:)}

If I win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place I get gift cards from Goodwill, Home Depot and Michael's!

Woot, woot!

So please vote!

And thanks from the bottom of my little ol' upcycling heart!

xoxo

Cloche Call: The Good Egg, My Version

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:08:00 +0000

Good Housekeeping

I love Good Housekeeping Magazine. Every month they have something that catches my eye, and my imagination. Their April 2013 issue had a picture of this cloche in anticipation of Easter and all the home decorating that goes along with it. Only problem is, I didn't decorate for Easter this year. I know, I know. The Easter police will probably come and get me for saying that. But other
things got in the way, not the least of which was spring break and we weren't even home to enjoy any decorating I might have done anyway. So.

I loved this cloche vignette. It spoke to me more of spring, really, than of Easter. And I knew I wanted to replicate it as close as possible for my home. Since Easter had already passed my goal was to try and stay true to the general look of the cloche but give it my own spin.

So what do you think?

I went so far as to take a trip to Michael's, hoping to find just the right moss and perhaps a fern or two. Only problem was, the moss was ridiculously expensive for what you got, and I didn't find any faux ferns. But I did find two small pots of faux greenery for about $1.50 each on clearance. Hhhmmmm. Maybe they'd work. Only problem was, they didn't.

Once home I realized that my much-loved boxwood wreath from Antique Farmhouse might work in place of the moss. And my blue speckled eggs, {that speak spring, really, not Easter} might just be perfect. It was starting to come together, but I still needed a focal point. So I waited. And lo and behold, Goodwill came through for me again. Lillies of the valley! My favorites! A mere $0.99 cents. And how much more springy can you get?

Oh, and did I mention that I already had the silver bowl (Goodwill $2.99), the cloche (Target clearance, less than $10.00) and the eggs?

The top of the cloche has a dragonfly that I just love.

Every time I look at it I feel a sense of hope and renewal. How about you?

Happy Spring!

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers' Party
Uncommon Designs Monday Funday Link Party
Pieced Pastimes Saturday Spark Link Party

The Dedicated House Make It Pretty Monday
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop
twelveOeight Pretty Things
A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Home Stories A to Z Tutorials and Tips Link Party

The Graphics Fairy, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and a Shabby Apple Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:31:00 +0000

I have a long-awaited project to share with you. But first, it's time to announce the winner of my Shabby Apple Giveaway! I'm very excited for the winner since I know she's bound to pick out something really spring-y with her $50 Shabby Apple gift certificate!
And the winner is No. 21, April G. who said, "I follow you via GFC:)"! Congratulations, April! I will contact you soon. Now on to other matters.

This is a project that languished, untouched, for ~~years~~ months. It started out as a mirror in my son's room when he was a baby.

Isn't it cute? I just loved the detail. It was a vintage-themed room and I thought this fit in perfectly.

"Le Cirque Flottant

Magasin de Jouets

Paris"

"You say you saw a floating bear?

However can that be?

A dog in a barrel, a hippo too?

What a wonderful sight to see."

Little did I know {until now} that the words Cirque Flottant refer to a very famous, now defunct, children's store on Paris' left bank.

Cirque Flottant, or Floating Circus, is also the name of a once-regular dealer at "les Puces de Saint-Ouen" flea market on the outskirts of Paris. I read that it's also the name of a vintage French children's book, although I haven't been able to find a concrete source to confirm this. But I do know that Ebay {and other places} are charging $50 and upwards for the matching wall clock. I'm unable to find another one of these mirrors anywhere. Guess I should have done my research before I went ahead and painted over it, non? Has that ever happened to you?

Be that as it may, I DID paint over it, and turned it into a chalkboard, to boot! No surprises there, I guess. I'm just getting used to it, although it took a while to get it where I could finally live with it. {Luckily I did not pay too much for it. I got it at Marshalls on sale many years ago.}

First I painted the mirror with spray chalkboard paint, two light coats. Then I painted over the children's scenes with a beige-ish paint that I later decided was too blah. In came Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey. Two coats and I was feeling a bit better.

Then I tried the wax paper method to transfer some Frenchy-ness onto it, but I wasn't happy with how it turned out. You can find that method over at The Graphics Fairy. Sorry the picture leaves something to be desired.

It was ok, I guess, but I really thought it was still a bit blah. I also wished that the graphics had turned out a bit darker. So I painted over the faint graphics and tried again, this time with the Mod Podge method. Only problem was, I didn't realize that there were different types of Mod Podge. I should have used the matte formula. Turns out I used the gloss formula. Who knew? Suffice it to say that it just looked wrong, really wrong. {So wrong, in fact, that I didn't even take a picture of it.} Mod Podge lesson learned.

Three times must be the charm because I finally got it right. I got the graphics from The Graphics Fairy HERE and HERE. I also tried my hand at an Easter chalkboard. I got my inspiration for that from Nest of Posies HERE.

The graphics did not come out perfect, but that adds to the charm, as always.

Now I'm kind of sorry that I got rid of the cute French mirror, but hindsight really is 20-20. And I know my family will get a lot more use out of it as a chalkboard.

I hope you all had a wonderful spring Easter weekend.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'll be linking up here:

The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday

Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop

twelveOeight Pretty Things

Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired

Not Just a Housewife Show Me What Ya Got

Home Stories A To Z Tutorials and Tips

The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Party

Shabby Art Boutique Shabbylicious Friday

Easter Cocoa Puff Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:05:00 +0000

$50 SHABBY APPLE GIVEAWAY ends March 30th at midnight.
Surprisingly LOW entries!
Enter HERE!

One of our family's Easter traditions is hosting a huge Easter Egg Hunt.

We're talking 100 people and 2,000-eggs-huge.

Sadly, this year we won't be doing it. And it's crazy, but as much as I complained about all the work it entailed each year, I think deep down I actually liked all the preparation. And in the spirit of the Hunt, I baked some Easter Cocoa Puff Muffins with Chickadee number two this morning.

I can't say that they're the most healthy things in the world, but I can say that if you're a chocolate-lover you will love these. And if you promise not to tell I will give you the secret recipe.

Okay, I'm busted. But hey, they're a hit with the kiddos and they were sinfully easy. They turned out moist, with a nice, crunchy topping.

I didn't have any Easter-themed baking cups, so I used some silver ones instead. And once the muffins were a bit cool, I inserted the bunny cupcake toppers, 12 for $1.00 at Target. In all honesty they can't compete with my usual baking extravaganza this time of year, but under the circumstances they'll do just fine.

I displayed 8 of them on a yellow Williams-Sonoma cake stand. Then I added a smaller silver cake stand (love it!) on top to hold the other 4. The top one is actually the bottom half of a small dessert dome, without the glass dome. It's a Target steal that I use all the time. Love it.

I hear that they're really quite chocolate-y. Easy plus chocolate. That's a no-brainer in my book!
You really should give it a try.

Also, DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY $50 SHABBY APPLE GIVEAWAY here.
GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 31ST AT MIDNIGHT.

Happy Easter!

NOTE: I was not paid by Betty Crocker in any way to write this post. All opinions are my own.

I'll be linking up here:

The Answer is Chocolate BFF Open House Party
504 Main Tickled Pink Party

Classic Easter Carrot Cutlery Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:56:00 +0000

****If you haven't already entered, be sure to enter my $50.00 Shabby Apple Giveaway HERE. It's a great way to jump start your Spring wardrobe!****

Now on to today's post.

I call this a "classic" Easter decor craft since it remains one of my most popular (and most pinned!) posts of all time, especially around Easter. And I wanted to be sure to share it again in time for the big day. I can't believe it's only a week away!

It's a really easy and festive way to dress up your Easter brunch or dinner table. And yes, those are paper plates. Do. Not. Judge.

I found the idea in Family Fun Magazine back in 2006. I've tried to find their link again but now I get a site called Spoonful instead. Not sure what's up with that, but that's OK because I've got it for you right here!

Here's all you need:

Orange party napkins

green plastic cutlery

green pipe cleaners

(I used two different complimentary greens)

The napkins and cutlery were purchased at a party supply store and the pipe cleaners at Michael's.

Since I made these during my pre-blogging days I

don't have as-you-go pictures {sorry!}.

So here's Family Fun's easy instructions:

For each carrot, fold one of the paper napkins
into a rectangle. Don't be afraid to re-fold them
from their original configuration, whatever that
may be (i.e., a square, etc.). Place a set of
utensils across the lower left corner of the
rectangle, fold in the lower right corner as shown,
then roll it up loosely.

Wrap one or two green pipe cleaners around the
napkin and necks of the utensils, then twist them
to secure, as shown. Cut down the pipe cleaners
to size.

And voila'.

Spoonful

So simple, yet they really make a fun statement.

Here's wishing you a happy and blessed Easter!

xoxo

{And don't forget to enter my $50 Shabby Apple Giveaway HERE!}

I'll be linking up here:

Someday Crafts Spring and Easter Categorically Crafting Party
Nest of Posies Spring Hop Party
504 MainTickled Pink
My Repurposed Life Catch as Catch Can
Shabby Art Boutique Shabbylcious Friday
The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home
The Vintage Farmhouse Creative Things Thursday
Redoux
Uncommon Designs Monday Funday Party
Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers Party
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop

Spring Shabby Apple Giveaway! CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 01:16:00 +0000

Calliope Skirt

Hello, ladies! Now that spring has finally sprung I'm very excited to be able to offer you a chance to win a $50.00 Shabby Apple gift certificate! Their vintage clothing line is to die for, and they really do have something for every taste. From dresses to skirts to swimsuits -- they offer so many fabulous styles, I guarantee you'll have a hard time choosing!

Here are just two of my favorites.

AINTREE CIDER

For one entry {MANDATORY} just visit the Shabby Apple website and then come back here and leave a comment telling me about your favorite Shabby Apple item!

For a SECOND entry, follow Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home} via the Google Friends Connect widget in my sidebar, leaving a comment after doing so. {If you're already a follower just leave a comment letting me know.}

For a THIRD entry, "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook, leaving a separate comment below for that as well.

Finally, for a FOURTH entry, "Like" Charm Bracelet Diva on Facebook and don't forget to leave a comment below!

A winner will be chosen at random and announced here on March 30th.

NOTE: Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

xoxo

DIY Painted Vintage Suitcase

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:54:00 +0000

I recently saw a fabulous vintage suitcase do-over. It had bold stripes painted across it and I loved it!

The Lily Pad Cottage

It got me thinking and googling.... googling and thinking.

And here's another one I drooled over from The Concrete Cottage.

The Concrete Cottage

Dontcha just love those colors?

And here's another one.

Oakview Cottage

Wow.

So, my wheels started turning and my thoughts went to a small vintage suitcase I had just picked up at Goodwill for $1.99. It's not even a suitcase, really. I think it was actually an album case. I found a sticker inside it that looks like it might have come from a music store. I guess I'll never know for sure. All I do know is that it's definitely old.

I figured it could stand a bit of work. So I literally scrubbed it clean and decided on a color and pattern for the paint.

My original idea was to recreate a grainsack pattern, but that idea went downhill pretty fast when I realized that the width of the stripes would have to be fairly substantial in order for it to be proportioned correctly on the case. But fat stripes wouldn't really look like a grainsack, now would it? So I compromised. I used the paint color I had originally planned to use, but I made the stripes fatter than you would find on a grainsack. I left that paint job for another day (and a textile of some sort, like a pillow).

Out came the acrylic paint (49 cents at Hobby Lobby), masking tape ($1.00 a roll at Dollar Tree), painter's tape (already had) and a small paint roller (two for $1.00) that I got from Dollar Tree.

I taped the stripes off at 2, 1 and 1/2 inch respectively, with 3/4 of an inch between each stripe.

I marked the stripes off with masking tape and then added some painter's tape to the sides of that so there would be some extra room on each side of the stripe for the roller.

I just placed the tape in one continuous line all the way around the case.

Here it is after I painted the first stripe but before I peeled off the tape.

And here it is finished.

I wasn't thrilled with the lack of crispness (there was some bleeding) but hey, I think it all adds to the vintage charm! And I think it was a nice trial of sorts for me. In other words, vintage suitcases, look out! I think it would be fun to paint the stripes in two complimentary colors. And there's always that good old standby - white!

I also wrapped the handle in jute since it was looking a bit too new (once I scrubbed it clean!) if you know what I mean. I think it added just the right touch. And I can always take it off if I change my mind.

And now I get to sit back and admire my handiwork. And decide how to take advantage of it's other benefit -- hidden storage!

I'm an official vintage suitcase addict now.

You can see my madness on my

VINTAGE SUITCASE PINTEREST PAGE !

Kathleen

I'll be linking up here:

Cedar Hill Ranch ~ The Scoop

Uncommon Designs~ Monday Funday

Knick of Time~ Knick of Time Tuesday

Homemaker on a Dime~Creative Bloggers Linky Party
Sharon & Co. Be Inspired
Hope Studios Tutorial Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife Show Me What Ya Got
Ivy and Elephants Whats It Wednesday
Funky Polkadot Giraffe Too Cute Tuesday
Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

My Chicago Irish Dancers

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:12:00 +0000

Chickadees Number 1 and 2

{NOTE: Pay no attention to the annoying date in the bottom right hand corner of the picture ~ it's wrong. My old camera was wonky that way! And I obviously don't know how to photoshop it out, sorry:)}

Every year, when St. Patrick's Day rolls around, my oldest daughter {Chickadee Number 1} gets busy with her Irish dance performances. You see, she's been dancing since she was seven and a half years old. She and her little sister, Chickadee Number 2, started dancing in 2007. It's been six years.

Six years of fun.

And hard work.

And dedication.

And disappointment.

And elation.

And camaraderie.

Her little sister dropped out along the way, as children often do. Yet Number 1 has stayed with it out of pure love. Love of the dance.

And my, how she's grown.

Being mostly Irish, it's nice to see one of my children embrace a Celtic tradition. But it's a real job. And anyone who has ever been a part of the Irish dance world will tell you so. There are hard shoes and soft shoes and dresses and wigs and make-up and poodle socks and sock glue {yes, I said sock glue} and feiseanna {competitions} and lessons and the list goes on and on. Oh, and there's money. Yes, there's that. The money we parents spend to support our children's passion.

But she doesn't really ask for much, this one. So we've been an Irish dance family for what seems like forever now. And at this time of year, especially, we get to be proud of our daughter and all of her dance schoolmates who work so hard all year long. Now is their time to shine.

{Chickadee is 5th from left}

Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance

Chicago, IL

Des Moines, IA

This one's my absolute favorite.

{The preceding 4 photos courtesy of my friend, Nancy.}

So for the next few days the celebrations and special holiday performances will continue. And us lucky ones, well, we'll be swept along for the ride with our very special daughters.

And you know what they say:

You don't have to be Irish to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day. So if you see some Irish dancers this St. Patrick's Day, well, just sit back, clap your hands, stomp your feet and enjoy the ride. It only happens once a year.

In honor of the special day I created another one of my Irish dance charm bracelets.

As always, available in my Etsy store.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends!

xoxo

Kathleen

My Own Little Corner: Book Bundle Decor Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 03:31:00 +0000

"In my own little corner, in my own little chair"....does anyone else remember that song from Cinderella? Well, it's what I think of when I look at this corner of my family room. Whenever I look at it I just can't help but smile.

Way back when, I knocked off Pottery Barn's book bundles. That post is still one of my most viewed {HERE}.

I've always wanted to make more. Enter my vintage, chippy, shabby wire plant stand. I was so happy when I lugged it home from a farmhouse sale {HERE}, but I was never quite sure what I was going to do with it. Sound familiar? Let's just say that it was looking mighty lonely while I decided. Not anymore.

It holds all my shabby, coverless volumes beautifully.

I think it looks pretty good in it's new spot, hanging out with my burlap storage ottoman {how-to HERE}, Ballard Designs side table knock-off {how-to HERE} and my Pier 1 lace lampshade knock-off {how to HERE}. I get a warm vibe from the mix, and I'm liking that just fine.

Can't go wrong with a bit of chippy, shabby I always say. And burlap doesn't hurt, either.

Well, looks like our snow is beginning to melt and we're looking forward to a fairly warm weekend. Happy {almost} spring to you all.

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground ~ Inspiration Friday

The Shabby Creek Cottage ~ Transformation Thursday

Chic on a Shoestring ~ Flaunt it Friday

The Answer is Chocolate ~ Open House Linky Party

504 Main ~ Tickled Pink

Jennifer Rizzo ~ Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party

Shabby Art Boutique ~ Shabbylicious Friday

Redoux

Ranunculus are the New Tulips: Six Days of Spring Linky Party

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:22:00 +0000

What a perfect time to be joining in the Six Days of Spring Linky Party as all of us here in the Midwest are in the midst of a huge winter snowstorm. I could really use a breath of fresh spring air right about now! In my world, Easter brings with it tulips and daffodils. Usually tulips. Don't get me wrong, tulips have always been my Easter favorite. But this year I've noticed a trend of moving away

from tulips and towards.....{drum roll please}......ranunculus. Ranunculus? Yes, it's genius and I don't why I hadn't thought of it sooner myself. Magazines are touting them as the new tulips, and I personally can't wait to get me some! I've become so smitten with these flowers that I've even created a Ranunculus Pinterest board.

Source: dyingofcute.tumblr.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Okay, aren't these absolutely gorgeous? {And I would kill for that teacup!}

Now I know the next one says "Mom" but it could just as easily say "Happy Easter!"

Source: bhg.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Source: bollea.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

I can see them now, adorning the table at Easter brunch. Or any brunch for that matter. I think I'm in love. How about you?

Source: weddingplannerplanning.info via Kathleen on Pinterest

I would love to see this mix in a line of vases going down the center of the Easter table. Who doesn't love ranunculus and grape hyacinth?

Well, I hope I've at least given you some inspiration before you head out to buy your fresh Easter flower table decorations. Have I convinced you? If not, what are you planning for that day?

Hope everyone's staying cozy and warm, wherever you are.

xoxo

Kathleen

I'll be linking up here:

French Country Cottage Six Days of Spring Linky Party

French Inspired Burlap Willow Bottle Basket

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:17:00 +0000

Well, we've finally had our first real snow of the season out here in the midwest. Boy, was it weird to have a relatively snowless winter. So weird that I found myself actually wishing for a snowstorm! That wish came true and now it's a veritable winter wonderland. And only 21 days until spring. Go figure.

That being said, I guess it's about time I shared with you one of my Christmas gifts from Mr. CBD. It's a willow bottle basket and I absolutely love it.

But of course I couldn't just leave well enough alone, now could I? I had some burlap left over from a previous project and I literally heard it calling to me. Has that ever happened to you? Anyway, after I pulled it out I saw that it was already the perfect size to fit right around my basket. But it just seemed a bit too plain, you know? So I added a little French-inspired sumpin' sumpin'. And there you have it.

I thought it looked especially good sitting between my shabby chic stamped candles. You can find my tutorial for those HERE.

It was so simple to do. I just whipped out my Martha Stewart stencils and stencil brushes and got to work.

Typewriter Stencil Set

Stencil Brush Set

They both came from Michael's. As did the black acrylic paint.

I really love how it turned out.

I know you usually see these types of bottle carriers made out of metal and not wood. But I'm liking mine just fine.

How about you?

Hope you're all safe and warm, wherever you are.

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

Common Ground~Inspired Friday

The Shabby Creek Cottage~Transformation Thursday

No Minimalist Here~Open House Party

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

My Repurposed Life~ Catch as Catch Can

The Vintage Farmhouse

Inexpensive and Low Key Valentine's Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:03:00 +0000

I've never been one for decorating when it comes to Valentine's Day. But last year I did create something really simple and really pretty to mark the day. It went over so well and became one of my most viewed posts so I thought I'd share it again this year for those of you who missed it.

{The following content is a repost}:

I'm not a big Valentine's Day decorator. True confession: I'm actually a NO Valentine's Day decorator. Until now. Have you seen these yet? I'm in love. I recently ran across a blog that introduced me to these lovely rose petal soaps, a la Dollar Tree ~ Polly at Motley Junket. Her first idea as to how to use them gave me inspiration of my own. She later added other ideas here. (Between you and me I think she's hooked....sshhhh, so am I!)

I can't imagine how I missed these, since the one place I frequent almost as much as Goodwill is Dollar Tree. Anyway, I brought some of these pretty things home and immediately used them to fill a vintage white ironstone bowl, a cloche and a vintage silver pedestal bowl. I'll probably do more with them later but I wanted to share them with you before Valentine's Day is just a sweet memory.

I liked the combination of pink and white, but you know me, I L.O.V.E.D. the white all by itself.

Update: You can find my tutorial for this darling "bee" adorned clay tag project HERE.

For more inspiration I did some research, a.k.a. googled, and came up with two other sites that have fab Dollar Tree flower petal soap ideas. One is The 36th Avenue. The other is Pleasant Home. Their ideas are genius and you've got to check them out. The only thing I don't understand is how these two posts were written in January and May of 2011 and I missed them altogether? Oh well, I'm just glad I found them now and can share them with you all.

Hope you've enjoyed my attempt at Valentine decor. I know it's not very elaborate but I prefer shabby chic (and frugal!) over commercial any day.

UPDATE: Dollar Tree has the rose soaps again this year, hope you got some!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Vintage Valentine Cameo

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:05:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've posted anything decor-ish. Looks like its going to be a while more......but in the meantime I wanted to share my latest vintage jewelry creation.

I added the pretty blue vintage cameo to the mother of pearl shell and framed her face with vintage rhinestones. I really think it's one of my most romantic creations, don't you?

I can never get enough sparkle. Here I've added faceted crystal beads and rhinestone rondelles to give it a bit more bling.

And the piece de resistance is a vintage French rosary connector. And we all know anything from France is romantic, right?

Speaking of romance, this might just make a nice Valentine's Day gift for yourself. What's that? You never buy gifts for yourself? Me neither {insert tongue in cheek here.}

If anyone is interested they can find it in my Etsy shop HERE.

And here's hoping that your February 14th is the very sweetest ever.

Xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

The Answer is Chocolate BFF Open House Link Party

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Party

Common Ground Be Inspired

504 Main Tickled Pink

Colonial Style with a Topiary Twist

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:44:00 +0000

Okay, so this is a recycle project to the max.

You all know how much I love topiaries, just not their ridiculous cost. So I either find them at Goodwill or I make them myself! And you totally can, too. Just look around and "shop" your house and you might be surprised to find that you already have what it takes. You can see a few of my priors HERE and HERE.

This time the project involved two home decor items that had both seen better days. One was a faux red berry topiary I bought at Target almost 10 years ago. It served its purpose well for a number of years collecting dust on the mantel until I just plain got tired of it. So into the basement it went.

The other old decor item was a Colonial Williamsburg above-the-door apple, pineapple, boxwood and magnolia leaf wreath that Mr. CBD had bought for me as a gift.

Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Wreaths of Colonial Williamsburg

The one in the picture is not exactly like mine but I was too impatient to take a pic of my own once I decided to tear it down. But it's close enough. I was in love with it. It hung over our front door for almost 9 years. It was meant to be hung outside just like it is in the picture. But we don't have a covered porch so it was hung inside, above the front door in our foyer. Which means that I've seen it a gajillion times a day, every time I walk past it. But just like the topiary, it got old, dusty and faded. {Don't judge.} And as much as I loved it I knew it had to go.

So I climbed up on a chair and pulled that thing down. Then I got to work. I pulled off each apple and boxwood leaf until it was just a mere shadow of itself. But I was happy......30 faux apples! And enough boxwood to choke a horse! I knew exactly what to do. The apples were put away for another day. But the faux boxwood, well, I washed the dust off of each and every leaf and it ended up looking like this.

Here's the original berry topiary mid-transformation after pulling most of the berries off of it.

And of course they were set aside for another day.

Here it is "naked" waiting for some boxwood and reindeer moss love.

I just pushed the boxwood leaves pretty willy nilly through the openings in the grapevine orb and voila.

I think it looks strangely similar to some of these, don't you?

earthflora.com

{$49.90 for a 9" diameter ball}

Houzz.com

Zofiadesign.com

Then I added some Dollar Tree reindeer moss to the base just to finish it off.

So there you have it.

Colonial Williamsburg

and

Target

combined to make

one

Ballard Designs-worthy

topiary.

What do you have lying around that might just be topiary-worthy?

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesdays

Cedar Hill Ranch Cowgirl Up

No Minimalist Here Open House Party

Free Pretty Things For You Whatever You Want Wednesday

The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursdays

Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt it Friday

Dining Room Dilemmas and Help from Real Simple Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 03:54:00 +0000

Is there a room in your house that you'd like to "do-over?" If you're anything like me, your answer is a resounding yes! Most recently I've been fixated on our dining room. And lo and behold I found some fabulous inspiration from my Real Simple Weekly Tips Newsletter.

Obviously you need a good table, but it's the accessories and other furniture in the room that I get overwhelmed by. What kind of lighting? What color paint? Curtains? I give up.

Maybe you love a good toile.

Emerald Beauty

Or a nice crisp white country table.

Bright on White

I would love to go bold and mix white with a bright color, like this cool blue.

Don't you just love the chandelier?

The New Blue

Or how about a mix of modern with shabby chic whites and romantic wallpaper?

Love that tin breadbox on the sideboard!

Subtle Pattern

Right now our dining room table, china cabinet and two sideboards are hand-me-downs from my husband's family that we've used for 18 years. They've seen a ton of use over the years and I'm really grateful for them. And truth be told, they're really classic, well-made pieces that I KNOW I just should not paint! (Even though I want to! Shhhhh!) So what's a girl to do?

For now I'm leaning toward slipcovers for the dining room chairs.

Source: hookedonhouses.net via Geri on Pinterest

Source: interiorstyledesign.tumblr.com via Kara on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Leah on Pinterest

Source: customslipcoversbyshelley.blogspot.com via Carrie Apple on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Pearl on Pinterest

Wow. Now if I could just figure out where to get ~~cheap~~ inexpensive slipcovers I'd be set. Any ideas?

What's your dining room dilemma?

Have a great week!

xoxo

{I was not paid by Real Simple Magazine in any way for this post.}

The Antler Project

noreply@blogger.com (Charm Bracelet Diva) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Source: marksandspencer.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

You know I'm on an antler mission. I told you about my Anthropologie Surroyal antler-y pitcher HERE. And I even have an "Antler Decor" Pinterest board {HERE}. And I guess it's time to take it up a notch because I actually bought the real thing at an antique mall recently. I wasn't totally thrilled with it since it wasn't really mounted on anything. So of course you know I'll have to do that myself! I'm actually looking forward to that project. Until then, I thought I'd share a recent purchase that couldn't have been more timely, seeing that I'm head. over. heels. in. love. with these things.

Chickadee number three and I were walking through Target recently when I was stopped in my tracks by a "90% Off" all Christmas items clearance sale. I really wasn't looking for any Christmas decor. If anything I should be paring down what I have. But I just couldn't help myself from at least taking a look. The antler fairy must have been watching over me because here's what I found.

{Source}

I never would have bought this at its original price of $29.99. But at 90% off, well, I kind of had to buy it. I mean, it was $2.99. That's for both the awesome mercury glass bowl AND the antler base. Woot woot!

How cool is this?

So, yeah, it was a bit of a late purchase for Christmas decor. But I think I can leave this one out all year. What do you think?

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

Mod Vintage Life
Cedar Hill Ranch ~ Cowgirl Up

Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}

Vintage Medal Sneak Peek

Wheat-grass Decor 101

Exciting News: My Craft:Boom! Internship

Vintage Suitcase Side Table

Folding Table Transformation

Hydrangea School and Rusty Vintage Wire Basket

Outdoor Entertaining: Extra Large Wire Lanterns

Spring in an Urban Outfitters Laboratory Flower Vase {Goodwill Score!}

Thrift Store Owl Takes Center Stage

Visit the Ultimate Goodwill Upcycle Contest and Vote For Me!

Cloche Call: The Good Egg, My Version

The Graphics Fairy, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and a Shabby Apple Winner

Easter Cocoa Puff Muffins

Classic Easter Carrot Cutlery Tutorial

Spring Shabby Apple Giveaway! ***CLOSED***

DIY Painted Vintage Suitcase

My Chicago Irish Dancers

My Own Little Corner: Book Bundle Decor Revisited

Ranunculus are the New Tulips: Six Days of Spring Linky Party

French Inspired Burlap Willow Bottle Basket

Inexpensive and Low Key Valentine's Decor

Vintage Valentine Cameo

Colonial Style with a Topiary Twist

Dining Room Dilemmas and Help from Real Simple Magazine

The Antler Project

Spring Shabby Apple Giveaway! CLOSED