Lark & Lola

A Quick & Easy Doily Bunting - Tutorial!

2012-01-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

This quick, very easy craft took me less than 15 minutes and cost less than $10! It makes an amazing decoration for a baby shower, party, Valentine's Day, or--as I plan to use it--in a little girl's room.

Have you see the pretty little doilies for sale at Michael's? They're in the $1 bins, and I've purchased tons of them so far. I hope they keep selling them!

Using five pink doilies, I cut each one in half straight down the middle.

Then I picked out a pretty coordinating ribbon. This project required less than 5 yards.

First, I tied a bow in the end of the ribbon, just to gauge where I wanted to start sewing in my doilies.

Using a zig-zag stitch, I sewed the doilies into the ribbon, folding the ribbon in half over the edge.

I didn't even bother pinning or ironing the ribbon, I found it easy enough to just place the doilies and fold the ribbon as I sewed along. Between doilies I left about an inch of space, but I think you could adjust this to zero space, or several inches, depending on how long you want your bunting to turn out.

The zig-zag stitch was perfect to secure the doily, despite the gaps in the crochet work.

Once I finished sewing the doilies in, I trimmed and tied off the other end of ribbon...

I love the end result! A pretty, dainty little {long!}doily bunting to decorate with. {I'll put it in my daughter's room, but she was napping during the photo shoot.}

Michael's had different color doilies, I believe I saw blue, green, pink, and white. I think the pink is perfect for Valentine's Day.

Isn't it sweet? And seriously, SEW EASY! I was shocked at how quick this project was from start to finish.

Hmm... I might have to make more because I'm liking how this looks in the living room...

Happy Crafting!

Two Shabby Chic Gift Crafts - a tutorial

2012-01-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

I've been crafting embellished notebooks for years now, and although plenty of other crafters also make notebooks like these and have also done tutorials on them, I haven't ever seen them done quite like mine. So I thought it'd be a fun craft to share, especially with Valentine's Day coming up. These would make an awesome handmade gift for the loves of your life.

Also, while I'm at it I'll show you how I make these sweet little gift tags--they're so easy and giftable!

First thing is to get some mini composition notebooks. These can be found all sorts of places {Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar Tree} and for dirt cheap! You will also need pretty scrapbook paper. I usually cut a 12x12 sheet in half and use the half size for one notebook.

Using a sponge brush, and holding the front and back covers out with my fingers, I spread an even, but thin, layer of Mod Podge onto the notebook.

Then I quickly place it on the backside of my scrapbooking paper, working the edges so that they adhere well. I usually don't have to worry about bubbles unless I use a thin scrapbooking paper. The heavy weight paper is better for avoiding issues with bubbles.

Work quickly to smooth it down and fold your notebook closed, and quickly stretch the paper over and around the notebook so it's snug. I've learned the hard way not to adhere it with the cover open and let it dry that way--that method usually produces rips at the crease.

Before it gets a chance to dry well, make sure your notebook pages aren't sticking to the covers.

I usually make several notebooks at a time, assembly line style is always the fastest, and I let them sit for several minutes to dry some before moving on...

Next you want to gently cut away the excess paper, getting the edge as flush as possible with your book cover. You don't want overhang!

They're already pretty! You could even leave them finished here, but I like to do quite a bit more embellishing... so continue if you dare...

Aren't they sweet?

I like to cover the inside as well, so I use pages from old books.

Cut out several pages and trim the edge so that it's straight.

Once again, using a spongebrush, apply Mod Podge to the inside cover being careful not to get Mod Podge on the notebook paper. Remember to coat the edges and corners well, but use a thin layer. Too much Mod Podge causes paper to bubble and wrinkle.

Apply it, smoothing it quickly and working the edge up to the binding as close as you can get it...

...then once again, trim the excess off as flush with the notebook as possible.

I think covering the inside makes it just that much prettier and finished, and also leaves a pleasant surprise for someone upon their first time opening it.

NOTE: If your notebook cover is curling out, like mine in the picture above, have no fear! In fact, this works to our advantage later.

ALSO: If your book page ends up sticking to the notebook paper {as shown above}, no worries...

Fixing this is as easy as ripping the page out.

Next, chose your stamp. These notebooks were for an Etsy order I received and the customer requested "P", but any pretty stamp will work. I always use Staz-On ink pads, they're the best when working with Mod Podge as the ink won't bleed or run once it's set.

Each notebook get's a stamp, slightly off center to the right.

I also like to do crown stamps! Or birds... or anything pretty. Sometimes I even use Mod Podge to apply a pretty image or cut out. Get creative!

Using a felt ink applicator {mine is from the Jim Holtz line, available at Michael's} I use the same ink to give the edges a distressed patina. I love the way this step makes the notebooks pop! If you don't have a felt ink applicator, you can use the ink pad directly, lightly brushing the edges with the pad. That method, however, applies the ink more severely and is best done with an old, slightly dry ink pad.

So pretty! I love an aged look. I also do the inside cover pages as well:

Then, using a sewing pin, I apply Swarovski crystals to the stamped image. This step adds a little bling to the notebook.

My favorite way to apply the crystals is to dip a pin in Mod Podge and touch it to the backside of the crystal, which will stick to the pin and be easy to place.

Like so:

Almost done! But not quite yet....

This is optional, but it's my favorite way to finish off my notebooks. I brush on a layer of matte finish Mod Podge all over the outside cover. This step makes my notebooks extra durable. Another advantage is that it causes the cover to curl back in, and that makes them close up so nicely.

I've seen lots of embellished notebooks for sale in craft boutiques, and all of them have had the same problem that really bothers me: the decorative paper easily peels off the notebook, especially at the covers. I've been able to prevent this from ever happening to my notebooks by lightly tapping my sponge brush {just barely damp with Mod Podge} against the cover edges. It seals the paper, and I've NEVER had mine separate. It was hard with one hand to get a photo of this step, but hopefully you get the idea:

Now it's time to dry, carefully prop them up like so:

You will find they dry fairly quickly.

My final touch is to add a ribbon & bow. No craft is complete without a bow, right?

Stretch your ribbon under the front cover and tie in a bow or knot on the front.

To seal the ends and keep them from fraying, very quickly and carefully run a lighter over the end. This works with any ribbon made from a synthetic material {do not use this on cotton or wool ribbon!}

See how it changes the ends from frayed:

To straight & sealed:

I like to use a dot of hot glue under my bow to keep the ribbon in place, and...

Ta-da! All done. So pretty!

They are an excellent handmade gift for friends, teachers, etc. Or keep them for yourself, everyone likes their things to be pretty.

My embellished notebooks do have a lot of steps, but the finished product is so worth it. They're classy and chic, and well made! {I can't believe some tutorials have people apply the scrapbook paper to the notebooks with cheap scrapbooking tape! Do I sound like a craft snob??? I try for the best quality in my crafts. Tape just doesn't do it...}

I let my daughter use one for her "notes".

She likes it!

Next, the gift tags! These are easy and much faster to whip up. I get my pre-strung tags at the office supply store, and give them a coffee bath for 10-15 minutes. Hot coffee works best. Then, remove them and let them dry on paper towels until dry.

The coffee stain makes them look old and gives them a pretty patina. Then, I stamp a pretty image on one side, and use a "To & From" stamp on the back.

You could stop there, but sometimes I like to add a little bling, so again using a straight pin, I apply some Mod Podge to the stamped image.

And then glitter and also a Swarovski crystal:

Let them dry and those pretty crystals set.

Now they're ready to be used or gifted!

That was easy, wasn't it?

I think these would make an excellent Valentine's Day gift!

As would the notebooks.

Thanks for stopping by

happy crafting!

Sew a Pretty Kindle or Tablet Cover - Tutorial!

2011-12-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

My husband gave me a Kindle Fire for an early Christmas gift this year, and I love it! When I started looking for covers, however, I had a hard time finding any that I liked even a little bit. I'm very picky about my accessories, and I just couldn't settle for a blah plain one...

So here is my FIRST ever sewing tutorial/pattern that I created all by myself. I won't lie, my first attempt didn't turn out so well, but I learned from my mistakes and now I'm showing you my second try, which turned out a lot nicer. You can easily alter this tutorial for any tablet--so if you don't have a Kindle Fire, you should still be able to pull this off. I'm a very novice seamstress, and my second try went off without a hitch...

You will need:
1 - 17" x 5 3/4" fabric piece for the outside (I used a laminated fabric for mine)
1 - 17" x 5 3/4" fabric piece for the inner lining
2 - 17" x 5 3/4" pieces of thin, but medium stiffness fusible interfacing
1 - 8" x 5 3/4" fabric piece for holding the Kindle in place
1 - 8" x 5 3/4" piece of fusible interfacing
You will also need elastic. I decided to try clear elastic for mine, and it seems to have worked out well. You could use regular white or black woven elastic, too, if you feel more comfortable with that.

And of course the basic sewing supplies: a sewing machine, marking pencil, measuring tape, pins, etc.

If you are not making this for a Kindle Fire, you want to size what would be the 17" x 5 3/4" pieces by measuring 1/2 inch seam allowance on three sides of your tablet. Then at the top you will add about 3/4", the length of your tablet again, and 1/2" at the end. (Or, 2 times the length of your tablet, plus 1 3/4" long and 1" wide.)

For the Kindle/tablet holding piece, simply cut a piece of fabric that is 1/2" longer and wider on each side of your tablet.

So you will end up with 6 pieces of fabric which will become your Kindle/tablet cover.

Start by fusing each piece to it's matching interfacing.

For the 8" x 5 3/4" piece, trace the size of your Kindle to help you press the edges evenly when your turn them in.

I attempted rounded corners for this piece (I'm a novice, don't forget.)

And pressed it like so:

Now you will need to cut four lengths of your elastic, about 5" each. (If you use the clear elastic like I did, be sure to pre-stretch your elastic.)

This is the way in which you want to sew your elastic onto each corner of the Kindle holder, making a loop that will come out on the right side of your fabric.

It's hard to see, but if you look close in the photo above you can see the elastic angling out toward me. Start by sewing on one end, then bring it around the front, leaving just a little extra slack (as opposed to running it around the corner straight up against your fabric) , and sew the other end onto the other side of your corner, also at an angle.

Do this on all four corners, creating elastic straps that will hold your Kindle in place.

Once you have those in place, pin the Kindle holder piece to your lining fabric, leaving 1/2" on three sides, like so:

Then continue by stitching the Kindle holding piece onto the lining, close to the edge. Be sure to pull your elastic straps to the left so that they are stitched around the edge nicely and you don't lose any slack.

This next little bit is optional, you can simply use an elastic strap if you like, but I wanted a ruffled strap for my Kindle cover, so I took a strip of fabric, about 3" wide and 20" or so long.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise, and sew 1/4" or so along the edge, then turn it right side out:

Flatten your strip, placing the seam in the middle (this will be the backside of the strap.)

Now sew 1/4" seam down each side, creating a tube in the middle.

Run a piece of elastic through the middle tube portion, using a safety pin to guide it through.

Stitch one end of the tube shut, being sure to get the elastic in place. Now figure about how much elastic & ruffle you want your strap to have, don't make it too tight. Snip off any excess of the strap and stitch the other end shut, being sure to catch the elastic in your stitch. The ruffle effect is created by the fabric being longer than the elastic.

Now you're ready to sew it all together. Place the lining and cover pieces right sides together and pin it in place. Remember to tuck your strap (or elastic) inside, don't pin it sticking out and around like I show in this picture! (Sometimes my mind has to work at figuring out how these things come together.) Simply tuck the edges of your strap piece in between, and up to the edges, making sure it will be stitched with your seam. I placed by strap across the bottom about 1-2" up from the bottom (on the same end as the Kindle holding piece.)

Before stitching, take a moment to check your tablet/Kindle to get a good idea of how much seam allowance you should have. I wanted my cover to fit my Kindle pretty snug, so I stitched about 1/3" seam all around.

Be sure to leave an opening at the bottom so you can turn your cover right side out!

Turn it right side out. Usually I would press my project at this point, but I don't want to melt my clear elastic so I skipped this step. Instead I just top-stitched around the entire edge, being sure to stitch my turnout hole shut as well.

Another optional bit: Before top-stitching, I used my Kindle to check for the crease, and added pins where the crease started and stopped.

Using the pins as a guide, I marked 3 straight lines down the middle crease, and I stitched along each line. I find this helps the cover fold well.

Like so:

Now it's the moment of truth! Check your Kindle to make sure it fits in your cover nicely. Hopefully it does, just like mine:

I have to say, I'm glad I chose the clear elastic. It seems to hold up pretty well and I find it less distracting to my eye than the 4 white elastic strips would be.

You should now have a pretty little Kindle (or tablet) cover!

I love how well it fits my Kindle, and it's so much more my style than any other Kindle cover I saw for sale.

The nice thing about the strap is that I can flip it over to the backside to hold the cover back when I'm using my Kindle.

And it's ruffled. Ruffles are always a plus.

If you decide to use this tutorial to make your own tablet cover, please share pictures when you're done!

Thanks for stopping by and

have a very Merry Christmas!

Organizing Toys & A Room Tour

2011-11-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

Kids rooms can be such trouble when it comes to keeping clean & organized. I recently, with the help of some IKEA products, got the clothes under control. Next I needed to tackle the dreaded TOY CLOSET!

Toys are the worst.

This is what my girls room looks like every other day. Because every other day we pick up all the toys and shove them back into the closet. And the room looks clean again, until naptime is over and it all vomits back into the room.

For obvious reasons, I was fed up and in desperate need of some organization.

So back to our new IKEA to pick up some VESSLA.

According to my online Swedish to English dictionary, "vessla" means "embodies". Perfect, because I needed something to embody these toys.

{WHY do toys these days have to come with so many little pieces? You can't just get a Barbie. Barbie has to come with 50 accessories that will only end up hiding in weird little places all over your house...}

I wanted to label all the VESSLA boxes, so I have to tell you about this awesome little label machine that I recently received through the Amazon Vine program. This has quickly become my favorite household gadget, it's amazing! {And no, I have not been asked or paid to say all this. I just sincerely love this thing.}

This is the third label maker I've owned, but this one is by far the king. It has 14 fonts, over 80 decorative frames, tons of features I've never seen on a label maker before, and you can purchase additional tape cartridges for ALL types of labeling.

Glow-in-the-dark labels for camping accessories and light switches.

Iron-on labels for kid's clothing or sewing projects.

Gold on black labels, plaid labels, clear labels...

Which is what I wanted for this project, clear labels.

And then I went a little label-crazy...

But that's the thing about keeping a clean house

{which I dream of but never succeed in.}

It has to be organized. A place for everything!

Can you tell I've been having a blast with the label maker?

Anyway, next came the dirty work...

So then it was time to start sorting.

I learned three things on this project.

First, we actually don't have as many toys as I had thought. Once they were sorted and boxed, it no longer seemed like too many toys. I still got a donation box going for things we no longer care for, but it became apparent that the mass of toys was so much more intimidating when they were un-organized.

Second, we really don't have as many music toys as I had thought. I guess we didn't need a whole VESSLA for those. {But, hey family, Christmas gift idea??? We have a box to fill, here.}

And third, this little monkey toy, which Eisley loved,

scares the crap out of Violet.

It terrifies her.

Before taking on this project I had to assess how many VESSLA to get and what to label them. I ended up with six: Kitchen Toys, Musical Instruments, Puppets & Dolls, Puzzles & Games, Baby Toys, and Dress Up & Costumes.

There are tons of organizational containers out there. I chose the VESSLA because you can also purchase lids for them, they have little wheels on the bottom making them easy for kids to use, and they fit well into our toy closet.

I have one more in our living room for those toys that end up all over the house.

Books get their own shelf, and behind the VESSLA was enough space to tuck some random toys into. This system works perfectly for us!

What was utter chaos yesterday is clean, functional organization today! Toys aren't so bad after all... {And as you can see, I also have a couple VESSLA boxes down there for storing out-of-season clothes for the girls.}

Finally both sides of the closet are tidy and labeled.

Since we're here I figured I'd show you what the rest of the room looks like. Hardly a Pottery Barn Kids dream room, I know. But as renters, I hope maybe I can give some fellow renters some inspiration? Maybe just even a little???

We have permission to "paint away", but we just haven't done it with this room... {yet.}

The chair is a bad upholstery job I did.

The drawers from a flea market. Bed is from IKEA.

Eisley's little "house". This kitchen, because we couldn't afford Pottery Barn's similar one. Santa brought this doll crib last year, too.

Her roll-top desk. Okay, I was the one who had to have this. Found at an antique mall. Husband haggled the price down. Love that guy. Love my in-laws for taking him to auctions and teaching him how to haggle. {I've even seen them haggle down hotel rooms.}

This is Eisley's "Bedtime Checklist".

It's a--you guessed it--IKEA frame. She uses a dry erase marker to check off her bedtime chores.

This is the other side of the room.

Violet has finally outgrown her bassinet {which can be found here, but don't buy it because it was pretty but seriously poor quality} and lives in the corner of this room until we get Violet's room together and figure out what to do with a round bassinet...

Finally, the little console I painted a while back {remember?}, Eisley's pet fish, the bright pink Foo Dog, and... a camera???

Yep. That's our little baby cam! This is something Justin & I used to think only hover-moms purchased. Then I got one to review from Amazon Vine and all I can say is--WOW!

It's actually a really great thing to have for several reasons. This model tells us the temperature in the room, it can play lullabies, it has night-vision, and an intercom! It's also safe against creeps who try and pick up on monitor signals from outside your house.

We thought we'd put it on baby, but it's actually a great toddler/small child gadget, too. When Eisley tries to sneak out of her bed at naptime I can simply tell her over the intercom to get back into bed and go to sleep.

We can also keep an eye on the girls playing while we're cooking dinner in the kitchen, see if Eisley has fallen out of bed when we hear a noise at night, and monitor Eisley for any more of her Sharpie rampages.

So, turns out we're believers in the whole baby-monitor-camera thing. Who knew?

So there you have it!

A freshly organized kids room.

...plus some product recommends and a room tour.

If you're still with me - thanks for coming!

________________________________________

One more ting about product recommends, I'm planning a week of "Heather's Favorite Things" coming soon. If Oprah can do it, so can I! Except I can't give you all each item for free, there might be a give-away or two. I hope it will give you all some ideas for great Christmas gifts this year! I'll be posting every day for a week, probably right before Thanksgiving, each day focused on a certain genre such as "Beauty Products" and "Cleaning Products."

I have some great things to share...

Magnetic Makeup ~ Organizing Tutorial

2011-10-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

So I have to be fully honest here, this is not my idea. This is based on the brilliant idea Laura had as a way to organize her makeup. I found this idea of her's via Pinterest {follow me here, or email me to request an invite} and I was so excited by it that I decided to copy her, though I put my own little spin on it.

See, our master bathroom is small with little counter space. And every morning I do my makeup with my big makeup bag in the way, digging through it.

So this is why the following idea was the perfect solution for me. It's not for everyone, but if you find yourself with little counter space and too much makeup, than you might want to try this brilliant solution,

While Laura used a picture frame and it turned out nicely, I decided to use one of the metal trays I've come across while thrifting. I really love vintage metal trays, and I have several - but now I can finally put one to use!

They are often {pretty much always} magnetic. So I picked up a plate hanger at Michael's as well as some craft magnets.

I figure that when I need to replace a piece of makeup, I can pry the magnets off and re-use them on the new makeup. OR, they're cheap enough to buy more.

Before I glued on the magnets, I wanted to make sure this tray would hang right.

Fortunately, it did. And this plate hanger was nice as it came with the hardware to hang it with. Easy peasy.

A tin makes a nice holder for items such as makeup brushes, eyeliners, mascara, etc. I was also happy to have this one {got it from my grandma, thanks Grandma!} because it has a cute built-in clock. I didn't have a clock in my bathroom so this is just another handy detail.

The four neo magnets didn't even need to be glued on, since the tin is also magnetic.

It did need to hang in the middle so it wouldn't tilt the tray.

Then it was simply a matter of gluing my magnets onto my makeup.

And my floss. Why not? It will help to have that looking back at me everyday.

I'm a heavy make-up wearer, but I guess I don't have that much of it! Most women probably have more makeup than me. I have some seasonal pieces I keep in my drawer, though. These are my everyday wear items, so it will be good to have them at arms length every morning.

Finally, the great test was to see if those magnets would hold up all my makeup. It works well! I love that in the mornings it will be easy to just grab off the tray when I need it. No more digging through my makeup bag.

And having just that much more counter space in my tiny bathroom will make so much of a difference!

This was a really inexpensive idea, too. I picked up the tray at Goodwill for $1.99. The magnets & plate hanger were all purchased with coupons at Michael's.

Thanks to Laura for the great idea! I put my own spin on it with the vintage tray, but you should also check out her glam chic picture frame makeover.

Her first paragraph talks about how hard it is, with so many creative craft blogs out there, to feel like you came up with something original anymore. I know the feeling! I feel like I've had craft-block for quite a while now. And here I am copying her idea :-) Well done, Laura.

Hopefully this inspiration will get my gears turning again!

Before & After: IKEA Wine Rack Makeover

2011-10-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Today I just have a quick little makeover for you.

Nothing that special but I do feel inclined to share...

This past weekend my family & I had a quick mini-vacation down to Santa Fe. They are blessed with a Trader Joe's down there. Those lucky ducks.

So, naturally, we stopped and stocked up on the "Two Buck Chuck" and a few other bottles that struck my fancy.

I could spend all day in a liquor store, I tell you.

I have a thing for wine bottle labels.

But when we got home again, home again,

jiggity jig,

we were faced with the unfortunate predicament of having a small kitchen and 8 new bottles of wine that didn't quite fit.

As tempting as it may be, I don't want to just drink them all.

I want to keep them around for a while.

I needed a wine rack.

Here's the problem, they don't make "cute", Lark & Lola-esque wine racks. At least not as far as I've seen. I tried my favorite home decorator stores, nothing.

I tried Amazon {I love Amazon almost as much as my own children}, but all that turned up there was this and if you own one of those, you should probably check yourself into rehab. {I mean, I love wine as much as the next lush, but I can get through a concert without smuggling it in my bra.}

So finally I turned to IKEA {we have a brand new one here in Denver, did you know?} and found this for just ten bucks. You can even buy three and stack them, but I just wanted one. This is why I adore IKEA. The modern clean lines of their Swedish design isn't so much my style, but they have so many items you can alter easily.

Sure, it was lacking underwire, but I could still work with it.

I grabbed a paint pod, you can get these at Ace Hardware. I love the pre-mixed little paint pots, they're perfect for small projects.

Two napping babies, a Lifetime movie on in the background, and a Paint Pod resulted in this:

I did some distressing with sandpaper, and a little bit of stamping some French phrases on there, and just like that I had a wine rack that fit my decor nicely.

I would love to see a few of them stacked, each a different color...

It seemed like all the other wine racks I found for sale were wrought iron and modern. This bright cheery color makes the dark wine bottles a little less dreary, in my opinion.

So, just a friendly reminder from me to you, if you can't find something that works with your style & decor, don't be afraid to grab a paint pod...

Alright, that's all.

If you're still with me, you may go back to your day now.

My New Old Vanity

2011-09-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer I purchased this antique vanity at a yard sale for a mere $15.

This was uber exciting for me because I have been on the lookout for an old vanity for. a. long. time.

I've seen some shabby chic ones at Target, and even the new Denver Ikea has a pretty off-white vanity. But none of those would do. The vintage-lover in me would have nothing but OLD.

So, naturally, I was delighted to find this old thing at a yard sale. It was even after noon that I found it. For only $15! I couldn't believe it was still there. Like it was meant for me.

And if you've ever visited my blog before you know me: I am not afraid of color. And I am NOT a fan of natural wood. It just isn't me. So, naturally, I painted it.

Come on, it was BEGGING for a makeover.

Then there was the mirror. The beautiful, old, patina'd mirror that came with it.

Now, I have seen a great many reproduction "old" mirrors. But folks, you just cannot fake that. I LOVE the patina to this old mirror.

But I wanted to do something original with it...

So I grabbed a sheet of scrapbooking paper and I...

...and then I...

oh yeah.

I went there.

But more on that later... back to the painting...

Now, I'm king of upset with my Nikon here. Because the real color {Tomorrow's Child by Ace Hardware} pops a lot more in real life than it does in these pictures! So you have to imagine it a little more vibrant, and little more AQUA, popping against my gray walls which my husband still has to finish painting...

A few knobs from Hobby Lobby did the trick...

And then a little sand papering on those edges. Because I just can't leave well-enough alone!

I painted the drawers completely, too. It just felt right.

But wait!

I'm not done.

Every great vanity needs a stool, right?

This pathetic thing IS from Target. I think I bought it the year we got married, 8 years ago now. It was horrible stained and tattered on top. So, naturally, I recovered it and gave it a new coat of paint to match it's new friend.

Ta-da!

It's my dream come true!

I have always wanted an antique vanity.

Painted, of course.

LOVING the mirror.

And of course it needed some embellishing so I added some jewelry boxes and the old amber vanity set my mother-in-law handed down to me last Christmas {she knows I like old things.}

I'm in love.

So there it is. My new old vanity.

Again, in real life the color is a bit more vibrant.

I wish that showed here, but oh well.

The mirror is my favorite part!

Thanks for visiting my blog :)

I'd love to see your recent furniture makeovers, feel free to comment & link.

Pillowcase Dresses

2011-08-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last night I whipped up three

-- that's right, three, that's how easy this tutorial is --

pillowcase dresses.

It's simple, thrifty, and fun for the beginner seamstress like myself. I recently acquired a new Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine, which I'm pretty much IN LOVE with. It's AMAZING, so I needed a new & easy project to try out on it.

Just head over to your local thrift store and pick up some cheap, vintage pillowcases. They make for excellent dresses. This yellow checked one was only 99¢, and it even had a lovely hand-painted edge!

Even if you've never sewn an article of clothing before, you can do this project. It's SEW easy. Haha..

It's seriously just a matter of making two cuts, sew an elastic casing at the top, and use seam binding to trim the arm holes and create ties. Anyone could do it. Like I said, I made all three last night - with a vomiting baby and all. Now that I've made a few I think making another might take 10 minutes, tops.

You don't even need a pattern.

Since the pillowcase already has it's own seams & hems, it's especially easy. Try to choose pillowcases with decorative edging, or you can always add some ric rac or other type of trim to make it extra adorable.

As the author of the tutorial says, this sewing project is very forgiving. Sizing is easy. I love how summery and breezy they look, perfect for a romping little one.

Here's another one I made, I just love vintage bedding prints.

So crisp & pretty!

Eisley likes having a comfy, cool, roomy outfit to run around in. And *I* love seeing little girls dressed like little girls. There's so much trashy clothing out there, even for kids as young as 3. I'll definitely have to make more of these.

They're sweet :)

Again, the tutorial is from 402 Center Street Designs,

I love it!

Lark & Lola Outlet

2011-06-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

{American Family Kitchen Scale, $42.00}

In case you haven't noticed, I recently re-opened my Etsy shop.

The Lark & Lola Outlet.

I had opened it ages ago {2008} right before I actually decided to open my own shop hosted on my own website {www.larkandlola.com}

{Shabby Chic Vase Set, $12.00}

With the new baby here, my crafting has slowed down a lot, and my website is not updated often {though still fully functioning}.

BUT, I still have so many vintage & antique finds that I would like to but shouldn't keep {my house is filled to the brim with pretty things already, just ask my husband.}

{Candle Sconce, sold}

I have some pretty unique curiosities on there!

{Custom Calendar Blocks, $20.00}

And also a *few* handcrafted items.

{Custom Mini Notebook Set, $15.00}

So head on over, if you should so desire...

{Vintage Typewriter, sold}

...because I'm constantly adding new things...

{Vintage Princess Telephone, sold}

...and at least enjoy the pretty pictures.

Pinterest, anyone?

I'm happy to send out invites...

{Enamelware Coffee Canister, $8.00}

Enjoy!

And thank you for visiting my blog.

Thrifty Chalkboard Makeover

2011-06-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

It's been almost an entire year since I picked up this ornately framed picture from Goodwill {$6.99} and I finally got around to doing something with it this week.

{My baby is 16 weeks old now and I'm ready to get my craft back on!}

While my Pies were napping, I took the picture outside and got it set up on disposable papers.

For just less than $4 at Walmart, I picked up a can of

Krylon's spraypaint in Celery.

The gloss finish is best for this project, I think.

Of course I'm sure most of you know this,

but impatient me has had to learn this the hard way:

It is better to have to do 10 long, thin coats of spraypaint

than 1 quick, drippy coat of spraypaint.

Take it slow to do it well.

Half-way done.

Here it is with it's fancy, glossy coat of Celery.

Next up is a sponge brush {impatient, remember? and it's all I had on hand} and a can of Rust-oleum's Chalkboard paint for just under $10 at Walmart.

I love the pale green

{or, as I love to call it, Ladurée Green}

against the black.

There you have it!

A brand new chalkboard with a beautiful ornate frame.

Total cost?

Approximately $20.

{Though I still have tons of chalkboard paint left for more projects.}

Nice.

I decided to hang it in my dining room.

Perhaps I could write my dinner menus on it or something...

Believe it or not this is my first go with the chalkboard paint.

I think I'm a fan.

I adore thrift store makeovers!

It's so fun to turn a tacky old thing

into something fresh and lovely for my home.

If you would like to do this for your own home, start hunting for these types of pictures at your local thrift stores. I see these fairly often, this one was from Italy, a cheap vintage souvenir that frequently shows up in thrift stores.

Thank you for visiting!

My New Collection!

2011-05-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today I am going

to share with you

my new obsession, my vice.

I recently discovered some blogs that lead me to this new obsession, and I became hooked. Ever since {"since" being approximately three weeks ago, now} I've been scouring Goodwill stores and Savers and such looking for items to add to my small, but growing, collection.

What is it???

Pyrex!

But not ^THAT^ kind of Pyrex,

which is probably what you think of first

when you hear the "P" word, right?

No, no, no, no, no...

THIS kind of Pyrex:

{Source}

VINTAGE PYREX!

{Source. I can only aspire to someday have a Pyrex collection as lovely as this!}

For years I've been seeing this stuff in thrift & antique shops. But I never really thought much of it until I came across blogs {like this, this, and this one} that showed me just how lovely vintage Pyrex collections can be.

Now suddenly, I am OBSESSED with creating a collection of my own!

So far, I have collected 24 pieces.
Here is my collection:

I found all of these at the Goodwill & other thrift shops for under $7.
Some even as cheap as 50¢!

It is a humble collection, but quickly growing. As long as I hit the thrift stores early in the day, I seem to have luck finding a piece or two here and there.

{Above: Autumn Harvest mixing bowls, Golden Honeysuckle casserole dish, and Town & Country serving dish.}

I honestly used to think these dishes were ugly, but I've now come to appreciate their vintage charm!

{Above: Colonial Mist mixing bowl.}

Today when I was leaving the house to run an errand, I accidentally told my husband to please, "Check on Pyrex every 15 minutes or so!"... I meant to check on my napping baby, VIOLET... does that make me a horrible mommy?

My only plain vintage Pyrex so far, a milk glass mixing bowl from the 1950s! {$3}

I just can't help myself, I love the colors & vintage prints!

The above dish {$1} I've been using to hold a recent sewing project in my craft room. I do plan to actually use all this Pyrex, whether for cooking or just for storage around the house...

{Above: Snowflake casserole dish.}

As you can see, not all of it is found in perfect condition. The above dish {$2} I plan to try out Bar Keeper's Friend on to get rid of the scratches. I've been doing to much vintage Pyrex research and have heard amazing things about that cleaning product...

{Above: Snowflake divided serving dish, came with lid.}

But I also find other pieces in really good condition, like the matching Snowflake dish above {$6}.

{Above: Summer Impressions coffee mugs.}

The mugs are probably the easiest pieces to find, but at 50¢ how could I resist? I'm still in that new, puppy love stage where I want to snatch up every piece I can find.

{Above: Square Flowers casserole dish, Spring Blossom Cinderella bowls.}

Just today I found the large green Crazy Daisy Cinderella bowl at Goodwill for $4, then about 30 minutes later I scored the matching white Crazy Daisy bowl at Savers for $3! Talk about good luck.

{Above: Autumn Harvest mixing bowls, Early America bowl, and Shenandoah Cinderella bowl.}

I've never collected anything this passionately before. I never thought I'd be into something like Pyrex, either, but here I am...

...and I enjoy the hunt! I visit antique stores and the Pyrex is easy to find - but the good sets are all at least $25 and sometimes as much as $125. I think it's more fun to hunt them down for mere cents or a few dollars at thrift stores. I plan on hitting up the estate sales this summer as well.

I'd LOVE to score me some of that pink Gooseberry or aqua Butterprint!

And I've really been enjoying learning the history behind all the beautiful vintage Pyrex. It's a fun, relatively inexpensive American collectible. Share pictures of your collections, if you're a Pyrex junkie, too!

A Violet Themed Party

2011-04-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the party!!!

After my daughter Violet's baptism last weekend we hosted a little "Violet themed" soirée at our house. It was a sweet, grand old time with all our loved ones present, and a wonderful celebration of our blessing that is Violet.

{Check out this amazing post our friend Colleen did on the party, she is so sweet. I'm sad I didn't get a picture of the two of us!}

I wanted to share some of the pictures I did get of the party in honor of Miss. V.

Miss. V with her momma {moi}.

All the violet colored goodies.

Of course, Violet flavored mints. {Acquired taste required.}

Me & V.

Violet glassware {World Market}.

Violet colored taffy {Sunflower Market}, chalkboard tags {$1/ea at Michael's!}

Yogurt covered pretzels. And ~~purple~~ violet Peeps!

Yellow cupcakes with buttercream {violet, of course} frosting.

French macarons. NOT from Ladurée, but my own failed attempt.

Cake balls! AKA Cake Pops, sans stick.

Chicken salad on croissants in bakers bags from Etsy.

Peeps & pretzels, served in cupcake wrappers.

Ruffle cake, inspired by Martha. I had to try it, this was the perfect time.

No party is complete without silver straws.

I loved how all the shades of ~~purple~~ violet mixed together.

That's my V-Pie!

These technically were "flops" but still tasted good. Nutella/marshmallow filling!

Chocolate cross pops.

Forgot to put those out until half way through the party...

Soapmaker/Grandma Erickson made the favors, violet scented soaps.

Perfect for a baptism party!

Ruffle cake: we love you, not just for your good looks but also what's on the inside.

Aunt Vesuvius with the Vi.

Learning to use the new Nikon on some of the pretty treats...

After guests left, I had a lot of fun photographing these...

I call this one, The Lonely Cake Ball.

Ruffle cake makes for a great subject.

Tempting, isn't it?

Who doesn't love a Violet cupcake? I love my Violet cupcake! All 10 lbs of her...

Most guests took home a plate of treats!

Love, Your Hostess

The Laundry & Dish Detergent Makeover!

2011-04-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

This week I did something

I said I'd never do - I made my own cleaning supplies!

Behold, my new laundry detergent & dishwasher soap!

Once I read the {incredibly easy} directions on how to many your own household detergents, and how cheap they are {we're talking around $0.014/load} I realized I'd be a fool to not try this.

The recipe I used for the laundry detergent can be found all over the internet, I found it here, on the Duggar's website. {They have two versions, I made the powdered, but they also have a recipe for liquid detergent.} Borax, a Fels-Naptha bar, and Arm & Hammer's Washing Soda {ALL found at Walmart in the cleaning aisle} was all that was required. I have plenty of borax & washing soda to make many more batches.

You can substitute for the Fels-Naptha bar, using Zote {which makes the detergent a pretty pink!}, Ivory, or I've even seen recipes where folks use their own handmade castile soaps. My mom is a soapmaker, so I'm going to have to ask her for some when it's time to make my next batch...

For the dishwasher detergent, I used this recipe from Homestead Revival {an awesome blog, if you haven't already been there}. She has a recipe for the laundry detergent here, also. I also stole her idea for using a sugar dispenser for my detergents...

I love the way the sugar dispenser looks next to my sink. It's always nice to have a clean, homemade look to your container as opposed to some commercialized box with bright colors and advertising...

I do recommend, if you chose to try these recipes for yourself, to designate some measuring cups & spoons specifically for these soaps and not for food use. {My mom gives me a set of measuring cups every year in my stocking, so I had plenty to spare... love you, mom!}

Finally, I needed a durable way to label my new soaps since they'd be around water. I decided to use my new metal stamping supplies {for jewelry making} to create labels. What do you think? I love the look on the sugar dispenser {I picked those up for about $2.00 each at Walmart, and they're the perfect size & design for this task!}

Craft Room Clean-Up

2011-04-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

Don't go in there!
It's SCARY there!

After living in this house a year it was well past time to organize my craft room.

I'd moved in with no organizational supplies, no system in place, and so over the course of a year with craft shows & filling orders... it. was. BAD.

I would clean the craft room, but it fell apart again the minute I tried to craft anything BECAUSE I had no organizational tools! There was no system.Everything just went everywhere. I needed {desperately} to get this place under control because it was impossible to make anything in this mess.

Go ahead, keep looking if you dare...

Can you hear the screeching violins? EEE! EEE! EEE! EEE! EEE!
Yeah. It was time. Plus, I was 8 months pregnant and decided to take advantage of the nesting instinct. If there was one time I could tackle a mess as bad as this, it was now.

So I got to work and started chipping away at the mess, with intent to organize all the thousands of little items in my craft room {we're talking stamps, tools, papers, endless yards of ribbon, books, findings, stationery, beads, wire, ... basically the entire inventory of a Michael's store had been vomited into this small room.}
Above you can see my progress after about two days of work.

While I would have loved to go out a buy all these beautiful pieces of furniture and organizational supplies to fix up my room, a tiny budget was of issue here. Plus, with a baby on the way I absolutely had to scrimp. In the end, I decided to go the practical route. I purchased a new "desk" that is actually a very sturdy little table. {$50} It works fantastically! Plus, I can fold it up and give the room more space at any moment.

I also created a system for all the little THINGS in my craft room. I purchased Sterilite boxes in bulk, {$24} as well as a shelving unit {$30}. With some labels they made perfect places for all the THINGS. You know what they say...

"A place for everything and everything in it's place."

So true, you cannot keep organized and clean without it.

I also managed to make the craft room a little bit of a guest room at the same time by finding a daybed on Craigslist for $75, with the mattress!

Okay, so are you ready to see how it turned out???

~TA DA!~

I also picked up this little shelving unit with a 50% off coupon at Michael's {the rare 50% off coupon only pops out of their printers once in a blue moon} making it about $40.

As you can see, it makes the perfect vertical space for many of my craft supplies, and they're right within my reach above my desk. {Although it only holds a fraction of my ribbon...}
Unlike before, my crafting surface is clean and un-cluttered.
Again, I can break this table down at any time to create more space. I think a folding work table is the way to go.
Here is my tattered old hutch that I bought for $12, painted, and used at countless markets. It is well-weathered, but still good for storage.
I keep my books shelved nearby. I tear apart these old antique ones for various projects. In the meantime, they look pretty.
I LOVE my craft book "library". I could triple the size of it ten times over, however. There are many more crafting books on my wish list...
Old cigar boxes and vintage thrift-store industrial office drawers make for some great storage as well.
I bought this old metal-covered door off of Craigslist for $10 a couple years ago. Ever since it has served me as a magnetic inspirational board, it changes constantly.
I find pretty magnets and then throw whatever might inspire some creativity onto this giant magnet board. Love it.
My little tower of drawers holds stamps & jewelry making supplies.
Under the hutch are unfinished projects and stacks of scrapbooking paper.
Another little organization tool I picked up with a coupon at Michael's, a spinning tool caddy. This one item has helped so much in the way of keeping my workspace tidy!
And of course, I never seem to have enough boxes. I scored the white drawer set, brand new, at Goodwill.
Here are where the Sterilite tubs come in handy, on the shelving unit they hold all my most precious supplies:
It takes all the work out of cleaning up just to have a space for everything. Here is my box labeled "Adhesives":
"Ephemera" and "Notions":
Some baskets store my current sewing/knitting projects and my Husqvarna hangs out on the bottom shelf:
Ahh! Everything in it's place - I'm so happy now!
It's a tight fit, but we still managed to get the daybed worked in there. It's really nice to have an extra bed.

Now THAT'S a room I can walk into and be creative & productive in. No one should put up with a messy space like I had. I hope this provides some motivation for you, if you have a space you can't get under control. It IS possible to make even the smallest most horrifyingly messy room shine again!
Almost forgot, the finishing touch! My husband got a "bonus" from one of the brands he sold at work over the holidays, and thus was able to win credit towards their products. He used a little bit of his bonus to get me a little system so that I could listen to music while I work. So thoughtful of him, and I'm loving having music to work to now. Being married to an audio/video geek has some real perks... thanks, honey!!
It's been a couple months now since "The Great Craft Room Clean-Up of 2011", and I'm proud to tell you that this is as messy as it gets these days:
It was a project that had me so intimidated and fearful at first, but I'm so very glad I tackled the mess.

Cheers!

Sunday Snapshots - No. 1

2011-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

the tarnished silver
the bathroom shelf
the new baby's new bassinet

the favorite perfume

I have a new toy camera and an urge to practice my photography.
This week I've been snapping random items around my house...
Every Sunday I'll plan on posting a few of my recent pictures,
comments are most certainly welcome!

Floating Paperwork

2011-01-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

For 2011 I've resolved to organize my life.

If there is one thing I am never happy about at home, it's the clutter. The paperwork, the junk drawer, the eye sores. Today I created a simple system for organizing the "floating paperwork" in my house. I'm talking the bills, the letters, the coupons, etc. All of these things I want/need to save - but I hate how they linger on my dining room table, and even in my "To Do" basket:
It's ugly, it's clutter, it can cause problems when something can't be found, and every day more of it arrives:

It's just not pretty! And I like things in my home to be pretty ;-)

So here's what I did: I pulled out two things I already had on hand, decorative file folders {mine are from Cavallini & Co., keep an eye out at places like Homegoods & Tuesday Morning for inexpensive packs}, and a decorative hanging folder {this is from Wendy Addison's beautiful line, however, I don't believe it is still in production - something like this can very easily be made! More on that later...}
Just throwing papers in the hanging folder haphazardly won't do it, papers do best when sorted specifically into their respective categories.
One could very easily create a hanging folder such as mine with some heavy cardstock/light cardboard available at craft stores, pinking shears, grommets, and ribbon. Score the folding edge with several lines to make it flexible just the way most hanging folders in your office are.
Thread a ribbon through the grommets as such and viola! - you have a hanging folder. Decorate or stamp the cover to make it especially pretty.
I can't explain what relief it was to sort all my floating paper into separate, pretty folders {am I uptight or what?} Here is my letter writing folder - I finally have a good place to stick our address labels!
Coupons are just another paper item I have a love/hate relationship with. I like them better now that they're stored and out of sight! I love 'em when I'm paying the cashier, hate 'em when they're lounging around my house.
Fussy I may be, but I can't tell you how nice it is to see this instead of cluttered bills, mail, & clippings:

While I didn't have to craft my hanging folder, even if you do, this project won't take long to set up! Or perhaps you already have a system for paperwork? I didn't, but I do now!

My other resolution for 2011 is to post more often!! So far, it's going well.

New Year, New Craft

2011-01-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

I recently tried out what was a new craft for me: hand embroidery! I have always loved the look of vintage embroidery, but wanted to put my own twist on it. I decided to make some of those pretty hand stitched kitchen towels to give as Christmas gifts, and, well, I got hooked!

For those of you who haven't tried this craft before, here's a little blog post on how to throw some kitchen towels together - with some free patterns at the end! I had been intimidated by this craft for a while, as I'm not much of a seamstress; but I've since learned that this craft is fun & forgiving! I need more practice, though I'm still happy with how my first projects turned out.

To get started I picked up:

flour sack towels {After trial and error with several brands, my favorite were Aunt Martha's available at craft stores, and K-Mart's did okay as well. My lease favorite were from Walmart & Target.}
6" embroidery hoop
embroidery needles {a good needle threader is a must, too!}
embroidery transfer pen {with water soluble ink}
scissors
embroidery floss {less than 40 cents a skein at craft stores}
ric-rac {optional}
a pattern to transfer! {see my own hand drawn ones below!}

First, I washed & then pressed the flour sack towels into the folded shape I desired so that the front panel centered the image on the towel.
There are other methods for transferring patterns, but since flour sack towels are easy to see a pattern through, I simply inserted my pattern under the top layer of the folded towel.
Take the transfer pen and gently trace the pattern onto the towel itself.
Ta-da!
Now you're ready to start embroidering. Embroidery floss comes with 6 strands, so if you want a finer look to your stitching you can separate and use as many strands as you like. I typically use all 6 strands, but for fine details I would occasionally use 3 or 4 strands.

To learn the basic stitches, there are various websites that offer free tutorials. I used a lot of stitches from Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials, with the stem stitch and the back stitch being my favorite.

I also picked up this book, Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching. This book is amazing! It has a bunch of gorgeous iron on patterns and pretty much teaches you everything you need to know to get started with embroidery.
When I finished the pattern, I pulled out my sewing machine and added a quick ric-rac trim to the bottom. I think this part adds an adorable finishing touch!
And of course, you don't have to stick with just flour sack towels. Now that I have some experience under my needle I have started embroidering other items as well - such as these onesies for my new baby girl who is almost here!
The pattern on the left was hand drawn by myself, the adorable cupcake on the right is from Wild Olive.

I will also share my own patterns with you! Please DO NOT use these patterns commercially or sell them. Feel free to use all you like for yourself or gifting.

Click to enlarge, right click to save, and edit sizing as desired in your favorite image editor.

Enjoy!

And Happy New Year!

We have a winner!

2010-11-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

Using Random.org, I entered the number of entries (comments) in the generator and it decided on comment #15!

Comment 15 belongs to Mel @ Livvy Loo Who! I also had the pleasure of meeting her at Paris Street this year, and her blog is very cool - you should check it out.

Congrats, Mel!

And MANY thanks to everyone who entered. I was so happy to hear from everyone who pledged to buy more handmade this Christmas! Speaking of, I'll be posting a NEW tutorial for a handmade gift idea this weekend {which ends Tuesday in my family ;-) } so check back soon!

Cheers!

* Holiday GIVEAWAY Bundle! *

2010-11-06T23:11:00.001-07:00

It's time for another giveaway!
Win some of these handmade holiday goodies.

The holiday season has arrived!

I'd like to host a small giveaway with good intentions - to encourage you all to buy handmade & from local small businesses this holiday season. With the economy in a rut, one way we can all help boost it is by supporting crafters & entrepreneurs instead of big corporations. This giveaway is specifically aimed at those who are willing to consider actively buying handmade & supporting small businesses this Christmas.

The GIVEAWAY bundle itself includes:
* 2 Lark & Lola handcrafted rosette Christmas ornaments {made with real antique sheet music, winner will receive two ornaments like those shown above - picked for you, but they're all lovely}
* 1 package handmade Christmas gift tags {package includes 9 tags, all featuring a different holiday image from antique postcards, and strung on vintage-esque seam binding ribbon}
* 1 Christmas themed "NOËL" garland! {green & red & lovely! see www.larkandlola.com to view some of our handmade garlands - they are our best selling crafts!}

The giveaway value is $36!

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment at the end of this post promising to make a conscious effort to buy handmade & from small businesses this holiday season!

If you want a SECOND entry, go take the Buy Handmade pledge {http://www.buyhandmade.org/}, and return to leave a second comment here telling us you have done so.

If you'd like a THIRD entry, post on your Facebook or Twitter page about the Buy Handmade pledge and how everyone can help stimulate the economy this season! Then come back, and leave a third comment.

Giveaway ends at midnight (mountain time!) this Friday the 12th, the winner will be randomly selected and announced Saturday morning.

Good luck & thanks for helping me support this cause!

Halloween Wall Hang - Tutorial!

2010-10-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

I made several of these Halloween themed wall hangs for the October Paris Street Market and they were a hit! I thought I'd share the tutorial here as a Halloween treat in case you'd like to make one of your own.

SUPPLIES:

12x12 wood board, available at Michael's for about $3.99 {I painted mine antique white, but optional}
12x12 scrapbook paper - the Halloween themed paper shown here is also from Michael's
1 yard ribbon
craft glitter
decorative stamps
glue pad
Halloween image - I bought my "Witch Society" image from the Land of Enchantment shop on Etsy. I also used this free raven image from The Graphics Fairy {shown later}

TOOLS:

bone folder for smoothing
Mod Podge & sponge brush for applying
glue stick
paper preserver
power drill

First, work quickly to coat one side with a thin even coat of Mod Podge, lay your scrapbook paper down and smooth with a bone folder to work out air bubbles.
Trim off any overhang by flipping the board over and running a rotary cutter along the edge.

Print your image on white cardstock {I used a measurement of 5x7} and crop.
Using a glue stick, adhere the image to the center of your board. Smooth down with bone folder.
Use a clear stamp with a glue pad to create glitter embellishments.
Like so:
I adore the way the glitter adds a little glamour to the image. Be careful not to rub the glitter off at this point.
Using a paper preserver {I prefer Krylon's} spray an even thin coat over both the image and the glitter. I usually do a second coat after about 15 minutes. This step is important as it protects your image from water damage and it holds the glitter in place!
Once your image and glitter is sealed, use a ruler along the top to mark for drill holes to thread ribbon through. I marked both the 3" & 9" marks.
To finish your wall hang, drill holes where marked and thread ribbon through to tie a bow in front. {TIP: I don't like to drill the holes too large, but it can be tricky to get the ribbon threaded through. To help, cut the ribbon ends at a sharp angle and use a lighter the way you would to seal ribbon ends - this makes the point of the ribbon end stiff and easier to thread through the hole.} Once the bow is tied, seal the ribbon ends with a lighter {be careful, work quickly, and only do this on polyester ribbon - cloth will just burn.} Finally, I use a glue gun to secure the bow to prevent it from untying.
And now you have a beautiful square wall hang to pretty up your decor!

I've also been known to make these for other holidays & all season. You can really get creative with this inexpensive wall art! If you end up making any, please share it with me!

Happy Halloweentime!

I promise to post again THIS WEEK!

Halloween Goodies!

2010-09-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Get a tiny witch hat like my bust is wearing at Hobby Lobby, OR an adorable embellished one here.

I apologize for being so, well, GONE lately! I haven't forgotten about you or my blog, I promise.

Today I updated the Lark & Lola shop, which has been in dire need of some TLC for quite some time now. I added a few Halloween goodies, including my popular "BOO!" Garlands!

And to make up for all this time I've been MIA, I have a couple really good tutorials/craft ideas to post this week. I'm finally going to get around to the key pillow, and I also want to show you an adorable Halloween wall hanging I've been making for shows - they've been a hit!

I'm back :-) Let's enjoy fall & Halloween together, shall we?

Making Beautiful Pictures

2010-07-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Since I posted the above photo {the edited version on the right} on my Facebook & family life blog last week, I've gotten about a 1,000,001 compliments and 'how do you do that's?'

I use a "vintage" photo editing technique, with a soft vignette. I really love the way it makes photos look, don't you? So I want to share some links to tutorials where you can learn to do this yourself.

First, you need decent photos to begin with. You don't need a $1,000+ camera {although there is a Nikon I have my eyes on}, all these photos here were taken with my Samsung point & shoot. The most basic tips for getting a decent photograph is to try unique angles and SNAP SNAP SNAP. I mean, takes TONS of pictures. Just keep snapping them, there are bound to be a few winners in there.
Second, you need to have either Photoshop {you lucky duck!} or you can use Gimp, which is a free Photoshop-like software that has many of the same features. You can download Gimp here.

Finally, before you look at these tutorials, I just want to say one thing. They look complicated to someone who is not a frequent user of Photoshop, but do not be intimidated! I'm a very beginner PS user myself, but with a little patience I was able to master this photo editing technique with the help of these tutorials. Give it a try, if you get stuck ask a computer savvy friend for help or start over at the beginning. And if you succeed, please do share your before & afters with me! I'd love to see them.
So on to the tutorials.
If you're using Photoshop, I recommend this website tutorial at Veerle's Blog and this video tutorial {I strongly recommend visiting both links.} The video is great because you can start & pause it while doing the editing step-by-step along with the video. The video tutorial is shown on a Mac, however, it is the same on Photoshop using a PC.

If you're using Gimp, I recommend this tutorial at Gimpology which includes both written directions and a video at the bottom.

See how this technique made my daughter's blue eyes POP? It's always fun for me to play with this technique and see how to photo turns out, each picture comes out a little different. Good luck & have fun!

Happy Photo Editing!

{Shop Update!}

2010-06-10T19:30:00.001-07:00

I have {finally!} update the Lark & Lola Online Boutique and added some new lovelies! I made it one of my resolutions this year to do a better job of updating it. Better late than never, oui?
So if you get a chance, go check out what's new, and visit back every once in a while to see what sort of crafting I've been up to!
This week I'll even be adding some of my popular paper party crowns. Hooray!

5 Secrets of Hobby Lobby

2010-06-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Secrets of

Hobby Lobby is located in all but just a handful of states, and it's pretty much my BEST resource for most of my craft supplies. Since I've been such an avid shopped for so many years now, I've learned a lot of tricks and some secrets about Hobby Lobby that help me get what I want at the best prices. I thought I'd share my tips with you, since more than likely most of you have a Hobby Lobby in your area.

1. Take Advantage of TWO Weekly Sales
This is my most recently learned secret of Hobby Lobby. I made a quick run there on a Saturday evening shortly before they closed, I always am sure to try and buy off the weekly sale, but of course there are sometimes items I need that aren't on sale that week. This is how I learned about this "secret". When I got to checkout the girl at the register told me she had to honor "sales for next week as well as this week"! She told me that since employees were already out putting the sale signs up for next week, she didn't know what was advertised on sale yet and so they honored both sales on Saturday nights shortly before closing. I asked her if all Hobby Lobbys operate this way and she said, "Yeah I'm pretty sure they do." So next time you want to buy some "Metalware" & "Glassware" but only "Glassware" is on sale that week - try going on a Saturday night right before the sale switches over to the next week. You might just get the best of both worlds!

2. Place Orders To Get What You Want
Did you know that many, if not most, items can be ordered at Hobby Lobby? When I wanted 16 sets of 1 1/2" wooden blocks for my Calendar Blocks and Hobby Lobby only stocks about 2 sets at a time - I simply asked for the manager and placed an order. Since they get shipments in every week I didn't have to wait long, OR pay for shipping. She did ask that I pay in advance, however, which I was happy to do because the week I ordered them unfinished wood was on sale! So if you ever find yourself grumbling about how they don't stock enough of what you need, remember that managers are able to order most items from the warehouse just for you!

3. Coupon Tip #1
Most weeks Hobby Lobby offers an awesome printable 40% off coupon on their website! {Although every once in a while it's for something like 30% spray paint.} It says one per customer per day, the more customers you have with you, the more coupons you can use. It's fair game, if you're making a large or expensive shopping trip there, to print off a few and have a friend/spouse/child use a second coupon and purchase an big ticket item separately from you. If you're able to take advantage this way of having a shopping partner you could get two (or three?) items 40% off. I also like to print off extras and hand them to other shoppers in line. It's a nice surprise & good gesture towards a stranger, and it never hurts to help someone else have a better day.

4. Coupon Tip #2
Although they're good about giving out their own coupons {probably took a lesson from Hobby Lobby's fantastic coupon strategies}, if you ever can't find one, Michael's & Joann Fabrics are two other craft stores that will gladly accept their competitor's coupons. I find this especially helpful when I need an item that Hobby Lobby doesn't carry but Michael's or Joann's does. This might not apply in states that don't have Hobby Lobby locations. Now I just wish Hobby Lobby would accept competitor's coupons...

5. Revamp & Reuse/Resell
Hobby Lobby has some really lovely home decor, I always love to go see what's new. I've seen a lot of boutique store owners shop Hobby Lobby & resell their items in their own stores - often for a higher price! A lot of people out there don't know what a wonderful home decor store Hobby Lobby can be, and if they're not crafty they won't bother going in, they assume it's just a craft supply store. There is something to be said about shopping for lovely home decor in a lovely boutique, rather than a bland store like Hobby Lobby with it's simple glass shelving and sterile lighting. While I don't feel right buying a Hobby Lobby item and reselling it my shop for three times the price, I've found that Hobby Lobby carries excellent "revampable" items, there's no guilt for me when I buy the item, add my own personal touch & work, and then resell it. For instance, I recently purchased some canvas wall hangings with the Eiffel tower image on them in the clearance section. They hadn't sold well at Hobby Lobby. But I bought them and decided the raw canvas edges needed something to make the wall hangings more chic & polished. I added a lovely brown fabric rosette trim around the edges. Now that it looked better & had my own touch on it - I put them for sale in my own shop. And people love them! Lesson learned: when shopping at Hobby Lobby, don't pass up semi-chic home decor without looking at it and seeing the potential. Ask yourself: Could I paint this? Could I add something? Whether it would be for your home or to sell elsewhere, many Hobby Lobby items can be altered to be just that much better.

So there you have it, my Hobby Lobby tips & secrets, now happy shopping!

Easy Tea {Coffee} Staining

2010-06-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

When I wanted to start tea staining my own papers I searched around the internet for good tutorials but mostly just found mediocre posts about tea staining lace, with few pictures & details. So I thought I'd share with you all how I do my tea staining technique now.

This is just for heavy papers, like cardstock & tags. I've never tea stained anything else so if you're wondering how to do lace you might want to look elsewhere. {Elsewhere is one of my favorite words...}
It really is pretty simple. After some trial & error, I ended up using strong brew coffee instead of actual tea - I found it too difficult to choose the right tea (some turned out to red, some to yellow, some too green). Coffee gave me just the right aged look I was going for.
Simply soak  your pieces in hot/warm coffee for several minutes. I left mine soaking about 7-10 minutes.
Once they were half-dry, laying out on the counter on paper towels, I put some coffee in a spray bottle and gave my tags some spots & splotches. Some of them turned out with really neat finishes.
You just don't want to soak them too long to where the paper will start breaking down.
Once dry, I decorated mine using stamps & German glass glitter.
Show me your stained projects!