Living the Anthropologie way of life...

DIY Anthropologie Home Decor Part II...

2013-05-26T23:38:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand

a few more of my

very faves

DIY Anthropologie
Home

Decor projects,
Part II

There are many talented crafty

girls out there whom not only

have tried out these projects

but have amazing directions..

I have searched far and wide

for the next set of top

10 in my book...

1) Flour Sack Towel

Materials:

- Flour Sack Towels (you can find at Walmart)

- Fabric Paint

- Stamp

- Aluminum Foil

Instructions:

Pre-wash the towels before beginning to stamp.

Take a piece of aluminum foil and place it under your towel to protect the

surface you are working on from paint.

apply a thin coat of paint onto a paper plate and dip the stamp

in the paint making sure to blot off any excess onto a paper towel.

Find your starting point and gently press the stamp onto the towel.

Continue stamping your towel making sure to rotate the stamp

as you go to create a pattern.

Also consider alternating the row patterns as you progress over the towel.

for more photos visit Jacque at
www.thediyvillage.com

2) Iron Circle Mirror

materials:

15 mirrors, $15
Rustoleum Gold spray paint, $5
Hex nuts & Screws (15 1-1/4" screws, 45 hex nuts), estimated $5
12 paint can lids, on hand (or buy for .39 each)
Drill, on hand
Clamp, on hand
Hammer & nail, on hand
Yard stick, on hand
Permanent marker, on hand
E-6000 or other glass glue, on hand or $5 and up For step by step directions visit

Dollar store crafts
dollarstorecrafts.com

3) Book-Page Decor

Decor made from book pages pops up
throughout Anthro both for sale
and as store decor..
Grab a old dictionary from a thrift store
and a jumbo bottle of Mod Podge
and you can make it happen in your home too!

Emily from On The V Side
recreated the look with pears..
She took a thrift store bought old book
and cut strips of varying lengths and widths,
to accommodate the curves of the pears.
Then just used Modge Podge to 'paint'
the paper onto the pears.
Let 'em dry.
lifeonthevside.blogspot.com

Mari Makes has amazing & easy directions
to re-create
the "well-defined lamp shade"
from Anthro as pictured
above
total cost of supplies $15
themarimakes.blogspot.com

4) Blooming Flower Vase

These lovely spring time
vases are currently on Anthro
online, I found two versions
of DIY, one very simple and
another a little more complex

but both had
the similar material list:

Self Drying Modeling Clay

Paint & Brushes

Hot Glue & Glue Gun

Vase

Knife

The shaping of the flower can vary,
use your imagination:

or a more textured look:

madebygirl.blogspot.com

www.centsationalgirl.com

5) Peekaboo Lampshade

Supplies list:
-plain lampshade
-burlap
-clip art frame/chair
-black fabric
-iron-on fusible backing
-mod podge
-hot glue gun/glue sticks
-black 1/2" bias tape
-tacky glue
-scissors

Step by step directions
can be found by the very
crafty:
makelyhome.com

6) Settled Confetti tumblers

Supplies list:
-glass tumblers
(ck thrift stores and dollar store)
-fine paint brush for dots
-Paint made for use on glass
DecoArt paint

Zandi at Radical Possibility
did an amazing job on
her tumblers, ck it out:

www.radicalpossibility.com

7)Crossed Spoon Plate Holder

I love this easy DIY item
for a plate holder or
small cookbook stand
Great kitchen accessory!
Visit Rachel over at:
lovelycraftyhome.com
She has a lot of amazing
DIY project, besides
this one..

8) Chalkboard spice jars

Materials:
*white spray paint
*Clean glass jars
*chalkboard labels

Check out sarahhearts.com
she gives very simple directions.
Over thinking this project can be a down
fall I do believe. Her jars turned
out adorable and had all the likeness
of the Anthro ones.

9) Hanging Vases

These adorable vases
can be used indoors
or outdoors for a
garden party.
It is one of the most simple
projects..

Materials:
* empty jars or small vases
* fine wire

Visit Chelsea
for complete directions
and pics!
fluffthatnest.blogspot.com

Feel free to use

your individuality

on this one..instead of

wire you can also use fine jute rope.

10)Antiqued Mirror Collage

This very cool mirror
collage comes with a
very step price tag from Anthro
you can indeed create the look
yourself..
There are two different
methods in obtaining
the antiqued look
on a mirror..

Mandi from Vintage Revivals
has amazing directions
with photos with her very
cute spin on it..

Materials:
Neoprene Gloves
Jasco Brand Paint and Epoxy Remover
Muratic Acid
Old Shirt or Carpet (So that your mirror doesn't get scratched)
Possibly a scraper.

Check out her directions at the link below:

www.vintagerevivals.com

The next method comes
from Home Heart Craft
With a little less chemical

Materials:
Thrift store picture frames with glass. The glass is key!
If you can find some that are chipped or cracked even better,
that will add to the vintage feel. You will also need a spray bottle with
one part vinegar to 3 parts water.
And lastly you will need
KRYLON LOOKING GLASS SPRAY PAINT.

Directions: Take the glass out of the frame and clean.
Start with a light spritz of the water vinegar solution on the glass.
Then take the spray paint and lightly cover the glass with short bursts
about 6" away.
Let dry and repeat the spritz with the vinegar solution and then the spray paint.
Do this about three to four times. It doesn't have to be perfect as
you are trying to go for an antique chippy feeling.
Make sure the glass is completely dry before slipping it back into the frame.
Make sure the painted side is on the inside and the smooth side is out.

For additional pics
visit:
homeheartcraft

I hope you have enjoyed Part II
of Anthropologie DIY projects...
It is possible to re-create

the look of an Anthropologie

home without the huge price tag..

I hope these DIY projects

give you the inspiration

to give it a try!!!

Simple Vintage Farm House Kitchen...easier than you think

2013-03-31T22:40:00.001-07:00

My Kitchen has needed a update for quite

some time but I have a small old house

and not a huge bank account..

I am currently in the middle of a DIY

remodel

creating a farmhouse

style kitchen..

Before I started I searched out

inspirations as usual..

What follows is step by step

what you need to re-do your

kitchen in a simple farmhouse style..

I started with a fresh coat of white paint

on my wooden cabinets,

then added some great new

drawer pulls..

You could go more intricate

so many more available

on Ebay & of course

Anthropologie

is known for their amazing repo vintage

pulls.

2:

I chose to leave some of

the cabinets opento display vintage jars,

wire vintage baskets

white collections

a) vintage wire baskets

b) vintage glass containers

I have this great set from Crate and Barrel

3: add your fave wooden

& vintage accessories

3: Add a Chalkboard

with the very cool chalkboard paint

you can paint a door, wall, or

use a vintage picture frame

4: Fabrics..vintage tea towel/linen/burlap

The texture in these rugged fabrics

is a nice contrast against the crisp white

5: Farmhouse Sink

Ikea Sink

$312.98

The Simple Farmhouse kitchen, is just that,

simple with clean lines. It can be

re-created fairly easily. (with the exception

of the installation of the sink) I'll end

with some of my favorite

kitchens that gave me

great inspiration! Enjoy!

*I will be sure to post pics when my kitchen

is completed..

Boys Room Makeover! Hanging Beds!

2013-02-25T00:25:00.000-08:00

I have admired hanging beds

for quite some time now

and finally found a way to incorporate

them into our home...

My twin boys share a very small

room and it made sense to

try the hanging bed idea

to save on space...

This room was my inspiration..

The directions can be found on

Anna White's website:

ana-white: easiest-hanging-daybed

I'm not sure if it just because we live in a very

old house (the walls can be uneven

at times) but this project

was not "easy" by

any means...But I loved

the results..Thanks to my

amazing guy!

The bedding is from Ikea...

EIVOR duvet and pillowcase $19.99

The toy organizer is also from Ikea..

(We have had it a while and has held up great)

Cool British scenes artwork,

3pc set $12.99

found at Ross

We decided on the height with

the top bed

so that the dresser

could fit snug underneath it.

The built in desk is attached with simple

shelf brackets. The ladder turned

out great too!

Another view of the desks..

Another view of the top hanging bed

Some close-ups of how the beds are
put together..

we added extra support in most places..

and more support...

The rope is tied to eye bolts..

I still need to add a few items

to complete the room..

Etsy: union jack pillow set

Really want a couple of these

pillows for the beds...

Ikea: Jules Jr. office chair

The boys are using bar type

stools right now, not very

comfortable..

Hanging beds can be done with

inspiration and someone

very handy with woodworking!

Creating A Lovely Office Space...

2012-12-29T21:54:00.007-08:00

How to Create an office

space you'll want

to spend all your time in!

After the Holiday clean up was done,

I looked around and saw a room
that needed desperate help,
our make-shift office.
You know that area,
your computer and bills live there.
The area that gets a lot of face time;
doing paperwork, chatting with friends online,
helping with homework...
and it inevitably ends up looking
like a tornado hit it!

Remember:
One can have organization and function without
skipping out on style...

There are two types of office styles I am
currently thinking of trying to create:
(they will be no surprise to my
regular readers)

1)Vintage with a touch of Industrial
i.e.:
cues from old, disused warehouses
by using a balanced mix of concrete and untreated wood,
tarnished metal and supple fabrics.

2) Scandinavian Style
i.e.:
Light, refreshing colors, clean-lined furnishings and a

notable absence of clutter characterize the Scandinavian look.

Finding ways to maximize light all year round.

*If you live in the Pacific Northwest

you can relate to this need too!

*******
Just like any other room you have re-decorated,
you need just
collect a few key accessories or unique storage
items,
they can act as
the inspiration for your whole room!

Ikea storage boxes 2 pk for $3.99,

and they come in a few different colors

recycled old crates

desk lamp from Restoration Hardware

tin cans cleaned & painted

a vintage fan

vintage school clock

Vintage letter found on Etsy

Metal baskets so industrial...
can be found at many stores, at a variety
of prices, New or Vintage!

Amazing pendent light
(be sure to peek at my post about lighting)

Double metal hanging basket

Ikea has these amazing wall rails with
many different types of container to hang from
them! look in the kitchen section of their website.
Lovin the chalk board wall too!

Lovely rolling cart! (also from Ikea)

I adore these signs...
found on Etsy or Ebay..

So, say one cannot choose, and I decide to

do a little blending

of the two styles?

It could turn out quite lovely!

This one is my fave, Industrial Vintage,

with a little

pop of colors!

How to Create A Scandinavian Style Nursery

2012-11-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been drawn to the clean lines

of Scandinavian decor...

(referring specifically to Denmark,

Norway and Sweden).

One room in particular that has gained popularity

is your Baby's Nursery.

Why would anyone go traditional

When you can go

Scandinavian!

With IKEA's popping up

everywhere

there are so many ways

to get the Scandinavian look

without breaking the bank...

There are two different styles when

you are going Nordic with your design..

1) Neutral tones:

Light wood and white, hints

of gray, lights, and lots of

whimsy!!

2) Colorful and Bold:

*Lots of color and patterns!

pick a few colors that make you

happy and chances are they will

make baby happy too!!

3) Once you have picked your color choice

finding a Scandinavian Crib is next

on the list...

The IKEA cribs fit every budget:

The Sniglar is only $69.99

SNIGLAR

The Hensivk is $99

HENSVIK

The Sebra Kili, comes with the mattress and

the large

price tag of around $1200

*a variety of colors too

sebra

There are a variety of other Scandinavian children's

furniture stores out there

you just have to search..

Here are two of my faves:

danishbydesign

oliver furniture

4) Finding pattern and texture...

It is very easy to find pattern at

fabric stores local and abroad online

Patterns can be used as bedding

wallpaper, or you can even frame

a piece of fabric

5) Use Scandinavian toys,prints,items

to decorate with

6) Add some unique lighting

7) Vintage/Modern Style Rocking Chair

8) Last but not least don't forget

your imagination!!!

Good Luck with your Scandinavian Nursery!

How to go Industrial Vintage in your Kitchen

2012-10-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

Going Industrial Vintage also known as

Industrial Chic

in the kitchen can be easy...

if you know the most important

elements to pull it off...

I recommend starting with a color 

palate in your kitchen that is

 very neutral

light colors, such as white or linen..

as this will enhance

the metal and wood textures

of the industrial items.

1. Storage Containers

These boxes and bins

 be found in thrift stores, yard sales

&

be sure to check Ebay

and Etsy for good deals!

2. Lighting

These lights can add so much

of the industrial element

to your kitchen/dining room

**** 

 Some of these lights are easy enough to

make yourself if you are crafty

check out a previous post of mine to

see step by step directions:

vintage inspired lighting

3. Vintage Signage

Old signage can be difficult to 

locate

 and pricey

its OK to buy repos

or make your own.. 

 visit Gina

at the shabby chic 

cottage for direction

on how to make the

chalk board tray above

industrial drawer upcycled

4. metal chairs/stools and shelves

Shelf from Modern50

Chair/basket from Modern50

chairs from Modern50

Use the shelves to display your

metal boxes and bins!

(the ones above is from 

  Modern50) 

 Viola!!

Here are some superb examples

of industrial vintage

kitchen designs:

My kitchen is one of my remaining

rooms of my house in need of remodel

I am definitely going with

industrial vintage inspired!

Here a few of my fave links

for find vintage industrial

www.factory20.com 

www.urbanarchaeology.com 

threepotatofourshop.com 

www.etsy.com/shop/lacklusterco 

www.modern50.com

How to add Woodland touches in your Anthropologie home!

2012-09-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

With Fall just around the corner,

adding some woodland touches

to your living room makes sense...

Anthro has a new sub heading on the website

called "wild things" that has superb

forest animals that would feel right at home

in your living room...

wild things

There is definitely a right way to do Woodland!

Think natural materials and forest dwelling

animals. What a better time to add

a few Woodland details to your home

than Fall!!!

Birds have been in trend

for a while now, but now we have

foxes,owls,rabbits and much

more!

This owl lamp from West Elm

is a great piece tastefully placed

without being overwhelming

or being a theme of its own.

This peek-a-boo rabbit

lamp adds a bit of

character to the room...

love the faux deer head

This great office has a lamp

of birds to watch over the area...

very slight addition of woodland

but now you are getting the idea!

Love the metal fox art on the wall...

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

The idea is not to go overboard

with too many Woodland! items

everywhere, but find one or two

of your favorite animal motif pieces

and

raw wood items

Here a few unique items

with endless possibilities:

Be sure to look for fabric that can be used to

incorporate Woodland!, Ikea

has a few that really pop with color:

Find these and other Woodland items

on these links:

Vintage Chic Living Room

2012-09-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

My Vintage Chic Living Room

Make-over...

Not often do I post the decorating I am working on,

but I had to share this one..

My living room was in despair and in need of a makeover!!

My house is from the 1930's; very old, in
different stages of repair and
was actually
vacant for many years before we moved in..

We have been slowly re-doing everything

a little at a time. Money and hours

permitting.

The living room had plank wood floors, that had

been painted over several times. Not really

the type of floors you can rehab..

I found great inspiration on Pintrest

for updated painted floors!

Here is what the room looked like to

start with, all cleared out...

Eeeekkk!

I had a very dusty lens for the photo below,but you get the idea

The floor was always tough to clean and

I had area rugs covering most of floor space..

I wanted to find shades of paint

that were very neutral and

would match any

redecorating in the future..

I picked "cottage white" for the floors

and "linen" for the walls and squares..

We used an oil based gloss paint

for the floors

which smelled awful,

we had to section off this

part of the house

for days!!! But it gave

the shine I was looking for..

Getting the room taped is a job left

for when it is cool

in the late evening

after you went to

the lake all afternoon.
LOL

The difficulty in making

straight lines when

you have a crooked

house! grrr! Thank goodness

my guy is a remodeling genius

We went with floating squares

as oppose to the traditional

checkered pattern..

Looking the opposite direction..

close-up of the colors..

I had so much fun putting

the room back together!!!

The benches are handmade out of

salvaged old wood

by my dad, and painted

flat black..

The room is an odd size

its long and narrow,

the narrow benches

take up way less room

than any kind of coffee

table would...

A salvaged buffet, painted with

new pulls makes a great

storage for overflow

DVDs and books

A great vintage wooden

printing type tray

used as wall art

Looking the opposite way

fave chair and new pillow

from IKEA, and wire

to hang art

also from IKEA..

Birgit Cushion $17.99

POÄNG Chair $69.00

The art wall is a small collection now,
but I am
hoping to expand..

Some of my fave

flea market/yard sale

finds:

Red wing crock, it was

a amazing price because of the

crack, but it makes a

great place to keep

blankets handy to cuddle

up with...

Wire basket with linen liner
great for storing extra cords, magazines, books

Shoeshine box/bench, I bought
this at a yard sale for $5
it got a bit of paint and
some distressing..

New frame with old photo of my Dad and Grandfather
on the tractor.
a vintage candlestick, and a
vintage cracker jack box

A vintage candle holder, with a collection
glass and metal door knobs
at its base..

A new Buddha sitting on top of
very old books!

Overall, I am pretty happy with the new
and improved floor. I also
am loving the clean lines of the room!
Knowing myself I will constantly
be adding and subtracting
from the style, but for now
I can sit back and enjoy..

I hope this post has
given you some inspiration and ideas!

Vintage Anthropologie Summer Weddings

2012-07-29T00:36:00.001-07:00

Anthropologie Inspired...

It is that time of year that getting married

in the warmth of a summer day

makes sense...

If "Vintage" or "Anthropologie Inspired" is

what your looking

for...I have put together a 

compilation of

amazing ideas to make the decor at

your wedding

the talk of the town!

Wildflowers in vintage containers

vintage pieces of furniture & accessories

Vintage and unique seating

Handmade with Love...

This garland can be purchased

on Etsy

paper heart garland

I love this night-time mix

of paper goods and vintage

Many more ideas and inspirations can be found

on these links below

greenweddingshoes.com

 bhldn.com 

ruffledblog.com

www.etsy.com

www.stylemepretty.com

For great deals on decor and much more

shop:

www.recycledbride.com

For stripe paper straw and other fine paper decor

shop:

www.shopsweetlulu.com 

modern vintage bathrooms

2012-07-10T12:57:00.001-07:00

Bathrooms:

A room that often times

gets neglected

when we think of redecorating,

but one of the main rooms you worry 

about being presentable

when guests are stopping by..

Here is some great inspiration

to "anthro up"

your bath

Lighting

lighting in the bathroom

can actually make the room...

more interesting...

Sinks

industrial, vintage, farmhouse..

with great baskets to accessorize with...

Don't be afraid to add some 

eclectic vintage items

that you wouldn't usually see in a 

bathroom 

Tubs

A freestanding tub always

adds a romance edge... 

("an ornate mirror injects personality into a

super modern interior" Domino Book

of Decorating)

Color

if you need more color in the

bathroom, here are

some creative ways to get it

while still keeping with

this style

Accessories

vintage and replicas

alike can be found at flea markets

and online stores

Some of my favorite website to find accessories:

bath hook:

anthropologie.com 

vintage furniture and accessories:

www.modern50.com

http://www.factory20.com/

www.ebay.com

www.etsy.com

specific bath items:

restorationhardware.com/

vintageplumbing.com/

*I think I have some serious work to do in my bathroom...

DIY Anthropologie Home Decor Projects

2012-06-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

If your anything like me

you long for the look

of the loveliness

of some of Anthropologie's

larger pieces but cannot

always pay the prices

Here is a collection of

my favorite

DIY

(Do It Yourself)

projects:

1: Curator Nightstand

This adorable nightstand is no longer

available at Anthro

It can be re-created

with a little handy work

easy directions by Cucumbersome

Nightstand Directions

I would love to paint one black or gray

2. Dresser

This very cool dresser

is industrial chic

The ladies at BHBC

did play-by-play

directions on their

blog

Anthro Dresser

Hats off to them

they are super crafty

3. Teapot Lamp

This lamp is so whimsical

and sweet...

I found amazing directions

with many photos

Vintage Revival Blogspot

the Anthro version sells for $198

and re-created: $31.99

Anthro Teapot

4.Zinc Letters

These letters are fun

and can be used in many

different rooms

of your Anthro-inspired home

The mache letters

can be found

at your local

craft store

as can the only other needed

supply: rust-oleum spray

paint

Volia!

One of the most simple DIY!

5. Rhododendron Chandelier

This lovely lantern retails for 

$898.00

Whoa! A little steep for me

However a handmade version was

done by Kate at Design Sponge

Materials

100–125 white standard-sized paper cupcake liners
100–125 vertically striped petit fours papers
(1) 18–20″ white paper lantern
hot glue gun
1 Hemma Cord from IKEA (for lighting) ($3.99)

1.Assemble lantern and place in a bowl to act as a base

2.Put a small dot of hot glue on the backside of a white cupcake liner. Starting about

1/2″ in from the wire ring at the top of the lantern, place the cupcake liner on the

lantern and press until it is attached.

3.Continue around the ring, spacing the papers so that the circular bases are

approximately 1″ apart, allowing the outer edges to merge and shape.

4. Apply the cupcake papers around the lantern in rings until

you are 3/4 of the way down, and then flip the lantern over and

gently place it back in the bowl, top side down.

5. Complete the underside, and fill in the bottom so that the papers cover

the base opening.

6. Begin applying the petit fours papers, centering them inside each white paper.

Three-quarters of the way up the lantern, flip it top side up. Complete the top side

Easy as 1 2 3...

6. Fabric Letters

Head over to

52 Mantels

for very simple step by step

on how to make your

own

And what she did with her letter

is so amazing and creative

check it out!

7. Mason Jar lights

what you’ll need:

Edison bulb

Cord kit(at local hardware stores)

Vintage mason jar

Cordless Drill 

Pliers

Hammer

For wonderful directions

visit 

Maddy

at

three little blackbirds

8. Shower Curtain

Perfect and easy directions

for this very famous

shower curtain

is found at:

See Kate Sew 

I am not much of a seamstress

and I found her directions

easy to follow!!!

9. Rose Landscape shade

retails: $98

there are many crafty girls

out there who have 

directions on this one

but I love 

Another Crafty Day

10.Ruffled Curtain

These Curtains are

adorable and very 

Anthro

Step by Step

photo directions

can be found

at:

Besserina Blogspot

I hope you have enjoyed my 10 favorite

DIY Anthropologie projects

feel free to submit

any of your own! 

Outdoor Anthropologie Living...

2012-06-13T21:24:00.003-07:00

It is time again to create a outdoor space

as comfortable and creative as your indoor space

summer is here again and the living is easy

Anthro Living that is...

maybe it is for entertaining

or just for you and your

family...

I am quite fond of the use of
vintage beds for outdoor
reading nooks

or cuddling time...

There are other ways to create a lounge area...

A nice quite corner

A hanging bed

A great use of pallets and organic material

great use of an old cot 

Hammocks are timeless

Outdoor Seating...

Our family loves to eat outdoors on nights when it is

cooler outside than in the house

Notice the eclectic vintage style

busy but inviting

lighting always creates a inviting space

very vintage

The colors are amazing

These look like amazing flea market finds!

Other ways to get comfy as a group:

 I love the sheer curtains

note the use of a metal water trough

as a coffee table

again with the backyard

theater...the soft lighting

is perfect

 Vintage sofas outdoors!

Could be alone or group 

conversations!!

Enjoy the warm weather in a 

stylish, creative, cozy 

space!

Host an Anthropologie Inspired Garden Party...

2012-05-12T22:53:00.001-07:00

The warmth of the sun finally appearing in the Pacific Northwest

has inspired me to think about gardening and being in the

outdoors!

What better way to be creative and outdoors

than to host an

garden party!!!!

Your garden doesn't have to be a perfect

thing of beauty to host a

outdoor garden party...

Its all in the decorations

and details...

Some of the same principals apply

that you have read in

most of my anthro inspired

blogs:

vintage and distressed wood

and here are some new additions:

1: Vintage Tablecloths

in soft florals

or solids with a flair or a little something extra..

2: vintage or mixed matched wooden chairs...

found at yard sales and thrift shops

I love this retro sofa pulled into the mix

or this bench with some throw pillows

that match the colors

3: mismatched and unique floral tableware

I am sure some of you

recognize these fun teacups

from

anthropologie teacups

4. floral center pieces

using vintage items

as vases

Love these single flowers

in hanging mason jars

Vintage birdcase with floral

Anthro mugs

used as vases

and more mason jars

with a little different

twist...floating!

and a little hint

on how to keep flowers

in place in the jars...

some use tape,

but you can use wire too..

5: Draw the eye up and around with

lantern, lights, hanging decor

*also if you party goes into the evening

it adds extra lighting

buntings are also amazing

the pom poms

give the illusion of flowers

Lanterns

are timeless garden

party staples

Your party may run into the

late summer evening

be prepared with amazing

lighting...

this is a very cool pic..

had to throw it in the mix

And if you decide to start later

in the evening

here is an spectacular

activies to offer your guests

after dinner...

A backyard theater

Here is a great link

that teaches you

how to set up

your own backyard theater

backyardtheater.com

Vintage Industrial Living Rooms

2012-04-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

Vintage Industrial Inspired living rooms:

While most of us do not live in a large loft or an old building

converted into an apartment, much like

some of the catalog pages in Anthro or Urban Outfitters.

The style of vintage industrial is gaining popularity and

there are ways to incorporate the style into

your own living room..

There are many websites and catalog to order Vintage Industrial items (I will list my faves later)

but if you are willing to do the work you can also find items

at garage sales and thrift shops

Look for:

1) furniture with vintage looking metal and wood both in one piece

2) Metal/Wire or rustic wood baskets

3) Pendent Lights with Edison Bulbs

4) Metal signs or letters

Add some of your own touches like burlap throw pillows

and vintage books and voila...

Now on to the easy way...

There are some very cool websites that can

be spendy but wow! they have amazing

items:

For specific items be sure to do some searching on

Ebay and Etsy

Vintage Weddings...inspired by Anthropologie!

2012-03-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

Vintage and Anthropologie go hand in hand...

Going vintage in your Wedding

can be a bold move, but done right

your wedding will shine in the

style of Anthropologie..

Direction and a basic list to
go Anthro vintage:

1) Tea Length Dress and Birdcage Veil

and for your groom

things like

Suspenders,Vest,Newsboy Hat

http://www.bhldn.com/

Has an amazing assortment

of both tea length dresses

and lovely veils

2)Old Typewriters

3)Weathered Doors and/or Window Frames

4)Vintage Suitcases or Boxes

to add height

5)Mason Jars And Wildflowers

(love the anthro mugs)

6) Antique Furniture
used for seating
or photo opps

I recommend going to thrift shops,

garage sales, and borrowing

from friends...

Round out the above items

with banners, lanterns or ribbons

great food,drink and friends

of course your one true love...

Your wedding will be Vintage Anthropologie

Use vintage inspired lighting to create Anthropologie Style....

2012-02-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

If you look at any Anthropologie catalog

one common theme in any of the

house and home pages you will see

is vintage inspired lighting.

Lighting creates a mood in

any room of our home

and using vintage,

salvaged and unconventional materials

in your lighting

creates the Anthro look!!!

Pendent lights are sooo

whimsical and very popular

right now..

The pendent lamp turns

this bathroom into

a very romantic place

One of the well know pendent lamps from

anthro is the one with basket

as the shade...

Luckily there is DIY instructions

for you to create your very own

Step 1: Cut off basket handles and bottom middle wire (to center pendant).
Step 2: Spray paint basket and outlet cover.
Step 3: Adhere an ordinary outlet cover to bottom inside of basket. I used Liquid Nails, but any strong glue would work. Since the outlet cover is on the inside of the basket the glue will not be used for strength just keeping the cover and basket in place.
Step 4: Turn basket over for glue to dry.
Step 5: Add weight on top of outlet cover while glue dries.
Step 6: Spray paint it all.
Step 7: Connect it to your pendant light

Seems simple enough...I have the perfect

basket picked out, but I have yet to try it..

Just the Edison bulb pendent lights themselves

look amazing..

The one above can be purchased for under $100

barn light indy industrial pendant

Another popular handmade light that

seems to be popping up

a lot is the mason jar

pendant light...

This one can be purchased

on Etsy

mason jar pendent light

Recently spotted in an Anthropologie store display

Another display

There are of course DIY instructions to make

the mason jar lights

out there for you crafty girls

http://www.designsponge.com/

Anthro has many lighting ideas out there

here are some of my other faves using

the industrial type lights

And of course there are some softer ideas...

Love the hanging lanterns in the one below

Remember when your doing your room re-dos

do not forgot the lighting

it can add so much

Anthro to your decor

My Vintage Robot Birthday Party

2012-02-20T15:12:00.000-08:00

So recently I did a blog on decorating for parties...

knowing my honeys 40th birthday was coming up and

he has a love for vintage robots and sweet things..

Assisted my my lovely mother, we rented a house

at the beach and spent the weekend celebrating!!!

The vintage robots were purchased on

retroplanet.com

The straws, paper fans, and striped candy bags were all bought at:

shopsweetlulu.com

She has some great party items!!

I found the cool retro robot stickers on Etsy

this gal has every kind of

sticker imaginable

and even throws in little gifts with your purchase!

sooo sweet!!!

GiggleSparkle

Candy/Treat bars are amazing when

you have a lot of kids or people

who love to graze on treats!!

These Marshmallow pops were so easy

and were surprisingly easy to make

I also found amazing party items on BHLDN

Anthropolgie's wedding site

go to Decor and find all the party goods

you need for weddings/parties

bhldn.com

Me in front of my creation!!!

I had just finished the cupcakes

so don't look at the flour on my shirt...

ha ha ha..

Love Anthropologie Style...

2012-02-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

Love...

Inspired by Anthro

With Valentine Day approaching

Anthropolgie,BHLD and Urban Outfitters

have some items

to get you in the mood for

LOVE

****I also added songs that make me think

of love to my playlist****

Anthro has some great bedding to get your bedroom ready for romance..

Anthro knows how to create romance

with their retro inspired underpinnings...

In my experience Anthro undergarments

maybe a bit pricey but wash and keep

amazingly well!

Lovely Jewelry also shows ones romantic side...

Set the table for two...

Enjoy Your One True Love this Month...

Parties Handmade with Love...

2012-01-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Create a party made with Love...

handmade decorations for your

soiree will surpass anything

you find at local discount

store...
Here are some great party ideas to
get you inspired..

Previous posts have great directions

for the pom poms and buntings

groupings with lanterns

and pom poms look amazing!!

Love Love Love the paper drink straws...

and what is better than pairing the cute

straws with mason jars for guests

to drink from...

These adorable straws can be

found at:

shopsweetlulu

Here is a new fun type of pom pom..

seems simple..cut pieces of

tissue into many circles

and glue onto lantern..

look at these adorable cones

made from cardstock and added

frill!!!

or simple to hold snacks..

Not feeling crafty

this etsy shop will take

good care of your handmade party needs

BlissfulNestStudio

banners are timeless for homemade parties...

This above setting has it all...

pinwheels add whimsy..

and make great additions and

are easy to make yourself...

cute on the wall too!

What You’ll Need (for the pinwheels)

Several sheets of 12" x 12" double sided scrapbook or decorative paper (a lighter weight paper, not stiff, heavy card stock)

Round-headed pins

12" wooden dowels

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

A push pin

Flower shaped craft punch

A pair of scissors

A ruler

Pinwheel Instructions

1. Begin by measuring and cutting several 6" inch squares out of your paper.

2. Find the center of your one of the squares and mark it by poking a hole through it with your pushpin. (see figure 1)

3. Lay your paper pattern side down, and use your ruler to draw
diagonal lines from each corner to make an "X". (see figure 1)

4. Cut along the diagonal lines, from all four corners, stopping
one inch before you meet the hole in the center of your paper. (see
figure 2)

5. Use your pushpin to make a hole in the right hand corner of
each side of the square, just to the left of the line you just cut.
(see figure 3)

6. Use your punch to cut out a paper flower. Stick your round-headed pin through the center of the flower. (see figure 3)

7. One by one, bring each of the four pin-holed corners to the
center and stick the flower and pin through each of the four holes.
(see figure 4 and 5)

8. Next, put the pin through the hole in the center of the square and set aside.

9. Make a pilot hole, using your pushpin, 1/2 inch down from the end of the dowel.

10. Put a drop of hot glue on the hole, and quickly insert the
pin that runs through the pinwheel center into the glue and dowel.
(see figure 6 and 7) Be careful not to let the pinwheel paper touch
the glue on the dowel while it’s drying. If it sticks, it can’t spin.

11. Arrange your completed pinwheels in a vase or container like flower stems.

Themes are endless but most of these

decorations can work for any theme...

use your imagination and create with

love...

Living Rooms Inspired by Anthropologie...

2012-01-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

With the weather blowing rain and cold in the Pacific Northwest

I feel the need to make my most used room in the house

Anthro Inspired!

Each of us have different uses for our living room.

I personally have the need to

create a space that I can cuddle with kids or read a good

book on a rainy day with my sweetheart...

Hopefully these pics will give you some great ideas as well!!!

A couple of main rules of thumb to create

Anthro style is:

1. Vintage: furniture that have the look and feel

of a different era (the 18th, 19th, 20th centuries)

2. Worn look: as in washed out look for fabrics and furniture

3. Patterns: look for fun floral or ethnic (prints from India or Boho style) for rugs, curtains

and throw pillows, and if your bold a chair or sofa

4. Raw: Leaving materials rustic, both wood and metal. Such as

table, frames, shelves, lamps...

Some prefer warm tones and darker colors:

Which gives the look of a warm and cozy...

If you need a space with more bright colors and

the illusion of light...

I am a bit of an in-between girl...

Here are a few of my fave items to pull in..

Love this...this ebay seller

has an eye for refurb furniture

Black/white chaise sofa

Another great place to check out fun furniture

besides garage sales

and flea markets is retro furniture stores

they are becoming more popular in larger

cities!!!

This sofa is from a great store in Portland

Check out this link:

vintage pink

Some more of my faves:

There are several books on decorating

that fits into the Anthro Inspired

category, Anthropologie itself

often carries great idea books!!

Anthropologie inspired kids rooms

2012-01-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

Kids rooms inspired by Anthro!

It can be done!!

Recently my daughter complained she had outgrown

her kid room and wanted something more updated,

which inspired me to do a little research and

find "kid friendly, Anthro mom approved"

decor

Imagine and create

some whimsy and fun!

Some parents are crazy

about matching and order

in their child's room..

what fun is that?

The key is using some of

what you already have in

the garage, or scanning

thrift stores

with a vision!

Then adding a few new items:

bedding and wall art

and a fresh coat of paint.

Crafting some accent colors

with pom pom balls

or oriental lanterns or lighted stars!

and what you get is

fun!

Above:

Made out of tiny umbrellas!!!

cute!!

some teens like a little less color

Here is what I ended up with

on my daughters room:

It isn't completely done

we ordered some decals

on Etsy and need to apply

in the places she wants them

but you get the idea..

FYI: the bed was my childhood bed

with a fresh coat of flat black

paint!! turned out great!

This is the Etsy Shop I used,the owner

is amazing and willing to do custom

designs: WilsonGraphics

In my search here were some items that

were my faves:

www.urbanoutfitters.com

www.landofnod.com

paperlanternstore.

www.ikea.com

Winter Weddings with a sprinkle of Anthropologie Style...

2011-12-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and it made we think of how

fun it could be to create an Anthropologie

inspired winter wedding!

Why Winter you may be asking?

Well, there are those folks who adore the

season and I have been told that

it is almost half the cost to hold an

off season wedding!

That makes me think of more money for

an amazing honeymoon!!!

If your a true Anthro girl, you

always dare to be different and what

could more different than

a wedding held in

a winter wonderland!

So lets explore some ways to make you and your

guest feel warm and cozy

and Anthro Inspired!

There are so many different dresses and wraps

to choose from that give that

overall feeling of winter wedding..

Be sure to check in

with

bhldn

for Antro

winter attire

Even if you want your guests to be

warm and cozy use the

outdoor landscape

for some amazing photos!

(that you could never get in the warm months)

Indoors and some photo opps outdoors

can be magical!

gift for you guests a hot coco set in a mason jar

a winter wedding place setting

Now lets move on to the onto the reception

think indoor and cozy

cozy and warm...

...then we can shift gears

and try out bright and wintry

sooo cute and fun...winter weddings

do not mean you have to sacrifice

your style...

use your creative side girls!!

Anthropologie inspired Chirstmas Crafts...

2011-11-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

I have done some serious ornament shopping

and I am planning on crafting this weekend

I am all about vintage this year

and enjoy the new spins all the crafty/bloggers have

been putting on it..

So here are my two faves(for now..)

Glitter Houses:

They are quite timeless

and am excited to try my hand

(I promise to post my attempts

even if they turn out awful!)

There are so many printable plans online:

basic Christmas glitter houses

glitter houses

I realized in my research to create

a great glitter House one must

have tiny bottle brush trees..

These cuties are sold

at:

World Market

Look at this lovely mini-

found on Etsy

true2scale

JenniferArndt

This seller also carries

mini supplies

for your

glitter house

Be sure to check out

this blog for some

amazing glitter

houses and idea

how to decorate yours:

the house of whimsy

DIY craft #2

Felt Tree

Very simple directions

can be found

Here:

felt tree

And Here:

lorajeansmagazine

and of course

check out etsy

for already made

felt trees

felt tree

Themed Holiday Decorating....get ready!

2011-11-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ok so it is more than a month away, and I have held off blogging about this as long as I could.. but now is the time to start thinking about your theme for your holiday decorating...I enjoy changing it up from year to year, which requires me to do a little shopping early to pick up much needed items to complete a look...sometimes its the thrift store, crafty stores or my very fave local Anthro store for inspiration....

So this year I have narrowed it down to three...

"Red, White and Handmade..."

This is a look I tend to default to, because it is easy, and seems to work well when your home is decorated similar..so fun and cute!

Anthropologie felt tree

Ikea

Some of these adorable lights

and paper items can

be found at Ikea. One of

my fave places for gift wrap!

"Have yourself a shiny little Xmas"

I have always liked this look, and it looks great if you have a lot of white in your living room...

This Anthro ornament was the inspiration for the next theme...

"Totally Retro Christmas..."

This is my goal theme this year, who knows if I will find the time, but the feeling of

nostalgia that retro decorations brings is whimsical ...

Search through thrift stores, and your garage for some retro items to carefully

blend in with your modern items for a great look!

As you can see from these DIY projects, collecting ornaments

at garage sales all summer pays off...

Now for the DIY craft of the week..

Snow Globes

This is one kids love...

If you are not feeling crafty no worries

you can pick one up at your local

Anthropolgie Store

Almost any jar works for this project: Baby-food, pimiento, and olive jars are good choices. Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen tips are available at many floral-supply stores. You will also need oil-based enamel paint, sandpaper, epoxy, distilled water, glitter, and glycerin (available at drugstores).

If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the epoxy dry.

Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter and a dash of glycerin to keep the glitter from falling too quickly. Don't add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it's flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again -- and let it snow.

And the good news is, your snow globe will work in any of the above themes!

Throwing a Anthropolgie Inspired Wedding

2011-11-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

I have on and off been looking through different Anthro Inspired wedding pages and blogs, for a little while now, why you ask?....I am engaged to a wonderful man who would probably indulge any kind of wedding theme I wanted, even if it were something silly...Lucky for him I am very inspired by whimsical and homemade themes, which may take a crafty girl and a lot of hard work, but are easier on the pocketbook...

There are so many inspiring blogs and websites that are more than willing to inspire the uninspired, and lets not forget that not so long ago, our very own friend Anthropologie created a wedding line for us!

http://www.bhldn.com/

For some girls, the dress is the most important

part of the process, not for this girl!

The look and feel of the wedding/reception is

a reflection of who you are

as a couple...

personally,

I would rather my one true love and I be

thought of as fun, crafty, whimsical,

than stuffy, sophisticated and proper.

Here is a peek into my ideas of loveliness on

that very special day!

grouping together recycled jars and bottles

to display

flowers or candles has a big effect!

These Lanterns are amazing and add so much

to the party feel...

The very best place to buy

is:

http://www.lunabazaar.com/

Also found at Luna Bazaar are Parasol's

the perfect addition for yourself, or

even your wedding party, or guests!

I think the look of aged photography for weddings

is amazing! It looks timeless!

Lets talk Candy Bars for weddings

Love em...

There are so many ways to incorporate fun and laughter into a

very stressful day...I know easier said than done...

Once again if your not so crafty don't let that

prevent you from having the wedding

you want, enlist crafty girlfriends,

or quickly log onto

www.etsy.com

Be sure to check out one of my fave designers on etsy,

whom made the sign at the very top of this post

Sweet Peas and Seashells

Some of the greatest inspired weddings were found on:

http://greenweddingshoes.com/

be sure to search under "Homemade"