Saturday, March 28, 2009

Congrats to the Giveaway winner!!

The winner is...Sklnurse, and she said...

"You are so talented and I love your color choices. My favorite is the bloom and I would put it in my kitchen if I won. Thanks for the contest."



I just wanted to say thanks for all the entries, great ideas for new items, and the extremely kind comments!! I'll be posting some photos of some new art soon! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

How exciting!

Wow! I didn't even realize my little topiary was being featured on Tip Junkie! How cool! I hope you guys get a chance to make one. They were so fun and easy to make...and nowadays, decorations like topiaries can be kind of pricy. So, why buy them when you can have so much more fun making them yourself?! Click here to go to my little post that should give you the instructions you need to make a spring floral topiary! If anyone gets a chance to make one, I'd love to post some photos up on my blog to show how they turned out! Happy crafting!

New stuff...and don't forget the giveaway!

I wanted to share some new items I'll be adding to my Etsy Shop soon! I made some of these last fall...so here they are! Hanging Doorstops! You can hang them on the doorknob when you aren't using them and they can double as a little door decor! These could be great for college gals...because I remember how everyone loved to prop their doors open when living in the dorms. The photos here all show different sororities, but I also made a lot of them for the Christmas holidays with different festive phrases or words. They can also be made-to-order to match any room or home decor!





Don't forget! Everything in my Etsy Shop is 10% off until March 27th...custom orders included!! And you can enter the giveaway hosted by Jamie over at Saving In Style! Up for grabs is your choice of Bloom, Sprout, or Grow in the 6x6 size. Good luck and I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Thanks!

I just wanted to quickly thank everyone for all the really nice comments and GREAT ideas/suggestions for new art I could add to my shop! Good luck to everyone who's been entering the giveaway for your choice of Sprout, Grow, or Bloom!

You can stop by Saving in Style to enter and to read more details about the giveaway. The contest ends on March 27th, so if you haven't entered yet, you still have plenty of time! You'll find all sorts of goodies on Jamie's blog...like great money saving tip and tricks, reviews on products, and even more giveaways!!

P.S. Everything in my Etsy Shop is 10% off in honor of the Ultimate Blog Party...so hurry...because the sale will end March 27th! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Ultimate Blog Party, a GIVEAWAY, and a SALE!!

So, I've met a new blogging friend...her name is Jamie...and she has a fabulous blog called Saving In Style! She is one of the participating bloggers in the Ultimate Blog Party, which runs from March 20th (tomorrow) through March 27th. Jamie has been so kind to host me and my giveaway this week, so please check it out! Up for grabs is your choice of either "Sprout," Bloom," or "Grow" in the 6x6 size.



AND...in honor of the Ultimate Blog Party, every item in my Etsy Shop will be 10% off starting March 20th - March 27th (that includes all custom orders too!)! Just click HERE to check out Jamie's blog and to get all the details of how to enter the giveaway!

And on another note...I am working on another "No Place Like Home" in the 9x12 size...so hopefully I'll have some photos up soon!!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day! I hope everyone wore green! I got my first blogging award today from Tanielle over at The Polka Dot Daisy! It was pretty exciting! Now I must pass it on...but first things first, I must share 10 facts about me before I do...so here we go!



1. I am originally from Florida...and I absolutely love Disney World! Anyone who knows me, knows that I try to make at least 2 visits to the Happiest Place on Earth every year! Some people may think I am too old for Disney, but ever since my first visit when I was 4 years old, I have never stopped loving it!

2. I have played golf all my life, and got to play in college. Nowadays, I wish that I had more time for it, and sometimes I find myself daydreaming of what it would be like trying to play professionally...if only I liked to practice more!! ;)

3. I LOVE almost all movies from the 1950's and 1960's. My favorites are Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Pillow Talk. I wish I could go back in time and be Doris Day. Who doesn't love her clothes??! When my best friend and I go shopping, we search for things that are "SO Doris Day!" Basically if Doris Day would wear it, I love it!

4. I have a beagle named Annie and I probably treat her more like my child than a dog! She's just too cute!

5. This will definitely show my age, but I was (and still am) the biggest NSYNC fan ever...and of course, I LOVE Justin Timberlake!

6. Some shows I try never to miss are: American Idol ( I really like Danny and Matt this year!), Brothers and Sisters, Private Practice, Gray's Anatomy, and both The Hills and The City (yes, I admit it!)

7. I am an intern Interior Designer...and I'll be taking my exam to become registered this fall! Wish me luck!

8. My favorite stores are: TJ Maxx, Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, and of course Target! Ann Taylor Loft has some of the best clearance and sale stuff...if you can wait just a couple of weeks after an item has been introduced to the store...it'll probably be on sale! I love to search through clearance and sale racks...it's like a treasure hunt! I would almost consider myself a shopaholic...maybe that's why I love the Shopaholic Books so much!

9. I can't go to the movies without getting a bucket of popcorn and large coke!

10. And finally, I love painting and crafting. After a day at work, I always look forward coming home and and creating something...it's just a great way to wind down...and it gives me something to do while I enjoy my tv shows!

Whew! I know that was a long list, so I hope I didn't bore you! So now I am passing on this award to some fellow bloggers! Drumroll please...

BopBopDesigns - She does fantastic work and also spotlights lots of great Etsy Stores! What a great combination!

This Is The Year - She has tons of crafty ideas and did a really cute post on some Modge Podge projects for spring!

Simply Happy, Simply Everything - She has a really great Etsy Store and also shares some great finds on Etsy as well!

I hope everyone had a great St. Patty's Day! Tomorrow's Wednesday...we're almost half way to the weekend!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Planes (or Boats!) Trains, and Automobiles

Here it is! I've finished the last canvas in the transportation series! This one should be listed in my Etsy Shop soon.



I'll be offering these as a set of three and each one separately. Don't forget, I can always do a custom order if you'd like them in a different size!



My next project is a set of three 6x6 canvases for a little girl's nursery. These will have a coral reef/ocean theme, so I am sure these will be colorful and fun to make! Each canvas will have the little girl's initials on them...and what i think is cute, is that her initials spell A-R-T! How cute! I'll be sure to post some photos as I go...so keep an eye out for them! I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Easy Spring Decor!

Okay, so I thought I'd share with you guys a blast from the past! A couple of years ago, my best friend and I decided we wanted to make some floral topiaries...with a personalized touch of course! It was so simple and easy...so I know you'll enjoying making one of these!



Here's what you'll need to get started...everything you need can be found at your local craft store:
1. Styrofoam Topiary - You can usually find these wherever they sell floral wire, moss, wreaths, etc.
2. Little Clay Pot - Make sure that it will easily house the base of the topiary.
3. Bag of Moss - This will be used to cover the styrofoam base of the topiary.
4. Fake Flowers - I picked out a little bushel that had plenty of little flowers on it. You'll probably need two bushels, and depending on the size of the topiary you are making, you may need more. Also, make sure the flowers you choose can easily be plucked off of the plastic stems.
5. Acrylic Craft Paint - This is if you are want to paint the clay pot.
6. Hot Glue Gun
7. Ribbon
8. Wood Initial

And here's how to make it:
1. Paint the clay pot and your little wood initial.
2. Place the topiary in the clay pot. You may want to secure it to the bottom of the pot with a little bit of hot glue.
3. Pull the flowers off of the stems, and start hot gluing them to the topiary. I just glued them in different spots, and then filled in where I had any gaps.
4. Put some hot glue on the styrofoam base of the topiary and quickly place the moss on it. Just make sure you use enough to cover the entire base.
5. Now tie your ribbon around the clay pot, and hot glue your initial to it!
6. Your finished!

Now you have a great little topiary with a personalized touch perfect for Spring...or any time of the year! You can always make topiaries for other seasons as well...just change up the color scheme and type of flowers you use!

Setting Sail

I've finished the second canvas in the transportation theme series...so here it is! I hope you like it! The last canvas will be of a train...so I bet you can guess what that one will say!


You can find both the "beep! beep!" and "toot! toot!" canvases in my Etsy Shop! I'll be offering each canvas on its own, and all three as a set. Hope everyone had a great Saturday!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

One down...two to go!

Here's the finished "Beep! Beep!" painting...and it'll be listed on my Etsy Store soon! I'll be offering this little guy in the set of three I am working on and I think I'll be listing it by itself as well. It's almost Friday! I don't know about you...but I am ready for the weekend!




After I finish the little transportation themed set, I have an order for a coral reef/ocean themed set! I think these will be fun to create, so I am looking forward to getting started on those! So, I'll be sure to post some photos!

Have a great Friday everyone!

A Work In Progress

Alrighty...so here's a preview of the first in a series of three (all 8x8 canvases with a transportation theme) that I've been working on! I haven't painted many things lately that are geared towards boys, so I am really enjoying working on these!


I've still got some more work to do on this one...but I think it'll be kind of cute when I finish (or at least I hope so!!) I'll keep you updated on how they are coming along!

I also spruced up my Etsy Shop with a custom new banner and other graphics...all thanks to Kimma over at Grits 'N Glamour Designs! She also made me some really cute "Thank You!"..."Custom Order"...and "Reserved" graphics to use!

Only two days until the weekend! Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

It's Amazing What You Find....

When you clean your room! I was cleaning out my old plastic storage containers, and I found all sorts of jewelry that I forgot I even owned! So, in honor of all the re-discovered accessories, I went searching for something to display them in. So, I was at TJ Maxx today (one of my all time favorite stores) and found this bird cage-candle holder-looking thing. And I thought...this would be perfect to hold some of my accessories! And I got this idea from reading an article the other day that said, if you are looking for a quick way to spruce up your room...you can decorate it using some of your favorite jewels! So, for less that $10, I have a spot for my jewelry, and now maybe I'll remember that I have more than just one or two pairs of earrings to choose from!



And speaking up sprucing up...my little Etsy shop is getting a makeover! So, I'll soon have a new banner and graphics! I am pretty excited about it! Happy Sunday everyone!

P.S. I am getting together my sketches and ideas for a set kind of like the "Sprout, Grow, Bloom" Series...but a little more boy friendly!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A quick update!

Alrighty...I've completed my little "springy" set! So, here are some photos! I hope you like these, because they were a lot of fun to make!





So, after thinking, and discussing with my best friend (who always has great artsy and craft advice!)...I decided to keep these pretty simple. I decided to paint the edges dark brown to match the lettering just to add a little bit of something extra to them...but still keeping it simple. I just can't wait for spring! (Can't you tell?!) It's my favorite season...Basically, I think what it all boils down to is...I just love springy and summery clothes better! I walked in to Ann Taylor Loft the other day, and I just wanted to buy the whole store! It was so bright and cheery...with a little bit of a vintage-y edge to it! Anywayyy...I hope everyone has a great Thursday! Only a few more days to go, and it's the weekend!

Monday, March 2, 2009

I'm ready for spring!

Well, I loved the snowy weather yesterday...but I am definitely ready for spring! So, in the hopes of spring coming soon...here's a little photo update on my latest series!



There will be three canvases total in this set...so I'll leave the last one a suprise for now! I think I'll be adding a few more touches to these canvases, but so far...I really like them!

And on a completely different note...did anyone see the BACHELOR FINALE?!?! I just couldn't believe what I was watching! So shocked! See, my pick from early on was Jillian, but she didn't even make it to the final two! Oh well...I guess we'll have to wait and see if Molly and Jason make it!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Alabama...snow?!?!

I woke up this morning to this!!



So before it melted, I made a miniature snow-woman!

I'm working on some new stuff...so I'll keep you posted! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!