Do you know Curbly?

I read several blogs daily. Curbly is now at the top of my morning reading list. What a great mix of DIY, furniture, and inspiration! A MUST to check out. www.curbly.com

Front Porch Re-Paint

I knew our front porch needed to be re-painted. The mat had peeled away the (poorly done) paint job of the previous owners. I had a stencil all lined out, but our vacation to New Orleans found me some unexpected inspiration. At a deli in Midtown I spotted these beautiful distressed floors. Mind you, distressed from years of wear, not a faux job. The graphic pattern made me change the entire scheme of my front porch. I used this stencil paper and cut out the simple pattern. I chose a dark blue, white, and the blue of our door for my color family then sealed it up with a concrete sealer.

Some tips for stenciling your own porch...

• Everyone recommends paint especially for concrete and porches. I didn't have any. I'll report back if it starts to come up.

• Don't put very much paint on your mini-roller. It seeps under the edges of your stencil.
  
  
• Make a grid so you can keep the pattern as straight as possible.
  
  
• If you're rubbish at keeping things straight, go for an all over pattern that can overlap and doesn't need to be precise to look good.
  
  
• Don't want to attempt making your own stencil? No sweat (or guilt). Buy one of these amazing stencils on Etsy!

I recently added some campy flare to a mirror in my hallway using used shot gun shells. To add to the outdoor-hipster-crafty look I decided to paint a small scale pattern on the surface of the door. Red arrows fit the bill and were easy to paint with a small brush and red acrylic paint. It doesn't matter that each arrow is different from the next. I think it only enhances that hand-drawn, craft camp kind of look. If you're looking for something prefab, check out these fabric stickers, scrapbook stickers, and wall graphics all in eye-popping arrows on Etsy.

Okay, I know I've been an Etsy Treasury addict this past week (4 treasuries!). Most of these are a result of working the front desk at an office that allows access to Etsy. This latest collection is inspired by plums. If I had a wedding redo, I just might pick the deep red-purple as my color inspiration. Anywho, I vow to provide more than one post this week not containing any mention of Etsy. Look forward to pictures of my newly painted porch (inspired by a deli in New Orleans) and a hand-painted detail in my hallway.

Here's another nifty Etsy Treasury stacked with pink and yellow octopi!

I'm happy to announce I'm back from vacation and back on Etsy! Check out my shop here to see vintage clothing, housewares, and items hand-crafted by me. I only have a portion of my items up right now, so check back and heart my store to see all of my items in the upcoming weeks!

Just created another Etsy treasury. This one goes out to all the beer drinkers in my life. It's a well balanced list of housewares, accessories, and vintage items that might be the perfect source for a Father's Day gift. See it here!

Planning a garden party or other outdoor soiree? Download one of these four free fonts for invitations, place cards, or entree labels.

• Typo Garden
• Vtks Flowers in our Soul
• New Garden
• Flowers Cube

When I think Summer I think of juicy, pink fading into red, watermelon! I can't wait to sink my teeth into a slice. Watermelon has so much going for it: beautiful colors, sweet taste, crisp fresh texture. My love for this fruit led me to all these wonderful finds on Etsy. See them here.

Wes and I are heading over to 1109 Amy Lane in Ozark on the first day to possibly snag his favorite western style shirts. Looks like quite a manly sale to me and I'm excited to see what we get for Wes and for my Etsy store.

May looks to be a promising month for local estate sales! There are two this weekend in 417 Land.

• 1938 Tanglewood Lane in Nixa looks to have oodles of stuff. I'll be there Saturday.
• A 1 day sale this Saturday in Springfield. Click here for the address after 9 AM Thursday.

At estate sales, I like to go the last day. That's when most companies offer a discount and are more receptive to offers. Bundling can be a great way to take home a lot of items at a great price. I gather up an armful of vintage clothing and make an offer. Most of the time the host is ready to make a deal to get rid of stuff.

I carry cash in small denominations. It seems awkward to offer $5 then hand the cashier a twenty. If you go to sales often you can develop a rapport with the company. It may mean just a dollar or two off an item, but that can make the difference between a sale for me and passing on an item.

Lastly, I consider how much better a piece will look after a thorough washing. It's ridiculous how nice pieces can look after just a bit of cleaning. Keep this in mind to take advantage of great prices. No one else will be able to look beyond a little dust, and that's when you get the steal!

Mystery Item Mirror

Not long after we moved into our house, I hung a large round mirror on a cabinet door at the end of our hallway. It adds interest to a very plain part of our house and gives the illusion of space. I've been thinking of different items to add to the red frame around the mirror and recently thought of a bag of colorful, free items I picked up a few months ago at an event for work. Can you tell what they are?

I love the look of mirrors with shapes outlining the frame. I've seen great ones using spoons, popsicle sticks, and crayons. My shapes are made with used shotgun shells. (Surprised?) I picked up a whole bag for free at (of all places) a shooting range. I think the colors are interesting. Some have rusted ends and worn in colors. I stuck to the warmer tones and mixed in some greys and blues. I simply use hot glue to affix these shells to my cabinet door.

For everyone local there's an estate sale
Saturday only at 1106 Glenoaks in Nixa.
It doesn't look that hot; I think I'll pass and save up
for the better looking one next weekend.

Cupcake Fondue from Bake It Pretty

If you've never browsed the pages of Bake It Pretty, you should. One part store, one part blog, and all parts sugary goodness. Cupcakes have been en vogue for the last several years. Why not add a spin on this favorite and bake them mini to use in a cupcake fondue? That's exactly what Bake It Pretty did for Pint Size Social. This idea is great for kid and adult parties alike. Who wouldn't enjoy dipping and decorating their own cupcakes? I can just imagine a beautiful table laden with mini cupcakes, sprinkles, and gooey icing...

My First Etsy Treasury!

One of my Etsy goals is to create one Treasury every week this summer. I started tonight and just completed my first set! It's chock full of 12 lovely items all to do with aqua bows.

See it right here!

Vintage Coffee Table in the Works

I recently saw a great idea from Design*Sponge for turning vintage luggage into a practical and stylish coffee table. I've only been on the hunt for a few weeks. Today I visited my family for Easter and happened to tell my mom about this project. She's the kind of mom who has furniture stashed in her basement, so we popped down for a look. Voila! Just the suitcase I needed for my project. It's sturdy and has straight edges (unlike the kind that taper toward the handles). I'm looking forward to having a smaller coffee table that does double duty as storage.

Baby Music?

Perhaps one of the worst kinds of music is (most) children's music. Having listened to a looping DVD of The Wiggles on a drive many years ago to Colorado (yes, Colorado, which is quite a drive from Missouri) I appreciate music for children that sounds great for adult ears as well. Take a listen to the songs on Rockabye Baby!, a site devoted to albums of rock music transformed into lullabies. What a perfect gift for the mom or mom-to-be in your life who listens to more AC/DC, The Beatles, and Queen than Barney.

Folded Fabic Necklaces

I just happened to be troweling my suggested Etsy shops* and found these incredible fabric necklaces from Homako, an artist from Los Angeles. I love to wear necklaces (I already have a few different bow items), but often find the weight of the jewelry makes them uncomfortable, especially in the heat of Missouri summers. These pieces are the perfect solution: handmade, beautiful, and lightweight.

*Don't have an Etsy log in? You're missing out! Once you begin "hearting" shops and items, Etsy will provide a list of suggested shops. I find some of my favorite things from this list!

Glass Pitchers

I have a soft spot in my heart for things of yesteryear, including storing goods in glass containers. One of my favorite and most used Christmas presents from last year are these glass jugs from King Arthur Flour Company (I'm brewing some tea in one as I type!). I mostly use them for tea, but since the lid seals so tightly, I can transport juice to a picnic and know it won't spill on the way. Both sizes are compact enough to fit inside my fridge door. The glass is thick and heavy and fills me with nostalgia. Sometimes I even pour juice or milk out of their plastic cartons and into these jars. It just looks so special and wonderful, even if I'm the only one who seems them inside my fridge. Crate and Barrel has similar jugs, but I cannot vouch for their quality.

PS. Upon reading the King Arthur website, I see they don't recommend using these containers for brewing tea because "the boiling water may cause the glass to crack." I haven't had any troubles.

Easy & Cheap Artwork

Bare walls, while at times can be part of the design plan, often look like you ran out of oomph to finish a room. One reason why? Art is expensive! D*S recently offered up some excellent examples of DIY wall decor, which prompted me to share my homemade art with you. Frankly, if you frame something up, it will look like art. Seriously, take old newspaper or feathers or gum wrappers and put them in a frame. Looks pretty nifty, doesn't it?

1. Rows of cardstock bulletin board edges found in my mom's basement. Lined up they look like a continuous piece of art.
   
   
2. Wrapping paper purchased while studying abroad. A useful keepsake.
   
   
3. A yellowed US Flag from a newspaper taken from the break room at my office.
   
   
4. Scraps of fabric pieced together to look like a quilt block.
   
   
5. An empty frame around a picture simply taped to the wall. Adds depth and interest.
   
   
6. If you craft and don't have a jar of buttons laying around you're crazy (or maybe just organized). Glue buttons onto cardstock or whatever and place in frame. Stick to a cohesive palate or go crazy.

IKEA and thrift stores are my favorite sources for frames. You can easily get a new piece of glass or mat cut to fit, so don't worry about finding a frame by itself.

Cheery Front Door

I know, I know. I haven't written a post in a long time. You know how it goes. Sometimes school, work, and life just get you busy. I have been busy around the house, so look forward to several posts with changes in The Robinson House, which is known to us and our friends as The Homestead. Our front door was a lackluster white when we moved in. I painted it a vivid blue and decided to add some embellishment. I used Plaid's Stiffy Fabric Stiffener (purchased at Michael's) and this idea from How About Orange to create a simple giraffe and welcoming message.



Just apply the fabric stiffener with a brush to your fabric of choice. Let it dry completely then cut out your shape or letters. Iron on your images to a painted surface and enjoy. The fabric does peel off fairly easily, but I found it left a bit of a spot on the wall where I first tested it. It didn't discolor the paint, but I can definitely see the area on my craft room wall where I ironed my first fabric. If you are planning on painting your own front door, be sure to use some polyurethane around the edges so your paint doesn't come off when the door is opened and closed.

What to Do with Old Books

Did I miss something? Did we all celebrate a Library Appreciation Day and I was not in the know? It seems like something of the sort happened last week, when several blogs and Etsy all seemed to have book paraphernalia on their pages. I have a small collection of books here at my home, as well as a few books that I can't remember why we have them at all. If you're in the same boat, here are some inspiring projects you can do with books.

• 10 DIY Projects with Books including clocks, a sconce, and a secret hiding space
• Cheeky Magpie's Ingenious/Beautiful Book Sculpture
• With This Ring's Antique Book Planter Centerpieces
• Instructable's Book Headboard

Identifying a Font

It's easy to fall in love with a font on an old book, in a magazine, or printed on someone else's wedding invitations. What's a girl to do when she has no idea what font it is? Just take a look at these top font identification sites, that's what!

Identifont works by searching for a font by name or identifying a font by asking you questions about how the letters look. Does the letter "O" have curved or straight sides? Does the letter "G" have a tail or not? You can even include only the letters you have, so it won't ask questions about the whole alphabet. At the end of the questioning, Identifont will provide you with an exhaustive list of possible fonts.

WhatTheFont! seeks to identify your font from a picture. The site suggests including letters that have specific characteristics like loops and tails in the letters "A", "K", and "R." You can also get a WhatTheFont! app (as well as dozens of other font related tools and games) on your smartphone for font identification on the go. Just search "fonts" in the iTunes app store.

Freezer Paper Stencil

Have we not talked about this before? That's what I'm thinking right now. I could have sworn I had already posted a post about using freeze paper as a stencil, but alas, I cannot find evidence of such in my post history. Maybe I'm thinking of the dozens of people I've told how to use freezer paper to make awesome crafts. Well, you're now a member of that list. See how How About Orange uses freezer paper to make a sweet tote bag and a very cool scarf. I use this method all the time to make precise and sharp looking graphics on tea towels, baby onsies, and on my TOMS. Hmm, is that where I've discussed freezer paper before? Anywho, you can pick up a huge roll of freezer paper at large grocery stores in the area around the aluminum foil. I've found I can usually only purchase it at Wal-Mart in Springfield. It costs about $6 for a roll that you will probably never use up.

Free Valentine Designs

As Valentine's Day draws near, I'm excited to print a few notes to send to my family and close friends. Here are four designs you can print out and send to your Valentines! The pictures are large so you are able to size them to fit whatever size card you need.

• Happy Valentines Day Text
• I Love You Alot
• I Love You/Happy Valentines Day
• Have a Happy Valentines Day Print

Valentine Ideas for your Sweet-tea!

An an avid tea drinker (hot and sweet, that's how I like it), I would love to be surprised with any of these lovely Valentine treats.

1. A little way to say you love your tea drinking Valentine courtesy of Martha Stewart.
2. A cozy for your tea (or coffee) lover to enjoy far beyond Valentine's Day from KnittyVet.
3. I love my set of mis-matched spoons. Set your Valentine up with some vintage spoons from an estate sale or get a special set like this from BeachHouseLiving.
4. Add a touch of tradition with a beautiful card. This one is from EdenCreativeStudio.

New Look for Nightstands

The nightstands in our bedroom were looking a little tired. Rightly so, since they are the same nightstands my sister-in-law had when she was a little girl. Wes brought them with him to college and now they sit on either side of our bed. As part of my bedroom redo, I wanted to change the nightstands. Without a budget for new ones (or a desire really, because they function very well), I opted to paint them out. I kept the inside and top the natural wood because I quite like how the finish has worn away to create sort of a zebra effect. The grey is the same color I used in the bathroom "wallpaper" finish. It's also going to be used on a few more cabinets in the house, making it well worth the purchase. Instead of using a handle for my dresser, I recycled some of the knobs we replaced in the kitchen. I used two instead of one to keep myself from filling old holes and drilling a new one. The stacked books keep our lamps a little taller: a request from Wes.

Estate Sale Finds

This morning I made it to the Clay Estate Sale here in Springfield. It was packed with kitchen items, vintage purses (I don't need another one of those!), and some great furniture. I resisted the urge to buy two cane back sixties era chairs because, well, I don't need them. I did find a few great retro items. I picked up the white serving plate because of the beautiful detailed edge. It reminds me of old lace. Since I already have one very similar, I think I will pass it on as a wedding present. The bread pan caught my eye with it's glittering geometric metal. Though it might never be baked in again, I can see it gleaming set on a shelf in someone's kitchen. The coin purse was floral and fun. I also bought a hand towel (not pictured) to hang in my bathroom. The items I'm really pleased about are the two sets of vintage coasters: one set of 6 menacing looking owls and one set of 4 flirty fish. I plan to clean these up and sell them on my Etsy store.

One little ol' estate sale this weekend in Springfield.

It's at 5167 S. Clay.

I wouldn't describe it as a retro sale based on the pictures, more antiqueish. I'm going anyway, because you never know what you'll find. I'm hoping to score on some great items tucked away in a closet. Did you say, "Do tell, Carly!" Okay, I will....this weekend.

Posterous Keeps Blogging Simple

If you're looking to share with family and friends, but don't think you have time for a traditional blog, hop over to Posterous. It's a site that let's you update your page via e-mail. It's super easy to use, so even if you're not especially blog savvy, it's a great way to share whatever it is you're sharing. I can see a lot of other great uses as well. My husband has started using it to track his diet. He takes a picture of everything he eats, e-mails it to Posterous and it's automatically posted on his blog. Now he can keep track without having to write it down. In the same vein, I can see it being a great tool for a shopper wanting to keep track of purchases, a busy mom wanting to share pictures with kids, or a professional who needs to share products and decisions with clients instantly.

Painted "Wallpaper" Bathroom

Recently I showed you a vintage linen towel of (of all things) New Zealand. The colors were the perfect inspiration for my hall bathroom. The old color scheme of grey and blue was a bit too cold and dreary, especially since this room doesn't get any natural light. I wanted something warmer and the creams and red oranges of that towel were the ticket! I found some inspiration from a grey and abstract floral wallpaper. I kept the design simple, using large circles and a few leaves I made with stamps. You can see how to make your own stamps here. Unlike wallpaper, my design was cheap and semi-permanent. I'm still missing a few items like a frame for my towel, but it's well on it's way to being an awesome awesome bathroom.


Some advice for doing something similar on your own

• Find some inspiration. Working from a photo of wallpaper you like will be easier.


• Keep it simple. Unless you're a perfection whiz, don't pick a pattern that has to be completely straight. My design has plenty of flaws, but they aren't as apparent in a diagonal.
  
• Paint in stages. I started with the circles, then added leaves, then connected them with lines.
  
• Use paint from the "oops" section of hardware stores or even paint samples to keep from buying more paint than you need. I had all of these colors at my house sans the dark grey, but since I'm using it to repaint the bathroom cabinet and several other items in my house, I don't mind.

P.S. Notice our artwork? I like a traditional monogram, but this one is twofold. Not only do they hang in our water closet, err, bathroom, my name is Carly and my husband is Wes.

Estate Sale Finds

Over the weekend I took my younger sister-in-law to her first estate sale. I'm sorry to say it wasn't the jam packed house and closet I love the most, but it was an okay way to introduce her to the idea of estate sales. I only picked up a few things. I found these vintage earrings and plan to remake them into shoe clips for my Etsy store. (My store will be up and running sometime within the next four weeks or so.) There were several of these sequin pins, but as a girl who loves bows, I had to pick this emerald green bow over all the others. I have it pinned to my red plum colored coat and I think it's just fabulous. I picked up a few miscellaneous items as well including some light bulbs and a paint brush because the price was right.

Go to EstateSales.net to see local estate sales in your area!

Updates for Classic Tissue Pom Poms

Who hasn't seen tissue pom poms at a dozen weddings? (Not to knock the wedding still rocking them!) By chance I found two great twists on these classic items both made with easy materials. See the t-shirt version over at Craftaholics Anonymous and some tulle inspiration at D*S.

Another Nifty Font Site

I just stumbled upon another great free font site thanks to How About Orange. Fonts2U.com!

Last night I attended my first clothing swap. If you've never been to one, it's quite a novel idea for cleaning out those clothes you hardly wear and swapping them out for something new. You may be thinking, "Oh, but no one would want my things. They aren't anything special." Ah, but that's just what everyone is probably thinking! I know several girls last night had those same sentiments, but everyone left with great items and everyone had someone else take home something they brought. Here are some tips for hosting a clothing swap of your own...

The Clothing:

• Ask everyone to wash and fold their clothes nicely
• Make sure everyone knows if a shirt has a hole or needs some mending
• Ask everyone to bring along hangers or mirrors to keep the swap organized.
• Divide up where particular items go (shirts in the living room, accessories in the hall, etc.)
• Limit the type of clothing that could make your party awkward; lingerie could be the hit of the party or leave everyone feeling uncomfortable

The Etiquette:

• Establish ground rules from the start to guard against upsets later on
• Decide what will happen if more than one person wants the same thing; you could rock/paper/scissors for it or use a system of play money and bid on the item
• Be willing to give something up if you wouldn't wear it that often or you don't love it
• Take your own clothes home (to donate, perhaps?) if no one else picked them

The People:

• Invite people of different sizes and styles
• Ask everyone to bring a snack or drink
• Ask for help if you need it
• Don't let clothing get between you and a friend; it's just clothing
• Don't feel badly if no one else picked your clothing; it is not a reflection of your style or friendship

P.S. Use this same idea for anything you'd swap with some friends. How about craft supplies, children's clothing, toys, or plants.

One estate sale and one downsizing sale have been combined in one location in Nixa this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 1401 Stonecreek Drive Nixa, MO 65714. Looks like lots of furniture and dishes.

I will be stopping by sometime this weekend to check out the goods!

Also, there is an estate sale scheduled in the Springfield area for every weekend in January!

Gazillions of Patterned Backgrounds for Free

I hope you have noticed a few changes in my blog over the past few days. I decided it needed a little freshening up being the new year and all. A quick search led me to a simple site that allows you to create colored patterns to tile as backgrounds on your computer or blog. Check out PatternCooler.com to create and download your own pattern. If you're applying it to your Blogger blog, be sure to select "Tile" under the options for the picture as "Don't Tile" is the default setting.

Bathroom Inspiration

After church this morning I stopped by one of my favorite flea markets, STD East. I picked up this vintage linen towel in the very last booth I stopped in. It's the perfect inspiration for my bathroom redo. I started with a color scheme I really liked, but the lack of natural light left the bathroom feeling very washed out and dreary. I want to punch it up with some brighter greens and oranges. Now I have the perfect jumping off point.