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.