It's the most wonderful time...

I love CHRISTMAS!!!!  I finally got around to decorating our tiny little apartment this week.  I put on my Christmas music and got to decorating.  It was so much fun.  I only wish we had a real tree to decorate-but our place is just too small :(  Next year!

This is above our bar area... (sorry for the crappy photos, my iPhone just doesn't take great pictures)

This is our little table-and some gorgeous Christmas flowers I got at Costco.  They always have the best arrangements!

Here is our sad little tree!  I had an ornament made for us last year that says "our first apartment".  Hopefully I can get a "we're engaged" ornament this year!!

Some more ornament decorating...

And here are our Christmas cards!  I'm so happy with how they turned out...

This is the outside of the envelope with our return address labels made by her, and our zazzle stamps...

And here are our fabulous Christmas cards made by Sara Luke:

They say: "Our very best to all of you for a Merry Little Christmas and a Happy New Year too!"

Sara did an awesome job, and I cannot wait to mail them!  Speaking of that, when do you think I should mail them?  Is it too early?

A crafty Monday

Tonight has been very productive, as you will see below!  The first picture is from my closet.  The shelves were open and ugly, so I got some fabric, ironed on velcro and hung it up!  I love it, now Vince won't get mad at me for seeing my shoes...

This one is courtesy of nie's blog from a few Halloween's ago.  I spray painted branches and birds black and hot glued them.  Pretty spooky, huh?

This one below is the most time consuming project of the night, but so worth it!  I got fabric and ironed on velcro to the top.  Then I hot glued the beaded lining on the top and hung it on the shelf.  I spray painted the baskets on top and put various laundry room items in them.  I love it.  It was a lot of work, but with Heroes on tonight, I was in good company!

Up close for more detail....

Yay for crafts!  The rest of the week I will be doing a few more projects...stay tuned!

Decorating revisited...

Let me start of by saying that this has been a wonderful Sunday of doing nothing.  I have spent the past 4 hours looking through decorating magazines and online for decorating ideas.  This one below is the COOLEST idea I've seen in awhile.  It's a baby changing table redone into a bar.  HOW GREAT is THaT?!

The images below are different examples of headboard ideas that I want to do when I have a house some day (oh I wish I wish I wish for a house someday soon)

This one below is pieces of plywood covered in linen fabric.  So simple and classic for a master bedroom.

I think this would be great for a basement bedroom.  I would do it long ways instead of this one but the idea is super cool.  We watched Reign Over Me today and Adam Sandlers character had a thing for vintage albums.  I was thinking of creative ways to use them for decorating, and I think this is a keeper!

Last but not least, I love the simplicity of this wallpaper covered piece of plywood.  I simply adore the idea that you can make a project like this so easily and cheaply and switch it out whenever you need a change for holidays or seasons.   

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Filling the Void

So, I got to spend time with my Mom (Baby Lady) today, which I always love to do.  Sophia (the little girl that I nanny for) and I dropped off some cookies to her (and some other friends) since it was a yucky rainy day. I mean, who doesn't want to come home to cookies on their doorstep?

I was telling Baby Lady about all of the latest craft projects I've been working on.  

I am on a strict budget these days due to some extremely outstanding college loans that I am finally paying off. Since this budget has come into my life, I am finding myself missing my favorite hobby-shopping!  Since I can't buy things for our apartment anymore, I have been making them.  It's actually been a lot of fun, and I'm proud of my projects!  This is one from The Martha that I posted the other day...I think it turned out pretty cute!

This one is my love for fresh flowers, and learning how to master creative flower arranging.  I also just got the V and B from Anthropologie but I think they need something else.  Not sure what yet...

This one is something I saw in a decorating magazine.  Vince calls them our "Love Flags".  I don't think they look like flags, but I can see why he thinks that....

They are a plain canvas painted with green and pink.  I think they would look better in a nursery than my living room, but whatever..

 So, that's all for now.  I can't wait for pumpkin carving and squash casserole making (thanks Natalie!)

Organize your life

I am always in love with all things Martha.  She has such creative ideas and every time her daily tips pop up in my inbox, I get all warm and fuzzy inside.  This in particular is an idea I will be doing tomorrow:

               

I just LOVE the way this looks for above a desk.  You can keep projects and to do items separated and easy to find.  Plus you can use really great paper, wall paper or even fabric to cover them to go with your decor.

SO GREAT!

OH OH OH!!  I just came across another idea on good old Martha's website.  I already have the magnetic board, so I will DEFINITELY be doing this tomorrow as well:

Here are the instructions if you're interested!!

Cover a plain magnetic board with pretty paper and it becomes an organizer and a work of art. Buy the board from an office-supply store. Cut a sheet of decorative paper slightly larger than the board, and lay it on top. Hold one half of the paper in place; lift up the other half. Brush a decoupage glue on the board. Glue down a small section at a time, working from the middle outward and smoothing as you go. Repeat for other half. Let dry. Flip board over. Cut notches at corners. Apply glue to paper edges; fold under. Once dry, brush polymer varnish over the board, including edges -- this makes it durable.