Anthropologie After Christmas Sale - Antlers or Branches? You Decide.

December 29, 2012

Yesterday, while "gift card shopping" with my daughters, I actually got to pop into our local Anthropologie store and peruse their after Christmas clearance sale.  It's not often that I actually go into an Anthropologie, mind you.  I'm more the type to create an Anthro knock-off.  I've even been called a knock-off Queen by a blogger friend recently (you know who you are!)  But come on, it said Clearance.

Well, I was tickled pink by what I found.  Once I set my eyes on this pitcher there was no turning back.


Anthropologie Surroyal Pitcher


Anthropologie Surroyal Pitcher

It was on a table with a sign that said "Additional 30% off red ticket clearance items."  Well, it was indeed a red ticket clearance item.  So who was I to say no? 

Original cost: $78.00.
My cost: $31.00.
Now that's L-O-V-E.

Once I got it home I tried to explain to my husband how I just HAD to have it, yada yada, but he still had that glassy-eyed look he often gets when I bring something home.  After all these years, though, at least he knows enough to smile. I wondered about the pitcher and googled it.  SO much stuff came up.  It appears to have been pretty popular with the tabletop gurus that be out there in blog land.  It was interesting to read their recommendations  for table decor.

Ironically, I bought it because the handle reminded me of antlers.  Lord knows I've been wanting me some antlers for quite a while now.  Yet one blogger who wrote about it spoke of it's "branches."  Seriously?  Call them what you will.  I'll call them antlers.
 
What do you think?
 
I also got a few fashion accessories on clearance with another 30% off that.  I rationalized my purchases by telling myself that my birthday's in February.  And now my husband's birthday shopping for me is done.  He'll thank me for it later, really.
 
So here she is one more time.
  



I really do think I'm in love.

xoxo

 
I'll be linking up here:
 
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Cedar Hill Ranch
 
 
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Christmas Chalkboard Printable Posters

December 19, 2012


Can I tell you a secret? I'm a cheater. There, I said it. But I think you'll understand once I tell you why.  

Those of you who know me know that I've become a chalkboard junkie over the past year or so. I went all out on Thanksgiving and did a freehand graphic. You can see that here.  But let's just say that I didn't have it in me to do the same for Christmas.

So. I. Cheated.

But hey, at least I admit it. Thanks to Nest of Posies I just "made" my Christmas chalkboard.

 
Pretty impressive, huh?  {Wink, wink}


You may have seen her awesome post already, but if you haven't, you've got to go over there and check it out {here}. She provides downloads for 5 chalkboard printables!  I had a hard time trying to decide which one to use.
 

While I like them all, I chose the Joyeux Noel one, in keeping with my love of all things French.  Plus, I've always wanted a set of antlers on the wall!

I followed Kellie's advice and used Staples' blueprint paper blow-up service (just click on "engineering prints") to blow this baby up to around 28"x30".  I mean, it's huge!  But it fits just perfectly (after a bit of downsizing with a pair of scissors) inside my huge, white, chippy, shabby chalkboard frame.  You can see my DIY plexiglass chalkboard tutorial here.  It was so easy I felt kind of guilty.  Kind of.

I just cut it a bit to fit the frame, and then used that sticky stuff you hang posters with to adhere it temporarily to the chalkboard.  And boy was I happy with how it turned out!




   
You can see how I made the silver, red and green wreath hanging above the chalkboard here.

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Oh, and did I mention the price?  $3.95.  Well worth it, for a "chalkboard" graphic that's 100 times better than any one I could ever draw.  And another plus? The kids can't accidentally erase Mom's masterpiece!
 
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The white vintage trees came from a local thrift store (I got three of them for around $3.00).  And the plaid 1950's cooler is one of my most recent Goodwill purchases for $2.99.  It's a Skotch Kooler, designed by Petra Cabot.  I've seen it sell on Etsy for $50.00.  Great score AND it looks good as Christmas decor.

Thanks, Kellie, for such an easy and inexpensive Christmas chalkboard.  Maybe now I'll have time to do some of that wrapping.
 
Now it's time for me to focus exclusively on my family as we get ready to celebrate the blessed holiday.  From our home to yours, 

Merry Christmas!    

xoxo


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I Must Be On a Roll: Dollar Store Bottle Brush Trees and Homemade Holiday Cake Stand

December 14, 2012

I can't believe I'm taking the time to show you this, considering that Christmas is only 10 days away (and I already posted a recent Christmas decor craft project here).  Guess that tells you where my priorities lie....well, was there really any doubt?  Go ahead and blame Karen, The Graphics Fairy. She had to host a  Dollar Store Decorating Link Party!  So here's a little something I whipped up.


This vintage-style cake stand was made with a plate from The Dollar Store (I bought ten!) while the base is one of two candlesticks I picked up at Goodwill.  I love how it's already so shabby chic looking!


I did not glue them together, though.  I used that waxy stuff you use for securing a candle in its candlestick Mr. Mole's Sticky Wax, a candle "adhesive," so I can take it apart and use both pieces for another project some other day.


I placed my Dollar Store white bottlebrush trees on the plate along with Epsom salts {for snow}, some silver ball ornaments and some red and white crystals. I think the red really pops.


And yes, that's my Thanksgiving chalkboard you see in the background.  But just you wait.  I have plans for that, too.


I should be wrapping and baking and cleaning, but I'm on a roll with my Christmas decorations.  I have at least one more project I'm going to share, maybe even two.  Like I said, I'm on a roll.

I hope all your holiday plans, whether crazy busy or organized and laid back, turn out just the way you'd like.  And if they don't, well, try to go with the flow and enjoy.  I mean, it's Christmas, right?!


xoxo

 
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The Graphics Fairy
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It's a Hodgepodge Life
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Easy DIY Pottery Barn-inspired Sparkly NOEL

December 13, 2012


Today I'd like to share with you a REALLY easy, inexpensive Christmas decor craft.  I came across this project over at Imparting Grace and just knew I had to try it. Seems that Pottery Barn NOEL wall art is on sale now for a mere $99.00 (originally $149.00).




They designed the holiday wall decor with the same graphic style used by the U.S. Postal Service for its first Love postage stamp in 1973.  I actually remember the stamp {I was little, in case any of you were wondering}, and I used to work in Center City Philly right near the famous Love statue. So this project has a little bit of nostalgia going for me.





For starters, I purchased some paper mache letters from JoAnn's at less than $2.00 each. They are 3-D and measure 8 inches by 5 inches.

Then I bought some FolkArt "Extreme Glitter" acrylic paint in Silver, at some ridiculously low price on sale, like .45 cents or something like that.  


Then I used two coats with one of my smaller paintbrushes (bristles were about 1 1/2 inches long by 1 inch wide total).  I am in love with this paint!  After the first coat I was a bit worried, but once it dried it looked gorgeous!  I originally thought that I would have to use Glitter Mod Podge but I was totally able to skip that step.  You all probably know about this crafty paint already, but I was thrilled to find it!  And I like the glittery silver much better than Pottery Barn's  original boring brown.

After it was completely dry, I used my E-6000 glue to glue the letters together the way I wanted.  Then, taking advice from Richella's tutorial, I also glued some balsa wood strips to the back of the letters, kind of shoring them up and making sure they stayed together.  You can see Richella's photos for exactly how to do this.  Your local hardware store should sell the balsa wood in 3-foot strips.  I paid about $3.00 total for 2 strips.

I haven't totally decided where I'm going to display it, but I put it in my foyer (caution, the foyer's a work in progress) so I could take a few pictures to share with you today.




I know, it doesn't really go with the vintage wire planter, I kind of just shoved it in there. But the foyer has the absolute best light in my house for taking pictures.  I haven't shared my Christmas mantel because I can't get a good shot of it.  The lighting's so horrible in my family room !


I'm still working on decorating the house.  Sometimes I feel like I'll never be done.  

I can't believe that Christmas is only 13 days away!  So I guess I'd better get cracking, huh?

Are YOU ready for Christmas?

xoxo


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