Kitchen sinks

Just a quick blog today about a new trend I saw from Elkay co. I know all the HOG fans will appreciate this post!

In 2009 Elkay introduced a new stainless steel sink series called the “Statement.” Statement sinks sport an etched surface, providing numerous creative, complementary patterns on the sinks’ side walls. Utilizing the same Statement etching technology, Elkay now offers select NCAA school logos!

Visit www.elkayusa.com or peruse the Elkay Fall Presentations 2010 brochure for more information on the ten school logo-emblazed sinks.

Great idea for a bar sink or just having some fun with school spirit!! Have a great weekend ya'all! Go Pigs!!!! Soooooooie! xxoo

I heart wall decals!!!

I am a graphic-bold-person! I think paint can be boring and I always tend to pick wallpaper instead. Graphics are fun and easier than wallpaper so I think it's a lovely option! They can range in price from $20 - $300 depending on the size and shape. I have seen very creative ideas as murals or repeated patterns to create a feature wall. The most common form of wall decals are of course "quotes" or biblical verses which are a great way to add some meaning and personal expression. Here are a few ideas that I hope will inspire you! XXOO

photos courtesy of:
www.etsy.com/shop/Singlestonestudios ; www.etsy.com/shop/byrdiegraphics

And the Winner is...

Russanna !!!

Your email address has been sent to the the company and you should get your gift certificate soon!!

Enjoy & thanks for following us!!! xoxoxo

All Modern Giveaway!!!!

I was approached by CSN stores about doing a giveaway for our readers!  You may have run across one of their sites before.  They have over 200!  Whether you are looking for new nightstands or you need a new diaper bag, CSN Stores have got you covered. 

They are offering a gift certificate for their site:

All Modern is a modern & contemporary furniture website with great brands like Herman Miller, Knoll, & Dwell Studio. They also have all things kid/baby, home accessories, & wall paper.  Lots to choose from!  Hop on over to their site to check them out.

One blessed Creative Outpour reader will receive a $35 gift certificate to allmodern.com.

(Canadian readers: Be aware that there may be international shipping charges. )

Here's how to enter:

1) Leave a comment on this blog with your name, email, & blog site.

               

                        AND

2) Follow the Creative Outpour blog

Extra Entries:

-Tweet the giveaway using @creativeoutpour

-Share the giveaway on Facebook in your status

We'll choose a winner Monday the 25th at 6pm.  

*Thanksgiving Decorating on the Cheap

You don't have to go broke getting your home ready for the Thanksgiving festivities.  Here are a few ideas I came up with this year for pennies.

If you read my ribbon wreath post, it cost me about $20.

Then, I had the idea to make a thankfulness board for my family where we could each write what we are thankful for in anticipation for Thanksgiving.  I took a huge shabby chic frame from Wal-mart (think it was $12), put a placemat inside (ha!), made a fancy ribbon for the top (using left-over wreath ribbon), and wrote on the glass with a dry erase marker.  Simple and VERY cheap.  

I also took my fruit bowl and put some velour fabric in the bottom.  Then I placed walnut husks, pine cones & buckeyes inside.  Easy and free.

My entry table was made up of a bunch of things I already had.  One bunch of flowers from TJMaxx ($10), one bunch of flowers from Walgreens ($7), A little fall colored frame, a little leaf candle holder also from Walgreens ($4) & a lamp.

My last project was using a whole bunch of buckeyes I found in my mother-in-laws' yard. I took glass vases and filled them 3/4 of the way full adding peacock feathers to one and a candle to the other.  For me, this project was free because I already had everything on hand.  

All my fall decorating DONE for about $20.  

- - -

*Look for this post in the November issue of Peekaboo! Magazine.

Pumpkins....pumpkins......pumpkins!

"It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown!!!" Well--maybe my pumpkins aren't quite as cute as the movie--but I'm going to have fun trying! I have found so many creative ways to decorate pumpkins this year. I am a big fan of the classic Jack-o-lantern but not such a fan of the mess in 4 days when it rots. So this year I wanted to find fun ideas using craft pumpkins that last forever and require no messy clean ups!

These pumpkins were about $6 each and came in all size and shapes.
I used craft paper and fabric to decorate my pumpkins. You can get creative and cut out any shapes you want! I decided to cut out leaves because I wanted to also use these for Thanksgiving. But I also saw candy corns, polka dots, hearts, stars..lots of shapes look pretty!

All you really need is scrap paper, glue, scissors and some creativity!

After a few hours and some quilt scraps--viola! My crafty pumpkin!

You can also get great patterns online used for carving the pumpkins--but instead, just trace on the design with black marker. Remember-once you pierce your pumpkin it will only last about 4 days. A great tradition at my house is to carve pumpkins the night before Halloween for all of the trick or treaters to enjoy! Happy Halloween!!!! XXOO

I'm sewing!! (Baby Burp Cloth)

First of all this ISN'T a "how to" post because I just had my first lesson today and so I'm obviously still learning! I'm loving it though and will probably (hopefully) post a "how to" in the future!

Yay! So, my mother-in-law, both sisters-in-laws and nieces are all avid quilters/seamstresses and every time I go over someone is working on some project. Recently my MIL won the judges choice award in our county fair so she is obviously rather good at quilting and they sell aprons, bags, etc at my sister-in-law's hair salon. I've never really had a desire to learn to sew, I honestly preferred just to design something and have someone else do the work. :) the only reasons that I recently had the desire are because 1) I was feeling left out and annoyed every time I went to my MIL's house because everyone was ignoring me and 2) I got a ton of burp clothes for nothing at a garage sale and felt inspired to try do something with them.



Harmony, a sister-in-law, gave me some scrap fabric, a brief tutorial (in which I remembered nothing) and voilà!!




I'm feeling inspired to do more that I see how easy it is. You don't have to be some super anal-retentative person who makes every cut perfect, it's good if you are, but it's about the art of it, the personal imperfections and the fun you have making it while trying not to spill hot chocolate on your fabrics. Find a work shop near you- skim on down this page, there is some info about such classes and have FUN!

YOUR Wreaths!!

I asked people to show me their lovely fall wreaths, and here are a few of the great responses we got:

Rachel Hamen

Heather Baker

Ashley Keylor

Don't you love them!?  Email me if you have any fall decor you'd like me to show here on our blog for others to be inspired by!!

Paper pumpkins and Autumn inspiration

I made some paper pumpkins 3 years ago--I think I hijacked the idea from Martha Stewart--and still love to see them on display for the autumn season.
Here is a how-to for making paper pumpkins:

Choose coordinating pieces of paper, such as 3 different shades of orange or patterned brown papers. Cut strips of paper about 1 inch wide and however long you choose--the longer the strips, the bigger the pumpkin of course. (For my biggest pumpkin, I did cut the strips a little wider as well.) Then poke small holes at each end.

"String" the strips of paper in a pattern onto a pipe cleaner (there is probably a more grown-up craft item that would work, but pipe cleaners is what I had on hand, and I am okay with that).

"String" the other end of the strips onto the pipe cleaner, beginning with the same strip you started with the first time. Otherwise your pumpkin with be lopsided when you are done.

Fold the pipe cleaner over and fan out your pumpkin.

I added a little leaf on top to complete the pumpkin.

Oh and here is the latest addition to my autumn decor, a few strings of fallen leaves.
I have my fellow blogger to thank for this idea. See post Fall, Fall, FALL!