Ten Blogs You Should Check Out

1)  If you like to decorate with teal, robin's egg blue, aqua, sky blue, seafoam green & ocean blue, you'll LOVE House of Turquoise.

Sneak peek: 

2)  If your design style is more "beachy,"  you should check out A Beach Cottage-Life by the Sea.

Sneak peek:

3)  The blog of Interior Designer,  Janell Beals, Isabella & Max Rooms.

Sneak peek:

4)  The blog of interior designer, Marianne Strong, Haven & Home.

Sneak peek:

5)  Blog of Nicole Balch, Making it Lovely.  She's amazing!  Her blog was named one of the 50 World's Best Design Blogs by the London Times Online.  She also has a stationery biz called, Pink Loves Brown.  You can find all sorts of goodies on her blog.  Interior design, fashion, precious kiddo photos, & whatever renovation project she is currently working on in her home.  Check her out : )

Sneak peek:

6)  Moth Design.  Inspiration!

This picture makes me excited for Spring!!

7)  Blog for Rachel Halvorson Designs, Nest Egg.  She's an interior design in Nashville, TN.  She says that her blog, "is a way of sharing pretty (and practical) ideas for your home."  

Sneak peek:

8)  Tatertots & Jello.  Blog of Jennifer Hadfield.  Her projects have been featured in Romantic Homes, Apartment Therapy, & Tip Junkie (to name a few).  You will get so many great ideas!

tip

Sneak peek:

9)  Good Times Never Seem Sew Good.  Blog of Caroline Hughes.    She also the crafty chica behind the Etsy store, Cotton Lane.  She is very fun & is always coming up with new ideas.  She makes me smile & think she has yet to beat me at Words with Friends.  ; )

Sneak peek:

10)  Sand & Sisal.  Kim is the sister to Beth at The Stories of A to Z.  These ladies really know how to inspire and actually follow through with their inspirations and create.  They are big DIYers.  Watch them for ideas!

Sneak peek:

She also has lots of great recipes on her blog too!

Well, I hope you thoroughly enjoy getting to know these ladies & their blogs.  Leave them a comment when you visit & let them know Jacqueline with Creative Outpour sent ya!

HAPPY MONDAY!!!! 

x o x o x o

Before/After Painted Brick Fireplace

As some of you may have read, I have been dreaming of painting my ugly fireplace for about a year now and have done tons of research on what I wanted it to look like. I found something that I thought I was going to copy, but when it came down to it, I preferred the clean white look instead of a faux finish. I did actually faux a little on the brick but after seeing it I decided I wanted white. I'm not always a fan of painting brick, only when it's especially ugly do I think it's a great idea. Also, before you decided to paint yours, really think about what you are doing. It's permanent. :)

Here is the BEFORE, in case you don't remember or are new to the blog:



We used a thick roller to put the coats of paint on, brick soaks in paint so several layers are necessary. Since the grout was pretty far back, we had to use paint brushes to really get the paint in there. We bought a pack of cheap paint brushes because the roughness of the grout will ruin any type of brush. We underestimated the time it took by almost a day so be sure you set aside enough time if you choose to do this!! ha ha!




I wasn't really ready to post after pictures, but I figure I can do another follow up post on the mantle once it's really decorated. I can't decide what it needs and want to do some more searching until I find the perfect decorations for us. I'm also going to be sewing some cushions (perhaps burlap?) to give additional seating at the fireplace and some matching pillows for my couch. I'm such a plain Jane so I'm going to try and branch out some with bright, vivid colors for spring and summer! So, here it is, the AFTER:

Happy Valentines Day!! Lots of Handmade Discounts today!

Valentine's Day discounts straight from Twitter!!

1)  K Davis Creates:  "Use code: LOVEME for 15% off your purchases...FREE Shipping! for today only!" http://www.etsy.com/shop/kdaviscreates

2) Much Love Illy:  "Because I heart you, use coupon code VDAY2011 for 20% off of your entire order at the shop today!!" http://www.muchloveilly.etsy.com

3)  Sandy a la Mode:  "A Valentine's Day weekend recap with happy mail, macro photography, and 25% off my shop with code IHEARTYOU!!" 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sandyalamode

4)  Craftee McGee: "Buy yourself something pretty! or get a last minute gift certificate! use coupon code FEB14 for 14% off all day!!! <3"

http://etsy.me/dWlzBY

5)  Aisle to Aloha:  "Happy Valentine's Day! Treat yourself to something beautiful! Take 20% off with the coupon code IHEARTYOU at checkout!" 

http://etsy.me/ba9yqb

6)  Oh Sweet Joy:  "Use code loveneverfails for 10% off today. My gift to you :)"

http://www.ohsweetjoy.bigcartel.com

7)  Tara Made It:  Use code,  ' VDAY20' for 20% off.

http://t.co/4oPQpTEhttp://t.co/l6FKSmd

8)  Letter Happy:  "One day only! use the code 'happylove' in my shop and receive 10% off your entire order!" http://letterhappy.etsy.com 

9) Josiah's Nest: "15% off in my shop! code: VALENTINE"

http://josiahsnest.bigcartel.com

Happy Shopping Lovelies!

x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o

True Love:

For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jn. 3:16

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?....No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else is all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:35, 37-39

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph 3:17

Life in 1,082 Sq Ft: Breakthrough

Ok, I just want to say I've decided not to put my craft room in my closet anymore.  Today, my husband was home from work (and watching my daughter), so I was able to make some serious headway with with this project.  Pics to come soon!!!

Valentine Craftin'

Remember Kanya's post about making a Valentine Wreath?

One of our readers, Tammy Justice, made one of her own!!

Pretty dang cute!! oxoxo

Stylish Blogger Award??

This week I've been trying to make an effort to post something every day.  Even if it's something little.  Just to keep the content flowing, ya know?  However, today I hadn't got around to it & noticed I just got a sweet comment from one of the followers of our blog.  Her name is Amelia and her blog is called Savory & Sweet.  She said,


"You guys have such a cool and creative blog. I would love to pass on a Stylish Blogger Award to you!  Come over to my blog and pick it up. :)"

Awards are nice, aren't they?  They make us feel like we're doing something that is worthwhile; at least to someone out there : )

So, here's how the award goes:

To Accept The Award Requirements 

1)  Thank and Link Back to the Blogger Who Awarded You With The Award

2)  Share 7 Things About Yourself 

3)  Award 15 Recently Discovered Great Bloggers Contact The Bloggers & Inform Them of The Award

Seven things about me:

*I am not the only contributor of this blog (see blog header), so I'm going to try to tell you about us.

1)  Started this blog last June after seeing a really cute blog somewhere with several ladies contributing.  I thought, "That's how you keep a blog interesting.  Multiple contributors!"

2)  I am a stay-at-home mama with a 21 month old daughter named Katie & one on the way

 

  I love to decorate, organize, paint, I'm learning to sew & use a Cricut.  I have worked on & off as a professional organizer, but rarely have time anymore.  That is why this blog is so fun for me.

3)  Jamie is my sister & works as an Interior Designer for Celtic Kitchen & Bath Design Center in Jupiter, FL.  She also sews, quilts & aspires toward all things crafty.  She is an extremely talented woman.

4)  Heidi has been my friend for years.  Since maybe 1999?  Anyway, we have a ton in common.  Stay-at-home mamas, crafty, hilarious : )  Anyway, she does a little of it all & is always coming up with new ideas.  We just bounce them off each other.  She is lovely.

5)  Amy has been my friend since college 1995 or 1996?  Anyway, she's a very close friend, a passionate woman.  She challenges me to grow as a person in every way.  We should all have friends like her.  She also, like me & Heidi is a stay-at-home mama living, currently, in Houston, TX, but is an Arkansas transplant.  She has done some work as an organizer as well, but would be well suited to just about anything she puts her mind to do.  I think of her as Martha Stewart Jr.  She is a world of knowledge about all sorts of little details about things I would never remember, but I'm glad she does!  She is a gem.

  

6)  Katie and I have been friends since 2000 I think.  She is a very down-to-earth, funny gal.  Mom of 2.  She is a nurse, but is also quite crafty.  She makes lovely things with paper & throws a good shower or birthday party.  She is also an extremely organized woman,  I think she should start writing us some posts on that!!

7)  Kanya and I met in our Bradley birthing class when we were pregnant with our first babies.  We started walking together and realized we had a lot in common!  She has her hands in every creative thing.  She crochets, paints, revamps furniture,  sews, you name it, she's into it.  I'm excited for our readers to see her many talents in her posts to come.

The 15 Fabulous Home & Design Bloggers I would like to celebrate & also share with you are:

1)  Southern Hospitality Wonderful woman, great decorating ideas

2)   Stories of A to Z Constantly updating her site with her current projects

3)  Young House Love They take you step by step as they renovate their house

4)  two ellie one of my favorite blogs.  spend an afternoon & read the whole thing!

5)  My Blessed Life positive blog, constantly updated

6)  Lettered Cottage DIY, interior design blog

7)  Spearmint Baby Crafty Mama blog

8)  Centsational Girl DIY, design

9)  The Nester "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" is her tagline

10)  Southern Fried Dreams Cute AR girl, Willow House Rep, fun decorating projects

11)  The Inspired Room Easy home decorating ideas

12)  Tidy Mom Decorating, Organizing, cooking, very well-rounded mom blog

13)  Michabella Christian home blogger, lots of giveaways!

14)  Beauty and Bedlam Frugal mom blogger

15)  Tip Junkie Tips on everything!  She gathers up tips from all over the web & organizes them all for you on her site.  Brilliant lady!

  

Have a wonderful weekend all! xoxo

DIY Wine Bottle Lamps by Brian

You may remember Brian from an earlier post in December:

"DIY Book Page Wreath by Brian Carreno"

Well, he's back with us for another project!!  Yay!

---

Some celebrations (New Year's, 21st Birthdays, Super Bowl, etc.) require some specialty beverages.  In the end, you have two options: throw the empty bottles away OR create new décor for your home.

I had just recently had my 21st birthday, so I had a couple of left over wine bottles at my disposal.  I went to the craft store for the following:

1)  Strand(s) of 20 to 35 string lights

2)  Frosted Glass spray

3)  Decorative twigs/branches/straw/feathers/etc.

*Additional optional items that may be needed:

-Glue gun

-Scissors

The first thing that needs to be done is to clean out and dry the wine bottles.  This may sound simple enough, but with such a small opening it can prove difficult.  There are various ways you can dry out the wine bottle.  You can stick some paper towels into them and move them around, set them out on a warm sunny day and wait, or use the oven.  I used the oven.

After swishing some warm water around the inside of the bottle and pouring as much of it out, I set the bottles in the oven (100-150 degrees) at an angle by putting one rack at the lowest point, putting another rack a few levels higher and pulling it out slightly so that the bottles? necks rested on the top rack at an angle.  I did this because the bottles were too tall to have enough room above them for the moisture too leave quickly.  I rotated the bottles every 5 minutes (using oven mitts) so that condensation was not collecting on one side of the inside of the bottle. After the bottles showed no sign of moisture inside, I set them on the counter to cool down to room temperature.

At this point, you might want to do some maintenance to the wine bottle labels.  I wanted to keep the labels on the bottle, but the heat ended up loosening up a corner of one of the labels.  I brought out my handy glue gun and lightly glued the corner back.  You can completely take the labels off if that?s your preference.

After any needed  maintenance, you want to apply the Frosted Glass spray.  I added 3-5 coats and gave them about a 10 minute drying period between coats.

After the frosting, you want to take your light strands and begin to stuff them through the opening.  Take each bulb, angle the tip down the neck of the bottle and shove it down.  You might need to use a stick to help push the lights down to allow room for more lights.  The more lights are on the strand, the brighter the lamp will be. (NOTE:  I would not recommend using a strand with more than 35 lights for safety reasons.  I had a Moscato Wine bottle that had a fairly small body, so I downgraded that bottle to a 20 light strand.)

At this point, all the lights should be inside the lamp and the excess cord and plug-in should be outside of the bottle.  To disguise the cord and add some flair, I took the various twigs/branches/straw/feathers and made an arrangement.  I fitted the base of the arrangement into the neck and added any more twigs and such to make sure they fit snug.  I only pushed the arrangement as far down as needed to be secure without pushing them completely down into the bottle or touching any lights directly.  You might have to pull the arrangement out and trim off excess from the bottom so that you don?t need to stick them down as far to achieve the same level of height.  I also trimmed some of them purposefully at different lengths to keep things interesting.

Here there are at in the dark:

You now have a crafty homemade lamp to plug in and enjoy.  You can personalize your wine bottle lamps anyway you want.  You might want to paint some design on the outside of the lamp, add some ribbon, or spray paint the arrangement a metallic color; it is all up to you! Have fun!