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Teacher's Gift Vases

April 27th, 2013

Well, it’s back to school in my world!  It’s always a bittersweet time, I miss the boys terribly but excited to finally have some time to get reconnected with my own projects.  This fall, there is so much inspiration and I am constantly coming up with ideas.  It probably doesn’t help that I practically live on Pinterest!  That web site has been such a gift to me and I think anyone that enjoys being creative.

Yesterday, I had a TV segment on Channel 5 talking about fun ways to transform party eats into delicious and easy after-school snacks.  I already knew which recipes I wanted to use, but I wasn’t sure what type of visual props I needed.  Plus, I try to do “double duty” with my props, hoping that I can gift them after the show instead of simply throwing them out.  Since I needed a teacher’s gift anyway, I thought creating something that could hold some flowers would be the perfect prop!

I set off to the local dollar store and purchased the cylinder vase and three packs of pencils (16 pencils per pack) for my pencil vase.  I also purchased the smaller cylinder vase at the dollar store but purchased a large (64 count) box of crayons at Walmart for my crayon vase.  The total cost of my project was $8. This includes the two vases, pencils, and crayons.  I had the ribbon left over from another project and the cost of the flowers is not included.  But I can assure you, the flowers will be the most expensive part of this project, unless of course, you have your own garden (lucky you!).

I hot-glued the pencils around the tall cylinder vase and did the same with the crayons around the smaller cylinder vase. I added the black with white polka-dots ribbon to add more interest.  Filled the vases with water and arranged my flowers. The flowers looked great on the TV set (I included a photo below from my TV segment, the flowers are on the far right).  I will be giving this to my son’s teacher in a couple of days and I am thrilled how it turned out.  This is a NO FAIL craft project, so do not hesitate to try it!

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My Favorite Fall Wreaths!

April 25th, 2013

Yes, I love fall… and according to many different studies and surveys, so do many  others.  So, it’s no wonder we want to create an atmosphere that is  cozy and comfortable as soon as fall arrives.  I’m tempted to buy new pillows, candles, diffusers, and other accessories that reflect fall.  My kitchen usually gets some type of a makeover with fall inspired pieces and of course, recipes!  I live on Pinterest and pin as much inspiration as I can, even though I’ll just probably try one or two of what I pin (just being honest).   So, it’s no surprise that one of my favorite activities is going to local stores to see their beautiful displays.  My favorite store is Mary Tuttle’s which is located in Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb in St. Louis.  It’s definitely THE destination for any type of interior design inspiration. They are still very “old-school” in their design philosophy, where “more is more” and I have to admit, sometimes, I’m partial to “more”! Each fall, the in-house floral designers create a plethora of beautiful wreaths that just take my breath away!  Many times, you can meet the designers on the spot and know exactly who created your masterpiece.  Additionally, they will also create some custom wreaths, based on the size of your door and the fall elements you would like to incorporate.  Needless to say, it’s one of my favorite places to visit along with William Sonoma and Pottery Barn.  If you are in the area and have time to visit them, you should!

One of my favorite silk wreaths… so rustic!

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 Love how great this wreath stands out from the door, the gingham ribbon, and the monogrammed rug… the doggie is adorable too!

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Pumpkins, gourds, berries, just love everything about this wreath! Perfect for hanging on a Window

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This Mantle is the a great example of the “more is more” design philosophy of Mary Tuttle’s!

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This wreath is a perfect fusion of fall and winter elements… can easily transition into the holiday season!

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This wreath is perfect if you are looking for something bushy and significant… perfect for large doors or doors with a lot of design elements.

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A FABULOUS FIND – A Teepee!!!

April 25th, 2013

For anyone out there who loves a great bargain, you would be high-fiving me right now!  When I found this wonderful Teepee for my boy’s room, I got all kinds of excited!!  The perfect place for a good book, pretend play, or just to get away from the world!  For anyone who loves to design and entertain, “thrifting” and “garage saling” are a great way to accumulate treasures without breaking the bank.  My boys are going to love playing in this teepee and I’m going to love passing it on to another child when they have outgrown it!

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Gourd – TASTIC!!!

April 9th, 2013

This is truly one of my favorite fall entertaining ideas.  Not much to do except cut an acorn squash, scoop out the seeds, and serve anything your heart desires in it.  They look so beautiful as a set of three.  Or, you can create a whole gourd arrangement with different sized gourds and fill them with dips, vegetables, baby corn, or anything you love.  I guarantee, it will be the talk of your table!

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