A+ A-Frame House!

A-frame homes don't usually offer much in the way of interior space and this a-frame is no different but, home owners Karyn Gordon and Brent Penner have done amazing things with their Lake Simcoe house! Their cottage is so comfortable and cozy with little DIY projects throughout. You really can do a lot with small spaces, it just takes imagination and a little elbow grease.
(all photos from House and Home)

Karyn, Brent and friends added the wide ledge/bench to the deck to offer more sitting space outside.

Low ceilings don't keep this kitchen from having lot of storage space; the cabinets are just all below the counter.

Varying shades of blue give great color to the mostly white living room.

Karyn and Brent made beside tables from wood they found on their property.

 

DIY's For A Rainy Day

An Indian Summer's DIYs are in Grazia! 

The Makeover: Reclaimed Bottles

The Senior Features Writer at Grazia, Spardha Malik, reached out to me last month, to put together three easy and quick DIYs for Grazia readers. It was after a really really long time that I got my craft supplies out, and then scouted the home for things that could be reclaimed or up-cycled or re-purposed or generally beautified. Not only did I have to Do the It-Yourself's, but also style and photograph each step of the process. And what fun it was to do it all;  industrial strength glue sticking my fingers together notwithstanding! All the three DIYs can be easily done within ten to twenty minutes, and you don't really need any special supplies to make them.

The 2 Minute Cake Stand 

 I upcycled old glass bottles, made cake stands and prettied up a lamp :)

Baubles On A Wire: The Lamp Updo

Grab the June 2013 issue of Grazia India, for step by step instructions on all three DIYs. You can buy the online copy of the mag on zinio or magzter.

Click to Enlarge

Do tell me if you try any of these on a rainy day, or a non-rainy day :)

[All images: An Indian Summer]

Tear Off Wallpaper!!

Have you ever wanted to design your own wallpaper?? The "Tear Off" Wallpaper by ZNAK gets you pretty close to making that dream come true. Each panel of this wallpaper is perforated with squiggly designs that you can peel off to create whatever pattern you like. I love the idea of painting the wall first and then applying the wallpaper!! You'll see what I mean.
(all photos from design milk)

10 Simple Home Makeover Ideas from House Beautiful!

House Beautiful asked their readers to offer up their best easy home makeover ideas that they have personally put into use in their own homes. You may have already heard of or used some of these ideas and some may be new. Either way, simple DIY ideas for home improvement are ALWAYS worth reading!
(all photos from House Beautiful)

 Kick that cabinet up a notch with color paint, wallpaper or fabric!

(House Beautiful)

This reader used old dictionary pages as Unique Wall Art!

Have oddly places windows? Emi, Ashley and Amanda from Alabama suggest curtaining all the walls and giving you a more blank canvas for placing furniture.... Even hanging art in front of those curtains just the way you would if it were a wall.

(House Beautiful)

This House Beautiful reader in Canada added some Rock 'N Roll to this room adding some artwork and painting the bed a bright red.

 Barn Doors! These are popping up everywhere. In this case, they have been installed on sliding rails and used as a room divider.

Display your collection. I love that accent table too.

 Include a statement piece. Updated something that you already have or shop around for a new eye catching item.

Decoupage an old piece to give it new life! Gloria from Virginia suggested using old book pages for this makeover.

Throw some Lacquer around! The chalkboard wall is an easy do too.

 I can personally vouch for this makeover idea of just adding new, colorful pillows to your sofa (or bed). I got new Euro pillows for my bed after Christmas and it made me feel like I had a whole new bed and livened it up A LOT!

birthday diy's

{ photo source + source  = innove }

I've got a birthday girl this week. 

I love birthdays. love. yours, mine, ...it doesn't really matter whose. 

Time to get the birthday planning started!

I have a board on pinterest just for party ideas.

I may or may not have a whole board just for cakes.

I love the idea for making tassel streamers click HERE for a diy tutorial.

How cute is this idea for serving donuts?

see oh happy day for a step by step on how to make your own pinata using a box.

click here for a list of places that give you freebies on your birthday. 

Elisabeth decide she wants an ice cream bar, just like this /who am I to argue with the birthday girl??

do you like birthdays?

p.s. any american girl  doll owner out there? I want to know are they really worth it?

this girl and school.

see this girl?
she goes back to school tomorrow.
after 17 wonderful days at home.

It wouldn't really be that big of a deal except, about 2 weeks before Christmas, she decided she didn't want to go to school anymore. So for two long weeks I sent her, crying.every.single.morning. Talk about ripping your heart out, and then stomping on it. It was awful. I talked with her teacher to make sure all was ok in class, and it was, and is. She just misses home, and her family.

Has anyone had to deal with this? any tips?

We talk about it, and more importantly pray every morning before school. But still, she is sad.

With all that aside today we are going to enjoy our last day of winter break.! We are going to play princesses, and barbies, and have a tea party. Elisabeth may or may not have talked me into watching THIS movie. We own it and I have still never seen the whole thing (i may or may not have fallen alseep, both times.)

p.s for "snow" as seen in the princess photo above just mix water and dish soap in a blender or food processor/// it is that simple/// elisabeth and jude both loved it!

christmas ideas.

 { source + how to = the sweetest occasion ) 

( source + how to + FREE printable cup of cheer tags = ruffled sunshine )

 free printable gift tags here, here, and here

oh! I love this idea for painting old bulbs with chalkboard paint! ( I hope elisabeth is up for a craft when she gets home today!)

such a cute idea, we are going to do this with e & j on thursday...we will watch THIS movie.

brown paper packaging is my favorite way to wrap presents: you can see ideas here,here, and here. 

 

i might have to do this for christmas eve, and maybe this.

adorable FREE nativity printable for kids and a sweet reminder to what this season is all about.

gingerbread houses diy.

we had a lovely weekend filled with the following:

making gingerbread houses, visiting the grinch at whoville, staying up late playing scooby doo monopoly and risk with our nephews, watching jude beat everyone at monopoly (true story), sleepovers, pancakes and homemade pizza, great worship at church, listening to christmas and johnny cash records in the basement, relaxing and coloring by the fire. 

how was your weekend!??

To make the gingerbread houses you need 6 graham crackers, about 1/2 cup of icing, 1/2 a bag of skittles and m&m's, and sprinkles. I used string to hold the houses together until the icing hardened. I thought about using melted chocolate next time. arrange the roofs, ice, and decorate with desired candies. This was a hit. It was a fraction of the price of store bought houses, and they actually liked to eat the candy off the house.  They each got their own to decorate, which is always good :)

may or may not

{ photo source + how to = katy elliot }

I may or may not have eaten a brownie for breakfast.

I may or may not really want to try those cinnamon ornaments with elisabeth.

I may or may not have broken a pie dish in the sink, that may or may not have jammed the disposal.

I may or may not have watched THIS video, and the hubs may or may not have fixed it. ( yeah hubs!)

Elisabeth may or may not have lost her two front teeth.

THIS song may or may not apply to both of my daughters.

Susan from ava graces closet may or may not have sent me a email that may or may have made my day!

anything you may or may not have been up to?

  

Map It!!

We use maps to help us get where we need to go. We use them as inspiration for the trips we will take one day. What about using them in your home decor? Throw a big one up on the wall, several small ones in frames or even with pillows. Maps offer a unique look to a room and they are educational too! : ) Check out these ideas.

 Different shapes, size and frame colors! Love!

(photo from Twig Home)

photo from Pinterest

 Distressed Map of Africa by Leftbank Art

(photo from High Fashion Home)

Super cute on dresser drawers!!

(photo from DIY College Apartment Ideas)

Fantastic in a kids play room!

(photo from Pinterest)

Cute idea with hearts and small frames.

(photo from Home Jelly, formerly DiggersList)

By the stairs.

(photo from Bravo TV)

Map Pillows

(photo from Atelier 688 via  Houzz)

CORK!

I don't know what made me think of cork but something did, so I got to searching! I found more than I thought I would. Lamps, floors, backsplashes.... Who knew cork was so multifunctional.

DIY Cork Bath Mat 

(photo from Crafty Nest)

 Cork flooring tiles from Greenable. Made from recycled wine stoppers using water-based and solvent-free varnishes and adhesives.

"Float" Cork Lamps by Benjamin Hubert

 Jelinek Cork Mosaic Tiles made from sliced wine corks!

 Love the look of this!

(photo from Pinterest)

Cork Shelf and Porthole Shaded Lamp by Inga Sempe

 I love this. You can hide so many little messages in there!

(photo from Pinterest)

 Cork Chaise Lounge by Daniel Michalik