Posts Tagged ‘DIY’

Backyard Party Decor Perfect For Any Special Occasion!

Stephanie, one of my childhood best friends, has a fabulous decor blog offering incredible ideas on affordable home design!  She recently put herself to work planning her younger sister’s graduation party and transformed her back yard into a gorgeous chic lounge. I LOVE how it turned out!  Brides – this would be fabulous inspiration for bridal showers and reception decor!

Be sure to visit Stephanie’s blog for more fabulous decor inspiration at YouPaidMoreThanMe.blogspot.com

Tell us how you came up with the design?

I’ve always decorated this way, very airy, relaxed feel. I love clean whites and people feel chic when they are around this type of feel. This design was comfortable for all ages, and for this event, we had people from age 2, to 82, and it was a success.

How did you do those gorgeous drapes!?

The drapes are an old trick I’ve used before, it’s very simple. Cut the top “ends” off of a sheet (where the fold is, I used queen size) and slip a pole through the top. Gather to your liking!

And those adorable lounges for your guests to relax and chat the night away?

The lounges cost $35 to build, and $20 for a vinyl mattress. My husband whipped up the plan and went to work.

Any tips on ways to save money when it comes to decorating a space?

Look at the big picture. Dont focus on the detail right away. Make big statements with the simplest of things. Leave the details at the end, because you may find you dont NEED all the small things you thought, and this is where you save the cash. You may not need those small votive holders, you may already have jars or something to perch them on. It’s when you do the BIG pieces, that people will notice.

What’s your favorite part of the design?

Favorite part about design, is seeing the vision through. I’ve become an expert on hearing what you want, and applying it to your space. Some people have great ideas, but are hesitant or unsure how to execute it. Some people have no clue what they are doing, I deal with both types, and enjoy it thoroughly.

What is your biggest tip/advice for designing an outdoor lounge area?

Choose a color palette FIRST. You’ll find things fall into place much easier. If you start thinking about it as more of a living space, instead of outdoors, you’ll automatically start choosing things that are livable and inviting. Rugs, side tables, revamped wicker, old ladders, mismatched chairs, dining tables are all things that look very chic outside. Dont go buy a huge set of outdoor furniture, I dare you to mismatch something.

Thank you Steph for today’s Inspiration!!!

I found this fabulous DIY Milk Glass project from two of my favorite blogs Ruffled and Marry You Me!

Annie put together this easy tutorial on making your own fab milk glass!  Try it! It’ll save you a ton of money and time!  If you don’t want the traditional white, go for other colors! I’m thinking a flat black for Halloween, or flat pink for a girly birthday party!

From Annie:
For me, DIY is at it’s best when it saves you money and time and adds a special touch. Vintage milk glass is beautiful, but I know first hand how hard it can be to track down good pieces without spending hours driving around, scouring the internet, or paying a fortune. So I wanted to replicate the look of milk glass on a budget using some vintage glass vases and glossy white spray paint.

What you’ll need:

- Assorted vintage glass vases (I found mine at a local thrift store, 9 pieces for $5)
- Rubbing Alcohol (optional)
- Brown craft paper or newspaper
- Latex gloves
- White glossy spray paint (I used Krylon Multipurpose Indoor/Outdoor Gloss White)

Instructions:

Step 1: Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or paper towel to remove any sticky residue from the vases. Wash vases with soap and dry completely.

Step 2: Lay down paper on your spraying surface in a well-ventilated area. Shake spray paint for 1-2 minutes before spraying. Shake between sprays as well. Wearing gloves, work from side to side spraying vases with spray paint. Don’t get too close to the vase to avoid drips/runs. (No need to spray paint the inside of the vases, just do the tops; spraying the inside then using them for flowers with water will cause the inside paint to flake off).

Step 3: Rotate vase until covered, let dry a few minutes before adding a second coat. Let dry completely.

Thank You Annie, Ruffled & Marry You Me

Wow! I can’t believe all that I got accomplished today! Shoes and Earrings Done!

Jonnathan and I headed over to K&G today to browse through the suits since they are having a huge sale right now.  We found some jackets and vests that we liked, but no pants… Neither Jonnathan or I like pleated men’s suit pants. And flat front was pretty much M.I.A.  So, sounds like plan A: Men’s Express suiting is still our choice. We did score on shoes though!  Who knew!  I found two pairs of heels that would work fabulous with my dress (I think….I don’t see my dress until June with the alterations and won’t know until then if pumps or flats are best) anyway… both pairs were only $29 bucks!!!  The first pair is an adorable coral patent leather slingback and the second is an ivory crocodile mary jane.  Cute cute cute!

After lunch we swung by a local bead shop here on 6th Ave and found some beading accents for my fabric flowers, Jonnathan made a necklace and I made my bridal earrings!!! I just adore them!!! And guess what!? Super affordable! I made a second pair for bridesmaid earrings to see how I liked them and I think they couldn’t be any more adorable.

I wanted to add some variety…but it was worth it!

So, I love the fabric flowers I already made, but wanted to try creating them using the petal-by-petal method.  WOW – they look pretty cool, but ouch! No more craft projects for a while…these pretty fingers need a rest.

Just imagine these for hair accessories or on the ring bearer pillow?!