Want to decorate for Halloween but don’t want to break the bank doing it? Decorations can be pricy and have a tendency to be slightly cheesy. I came up with a fun DIY project you can do to spruce up your front door for only $6. All items above were purchased at my local Dollar Tree (where everything is a dollar) and quickly assembled to create a spooky wreath.
via: The House That Lars Built
Head over to The House That Lars Built to see how to make these cute geometric notebooks on the cheap.
I call this one finished.
I call this one, what in the world was I thinking when I wrote the last line? I need to touch that up and make it look like it never happened so that I can re-paint it centered, not crooked and more the same size as the other lines. And then I will bid this project adieu and send these canvases off to their new owner.
Paper Bunting Note Cards via: Rainy Day Colors
Paper Mobiles by Gosh and Golly
Printable DIY geometric paper vase via: Cherry Plum
How to make Crepe Paper Flowers via: Martha Stewart Weddings
This is the beginning of the second of two canvases that I’m painting for a friend. This one was a little challenging because there are so many words but I knocked it out this morning and I’m satisfied with the results. Still need to clean up the pencil marks and smudges and then border it with zebra print (!). The girl sure likes a lot going on in her artwork. The font I based the script on, if anyone is interested, is Honey Script by Dieter Steffman and it’s free to download here.
I mentioned recently that I bought a campaign dresser off of craigslist and had spent an entire weekend sanding it down to completely naked wood. My thumb still hasn’t fully recovered from that weekend. Well, I’m moving at the speed of smell and I recently got it primed and ready for for painting. The only problem is I haven’t really decided what color I want to go with yet… So here’s a collection of campaign dresser makeovers that I love and maybe you can help me decide what color to go with.
via: Cassie & Co.
via: Apartment Therapy
I have to say, painting it red was my first instinct. I just think that would pack a super punch in my bedroom, but after seeing pictures of it in red, I just don’t like the way the brass hardware plays off of the red. It doesn’t pop. And campaign dressers are all about the hardware. So until I decide what color to go with, it’s just going to sit in the corner of my room primed and ready.
(the impossible original print)
I bet you’ve all been beside yourself trying to figure out how I fared trying to paint this clusterfuck of a print on a canvas. (pardon my french). Well I wouldn’t say that it is an exact replica or anything, but I think I did okay. The girl that it is for seemed happy with it. Feast your eyes.
(my rendition of the “x marks the spot” Lilly Pulitzer print)
It seems laughable to look at that and say to myself “at least I simplified it a little.” Jeez. What a print. Anyway, on top of that (and against my better judgement) she wants me to paint a quote, Confucius style. “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” I get it. Maps, Travel, Clever. Also has anyone else heard of the word “wheresoever”? Seems awfully… long. That’s all I have for today. I’ll post another picture once I get that painted on top and we can all avert our eyes and pretend this never happened.
via Oh Happy Day
Head over to Oh Happy Day for a charming DIY tutorial by Chiara Albaretti Milott on how to make your own paper calla lilies. They look pretty great paired with that kraft paper.
I was pleased with the way the decorations came out for my birthday celebration, this past weekend. My favorite part was the mustache sticks. The theme was a Mexican Fiesta and I used poppies and mustaches as reoccurring themes in the decorations and invitations. Some of the pictures are a little darker than I’d like but I just thought the sun looked so pretty streaming in through the windows onto all the decorations before the party. Calm before the storm, I guess.
You guys may recall these invitations I posted a little while back. If not, click the link and ch-ch-check them out. They are for my actual birthday party. Hi I’m Darcy and you’re invited! Okay, maybe not. Please don’t show up at my house. But maybe you can feel like you were there next week when I post pictures of how I decorated the place. I’m super into party planning and I am so excited to have this little get together with my friends. I’m making all sorts of goodies: shrimp and avocado tacos, margarita cupcakes, and home-made sangria, among many other things. Click the links to see recipes for all of those delicious things.
As you can see, I’ve gone with a Spanish theme because nothing brings people together like tacos and alcohol. I added the poppies because I love the way the colors play off each other, which brings me to my next point. Decorations! What is a party without decorations? A buffet. And I do not want my birthday to be a buffet. So there will be decorations. I’m thinking colorful bunting, a la the invitations (kraft paper, red paper, and neutral colors) and paper poppies galore. My inspiration comes from Brittany Jepsen of The House That Lars Built. She lives in Copenhagen and makes amazing things out of paper. Basically, she’s living my dream. Here are some of my favorite projects she’s done including those inspirational paper flowers.
How cute are all of those things? Especially the new ice cream cone paper flower vases. Those are new! So I’m hoping my party decorations have the feel of her lovely creations, and I’ll be using Martha’s help to create mine in case you were wondering. I’d never get anything done without my Marfa. See you next week with pictures of the party decorations, three different versions of graduation announcements designed by ThePaperGnome, and more papercraft and design inspiration to whet your appetite. Also don’t forget to stop by tomorrow to get to know me a little better for the second installment of Friday Facts.
