We've been in our new home for eight months.  In my studio, I still had "temporary" curtains on the windows because I just couldn't decide what I wanted.  I was at a moving sale a couple of weeks ago.  There was a new Ralph Lauren queen size ruffled sheet that caught my eye.  It didn't really match anything in the house, so I used the excuse "we always need sheets at the cabin", and bought it for a dollar.  I washed it and had it sitting in the laundry room.  Late one night, I walked by the sheet, looked at it and my creativity kicked into gear.   "I wonder if that sheet would fit the patio window in my studio?"  YIPPEE!!!  It was wide enough, but too long.  So I measured and cut the sheet in half and then cut off the excess length.  I had a package of black curtain rings with clips and a black curtain rod that I was going to use for the valance in my hubby's office.  I decided to use them on the patio window instead.  I dragged out my sewing machine and sewed straight seams (my kind of sewing) to finish off the cut edges.   I just love it when one of my projects clicks and turns out how I envision it in my mind.  Here's the finished patio window.

I decided to make a valance for the smaller window with the leftover sheet.  Again, I sewed all the unfinished edges and hung it on the curtain rod.  Boring!  A straight edged valance?  Just didn't look right.  Then I remembered our neighbor at the cabin and the valances she made with ribbon accents.  I grabbed my roll of 115605 Basic Black 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.  I tied the ribbon on the curtain rod into two separate loops.  This created a "waterfall" valance.  BINGO!!!  That is exactly what the window needed.  The black ribbon coordinates with the black curtain rod and rings on the patio window.

The curtains match the wood mouldings and the paint on the walls.  These curtains were "sew" simple to make!   My Stampin' Up! ribbon sure came in handy!

Tags: Decorating

One of my favorite things to see at Convention are the display rooms.  I love to see how Stampin' Up! products can be used in home decorating.   The one wall was stenciled using the Decor Stencils. 

But my favorite decorating project is this lamp.  I didn't notice from a distance how it was decorated.  I was delighted to see all the ribbon used, which is so different, yet striking.  I'll be copying this lamp!

Tags: Decorating

I needed a spring theme decoration for my front door.  I decided to make one.  I pulled out my Sizzix Big Shot and used the Top Note die on some leftover cardboard covered with Whisper White cardstock.  I found some retired On Board chipboard letters that I covered in Designer Series Paper and adhered to the cardboard Top Notes.  I attached the cardboard Top Notes to the Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon with silver brads.  I attached the ribbon to a silver piece of hodge podge hardware.  It was a sweet looking project. 

Then I noticed my recent box from Stampin' Up! with the new Summer Mini Catalog items in it.  Oh-la-la!  I could use the Smooch Spritz to shabby up my spring door hanger!  Please learn from my mistake, okay?  Use the Smooch Spritz sparingly!!!!!!  And hold it about ten inches away from your project.  Why?

Because I held it too close to my project and I used too dark of a Smooch Spritz color for my project.

Here is a close up of my too shabby chic project.  UGH!  I worked so hard on this project.   I still hung it on my door.  Now you know that I screw up projects.  But more important than that, you now know to use the right color of Smooch Spritz and to use it lightly!!!!  Or else, it goes W-I-L-D!

Tags: Big Shot, Decorating

Look what's hanging on the wall in my downline, Denise W's house?  119409 (small, in black) "Do Good, Be Kind" decor elements for $6.95.  Denise put it in a black frame, but didn't put a backing on it.  It is very striking to see in person.

Tags: Decor Elements, Decorating, Gift Item

Here is the top of the wood block that the students at my Big Kids, Little Kids Father's Day class made.  They used the Nouveau Chic Designer Series Paper to cover the wood block.

A photo can be added to this side.

A photo can be added to this side.

A photo can be added to this side.

A photo can be added to this side.

The bottom of the block is where the child can print their name and the year they made the gift.

Tags: Decorating, Gift Item