$6 Powder Room Update for Spring

Spring is in the air so it's a good time to make some changes around the house.  One of my favorite rooms in our home is our first floor powder room.  It's funny because it started out as one of my least favorite rooms.  But a few years ago I embraced the white and gray tile and the grayish formica vanity.  I stopped focusing on how much I disliked it and instead used it as a jumping off point to create a space using my favorite color combination of blue, bronze, cream and gray.  

This time around the changes I made are subtle, but just enough to make it feel fresh to me.

It started by me finding these damask hand towels at Home Goods for $2.99 each.  They picked up on the damask wallpaper that I love in this bathroom.  I also loved the stripe at the bottom of the hand towels.  It gives these towels both a masculine and feminine feel. 

Then using my Silhouette machine, I transformed my plain white trash can and tissue box holder.  I used a damask design and cut it out on the machine.  To apply it I use clear contact paper which is a much more cost effective method of applying vinyl.  In minutes I completely changed the look of these accessories.

I actually used two different damask designs...one for the trash can and one for this tissue box holder.  It makes the accessories feel a bit more special.

It's funny how new hand towels and a little DIY project can make a space feel fresh and new.

How about you?  How have you been refreshing your spaces for Spring?

-Judy

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Trial and Error Pillows

I am still working on the finishing touches in my living room.  I have not yet found artwork that I love, so I thought that if I could settle on the pillows I could move this project forward.

The thing with pillows is you really have to try them in the space to see if they really work.  I saw this coral pillow at Pottery Barn, and loved it in the store,  and thought it would be a good addition to the living room.

I felt it would pick up on the same color coral-ish color in the area rug.

It does pick up the color in the rug, but it's taking the room in a direction that I don't want to go.  It's a little too harsh and I feel that it pulls your attention too much.  So I will be returning it to Pottery Barn.  

Back to the drawing board.

-Judy

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Swing into Spring - It's a Party #161

Welcome to this week's Swing into Spring party.  I know the calendar says it's spring, but the temperatures here in New York still say it's winter.  Last week's party was filled with so many great ideas and inspiration.  Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:

So Much Better With Age shared her progress in her dining room.  Love the new rug.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:

DIY Passion shared a tutorial on how she created this painted ombre dresser.  Ombre is all the rage this season making this dresser even more special.

CRAFTY CREATIONS:

Sweet Inspirations by JP Designs created these beautiful, glamorous Easter eggs.  

TASTY TREATS:

Day2Day Supermom  shared a copycat recipe for artichoke spinach dip.  Yummy!

If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Ok...Let's party!!

-Judy

DIY Phone Case

I finally upgraded my phone to the iphone 5S.  

I really wanted the gold phone and had to shop around to find a store that had it in stock.

Now that I have a new phone I needed a new case.  Wholeport is an online craft store with awesome products.  They had several phone case kits available (they also cases for phones other than the iphone).

The kits come with everything you need.  It took no time at all for me to create two different phone cases. The kits were super easy to work with and the glue really holds well.  I've been using the cases for a few weeks now.

I created one phone case on the more simple side.

The other case I added a little bling.

They have lots of other case kits to choose from too including these cuties:

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Have a great weekend!

-Judy

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Disclosure:  I received the phone cases for free; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience.

Winter Blues Wednesday - It's a Party #160

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday party.  I know that spring is right around the corner but the temperatures here in NY make me question if spring will ever come.  Last week's party was filled with so many great ideas and inspiration.  Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:

Beaux R'eves shared her gorgeous master bedroom updates.  What a stunning space.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:

Victoria's Vintage Designs transformed an old desk and created this beauty.  Love it.

CRAFTY CREATIONS:

Leopard and Plaid shares an awesome tutorial for these DIY monogrammed hand towels.  These are a hack of similar towels from West Elm.  Great job!

TASTY TREATS:

Fry Sauce and Grits shared a recipe for paleo chocolate coconut macaroons.  Yummy!

If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Ok...Let's party!!

-Judy

Floral Trend Spring Mantle - JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store

Did you know that it's National Craft Month?  When Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store contacted me and asked if I wanted to create a spring craft, I jumped at the chance. I found inspiration in the spring trends highlighted at Jo-Ann, specifically the floral trend for spring.  I wanted to create a crafty spring mantle, with an emphasis on florals.  Jo-Ann makes spring crafting easy during National Craft Month with a $5 off $25 or more purchase coupon and a spring crafting inspiration website.  

This project was quick and easy using the supplies I purchased at Jo-Ann.

 With some floral scrapbook paper, paper mache letters, mod-podge and silk flowers, I was ready to tackle my spring mantle.  

To create the decoupaged letters, I traced the letters face down onto the reverse side of floral scrapbook paper.  Then I cut them out using a scissor.

For the fronts of the letters I used mod podge and applied it with a foam brush directly onto the letters.

After applying all of the fronts, I decided to cut out long strips and mod podge the sides as well.  This time I spread the mod podge directly onto the paper making it easier to get around all of the curves.

Instantly my mantle felt more like spring.

 I used an empty spaghetti sauce jar wrapped in more floral craft paper as a vase for my flowers, also from Jo-Ann.  Jo-Ann has a huge assortment of silk florals to choose from.

I also created a floral paper box to hold a small faux birds nest.

Don't florals instantly make you think of spring?  Good thing too since it's still in the 30's here in NY.

-Judy

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Disclosure:  I received compensation for this review; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience.

Winter Blues Wednesday - It's a Party #159

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday party.  The weather has actually warmed up a bit today making it feel more like spring.  Unfortunately snow is predicted for Thursday.

Last week's party was filled with so many great ideas and inspiration.

Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:

Sweet Parrish Place shared her new living room rug.  I have a thing for new rugs these days.  :)

SPRING INSPIRATION:

Priscillas 2000 shared spring in her dining room.  Looking forward to warmer weather.

TASTY TREATS:

Pretty Scraps shared her recipe for hazelnut pie truffles.  Yummy!

If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Ok...Let's party!!

-Judy

Trying Out Artwork in the Living Room

Now that I have found a rug for my living room, it's time for me to turn my attention to the artwork.  We have a beautiful piece of art that used to be over the sofa in the living room, but the colors really don't work in the room anymore.  To start the process, rather than running around store to store, I decided to go to an online art store and try out some artwork in the living room...virtually.

 I "framed" the artwork online and then placed it virtually in the room using PicMonkey.

It's a good way to get a sense of what colors work best in the room.

I haven't found anything perfect yet, but I'll keep on looking.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Winter Blues Wednesday party that opens at 8pm EST. 

 Hope to see you there.

-Judy

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