Earring Storage

My long search for the proper ring storage was finally rewarded with this amazingly easy solution.
After posting about the project, I had a couple of requests for a post about my earring storage.
Earrings are perhaps the smallest of my jewelry categories. I have lots of necklaces, lots of bracelets,
and lots of brooches. My earrings, however, all fit (for now) onto one small display board.

I bought a stack of these boards years ago on clearance at Target-for the whopping price of .99 each!
They sat in my closet for quite some time before I called them into service for the jewelry room.

I simply hang the earrings from the ribbons strung horizontally across the board, and tuck in a vintage

postcard or two to add another dose of fun!

You can easily make something similar using this great tutorial from the DIY network.
(Just string your ribbon in a horizontal/vertical manner rather than criscrossing)
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-ribbon-bulletin-board/index.html

I'm also now inspired to dream up some new earring storage solutions, so check back for more ideas
in the upcoming weeks.

Spreading my wings.

My main "studio" is housed in our basement. Most of the time, this works just dandy, but lately I've been craving a new work space. During the winter, I tend to gravitate up to the dining room table for computer work and photographs. Better light, better heat. My issue with the dining room table: distraction. It's the main hub of the house, so it's easy to notice some mundane task that must be done RIGHT NOW and wander off to take care of it.

The guest room has been the source of many conversations with my husband.  Our house is tiny, and we only have guests a few times a year. The other 340 or so days of the year,  it just sits there with no one using it. Thus, the idea was born to convert it into my studio annex. After all, I work from home every day, so it just seems like a smarter use of the space.

I gleefully cleared the room out and started getting set up. This cupboard houses reference books and a few props (It's previous life was as a pantry in our farm kitchen). I want to keep this room fairly sparse, but I can't live without a little color. The whiteness of this cupboard door was suddenly making me very sad.

So I gave it a quick and easy makeover. I grabbed a stack of coordinating wallpaper sample sheets, paint chips and fabric, then created a patchwork door. I didn't work with a plan or layout, preferring just to go with the flow and see where the patchwork led me. I also used double stick tape, knowing that I will need to repaint the door if I ever choose to remove the patchwork.

I'm so happy with the results. I squeal with delight (really) every time I look into my new room and spy the new colorful patchwork. In fact, the whole rooms makes me dizzy with delight. It's not quite done yet, but

here is a peek at the progress.

I picked these metal racks up at a junk sale. Topped with a $25 Ikea table top, they make a perfectly tall work and photo table.  You can see that they were not quite the same height-easily solved by sliding in a decorative box to fill the gap. The big bonus? Lots of supply and prop storage right at my fingertips! I'll pick up a few bins to slide onto the shelves. This will keep everything looking tidy, and allow me to move props and materials up and down from basement storage.

The height of the table and open racks below keep the room from feeling too cramped. I'm keeping things simple, using just a few key elements-a funky lampshade or two, colors and patterns-to spice up the neutral carpet and subdued wall color (Benjamin Moore-Aura/Croquet). I'm feeling more productive already!

HEARTS: Day 4

I am crazy for some ombre.

And crazy for hearts this week.

Here is a quick project that combines them both.

Yippee!

Scrapbooking border strips are easy pre-made strips,

and come in lots of great colors.

Select your palette,

then map out a range of shades

to create your ombre line-up.

Whole strips will be used for the heart.

For the hanger, cut a single strip

into four lengthwise sections.

For the heart, fold a full strip

in half vertically.

Use a 1/4 strip for the hanger.

Loop it, and secure

with a glue dot or

double stick tape.

Curve the ends of the full strip

around to form a heart shape.

Insert the hanger

between the ends....

......and secure with staples.

I love these big chunky hearts.

They make me insanely happy.

(Hopefully they'll have the same effect on your Valentine.)

Line them up,

...or hang in a row.

So fun and festive!

Be Mine,

Christine

HEARTS: Day 3

Another two ingredient Valentine.

Doily

+

Red Thread

=

lovely,

lacy,

Valentine

Gather some small doilies.

Loosely shape the top to form a heart.

With needle and thread, secure the shape,

using a criscross pattern to form an "x".

My very complicated technique

for doing this is called the

"smush and stitch".

Oh so adorable.

are all these hearts starting to make you swoon yet?

Be Mine,

Christine

HEARTS: Day 2

Cardboard

+

Balls of Twine

=

Handmade Hearts

Pop in a sappy movie,

gather your supplies,

and whip up a bunch of these

to spread the L.O.V.E.

 Cut hearts (of various sizes)

from scrap cardboard.

 Like this!

 Leaving a tail,

start wrapping the heart in

yarn or twine.

 Keep the twine tight

and vary the pattern as you wrap.

 When it's covered,

cut another tail....

 and tie the two together to secure.

So simple. So sweet.

 Be Mine,

Christine

HEARTS: Day 1

It's a week of L.O.V.E. themed goodies!

Every day will offer up a new heart shaped project.

Make one for a secret admirer,

or make a bunch to hand out to all your pals.

First up, easy fabric hearts.

I used charm pack fabrics from Moda,

but you could use fabric scraps

cut into squares of any size.

 Fold the square of fabric in half like this,

then cut out the heart shaped top...

.... to end up with this

If you like everything neat and symmetrical,

use a template.

If you like your hearts slightly lopsided,

or haphazard,

or one-of-a-kind.

(like I do)

then just free form them!

 Then glue the fabric hearts

to a piece of tag board or cardstock

and cut out the heart shape,

evening out the edges.......

 ..to end up with this.

 Cut a short piece of twine,

loop it,

and tape to the back

of your heart

for a hanger.

 Gather a bunch

in different patterns!

 Pretty tied on a package..

hung around the neck of a bottle

for a simple vase,

...or hanging as a sweet garland.

Be Mine,

Christine

Be Sweet

This easy Valentine project is sure to win favors with loved ones

Start with wooden spools and Valentine cupcake picks.

(these honeycomb versions are from Wilton)

Make a tiny banner out of cardstock, then choose your message.

Secure two picks, with banner in the center, with glue dots or just paper glue.

Cut a small piece of fabric to fit around the spool, and secure with fabric glue.

Then, finish with a piece of rick rack tied around the fabric.

Pop the pick in the hole of the spool!

Perfect for place cards or just a sweet token to anyone you love!