A Petit Collage Tutorial

A while ago on vacation, I remember distinctly this giant painting of a cut orange. It was bright and bold . . . and fabulous. I instantly fell in love with it, and the image never left my mind. But, I'll remind you, it was a painting . . . and well . . . I'm no painter . . . at least not of detailed images anyway. So, in order to recreate it, I needed to come up with a better solution.

That is when I decided to experiment with petit collage.

Step 1: Decide on your colors and cut out a bazillion scrap pieces from all your old magazines.

Step 2: Outline your image on your canvas. (Try not to worry too much about making it so "perfect." I honestly think petit collage is meant to NOT be perfect...)

Step 3: Paint your background.

Step 4: Begin gluing (or Mod Podging) your scrap pieces on the canvas, using your freehand drawing as a guide. (I chose to use scraps of text as my outline.)

Step 5: Place it on your mantel, stand back and smile.

Linked up to: (Sunday) Nifty Thrifty Things, C.R.A.F.T., The Girl Creative, Homemaker on a Dime, Everything Under the Moon, Craftomaniac, Lines Across my Face, The Delectable Home, It's Overflowing, Making the World Cuter (Monday) Burlap & Denim, Making the World Cuter (Tuesday) Chef-in-Training, Sugarbee Crafts, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Natural Nesters, Clean & Scentisible,  Uncommon, Fox Hollow Cottage (Wednesday) Blue Cricket Design, 733, Southern Lovely, Someday Crafts, Chatty Chics, Crafty Scappy Happy, Beyond the Picket Fence (Thursday) 52 Mantels, Simply Designing, Design Dazzle, See Vanessa Craft, (Friday) Bacon Time, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk (Saturday) Six Sister's Stuff, A Little Inspiration, Too Much Time on My Hands, The Lettered Cottage Pin It Now!

Home Tour: The Guest Room

Well, I imagine it's no surprise that you'd see the color orange splashed here and there. I guess I just haven't been able to get enough of it in this house. I ended up pairing the orange accents in the room with "Quilt Gold" by Sherwin Williams. And, I'll be honest, yellow is a scary color to choose. It always looks lighter on the wall than it does on your paint chip! But, I've been quite happy with this particular color, and I can't say I wouldn't choose it again.

I'm happy to say, this room has been used a lot in the last 2 years, mostly by my parents . . . who come to visit a certain little girl quite frequently! :) It's been so nice. I hate to see a guest room never in use.

Annie found this old lamp base at a thrift store and made the to-die-for shade! 

(I nearly had a panic attack when I opened it up last Christmas!)

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Knock-Off Anthropologie Art

My inspiration: a petit collage by Anthropologie (long ago)

After gathering up a few old fabric scraps I had, I just started gluing . . .

and gluing . . .
until . . .

 until, well . . . I was happy.

Now, they hang in our guest room, along with a couple $1 thrift store frames.

More on the guest room to come . . .

Linked up to: (Sunday) Nifty Thrifty Things, C.R.A.F.T., The Girl Creative, Homemaker on a Dime, Everything Under the Moon, Craftomaniac, Lines Across my Face, The Delectable Home, It's Overflowing, Making the World Cuter (Monday) Burlap & Denim, Making the World Cuter (Tuesday) Chef-in-Training, Sugarbee Crafts, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Natural Nesters, Clean & Scentisible,  Uncommon (Wednesday) Blue Cricket Design, 733, Southern Lovely, Someday Crafts, Chatty Chics, Crafty Scappy Happy, Beyond the Picket Fence (Thursday) 52 Mantels, Simply Designing, Design Dazzle, See Vanessa Craft (Friday) Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk (Saturday) Six Sister's Stuff, A Little Inspiration, Too Much Time on My Hands, Centsational Girl Pin It Now!

The Old Flea Market Ladder

Remember this?

Here it sits.

Goodness, I love old ladders.


I linked this up to:

Southern Hospitality
&

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Super Sweet Cupcake Toppers

Well, you already know I'm in party planning mode. 

Streamers are done, so it's time I move on to the next order of business . . . cupcakes. 

I'm pretty excited about that decision. I'm happy to not have to worry about a cake to cut and serve. Cupcakes are so fast . . . and well, easy.

In my research, I ran across tons of crazy fun topper ideas. Here are few of my favs.

1. Lisa Storms 2. 6 Bittersweets 3. Bakingdom 4. Hostess with the Mostess

And, if you were still wondering about the theme,

I'll give you a little hint . . .

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My List.

I've always been a list maker.

In fact, at this very moment, I could probably make a list of all the lists I've made around here.

It keeps my head clear and my mind in the right direction.  

So, I couldn't help but feel a bit giddy at the invitation to make a list of goals I have for my blog.

I've been blogging for several years now, but it wasn't until recently that I branched out and started focusing more on the "Home Projects" side of blogging. Mainly because, what once was a hobby for me, became a passion. Blogging just happened to be the icing on the cake.

As most bloggers might say, I truly enjoy blogging, regardless of how it grows. But, it's nice to take a second and reflect on what exactly I want for my blog . . . in the chance that it might.


1. Inspire Others.
First and foremost, I want to motivate readers. I want them to get out of Target and into a Goodwill. There's so many wonderful things yet to be found! You never know what kind of prize might be sitting on that dusty, dirty shelf . . .

2. Quality Posts.

I want my posts to be useful. I'd rather have 2 super great posts per week than 5 mediocre ones. 

3. Spread More Love.
There's too many great blogs out there not to. I hope to give readers great ideas, but also point them in the right direction of others that can do the same.

4. Cutting-Edge.
Things are changing all the time! With the speed at which technology is constantly being updated and changed around, it's way too easy to get left behind. I hope to spend a little more time researching new ideas and learning from the successes of others.

5. A Happy Home.
Ultimately, I want this to be a place that readers can come and feel good . . .


I hope maybe you'll take a minute and consider a few of your own blog goals. And once you have, join me and LINK UP this Friday with one of these fine party hosts:

It All Started With Paint

Eclectically Vintage

Thistlewood Farm

The Space Between

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A Wine Cork Board

After getting several comments/questions about the wine cork board in the dining room, I realized I never even posted about it. If you didn't know already, it's a knock-off from on old Pottery Barn idea, and I'm sure you can imagine how simple it really is. Honestly, it's a matter of collecting all those wine corks! (Luckily, a got a little help from a few very special people...)

After getting a large piece of particle board framed out . . .

Grady and I simply started hot gluing the corks- in somewhat of a checker board pattern.

Now, it holds all the thousands of photos I take of Ross. :)

Linked up to: (Sunday) Nifty Thrifty Things, C.R.A.F.T., The Girl Creative, Homemaker on a Dime, Everything Under the Moon, Craftomaniac, Lines Across my Face, The Delectable Home, (Monday) Burlap & Denim, Making the World Cuter (Tuesday) Chef-in-Training, Sugarbee Crafts, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Natural Nesters, Clean & Scentisible,  Uncommon (Wednesday) Blue Cricket Design, 733, Southern Lovely, Someday Crafts, Chatty Chics, Crafty Scappy Happy, Beyond the Picket Fence (Thursday) 52 Mantels, Simply Designing, Design Dazzle, See Vanessa Craft (Friday) Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk (Saturday) Six Sister's Stuff, A Little Inspiration, Too Much Time on My Hands Pin It Now!