Ruffled Valentine courtesy of My Creative Departure

Looking for a fun Valentine craft? Look no further—I found the most adorable felted heart to make. And, it’s not gonna break the bank either! I found this over at My Creative Departure. I thought you all might like to learn how to make this ruffled Valentine! For the full tutorial on how to create this fab Valentine you must click here!

Enjoy and I’d love to know how yours turned out.

With a number of summer parties planned, from a graduation to a school fundraiser, Kristin Savini wanted her backyard to look beautiful. But when she gazed outside, “everything was beige and brown.”  She loved her pool. patio and brick fireplace, but her flowerbeds and the cushions on her outdoor furniture  seemed overwhelmingly  “blah.”

So she called in the pros. First, Steve Gilbert from Willow Glen Home and Garden suggested using the color of the pool as inspiration. He brought in bright turqoise cushions for the furniture and no fewer than 11 ceramic urns. To Kristin, it all looked “elegant and fun.” But that was a lot of urns to plant. So she called in her friend and container gardener Dhelia Fahrner of La Jardiniere.

With the bright cushions and pots, she knew the plants needed to be one thing: saturated with color. “It couldn’t be pale,” she said. At Summerwinds Nursery in Campbell, she and Kristin pulled out bright orange-gold “Easy Does It” standard roses and a big chartreuse ginger plant for height in the middle of some of the taller pots. They also added purples, fuschias and oranges with geraniums, lantana, verbena, petunias and alyssum of various heights and textures.

The results were spectacular. Here are some tips for vivid container gardening from La Jardiniere:

1. Before going to the nursery, take measurements of your pots, both width and height, to figure out how many plants are needed to fill each pot and how tall the plants should be to balance the size of the pot. At the nursery, find an empty corner to arrange your chosen plants to see how they would appear together in the pot.

2. Know the sun exposure so you know whether to get sun-loving or shade-loving plants.

3. Choose a style — tight, loose, abundant, minimal — to fit your style or the architecture of your home.

4. If you’re planting several pots, purchase some “foundation plants” that are perennial and can last from season to season. Buy colorful annuals in six-packs that are less expensive to replace.

5. Use quality potting soil and fertilizer and water, water, water.

To see what Dhelia did to her own backyard and another project open these:

Dhelia’s Dahlias

Before and After:Spanish Courtyard Gets Makeover

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Kids, husbands and people who eat spaghetti and sometimes spill can all be put in the category of “slobs”.  Given today’s economy, who had funds to buy a new chair when wine spills on your neutral chair? Debbie Wiener offer tips on how to minimize the havoc “slobs” can without breaking the bank:

Flooring: Area rugs with patterns and color are your best ally for hiding stains and protecting floors. Afterall it is cheaper to replace a carpet than restain your entire floor.  A flat weave, reversible rug is great for families with children.  You can flip the rug over once your kids destroy it, doubling your rug’s life span.
Paint: White or cream walls scream for fingerprints! Try a color that brings both warmth or drama, yet creates finger print camouflage.  A scrubbable finish, like Benjamin Moore’s Aura, provides one-coat coverage with very low odor.  Paint your typical builder-grade banister a dark color, like navy, so it won’t show fingerprints.
Wite it out: Keep the correction fluid “Wite Out” on hand for quick corrections to white cabinetry, doors, wood trim and even white tile grout! It quickly covers flaws, dings and damage until you have the time to re-paint. Got scratches on painted furniture and walls? Sharpie permanent ink markers come in dozens of colors and can be used to hide marks on furniture legs, walls, picture frames…just about anything in color.
Fabrics that work: When thinking about fabrics to reupholster chairs avoid polished cotton, light weight fabrics and solid colors. Patterns provide camouflage, are sturdier for daily use and can stand the use of cleaning products. If you have pets, try choosing fabrics that mask pet hair, like light brown patterns for your sandy haired retriever.
Toss It: If you can’t afford to change the sofa and chairs, change your toss pillows! Soft, down-filled pillows in unexpected patterns and colors will make the seating look new and feel luxurious.
Do the Flip: Rotate sofa cushions to hide wear and tear and to extend the life of your seating. Got a spot on that seat cushion? Turn it over and keep the clean side up when company comes. Rotate your area rug to extend its life span and even out the wear and tear. You may even be able to hide spots and stains under furniture with this simple move.

Debbie Wiener is a DC-based interior designer and author of the top-selling book, “Slob Proof! Real Life Design Solutions.” She has also recently partnered with Crypton to develop the Slobproof! Collection – a colorful line of Crypton-covered furniture designed with busy households in mind.

We are giving away 5 copies of Debbie’s book.  Just leave a comment here letting us know your best slob proofing solution or problem.  If you tweet the contest, we’ll give you an extra entry. (max 1 tweet per day)  Giveaway ends April 24, 2010.  Please leave a valid email address.

]]> http://www.lookiloos.com/2010/03/tips-on-how-to-slobproof-your-home-and-giveaway.html/feed 14 http://www.lookiloos.com/2009/11/vickis-vintage-inspired-holiday-party-favors.html http://www.lookiloos.com/2009/11/vickis-vintage-inspired-holiday-party-favors.html#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:28 +0000 julia@lookiloos http://www.lookiloos.com/?p=2040

When it comes to celebrating the seasons with holiday home decor, perhaps no one is more enthusiastic than Rose Garden resident Vicki Petulla. And autumn is one of her favorites as she decorates with the bounty of the season: orange and white pumpkins and wreaths of drying leaves in cast iron urns at her front door and swags of magnolia leaves and trays of persimmons in her living room.

When Lookiloos asked Vicki what she had in mind for Thanksgiving, she not only set anbeautiful vignette for a holiday buffet using all natural foliage from friendly neighbors,  she also shared her tips for creating vintage-inspired party favors. They’re snack cones, actually, she said, that can be filled with popcorn, candy or sweet potato chips that guests can enjoy during the party, then take home as a keepsake.

At upscale boutiques, these kinds of cones can cost upwards of $25 or more a piece. But with a little creativity, a trip to a craft store and a glue gun, Vicki made hers for about $3 a piece. She has made these party favors again and again, for her son’s birthday parties or to enclose a gift card for a wedding present. All she does is change the paper and the trims for each occasion. At Christmas time, she hangs them on doorknobs of her friends.

For Thanksgiving, she made up a dozen of the cones and hung them from madrone branches she lightly spray painted gold.  Vicki shops at Michael’s craft store where she heads to the Martha Stewart scrapbooking section for her supplies. To personalize the cones, she buys printed initials of her guests to affix to each cone.

Here’s her shopping list: A variety of  colorful, patterned 12-inch by 12-inch sheets of paper; assorted trims, pom-poms and fringes to decorate the top edge of the cones; colorful ribbon from which to hang the cones; hole puncher, glue gun, scissors.

Step by Step

1. Roll a sheet of paper on the diagonal into a cone, coming to a point at the bottom and open on top.

2. Fold the outside edge inward for a clean, straight line to glue the paper onto itself.

3. With scissors, cut the top, uneven edge into a straight line for a flat opening.

4. With hole puncher, punch hole about one-inch from top on each side for hanging ribbon.

5.  Dot the top edge with beads of glue, then affix trims or fringes, careful not to cover the punched holes.

6. With length of ribbon, pull through holes on each side and knot.

7. Fill with candy, toys, or nuts. (Vicki loves Cost Plus World Market for vintage candy.)

When floral designer Jose Ibarra stepped into Tina and David Sheffler’s Asian-inspired home, he knew just what he needed to set a smashing dining room table for her. The house was featured on the Rose Garden Homes Tour in October and needed a designer’s touch. As always, you can count on Jose to turn up the creativity a notch.

For the Shefflers’ table, while he celebrated the Asian inspiration by using wooden Geisha statuettes and delicate orchids, he honed in on a  simple yet whimsical concept: Chinese take-out.

“Just because you have a party doesn’t mean it has to be catered,” Jose said. “It can be fun with what you have and at the same time look good.”

Next time you order Chinese takeout with friends and want to make some simple, but special touches, here are some of Jose’s ideas:

1. Use the white take-out containers as vessels for creativity: insert a small cup with water and add red roses; or fill with moss to give a “bok choy” effect. Jose stuck a pair of chopsticks in the moss and crinkled the paper chopsticks wrapper at the top to play with the color and texture. Wrap colored string around the boxes for extra color.

2. Add tall, wispy orchids in clear glass or simple vases to add height.

3. Keep the rest of the table minimalistic to showcase your special touches.

You might also enjoy these stories:

Asian-inspired backyard

Zen-like courtyard on Home Tour

Tract Home Extraordinaire

Leku Eder-A Beautiful Danville Place for Asian Inspiration

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Courtyard Makeover With Wine Bottle Barrel and Vintage Mirror

The front courtyard of the lovely Mediterranean home clearly had potential. A charming gateway led to it from the driveway. Two Spanish-style arches lined it heading to the front door, and a lovely picture window from the dining room framed the space.

Before Makeoever: Overgrown plant blocks window

After: New plantingsfreshen fountain; vintage bust frames window

After:This courtyard is ready for cocktails!

Before: A lonely bench sits empty.

When they do, this courtyard is ready.

Whether your Fourth of July picnic will take you to the beach or a tiny back yard, San Jose floral designer Jose Ibarra has set a holiday buffet table for any space on any budget. And for this All-American holiday, Ibarra is embracing the simplicity of red, white and blue. But, as always, he does it with a fanciful twist.

Here are some of his tips for setting a table for a fabulous fourth:

1.  Round up your American Flags:  For a patriotic backdrop (or just to hide an unattractive corner of the yard) hang the stars and stripes from strung wire behind the table. Ibarra found some of his favorite vintage flags at flea markets.

2.  Paint a tablecloth blue and white:  Ibarra used a sheet of linen, but a white sheet or even a roll of paper will do (get the kids involved!). For added interest, he laid it perpendicular to the table, instead of end-to-end.

3.  Stripes, stripes, stripes!  To dress up plain glass vases, wrap them in red, white and blue ribbons. Top with white carnations ($5.99 at Safeway) and red roses ($9.99 at Safeway) and, if you don't have blue delphiniums in your yard, splurge a little. Look through your cabinets for colored glasses and plates. Jose pulled out a red-and-white striped water pitcher.

4.  Hello Jello:  It took Ibarra three days of watching each layer set in his fridge, but the effect is worth it. He was ready with his blue and red Jello to layer in his large candy jar. But what about the white? He stopped at the Mexican market, and there it was, white Hazelnut gelatin. Add shredded coconut, raspberries and blueberries on top and you've got a grand old flag.

5.  Salute this Cake!  Ibarra ordered a sheet cake with white frosting from a Mexican market. Add blueberries for the stars and cherries for the stripes. Dig in. (But whatever you do, don't let a crumb touch the ground!)

Other table decorating ideas:
Wabi Sabi: Where the Imperfect is Beautiful
Floral Chic Mother's Day
Going Green on a Budget for St. Patrick's Day
How to Make Paper Roses for Valentine's Day

Here's the complete slideshow:

This is a guest post by Cindy Kihn-Santiago of My Romantic Home, one of our favorite blogs. Over the years, Cindy has shared her do-it-yourself projects – updating antiques, chairs and dressers for her charming, shabby chic home. Now shares a new project, a mirror makeover, with us.

Revamping old home décor items is a very economical way to decorate.  Many outdated items which can be found for a few dollars at flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales can easily be updated for a fresh new look. 

Garish gold mirrors are one of my favorite makeover projects.  They get an updated look quickly with a can of spray paint.

 

The first step is to take the mirror out of the frame.  There are usually metal clips that you can bend up and the mirror and cardboard backing will easily come out.  Be careful the edges of the mirror can be sharp.

Turn the frame over and paint the back with a spray primer and let dry and then prime the front.  Once the primer is dry you are ready for the spray paint.  I use a flat spray paint.  It’s important that you paint the rim that the mirror rests on.  If you don’t paint the rim area where the mirror sits you will see the old color through the reflection in the mirror. 

 

To create an aged look I use Rub n Buff which can be found at most hobby stores.  It comes in a wide range of colors.  I used a combination of Spanish Copper and Autumn Gold for this mirror.

 

Put a very small amount of Rub ‘n Buff on the very tip of your index finger and lightly rub over the some of the high edges of your mirror.  You are adding paint but you are creating the effect of paint that has worn off so put it in places where the paint would naturally wear off over time. 

 

A little of this paint goes a long way.  You may want to practice on something else before you use this so you get the feel of it first.

 

Now you just need to put the mirror back in the frame and you are finished. 

I used white paint on this project but you can use the same technique with any color. It works especially well with black spray paint.

~ Cindy

It would be difficult to find anyone who could say that Vicki Petulla’s backyard was ever anything but elegant and lovely. From the modern-lined furniture to the graceful urns and vintage outside mirror reflecting the patio, this was always a stylish spot. But exit the mobile chiminea and insert a sturdy stone fireplace and voila! Something extra special just happened.

“We created this to be an outdoor room because those French doors are open all the time,” Vicki said of the doors off her kitchen and breakfast room. (A minute after Desiree took this photo, the three of us were sitting here sipping a crisp white wine. Now this is my kind of yard!)

Here’s the before shot:

What a change! She and her family now have a dramatic focal point to their San Jose backyard, made of Monterey stone and built by Martin Delariba. And they have a mantel on which to place — get this — a big screen TV. She and her husband and school-age son have movie nights in the backyard where Vicki will bring out a plate of broken chocolate and marshmallows. Now how wonderful is that? Add red wine and I’m there! (again!) Vicki said that just recently, the family watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” outside. I concur.

Here’s another shot Desiree took last fall of the outdoor dining area just off the French doors. Now I’m surveying my backyard looking for a spot for an outdoor mirror. Isn’t it fabulous?

Want to see what’s behind those French doors? When Lookiloos visited Vicki last fall, we wrote a whole story and included a wonderful photo shoot. Take a look: A Decorator’s Daughter

Desiree also just compiled photos of her favorite outdoor fireplaces for www.hookedonhouses.net. Take a look here: Outdoor Fireplaces

Here’s the complete slideshow:

Jose Ibarra credits his late mother with inspiring him to become a floral designer. As a talented seamstress, she always expected her children to help with the cutting and sewing. And Jose has inherited her creative spirit, working with colors and textures — and his own two hands. So when Lookiloos asked Jose to decorate a Mother’s Day table for brunch, he set one in her honor, using things she loved, things she gave him, and things she could only dream about. And then, as always, he took it all up a notch with a trendy and surprising floral display inspired by Jeff Leatham’s designs at the Four Season’s George V Hotel in Paris.

“She always liked Paris, but she never went there,” Jose said of his mother. “So I brought Paris to her.”

Here are some of Jose’s tips for a beautiful, thoughtful and stylish Mother’s Day table:

1. Use special things your mother gave you, but have tucked away, including special china, glassware or linens.

2. Set the table in her favorite colors. Jose’s mother’s were orange and green.

3. Decorate with things your mother loves. Jose’s mother loved bugs. So he set out a collection of decoupage plates adorned with bees and beetles.

4. With a bunch of the same-colored flowers, use Jeff Leatham’s “tip to fall” style. Fill tall vases with water, tie stems together, balance the stems near the top of the water, then arch the flowers over the edge of the vase. They look like they will tip over and fall out, but they don’t. This is all the rage among the floral chic!

5. Pull out an old recipe of your mother’s and make one of her favorite dishes. Place a framed photo of your mother on the table. With all your attention to details and the things your mother loves, she will know how much you appreciate her.

Happy Mother’s Day!

You might also enjoy looking at some of Jose’s other holiday displays here:
Wabi Sabi: Where the Imperfect is Beautiful
Valentine’s Day Decorating Tips: How to Make Paper Roses
St. Patrick’s Day Table Decorating Ideas: Going Green on a Budget