Style Lush

Caramel Brownies, All-things-Christina and a New Front Door

Editor's note: For our last week at Food Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

By Elisabeth

I have had such a lovely time coming here for the past three years sharing what I considered to be "stylish." Being the only female in a house full of three little boys, trying to maintain my inner goddess needs to be a major priority in my life. Style Lush has reminded me that I'm important and so are those ADORABLE SHOES. OMG, I MUST HAVE THEM RIGHT NOW.

I'd say my favorite post(s) came from Christina. If they had to do with painting anything in the house big or small, or simple DIY projects around the house using items you already had or additional items that didn't cost very much, I was hooked. I began day dreaming what I could do with my space and most of the time it sent me off to the races. Thank you Christina for giving me/us insight into your creative mind.

Funny enough, my favorite post I wrote had to do with food. Go figure. Before Food Lush came along, I posted what I believed to be the BEST BROWNIES KNOWN TO MAN. The caramel brownies I have been making with my mother since I was little have been crowd-pleaser for as long as I can remember. If you haven't had the chance to make them yet, get on that! The Superbowl is on Sunday! GO NINERS.

***

We replaced our front door a few weeks ago. Like Sara, we purchased our Craftsman door from Home Depot, but we did not, I repeat, did NOT, do it ourselves. (Way to go, Sara! Jaw-dropping impressed!)

We had some draft issues after we replaced our entryway with new hardwood floor. The old threshold and door had a space any bug could crawl through. We tried replacing all the right pieces, but, in the end, decided to get a new door and have someone else deal with sealing that puppy up. Plus, the old door had the tiniest of windows and was downright sad looking.

We ordered the "red" one and chose specifically what we wanted out of a huge selection. If you're in the market, I'd suggest grabbing some catalogs in the store and perusing at your leisure. When you're ready, head on in and add your specifics into the database. Weeks later some dudes will show up and get down to it. We love how it turned out. (Now, to just repaint the door frame again...)

 *****

And there you have it! We're still focusing on updating many parts to our '64 ranch house. Up next? Maybe replacing all the inside brown doors with white ones (ourselves) and a new bathroom? (ourselves?) Let's hope. I'll be updating my site, Little Miss Mel if you'd like to follow along. Oh, and those three little boys. (Plus a bigger one.) They'll be there too.

 

(photo credit: me)

Crayola Washable Whiteboard Markers

by Megan

I promise that this will be the last time that I speak of accessories for our easel. One side of our easel has a white board, and if you have any experience with white board markers, you know that they leave much to be desired. They're messy, they leave an odd marker dust behind when they've been erased, and they're far from washable.

So, when I saw Crayola Washable Whiteboard markers at Target, I knew that we needed to replace the markers we had on hand.

In their favor, they do seem to wash from clothes and hands quite easily. They are tougher to erase than traditional white board markers, but that's a small price to pay for the ability to keep your clothes clean, and avoid that awful dust. For the record, I absolutely do NOT recommend the dry erase crayons. They're about as well thought out as colored bubbles.

{Photo credits: amazon.com}

Melissa and Doug Easel Accessory Set

by Megan    

My parents bought my daughter an easel for Christmas. It was easily the biggest hit of all the gifts given or received this year, and she happily drew on the chalkboard all evening. My mom added this easel accessory set from Melissa and Doug, and I would highly recommend it.

It included everything that we needed for our easel, including a roll of paper, paint, brushes, chalk, an eraser, a white board marker, and paint cups, which are my favorite part of the set.

In fact, I would recommend purchasing the paint cups on their own, and you certainly don't have to use them on an easel. They're labeled spill-proof, but a child intent on spilling could probably make a mess if they tried hard enough. They have two lids, one with a small opening for a paint brush and one that will cover the entire cup so that you can save the paint for later.

If I'm going to allow my kids to paint in the house, this is the way to do it.

{Photo credits: amazon.com}

 

Christmas Paper Crafts: My New Tree Topper

By Jessica

This year, I have resolved to work with what I have and refresh my holiday displays without purchasing anything new, as much as possible. I did purchase this GORGEOUS Santa print that makes me smile every single time I look at my mantle, but, so far, nothing else. Which is how I ended up searching for ideas on a new topper for my tree that wouldn't cost me anything. Because while I may be working with what I've got, that doesn't mean I don't also want to change my theme/color scheme again. I'm a complicated woman. 

I have fallen in love with idea of red, teal, and acid green with hints of white and sparkle so that's the path I've headed down. I have decorations that will work for me but no topper and I thought about just pulling out my doves and using them again but wanted something more funky, retro yet modern? I also, for some reason, have been obsessed with the idea of making things from paper this year. 

I did some Google searches and some Pinterest searches and ultimately I ended up with two tutorials of a similar style. One that was more intricate and since it was made with glittered paper, more glittery as well and the other, more subdued and I suspect, since it was made with black paper, the one really spoke to me.

Obviously, I didn't use black paper (I still might somewhere this year) but I definitely went with that second tutorial to make my tree topper:

I followed that second link pretty much exactly with two exceptions:

1) Glue. I used hot glue to make it quicker and not require anything to hold the strips together while they dried. (NOTE: hot glue is HOT, have a bowl of ice water handy, in case of drips)

2) Measurements. Even though we were taught metric briefly in elementary school, I am still a lame American that knows inches not centimeters so my strips were 1/2" x 12" 

This project required less than one standard 12"x12" sheet of cardstock scrapbook paper which I always have on hand and probably around 30 minutes total (that's being really generous with the time, I didn't time myself). So totally FREE, YAY! And also, totally GORGEOUS, YAY! I love how it resembles a celtic knotwork design and looks different depending on how you look at it, since it's open on the inside and sort of puffs out a bit. 

I HIGHLY recommend making one of your very own or even making a bunch of these stars and just hanging them as decorations in front of windows, from the ceiling, around the mantle...the possibilities are endless.

Have you ever made your own tree topper?

Trend: Silver Mercury Glass

By Leah

True to form, I'm finally ready to hop on a bandwagon a few years after the rest of the world. Hey, I may not be at the forefront of style, but at least this wait-and-see method ensures the trend has some longevity and I'm not wasting my money on something that will be passé in just a few weeks.

So: silver mercury glass! I'm ready for you! It's a little shiny, a little shabby, and it fits into most decor styles. Here are some things I'm loving:

 Target small hurricane, $25

 

Pottery Barn set of three leaf-topped bottles, on sale from $69 to $34!

 

 

Nordstrom owl, $10

 

 

West Elm vases, various sizes and shapes on sale from $13 to $27

 

 

West Elm candle holders, on sale for $3 (you should get these if you're hosting a sparkly New Year's party)

 

 

Grandin Road lamp, $69

 

Crafters! Here's your cheap and cheerful mercury glass DIY for fancying up the clear-glass vases, hurricanes, mason jars (yes indeedy), and even old windowpanes you have stashed in a closet. Anna from Take the Side Street has a great tutorial.

Stocking Stuffer DIY: How to Make Overpriced Hair Ties for Next To Nothing

by Elizabeth

The other day I was reading the lovely Slynnro's Christmas wish list, and I noticed the hair ties that she linked to. This is the not the first time I have seen this variety of hair ties and been horrified that people are paying this exorbitant price for thirty cents worth of material tied in a knot, so I thought as a public service announcement I'd explain how to make these yourself. 

Here's what you'll need:

Scissors, a ruler (Fermilab Swag variety not required), and some Fold Over Elastic, commonly referred to as FOE. Now, I have a metric ton of this stuff just sitting around my house from some project I can't even remember, but it's VERY easily and cheapily aquired on Etsy. Just search for FOE under the supplies tab. Here's a listing for 10 yards for $3. 

Cut your elastic to the desired length. I tried 10 inches and 9 inches, and I couldn't really tell which I liked better, but I think the 10 inches was easier to wrap three times around my hair. It really depends on how tight you like your hair ties and how much hair you have, so feel free to experiment. 

Cut the ends of your elastic on an angle. 

Tie the ends of the elastic together about an inch from the end of the loop. 

And voila! On a little tag like this I think they'd make the cutest stocking stuffers!

DIY Star Wars Snowflakes

by Leah

My husband is a strict observer of the "No Christmas Decorations Until December 1" rule. It's too bad for him that he married me, then, since I'm equally devoted to the "Get Them Up While You Can Because Your Life Is Crazy" doctrine, which usually means taking advantage of the long Thanksgiving weekend to deck the ever-loving crap out of our halls.

This year the prospect of one special winter craft ("winter"! not necessarily "Christmas"!) may have softened his obstinance a little. Ladies, gentlemen, spouses of geeks, and moms of little boys in particular, I present to you the Star Wars snowflakes:

The 2012 collection is available as free PDF downloads here, and last year's are here.

Who doesn't want to tape Billy Dee Williams to their living room window for the entire neighborhood to see, amirite?

The designer, Anthony Herrera, suggests using an X-Acto knife for the fine details, so this isn't an activity for little kids, but that doesn't mean they won't ooh and aah over their parents' skillful rendering of a prismatic paper Yoda. Awesome you will be.  

Hilarious DIY Art

by Christina

I hate to be a copy-cat, I really do. But once in a while something crosses me that is so great I can't help myself. Enter, Harpers Happenings animal menagerie.

I've had an empty frame on a shelf in my boys bathroom for years,. I've been trying to get the perfect photo of the two of them in the tub for the frame but they never stop moving and they have a lot of "bits" so, empty frame, years.

I saw this and not only did I die laughing but I new instantly this was to go in that frame. You can get this tutorial on her site, of course, but what if you don't read her site? This is too fun not to share with the masses!

So, onward!

You'll need

Plastic animals: Michael's has a ton of choices in tubes for $8. Farm animals, dino's, bugs, all kinds. I chose the zoo combo.

Spray Paint: I chose to full on copy with the gold but you could do any color you want! (FUN!)

Somthing to cut these jerks in half: I used, my kitchen knives. I know! I found the large bread knive worked the best- using force from the top and it was still very hard.

A Frame

Glue

A sheet of white paper

I used the glass behind the sheet of paper- I just glued them in place with super glue. Aside from the cutting it was a fun and easy craft. And I LOVE the result. It's perfectly kid and quirky!

(images via me and harpershappenings.com)

 

Creative Christmas Countdown 2012

by Hillary

Advent calendars featuring Christmas-themed activities instead of candy are nothing new around these parts (check out posts by Jen, Jennie, and Lawyerish for more inspiration.)

The Creative Christmas Countdown 2012 by Creative with Kids is a little different (and a lot exciting!) Twenty-four bloggers have put together an advent calendar of Christmas-themed activities and art projects. All you have to do is subscribe to the countdown via email and you'll receive a daily email with a brief description of the day's activity.

Supply lists will be emailed the last week of November so you can be prepared for the first Christmas activity on December 1st.

Do you do activity advent calendars or do you use candy to countdown the days to Christmas? My mom sewed beautiful advent calendars for me and my siblings. She'd fill them with toffees and hang them on the wall. I used to sneak bites of my siblings' candies and then wrap them back up and put them back in the advent calendar half-eaten and sticky. I can see the benefits of an activity-based advent calendar, is what I'm saying here.

{Photo credit: creativewithkids.com}

DIY Ring Pulls

By Sara

I've been on the lookout for ring drawer pulls to update our plain jane (and ubiquitous) Ikea Hemnes dresser:

(Image: Ikea.com)

I like the clean lines on the dresser but the faux iron drawer knobs are just...boring. While searching I found this beautiful update from JessLively.com:

(Image: JessLively.com)

So pretty and the knob swap really takes the dresser to the next level. I liked her choice of drawer knobs but at $6.65 a piece I was looking at a pretty expensive upgrade to an inexpensive dresser. I have a total of 18 that need to be replaced. Continuing on I came across this brilliant DIY from Sarah M. Dorsey Designs:

(Images: Sarah M. Dorsey Designs/sarahmdorseydesigns.blogspot.com

Can you believe she made these with hardware store parts and for less than $2 a piece? Sarah gives a great tutorial on her blog and also shows how her handy husband BUILT her that gorgeous sofa table. It's ok, I'm jealous too.