Style Lush

Personal Birthday Photos

By Jennie

When I began thinking of my husband's birthday a few months ago, I pinned this photo on Pinterest. I liked it, but I had compiled a bunch of photos into a slideshow for his 30th birthday. I wanted to do something a little more different.

Then, I thought of the friends who couldn't make it to Mike's party, and I wondered: wouldn't it be fabulous to incorporate those friends into the photo idea?

So, about two months ago, I emailed our friends and family and asked them to take a picture of themselves with a "Happy birthday, Mike!" sign. They could get creative or they could just jot a quick note on a piece of printer paper. I wanted it to be thoughtful but easy, in the hopes a lot of people would participate.

We had about 20 photos total--which I was thrilled about!--from friends we haven't seen in years, from friends who were at the party, and many in between.

A couple examples:

Then, I printed all the photos out and (with the help of a lovely friend) hung them on the wall in a 3-5.

When I revealed it to Mike, he was so touched. Really, this guy who rarely gets emotional got a little emotional. And the entire thing cost $2 total, to print the photos at Walgreens (I can always find a coupon code for a percentage off their 4x6 prints).

Maybe do something similar for your next favorite person's birthday?

Another Bracelet Storage Option

By Tara

Last month, Leah offered up a pretty fabulous option for bracelet storage using a paper towel holder, and I loved the idea of having my bracelets displayed on the bathroom counter for quick access every morning, since not being able to see them easily meant that they never got worn. However, I got tired of always having to take all of the bracelets off of the holder to get ones that I wanted at the bottom of the stack because, well, I'm kind of lazy and always running late.

So, my bracelets still weren't getting worn as much as I wanted them to be worn.

Then, I remembered all of the Bath and Body Works candle containers I'd been saving since seeing this idea for removing the last little bit of candle wax from those glass candle jars pinned on Pinterest.

(And really, this is why I still love Pinterest, despite the crazy spam and nonstop pinning of cute boys done by my eighteen year old sister, because I'd been throwing those candle jars away for years, then spending money on various glass things to use as household decoration. That's...some wasted money right there, you know?)

Now, I have this on my bathroom counter:

And my bracelets and I are happy again.

DIY Play Tent

By Blythe

This tent is one of the very first things I pinned on my Pinterest board. It seemed do-able and cute, and a nice project for those long summer days when my kid and I are looking for fun.

I quickly learned that everything on Pinterest is not as easily executed as it looks, which made me a little nervous about trying to build this tent. But I decided to give it a whirl.

DIY A-Frame Tent using tutorial by Cakies

I am so glad I tried it! It was pretty easy, especially since I had the molding and dowel cut to size at the home improvement store, and they were both pre-sanded. The only snafu I ran into was that the drill bit I needed is not a size that came with our drill (and it's pretty big; I imagine it doesn't come with most drills), so I had to buy that. It cost less than four dollars. I used a twin sheet I had lying around for the fabric.  

I like that the whole thing folds flat for storage without taking it apart. But for now, it has taken up residence in our house as my son's favorite place to entertain himself.

Reusing Old Vases

By Tara

Every single flower delivery I've ever received has arrived in the same standard glass vase, and after 32 years of flower delivery (or, at least the 10 years of flower deliveries since I graduated from college and left my hometown, prompting my mother to send me flowers every year on my birthday) (yes, she's awesome like that), I have a cabinet full of boring glass vases.

Then, I came across this project on Pinterest:

(photo credit: designtjejen.blogg.se)

I still need to perfect my paint swirling skills, but luckily, I have another 10-ish vases to do that, if I want...

(I needed red accents in my dining room and a yellow container to hold utensils in my kitchen, and I got them both for a whole $3 in paint, so I'll consider this one a win.)

My favorite manicure

by Christina

I tried to do this.  

It did not go well. I even used these little french manicure stickers and still, disaster. So here I am, 34 years old with a bottle of glitter nail polish, I could either give it to my baby sitter or figure something else out.  I found this.

  

So I tried it.

 

Easier! And age appropriate'ish.  I love it. It was easy, it looks awesome and it's just a little surprise glitter, not in your face blamo glittah! You should totally try it, you'd be amazed at what a tiny bit of sparkle can do for you.

(photos via pinterest via frijolita's instagram, pinterest via iknowhair.com and me)

Projects: Beach Finds Edition

By Tara

I love trips to the beach, but I am pretty much incapable of not picking up every piece of beach 'stuff' that I come across while I'm there. Of course, this means that I need to come up with some sort of project that not only incorporates the piles of driftwood and shells that I've accumulated over the years, but also does so in an 'I don't actually live on the beach' kind of way.

This is my FAVORITE kind of Internet research, right here...

(Photo from: driftwoodstuff.blogspot.com)

(Photo from: ellenscreativepassage.blogspot.com - she uses them as planter decorations, but I'm also thinking this might make an excellent magic wand for my daughter...)

(Photo from visiblymoved.blogspot.com)

(Photo from: crafts-for-all-seasons.com - I think these might make fun gifts/party favors at some point down the road)

(Photo from: Pinterest.com - and if anyone knows where this originally came from, please let me know...I love this idea, and I'd like to see if there are more.)

Styling around a flat screen

by Christina

My master bedroom is a very slow work in progress. One wall is completely blank, the wall where the tv sits atop a media style dresser.

I have painted and there are a few little things on the top of the cabinet now but, blah, blah, BLAH! Right? Man. The rest of the walls are good but this? This one I want to be special. It's the wall we see when we are relaxing at the end of the day. I want it to look good but also be peaceful.I've turned to pinterest and come up with these photos. (via)

(via)

(via)

I'm going to go for a mix of these. Some art, a lamp, a plant or two and maybe a little decorative something on a stack of books. Definitely layered, layered pieces make me happy and help to make a space feel lived in and personal. Then on the wall a large piece of art or two may do the trick for me. Something soft and serene without demanding I "Keep Calm." Meaning, no words, just art.

How have you decorated around your TV?

Trending: Black and Navy walls

by Christina

I have this bathroom that drives me nuts. It's on its third redesign in 5 years and I think, I hope, I finally got what I've been looking for. Midnight blue walls. It's a tiny room with no window but the lower half is white glossy wainscoting. Super high contrast which in hindsight, makes since that I love it because that's how I like to dress. I wont bore you with my missteps I took while trying to play it safe with the room, I'll just show some inspirational eye-candy. )  

These spaces work so well because of the bright white and natural light. I love the high drama and I'm so glad I finally got up the nerve to go bold.

What do you think, are you tempted?

 {Photo credits: Apartment Therapy and Pretty Stuff}

As seen on Pinterest: Does it really work?

by Manda

As you all know, Pinterest is AWESOME! I mean! Dude! I learned how to make t-shirt scarves, then there's the lollipop Valentines ... so many cool ideas in one organized space. Recently a friend of mine posted about trying out something she saw on Pinterest that worked. It's the one where you cut the green tops off green onions, then put the white part in water and the green will grow back. Green onions forever!

Like so:

Source: thisisreverb.com via Liz on Pinterest

 

(original source here)

So you KNOW the first thing I did is run to the grocery store, buy some green onions, chop the tops off and stick the rest in water. AND IT TOTALLY WORKS!! Sure enough there are green shoots growing back. If I play my cards right? I'll NEVER buy green onions again. Right?!

There's a similar plant-pin going around about how to make a houseplant out of the top of a pineapple (and also, in the process, GROW a pineapple!):

Source: tickledred.com via Rebecah on Pinterest

 

(original source here)

Has anyone ever tried this one? According to the blog it takes two years for results. Which probably means it's not a good one for my house (a crowded house with two big dogs and two small children), but I still want to know if anyone's tried it!

How about you? Have you tried anything cool on Pinterest lately? Is it as EASY as they say it will be? Was it a total flop? Is there a pin that makes you wonder "would that really work?"

Valentine's Day for pre-schoolers

by Christina

I am so super excited about Valentine's Day for my 4 year-old, it's kind of silly. I was in the valentine section of Target this past week and was wondering -- do they make the tiny cards like they used to? I didn't see any. I looked around and really didn't see anything I'd love to send to school with him for his party that wasn't candy as he goes to a  lame candy-free school. Then I remembered something I'd pinned ages ago! I know the day is a good three weeks out but since these will be cut and sewn by hand, I figured I should share them with you now.

I mean, couldn't you just die? These images are from pinterest via Katie Did- I am so glad I found this, I can't wait to send him to school with these.