orange sugar

Four Poster Dog Bed

2012-01-12T17:33:00.000-05:00

So adorable I just had to share. Plans can be found here.

DIY Diamond Tufted Headboard with Nailhead Trim

2012-01-05T15:25:00.020-05:00

In my last post we talked about my DIY bed frame. No bed frame is complete without a matching headboard so I had to say goodbye to the old and create a new one.

1. Sanctuary Bed, High Fashion Home 2. Madison Bed, High Fashion Home 3. Woodhouse Bed, Jonathan Adler

I love all three of these beds and their arched headboards. Unfortunately none of these shapes would work with our slanted cape ceilings so I had to settle for a rectangle. This was my inspiration.

Source: Heller Furniture

I'm not going to create a tutorial because I can point you to other blogs for that, but I will include a few tips and progress pictures. I strongly recommend that you do not attempt this project without an air or electric powered stapler. There is just way too much stapling involved to use a manual one.

I used 2" foam and two layers of batting, one high loft the other I just had laying around. You don't want foam where your nailheads are going to be, so you need to round the foam over for a softer transition. Basically you just staple the edge down along the line of the shape you are making. See this video for a better idea of what I'm talking about.

This is a queen size headboard. The border is 4" wide and my holes are 7 3/4" apart. Initially we cut out holes that were pretty much the same size as the buttons. Later we had to go back and make them a little larger.

My fabric is a faux suede and on the thick side. Instead of trying to cover my own buttons I took my fabric to an upholstery shop and had 20 buttons made for only $10.

Tutorials used to complete headboard:

GACMKC on youtube - the headboard they end up making is dated, but I picked up a lot of good ideas

Diamond Tufted Headboard at Addicted to Decorating

Diamond Tufted Headboard Part Two and Three at Brick City Love

Pin It

DIY Nailhead Chunky Leg Bed Frame

2011-12-30T15:00:00.018-05:00

Since moving into the house we have had our mattress and box spring on the floor. We have a metal bed frame but because of the sloped ceilings it was too tall to use. I love upholstered beds but had no desire to pay retail and after stumbling upon Ana White's website I no longer need to. She has given us the courage and skills to build a lot of our own furniture.

I used her chunky leg bed frame plan with a few modifications to make an upholstered bed frame inspired by West Elm's Nailhead Bed Frame.

I wanted the bed to be easy to disassemble and move. For that reason I used corner supports from Home Depot and Bed Rail Fasteners to hold the sides together. I also upholstered each board separately instead of building the box and then upholstering like I have seen some other people do.

We did not use a center support and slats because we needed room for the box spring. Instead we screwed a 2x2 to the bottom of each side of the bed and used 2x4's supported in the center to hold the weight of the boxspring and mattress.

Sad News

2011-12-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

I'll never understand why man's best friend has such a short life span. We adopted Saber 2 1/2 years ago from animal control and he crossed over to the rainbow bridge today. He hadn't been eating and results of a blood test showed that his bone marrow was no longer creating enough platelets and red and white blood cells. We weren't able to find any definite cause before he passed. He was my snuggle buddy. a companion to our other husky and just the best. I didn't have nearly enough time with him and he will be missed.

Dog Bed II

2011-09-05T17:27:00.005-04:00

You may remember the giant dog bed that I made for the huskies. Even though it took a long time to make, they didn't use it at all (I don't blame them, it was kind of hard) and it seemed silly to leave it taking up all that space. So I tore apart all my hard work and made a new smaller bolster bed.

I'm happy to report that at bedtime Sabe goes straight to his new bed.

I really couldn't even begin to create a tutorial on how I made this, it was a lot of trial and error. And if I were to make another I would do it completely differently. If you are interested in making one for your dog check ebay for McCalls Easy Stitch n Save pattern #5506. It's an older discontinued pattern but it's very similar.

Pin It

Orange buffet

2011-06-06T16:47:00.003-04:00

I stumbled upon this fantastic orange dresser/buffet and had to share. Available at Live.Like.You for $998.

The House: Bathroom

2011-03-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

This is the bathroom before. There was barely any space between the sink and toilet and you ended up touching the toilet when getting out of the shower (*shudder*). There was blue and pink tile on the floor and what looks like tile on the wall is actually some sort of fake tile board.

The chimney is between the bathroom and kitchen wall making for an awkwardly spaced bathroom. We bumped into the hall linen closet to create an actual space for the vanity and some much needed breathing room between the toilet and sink. I'm planning on painting all of the doors white and rehabbing the glass knobs, but haven't gotten around to that yet.

Here is the bathroom after:

My favorite part of the new bathroom is this fabulous sink from overstock.com. I wanted a vessel sink but nothing too modern and I think this works perfectly. Instead of buying a vanity we used unfinished stock cabinetry and stained them a nice dark ebony color. Since opening up the bathroom resulted in losing the linen closet we added a matching pantry cabinet. The countertop was created from smaller tiles that match the floor. And since I couldn't find an oil rubbed bronze light fixture that I liked I spraypainted a brushed nickel one.

Here is the new floor tile.

I used this idea from young house love to make the ceiling look higher and hopefully keep more steam in the shower (I hate a cold shower). The only problem is finding a reasonably priced, appropriately sized, non-boring shower curtain that is 96" long. I have only found a few and nothing to my liking. As a result, sometime in the future, you will see a shower curtain tutorial.

The House: Dining Room

2011-03-07T12:38:00.002-05:00

This house was listed as a 4 bedroom, which just doesn't seem appropriate for the square footage. This house is only around 1100 SF with one bathroom. To say that it has 4 bedrooms just doesn't make proper use of the space. I guess you could put a table in the kitchen (the previous owner had a small round one) but it would be right in your path to get to the rest of the house. So the 4th bedroom has become the dining room.

This is how it looked before.

Here is the after. I'll have to take some better pictures but for now this is what I have. We replaced the ugly, non-working fan with a new chandelier and created wainscoting panels made from base cap molding.

In case you're wondering, I made the placemats.

Kitchen Envy

2011-02-21T18:07:00.004-05:00

I spend way too much time thinking about kitchens.

Here are a couple of my dream kitchens. I'm not normally one to go for something so traditional but I love this Kitchenaid kitchen.

I found this one in the Diamond cabinet catalog at Lowe's. I love the damask wallpaper and the black and white theme.

Kitchen Regrets

2011-02-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in this post our kitchen remodel had to be completed in a hurry and it isn't exactly all that it could be, if I had had more time to think about things. My boyfriend initially wanted a black, glossy, granite floor but I made him compromise on a different black tile that wasn't such a slip hazard. In hindsight even he realizes a black floor wasn't the best idea, it isn't very forgiving in terms of hiding dirt and husky hair tumbleweeds. The rest of the kitchen was chosen to go with the floor; white cabinets, black/gray granite.

I wish that we had knocked down the wall to make the kitchen open to the dining room and transferred the cabinets to the opposite wall. This isn't a forever house so who knows if we will ever gut it again, but I use sketchup to fulfill my fantasies and have the ideal kitchen all sketched out.

The House: Living Room

2011-01-31T17:43:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture of the living room before it was pretty much gutted. It's a beauty, right? Don't you just love the ugly green carpet, peeling wallpaper and gold ceiling fan?

Here is the living room after.

We opened up the wall between the living room and dining room to make everything more open. If/when we get around to redoing the staircase we want to open it up so that it looks more like this.

The House: Kitchen

2011-01-21T13:32:00.011-05:00

Kitchen - Before

Guess what we found behind the wood paneling? More wallpaper. What a surprise.

The kitchen was absolutely terrible and there is no way that we could have lived with it even for a little while. The solution was a complete gutjob. From the disgustingly dirty cabinets and awful wood paneling to the badly faded countertops and vinyl flooring; everything had to go.

The initial plan was to clean and repaint the cabinets, but we needed the kitchen done ASAP and it was just taking too long. Have you ever lived without a kitchen? Being someone who refuses to eat microwave dinners, it was not a fun experience. We ended up buying off the shelf cabinets from Lowes. In hindsight we should have at least priced out some other options but what did I know? I've only ever lived in apartments. We topped it off with summer sage granite and a black tile floor.

No room in this house is completely finished. As you can see there is still a bizarre pendant light remnant from the old kitchen that needs to be replaced. We still need crown molding and painted trim. There are a ton of things I would have done differently had we had more money and time. But it is definitely an improvement over what was here before!

The House: Demo

2011-01-10T10:58:00.002-05:00

After closing on the house we had about a two week window until we had to be out of the condo, which turned out to be a godsend. The previous owners loved ugly wallpaper (or maybe that was just their way of disguising the problem) and upon removing some it turned out that the plaster walls were cracked everywhere. If it were me I probably would have just spackled the crap out of them but for whatever reason my boyfriend decided they all had to come down. This created a ton of dust and the need for two dumpsters in order to dispose of around 500 lbs of plaster. I guess in the end it turned out to be a good thing, a couple of walls had water damage and a dining room and kitchen window were about ready to fall out. This of course turned into replacing all of the windows, thank goodness for a boyfriend who knows how to do pretty much anything and the $8k tax credit.

The House

2011-01-03T10:18:00.003-05:00

A little over a year ago we moved from a 3rd floor, 1 bedroom condo to a "4 bedroom" (more on that later) Cape. While there are certainly things I miss about the condo, like having a decent closet and non-angled walls in the bedroom. It's definitely nice not having to bring a dog down three flights of stairs multiple times a day and worry about noise and neighbors. It was and still is a fixer upper. We have accomplished a lot during our time here but it is still very much a work in progress. In the coming weeks I will share some of that progress with you and what still needs to be done.

Tutorial: Jewelry Organizer

2010-12-28T14:34:00.003-05:00

Not the best picture but here is a jewelry organizer I made for my sister for Christmas. Based off of this tutorial from Queen of DIY.

*****

I’m sharing this post at: Creation Corner * Remodelaholic

My first craft show

2010-12-06T10:56:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday I took part in my first ever craft show. I decided to sell key fobs, checkbook covers and chocolate covered oreos. I spent the whole week sewing and wondering if anyone would buy anything. To my surprise I did sell a decent amount, although after paying to rent the table, parking, and supplies I'm not sure I came out ahead. The checkbook covers weren't very popular, I guess no one writes checks anymore? But the key fobs and oreos were well received. I will be adding the leftover inventory to my shop so make sure to check it out.

Orange Scarf

2010-12-02T12:34:00.001-05:00

Orange scarf from Anthropologie and oooh it's cashmere. $98

Make your own chocolate covered oreos

2010-10-30T10:02:00.001-04:00

I have been craving chocolate covered oreos and couldn't find them in the store anywhere. I could have taken the easy way out and just melted some chocolate and dipped a few oreos, but after discovering spinningleaf I had to make things harder on myself. They sell molds for soap and oreo making and I had to try them out. There is definitely a learning curve, as you can see mine are far from perfect but hey, you're going to eat them anyway, right? Instructions can be found here.

Make it! Hardware Store Decor

2010-09-13T09:01:00.000-04:00

Curbly has done it again releasing the third book in their Make it! series, this time focusing on home decor pieces you can create from stuff purchased at any hardware store. Intriguing projects include the posh pipe desk and an exposed bulb chandelier. Click here to download the PDF for $9.99 or have a printed version delivered to your door for $22.

Daybed Chair

2010-09-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

While browsing the internet for the perfect daybed I came across this beauty. Not exactly the kind of daybed I was browsing for but I'll take it. It looks incredibly comfortable and is what I've been looking for without even knowing. I'm not sure if you can actually buy it, or if it's just one of those concept pieces. If it is for sale it's probably crazy expensive. But I can dream.

–via

Tutorial: Dog Bed

2010-09-01T14:27:00.007-04:00

Here is the giant dog bed (30" x 45" x 3") that I slaved over for the huskies and they don't appreciate it in the least! Contrary to what the above pictures may have you believe, it is rarely used. Both pictures were posed and after it was over they got up and went about their business. It has a batting wrapped foam insert and zippered cover for easy washing. I used fabric from Joel Dewberry's ginseng line.

If you want to make one for your own dog there are tutorials for something similar at Sew4Home and Sew Mama Sew.

This is by far the best tutorial I could find on making your own bias tape (piping).

*****

I'm sharing this post at: Remodelaholic

Lasso Lamp

2010-08-31T13:24:00.003-04:00

Orange lasso desk lamp on sale at Crate&Barrel for $29.95!

Your Blogger Has Been Confiscated!

2010-07-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

But only temporarily...not to worry! I will return her in one piece, safe and sound in just a bit. For now you can find her over at my site sharing a fabulous Guest Post with my readers. I hope you will visit her and say a little hello. She will want to know that you are well cared for while she is gone...

Click on the banner below to see what She's up to! Xx Rayan - The Design Confidential

Free patterns

2010-07-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

Find a good selection of free seamless patterns at pattern8.

Design Confidential Logo Voting Starts Today

2010-07-07T10:35:00.002-04:00

Hi friends! Rayan from The Design Confidential here....I am borrowing your blogger for a just a bit while we vote on my new Identity. I am so thankful that your Blogger has decided to contribute to my cause and I hope you will too! We need you to head over to my site and cast your vote for the Logo that will become my new Identity.

I recently made the transition from The Frugal Designer to The Design Confidential because it fit my content a bit better...now I need a new button for all of you fabulous peeps to admire while perusing my site, and perhaps to wear proudly after entering your tutorials in my DIY Collective or tackling one of my Build It! Plans...Please help me decide...see you soon, thank you for lending your Blogger's talents and for participating.. Xx Rayan

Click the tab below to...

Design Confidential Logo Submissions

2010-06-28T17:27:00.014-04:00

The Design Confidential formerly the Frugal Designer is having a logo contest for her new name/site. Winner gets a $40 gift card to the store of their choice.

Voting starts on July 7th. Please vote for me!

Here are my entries:

And here is one quick last minute entry....

Tutorial: Minky Blanket

2010-05-17T15:13:00.019-04:00

Part II of my baby gift tutorials.

Supplies
1 yard decorative fabric
1 yard minky fabric
Thread
Tools
Sewing Machine
Walking Foot (optional, but extremely helpful)
Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
Iron

Step 1:
Wash, dry and iron your decorative fabric. Also wash and dry your minky fabric.

Step 2:
Cut a 31x41" piece from your yard of decorative fabric. Cut your minky fabric a little larger. My finished piece will be 30x40, but you can make yours whatever size you like. Just make sure to cut enough material to incorporate a 1/2" seam allowance.

Step 3:
Pin fabric and minky right sides together and pin. The more pins the better, especially if you are not using a walking foot.

Step 4:
Sew fabric and minky together making sure to leave a 5" opening. I like to start about 3/4 of the way down so that there is enough space on the top of that side to leave an opening.

Step 5:
Trim any excess minky so that it is even with your decorative fabric.

Step 6:
Clip corners at a 45 degree angle.

Step 7:
Turn your blanket right sides out, pushing the corners out with your fingers.

Step 8:
Iron the entire piece. Then fold in the edges of your 5" opening, press and pin.

Step 9:
Topstitch around the perimeter of your blanket.

(Sorry, I didn't take enough pictures so I had to reuse a few from my burp cloth tutorial.)

Tutorial: Burp Cloths

2010-05-10T14:32:00.007-04:00

Part I of my baby gift tutorials. This tutorial will make two burp cloths.

Supplies

1/3 yard of decorative cotton fabric
1/3 yard of terrycloth, chenille, or other absorbent material of your choice. (Some people like to use cloth diapers)
Thread

Tools
Sewing Machine
Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
Pins
Iron

Step 1:
If you haven't already, wash, dry and iron your decorative fabric. Also wash and dry your absorbent fabric.

Step 2:

Cut your fabric into two 11x21" pieces. Cut your terrycloth a little larger than your fabric. (I like to use 1/2" hems. These measurements will give you a finished size of 10x20".)

Step 3:
Pin your fabric and terrycloth right sides together.

Step 4:
Sew fabric and terrycloth together. Make sure to leave a 4" opening so that you can turn your piece right side out.

Step 5:
Trim any excess terrycloth so that it is even with your decorative fabric.

Step 6:
Clip corners at a 45 degree angle.

Step 7:
Turn right sides out, pushing the corners out with your fingers.

Step 8:
Iron the entire piece. Then fold in the edges of your 4" opening, press and pin.

Step 9:
Topstitch around the perimeter of your burp cloth.

Baby Gifts

2010-05-01T14:56:00.000-04:00

I attended my cousin's baby shower a couple months ago and took that as an opportunity to make some cute baby gifts.

Minky blanket.

Burp cloths.

Custom onesies using freezer paper, my Cricut,
Sure Cuts a Lot and fabric paint.

I even made a card and envelope. The Cricut is amazing!

Tutorials will follow.

Win an epiphanie

2010-03-30T18:00:00.001-04:00

Beyond Snapshots and Epiphanie Bags are hosting a giveaway for the gorgeous Lola bag. With a price tag of $164.99 the only way I am getting one is to win it. Get your entries in by April 2nd.

Here's mine:

Best I could come up with on such short notice.

Win a Canon 5D Mark II

2010-03-28T18:33:00.000-04:00

Epiphanie bags is giving away your choice of a Canon 5D Mark II or a $2,500 gift certificate to Southwest Airlines.

Details are here.
Deadline is March 31 at midnight.

Another reason to love Target

2010-03-22T12:58:00.000-04:00

Ever since seeing this picture on flickr I have been on the lookout for that lamp. What do I find the other day at Target? This vase, which is very similar, for $20. Works well as a vase or I could turn it into a lamp. What do you think?

Tutorial: Lined Grommet Top Curtains

2010-03-11T20:27:00.016-05:00

Modified tutorial from about.com

Supplies
Fabric
Muslin (for lining)
Curtain grommets
4" Drapery header tape

Tools
Sewing machine
Blind hem foot (optional)
Thread that closely matches your fabric
Measuring tape
Sewing gauge
Cutting mat
Acrylic ruler
Rotary cutter

Step 1:
Install your curtain rod. Install the brackets so that the rod will sit 4" above the window frame, and extend 4" beyond the edge of each side of the window.

Step 2:
Measure from the rod to where the you would like the bottom of your curtains to end. Typical lengths are 63", 84" and 95". Whatever you determine will be your finished length.

Step 3:
Measure the length of your curtain rod. For grommet curtains you want panels that are at least double the length of your rod. Most likely you will be using the full width of your fabric, which is typically 44-45". From there you need to determine how many panels are needed for one window.

Step 4:
Cut your fabric and lining. (Make sure to wash, dry and trim selvages before cutting).
All measurements include a .5" seam.

Fabric width: Full width of fabric [If curtains are smaller than the full width, the calculation is finished width + 4"]
Fabric length: Finished length + 8" (hem) + .5" (top hem)

Lining width: Fabric width - 3"
Lining length: Fabric length - 3"

Step 5:
Using a zig zag stich finish off the top and bottom of fabric.

Step 6:
Sew in the bottom hems.

With your fabric laying right side down, fold up the bottom 4" and press. Then fold up another 4" and press. Pin your hem. Sew with a bli nd h em stit ch. A straight stitch can also be used but a blind hem looks more professional.
With your lining laying right side down, fold up 1" and press. Then fold up another 1" and press. Pin again and sew in place with a blind hem or straight stitch.
Step 7:
Press in your top hem.

With your fabric laying right side down, fold the top over a half inch and press.Step 8:
Sew your lining and fabric together.

Put your fabric and lining right sides together. The lining should be 3.5" from the top and about 1.5" from the bottom. (We don't want the lining running all the way to the top because we need to minimize bulk for the grommets.) Align on one side, pin and sew together with a .5" seam. Pull lining over to the other side of the fabric and repeat.
Step 9:
Turn curtain right side out. Your fabric will automatically turn over to the lining side about 1.5". Iron the curtain so that the fabric is even on both sides of the lining and pin to prevent slipping.
Step 10:
Fold in the raw edges on bottom, press and pin.

Step 10:
Cut a piece of drapery header a little smaller than the width of your finished curtain. Smooth out the lining fabric and pin the header onto the top of the fabric and lining.

Step 11:
Sew the header down with two rows of horizontal stitching.
Step 12:
Sew down each side of the curtain with a straight stitch making sure to catch the lining.
Step 13:
You must use an even number of grommets or else you won't be able to hang your curtains properly. The typical spacing between grommets is 4.5", but that isn't a hard and fast rule.

You will receive a template with each package of grommets. Place the template inside of your stitching and about 1" from the top of your panel. This is where you should mark for your first grommet.

Step 14:
Make sure the spacing between each of your grommets is even. Determine the appropriate spacing and mark where you will place the grommets.. As you see in the picture my spacing was 5". So I marked a hole every 5".

Step 15:
Cut an X inside of each hole with your rotary cutter and then cut out the circle completely with scissors.

Step 16:
Insert your grommets.

ALL FINISHED!

*****

I’m sharing this post at: Remodelaholic * Freckled Laundry

Pin It

Who needs Pottery Barn? Build your own furniture!

2010-03-02T11:25:00.001-05:00

My new favorite blog is Knock off Wood. I stumbled across it yesterday and two hours later found myself still browsing. To say that I was inspired and amazed is a severe understatement. I love to look at furniture from Pottery Barn, West Elm, Restoration Hardware etc... but it is usually way out of my price range. Ana found herself in the same predicament but didn't let it stop her from creating a stylish home by building her own furniture. She takes inspiration from places like Pottery Barn, figures out how to make the piece for a lot cheaper and puts together plans, diagrams and shopping lists that she is generous enough to share for free. All that she asks in return is that you add comments on your building experience to assist others and post finished projects on her bragging board. Thanks Ana!

Update: Ana's site can now be found at ana-white.com

What day is it, again?

2010-02-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time keeping track of the day and date. Thanks to my new clock from Kohl's I won't have that problem any more. Isn't it cute!

To die for Tiramisu

2010-02-16T20:31:00.006-05:00

I love Tiramisu. It is amazing and I recently discovered that it isn't too complicated to make.

Tiramisu
Modified from allrecipes

6 egg yolks
3/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon of confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound mascarpone cheese
3/4 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
3 tablespoons Kahlua
2 (3 ounce) packages ladyfinger cookies
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well blended. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently for 1 minute, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator 1 hour.

In a medium bowl, beat heavy cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

Whisk mascarpone into yolk mixture until smooth.

In a small bowl, combine coffee and kahlua. Split ladyfingers in half lengthwise and brush with coffee mixture.

Arrange half of soaked ladyfingers in bottom of a 7x11 inch dish. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers, then half of whipped cream over that. Repeat layers and sprinkle with cocoa. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours, until set.

Tip: Make sure you use mascarpone cheese. Substitutions don't compare.

How to enter the world of textiles

2010-02-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

I have always wanted to be the next Amy Butler. I know. I know. I probably have a better chance of being kidnapped by aliens, but a girl can dream, right? The only problem is, how does one break into the fabric industry? Lizzy House hopes to clear this complicated process up with her new book, How to Enter the World of Textiles: for the Quilting Industry. The e-book releases today for $25!

Buy it here.

Another wood cutout

2010-01-27T15:05:00.004-05:00

When I found this image I knew I had to make something for my aunt. She owns donkeys and so I made her this cutout for her garden. See how I made this cute little burro here.

Tutorial: Embroidery Hoop Corkboard

2010-01-19T13:57:00.002-05:00

I have seen these adorable embroidery hoop corkboards on etsy before and thought that they can't be too hard to make. Turns out I'm right. Check out this tutorial from sweetjessie.

Rant: Duvet Covers

2010-01-07T15:34:00.009-05:00

I love my down comforter. I will never go back to using one of those bed in a bag comforters ever again. It's hard to explain, just something you have to experience for yourself. What I don't understand is why duvet covers are so expensive? They are essentially an oversized pillowcase for my comforter. Yet stores have the audacity to charge $100 and up for what is basically a comforter without the stuffing. And typically the comforter in the same line costs less than the duvet, if they even offer a duvet to begin with. I don't understand the logic behind that at all. I know how to sew and was contemplating buying a comforter, gutting it, and turning it into my own custom duvet cover until I went to HomeGoods. So until I tire of this one my rant is temporarily quelled.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T18:58:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year! Look at the cute Scooby lawn decoration I made. A little late for Christmas, but there's always next year.

See how I made Scooby here.

Free printable gift tags

2009-12-23T22:04:00.002-05:00

Inner monologue gift tags from angry chicken

For those of you who are still buying and wrapping gifts. Here are some funny and cute, free printable gift tags.

Holiday tags from Martha

Vampire Diaries Marathon

2009-12-14T09:18:00.003-05:00

I'm a sucker for anything having to do with vampires. For those of you who missed the first run of the show the CW is airing all 10 episodes of the Vampire Diaries starting tonight. Two episodes will air each night, from December 14th to the 18th, starting at 8pm. Program your DVR's!

Make it! Mid-Century Modern

2009-12-10T14:58:00.007-05:00

As you must be able to tell I am very into crafting and DIY. So I was very excited to learn that curbly has just released a great e-book called "Make it! Mid-Century Modern". From what I can see my favorite projects are the atomic ball clock and Girard inspired ottoman. Click here to download the PDF for $9.99 or have a printed version delivered to your door for $18.

Paint Over

2009-12-09T10:02:00.000-05:00

Back in September I caught the end of Paint Over with Jennifer Bertrand (Design Star Winner of Season 3). I have been searching for the show ever since and it seems that it aired for one week at 4pm and that was it. What's the deal? It seemed like it had potential as opposed to certain other Design Star winners. I mean seriously did anyone watch the Antonio Project? I wouldn't let that guy within 10 feet of my house. Myles of Style is boring. The only successful show to stem from Design Star seems to be Color Splash with David Bromstad, who I'll admit I secretly wish was my BFF. I read she had a baby so perhaps that is holding things up, but please HGTV bring her show back.

Another free calendar

2009-11-30T15:40:00.003-05:00

Here is another free calendar courtesy of a print a day. The dates have been left out so that you can use it year after year.

Free Advent Calendar

2009-11-19T15:56:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Mibo.

Tutorial: Starburst Mirror

2009-11-17T15:02:00.001-05:00

With the nice versions of these mirrors going for over $100, it's worth attempting to make your own. This is actually my sister's DIY project, but since I'm the crafty one, I helped a bit.

Tutorial can be found here.

We did stray from the tutorial somewhat. We used spray paint instead of silver leaf and a larger mirror in place of the automotive mirror.

Pin It

DIY Snuggie

2009-11-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

First came the freedom blanket, then the slanket and then the snuggie. They all seem pretty ridiculous and the snuggie commercials are extremely cheesy. But then I got to thinking about all the times when I have been nice and warm under a blanket and need to grab the remote, or the phone or eat something and you have to weigh the options of whether exposing your hands to the cold air is worth it. Maybe there is something to this whole blanket with sleeves idea after all.

No need to buy one, just make one yourself. Free snuggie patterns are available here and here. Happy snuggie making!

Free Photoshop Brushes

2009-11-10T10:12:00.005-05:00

If you are looking for free Photoshop brushes, patterns and other digital freebies check out Pixels & Ice Cream. She is extremely generous in allowing people to use them for both personal and commercial use.

2010 Printable Calendars

2009-11-05T10:40:00.004-05:00

Printable Dog Silhouette Calendar

Nice and Simple Printable Calendar

My 2010 printable calendars are up for sale in my etsy shop. Make sure to take a look!

Tutorial: Lawn Decorations

2009-11-02T20:50:00.021-05:00

Aren't they adorable? Originally my plan was to make a Scooby Doo scene, but since we were already into the month of October I decided to go with these characters instead.

Supplies
1/2" Finished plywood (Cheap plywood will splinter like crazy so buy the good stuff)
Transfer paper
Paint
Primer
Outdoor clear coat
Conduit
Two hole conduit straps
Screws
Wood filler
Tape
Paper
Pen/Pencil
Safety glasses

Tools
Jig saw
Drill

Step 1: The first step is to settle on a piece of artwork. (If you are a beginner it is best to stick with a simple design. Intricate designs require a steady hand, and a lot of patience and jig saw work.)

Step 2: Print/create your artwork using the dimensions you want your finished piece to be.

You have three options: Freehand your work right onto the plywood.
Use Illustrator to create or trace your artwork and then print it using the tile feature.
Or find a line drawing and enlarge it using a copier.

Step 3: Fill any holes, cracks or gaps in your plywood with wood filler. Once dry give a light sanding. Repeat until you have a nice even finish.

Step 4: Give your plywood a couple of coats of primer. A good shellac-based primer will hide knots and wood-grain. But latex primer, which is what I used, will work just fine too.

Step 5: After your primer has dried, tape transfer paper to the plywood and then tape your design on top of the transfer paper. Trace over the design with a pencil or pen.

Step 5: Put on your safeties and cut out design with jig saw.

Step 6: Sand rough edges (if needed). Then touch up any areas that may have chipped with primer.

Step 7: Now it's time to paint. I used acrylic paint from the craft store (this required many coats). FolkArt makes an outdoor acrylic. You can also use exterior house paint, however if you need a lot of colors that could get pricey.

Step 8: Once you are completely satisfied with the way your piece looks you must clear coat it with an outdoor sealer to protect it from the elements. (I used Minwax Outdoor ClearShield which was a mistake because it gave my beautiful white ghost a yellowish hue.) If you have a lot of white in your design it is better to go with a non oil-based product. Oil-based products will give your whites a yellowish look.

Make sure to go over your piece with 2-3 coats and cover the front, back and sides.

Step 9: Attach conduit to the back with straps and wood screws. You should sink the conduit into the ground at least a foot.

Happy Howloween

2009-10-31T10:38:00.003-04:00

Trick or Treat Street

2009-10-25T11:33:00.006-04:00

I went to a quilt show a couple of months ago and discovered "Trick or Treat Street" a fabric line designed by Sherri Berry. Adorable. I bought the panel immediately and it now hangs on my front door in celebration of Halloween. I was so enamored with the characters that I also made two life size decorations for the front yard. I'll post that tutorial later this week.

If you are interested in purchasing the panel for yourself, see over the rainbow.

I'm back

2009-10-23T11:27:00.000-04:00

My hiatus ended up being longer than I intended it to be. I will resume posting within a couple days and do my best to post at least once a week.

I Want to Be an Ice Queen

2009-10-01T10:31:00.004-04:00

Halloween will be here before we know it, which has left me thinking what I would be if I was going to dress up. Typically I am not in need of a costume because I don't go anywhere. But if I was going to dress up I would want to be Nicolas' Ice Queen from the Project Runway season 6 movie genre challenge. If I ever learn to make clothing I just might attempt to make this. The overall look would be a pretty cool Halloween costume. Are you dressing up for Halloween? What are you going to be?

Name change

2009-09-30T13:19:00.003-04:00

As you can see iheart-orange has been changed to orange sugar. I apologize for any confusion but my etsy shop and blog now have the same name and I just like the new name better.

Pardon my absence

2009-09-10T19:10:00.002-04:00

We moved to a house and I have very limited access to the internets with my bf's crackberry. There are many projects to be completed and painting yet to be done. I won't be online until the 15th and I'm not sure if I will be able to regularly post, since there is so much work to do. So I'm taking a temporary hiatus.

Orange belt

2009-08-18T11:35:00.003-04:00

Orange belt on sale at Martin + Osa for $24.95!

Adorable bicycle

2009-08-13T09:45:00.002-04:00

I don't own a bicycle, but if I was going to purchase one this would definitely be an option. It comes in other colors for those those of you who think orange is too bold and can be yours for $235 (incl. shipping). The basket liner leaves something to be desired but I'm sure that can be changed. And as you can see from the big old watermark splashed over the picture it's from bikebuyers.com.

Tutorial: Ironing Board Cover

2009-08-11T11:00:00.007-04:00

Fabric is Anna Griffin's Lanterns

I have a cheapie ironing board from Wal Mart and the cover it came with is craptastic. Every time I iron something large, like a piece of fabric, the ironing board cover and padding shifts, driving me insane and making ironing even more of a pain in the butt than it already is. A new ironing board cover was on my list of things to do and I decided to just tackle it.

For the most part I followed this tutorial. Also see this tutorial.

My only suggestion would be to use elastic drawstring (which I found at JoAnn's) instead of twine.

If you need new padding as well, I zig-zagged a layer of cotton batting to a layer of insul-bright. I actually had to stitch it to the underside of the cover to get it to stay in place. Or a better/easier alternative is to buy one for $12 from CityChicCountryMouse on Etsy.

Ebay Finds

2009-08-10T10:16:00.005-04:00

More furniture rehab candidates:

Georgetown Galleries Dresser
Starting bid: $150 Seller: artcollector-usa
Needs a hardware update.

Screens - Pair
Price: $275 Seller: yolandaroe
Use as is or give them a coat of paint.

Dresser
Price: $275 Seller: yolandaroe
Needs a hardware update

Headboard
Starting bid: $80 Seller: artcollector-usa
Needs some paint and an upholstered insert with some nailhead trim.

Mirrors (auction is for one)
Starting bid: $50 Seller: tsandcompany
Needs a coat of paint.

Syroco mirror
Starting bid: $35.99 Seller: calli511
Would probably spraypaint gloss white.

Avington Chair via Target

2009-08-03T13:14:00.006-04:00

I absolutely love slipper chairs and found this cute one at Target the other day. Would you believe it is actually comfortable too? Reviewers are giving it high praise. Price: $159.99

Ebay Finds

2009-08-03T10:15:00.001-04:00

Night Stands (auction is for one)
Starting bid: $50 Seller: tsandcompany

Ebay finds

2009-08-02T09:30:00.001-04:00

Walnut dresser
Starting bid: $180 Seller: artcollector-usa

Drexel Dresser
Starting bid: $100 Seller: tsandcompany

My old planters get a new lease on life

2009-07-28T13:55:00.006-04:00

I had these planters sitting around taking up space after a failed cucumber growing attempt and decided to take a cue from Jessica at How About Orange and spray them something bright and cheery to go with my new hibiscus plants. You can get spray paint specifically made for plastic but unfortunately there isn't a wide color selection. For this project I used Rustoleum Plastic Primer, Ultra Cover Satin in Strawflower, and Ultra Cover Matte Clear for protection. You should wipe down new plastic surfaces with paint thinner before spraying. Since mine had been outside and exposed to the elements I skipped this step. I washed them with warm soapy water, let them dry and they were ready for their makeover.

Free craigslist image preview download

2009-07-25T20:00:00.002-04:00

I have a love/hate relationship with craigslist. It can be incredibly useful but also time consuming since you have to click on each listing to see the picture. Well I just found a free download for just this issue courtesy of Jeffrey Palm. I don't know who this guy is, but he rocks. All you need is Firefox, greasemonkey and the script.

Patterned floors

2009-07-22T15:20:00.006-04:00

DIY patterned floors have been popping up all over the place and I'm loving them. Here are my favorites:

Catherine's patterned floor

paisley wallpaper

Making it Lovely

Within the next month I might be attempting one of these myself.

Ebay finds

2009-07-21T09:55:00.003-04:00

Dresser
Starting bid: $100 Seller: tsandcompany

Magnetic art for your appliances

2009-07-15T14:43:00.002-04:00

This is definitely something new and different that I haven't seen before. Magnetic art for your appliances.

Blu Dot & Urban Outfitters = +00

2009-07-13T13:46:00.000-04:00

I'm not exactly on top of things. I just discovered that Blu Dot and Urban Outfitters have teamed up to create a furniture line marketed under the name +00. I'm liking this couch and shelving unit. Wonder what the quality is like?

Ebay Finds

2009-07-11T23:17:00.004-04:00

Coffee Table
Starting bid: $200 Seller: artcollector-usa
Would love to stain this a nice dark brown

Headboard
Starting bid: $249.99 Seller: artdeco*rocks
Another great furniture rehab project

Buying in bulk

2009-07-07T12:05:00.003-04:00

One of my mottos is, "it isn't worth baking, if it doesn't involve chocolate." Chocolate chips are involved in nearly everything I bake, so I go through bags of them pretty quickly. My chocolate chip cookies involve a bag and a half. I recently discovered that you could buy them in bulk and bought a 72 oz. bag this weekend. I'll have to see how long it lasts.

Colorful garden hoses

2009-06-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

Ooooooh. Look at these garden hoses that come in 6 different colors. So much nicer than the typical blah dark green hose. And they're made out of rubber which is supposed to prevent them from crushing and kinking like vinyl hoses. A little steep at $69.95 but definitely nice if you are in the market for a new hose.

[Source: Outblush]

Passive aggressive notes

2009-06-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

Passive aggressive notes

Random acts of hilariousness

2009-06-13T23:18:00.003-04:00

Flash mobs are pretty awesome and this just made my day so I had to share.

Belgian waffles

2009-06-12T13:38:00.004-04:00

Few things are better than homemade Belgian waffles with freshly picked strawberries and whipped cream. Yum. To make your own try this recipe, definitely worth the effort!

Belgian Waffles
from allrecipes

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 egg yolks
2 3/4 cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 egg whites

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the warm milk and the melted butter. Stir in the yeast mixture, sugar, salt and vanilla. Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 cups milk alternately with the flour, ending with the flour. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks; fold into the batter. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Preheat the waffle iron. Brush with oil and spoon about 1/2 cup (or as recommended by manufacturer) onto center of iron. Close the lid and bake until it stops steaming and the waffle is golden brown. Serve immediately or keep warm in 200 degree oven.

Contest: Win an apron from Boojiboo

2009-06-07T22:48:00.004-04:00

Boojiboo and The Give-Away Diva have teemed up for an apron giveaway. Click here for entry specifics. Contest runs until June 21st. Fingers crossed.

Renegade Craft Fair

2009-06-06T23:25:00.017-04:00

So I went to the Renegade Craft Fair today with my mom and my sister. First time to Brooklyn and first time navigating the subways. Didn't get lost. Big pat on the back to me. I have always wanted to go to one of these non-Grandmaesque craft shows but CT never has anything fun like this. Lots of cool stuff to look at albeit perhaps a little repetitive and overpriced.

I bought a cute little owl tee from HeroDesignSt udio for $10.
Love the paisley.

Here are some of my favorites:

MeanCards was by far the highlight of the show for me. I don't know if I would ever have the guts to send out one of her cards, but they are great!

This card from BlueBarnHouse. Hilarious.

I really liked these earrings by Nina Dinoff.

And these earrings from Tomgirl.

This necklace from nervoussystem is unique.
I don't know how it would look on, but it's orange which is a plus.

Last but not least Seattle Show Posters had this in their booth minus all the type. It would have gone well with my orange walls but I have no more wall space.

*Sigh* If only I had an endless supply of money.

Not only that but the day included multiple dachshund sightings. Perhaps it's a sign.

---------------------------------------------

And lets not forget my fabulous slice of Devil's Food cheesecake from Junior's.

Be back soon

2009-05-23T10:32:00.001-04:00

In the process of making curtains. Be back soon with a tutorial.

Adding to the english language

2009-05-22T10:13:00.004-04:00

Do you ever find everyday language so boring that you feel the need to invent your own words and start using them on a regular basis? My new words are wacktastic and wackadoo. Although I can't take complete credit for wackadoo. I used to say that a lot and had no idea where it came from. Then I figured out that I subconsciously picked it up from Ratatouille. I also heard that guy from Project Runway with the blue hair who referred to himself in the third person say wackadoodle.

Or do you start using another language in place of English? Instead of yes, I say sí. It just seems to require less effort. It's funny when the people around you start doing it too. I'm such a trendsetter. LOL

On a random note who else can't wait for Project Runway to return?

DIY Saarinen Table

2009-05-20T10:59:00.002-04:00

OMG look at this DIY Saarinen Table posted on Apartment Therapy yesterday. Instructions can be found here. How clever! And so much cheaper than the original. If you are looking for the speaker stands, check ebay. They are from the Bose 901 series.

New sneaks

2009-05-19T11:08:00.003-04:00

Check my new sneakers! Awesome right? A steal of a deal courtesy of Kohl's where everything is always on sale plus a 20% off coupon. If you find yourself overcome with jealousy and want a pair for yourself, visit shoes.com.

Photo bomb

2009-05-15T13:23:00.002-04:00

Thisisphotobomb...hilarious

Score

2009-05-12T16:11:00.005-04:00

The Target piggy banks are back! I have been wanting one of these since last year, when I failed to buy it immediately and by the time I went back for it, it was gone. They come in copper and chrome and look much better in person. There are even little baby piggy banks, and elephants if pigs aren't your thing. At $14.99 who can resist. I ended up buying both.

Best cereal ever!

2009-05-11T16:10:00.000-04:00

Favorite songs

2009-05-08T13:07:00.000-04:00

My favorite songs change frequently. But right now they are:

Matt Nathanson "Come on Get Higher" and
Adele "Right as Rain"

Rant: Smokers

2009-05-04T18:25:00.002-04:00

I have nothing against people who smoke. That is their choice. But at the same time I have never smoked, can't stand the smell and would prefer not to be subjected to it. We live on the top floor of an apartment building. Our downstairs neighbors are smokers. They sit in their apartment and puff away with their door open and a fan pointed to blow the smoke outside. Then when we open our sliding door the smoke wafts up and into our apartment. Opening the door is the only way for us to get any outside air in here and I would prefer that it didn't smell like cigarettes. Nasty. Why are you blowing the smoky air outside? You like the smoke right? Close the door. Enjoy the smell, revel in it. Just keep it in your apartment. Thanks.

Tutorial: Camera Case

2009-04-29T20:56:00.003-04:00

Super Simple Camera Case

This tutorial was found on Pink Penguin and would be perfect for the little orange camera I'm thinking about buying.

Score

2009-04-28T14:59:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Target restocking the Orla Kiely merchandise I was able to give this canister a good home. It now houses all of my charging cables for cell phones, iPods, etc... Too bad the lids aren't very tight because the big green container would make a great cookie jar.

Pepsi vs Coke

2009-04-24T12:30:00.003-04:00

I'm not much of a soda drinker, but in the grand old debate of Pepsi vs. Coke, I choose Pepsi. Hate Coke with a passion, it's too fizzy or something. And yes, I can tell the difference. With that said I am absolutely hating the design of the new Pepsi bottle. Not that the old design was that great but whoever did this should be fired! Do you prefer Pepsi or Coke and what do you think about the new bottle?

TP storage

2009-04-23T11:53:00.008-04:00

This was originally posted by Real Simple and then picked up by Apartment Therapy.

You can file this one away under completely random posts but I love this idea. I'm not sure how it would work in real life, with all the moisture and dust in a bathroom, but it looks nice in the picture. How do you store your TP? I keep one on the roll and the rest in the hall closet.

My weekend

2009-04-21T13:03:00.012-04:00

Admitting you have a problem is the first step right? I'm a little bit of a compulsive returner. I will go to the store and buy something, then freak out about spending so much money, or decide I don't really like it that much after all, and will take it back and return it. Then I end up complaining that I don't have anything to wear. So, this weekend I went to the mall and bought two pairs of shoes. Still deciding on weather I'm keeping both pairs.

Clark's Craft

I'll keep these but need a half size up. How can I resist the orange?

Chinese Laundry Starlet
These would go perfectly with the dress I want from Nordstrom's. But that would involve buying an expensive dress. Might have to return these.

--------------------------------------

I also mentioned in a previous post how much I want a little dog of my own. I saw the cutest little dapple dachshund at the mall pet store. (And you don't have to lecture me about how bad it is to buy a dog from a pet store, I know all about puppy mills.) I have plenty of time to train a puppy since I'm unemployed but it's probably not such a great time financially. I didn't buy him but have been thinking about how cute he is for days. I'm going to try not to go into pet stores anymore because all the dogs are just so cute and I feel so bad for them and want to rescue them all.

Which got me thinking about all the stuff I could buy for my puppy. Which got me thinking of one of my favorite etsy shops: Annie's Sweatshop. She makes all kinds of great dog products and uses her dachshunds to model them.

--------------------------------------

I went to the flea market on Sunday which was a complete bust. Where was my vintage Saarinen table for $50? I'll probably have to venture to an NYC flea market for that kind of find. No vintage Pyrex or Catherine Holm either. :(

Prestigious textiles

2009-04-13T16:15:00.000-04:00

Decor Collection

Birch Wallcovering in Damson

Prestigious Textiles is a UK based textile company. I don't recall how I stumbled upon them but I absolutely loved what I found.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T09:13:00.001-04:00

Day trip

2009-04-11T14:16:00.004-04:00

I took a day trip to NYC yesterday with my sister. Not really for any particular purpose, simply because I was bored and had nothing better to do. I was in the background on the Today show for about 2 seconds. Went to the 24-hour Apple store. (If you are ever in the area and need to go to the bathroom, you can go there.) My goal was also to go to West Elm since I get their catalogs but have never been in an actual store. Mission achieved, although I have been underwhelmed by their selections lately. There are always lots of places I want to check out but never get to most of them. I've decided the best way to navigate NYC is probably a Vespa and GPS unit. We walked around in a circle way too many times. I always wonder about people that move to Manhattan from suburbia and how long it takes to get acclimated and be able to find your way around without getting lost. Probably a long time.

Aaaaack

2009-04-08T14:49:00.004-04:00

I HATE the job application process! Why must I submit a resume and then fill out a job application stating much of the same information over again? Are they playing mind games? Is it just to show you that if they hire you, they own you and you must do whatever they say regardless of how pointless/redundant it is? Writing cover letters and resumes and the whole job application process ranks right up there with cleaning the bathroom on my list of things I would rather not do. But unfortunately it must be done.

Ebay finds

2009-04-06T11:18:00.004-04:00

Look at this absolutely gorgeous headboard for sale on ebay right now. This will be one of those auctions I regret not buying like the console table and mirror I still can't get out of my head. I already have a headboard though and literally have no room for it. Let one of my many losses be your gain.

More ebay finds

2009-04-06T11:15:00.001-04:00

Vintage Pear Container
Just like one that sold on three potato four.

Vintage Fiesta Gravy Boat

Sing in the shower with style

2009-04-03T13:21:00.006-04:00

Who doesn't like to sing in the shower? And what better way to protect your iPod and get your tunes into the bathroom, than this fun little gadget from Zumreed. The drop speaker used to cost $49.99 but the price has since been raised to $64.99, a little too steep in my opinion. But I guess it's also good for the beach and poolside. I bet you know which color I want, it also comes in blue, white and pink. Available at Gizmine.