Summer Projects To Inspire

The past few months I've fallen completely in love with Pinterest.  It's incredible.  It's inspiring.  It takes up your time!  Ha!  I think it's worth it, though.  So many ideas, so little time.  Which is why I decided to pull some of my favorite ideas and do a round up to share them with you all.

At Prudent Baby, they have a simple Oilcloth Tote Tutorial.  It's perfect for all your summertime events.

I love this kids craft from Kaboose and I'm pretty sure we're going to tackle these this afternoon.  Pom Poms, construction paper and beads make such sweet little ice cream cones.

Aren't these felt citrus coasters just perfect for a summertime bbq?  One of my favorite sites, The Purl Bee, has the how to.  The best part?  You don't need a sewing machine for these!

Wanna do some summer decorating before fall rolls around?  Why not don your front door (or anywhere else in the house) with a cute picture frame summertime wreath.  Allison at A Glimpse Inside made this one, I LOVE the colors she chose for hers.

I love this fun kids craft from Sandy's Space.  She even provides the templates for your own airplane.

This project is so great to freshen up those old TV trays.  Preppy Girl on the Farm spray painted her summer house trays.  They're so fresh and pretty and, not to mention, summery.

Last of all, I found these awesome free printables from my favorite printable/party site Shindig Parties.  The freebie is here.  So colorful for summer or for a 'beach party' themed party!

Hope this inspires you all this summer as it seems to fly by.  And maybe this will help for all you Canadians, with a nice long weekend to work on some extra projects!  Happy a great weekend, everyone!

Silhouette Anyone..?

Sadly for all of you, this post is not to inspire or entertain you.  I know, I'm sad too.  But I'm in DIRE need for your help.  Last year, in December (kind of for a Christmas present for myself), I purchased a Silhouette SD.  Yes, this thing.

Lucky me, right?  Anyone else got one?  Well, if you do... HELP!!!!!  I bought it, opened it up, went through the set up and... never used it.  It's true.  I'm ashamed.  I'm nuts, I'm sure of it.  But I want to use it.. I just haven't found the right project.  Everyone says it's so easy, but I can't seem to figure it out.  I mean, I probably could if I TRULY tried.  I'm admitting it, I haven't TRULY tried.  I'm so embarassed!  Seriously.  Okay, now I need your help.  Can I use my own images to make stuff?  What sort of images can I use?  What all does it cut?  Can I cut fabric?  I have purchased a few things for the store, but again, never know what to do with it.  I have a bunch of vinyl, I think like 4 colors.  I have the etching cream, I have the ink pens and I'm not sure, I think I have one more thing.. can't remember.  

So really, is it so easy that I'm just being a chicken?  

Please, people, you've GOT to help me out.  Any tips, tricks, shortcuts or hints would be helpful.  And if you know any websites or links that make things even EASIER.. by all means, hand it over.  

Anyways, I'm sure most of you are laughing at me, the other half is crying for me (HA!) and the others I'm sure are wishing they could take it from me so they could have it and USE IT!  I'm right, I know it.  

Well, I really hope you can all help me out.. 

Thanks for reading today.. maybe I can surprise you all with some silhouette crafts tomorrow.. or over the weekend... 

I'm going to make a goal for myself.  AUGUST 1st!!!  Dun-dun-duhh....

Spray Painted Goodness

Today I'm going to show you some fun goodies I freshened up with the good ol' spray paint can.  Don't we all love to give something a makeover with such an easy task?  I love it.  And it's such common sense, yet I'll see other projects people have done in the blogworld and am blown away.  Then I'm like, wait, why don't I just go spray paint my old watchamacallit?  And then I love it again!  Okay, enough rambling.  Here we go.
Remember these silly awkward polkadotted parfait cups I bought for like 20 cents each?  (shown here)

Primed them (seriously, it's pretty important.  They turn out SO much better when primed.).

And painted them bubblegum pink.  Why pink you ask?  Well it just so happens there is an upcoming 'Pinkalicious' birthday party for little soon-to-be 4 year old girl.  So these will definitely make an appearance.

And when the party is over, I can use them for other fun things.  Like holding straws.

Or holding headbands in my girl's room.

A ways back I found this at the local dollar store.  Ugly right?  See those wings?  They were covered in some weird faux wood that I picked off.  Yeah, it wasn't pretty.  But I LOVE owls, have I mentioned that yet?   I mean, not particularly this one.  It needed a makeover.

 Prime it.  Ha!  I laugh that I took a picture of this step.  Maybe I just wanted to prove it to you.   

 Then painted that sucker blue.  Isn't it beautiful?  Maybe not the right word.  It's lovely, though.  

It went in my boys room.  They needed something fun.  Baby monitors and diapers don't look so fun.  Blue owls look fantastic.   

Hope you enjoyed marveling over my goodies.  Does it not just make you want to spray paint anything and everything.  I'm sure the hubby would love to come home to lime green doorknobs or the handle of his hammer painted orange.  Ha!  A girl can dream.  Anyways, thanks for having fun with me today!  See you soon!

Appliqued Blankets

As I was wandering through the local Wal-Mart last week, I came across these incredibly soft throws on clearance for $8.  I snatched them up because a) they were SO soft, I HAD to and b) I figured I could do something with them and let the kids use them.  I don't know about anyone else, but my kids love having their own blanket, whether it's on their bed or when they're just lounging watching a show.

I decided to make it their own, the throws needed something fun and cute.   So I appliqued each of them with something different. 

Owls, comic strips and butterflies.  I used softer materials like cotton, fleece and flannel to make them nice and cuddly.

  

Have a terrific Tuesday!!

New Items in Shop (PLUS a Discount!)

I've finally put up more items in my shop!  I was getting tired of the same measly ten items and I had made a bunch of other pieces that I hadn't taken shot of yet.  So, this weekend, I finally had time to get them done and the items are up!  I'm excited for these new pieces and you should definitely check them out!  I'll give you a little teaser here.

Do you love them!?  Oh, I sure do.  Seriously, I love everything I have in my shop and would have them all personally in my jewelry case if I could.  (I actually do have a few of these duplicated that have for myself).  If you want to see more though.. you gotta check out my shop!

AND for a limited time I'm giving all of you lovely people 20% off!!  Aren't I nice?  Just type in the coupon code at the checkout:  VIXEN20
I'm sure you'll find something just for you.  Plus, I listed a few of the little girls earrings I made.  All of my items are made for women, but a few of the smaller earrings look so sweet on a little girl (I should know, my daughter has some!).  So it's perfect for your own little fashionista or even a gift!!
Lastly, I wanted to let you all know when my followers hit 200, there's going to be a GIVEAWAY!  Yep, you heard right!  Hopefully, that will be soon.  Thanks for stopping by today and hope you have time to check out the store and browse my listings.
Have a terrific Monday, everyone!!