Christmas Craft : How to make Paper Snowflakes.

Snowflakes are so pretty and its so easy to make paper snowflakes in different designs, using just a sheet of paper and scissors. The wonderful thing is no two snowflakes are ever alike and you can cut your paper in different designs and patterns each time too.

In this post I have got instructions from Martha Stewart, she has these really neat instruction for folding the basic shape, and a few pretty designs to get you started, and with a little practice you would be cutting and snipping away happily, waiting to unravel the design. Its really makes very pretty Christmas decoration and you will love making them.

Pretty Paper Snowflakes

Here are some really easy to follow steps by Martha. The basic shape is the same while the design you prune/cut will make snowflakes in different pattern and design.

For beginners these patterns are easy to make, just copy then and go about with your scissors. Involve your family and friends for a good time this holiday. Paper snowflakes are simple with these instructions to guide you.

Few more patterns for snowflakes for you to try. Use them and then try some of your own too.

A few simple patterns for kids to try. It really is a great family fun project for Christmas holiday !!

Check out some more Christmas Ideas

Unique Christmas Tree Ideas
Interesting Christmas Theme Ideas 

Really pretty Christmas decoration on a budget

Christmas decorations made with Pine cones
 

These post are Holiday special and I have one more coming up soon. Please be back for some more unique ideas and inspiration.

Unique ways to decorate for Christmas on a budget !!

Hey everyone! I am really excited about Christmas, and everytime I see holiday decorations elegant and unique for my readers I bookmark them. Holiday decoration is so much fun, specially when you have so many ways to decorate. I have been looking for ideas that would work great in apartments as well as bigger spaces specially on a budget.

Check out my post on Unique Christmas trees , and Pine cone decoration projects which are absolutely in style and elegant.

I am amazed at the creativity ! Frosty colors, cutest little corner in the town. This Christmas tree is so unique and perfect for small spaces and apartment or dorms. Those looking for a really inspiring idea, this is just the one.

How much fun can a family have on holidays? How about a bucket of popcorn and strings of marshmallows and popcorn on the tree,as you catch your favourite Christmas movie. A perfect decoration project to get your children involved, memories are made of happy times spent together.

String together a bunch of glass baubles on a ribbon. A budget way of decoration that is stunning and creative . Spray paint bottles get some flowers and you have your pretty Christmas setting. Perfect for small places and empty wall. Christmas decoration so unique.

Do you have a bunch of baubles lying around. How about this stunning yet simple decoration for the dining room. No need to get a special chandelier when you can have such a lovely decoration. Christmas is so much fun when you have your little creative projects to show off. Pretty and simple!

Another beautiful idea for pretty Christmas decoration. Decorate your staircase with goodies in coffee mugs, more colorful more the fun :) Tie them up with cute ribbons. Perfect!

 

Beautiful wreath made with pinecones and black baubles. Such a statement wherever you decorate it.The huge size and different color scheme is what makes it so unique and impressive.

 How pretty does this corner look? Hanging stocking on a branch, a great decoration idea for apartments and smaller places. These look adorable and love the little details in it. My fav :)

I love how cozy and festive this look is. The setting is just perfect for the holidays. The ornaments handing from the stairs to the glass baubles with tea lights. Make your own with bell jars and bottles, get creative.

I have already put up a few posts and will be doing a few more. Get the most while decorating this Christmas, get creative and crafty and there will be more ideas to inspire you right here.

{a silver leaf dresser: an ikea rast hack}

My teen daughter's room is finally coming together.

The latest improvement to her room is a new side table dresser. It is my version of an Ikea Rast hack. My inspiration was this photo from the September issue of Chatelaine magazine {another great Canadian publication}

I loved the bevel mirrored chest of drawers, which was from Ethan Allen. Wanting to replicate the look I called around for prices on custom cut mirrors. What I found was that most places charge a minimum fee per piece cut, around $40 a piece, then charge $5 per hole, which meant it would cost me $150. The Rast dresser was only $29, so $150 was too much. My daughter also thought the mirrors would be hard to keep clean, she didn't want to be constantly shining them.

Good point.

Glad I consulted with the client.

Instead I used a coat of black paint, silver leaf and crystal knobs to give it the glam it needed.

 The Rast dresser went from this:

to this:

My cost:

Rast dresser from Ikea: $29

black paint {Benjamin Moore Aura paint}: free {leftover}

silver leaf: $7 with 50% off coupon from Michaels

sizing medium: free {leftover from silver leaf lamp project}

crystal knobs: $6 each from Home Depot

Wipe-on poly: free {leftover from previous projects}

Total:$72

I am thrilled with the look. My daughter is glad that her room is finally getting the finishing touches. 


Now I am waiting for the fabric that is on back order to come in so I can make her some drapes!

Visiting:
Metamorphosis Monday@BNOTP
Power of Paint Party@Domestically Speaking
Transformation Thursday@The Shabby Chic Cottage
Finding Fabulous
Frugal Friday@Shabby Nest
Weekend Wrap-up Party@Tatertots and Jello
Sunday Showcase@Under The Table and Dreaming

{happy thanksgiving to my american friends}

While we lived in the US {Virginia} for only a few years, we embraced and enjoyed Thanksgiving. You Americans sure know how to kick off the Christmas season with a big huge party! 

source: Graphics Fairy

I loved how the neighbourhood became quiet on Thanksgiving, with the aroma of turkey baking in the air. I loved how the next day was a Christmas decorating blitz, both outside and inside homes. After moving back to Canada, I found our Thanksgiving, which is early October, just didn't have the same excitement. Now I enjoy the US Thanksgiving vicariously though all the American blogs and my former Virginia neighbours.

source: Better Home and Gardens

I want to wish all my American neighbours a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Thank-you for following and reading my blog. 

Most of all thanks to those who have become wonderful friends, even though we haven't met, I find that it's through blogging and our love of DIY and design that we have found a common ground and friendship.

{i'm featured: Polly Want a Crafter?}

Looking to make a great gift for the Star Wars fan in your life? 

Look no further. 

My Star Wars subway/eyechart art is featured at 

Check out this blog for other great DIY gift ideas!

{dreamy kitchens}

I love kitchens. 

 I dream of having the perfect kitchen {one day}as it is the heart of our home.

We are currently renting our home while we wait to find our perfect home, in the meantime I have serious kitchen envy. 

I am not saying that our current kitchen is bad, I have seen worse. It is just stuck in a 90's oak time warp. It has great bones, solid oak cabinets, lots of counter space and tons of storage. It has so much potential. But...

I don't think the owners of the home would appreciate me painting their cabinets, they are of the "never-paint-perfectly-great-wood"generation.

So instead I dream.......{and wait}

source: Canadian House and Home

to have a kitchen like this one day.

 This kitchen by fabulous Canadian designer, Tommy Smythe has to be one of my favourites. It is in my {dream} kitchen file. The mix of black, white, stainless steel, marble and rustic elements makes it an absolute dream.

Another fantastic kitchen in my {dream} kitchen file is Margot Austin's kitchen. Margot is the senior design editor at one of my favourite Canadian decor magazines, Style at Home. If you think you have seen this kitchen before on my blog, you have. It took part of a What's Your Style in One Picture challenge From The Right Bank

Lastly, this gorgeous kitchen from the January 2010 issue of Style At Home, has also made it into the {dream} kitchen file. Even the stools are fantastically glamourous with their nailhead trim.

So while I cook and bake in my not-so-glamourous-oak-with-mismatched-appliances kitchen I will {dream} of one day washing dishes in my gleaming farmhouse sink while tap dancing on hardwood floors, rummaging for canned goods behind white cabinet doors, rolling out cookie dough on marble counters and whipping up a Kraft gourmet dinner on a shiny stainless steel stove.

Christmas Decor : Interesting decorations using Pinecones !

I did a recent post on interesting Christmas tree for this holiday. Check this post for some really awesome ways to create your own unique Christmas tree. I have always enjoyed making decorations and take a lot of pride in being crafty. In this post I bring to you different ways to use pine cones for decoration this holiday season.

The decoration ideas I have selected are not just eco-friendly and beautiful, its free and lets you use your creativity to make this season really special.

Simple and elegant. How easy is this, love the red and glow of candles along with the earthy brown and dark wood. Create your own decoration with pine cones in all shapes and sizes. Really impressive.

Love the versatility of these pretty pine cones. Decor ideas are just so easy, spray some with silver add some ribbons and you have your pretty Christmas decoration, unique and stylish. Love how it looks so festive.

Rustic and pretty. Christmas decoration need not be all glittery, simple natural shape can look so elegant when presented well. This decor idea is for one and all, there is beauty in things all around.

Some winter sunlight and a pretty basket. This looks so inviting. A pinch of creativity and this pretty basket can be such a delightful decoration. A very interesting yet simple Christmas decoration.

I love the color combination on this platter. A beautiful center piece for any occasion, this looks just fabulous for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. The pine cones and orange with cloves studded will surely fetch lots of compliments and this decoration is truly one of a kind.

These window decoration are just perfect for a frosty winter morning. Just dangle some of them on lace or silver cords, and add a few baubles to make it more festive. Your instant window makeover :) Love how one can get so much out of simple pine cone.

How simple can it be to make your own Christmas wreath. Collect a small lot of pine cones, get a glue gun and get started. This is even better than the dollar store crafts, and I think it looks really impressive in the stark snowy morning. Decoration perfect for the winter holidays.

This is such a creative genius. The colors are perfect for Christmas, and the decoration so easy to collect and make. For all who love being unique this is an awesome crafty decoration. I think I am smitten by the pine cones and if you are too, do try and get inspired and get crafty.

I am still looking up more interesting ways to decorate this holiday season. Do check back for some more creative and unique ideas for decorating. Happy crafting all of you!!

{lucky me: an esty giveaway win}

I love etsy and was thrilled when I won a shopping credit with the etsy seller, burlap+blue


This win goes wa-a-a-a-y back to May of last year when I won a giveaway at A Soft Place to Land. Linda, the creator behind burlap+blue the etsy shop, also writes a blog under the same name of Burlap and Blue, has a wonderful selection of cake stands made from vintage plates and candle holders. She also makes gorgeous coasters. 

When I contacted her she made a beautiful cake stand just for me! I also chose the Paris subway map coasters. Paris is one of my absolute favourite cities, I couldn't resist.

I love red and this stand is just up my alley!

 The cake stand has been used many times, at my daughter's 16th birthday it was placed on top of another stand to create a tier to hold cupcakes.

In the summer we had mint lemonade and used the coasters.

They are now in my family room where I use them daily {and they get complements every time we have company}

 Now the stand sits atop of my bedroom dresser holding my favorite pieces of jewelry.

{See the pretty black onyx earrings? They are another giveaway win from a local etsy seller - who is as sweet in person as her jewelry - Mo'Funk Designs}

So pretty, I love it!

What have you bought from an etsy seller and love?