3 Quick, Easy, and Free French Country Paper Projects/DIY Home Decor

We are going to start the New Year out right, and add a little happiness to our living space! It is done with a little creativity, and no money, so we can all do it if we want to.

I had a little free time the other day, and and needed a project to fill that time, so here we have the results of that. I hope you like these 3 things.

Our first piece was inspired by a packace I had received in the mail, and thought the box it came in had a very nice shape, and that something could be done with it...so came the other ideas.
I covered (glued) it with wrinkeled up white paper, and used my French Country stencile to decorate around it. Now I have a French Country pillar at no cost.

I placed a little metal bird upon it, and it took it's place next to a chair in the dining room. It took very little time, and it looks great!

Next I printed out a few sheets of French Country script, and covered a couple of books with it, placed them on top of a desk in the Library, put a metal birdcage on top, and it was finished. Looks very nice for a couple minutes of my time.

The last project was an old cigar box, and again I covered it in paper, and used my French Country stencil over it, let it dry, and it was ready to be placed on top of the chifferobe in the living room. All 3 of these projects took no money, or even much time to do, but bring just a little more fun to my living space, and will be able to decorate my home for some time to come. I hope you find a little inspiration from these, and the other ideas I have posted, and let me know what you think!

A Fall Home Decorating Ideas Documentary

Fall is finally arriving, and it's time to get busy thinking of all of the ways you can decorate your home this year.


I have put together a few of my own ideas that I am using in the old Haunted House for Fall this year. Maybe you will become inspired by a few.
Below is the video with all of my ideas currently for this year, and a few photos just to fill up this page. Enjoy!




In the Kitchen

The Dining Room

The Living Room

How to create your own Primitive and Stunning Easter Decorations DIY Crafts

Easter Decorating made easy. Primitive, and Stunning Easter Crafting in no time at all!

Looking for a not so typical Easter Craft Project that the entire family can take part in

Look no further, because here it is. Not only do these pieces look great, but they really are easy, and quick to do, and will certainly brighten up your home for the Easter Season. In fact they are nice enough to leave out all year long!



Though the video will explain everything you need to know step by step, I will also post some of the photos, and give a brief synopsis of what I have done to create these one of a kind little art projects.

After you have picked out your wood shapes, you can base coat them in black. Black is very important, because you will be uncovering some of that color latter in the process.

Dry brushed a little white on top of the black, tie a jute cord in the middle (if you wish it to look like two boards when you are finished). Next you can begin layering your colors. I chose brown, then beige, blue, and finally a little white.

For the birds nest, get a tool with a sharp end to scrape across the nest to simulate sticks. When you scrape it you will see the black underneath is what helps the nest to look like many separate sticks woven in to a nest.

Finally, spatter black on to the pieces with a tooth brush. Doing this will add depth to the piece, and believe me, it does a lot for the finished project.

Now you can remove the jute cord (if you used it) I also used 2 screws, and jute cord on the back to create a way to hang the boards.
I hope you will try this fun, and different kind of Easter Craft for your home, and please let me know what you thought of it!

Make your own Primitive Santa in no time!

Step by step instructions for making your very own primitive Santa Clause for your home for Christmas. You will not believe how easy this really is!

The Upstairs Bathroom Make Over, from Victorian to French Country

It's not that I didn't like the bathroom upstairs, after all I was the one who made it over before, but the time had come to give it a fresh new look. I am sure that you have felt the same way with a previous make over you had done yourself.

At left you can see the "Before" Photo. There is a mural behind the sink that I had painted, along with copper back splash tiles, two tone wall color, and added stenciling for a chair rail effect. All of the wood in the bathroom had also been stained a medium brown color. It gave the bathroom a very classy look, and I was pleased with it.

At right you can see the new look. It has been brightened up a bit. I kept the mural, but replaced the copper tiles with classic white. I also added a "stone" wall to the mural to extend it down a little past the switch plates. That way I did not have to cut the ceramic tile, and there is still more than enough for a back splash. The light fixture remained, as did the faucet. If you look in the mirror's reflection you will see that the wall has changed color. Bead board, and trim have also been added to the bottom half all around the room. You will get a better look at that in the following photos.

Aged shelving, and assorted photos, and knickknacks add to that French Country feel, as does the bead board that I had spoke about. You can see that it has brightened up the area tremendously. More white ceramic tile was added to the entry around the shower area, too.

Along with "aging" the shelving, paying attention to the details, such as the small pieces of corner trim, help to give the space that old world feel. I am very happy with how the bathroom has turned out, and I will tell let you in on a little secret, the hardest part of all of the make over was getting started. That is usually the case, but once you get going all of the other things will seem much easier. Just have an idea, and go with it. Even just painting will have a tremendous change in the space, and if you don't like it, you can always paint over it. No harm done at all.
I hope this inspires you to change a little something in your own space. Go ahead...it will be fun.

The History, Hopes, and Fun of Valentines Day

Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on the 14 of Febuary of each year. It is observed in many countries around the world, as well.

St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter (Julia) of his jailer, Asterius. The story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell. Saint Valentine was buried in the Church of Praxedes in Rome, located near the cemetery of Saint Hippolytus. According to this legend, Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.

Commemorations of St. Valentine’s Day are rooted in the distant past. In the Middle Ages the tradition of choosing a romantic partner on that particular saint's day began because it was believed that birds began mating on that day.
In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").
By the mid-1850s the sending of manufactured Valentine’s Day cards was popular enough that the New York Times published an editorial on February 14, 1856 sharply criticizing the practice. Despite the outrage from the editorial writer, the practice of sending Valentines continued to flourish throughout the mid-1800s.

Whether or not you have a Valentine should have no baring on your enjoyment of the Valentine Season. There are many ways that you can partake in the fun of it.
Decorating around the house lends a bit of cheer to the otherwise dreary days of February. Who can be sad when surrounded by red and white hearts, and heart shaped candy boxes. Yes, you can save those boxes for decorations, they are very nice. A little red and white ribbon on the mantel, a few red roses, and those heart shape boxes can do wonders for your positive well being. You have to admit, it would be fun to look at for a few weeks, and decorating for Valentines Day will take up very little time. Take a look at the photos.

At right is a photo of a mantle I did in one of the upstairs bedrooms. The Valentine decorations include read ans white ribbon, and hearts. There is also a garland made up of little heart shapes, and those heart shaped candy boxes that I had mentioned earlier. It took hardly any time at all to set up, and makes a world of difference. I actually have another mantel upstairs that is decorated with vintage Valentine photos, candles, ribbon, and hearts (bottom photo). Do yourself a big favor, and get into the Valentines Day frame of mind with a little decorating, a few cupcakes, and a little fun. It will change your whole season!

The Beginnings of an Epic Christmas Display Part 4

The house is now decorated for Christmas, and I hope you have enjoyed all 4 parts of this Holiday Decorating series. In this last part you will see the inside of the house as well. Comments are nice, as well as likes, and please subscribe for more!

You can make Old Time Christmas Decorations with your Ornamental Grasses!

What to do with those Ornamental Grasses? Video Below.

You can make Old Time Christmas Decorations with your Ornamental Grasses!

Directions:
1: Start by cutting the grass.
2: Choose a shape, or shapes, and tie with twine. I did 4 different ones for the inside of the house.
3: Decorate as you see fit. You can secure it to the twine, or use hot glue. You are limited only by your imagination.
See how easy that was!

Since you know that you will have more Ornamental Grasses next year, you can just take off your decorations, compost this grass, and start fresh next year. If you are like me you will have a different idea of what you would like next year anyway.

Be sure to let me know in the comments if you like this idea, and especially if you intend to do your own Old Time Christmas Decorations. They are very inexpensive to do, and easy as well.

Get a French Country look in no time!

How to transform a room into French Country the easy way!
Have you always wanted to change a dull, drab room, but you didn't know where to start? Let's change all of that now, and get to the room that you want to come home to!
1. Empty the room, and choose a neutral palette, you will be adding accents of color, so don't fret. A neutral palette gives an air of calm to the room. Pillows, paintings, throws, and Persian rugs can give color accents.

2. Paint your furniture, or pick up pieces that you can paint at a thrift shop. The French are known for their love of painted furniture. Choice colors would be white, grey or taupe. You can also use deep red or navy or duck egg blue (a greenish soft blue), if you prefer. Another way to add interest to your painted furniture is by adding moldings, painting the detail in a different color or light distressing for a more rustic look (shabby chic). For a more palatial French look you can use gilt on the trims. Remember that not every piece of furniture needs to be painted, just a few chosen pieces here and there.

3. Look for a couple of great vintage pieces of furniture such as an Armoire, Chifforobe ( or French sideboard to enhance your French Country look. These can completely transform a room, as well as add much needed storage, and who couldn't use a little extra storage?

4. Don't forget the lighting. Chandeliers look wonderful over a dining room table or in the living, and bedrooms. You can pick up chandeliers second hand at thrift shops. Clean them with soapy water to make them sparkly again. In living spaces turn off your overhead lights and use lamps with hanging crystals for mood lighting.

5. Use blue and beige French Toile design on pillows on a sofa, or bed. The soft toile pattern on a accent pillow brings a romantic and stylish twist to your interior. Other decorative designs or patterns for a French look include a crown, fleur de lis, and stripes. You can also use neutral linens with red or blue stripes or accents for bedding. Another idea is to replace your usual pair of armchairs or sofa with a daybed, they are great for an afternoon nap!

6. Wire or wicker baskets offer great French Country style storage, and you can use them unpainted or give them a light wash with white or grey paint. Vintage, or vintage style Farmhouse Wire Baskets to hold hand towels. Basket offers convenient storage for a variety home essentials, and everything just looks better in a basket.

7. Other accessories in the kitchen can easily add to a French look. Items such as a old breadboards, tea towels, enamel jugs and cake domes. Create vignettes. Group a few items on your sideboard or the corner of a counter for an interesting composition.

As I said at the beginning, the most important thing is to just get started. All of the ideas listed are very easy, and quite achievable in a small amount of time. You need only to motivate yourself to achieve your goals, and those goals are very pleasing, and happy ones to come home to. While there are many elements that contribute to the French Country style of decorating, the resulting look is always rustic, old-world, and welcoming. After all, the French Country look is one of old earthy, and chic style. I think that why I like it so much. Don't forget to let me know if you have tried any of these ideas in your home.

Are You Ready For Fall? Grab some ideas, and go!

I know What you're thinking. "There is plenty of summer left". Well, there is not, and soon you will be spending more, and more time inside, than out. Therefore it's time to take a look at what you will be seeing inside your home.

You don't want to come home to a place that will instantly make you unhappy, when there is so much more fun you can have with your living space. No matter where you live, it can always look nice if you try, and Fall is a good time to try. To the left you can see a leaf cup and saucer. I found those very inexpensive items at a little store, and thought they would look great on the kitchen table.

Little touches of fall silk leaves, pine cones, Indian corn, and pumpkins here and there don't yet speak of Halloween, but can help you to usher in the season. Adding spots of reds, oranges, greens, browns, and yellows will set the mood. It can also be the starting point to the rest of the holidays, up to, and through out Thanksgiving. It can serve as the basic, background decorations, and then all you would have to add is the ghost and ghouls, or turkeys and pilgrims to change the theme for the specific holiday. It really is as simple as that, and won't take up too much of your time, or energy, but it is going to make things much more enjoyable for you, and yours.

Trust me, your mood will improve tremendously when you enter your newly decorated home. Just picture yourself in a nice clean room with the little touches of Scarecrows, and berries, gourds, and candles. All you have to do is pick a day when you will clear that room, or rooms (depending on your motivation) of it's past clutter, clean it thoroughly, and place those memories of Fall in a few chosen spots. I would pick 2 or 3 per room to really liven it up. maybe a spot that you look at when you first walk in to the room.

You may pick a side table, and coffee table. If you are in the kitchen, it could be a corner, or center of an island, or the edge of a counter top, or the kitchen table. In my house, if you notice in the photos, I have done a little in every room, here and there, so it is visible at different places in the room. I have also placed wreaths, and decorated brooms, and garland on the walls. It is up to you on how far you want to take the decorating. You may wish to do a little in every room.

I always seem to take it to the limit, but it makes me happy when I get home. All to often we forget about our surroundings, and how they affect not only us, but those around us, and our outlook on life in general. I always choose to give myself the most positive habitat that is possible, and by that, I don't mean I spend a lot of money, but I do things to make the house a happy place. I want to make it somewhere I want to be. A place that re-energizes me. Isn't that, after all, what we want when we're home? So... Are you ready to be happy and positive in that place that you call home?

Note: All of the color photos are of my actual house, and the things I have come up with to create that "Old Fall Feeling". A feeling of warmth, and happiness that will spread into the other aspects of my life, and can only make it better. If you have your doubts, just try a few ideas, and see for yourself. Clear out the clutter, and make it better. After all, it couldn't hurt to try...
Be sure to let me know what it is that you have come up with. You and others can share your ideas in the comments below.
To see more photos from the House in Fall Click HERE

That Fall Feeling on a Budget...You Can Do It!

It's getting cooler outside, and soon it will be time for all to come back into the home. Why not make it the most inviting place that you can think of. A place that makes everyone feels good, safe, and happy.

Things you can do in your house to Create that Fall Feeling on a budget.
1. Pumpkins! If you forgot to grow them from seed, you can always pick up the smaller versions in stores. Weather real, or fake, they are inexpensive, and bring you that fall feeling.
2.Materials such as cottons in fall colors, and burlap overlapped on tables with your fall table-scapes are an excellent choice, and exactly what I do.
3. Don't forget those branches from outside in those table-scape arrangements, they look wonderful, and they cost nothing.

4. Gourds in the fall are colorful, and they bring their own feeling of warmth. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can keep for a very long time. Sometimes they even dry out, and you get to keep them forever! That's my kind of gourd.
5.Candles, Candles, Candles...did I say Candles. I love to use them for many things, and in places around the house. You don't even have to light them, they look great with fall silk leaves, and flowers around them! Or you could put tiny scarecrows, and crows, whatever comes to mind, and these things rarely cost very much, and sometimes you can find them at sales!

6. Wreaths, generally these are inexpensive, but if you want to save even more money, you can create your own, and best of all, it's one of a kind. You can place them on doors, walls, and even on staircases. The possibilities are endless.
7. Time to bring out the throws! Nothing say's fall like layering pillows, and blankets on furniture. Don't forget to use those fall colors.
There you have it. Easy, and quick ideas to make your house a special, and inviting home in the Fall.