~caramel apple place card holders~

Here's a fun way to make place card holders for your fall table.

I started with store bought caramel apples and 
added marshmallow cream to the top of each one.

Find a crunchy dried fall leaf and using
 a sharpie paint pen, add a name to each one.

Gently press the leaf into the marshmallow cream, it will act as glue and let you position the leaf however you choose.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

~$15 DIY faux zebra rug~{thrifty thursday}

If you want a zebra hide rug but don't want to spend $2,000.00, read on.

This version will set you back about $15.00.

You will need:

1 drop cloth {you an make 2 out of this $30.00 one}

White paint and black paint

and

a pencil.

Let's start with an after picture:

Alright, get out that drop cloth and lay it {folded in 2} on a flat surface.

When you paint it, the paint will seep through so make sure you have a tarp down, or garbage bags taped together like I did.

To get the correct shape I traced my real zebra rug onto the fabric using a pencil.

This is something you could totally eyeball, or if you have a cowhide, that would work too.

Iron the whole thing.

Next,  using a roller, roll on a thick coat of white paint. 

Any white will do.

I had White Dove left over from my kitchen cabinets so I used that.

Wait for it to dry and paint one more coat.

Let dry overnight.

Painting on the stripes might seem intimidating, but it's really quite simple if you have something to reference too.

I would suggest printing out a picture off the Internet of a real zebra hide.

If you don't feel comfortable painting it on freehand, you can always pencil it in first.

I put the black paint on pretty thick as well.

After you are done, let dry for a few hours and then seal it with a polyurethane in a matte finish.

{unless you would like it to be shiny}

That's it!

 Stand back and admire your art and pat yourself on the back because you just saved a little under $2,000.00.

Now, I am off to paint the other one.

xoxo

~a claw foot tub story~{trash to treasure}

About 8 years ago I was driving home from running errands and stopped because there was an old claw foot bathtub on the side of the road with a free sign.

I had always wanted one, and we were adding on to our son's room at that time and including a bathroom for him.

I made my husband go back and get it later that night and am so glad I did, as it is one of my favorite things in our house.

My husband sprayed it with car paint and sealed it with clear.

{he used to own an auto body shop years ago}

Now it is in use in his bathroom, all 4 petite feet of it.

I just got this body wash in 3 yummy scents and I am hooked.

{this one is honey}

Towel is from Joss and Main.

Soap from Chateau Sonoma.

Body brush from Restoration Hardware.

xoxo

~a simple fall vignette~{with free printable}

Today I am honored to be joining in with 20 other talented bloggers to show you some simple Autumn and Halloween vignettes.

The best part about this is that each one has a free printable for you! 

A huge thank you to Kristin who organized this and included me.

Here is what I came up with for all of you……

I love vintage flash cards, so I decided to make my own to put by our stash of Halloween candy.

You can fill apothecary jars with your favorite candy and add pumpkins for a quick autumn vignette.

And here are the printable images for you.

All you will need to do is right click on each image and copy and paste it into a word document. 

Make sure your document is in "landscape"

You can adjust the size of your flashcards at this point if you'd like. 

Print on cream colored card stock for that vintage look and cut out around the lines.

I simply taped mine to a piece of black scrapbooking paper and framed it in a

 8x10 frame I already had.

Click the links below to see all the others!

Fall Vignette and Compass Arrow Printable by Rooms FOR Rent
Rustic Fall Mantel Vignette by Thoughts from Alice
Autumn Glitter Vignette by The Concrete Cottage
Oak Leaf Inspired Vignette and Hand Painted Printable by Jennifer Rizzo
Fall Vignette and Printable by Finding Silver Pennies
Autumn Definition Printable by The Lilypad Cottage
Set of 4 Wine Printables by Eclectically Vintage
Gather Painted Printable by Restoration House
DIY Fall Leaf Wreath Printable by Town and Country Living
Rustic Chic Fall Bookcase and Printable by City Farmhouse
Early Fall Vignette Chronicles of Home
Trick or Treat Banner by Ella Claire
Grateful Heart by Making Home Base
Beautiful Glorious Fall Printable by Nest of Posies
Simple Fall Vignette by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Fall Printable and Vignette by At The Picket Fence
Vintage Flashcard Halloween Printable by My Sweet Savannah
Hand Painted Give Thanks Wreath by Craftberry Bush
Pumpkins Pinecones Leaves by Migonis Home
Autumn Vignette and Fall Printable by AKA Design
Gather in the Kitchen Printable by Its Overflowing

~back to school paper organization~

My kids start back to school tomorrow!

This summer flew by way to fast and before I knew it, we were back to school shopping.

In years past, we have had trouble separating their paperwork that comes home from school. You know, the papers for yearbook and picture orders, field trip slips, etc. 

Half of it doesn't make it out of the backpack, the other half gets thrown in with other random papers on the counter. 

So, when I saw these metal file folders at a garage sale for a buck, I knew just what I was going to do with them

Now if only the kids will actually use them to get me their paperwork…..

A couple coats of white spray paint gave them new life.

Then I printed out each of their names and screwed them to the side of our file cabinet.

I bought some eucalyptus from the grocery store and put it in my favorite pot from here.

I am ready, I hope they are!

~Happy Labor Day~

xoxo