Big News For Google Friend Connect Users!

Most everyone knows that Google friend connect is being discontinued.  This morning I came across a great piece of information for all bloggers and blog followers.  There is a new reliable "follower" service available to all of us for free.  It is called Linky Followers.  It is super simple to use and very easy to install on your blog.  I added it to mine in just a few minutes.  See it at the top right of my blog.  Below is a link to the site and post where I found the information.  Many bloggers are already using and are familiar with Linky Tools who's creator also created  Linky Followers

Here is the link to the complete post where I found the information:
At The Picket Fence: Big News For Google Friend Connect Users!: We have some exciting news to share for all of us concerned about the discontinuation of Google Friends Connect!


As you’ve probably heard, the popular Google Friend Connect (“GFC”) is going away March 1^st for non-Google blog platforms like Wordpress, and the scuttlebutt is that it will be eventually phased out completely to be replaced by  Google+.  (now don't panic yet!!)  Read more...

Chandeliers I've Made

For those of you that don't know, I used to design chandeliers and lighting fixtures and sell them on eBay.  Some were designed from all new raw lamp parts and then others, my  favorites, were from vintage and antique pieces that I found and re-worked.  They were all hand made.  For over three years my husband and I had an eBay store called Unique Chic Designs where we sold my creations.  In addition to lighting we manufactured furniture appliques and also created one of a kind home decor items.  For those wondering, an eBay store or and Etsy store can be very profitable, in fact for a time we made our entire living via eBay.  But I can tell you, it can also be a LOT of hard work!!!  Especially if you hand make everything yourself.

We stopped doing our store about three years ago.  My husband was working full time, and although he was a huge huge help, I was pretty much burnt out on the day to day manufacturing, posting, shipping, work work work cycle.  Once my hubby was steadily working full time, I no longer HAD to do the store, so we stopped. I was finally able to focus on fun crafting projects and my own home decor stuff again... (Yeah me!!!).

Now we have this big house, which is pretty much my big canvas.  I am working at making it beautiful, one space at a time.  I love blogging about my adventures and am passionate about decorating on a budget.  I have yet to make one chandelier for our current home, but I do have space and ideas for a few.  In time, I hope to create a few one of a kind beauties for us... For now, I thought I would share with you some of the creations we made and sold in our store.

We had a few different table chandeliers.  We offered them in black, off white and pink.  I did a distressed finish, with sandpaper, on every light we made after they were painted... Needless to say, I was always dusty!

Here are a couple of one of a kinds... They are definitely taste specific!  The one of a kind creations were always sold via auction and they always sold for the most!  Some of the craziest designs sold for several hundreds of dollars.

This next one is actually a floor chandelier and is over five feet tall.  It was definitely difficult to ship, but somehow we managed.  Once FedEx Ground rammed a forklift through the huge packaging box and bent the whole thing in half... Luckily we had it insured and FedEx reimbursed us for the damage and I got to make another for the customer.  It was a bit of a nightmare to rush make a replacement, but it all worked out in the end.

This was another of my one of a kind creations... It is definitely a bit unique.... but, as usual, the more unique the more the bidding went crazy on it.   Making these crazy one of a kinds was my favorite part of our business because it got my creative juices going. The only limit was my imagination.  My husband thought I was pretty much crazy.  He would ask, "Are you sure you want to make that"... and I would just tell him, "trust me".  Whenever he would ask that question, the most unique and bazaar creations would be the highest priced sellers with full blown bidding wars.  It was fun to see!  After awhile he stopped asking and would just wire up whatever design I gave him :)

Here are a couple of funky pendant chandeliers...  They were a big seller with Shabby Chic being so popular at the time!  Adding sparkle and crystal everywhere seemed to be all the rage.  We couldn't make these fast enough.

This next cherub chandelier was done custom as a one of a kind for a friends baby girls nursery...  In addition to crystal prisms dripping from it, I added petite pink roses.  We also did a custom ceiling medallion to match the chandelier.  After this chandelier, I started selling prisms with porcelain pink roses on them.

This next lamp was known as a waterfall lamp... It was an item we manufactured to order from all new parts.  We offered custom color choices and a variety of prism types and designs...

Although we had many more chandelier styles and one of a kind creations, this is just a sampling of the different designs we made.

I've been going to the flea market quite a bit lately.  I'm just waiting for a great old chandelier to come along that I can refurbish and/or rework for our dining room.  I like to find bargains, so I will wait for the right piece and the right price.  I saved several old lamp parts that I can use with my new creations.  I am looking forward to making some again!

Link parties I'm attending-

 

Between Naps on the Porch

Until next time,

Happy decorating!

From Adorable to Romantic - Valentine's Ideas

This is an absolute favorite of mine... I DIG YOU!  Valentine's shovels with a bag of candies tied to the handle.  This is an easy DIY, you can get the kids involved on this one!  Finding the plastic shovels is probably the hardest part. You could probably find them at a party supply or a craft store.  A little Valentine name tag tied to each handle would be a cute way to personalize them.  Soooo sweet !!!

 source: familyfun.go.com

How cute are these?  Valentines lunch bags.  You can do these for your kids so they have a special lunch or the kids can give out Valentine treats to their friends this way.  They are adorable and so easy to do!  The kids will love them <3

 source: starfish.net

I love bunting banners... I posted the one I made for Valentine's a few days ago.  Here is one that I thought was super cute.  Any little girl would love to have this in her room, especially if her mommy made it!

source: unknown

This connected hearts chain is sweet and it is a pretty easy DIY.  All you need is strips of paper and a stapler.  I think it would look pretty to alternate colors too.  I'd like to see it in pink and white or red and white (just my preference)...

source: unknown

And now for a little romance... Roses inside of ice cubes.  I would just die if my husband did something like this for me.  I love when the men come up with something creative and romantic!  To do these, just use a large ice cube tray.  Make sure you get roses that will fit inside the tray (a rose with a smaller size head).  Note: I've found that grocery stores and also Costco/Sams Club usually have inexpensive deals on roses (like $7 to $10 a dozen).  Where we live there are often guys on the freeway offramps selling them around Valentine's day for reasonable prices too.  Nothing against the higher end flower shops, but if I'm going to freeze them, I don't way to pay too much for them.. (hehe).  Cut off the stems and place the rose heads facedown in the tray, then fill it with water and freeze.  The rose heads will want to float up.  I suggest putting  a second ice tray with water for weight on top of them to hold them submerged while they freeze.  These are perfect for an ice bucket!  

Side note: Although many roses are edible, for obvious reasons, I wouldn't actually put these ice cubes into drinks..  Unless you know for a fact that your roses are edible and were grown free of chemicals and fertilizers and such, you don't know what they've been through, so you probably don't want to ingest them.  Therefore, I think they should be used as decorations only.

source: Jonathan Fong Style

I think this is the ultimate romantic gesture for Valentine's... My hubby drawing an amazing bath for two ;)  Fill it with roses or rose petals... light a few candles, pop a little bubbly and then spend a romantic evening in it together.

 source: about.com

When it comes to Valentine's day there are many creative and easy DIY ideas out there.  This has been a small sampling of a few that I found that have inspired me.  I would love to hear from you about your plans for Valentine's day and any DIY projects that you are doing to make your day special.

Blessings,

Fun Freebies

I came across a site that has lots of fun freebies... Including super cute printable Valentine's cards and many framable printables (I know those last two aren't real words, but you know what I mean). Check out the site for some fun stuff!


Sprik Space: Freebies:  (Because the best part of the internet is what you can find for FREE, right??)

See Freebies HERE

I can't believe tomorrow starts the month of February... Time is flying by so fast! Now I get to start planning what to do for my hubby this Valentine's Day.

Until next time,

DIY Valentine Decorating - Bunting Flag Banner

Have you ever wanted to make bunting flags?  I have... I think that they are completely adorable!  However, being that I'm not much of a sewer (not at all), I've never given it a try.  So today I made this cute bunting flag inspired Valentine's Day banner.  It was a super EASY craft project that anyone can do!  And the good thing is that there is no sewing involved :)

The idea for this project started last weekend when I found this old vintage book of sheet music at an Antique/Collectible store in town for a few dollars.  The book isn't an antique, but is older and was in excellent condition.  Yesterday I went to Joann's Craft Superstore and found a box of foam hearts that included glitter lettering (the foam cut hearts were on sale of course, I always love me a good sale!).  I already had ribbon in my personal craft stock here at home.  The only other items I needed besides what is in this next picture was clear tape and glue.

I started by tearing out nine pages from the music book.  I had decided to use an odd number of pages so I would have one hanging directly in the center.  I planned to put a note on the center flag so I needed one in the center (I hope that made sense)...

After tearing out the pages, I cut a straight edge down the side that was torn.  Then I cut and trimmed all of the excess edging around the music.  I made one page as a template for size and then I cut the remaining pages to the same size.

Next I softly folded a few pages at once (without creasing), then I proceeded to cut the bottom off (as shown below)...

I did the same to all of the pages using my first cut piece as a template guide for the remainder of them.

Next, I laid the pages across my floor and placed hearts across them, with dark pink and light pink alternating.  I decided I wanted something a little more decorative than just the alternating colors, so I proceeded to cut out smaller hearts from additional white and light pink hearts.  I folded the foam in half and cut my smaller hearts from the larger ones.  After laying out my pattern, I decided I would lay out my text for the white center heart.

I decided to put the words "Be Mine" on the center heart using the glitter letters that came with the package of hearts.

Next I looked at my two different shades of pink ribbon before deciding to use the dark pink.  I like the contrast between the darker pink and the white paper.  At this point nothing was glued yet.  Everything is just sitting in place so I could see if I liked the look... (which I did!).

I used clear packaging tape fasten the ribbon to the back of each page.  (Note: music was printed on both sides of each page, which is why you see me taping to music).  I left the ribbon slightly below the top of the page so the tape had  paper to adhere to, both above and below the ribbon.  I put about 1 1/2 inches of spacing between each of the flags.

After fastening all of the pages, I turned over the entire project so I was now looking at the front.

I used my multipurpose craft glue and smeared a bit on the back of each heart and then just eyeballed what looked like the center and fastened each one.  It is a home made craft project so it doesn't have to be perfect...  It is made with love and is supposed to look a little home made :)

So here is it, my finished project.  I love how it turned out!  This is a simple and fun DIY craft that anyone can do.  You can even include the kids on it...  Let them have fun and be creative with it.  Sometimes kids come up with amazing ideas!

For many other great decorating ideas visit:  Between Naps On The Porch where I linked this DIY project.  It is one of my favorite decorating idea sites!  Other link parties I'm attending are:

Until next time...
Happy decorating!