LOVE-ly Projects... x

Something for your Sweetheart, something for you, something for your home... why not keep a little bit of love all year 'round with these special LOVE-ly Valentine's inspired projects I found whilst looking through some of my fun e-newsletters...

Happy Valentines' Day!

Sarah x

 Modern Valentine's Day Artwork

These cute craft projects make great shelf decorations for Valentine's Day. To craft the collage, cut out repeating shapes from fabric (we used birds and hearts in various sizes) and use spray adhesive to mount on white cardstock; frame. For more advanced crafters, pencil a design on a store-bought canvas, and then sew over your drawing using a thick needle  (used a backstitch technique).

Valentine's Day Banner Bright colors make this Valentine's Day mantel pop -- traditional pink hearts mix with bright orange, yellow, green, and blue patterned fabric on the banner. To make, trace 16 hearts onto pink houndstooth fabric and cut them out. Use a stencil to paint letters onto the hearts to spell out a sweet phrase (like "Be Mine Valentine" shown). Sew the hearts onto colored fabric squares with fun patterns, attach the squares to red ribbon, and hang across a fireplace.

Love Pillow

Dress up a plain throw pillow for Valentine's Day by adding the word "love" with stencils and fabric paint. Cut out your own letters or buy a set of stencils, available at crafts stores, for a quick design.

Tip: Alternate colors for each letter or use a different word on the pillow to make the design your own.

Framed Love Quote Decoration

Decorate a side table or shelf for Valentine's Day with an inspiring love quote in a frame. Using a die-cutting tool, cut a quote (like "Love comforteth like the sunshine after the rain," shown, or one of our other quotes, below) and glue the letters to black cardstock. Tape the finished piece to a mirror with an intricate frame to finish the Valentine's Day-ready decoration. Check Esty.com for more inspirational quotes & printed pieces.

 Heart-to-Heart Garland

Make a garland of hearts cut from fabric scraps layered and attached with iron-on adhesive. Punch small holes in the sides of the hearts and tie them together with ribbon.

 Paper Hearts Wreath

Dozens of colorful hearts flutter on cardstock cut into the shape of a wreath. Use paper punches (about $5-$20 at scrapbook supply and crafts stores) or scissors to cut hearts from colored vellum and lightweight decorative paper. Curl the cutout hearts by scraping them between your thumb and a butter knife just as you would with curling ribbon. Then layer them on the round cardstock base and attach each with a dab of clear-drying glue, either in the center or near one edge. Hang the wreath with ribbon.

Public Display of Affection

Highlight those you love with snapshots and valentines in a three-dimensional display. Gather favorite photos and make black-and-white or sepia copies. Paste some of the copies onto decorative papers and cut into fun shapes. Tuck them in a photo tree from an import or stationery store.

 A Valentine Chandelier

Let Cupid strike your chandelier this Valentine's Day. Simply cut and fold paper hearts to hang from any light fixture whose structure accommodates knotted thread or wire. We've shown multiple hearts stitched together at the center fold, then fanned to create a 3D effect. Beads are added at the end of the thread for sparkle
Note that this particular chandelier is designed to use candles. We recommend that you keep the candles unlit when paper products are hanging below.

Valentine Votive

Fill plain glass votive candleholders with candy nonpareils for seasonal color. Small glass beads from the crafts store offer a similar look.

images & subtext via BHG, Country Living, Snset, Tubmlr, Ballard Design

Pops of Colour - Without The Paint!

Panels that Pop - See your windows in a whole new light. Window treatments provide a striking swath of color without the use of paint and create a focal point for your room. Mount curtain panels on the wall, near the ceiling, with the bottoms brushing the floor for a dramatic, colorful look. Experiment with different patterns, color combinations, and treatment styles to find which style works best with your windows

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Thinking about adding some colour to your home and don't want to have to get the paint & brush out! Well here's a few little ideas I found through a few newsletters I subscribe to and though you might them too!
Some great ideas for mini projects that you could even do over the weekend!

Have Fun & Enjoy,

Mix It Up - Throw pillows are a simple way to add a splash of color and comfort to any room. Mix and match patterns and solids to create a dynamic contrast. Combining colors that are direct opposites on the color wheel intensifies their impact

Picture Perfect - Add color and flair to a lackluster wall with mirror and picture frames. For a simple project, spray-paint a collection of mismatched frames. Choose all one shade or hang a variety of hues together. Add a colorful mat to your photo frames for an extra flash of color. Combine an assortment of sizes and shapes in an arrangement that spices up your wall space

 

Shades of Light - Give your room personality with a colorful lampshade. A bold base can add a shapely design element, while dressing up a dull lampshade is an easy project that gives a big burst of color

Accent with Nature - Flowers are a fun way to bring color and life into a room. Fresh blossoms provide a space with color, texture, and scent. Refresh your arrangements by regularly pairing fresh blooms with shapely vases

 

Refresh with Vibrant Furnishings - Change a room from blah to bold by adding lively furnishings. Neutral walls serve as a background for vibrant colored chairs. But limit the number of bright furnishings to maximize the color's impact in the space

Add Personality and Pattern - Add a punch of color with a wing chair upholstered in a playful stripe. The pattern adds visual freshness and vitality to the room's décor

 

Color Central - Kick up the color in your room with an area rug. A large, vivid rug acts as an anchor for the room's furniture arrangement. Integrate hues with other elements in the room, such as accent pillows, furniture, or artwork

images & text via bhg.com, elle decor, house beautiful

Instant Art in Fabric Framing...

If you're like me you have probably a few piles of favourite fabrics in a cupboard, box or sewing room somewhere. Ever thought about all that gorgeous fabric, or tablecloth, that might be - one of these two things...

a} much too nice to cut up [It feels so awful to cut up something so pretty even for a lovely cushion!] OR

b} just didn't know what to make out of it because you might not have had enough to keep going...so it continue to sit there?

Here's a thought - so why not think about framing it?  It's  a quick and inexpensive project that I love, it can bring instant colour, a custom look to your decor, and can be a great update to any room in your home! And depending on your fabric's look - can be for a living/ dining space,  a master bedroom, home-office or a child's room... the possibilities are endless!

Creating Simple Fabric Artwork

In its most simple form, you can just cut a piece of fabric to fit a frame, stretch and affix it to a cardboard backing, and place it in a mat and frame to create instant artwork. In order to choose the perfect spot to cut the fabric, use the clear glass from the frame itself as a guide. Slide the glass around the fabric until you find an area of the pattern that fits perfectly in the frame, then trace around the glass and make a marking on the fabric. Add a half inch [a couple of centimetres] to all edges to allow for affixing to a cardboard backing board, then cut out, mount and frame.

Alternatively you could also stretch the fabric over an inexpensive canvas - purchased from your local art&craft or variety store, and securing each side as you stretch the fabric over the canvas with a heavy duty staple gun. Make sure you check if your fabric has a directional print and you hang it accordingly - or it could be upside down!

This is something that you could try this weekend  for an instant wow!

Enjoy,

Miguel Flores-Vianna

images via canadian house and home, hub pages, elle decor via little green notebook, down & out chic - southern flourish, anne becker

This Week...

This week I start my post on Palatial Living with an apology to you upfront. Why? Well I am a tad distracted and my focus is shifted elsewhere at least till Wednesday evening... a deign project opportunity has presented itself late Thursday afternoon last week, that I simply cannot pass up and just have to immerse myself in so that I can give it my all & my very best shot. Oh and it's due this Wednesday afternoon!
So from now til then I will be a little incommunicado on the posting side of Palatial Living...for that I am truly sorry but hope to be back on it by Thursday, at worst by Friday! It's a huge week on a family front too - as today was the first day our little girl, Isabelle, ventured into 'Day Care'-land! Thankfully there weren't any tears on leaving... funnily enough only on picking up this evening!

With this design project I cannot believe how much terrain I covered today sourcing all over Sydney city suburbs I easily covered a hundred or so kilometres in driving - from inner west Lidcombe to Glebe, inner city - Redfern, south Sydney - Rosebery, western - Prospect, lower north shore - Crows Nest, and home. All the suppliers were so helpful & generous with their time & sampling. All in all a successful day...for all!

Thank You for your understanding - I promise to update you later in the week on what's been happening around my 'neck of the woods'! Happy Monday - Hope you have great Palatial Week ahead!

Enjoy,



 

image via design sponge

Project for the Weekend...

Ultimate Pet Bed
Pamper Fido with a soft, stylish place to rest his head. Stylist and author Katrin Cargill made this comfy dog bed out of vintage and new linen tea towels. Machine-stitch scraps together and add a thick cotton interlining. Remember a cushion for the base of the basket.

If this doesn't get you motivated for a weekend mini project not sure what will! How gorgeous is this for your puppy [small dog] or cat! And if you don't have a pet - what a great way to use some similar coloured fabrics up to make fabulous linings for your basket storage... Get sewing!

Image & Project Text from Country Living

Christmas Is Coming... little things to get you going

Count-down bunting in natural linen and red embroidery hung near the staircase.
Yum - Christmas cookies that everyone can help with and get into!

Back to my grandmother's country roots - home preserves that are thoughtfully & beautifully packaged, make for wonderful gifts.

[Australian] Home Beautiful, December 2009 issue out in new stands soon!

Very excited - just got my new issue of Home Beautiful Dec 09 in the post today... and there were lots of gorgeous ideas for making Christmas 'yours'! With projects from the sewing machine to the kitchen, to the living room - in fabulous summery Christmas hues of crisp white, ruby red & pale china blue - Love it!

With only 5-6 weeks to go till the BIG festive week - it's got me getting out the Christmas music so I that I can hum along whilst I put these ideas & projects into motion... So thought I would share some of my fave images - so far - from the issue. Enjoy x

Images from Australian Home Beautiful Dec 2009 issue.