The Paisley Farmhouse

You'll Need:

Large urn
Large craft pumpkin
Medium craft pumpkin
Small craft pumpkin
Tin dome spot light
Electrical tape
moss/silk leaves
hot glue gun
Drill and 2 sizes of large bits
X-acto knife

1. Cut large holes in the bottoms of all 3 craft pumpkins with an X-acto knife.

2. Cut large holes in the tops of the large and medium craft pumpkins. (Not the small one.)

3. Drill random holes of different sizes in all the craft pumpkins.

4. Hot glue the pumpkins together from largest to smallest. Make sure the large holes are big enough for light to shine through well.

5. Separate the spotlight fixture from its tin shade and attach it underneath the pumpkin tree with electrical tape so that it illuminates all the pumpkins. Tape over all openings in the light hardware.

6. Glue moss and silk leaves around the top of your urn.

7. Nudge the pumpkin tree down into the moss and urn. Hold steady with hot glue if needed.

8. Plug it in and enjoy your pumpkin topiary under a well covered porch or inside your home!

Materials:
Acetone nail polish remover
Cardstock
Inkjet or laser print
cotton balls
Hard edge such as a Popsicle stick (optional)
Ventilated area

Directions:
1. Lay your inkjet print facedown (printed side down) on the cardstock.

2. Soak your cotton ball in acetone nail polish remover.

3. Hold the print still with one hand and rub the wet cotton ball all over the ink area so that it is soaked with the other hand. The acetone will evaporate and dry quickly. Repeat. If you can, buff/rub with a hard edge.

4. Lift the inkjet paper to reveal the transfer!

Use your creativity to use this method on greeting cards, tags, etc. Email us to share your paper photo transfer creations anytime!

By India Harvey http://indiaharvey.com

1. Dorms are blank, dull spaces that will quickly swallow up your stuff. The best way to avoid this boring-factor and to create a homey feel is to use the ENTIRE space (even if it's small)...the walls, the floor, even the ceiling! Add a floor rug, wall decorations, and even a canopy out of an old sheet to acheive that warm and cozy atmosphere all around you.

2. Dorms are white. You gotta have some color! The quickest way to add color to a dorm room is by adding bright wall hangings. You can really use anything to do this too...quilts, blown up photography, paintings, just a few yards of whatever fabric you choose. (I hung a rug for example.)

3. Dorms have bad lighting. Lamps are the easiest way to make a dorm room warm and inviting, because they will give off golden light instead of the florescent lighting you most likely have overhead. (Floor lamps seem to work better than just a desk lamp).

4. Dorms are cramped. It can be difficult, but try to arrange your furniture in such a way that it is open and inviting to visiting friends. It's always good to face your bed towards whatever other seating you may have, even if it is facing your roomate's bed. This way, it is easier to hang out and have people over. Also, for more storage it is good to lift your bed with bed risers and hide your stuff underneath!

5. Dorms are used. Things are often stained, broken, etc, but remember to laugh about it. Be creative and hide stains with a rug or hide nail holes with your own wall hangings. Also, candles and diffusers are a great way to muffle that dorm funk as well as fill your new home with smells from back home.

Have fun!

What you need:
plate/dish
can of chalkboard paint
foam paint brush
chalk
Optional: steel wool & painter's tape

Step 1: Paint a layer of chalkboard paint in the center of your dish. Keep the edges clean and straight as you can. Painter's tape comes in handy on a square plate. Let dry.

Step 2: Use steel wool to smooth, then paint another layer. Let dry.

Step 3: Write a nice message and pair with a plate hanger, plate stand, or chalk for a great gift! Teachers and others will love it!

This project was adapted and inspired from http:tuesdayswithmolly.blogspot.com.

By Emily Kirk at http://perkybird.com

1) Have your friends help you remember those unforgettable moments. Have a memory book ready and have each guest jot down one of their favorite memories with you from high school. Make this memory book even better by adding snapshots from the memory, or from you with them at the party!

2) Load up on some disposable cameras and have them lying around at your party. Let your guests know that you want to capture all the candid moments you can, because it could likely be one of the last times you're all together.(Don't worry, you can usually get a CD of the images when they're developed, so you can upload them to your Facebook.)

3) Make a display of all your yearbook photos through the years. Don't be embarrassed we all looked that way at one point or another.

4) Theme your party! What was one of your favorite memories or events from over the last few years? Recreate that moment with food and decorations that will bring you right back to that unforgettable memory.

5) Say cheese when you say thanks. To make your thank you's a bit more personal, add a photo from the party to their thank you, to let them know you appreciate them being a part of your party and a part of your life.

By Misti of http://studiomdesigns.blogspot.com

Marketing yourself in today’s world has never been easier.

Whether you are setting out for your first job, or building a name and career, Social Networking is a very powerful tool, but one that should be well thought out before beginning the process.

The world of blogging is still new to most. Only a handful of people in your everyday conversations will have heard of a blog, and yet they will still question the reason behind the mysterious, new kind of website.

A blog is simply an interactive site where you can journal about whatever interests you. Other bloggers (people online who are interested in reading these said journals) will then comment on what you have written. New friendships are made instantly; you feel a bond with strangers who you will most likely never meet in person.

Before starting a blog there are a couple of things to consider:

What type of blog will you have? What subject will you write about? Decide on a subject and stick to it. Wishy-washy bloggers who can’t decide what to blog about usually lose visitors quickly. Some blog about life in general, some about plants, some blog about crafts or hobbies, some blog about their career or the career that they are studying. People identify you by your interests. So make it interesting!

Decide on a writing style and keep it going. Will it be more casual or more professional? Either way, remember that if the blog is not private, anyone can read it. Potential employers have started using social networking sites as a background check. There are so many things to learn about your personal life, so again, remember…if you don’t want the world to know about it…keep it out of the blogosphere. That is another term you will hear. Some lovingly call it Blogland.

Once you make the leap of starting a blog, which will be one of the most fulfilling things you may have ever done, be sure to be consistent. Building a body of work allows the search engines to find you. Be prepared to blog for several months before others decide to “follow” your blog. Following is the term used to show how many people subscribe to receive your blog post updates automatically through email.
Be sure to visit and comment on other blogs that interest you, and always reply to your own comments. It keeps people coming back for more!

Start a blog; you will be so glad you did. It’s kind of like a personal addition to your resume. Get your name out there, and make your mark on this world.

~Misti England

by Emily Kirk

Ribbon is perfect for gifts and bows, but there are plenty of other uses. Whether it's an accent on a scrapbook page, a trim on your little girl's favorite jeans, or a way to tie together a springtime bouquet... you're going to love coming up with new uses.

Ready to take ribbon up a notch? How about some starter ideas? Let's walk through 3 fun and easy ribbon projects.

Spruce up your Shade

Supplies:

• Lampshade
• Hot glue gun
• 1 1/2 - 2 yards of your favorite Paisley Farmhouse ribbon (This will cover a lampshade of about a 12" diameter.)

Directions

1. Start at the seam of your shade and put a dot of glue.
2. Adhere the end of the ribbon to the glue, so that the end of the ribbon and the lampshade seam line up.
3. Place another dot of glue about 3/4" from the original dot. You can continue around the lampshade like this if you want a straight ribbon edge.
4. For a ruffled effect, you will overlap your ribbon as instructed.
5. Where your ribbon adheres to your second glue dot, place another dot of glue in the same spot, this time on the ribbon itself.
6. Lay the ribbon back on top of that to glue it down. This will overlap the ribbon creating a ruffle.
7. Now place another dot of glue 3/4" further on the lampshade.
8. Continue gluing like this all the way around the lampshade (glue the shade, glue the ribbon) and voila, you're done!

Create a Candleholder

Supplies

• Plain glass candleholder
• Tissue paper
• Modge Podge and a foam brush
• Enough of your favorite Paisley Farmhouse ribbon to wrap around your candleholder.

Directions

1. Start by tearing your tissue into small pieces.
2. Paint Modge Podge onto your glass, using the foam brush.
3. Begin layering your tissue paper over the candle holder. (You can cover the entire glass or just select areas.)
4. Modge Podge again over the tissue paper.
5. Brush on a layer of Modge Podge where your ribbon will be placed, and then Modge Podge over the ribbon.
6. Let dry, and you're all done!

Fancy a Frame

Supplies

• Photo frame
• A photo
• Adhesive (glue, tape, whatever you'd like to use)
• Your favorite Paisley Farmhouse Ribbon (as much as you want to use!)

Directions

This project is all about your creativity. If your frame has matting, you may choose to just use ribbon there. If there's no matting, creating a frame with your ribbon on the photo itself may suit you. Another idea: use the ribbon as spacing in a photo collage. Play with your design until you're happy with it. There is no right or wrong way to do this!

So that's how we feel about ribbon. The opportunities are endless! What are your favorite ribbon projects?

By Kristy McPherson, owner of The Design House Interiors

Green! Green! Green! We all like green and there is no better way to be greener than by going green with your interiors. Green design is on the rise and it goes beyond being efficient and attractive it is design that cares about the effects that it has on people and the environment. There are an increasing amount of green products & materials on the market today that have a healthy impact on both you and the planet. Designing and building green have both healthy benefits and financial benefits. There are many ways in which you can go green in designing your home. Some tips for going green with your interiors are listed below.

1. Use “Green” paints because they contain low levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds) or chemical emitting materials. These are air pollutants and are unhealthy to breath. There are many different ones on the market and most paint companies have their own line of “green” paint. For example, Sherwin Williams carries Harmony and Duration Home. These are both great for interior uses.
2. Use hard surface flooring that is natural and rapidly renewable such as bamboo. Also, when selecting wood flooring check to see that it is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified and contains low/no formaldehyde. The FSC certified woods are supplied from sources that comply with sustainable forestry practices, protecting trees, wildlife habitat, streams and soil. If you are going for the look, warmth and feel that carpet gives you consider adding and area rug to your hard surface flooring instead of wall to wall carpet.
3. Use Organic Fabrics in your design. Organic Fabrics such as cotton are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Many retailers are now carrying products made with organic fabrics. They are becoming more and more popular in design.
4. When purchasing furniture always buy the best quality possible within your budget because it will last longer and you will not want or need to replace it anytime soon. Also, consider using antique furniture or refinishing the furniture that you currently have.
5. Install energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators with the Energy Star™ rating. This will save both energy and green in your pocket.
6. Design around standard product sizes to reduce material waste that will end up in a landfill.
7. Consider the recyclability of all materials used to redirect their "next life" away from landfills.
8. Finally, be sure to always use environmentally safe cleaning materials to help keep your furnishing safe and your air quality healthy.

Enjoy all the benefits that going “Green” can provide you, your homes interiors and your planet.

by Emily Kirk

Looking for ways to reuse those Loaded Toffee and Rosemary Bar Nut mason jars you got from the Paisley? Here are some fun ideas to get you started:

1. Toss that teapot! Now that the weather is heating up, your jar is perfect for a single serving of old-fashioned sun tea.
   
   
   
2. Whether it’s a special occasion or just dinner with the family, adding fun filler and a tealight candle dresses up any meal. Some fun centerpiece ideas:
   • Jelly beans for Easter
   • Cinnamon hearts for Valentine's Day
   • Sand for a beachy centerpiece
   • Hard candy at Christmas
   • Pebbles on a picnic
   
   
   
3. Teaching your kids to save in tough times? Why not make a bank? Stay in for a night and help them decorate a jar bank. Bring out the construction paper and glue... they’ll want to hang on to every penny! (Tip: Cut a coin slot in cardboard or a pasta box to top off your bank.)
   
   
   
   
4. Fresh taste is at your fingertips when you plant your favorite herb in your jar. Keep it in the kitchen and add it fresh to your cuisine.
   
   
   
   
5. Road trip or rainy day, when your kids can’t go out and play, make them a treasure hunt in a jar! Fill the jar almost full with small fish tank rocks, orzo pasta, small dry beans, or even birdseed. Leave about an inch of space. Add 15 to 20 different everyday items such as paper clips, rubber bands, coins, marbles, or anything else you find lying around. Mix them in well and seal up the jar. Your kids―or fellow grown ups―will love looking for all the loot by turning and shaking the jar. Bet they can’t find it all!
   
   
   
   
6. Whether a single stem or a simple spray, a jarful of flowers will brighten your day.
   
   
   
   
7. It's your pet's turn to enjoy treats from your jar. Decorate your jar to suit your furry friend, then pamper your pet with a jar full of treats. Looks like it's her jar now!
   
   
   
   

What are some of YOUR favorite fun ways to reuse things?

You need: old crayons and a cookie cutter
(We now have cookie cutters at The Paisley Farmhouse! These photos show our bunny cookie cutter.)

This is a great way of recycling old crayons into new, even more fun crayons! I took a bunch of runty old crayons and placed them (unwrapped) in an old baking pan in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Here's the goo all melted into a liquid of swirling colors.

Let the pan cool and use a cookie cutter to make out the shapes when it is still slightly warm to the touch.

Here's the sheet of melted crayons cooled off. Let it cool completely before you handle it and release your shapes. Be gentle.

And here they are: bunny crayons! I LOVE how all the colors melted together to make beautiful swirls of color. Cool, huh?