[Party Planning] St.Patrick's Day Scrapbook Paper Pennant

say that 7 times fast!


I mentioned last week that we are going to be hosting a St.Patrick's Day Beer Tasting Party.  I stole the Beer Tasting idea from Ashley at Decorating Obsessed, and I picked St. Patrick's Day well, 1. because we are Irish (duh) and 2. because we always have annual get togethers with some of our friends - 4th of July BBQ at one couple's, Halloween Party at another's, and of course the Ugly Sweater Christmas Party.   So aside from the sporadic bridal/baby shower, fantasy football draft, and weddings (which are all over now), we only see each other the second half of the year.  I think I finally found our holiday party niche and it's perfect for us. 

As soon as I decided I wanted to throw a St. Patty's Day party, I knew I wanted to copy some of Ashley's great details and make it a beer tasting party (since not every one can down Guinness all afternoon and wine on St.Pat's just doesn't work)... I'll get to those details in another post, but for now I thought I'd share some of the craft projects I'm starting for party decor.



First up, a homemade paper pennant.  I see a lot of these for party or even wedding decor on all the style/event blogs.  I thought I'd take a stab at making my own.  (I used this tutorial here for some guidance)

On Saturday, I hit up Michael's and bought a sheet of all the green scrapbook paper I could find...  For $10 or so I came home with a huge haul.

To start this project, I picked 5 different sheets that I thought coordinated well and would look cute on a pennant.  Then I cut each of those 5 12"square sheets in half.

Then, I turned the paper over so I could mark my template, and marked the paper at 1", 6", and 11" at the top and 3 1/2" and 8 1/2" at the bottom. 

I then took my "template" piece and traced the lines I wanted to cut with my paper cutter.  The first round I tried to cut from dot to dot and each one was smaller than the one before.  Using the template to trace lines helped keep the triangles all the same size.

Each full sheet of scrapbook paper will yield 6 flags, 3 per each half. I only used 1 half of 5 sheets (15 flags in all) to make this pennant.

I then used twine instead of ribbon to string them together because I like the homemade-y feel and vintage touch it adds.  I punched holes about 1/2" in on both sides at the top of the triangles.   I then worked "backwards" stringing my flags from right to left.  I did this since the paper flags don't easily glide along the twine, by stringing each flag (and decorative shamrock punch out) through to the end it was easier than pulling the twine through multiple flags at once.

Voila! A cute and crafy paper pennant.  I have a feeling I'll be making a few more of these...

[OOTD] Whisperings of Snow

This OOTD is actually from last Friday.  We had dinner reservations with friends at 6pm and I knew I wouldn't have much time between work and getting home before heading over to the restaurant.  So I wore to work the outfit I wanted to wear out... my new Whispering Vespers sweater. 

Since there was still a lot of snow and slush on the ground I wore my Miz Mooz Riding Boots to work, and then changed into my Ash Ono Boots before dinner to not be quite so casual. (see the polyvore here)

Anthropologie Whispering Vespers Sweater (here) ... wearing size S/M

Banana Republic Cami underneath (here)

Free People 5 Pocket Skinnies (here)

Miz Mooz King Boots (here)

Necklaces F21

The weather forecast is calling for more snow, and worse 1/4" of ice ::womp womp::.... looks like my boots will be getting a lot more use... any one else tired of mother nature's frozen tears??? Wake me up in time for spring... until then I'll be snuggling in the cashmere sweater above ;)

More Framing Fun...

Even though I went on a picture frame spree two weeks ago, while Michael's was having their dollar days - 50% off select frames and evidenced by the little gallery on our sideboard - I still wanted to hunt down two I missed out on.

 

Anthropologie's Dog Show Picture Frames

(item # 073503 and 073504)

I saw these adorable frames when I went on my pre-Christmas retail therapy (here)... I didn't think to pick them up until later on, and at $24 each, I probably would have only gotten one.

A few weeks later I checked online, and they weren't there... sold out.  So I did some item searching to get the product numbers and finally last Tuesday I called CS to see if any were left at store locations.  I was given a few options and told they have been marked down to $9.95 (woot!).  Still, after my Birthday Discount splurge the day prior, I waited.   Yesterday I finally called one location and was told the only one in stock was broken.  I waited a few hours and then tried the next place, both in store and now on their way to me - both for almost the original price of one!

I'm not where I'm going to put these yet.  I already have a few white 'vintage' looking frames in our bedroom, so maybe they'd go nicely on our night stands.  The white would also pop in the kitchen.... but I'd really like to make the work in the living room... which means some moving around of the current frames. 

I'll let you know how they turn out once they arrive.

[Home Decor] Snow Day and Bookcase Follow Up

Like most of the East Coast, I had a snow day yesterday.   While the Husband got to work on this (poor guy)...

I got to work on these :)

(butterscotch chip cookies, since we were out of chocolate chips and a store run wasn't going to happen)

I also finally took some pics of our Expedit Bookcase that's working double time as a sideboard/buffet. I finished putting stuff on it about a week ago, but I'm not completely satisfied. Instead of making you wait who knows how long until it's "perfect", I thought I'd just post the in progress shots.  (see my inspiration here)

The two woven bins (also from ikea) are storing all my china and a plethora of vases.... it's sooo nice those things finally have a real (and hidden) home!

Finally have a little 'gallery' of photos... our house was pretty bare of any personal touches

 

 And it wouldn't be a snow day without letting the pups out to play.  All bundled up of course.



Enjoy the weather and be careful on the roads!

[Inspired By] Greenery, Baskets, Pillows and more Pillows....

If you've been following this blog for awhile, you know I like to dibble dabble in posts about home decor.... what I'm doing, what I want to do, and what'd I'd want to do if I was rich enough to move the Pottery Barn store into my living room... and bedroom... and heck, the kitchen too.

Some bloggers like to clip "inspiration" photos of celebrity hairstyles or runway looks.... I save pictures from the pottery barn site.   I was going through my folder the other day and realized it's blatantly obvious what I'm drawn to.... any greenery, heavy textures like hemp and basket weaving, and pillows, pillows, and more pillows.

(I want to recreate this centerpiece for our St.Patty's Day party - deets on that planning coming soon!)

love the texture this hemp ("nubby") table runner adds to the table...

PB's is too long for our table at 90", looking for a similar substitute or tips on how to shorten it without it fraying or being ruined.

gorg!... like my wedding inspiration all over again

(I just bought this tray last week for our coffee table - LOVE!)

This little nook is styled so perfectly... the sconces, the simple slipcovered chair with all the white hardback books <3 

love how the rug ties in to the decor so seamlessly...

**all photos via Pottery Barn**

What do you store pictures of for future inspiration?  spill it in the comments!

[Shopaholic] Anthro Birthday Discount Purchases!

Well, my birthday was the 1st, and today is the 24th.  I've been holding out for any killer new arrivals that I just had to have, but alas, nothing was a major MUST BUY NOW.  So since the discount card is only good for an in store purchase, I headed over to Anthropologie this afternoon before my time ran out.

I hit the sale racks, trying to make the most of my dollar.  I had originally wishlisted this top in lilac online, but I love this version even more.  It fits loose and covers my butt, so it'll be perfect to wear with skinnies and layer under lots of my neutral colored cardigans....

Frays and Folds Top, on Sale for $39.95

(sold out online)

I don't know why I though this top was silk and not cotton.  At first I was a tad let down, then I put it on and was delightfully excited.  The cotton gives the shirt a nice structure, especially at the shoulders.  They aren't "strong" shoulders, but they hold a nice shape.  I'm really excited about this top... I know probably 6 months too late as the military/utilitly trend was huge for fall, but oh well, better late than never.

Simple Compositions Blouse $78

(here)

and yes, I gave in....

Whispering Vespers Sweater, $148

(here)

While the sweater is super light weight and a tad sheer, the cashmere is sooo super soft and snuggly.  It was hard to swallow the price for a sweater that essentially looks like a sweatshirt, but the dolman sleeves are cute and I surprisingly don't own any cashmere sweaters.  It's sooo soft! (did I say that already)  I can't wait to wear this with my black skinnies, Ash Ono boots and some long layered necklaces.

Friday Night BYO by ECourt featuring denim skinny jeans

Happy Monday Readers, stay warm out there!

[Home Decor] Bookcase Buffet

Months and months ago I wrote a post that I never published.  It listed all the main things on my home decor checklist - a sideboard for the "dining area" of the great room, some new throw pillows, and well the new curtains (but I did actually end up covering that journey here).

Back at the end of December, things weren't to hot here in our household. To stay busy, the Husband took me to Sherwin Williams to buy some paint so we could fix the color correction issue in the kitchen (which we did here), but that day, about an hour before a big snowstorm hit, we went to ikea.  I knew right where I was going and exactly what I was getting. 

Since we've talked about possibly selling our house (in hopes for a house with a real formal dining room) I didn't want to buy a "real" piece of furniture for our sideboard.  In case it doesn't fit, match, or go in the future.  So I instead bought (another, since I already own one of these) an Expedit Bookcase.  It'll be perfect for now in the dining room or later anywhere else, and it hardly broke the bank.

Ikea Expedit Bookcase in Black/Brown $69.99

As usual, I "built" it myself in about an hour as the Husband watched some football on that snowy Sunday afternoon.  Since then it's sat nicely under the mirror that was already perfectly hung in the area. 

I've been re-working the cubbies to display and store items in an aesthetic manor.  To get inspiration, as usual I turned to the web.

(all pics from the good all interwebz)

(not cubbies inspiration, but table top... love all the candlesticks)

(via yhl.com)

John and Sherry sure know how to style a bookcase....

I'll be back with the current status of our shelving styling.  I'm still in the midst of finding, recycling, and buying the perfect frames, vases, hardback books, and candlesticks.

Requisite Golden Globe Picks!

Like every other blogger out there, here are my favorites (and not so muches) from last night's award ceremony!


My favorite trends of the night include all the emerald green dresses - Elizabeth Moss, Mila Kunis, Angelina Jolie, Katherine Zeta Jones, and I'm sure I'm leaving a few out....  I also love the simplicity that was shown with styles on Emma Stone, Eva Longoria, and Claire Danes.  It did seem a little 90s, but it went well with all the sequins (there were tons!) and the 70s era that was re-generated.


Favorite Green Dress - Not Angelina Jolie!

Angelina Jolie did look nice in her's, I loved the shoulder pads, but I feel the dress she wore she's worn a dozen times in black.  I don't think Mila Kunis' Vera Wang dress is groundbreaking either, but it flatters in shape in color.  She looks pretty.

Favorite Old Hollywood - Dianna Agron, Glee

The hair, the J.Mendel dress, the netted jewels around her neck, the lipstick.... she looks like she belongs in another era... Bravo!

Favorite 70s Look - Not Scarlett Johansson

I love the detailing on the sleeves... and her shoes!  Look at her shoes!

Most Age Appropriate - Not Natalie Portman (her bump was cute, the flower not so much)

14 year old Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit. 

Dear Miley Cyrus (or Miley Cyrus slutty 9 year old sister),  Please take notes!

Seriously, it's perfection.  She looks chic, youthful, and modest all at once.

Favorite Overall  - Anne Hathaway

Nailed it!

Now onto my list of underwhelms...

Worst Emerald Green Dress - Catherine Zeta Jones

The fabric looks like upholstery. Enough said.

The "Didn't We See This Before Award" - Olivia Wilde

Obviously I'm in a teeny tiny minority here, since everyone seemed to love her... but I loved it first when Cameron Diaz wore this Marchesa gown in ivory at least year's Oscars... except it was made by Oscar de la Renta, and it only had 5 layers of crinoline, not 15.

(Cameron Diaz 2010)

I'm not saying it's the same... but really, it kind of is....

Worst Take on 70s Fashion - Scarlett Johansson

I could make comments about the dress...but I'll go straight for the Bride of Frankenstein hair. This is not how to make your ex-husband jealous, honey. Try again.

The "I Love You, I'm Just Not In Love With Your Dress" Award - Julie Bowen

award title self explanatory.

Worst Color Selection - Lea Michele

I hate the dress.  I hate the fabric.  I hate the bubble gum pink color.  HUGE downgrade from her last Golden Globe appearance.

And Worst Looks Overall - I couldn't pick just one!

What were your hits and misses??

**All images from Instyle.com and JustJared.com**