Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Inspiring Chalkboards

I have had this handy chalkboard shelf hanging in my guest bathroom for quite sometime. It's great for hanging towels on the hooks and also keeping part of my sheep collection together. We have a few chalkboards around the house and I like to write inspiring things on them. When using chalk on a chalkboard and especially in a bathroom (and with 2 kids) the chalk can get wiped off very easily.



I will share how to write beautiful things on chalkboards (and in really pretty fonts!) that are more durable, but still not permanent, so you can change them out whenever you want!

First of all just write out your inspiring saying, Bible verse, your last name, or whatever in Microsoft Word or whatever program you use to create documents. You can play around with the font and size until you get it just right. I will say now in hindsight, I should have put the words all the way across my chalkboard. The good thing is, I can always change it later if I want.

When you get your words just right for your chalkboard, generously rub white chalk on the back of your template.


Next, tape down your template to the chalkboard being careful not to smudge chalk on your chalkboard if possible. Then you will just need to use a pencil to trace the letters out. When you finish remove the template to see a light outline of your words. *I suggest you start from left to right to keep from smearing the letters you have already traced.

Rather than use chalk to fill in the words, I used a white colored pencil. It is durable, but can still be easily erased from the chalkboard when I want to write something new and inspiring.

If you want to put something permanent, you should use carbon paper instead of white chalk on the back of the template and then paint in your letters.

Be Inspired!

Karol

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Choose Your Home Giveaway!


This is the last week to choose and enter to win the Dream Home of your choice from Southern Living and MyHomeIdeas.com. Click on the links and take a tour of each home, learn more about its location and features. The photo above is the Sugarberry Cottage at Habersham in Beaufort, South Carolina.



This cute little cottage, the Caroline Jessamine, is located in Callaway Gardens. A beautiful place in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

This is a cute little cabin, Whisper Creek Cottage, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Or the lodge-style Cottonwood at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas.

Four Dream Homes in four Dream Locations. My favorite is the Habersham.

Good Luck!

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

All photos from www.myhomeideas.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

S'mores Cookies

Loved this cookie idea I received in my inbox today from Martha Stewart's Cookie of the Day! What a fantastic idea for a cookie. Click on picture above or the following link to get the recipe:

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/smores-cookies?lnc=5a79cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&xsc=eml_cod_2009_06_22

Be Inspired!

Karol :0)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Organizing Old Paints

What a great idea I found in my inbox this morning. Compliments of Martha Stewart's daily email. This is a great way to organize your paints and save space by throwing away the huge cans that may have just a little bit in the bottom. They would also last longer being in well-sealed plastic containers. I know my cans of paint never seal back tightly because I am such a messy painter and slop it all over the edge of the cans and then it dries! And plastic containers are SO much easier to open the next time.

Here's link to read more: Left Over Paint Storage

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Photograph courtesy of www.MarthaStewart.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Home Office Space


I was inspired by Nester's post today and wanted to share about my home office space. As I have shared many times, the rental home I live in is small. The bedrooms are small, the bathrooms are small, the living room/dining/kitchen area is awkward, open and small. I love the home and especially the location so it is worth it.

So when we moved here I had to find a place for my home office. At first it was downstairs in the multi-purpose room, over in the corner.



Later I decided to use an open space upstairs in the landing area. It was small and couldn't be used for much but a seating area which was what I originally used it for.



I moved my desk and chair up there and my magazine organizer (a must) and a dresser that disguises craft supplies, sketch pads, and printer paper, etc. It also serves as a table top area when I am working on something. I love to multi-purpose furniture!


I love this little area I claimed. It has double doors that lead out to my cozy balcony. I can open the doors on beautiful days like today, let the natural light in and feel the wonderful breeze that carries the smell of the ocean air.

I liked the note at the end of Nester's post where she commented on the paint color in her office area. Depending on the light and angle of each picture I took today of my office area, the paint color looks 3 or 4 different colors!

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Find Your Color


I love these videos and articles on HGTV's website that show how to find your color and then how to add it to your home and accessorize with that color. Very helpful tips. Also on the page you can read more about "Take Your Color Quiz", "Top 10 Color Tips" and "Your Best Color Ideas" where you can check out colorful rooms uploaded to "Rate My Space".

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

Photo from www.hgtv.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Cheaper Magic


First of all I cannot begin this post without apologizing for my absence. I have been busy with work (substitute teaching), my art and life things. Plus, sometimes I have not felt inspired enough to write something inspiring for others. Ever get like that?

Well, I do want to share a discovery with you that might save you some money and/or a trip to the store when you weren't planning on going.

One of the difficult things about living in a rental home is that the walls are usually all painted neutral, even white. When you have kids, it's not easy to keep the walls clean. I will admit that sometimes I scuff the walls carrying things up and down my stairway. It just happens.


Marks like these below. Not sure how they get there. I have used the Magic Erasers and they work great on lighter colored walls for scuff marks.


I went to clean scuff marks one day and realized I did not have anymore magic erasers. So I decided to give my Bar Keeper's Friend a try. I used a wet wash cloth and a bit of BKF and it did a fantastic job!

Take for instance, hand rails in your stairway! Just daily use of holding on to them as you walk up and down the stairway can get them quite dirty.

A quick scrub with some BKF and the railing is like new again!



Another thing that can happen near the hand rail is scuff marks from nail polish. These are from a recent visit from my friend, Dawn. I told her I was going to post about her nail polish on my stairway wall! :0) She always has her nails all done up girly in pink and even little decals on them sometimes.

Look, they came right off with some light elbow grease and a little BKF on a damp cloth.


Be Inspired! -Karol :0)