Stacks and Flats... and All the Pretty Things...: June 2012

June 29, 2012

Easy Fourth of July Centerpiece

I'm obviously super late in actually decorating for the Fourth around here.

I've been making fourth of July projects the past couple weeks but haven't gotten around to actually pulling my decor out and getting the house looking festive :)

Don't tell me I'm the only one!!

I decided to get our table looking all patriotic today so I threw together a quick & easy centerpiece using a few new things & a few ones I made last year.

Watcha think?

Isn't it fun?

It definitely got me in the mood to sit on a blanket, slap away mosquitoes & watch some pretty fireworks!

I used this fun tutorial to make the cute paper rockets and stuck them on some craft skewers I had.

They sit nicely in a dollar store vase that I spray painted red like I did these guys.

I also tore a strip of linen to wrap around the vase with a cute printable from the fabulous I Heart Naptime.

That adorable chalkboard was in the dollar bin at Michaels.

I know I'm going to find a million ways to use them!!

Remember my fun printable from last year?

I pulled it out to add to the red, white & blue decor!!

I used a random piece of scrap wood from the garage to make a quick 'freedom' block.

You know I had to add a splash of aqua somewhere!!

I spraypainted it white first, added some letter stickers and then brush-painted it aqua.

After it dried a little, I peeled the stickers off & then distressed.

I still love this subway art from Eighteen25 from last year.

I pulled it out of my decor box too.

The red candle was a random find from something so it made an appearance as well :)

I love a simple & easy grouping of holiday decor!!

Just don't judge me because it's all I have up :)

Have you decorated for the Fourth yet this year?

What are you most looking forward to?

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Linking to:

Weekend Wrapup @ Tatertots and Jello

Sundae Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

Saturday Seven @ Positively Splendid

Craftomaniac Monday @ Craftomaniac

Splish Splash Blog Bash Epic Giveaway

Guys,

I don't even know if you're ready for what's in store for you today!!

We have been partying it up all week with the Splish Splash Blog Bash & all the amazing ladies that have participated in it!

And now, we want to share the love with one of YOU

(well, all of you really but we had to be a bit more realistic)

How about a grouping of some amazing loot that one of you lucky readers will get??

Check out the goodies:

Are you freaking out just a little bit?

Here's what is up for grabs:

From the top left and over:

Medium Ad Space AND Snickerdoodle Bread in a Jar from White Lights on Wednesday

2 Months of Ad Space from A Turtle's Life For Me

Shabby Chic Pom Pom Ring from Shaped by Grace

Photo Display Frame (in your choice of colors) from Tattered and Inked

From bottom left and over:

2 Months of Ad Space from Mine for the Making

Mod-Podged Letters (up to five letters of choice) from Four Marrs and One Venus

Scentsy Plug-in Warmer & Scent bar of Choice from Gallamore West

'Toes in the Water' Handmade Sign from Shabby Sweet Tea

Facebook Time Line Cover & Profile Image PLUS July Ad Space from Get Outta My Head Please

And, yes, ONE winner will receive ALL of the prizes

so you're in for some serious loot!!

And because it's a giveaway of epic proportions,

it's only fair to have an epic amount of ways to enter.

So how about 18?

Do as many or as few as you want to enter.

Just be sure to get your entries in because you DO NOT want to miss out on all the amazing-ness these bloggers have put up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A HUGE thank you to all the wonderful ladies that participated and contributed to the Splish Splash Blog Bash this week!!
All of you are amazing & I'm so glad to have you as my bloggy pals :)

Participating blogs:
White Lights on Wednesday- A Turtle's Life for Me- Mine for the Making- Four Marrs and One Venus- Mom 4 Real- Shaped by Grace- Shabby Sweet Tea- Get Outta My Head Please- Gallamore West- Tattered and Inked

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June 28, 2012

DIY Fourth of July Ideas

The Fourth of July is fast approaching and if you're looking for some super easy & fun decorative projects to work on between now & then, I thought I'd give you a blast through the past!

Check out these quick & easy Fourth of July ideas and see if any of them strike inspiration for you this year :)

Fourth of July Coffee Filter Wreath

Distressed Blocks Flag

Easy Fourth of July Painted Lanterns

God Bless the USA Printable (in 3 colors!)

USA Yarn Wreath

Land of the Free Printable

Fourth of July Felt Wreath

What Fourth of July projects do you have in the works right now??

I've got a couple more I'm trying to put the finishing touches on :)

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?

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Splish Splash Blog Bash: Summer Threads

I confess,I'm a complete clothes shopaholic.
So today's 'summer threads' theme for the Splish Splash Blog Bash has me all excited.
I have a really, really hard time walking into pretty much any store and NOT checking out all their clothes racks they have. And Target will be the death of my bank account one of these days.Because no matter what I'm really there for, I usually walk out with some item of clothing. Those sale racks seriously scream my name from across the store.
I love to shop but my favorite thing to shop for is new clothes.They make me smile & I love putting outfits together.Now, if I only had all the money in the world to put together all the outfits I make in my head :)
Since I don't have a habit of getting pics of myself in cute outfits...and hubby would lose his mind if I constantly asked him to take them.I'll show you some of the staples I've been wearing this summer & some of the outfits I would love to have in my own closet.
It'll make you want to go shopping though.Be warned. It's already made me want to go shopping! (But that's super easy to do anyway)
What I have & love:
Women's Merona® Esma Sandal - Assorted Colors.Opens in a new window

Women's Merona® Esma Sandal - Assorted Colors.Opens in a new window

Target's Merona Esma Sandal in White. I LOVE these sandals.I bought similar ones last year in Turquoise and this year I snatched up the white ones.They have gold on the inside which is a fun pop of color too.Plus they're comfy and go with EVERYTHING.And you can't beat the price :)

Old Navy's Chevron Bathing Suit.I usually get a new bathing suit each summer and I found this one on the sale rack at Old Navy and had to have it.It's chevron & colorful & way cute. LOVE this suit and I've been rocking it all summer so far!!
Mossimo® Womens Sateen Cuff Short (Fit 3) - Assorted Colors

Mossimo® Womens Sateen Cuff Short (Fit 3) - Assorted Colors

Target's Sateen Cuff Shorts in White. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous about buying a pair of white shorts.I'm not the most tan person in the world plus I have a five year old. But I have NOT regretted getting these.
I LOVE them and they are so fun to pair with a bright color. Make me feel all summery :)

What I would love to Have:
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Oh how I love this gorgeous orange dress!!Dresses are a must in Arkansas since it gets so hot.A girl can only wear shorts so much. I love pairing a cute, flowy dress with a chunky necklace and cute flats!I'm thinking I need to find something in this amazing orange...
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Umm, yes please.Fabulous teal accents with white & grey??Does it get much better? I have yet to find the perfect grey shorts but I'm on the lookout. I love how beachy this look is with a touch of glam.
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I told you...I'm all about the white shorts this summer. Pops of amazing color look so good with them. I'm loving this bright red with the gold accessories. Pretty, pretty. Now if I can just order a tan like that....
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I'm loovvving coral and turquoise together right now.That tank top looks amazingly comfy and cool for the 100+ weather we have right now.And those white shorts again...go figure. I also love the pops of leather- a little something different :)
So there ya have it!!
Hmmm.Now I feel the sudden urge to go scour Target, Forever 21 & Charlotte Russe all this afternoon. Yikes!

So you tell me...Where is your favorite place to shop & what styles are your faves this summer??

Don't forget to check out these awesome ladies to party it up a bit more!!Participating blogs:
White Lights on Wednesday- A Turtle's Life for Me- Mine for the Making- Four Marrs and One Venus- Mom 4 Real- Shaped by Grace- Shabby Sweet Tea- Get Outta My Head Please- Gallamore West- Tattered and Inked

*********************************
The EPIC, huge giveaway is coming up TOMORROW so be sure to check in to see all the loot that one lucky winner will be able to score!!!

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June 27, 2012

Summer DIY: Summer Shim Wreath

It's day three of the Splish Splash Blog Bash & I can't believe we're already halfway through our party week!!!
And you know we couldn't have a party without some fun crafts & snacks up our sleeves. Each of the ladies above is sharing either a fun DIY or a yummy recipe so definitely be sure to check what everyone is up to today!!!
I can't promise much in the whole food arena(trust me, you just don't want me to go there!) but I can give you a fun summer DIY cuz it's what I love most :)
And if you're just starting to hang with me,you'll learn super quick that I LOVE wreaths. So of course, my summer DIY is a wreath...but not just any old wreath.How about one made with these guys?

Yup, good old fashioned shims.
I promise, they just look boring.They have all kinds of amazing potential stored away in those thin planks of wood!!!
Today, I'm showing you how to make this guy:

Now, tell me that doesn't look like a way fun summer wreath to have hanging around!!

Here's what you need:

*2 Packs of Wooden Shims

(I got mine at Lowes for super cheap)

*Exacto Knife

*Stain (or paint) in your color choice

*Various scrapbook papers

*Mod Podge

*6 in. flat wooden circle (Hobby Lobby)

*Small routed wood circle (Hobby Lobby)

*Hot Glue Gun

*Wooden Monogram (optional)

First, get your shims looking the way you want.

I stained the fronts and sides of them with some dark walnut stain.

I wanted to be able to distress them to let the stain show through once I adhered the paper.

After the stain dried,

I used my exacto knife to cut perfect shim-shapes (hehe) out of my paper.

Then I mod-podged them onto the shims.

Distress if desired to let the stain (or paint) show through.

I used a bunch of oranges, yellows, whites & faux wood to make a pretty mix.

Love all the bright, summery colors together!!

Once you have all your shims gussied up the way you like,

grab your flat wooden circle and use it as your backing to glue the shims to.

Arrange one layer of shims in a sunburst pattern all the way around.

Then go back around with another layer of shims to fill in the gaps from your first round.

Once you have everything placed the way you like,

use the glue gun to adhere the shims to the wooden circle.

The first layer of shims will be glued to the circle, the second layer you glue the shims on top of each other.

For the center of my wreath,

I stained another wooden circle (a cuter one!) with the same dark walnut stain I used earlier.

Then I just popped on a cute white "h" to finish it off!

I think it's a way fun & different type of wreath to welcome in the summer sunshine :)

Although our sunshine can lay off a bit around here if it wants,

I'm okay with having a day under 100 degrees, if it pleases you Mr. Sun!

I love that I get to use colors I don't usually get to have around my house!!

Wouldn't it be fun for all kinds of seasons though??

Any excuse to use cute scrapbook paper, right?

What do you think?
Just funky & colorful enough for summer?
I'd love to know what colors you would use!!
And don't forget to pop by these wonderful ladies and see what they've been up today: Participating blogs:
White Lights on Wednesday- A Turtle's Life for Me- Mine for the Making- Four Marrs and One Venus- Mom 4 Real- Shaped by Grace- Shabby Sweet Tea- Get Outta My Head Please- Gallamore West- Tattered and Inked

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