I also finally got around to adding the links to the articles on my side bar that Houzz has featured on my design work

8 Elements of a Modern kitchen

Kitchen of the Week

It is such an honor to be included in their Feature Ideabooks, it’s time I showcased them.  The one about Shannon and Nate’s kitchen was a surprise because the author wrote it as if Shannon and I were the only ones that did all the work.  Luckily, Nate didn’t get his feelings hurt.

I also have a new button on the sidebar that shows my recent pins on Pinterest,  the pictures change daily, sometimes hourly because I am ALWAYS pinning.  I don’t just pin for me, I found it is a great way pin great deals on items I come across, ideas on how to use them, or ways to create the look.  Like this beautiful throw I found on Fab.com

I have been using my Facebook page  A LOT more as well.  I don’t know why I haven’t used Facebook in the past.  But now I realize it is a quick and easy way to post progress pictures of the stuff I am working on that I usually don’t get around to putting on my blog.

Like the headboard I am working on that I shared last week on my Facebook page

Or like the fabrics I just ordered from Calico Corners for to freshen up the living room at our River house

I am challenged when it comes to writing posts on my blog, but I have SO much to share when it comes to design and ideas!  I thought the only way for me to that was through my blog, but now I realize social media is really where I am more comfortable.  I don’t feel the pressure when I pin on Pinterest or post on Facebook like I do when I write a post.  The funny thing is, I have more followers on Pinterest and Facebook than I do on my blog.  I am pretty sure that is because I interact and use those two sites a lot more than my one or two posts a week on my blog.  So if you really want to know what I am up to or what great deals I find, you can follow me on Facebook or Pinterest.  You will see I have a lot more ideas and projects going on than what I show here on my blog, plus I love the quick interact you get using Facebook.  I can’t wait to get more acquainted with you!

PS…how do you like the new layout?

Facebook and Pinterest Love is a post from: Cre8tive Designs Inc.

Last month I was pinning a lot of Christmas inspiration ideas on Pinterest, and of course I ran out of time to do all the items I was inspired by.  I was able to get this quick and easy ornament flower holder done.  Well, my version that is.

It is an ornament glued to a small round mirror to hold flowers.  For mine, I used light bulb ornaments that I got in a 3 pack from the dollar store

I used my glue gun rather than the glue they recommended and it worked perfect.  The ornaments even held water for the fresh flower I put in it from Costco

It was a super quick, inexpensive and an easy project to do, I made 10 of them in probably 15 minutes.  I will for sure be using them again next year. {I got the round mirrors from Michaels, I think they were 8 in a pack for a couple of bucks}

But what I am really proud of, is that I did a LAST minute non-Pinterest inspired idea.  Can you believe  it?

I needed something other than putting cash in an envelope to give to the younger kids in the family on Christmas.  We do this every year, rather than try and figure out what each kid wants, we figure we can’t go wrong with cash right? Last year I made cute felt envelopes to hold the cash and hung them on a tree

So this year, I was going to do fold the money into a Christmas tree, which I pinned on Pinterest.   But you had to buy the instructions!  Lame.

I started messing around with the bills, and realized that it was going to take some time to figure it out on my own, time which I didn’t have.  So I did what I always do, come up with a plan “b”.  I made money wallet cards using my Silhouette machine.

I purchased the gift tag template from Silhouette for .99.   I adjusted the size to 3″ wide by 7″ long and cut it out on Christmas scrapbook paper, using my Silhouette machine.  I then laid out the money on the inside of the card and tied the bakers twine across the middle of the cash to hold it in place.   Then I wrapped the twine around the front of the card and tied a bow.

Pretty simple, and they all loved them.  {I don’t know if it was the cash inside or my cute holder though LOL}

I am pretty proud that I actually made something where the inspiration came from me and not pinterest.  Feel free to pin it LOL

You don’t have to have a silhouette machine to make these though.   You can achieve this same concept by using decorative card stock and 2 inexpensive punches

The corner punch (rounds the outer corners of the paper)

And a Christmas tree punch

I liked how easy and fun my plan “b” turned out, I am thinking I might do a birthday version and cut some out to have on hand when I am in a pinch.  A Valentine version would be cute too with a heart cutout.  I might just have to experiment with all the holidays, I love any excuse to use my silhouette machine again!  Plus now that I know I still have some non-Pinterest creativity left in me, it has motivated me to come up with more of my own ideas {when I am not pinning of course}

Something I actually made without Pinterest inspiration is a post from: Cre8tive Designs Inc.

Pinterest emails me my weekly activity.  This is the one I got today

✭ You added 101 pins
✭ You received 7 likes
✭ You were repinned 47 times
✭ 1 person started following your boards.
As you can see, I pinned 101 times in one week…LOL  Yeah I am addicted.

But!  I do sometimes take the ideas I get from Pinning and actually do something with them  Here are some that I have done recently

My Pin is from Inspiration for Decoration

You use coffee beans as a filler with a vanilla scented candle…smells so yummy!

I got the cake plates and wreaths from Ikea in their Christmas section.  I know, can you believe they already have their Christmas stuff out?  It isn’t even Halloween yet!

I used the coffee beans sparingly since coffee is so expensive now a days.  I used a glass enclosed candle inside a glass vase.  It made it hard to get those beans to fit in between the two glasses, lesson learned.

This pin is from My Heart’s Desire

You use different colored beans as a vase filler.  I opted to use my beans as a filler for a dried floral arrangement for my Thanksgiving table decorating.

When I showed my husband the arrangement he said “oh wow, that is a neat idea.  And you can even re-use the beans after you are done.”  I just nodded in agreement, like “yeah, I know, right?”   But seriously, a bag of beans cost about $1.29 each, one bag filled up two vases, so at that price I don’t think I really need to re-use them.  But I guess you could if you really needed or wanted to.

I used red beans, split pea beans and corn kernels for my layers.  

I also started a new thing that I do with Pinterest.  I get LOTS of unsolicited catalogs, I mean a ridiculous amount daily.  So now, I ear mark the stuff I “might” want or could DIY and then go on to their web site and pin them.  Helps me remember what I saw and eliminates the stack of catalogs laying around.  I pinned this cute rustic metal turkey from At West End and actually ordered two of them.

They look so cute at my front door

I know it isn’t Thanksgiving yet, but since I don’t decorate for Halloween, I couldn’t resist using them as soon as I got them

Another item I pinned and bought was this cool tool you use to cut out holes in fruit or vegetables to make them into candles.  It is from Kitchen Kapers

It is called a Candle Carver.  I did try it on two apples, and it worked pretty well.  The only thing is, the apples looked sad after a day after being cut into.  So I will only be using it the day I want to use the fruit for candles.

I have so many more things I want to make and do that I have pinned..but as you can see from my pinning numbers, I need to stop pinning a little less and start doing a little more.

If you want to see or follow my Pinterest boards, you can click here

Oh and I am linking up to Amanda’s party since she is as addicted to Pinterest as I am

What I made from my Pinterest inspirations is a post from: Cre8tive Designs Inc.