6 Easy Ways to Update Your Home in 2012!

Updating your home's style can be done in just a few simple steps! Below are six easy ways to freshen up your space this year!

1 - Cut the Clutter. You may think this is an obvious fix. But it is important to remember as new home decor items are brought into your home. Make a new rule that for every new item that comes in, an old one must move out...

2- Get a Bright Idea! Improving your room's lighting can make all the difference. Make sure you are using about 100 watts per 50 sq. feet. Also, try to have several types of lighting placed around the room. This will shed a new light on your space!


3- Bigger by design. If you have a room that feels small, paint it the same color as the adjoining room. This will make the space flow better from one room to the other.


4- The New Neutrals. For a fresh update of an older room, try going beyond just beige with warm tans, honeys, and soft blue-greens.

5- Vary Wall Hangings. Instead of hanging your paintings and pictures in the center of your walls, display them creatively. This way they will make a statement and show off your space.


6- 3 is NOT a Crowd! When grouping your accessories, stick to odd numbers (especially 3's!). Vary them in height, scale, and textures to keep your grouping interesting.

Wishing you all a fresh start in 2012!

photo credits: 1. http://widbox.com/benefits-of-decluttering 2.http://jameshurt.com/for-sellers/15-secrets-of-home-staging/ 3. http://feelgoodhomedesignblog.com/2011/05/ 4. http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/palm-beach-design-decorating-0411 5. http://jameshurt.com/for-sellers/15-secrets-of-home-staging/ 6. http://northernvarealestate.net/

Christmas 2011

I just downloaded my pictures from the holidays and wanted to share a few! We had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family and friends.

Jacob, Erin, and Al looking bright-eyed on Christmas morning.

Erin finishing up her quilt for Mary on Christmas Eve.

Megan showing Mary her new quilt. I am so proud of Erin's talent!!

Al and I gave Mary her first Jeep!

Cousins! Mary was all smiles sitting with Rachel and Sarah.

Getting some sugar from her Aunt Carol and cousin Suzanne.

Toni and George brought Erin's favorite - fried turkey! Her face says it all :)

Sweet Mary on our trip to Brays after Christmas.

Mary with her daddy, Mac.

Mary with her Uncle Sam.

She has this guy wrapped around her finger...

Can you guess who the star of our holiday was!??

I hope you all have a blessed 2012! Happy New Year!!

Announcing the 2011 Christmas Craft Challenge WINNER!

I am thrilled to announce the winner of our 2011 Christmas Craft Challenge, Marie Sporrong!! When we received her entry we were simply blown away. It is called an explosion box and is a very intricate, amazing, fun, and interactive 3D scrapbook. I could not do it justice by words alone - please watch the video below to see for yourself!

Marie lives in the countryside of Sweden with her husband, young daughter, and blue merle Sheltie. It sounds like a beautiful setting for creative inspiration as she mentioned the birds and deer that visit her garden. Marie has a workshop in her home where she loves to craft. Currently she stays busy scrapbooking and card making but has done all sorts of crafting from quilting and doll making to producing clay tiles and painting. With her interest in interior decorating and upholstery skills, she and her husband also stay busy renovating and redecorating their home.

For the explosion box, Marie used my K & Company scrapbook collection, Glad Tidings. She explained that 40 pieces of 12x12 double sided papers are needed, plus extras for inevitable mistakes. Each box holds 20-30 small photos and 50-70 photos measuring 4x6! Marie loves explosion boxes because of the endless possibilities. They come in many different shapes and can be made for everyday occasions or any special holiday. She says she hopes to inspire others to craft, maybe even make their own explosion box as they are a beautiful piece of home decor. She also wanted to send an extra thank you to her caring husband whom she could not do without in so many ways.

After emailing with Marie a few times it was easy to see that her beautiful talent for crafting is matched by her beautiful spirit and love for her family. My entire studio felt blessed by the warmth and kindness of her words and heart! Marie makes beautiful crafts for personal use and for purchase. Be sure to visit her youtube channel, mariesporrong, and her blog for other craft ideas. Marie said she may create a tutorial for her explosion box as well!

Thank you to everyone who entered our craft challenge and thank you Marie for sharing your beautiful talent with us all!

Prepare to be Inspired!

I have had so much fun today looking through different craft blogs and websites! All of my searching was in hopes to inspire YOU to enter my Christmas Craft Challenge. Today I was looking at paper and fabric crafts... our K & Company scrapbooking materials and Jo-Ann fabrics would be a great place to start!

Visit any Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store to find Christmas and holiday fabrics - below are some of the ones we found at the new store in Charlotte.

My holiday scrapbooking collection, Glad Tidings, from K & Company can be found here! Below are some of the papers, cut-outs, and stickers that would be great to use for cards and other crafts.

Everyone loves a homemade Christmas card! Find inspiration at Keepsake Crafts.

This cute paper wreath can be found at Inspire Me Crafts - with instructions too!

These magnet boards from Organize Your Stuff Now are awesome - perfect for a recipe holder in the kitchen or a picture in the office! I think they would look great made with some Christmas papers!

Who wouldn't love a homemade advent calendar!? I also love the little envelopes with numbers for each day... each one could contain a note for your loved one with the day magnet - maybe a little treat too! Find these and other cute decor ideas at Katie Bee Creative.

The following fabric wreath and balls are from our very own Jo-Ann Craft and Fabric Stores Blog! Instructions included!!

Another fabric wreath idea from Sticky Genius over at Etsy!

Christmas stockings of course! Find a tutorial for these at All You.

And... I would love, love, LOVE to see a Christmas quilt! The one below with the little trees from Katie May Too is too cute!

Or a quilted pillow or advent calendar quilt like these from Fabric Shopper Online.

Well, I know that I feel inspired! So... get crafty and give a special gift from the heart this Christmas - and don't forget to enter my Christmas Craft Challenge!

Rita's Pottery

Meet Rita! Our beloved studio friend and cleaning technician. She has always loved pottery and has now started making her own one of a kind pieces!

The other day she brought her latest creation to the studio for us to see - a beautiful birdhouse!

Her attention to detail in the little leaves and vines is extraordinary... I also love the beautiful colors and variations of the glaze. Wow, she is so talented!!

Thank you, Rita, for inspiring us with your craft!

Mary's First Lesson

I had to share these cute pictures of Mary from last weekend... her first time on a horse!

Mary was so calm and happy around Ben, it is definitely in her blood!

She'll be riding on her own in no time! :)

Thanksgiving!

How was your Thanksgiving weekend!? Whether spending time with family, dear friends or even new friends - I hope you found many things to be thankful for and had a wonderful turkey day!

Al and I spent Thanksgiving on the farm with family. It was a fabulous day!

My youngest son Sam and his girlfriend Lauren - it was wonderful having them both here with us!

My mother joined us too - here she is with my brother's four children.

My little brother David with his three beautiful girls.

Of course I had to include a picture of the food! We had quite a spread...

Let us come into his presence with Thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2