Cottage Charm Giveaways: Just One Week Left to Join

Many thanks to all of you who are participating in this years Cottage Charm Giveaway Event by hosting giveaways on your blog. We couldn't do this without you! For those of you who are thinking about having a giveaway, there is just one week left before the big blogwide drawings on May 30th. You have until then to post your giveaway and then let me know so that I can add your link to the giveaway list. We've almost hit 50 giveaways and the original goal was 75-100 this year. I think we can still at least reach 75 this final week, so let's see what happens! If you are interested in participating, just click on the banner below for instructions. Thanks again, everyone!
___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Parties and Pupcakes

Folks, it's that time of year...the kids have just a few days of school left and then they are all mine for the summer! Doesn't it seem, though, that the last week of school can be one of the busiest? I'm thinking ahead to next Friday, the last (half day) of school - when we can all finally exhale again. But it's all good...we are staying busy with fun things at least - one of which will be making these cute Pupcakes for two of my daughters' classes. I'll be working on these all of Monday and hopefully they'll all be ready by Tuesday morning for 40 sweet-toothed children!

Tuesday night, my oldest will be graduating from 8th grade (and giving a speech!), so we're really excited about that. Following the ceremony, we'll be having a small party for her here at home for close friends and family and serving all the things kids and adults alike love...homemade pizza, punch, cake, and icecream. The next day, a school picnic for the graduates! I'm trying to figure out when I'm going to bake the Snickerdoodles she's requested for the picnic, but I'll fit it in somehow as all mothers miraculously do, hehe! And then Thursday, more baking for the volunteers that are helping to remodel our place of worship. I hope to find snippets of time to actually be able to shop for everything I need - and I have to admit, I ordered a cake for the graduation party instead of making it myself (I know...what were all those cake decorating classes for?), but I really don't think she'll mind.

Last week there were field trips, this week field day(s), today - an Awards ceremony...and tonight...ah, yes, more cookies to be baked and and delivered by tomorrow morning. I think there really is no such thing as too much baking! It's just pure love in the form of sugar and butter:) So this coming up week will no doubt be a little crazy but a lot of fun. I'm going to sign off now for the next week so that I can focus on my family and getting everything accomplished that I'd like to do. I'll still be popping in to update the Cottage Charm Giveaway list.

We will "see you" again next week!

(Photo by Rita Maas)
___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Studio Inspiration Photos

We're still plugging away at painting all the studio furniture and with the exception of the giant storage unit, we're in the home stretch. I tell you, it took 2 HOURS just for me to prime 10 of the cubes! I'll need to prime and paint 28 shelves as well, so it's quite the painting project to say the least. The rest of the furniture is all but finished...another coat to go on the sideboard and the armoire doors need to be painted.

I absolutely love the photo of the kitchen above - those yummy chocolate and vanilla colors. That's the feel I want for my studio. Here are a few more inspiration photos. Not all of them are of workspaces, but I think would look lovely in a workspace setting.

I love these greenish blue cabinets in contrast with the checkerboard floor...



With all the white on the walls, the cabinetry and flooring doesn't seem dark at all. Love that lighting and would look great in a workspace, too!



Look at that painted chocolate brown floor with a painted runner that goes all the way up the steps...How I love painted floors! If the tile in my studio was in bad shape or unsightly, I would paint them (you really can!), but I think the grout just needs a good cleaning. (By the way, you can change the color of existing tile grout by staining it. They make specialty stains just for that purpose. Neat, huh? I may try it if cleaning doesn't improve the look of my tile grout.) Oh, the chandelier above the steps? Hmm...my mind is racing as I have one I'd like to use in my studio.



Any color looks pretty against a white background. That's why I couldn't resist painting all my furniture white! And you know I love the red accessories and storage boxes in this photo - I want to incorporate just a touch of red in my studio - minor accents. I've already bought all my storage containers (think vanilla icecream with chocolate on top!) I can't wait to start organizing my craft supplies! The table skirt in this photo is really sweet. I think I'd love a skirt made out of burlap or natural linen...if I make one, I need to figure out how to do it without a lick of sewing sense!



Dark brown (or black?) desk and chair. Notice the natural looking rug? Love it!


Here's a cozy little work nook. Again, loving the dark painted desk! Notice those steps, too, with the treads painted dark brown. You'll be seeing that again;)



This workspace is a little contemporary for my taste, but still very pretty and clean. What I really like about it is the fabric focal point above the desk. It's just fabric stapled to a wooden frame. Inexpensive and easy!




Here's a nifty idea for those pretty old shutters we always see at flea markets...



I like this old piece used as a desk. And I really love that lamp and lampshade!



And finally, this sweet little space. The wall color is similar to mine - a little lighter I think. See the red accents?



I'm borrowing a few ideas for my workspace from the photos above and can't wait until we are finished so that I can share the results with you! I'm waiting on a little "something something" to arrive in the mail and when I receive it and it's in place, I'll at least have some AFTER photos of the studio steps and stoop (try saying that 5 times fast!)

Have a great day!

(Images from My Home Ideas, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens and House to Home)

___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

A Sweet Deal from Anthropologie : Numbered Mugs on Sale

A quick note...If you're into typography as much as I am, then you'll love these numbered mugs from Anthropologie. They are on sale now for $3.95 each and they offer six different numbers/mugs. You can get a set of six for just $24! Not bad!

They also offer their beautiful cursive monogrammed mugs and print monogrammed mugs at $6.00 each.



I'd love to have every one of these...how fun!


___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Make Your Monday: Freeze Frames!

No, I'm not having an 80's music flashback! I'm really talking about frames for your freezer and fridge. I've had this idea rolling around in my head for awhile...actually, it's not an original idea as I'm sure if you look hard enough, you can purchase something similar...but I thought, why not make it myself? So here's an easy "Make Your Monday" project that will have the front of your fridge spruced up in no time!

For this project, you'll need some picture frames (with or without glass), super glue, some strong rare earth disc magnets, and photo mats if you like. I buy my magnets on Ebay, by the way. I've been collecting those old vintage and vintage style metal picture frames from Goodwill for a little while now and I like them because they are lightweight. You can use just about any frame but remember, the heavier the frame, the stronger the magnets need to be.

Here is my pile o' frames before I altered them:



I also found a good sized wooden frame...



I pulled off all the frame "stands". This is so that the frames will lie flush against the fridge.



Then I removed the backs and all the glass and painted the frames. I used my favorite brown that you see on so many of my projects like my studio ceiling fan, gumball machine, and other accessories - Rustoleum's camouflage brown spray paint. I did not prime the frames but I would recommend it for durability.



Next, I flipped the frames over and superglued the magnets to the corners of the frames. It's important to let the glue fully cure for a day or so before using. Notice that I used bigger magnets for the bigger, heavier frame.



Now the frames are ready to adorn your fridge! For the larger frames that I used for my kids' art, I did not use the glass. I'll be changing out the art frequently so it makes it so much easier to just be able to pop a new piece of art behind the frame. For the smaller "word" frames, I did use the glass as I won't be changing those out as much. Either way works so long as you use stronger magnets to support the added weight of the glass. But if you have young children that like to bang on large appliances, maybe you shouldn't use the glass:)

I used photo mats in a few of my frames for a nice clean look. You can use these "freeze frames" for art, frequently used recipes, poetry...oh, and photos! The possibilities are endless!








It thrills the kids to see their artwork displayed so beautifully - the frames make them appear even more special than they already are!

Now, for all the paperwork that usually goes on the side of my fridge...do you think they make magnets strong enough for me to stick a filing cabinet there? Just keeping it real folks...just keeping it real:)



___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Old Fashion Snickerdoodles

Mmmmm, the Snickerdoodle - an old time favorite. Snickerdoodles got their silly name the German word Schneckennudeln, which means "crinkly noodles". Funny, huh? While the cream of tartar in the recipe gives them a bit of a tang, they are still plain enough for children to enjoy, and who doesn't love soft, warm, buttery, cinnamon-y goodness?

I'll be making lots of Snickerdoodles today, along with The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. Our place of worship is being remodeled and all the work is volunteer, including food preparations, so for the next two or three weeks, I'll be doing a lot of baking. Tomorrow, I'll also be helping to tear out all the old chairs to strip them down for recycling. Hubs will be busy there, too, with the exception of Saturday when we'll be attending the funeral service for his grandmother and visiting with family. It's going to be a little busy here from now through the weekend, so you may not see me until week. I will keep popping in until then to update the Cottage Charm Giveaway list.



But back to those delicious Snickerdoodles...if you've never tried them or made them, here is a really great recipe that I use taken from Mom's Big Book of Cookies. They are simply divine!

Snickerdoodles

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs

Cinnamon/sugar mix to roll dough in:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. (I never line the baking sheet, hehe)

2. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.

3. Cream the butter and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium bowl on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until smooth. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined.

4. Combine the cinnamon and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Scoop up a heaping tablespoon (I always use 2 level tablespoons combined) and roll it between your palms to form a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar to coat it completely. Place the balls on the lined baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie.

5. Bake the cookies until they are pale golden around the edges but still soft on top, about 10 minutes (a minute or two longer for frozen balls of dough). Let them stand on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Snickerdoodles will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

And there you have it! These happen to be Hubs favorite cookies from childhood to present, and I look forward to making them for many years to come! (Oh, and just leave out the cream of tartar and cinnamon to make great sugar cookies!)



Before I leave you until Monday, I thought all you homeowners would appreciate this...I posted it a few years ago but it's true enough to bring back to the surface:)

Your House As Seen By:

Enjoy your weekend!

___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below! As of this writing, we have 41 giveaways so far!

More Gumball Machine Makeovers!

Since finishing my own gumball machine revamp for my studio, I thought it would be fun to scour the web to find others who have given theirs a whole new look as well. And did I find some creative souls!

How sweet is this antique gumball machine made over by Karla at Karla's Cottage Here is what it looked like before - it still looked great even then but she made it her own by spray painting it in "Ballerina Slipper" pink. After roughing it up just a bit with sandpaper, she lightly drybrushed on some white acrylic paint. Don't you just love how pretty it looks filled with yogurt raisins? She keeps her gumball machine in her studio, too.



Now take a look at this before shot of a gumball machine Ellie of Home - Be Inspired picked up recently at a garage sale.



She says it was actually her 9 year old daughter who fell in love with it, bought it with her own allowance, cleaned it up, and spray painted in Powder Pink herself! She filled it with pink Whoppers and now it resides in her "pinkalicious" bedroom! (My kids would be so envious!) Great job, Little One! I know your mom is proud!





Here are a couple of gumball machines handpainted by the talented artist Teresa Lynn of Vintage Rose Studio. She paints her art on just about any object. You can see some of her work here! Can you imagine this in a shabby style cottage? I love the robin's egg blue base!




Teresa doesn't just do floral painting...check out this Rooster and Hen gumball machine she painted for a custom order. The nest of eggs and chicken wire are fun touches!





Next, Kristi, the makeover queen behind Addicted 2 Decorating took this old gumball machine...



and with the stand she made this really nifty table! It has that old-fashioned feel that I just love! And the gumball machine? She filled it with...

A fish!

How neat is that?! To see how she did this, check out this entry on her blog.

So if you happen to come across on old gumball machine at a yard sale or thrift store, take it home with you and transform it into something special (and then tell me about it, of course!)

___________________________________________

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!