DIY Confetti Canvas

I'm always in search of ways to freshen up my living room. As the focal point of our home, it's both a center of relaxation and entertainment. So when I came across Mint Love Social Club's Kate Spade-inspired post on DIY confetti art, I was on board right away.

The finished product reminds me equally of champagne bubbles and shiny confetti that's just been thrown in the air. Either way, it's a party!

There's hardly an accompanying tutorial, since gluing dots onto a canvas is pretty self-explanatory -- but for the record, I followed the Mint Love Social Club method almost exactly. The only notable changes were the size of the canvases and the addition of silver dots. I also chose not to use a hole punch because of the device's $12 price tag -- a steep price for something I'd probably never use again. Instead, I relied on tracing circles and cutting them out with scissors (talk about hand cramps!). Here's what the canvases look like on my wall, though it's hard to capture their shine:

What the latest DIY project you've worked on?

Seven Links

The "seven links" tag floated throughout the blogosphere last year, and I always appreciated reading what other bloggers valued about their own stories. It's a great way to read posts people may have missed otherwise. Since I haven't seen the tag surface in a while, I brought it back for your reading pleasure. =)

Most Beautiful Post

Marriage Advice from a Newbie - Tidbits of wisdom I picked up after two years of marriage. Some are silly, all are true.

Most Popular Post

Everything is Sweeter with Sprinkles, Better with Glitter - After one of my photos was featured on The Glitter Guide tumblr, the blog's traffic spiked.

Most Controversial Post

You Smart, Gorgeous Thing You! - My thoughts on whether a woman's confidence may be connected to how she was addressed as a little girl.

Most Helpful Post

Work it Out - A brief post about my journey with self-discipline, plus some tips to stay out of a health and fitness rut.

A Post Whose Success Surprised You

DIY Glitter Shoes - While there aren't many comments, this post has received the most page views in Swift as Shadows history so far. Guess people really like to bedazzle things.

A Post You Feel Didn't Get the Attention it Deserved

Book Sugar - A look into how my love for books and sweets are connected, as well as my book-selection antics.

The Post You're Most Proud Of

Let it Shine: Boudoir Decor (Part One, Part Two) - I put a lot of time and effort into this post, and it's a good example of working/decorating with what you have.

Now it's time to tag all of you -- yes, YOU. Or, if you've already completed the tag, link to it in the comments below and I'll check it out.

Wednesday Wishlist: Kitchen Whimsy

Keeping up the Wednesday tradition, this time with a focus on my kitchen -- which is currently very small. And very messy. But we won't go into that. Here's what's on my wishlist this week:

Etsy (janethillstudio) - "The Magic Spice Cake" print. This would look both inspiring and delicious if framed and hung beside our table.

Amazon - Vegetable Spiralizer. Perfect for raw zucchini pasta, for which I currently use a vegetable peeler. I like to argue that this is a practical purchase, although it probably isn't. Here's to wishful thinking. ;)

Amazon - Rainbow Whisk. Both whisks and wooden spoons are so reminiscent of classic, comforting, "grandmotherly" baking that having such a fun one is almost like an ode of respect. 

Williams-Sonoma: Cast Iron Skillet. The possibilities are endless with such a classic cookware item, and I can certainly see it lasting for years. Maybe we'll make this wish a reality this weekend. =)

Amazon - Ice Cream Scoop. Something tells me this is probably cheaply made. But it's painfully cute and matches a couple of spoons I have, so it remains on the list proudly!

ModCloth - Sugar Baby Cookbook. This is less an addition to my kitchen and more an addition to my bookshelf. =)

Does your kitchen have a theme? I attempted a tastefully done cupcake theme (I've seen it done poorly), but the space seems too small to accommodate this. Perhaps it's a upcoming project for the blog?

What's on your wishlist this week?

Let it Shine: Boudoir Decor (part 2)

(read part one)

Fashion is my favorite. Whether it's shopping, putting together outfits, helping friends with their personal style, organizing my closet or watching fashion-related TV/YouTube videos, I live for this stuff. I was never intuitively stylish. In fact, I went through much of seventh grade wearing baggy corduroy pants and grey tshirts. But I always appreciated good clothes. As a kid, I distinctly remember shopping trips with my aunt to Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdale's and admiring the quality of silk blouses, cashmere dress socks and tweed blazers. Not that I can afford to shop at high-end stores. I'm happy frequenting places like TJ Maxx, Forever 21 or thrift shops to do a bit of treasure hunting.

It wasn't until college that I really tried to understand the essence of fashion and style vs. trends.  I certainly don't know it all, but boy does it make me happy to try.

I love having a rainbow of clothes to display, especially because they also vary in texture and fabric. The sharp red dress bought for me by my sister is so different from the ruffled blush pink frock just a few hangers away -- yet they are both so lovely. And the sequin-sleeved shirt is world's apart from the floaty tie-neck blouse right next to it -- but I admire them equally. Is every piece my favorite? Yes. Do I completely romanticize my clothes? Shamelessly. ;)

And now for the shoes. Oh, the shoes. I lined up my four best and brightest -- including the sparkling champagne hued flats I wore during my wedding, a pair of black platform stilettos, smart tweed pumps with bows and my beloved DIY glitter flats.

Creating this little space has helped me segment my wardrobe into only the most necessary (obviously a subjective word in this case) items. While my main closet is still occupied with more basic pieces, I have a pile of clothes ready for Goodwill, and a few more waiting for the next garage sale. Onward and upward folks!


Which clothes/shoes in your closet do you consider a favorite? Do you have any closet organizational tips to share?

Let it Shine: Boudoir Decor (part 1)

You were able to sneak a peek of my boudoir on The Glitter Guide tumblr recently, and I've been eager to show you the rest of it. As I mentioned in a previous post, I converted a small corner of our room into an area where I can display all of my prettiest, most prized pieces -- from my favorite perfume to the Chanel-esque coat I adore so much. I wanted to let them shine, so to speak. Inspired by Alex of HRH Collection, I set out to put a little "fancy" back in our very humdrum room.

 

I started with the small IKEA dresser that was collecting dust on the other side of the room. I may stain the dresser eventually, but for now I kind of like the earthy feel the wood's natural swirls give in contrast to the decor. I chose to display my lipgloss in a jar because the bright colors remind me of candy sticks on display in an old-fashioned sweet shoppe. A decorative shell holds some of my favorite bracelets, while a buttercream-scented candle makes the whole room smell as if it was covered in vanilla frosting.

While I'd love to take credit for the nail polish display, it's all Alex. The key is a cheap Christmas ornament from WalMart that I placed in a thrift-store candle holder because I didn't know what to do with it. But I like the way it turned out. Love when that happens. =) I added the mirror (another thrift store find) to reflect light and add dimension. My favorite perfume, Miss Dior Cherie, was the final touch to the dresser. While I don't have a mirrored vanity, I certainly don't let that stop me from embracing my little corner of the room. Who says putting on makeup in front of a compact mirror while sitting on the floor isn't glamorous? ;) 

The rest of my makeup hides in this turquoise mosaic box and the top dresser drawer -- along with the rest of my jewelry. And I always keep a few of my go-to magazines around (Glamour and Fitness). If you've read this blog for a while, you probably spy my inspiration board in the background too. Still trying to find a place for it, -- preferably a spot that I'll notice every day. I don't want to just tack it into the wall, so maybe I'll get a nice frame for it. Let me know if you have any other ideas. =)

Part two (about how I display the clothes) will be up tomorrow!

If you had a makeshift boudoir, what beauty items would you display? Or if you do have one, how did you decorate it?

Everything is Sweeter with Sprinkles, Better with Glitter

Just found out that one of my photos is featured today on The Glitter Guide tumblr! I was saving the photo for my next post, but here's its early introduction:

What is it, you ask? A very small corner of my (also very small) boudoir. Sharing a room with my husband -- while it has its advantages -- was threatening my femininity. We're using his childhood dresser set, after all. I'm nearly finished with the whole boudoir, and it's blossoming into the perfect place for me to display all of my prettiest pieces. Full decor post to come. ;)

Oh Yeah, That...

Remember how I said I was excited to decorate my house...like yesterday? I forgot that I have to unpack first.

Somebody send help.

Bright and Sunny

Now that we're still unpacking and living out of boxes all moved in, I'm ridiculously excited to decorate our new home. While I've always appreciated my mom's knack for interior design, terms like "modern minimalist" and "art deco" aren't really in her design vocabulary. Needless to say, I'm craving something a bit different for our home. No set plan yet, but here are the inspiration photos* I'm eyeing at the moment:

I'm really loving bright, sunny shades to go with our navy blue couches. We have a mirrored starburst piece (similar to the first photo) hanging above our white brick fireplace. We're working with tan walls -- which is way better than a stark white, so no complaints there. And I'm thinking of adding some paper lantern-like lights, mustard pillows and who knows what else... Ikea, here I come!

What's the color theme in your living/family room?
 



*I'm far too disorganized today to remember where I picked up these photos. If they're yours, and you would like me to take them down or credit you, please email me at swift.as.shadows@gmail.com

Movin' On Up...

My husband and I got married more than two years ago. We started off living with roommates (a family of four). It was nice, and we had a small part of the house to ourselves. It was kind of like living on our own. After seven months, my parents convinced us to move in with them so we could start saving up to buy a house. Keep in mind I have three siblings. We knew it would be difficult, but saving for a house was important to us. So we packed up our stuff and moved back home. Since November 2009, husb and I have lived in a four bedroom house with my dad, mom, two sisters and brother. It's been...interesting. I love my family so very much. But as a 25 year old married woman living at home, I became enveloped in some sort of identity crisis. I was treated as "wife," "daughter" and "big sister" all under the same roof. I am -- of course -- all of those things. But there's something tremendously challenging about answering to all of these labels at once.

Now here we are, May 2011:

We're moving!! That's why I've been MIA from the blog. =)

Did we save enough for a house? No. In a nutshell, we managed to save a lot. But not enough for the 20% down payment and a 15-year mortgage. We decided to rent. "But houses are so cheap right now!" you say. We know, but here's why we decided not to buy after all:

1) We have debt. Some credit cards, a car, etc. Not a ton. But it's there. We're following Dave Ramsey's financial plan -- so we will absolutely not buy a home until we're debt free with an emergency fund in place + a 20+% down payment, etc. Not everyone gets this -- including my parents.

2) We're not too keen on living in this town long term. So why would we buy a home here? This market can make it difficult to sell a home. We don't want to get stuck. We're young. No kids. Let's travel! =)

Have you ever moved back home?
What are your packing/organizational tips?
Any ideas on accent colors for navy blue leather couches?