Decorate

Tips and ideas on how to create happy + beautiful spaces in your home.

Pom Pom Chandelier

I have finally finished my pom-pom chandelier! I was inspired to make this when researching about traditional Polish chandeliers called Pujaki. Peasants used to make these during the winter months in preparation for their biggest holiday…Christmas! Although traditionally made from paper and straw, mine is made from pom-poms because I obsessively make them day and night.

If you are interested in seeing how this chandelier was made, please click over to Small for Big for the full blog post + more photos (one very cool one in particular).

Happy Monday!

6 May 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Featured Tags: chandelier, pom-poms, Pujaki

T-Shirt Bunting

With three growing kids, we collect a lot of t-shirts. Some of them end up in quilts, others I give to Good Will. I save many, though, because they are un-hand-me-downable. T-shirts from school walk-athons, soccer teams, variety shows…the ones that no one else would wear. The ones I use for projects!

Here’s what you need to make this bunting:

T-shirts {cut into 4 x 5 1/2″ pieces}

Twill tape in two colors {4 yard pieces}

Rotary cutter + board {or good fabric scissors}

Pins

Sewing Machine

For this bunting, I wanted a Spring color theme. I chose blues and light grays. I cut out about 50 pieces, but only ended up using 21. I laid them out on the table and arranged them in a random order. Then I carefully pinned each piece between the two different colored twill tapes. Using a wide zig-zag stitch, I ran the bunting through the sewing machine. Voila! I would say this project was very easy. You need the right supplies (a rotary cutter really helps, and also a sewing machine), but it is not difficult at all.

I love the end result. It is playful and colorful and I bet you will see it in future photos…lurking in the background. Start saving those t-shirts!

24 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Featured, My Home, Recycled Tags: bunting, t-shirt bunting, t-shirts

Circle Paintings + Floating Frame

Today is a very exciting day for me! I am contributing to one of my favorite blogs, Small for Big. Mari calls her blog “A design blog without a snooty attitude” which is not only true, but also one of the reasons why I love it so much. Small for Big has a very playful attitude with just the right mix of design, DIY and shopping.

Mari was so nice to indulge me and let me post about a fun little art lesson for the kids: Circle Paintings! But before you click over to her blog to see how we made these beautiful paintings, I first wanted to show you how I framed one of them. I have always been intrigued by floating frames. Recently, I found this photo on Pinterest which set my wheels in motion. With just a few supplies, and literally a few minutes, this cool + simple frame was made.

Here’s what you will need: Frame (bigger than your art by about 1 inch on each side), wire (22 gauge or thinner), wire cutters or scissors, eye screws (12mm), mini clothespins.

(I picked up everything from my local hardware store and Jerry’s Artorama.)

Step 1: Take the glass and backing out of the frame. Turn it over to expose the back and lay it flat on the table. Center the painting inside the frame, eyeballing it (or you could use a ruler if you don’t trust your eyes). Draw a pencil mark 1cm below the top of the painting and 1cm above the bottom of the painting, (you want the wire to be just below the top and just above the bottom of the painting).

Step 2: Screw in the screws to the side of the frame (the thickest part of the wood). Just push them and turn and they will start to screw into the wood and become secure.

Step 3: Cut your wire about 2″ longer than the finished length. Thread the ends through the eye screws then twist it around and point the ends back towards the inside of the frame (so it doesn’t poke out the front where you could see it).

Voilà…you are done! I painted my clothespins, but you can leave them plain or buy them colored. Now it is time to read about how we made these beautiful circle paintings on Small for Big. And if you’re the following type, become a fan of Mari’s on Facebook or follow her on Pinterest (she has the BEST Pinterest boards, I swear) or Twitter. Her Instagrams are always so fun, too.

Happy Monday!! xo

22 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Create, Decorate, DIY, Easy, Featured Tags: circle paintings, clothespins, floating frame, frames, framing, painting, watercolor

Simple Signs // Make

My family and friends have seen me make these signs for years. They are my last-minute, in-a-pinch, go-to idea when I need something colorful + sincere – but fast! I would say it takes about 30-45 minutes to make these from start to finish, which is pretty good. Usually my family is waiting in the car while I’m finishing up, but that’s alright. It’s not officially a family outing until kids are screaming and husband is honking anyway!

Here’s what you need:

Large paper (14 x 17)

Colored paper

Pencil + scissors + tape

Hole punch (1/16″)

Twine or Ribbon

To make the sign, fold the colored paper in thirds. The folds will guide you as to the size of the letters. Draw your letters free-hand with a pencil and then cut them out. Cut out any embellishments, like the hearts. Or you can just leave the sign plain + simple. Use rolled tape to adhere. I have tried white school glue, but it dries all buckled. And rubber cement takes too long. I find that rolled tape is just the fastest. Punch holes, tape on embellishments, weave in the twine, and you’re done!

This sign was made for my dear cousin who had an impromptu joint baby/wedding shower. Long story short, she found the man of her dreams a bit later in life and they didn’t want to waste any time!

You can make these signs for birthdays, baby showers, welcome homes….just about anything. I’m already planning my next one which will go on my front lawn and say something like, “Scoop your poop”. I’ll let you know how that goes.

4 Apr 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Easy, Featured Tags: banner, hand-letters, sign, simple sign

Egg Garland

Is it really almost Easter? I have to admit that I just took down all of the hearts around the house from Valentine’s today to make room for these cute egg garlands. (Truth be told, my Christmas cards are still in a basket in my living room. Seriously, who has time to keep up?) Holidays can’t just be ignored when you have kids, though, so over the weekend we got down to business. These garlands are pretty simple, and what I love about them is that they can be made with just about anything. We made one for each of the kids, plus one for each set of grandparents and one for my mantle. That’s seven garlands all in a matter of a few hours. Easy!

Egg Garland // Art Bar

Here’s how to get it done. First, you need an egg stencil. I thought about including a download, but then decided that really…we all know how to draw an egg, right? I know you can do it!. Just fold a paper in half and cut like you would a heart, but make it an oval. Next, decide what you want to use for your eggs. We used the following: marbled wrapping paper, map of paris, watercolor paints, washi tape, and old art (in this case it was the color studies from a few months ago). I got the wrap from the Papyrus in my town. They do not sell the map and marbled sheets online, but you can get some great wrapping paper at Paper Source.

Egg Garland // Art Bar

Then we got busy painting, cutting, taping, stringing. Sometimes we embellished with pom-poms or beads. We even cut up some straws to string! When the paper was thin, like the wrap, we glued the eggs to cardstock and then cut a second time. We used an 1/8 inch hole punch and a needle to string the embellished garlands.

Egg Garland // Art Bar

I’m slightly obsessed with garland (if you haven’t noticed), so I could make these day and night. But really, they are super easy and fun…so get busy. All you need is one cute decoration and you’re done (in my book). These might even be up until Thanksgiving!

20 Mar 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, Easy, Featured Tags: Easter, Easter eggs, egg garland, eggs, garland

Gallery Wall // Children’s Art

I have collected lots of my children’s art over the years. I have some in boxes, some framed, some taped up, and some hanging from string. But mostly, I have piles. We use some of the art in the piles for projects and birthday cards. The other stuff I plan on hanging up. However, I am stuck! Do I switch out the stuff in frames, create a new wall, hang it in my living room or maybe in the bathroom? Or their bedrooms? I have been scouring Pinterest for ideas so I thought I would share them with you. If you are type A, look away. I have mostly chosen gallery walls that cluster and mix children’s paintings with other art. I love this look, but it can border on messy (“artistic”) if you’re not careful. Limiting clustered art to one wall is the trick!

Here are four different ways to display your child’s art. {I will try to source the photos, but some of them just float around on Pinterest, sourceless.}

Gallery wall // Hang on a line

Hang on a line with clips or clothespins. Easy and cost effective: {from top left, clockwise} Ikea clips // Amsterdam home // sweet dreams // strip of wood // art room {our home} // work space // inspiration wall

Gallery wall // Art on a ledge

Prop art up on a ledge, mix in photographs and other found objects. A more organized look: {from top left, clockwise} small art // mudroom {our home} // art studio // kitchen // Swedish bedroom

Gallery wall // kids art

Hanging art in a cluster is an art in and of itself! {Click here to see how it’s done}. But it can look so cool that it’s worth the effort: {from top left, clockwise} living room // bedroom {our home} // hallway // den // bathroom // common area

Gallery wall // taped art

Last, but not least, the easiest way to hang your child’s art is to let them hang it themselves! Whether pinning to cork, using magnets or just plain old tape {love the washi tape frames}, it’s a really fun and free way to display talent: {from top left, clockwise} cork wall // craft room // dining room // her own creative space // office

These selections are just a few of many (so many!). To dig deeper, click on some of the links and they will lead you to more photos. Or come see my Pinterest boards where I have pinned oodles of artistic and eclectic ideas!

Good luck! Let me know what you decide (and I’ll do the same).

6 Mar 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Decorate, Featured, Kid Spaces, My Home Tags: art wall, children's art, gallery wall, hanging art, picture wall

Paper Chain from Recycled Art

This project is super easy with beautiful results! Hop on over to You Are My Fave for my full post with instructions.

Happy Tuesday!

15 Jan 2013By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Easy, Eco Friendly, Featured, Teen Craft Tags: paper chain, recycled art

Garland // Merry + Bright

I had some leftover gift tags from my project the other day that were calling my name. So yesterday, on my 15th wedding anniversary (mentioned to remind myself that I married a very kind man who lets me leave projects out on the dining room table for weeks. Alright, sometimes he does ask about the crap on the table, but still…), I decided to make this cheery little banner. It makes me happy.

Do you want to give it a try? Here’s how to make one, or a variation:

Supplies:

Patterned cards, about 2″ x 3″

Colored paper (for the letters)

Black fine tip Sharpie

Elmer’s glue

White glitter

Pom-poms

Scissors

Hole punch (1/16″)

Yarn (any will do)

Needle

Start by making the little cards. I rubber stamped mine, but you can also use recycled holiday cards. Cut them to size and round the corners if you’d like to (but you don’t have to).

Meanwhile, draw your block letters. Here is a great tutorial on creating block shadow letters. They are really fun (and addicting) to make. Use a brush to apply the glue carefully, then sprinkle on some glitter.

After the glue & glitter is dry (preferable overnight), you can cut out the letters. I actually made these letters a while back for something else which was handy! Then glue the letters onto the cards.

Lay out your design and place the pom-poms where you want them. Use the hole punch to create 4 little holes. This will give you a more stitched look.

Thread the pom-poms and cards. I threaded two separate rows: One for the MERRY and one for the BRIGHT. Then I tied them together. I taped the “+” under the “R”.

This project requires a little patience, especially if you haven’t done shadow letters before. But it’s worth it so I hope you give it a go!

Have a happy weekend. ♡

14 Dec 2012By: Barbara Rucci Category: Crafts, Create, Decorate, DIY, Featured, Stamping Tags: garland, Holiday garland, rubber stamping

Etsy Artists // Paintings

Last week I posted some great children’s art that I found on Etsy. Today I will share some paintings. Many of these are original paintings, which is the best kind of art. But some are prints since the original paintings were sold. The great thing about prints, though, is that they are affordable!

Donna Walker (above). Fort Worth, Texas. These rich, colorful landscapes are just beautiful. Custom paintings available. Geometric Farm, oil on canvas, 24″ x 24″, $750, Patch of Blue II, oil on canvas, 14″ x 14″, $300. Clouds Roll By II, oil on canvas, 16″ x 16″, $400, Golden Light, oil on canvas, 8″ x 8″, $75.

Jennifer Shears (below). New York. These ethereal paintings are very calming, I think. Custom canvases upon request. Field, oil on canvas, 14″ x 14″, $135, Bay, oil on canvas, 36″ x 36″, $600. Field, oil on canvas, 18″ x 18″, $200, Field, oil on canvas, 16″ x 16″, $170.

Lisa Golightly (above). Portland, Oregon. I love Lisa’s subject matter, and she has such a nice sense of color and composition (I want that Girl in the Yellow Suit). All Together, print, 12″ x 12″, $45, The Swimmers, print, 12″ x 12″, $45. In the Suburbs, acrylic on canvas, 30″ x 40″, $1,650. Girl in the Yellow Suit, print, 16″ x 16″, $55.

Greg Hargreaves (below). Waterloo, Iowa. These midwestern farmland paintings are rich with texture and have a patchwork quality that I adore. October Sky, acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 20″, $750, County Line, acrylic on board, 11″ x 14″, $500. Moonlight Landscape, acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 36″, $1,600.

Melanie Mikecz (above). San Francisco. I love Melanie’s color palette, and her collage-y patterns are happy and fun. Abstract Design, print, 13″ x 19″, $48. Block Abstract, print, 12″ x 12″, $44, Pink Triangle, print, 12″ x 12″, $44. Check Mark, print, 13″ x 19″, $48.

Emily Rickard (above). Los Angeles. Loving these bright and playful paintings – they will bring a pop of color to your home! Something Wonderful is About to Happen, oil on canvas, 16″ x 20″, $575. Eternal Optimist, oil on canvas, 12″ x 16″, $280.

I will continue with this series. Remember…living with art makes for happier people!

12 Dec 2012By: Barbara Rucci Category: Artists, Decorate, Featured, Inspire Tags: Artist, Etsy Artists, paintings

If I Had a Store // No. 1

I dream about owning a shop, oh, just about every day. Pinterest has allowed me to live out my fantasy, without buying merchandise or paying rent. Are you crazy about Pinterest like I am? You can follow me and my obsession if you’d like. If you are not a pinner (I envy you), well then you can enjoy this post.

mini dachshunds // most beautiful hats // melamine plates // stainless mixing bowls // perfect pom-pom yarn // paper pom-poms // vintage school chairs // art supply display // glass pendants // floral napkins // bed linens // rainbow dresser

I’ve labeled this post No. 1 because I’m quite certain I will be adding to my store in the near future!