Book Page Tree

December 16, 2011 by 14 Comments

 

Hey y’all! Hope you are having a great week! Thanks so much to those that entered the One Less Thing Stocking Giveaway!! So, are you ready for the winner?

 

Congratulations, Reeta (comment #8)!!

 

You get 4 SUPER cute stockings!! Yay! Angela with One Less Thing will be contacting you.

 

So now on to a fun and fast Christmas craft you can make TODAY …for free! I saw so many book page Christmas tree ideas on Pinterest and knew I’d love to make my own version.

 

The supplies for book page trees are simple – I just used things from around my house:

 *Paper plates

* a book or magazine you no longer need

*a stapler

*hot glue gun and glue sticks

*scissor

*spray paint (optional)

*craft paint (optional)

 

Here’s how EASY it is to make your own:

 

1. Wrap two paper plates into cones and staple.

 

2. Shove one cone into the other and staple.

3. Your tree will lean a bit. Just trim around the bottom until it is flat.

Leaning…

Flat:

 

4. Yank pages out of an unwanted book or magazine. Cut the pages into long strips.

 

5. Starting from either the top or bottom (your preference), add a bit of hot glue to the top of the book page and glue it to the paper cone. Continue in a spiral all the way down, making sure to cover any holes with extra pages.

 

6. To curl the pages, CAREFULLY pull the paper toward you with scissors. If a strip of paper rips, it’s easy to cover it with another one.

Getting there…..

 

7. If you like your tree the way it is STOP here. To add color, use spray paint and lightly spray until you achieve the look you’re going for. I used just a bit of gold spray paint so the writing could still show through.

*FYI, when you spray the curled paper, it will uncurl a bit. Re-curling doesn’t take long, and it’s a bit therapeutic really. ;)

 

8. Now, do you want to add a tree topper? The possibilities and ideas are endless. I chose to make a star by drawing it on a book page and cutting out about 5 or 6 pages to make it thicker. I did this twice because the stars will be glued together with the top of the cone sandwiched between them.

 

9. Glue each star to the one on top of it in a stack.

 

10. If you want to paint your star, this is the time. Again, I chose gold paint but only used one coat so the words could show through.

 

11. Glue the star to the top.

And that’s it!!

 

 

The really cool thing about these trees is that there are so many ways you can make them. Here are a few others I liked:

 

Source

 

Craftaphile

 

Hutch Studio

 

The Thirty Girl

 

Twig

 

Pretty cool! And fast, and fun, and simple.


 

Today is the last day of school! Pickle will be home for a couple of weeks…he may want to make a few of these for the grandparents.  :)
Have a great weekend!

 

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Filed Under: Craft, Free, Holidays

Giveaway: Christmas Stockings from One Less Thing

December 9, 2011 by 16 Comments

 

Hey there!! Happy Friday! I’m excited to kick off the start of a great weekend with an awesome

GIVEAWAY from One Less Thing!!!

Angela with One Less Thing is a personal assistant who can help tackle your to-do list. She does it ALL: from event planning, organizing, shopping, and decorating, she takes care of it for you so you have one less thing to worry about!

 

Located in Austin, Texas, Angela is available to help you whether you live locally or not. Maybe you need help with menu planning or travel arrangements? She can take the extra stress off of you by doing these things for you! (Nice!!) Angela is also an amazing seamstress if you need custom linens or drapes for your home.

 

Because the rush of the holidays is in full swing, Angela can assist you in all of your holiday needs: whether it’s help with decorating your home, shopping and wrapping gifts, preparing and mailing holiday cards, or getting your home back to normal when the season winds down. (I could seriously use help there!!)

 

Today Angela and One Less Thing has a little something for Free Stylin’ readers:

 

a set of  four beautiful, custom made stockings!

SOO cute, huh?!

The winner will get to choose up to four main colors to match your color scheme and may choose a single initial monogram.

 

 

Use these beautiful stockings in your own home or give them as a gift to family or friends!

 

 

Would you like to win? Of course you do!!

Here’s how:

(You get up to FOUR entries!!)

 1. Enter by visiting One Less Thing’s website www.onelessthingaustin.com and viewing the “Services and Rates” page to see what services would be most helpful to you. Come back here and post a comment letting us know which services you could most use and why. **Please also state the colors you’d like for your pretty stockings!! :)

2. One additional entry for liking One Less Thing’s Facebook page. Come back here to leave a comment stating that you did.

3. (If you haven’t already…) Join Free Stylin’ through Google Friend Connect or by subscribing through RSS feed (the amplify button at the top). Leave a comment.

4. Like Free Stylin on Facebook if you haven’t already. Leave me a comment letting me know you did.

 

 

This Giveaway ends Monday, December 12 at noon CST

and is open to all US residents age 18 and older.

 

Good luck!!

 

This Giveaway is now closed.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Giveaway, Holidays

Guest Post: Susi with Arcadian Lighting

November 29, 2011 by 5 Comments

 

Hi, I’m Susi, a blogger for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful source for inspiration for light fixtures and decorating the home. I’m a big fan of the cheap and free schools of decorating, so I’m thrilled to be guest blogging at Free Stylin’ today. My post is all about creating the look of a stylish butler’s pantry without major cost. Enjoy!

Pantry Decor

The easiest way to create the look and feel of a butler’s pantry in any kitchen is to have gorgeous shelving. Open shelves with neatly arranged glassware, china and food are a low cost to get this look.

Pantry Decor

If your kitchen has a hall or alcove leading into it, turn it into a butler’s pantry with a bookshelf or hutch.

Pantry Decor

This super stylish butler’s pantry could be recreated using thrifty finds. A dresser would work as the lower cabinet and kitchen cabinets found on Freecycle or Craigslist; paint everything the same color for a built-in look. For maximum impact, add under cabinet lighting and perhaps a glam chandelier.

Pantry Decor

Chic and sophisticated, this pantry has a mirrored backsplash and dark colored cabinets and cubbies. Recreate this look the thrifty way with paint and mirror squares as the backsplash.

Pantry Decor

Open shelving, created either by taking the doors off cupboards or installing bookshelves like these, are great for storage that has the look of a butler’s pantry. A stylish lighting fixture and under cabinet lights show off the cool color choice.

Pantry Decor

Ikea makes great floating shelves that would work to recreate the look of this contemporary butler’s pantry. Placing shelves from ceiling to floor in a galley kitchen or along one wall would create the feel of a butler’s pantry.

Pantry Decor

Find salvaged kitchen cabinets through Freecycle or Craigslist and paint them to recreate the look of this dark, dramatic butler’s pantry. Mount them all the way up to the ceiling for tons of storage. Glass doors would be a plus.

Pantry Decor

A great way to create a butler’s pantry is beautiful storage jars and containers that you are proud to display. Inexpensive Mason jars, glass bottles with stoppers from Ikea, thrift store finds all make for pretty storage that looks great on an open shelf along with collections of glassware and china.

Something about the Butler pantry look is so sophisticated, and makes me want to get cooking or baking. What do you think? For fresh interior design and lighting ideas daily, stopy by Arcadian Lighting’s blog! (Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

 

*Thanks, Susi, for the great ideas!!*

Filed Under: Guest Post, Kitchen

Free Thanksgiving Decor

November 21, 2011 by 1 Comment

Thanksgiving place setting decoration

BHG

 

So Thanksgiving is this week!!, and I’m kinda freaking out a bit because I am hosting for the whole fam damily!! I’m super excited for it, don’t get me wrong. Given last year’s Thanksgiving, I am thrilled to be with my loved ones again. And they’re happy that we’re nearby, too, (among other things, I’m sure) because we can host and they don’t have to! ;)

Although I am a little nervous (Will the turkey turn out okay? Will everyone feel at home?), one thing is for sure…the house will look festive without breaking the bank. And your’s can, too! Here are some suggestions of using things you can find already in your home (or outside it!) to decorate for Thanksgiving.

 

From the Fridge or Pantry:


I absolutely LOVE that home-y aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg. Making a potpourri on the stove using spices and oranges is SUPER easy and fast. Your house will smell like you’ve been cooking all day – whether you have or not. ;)  Click here for the recipe.

 

Adding unpopped popcorn to anchor votives is a colorful, inexpensive, and unexpected way to tie in the harvest theme to a Thanksgiving table or buffet.

Joy Ever After

 

Coring out apples, and turning them into candle holders, also brings a little fall to the celebration.

image

Matthew Mead

 

From Outside:


Using leaves from outside to decorate is a quick, simple, and beautiful way to add texture and nature without  spending a dime.

Martha Stewart

 

Martha Stewart

 

Source

 

Using a metallic pen, or even some liquid paper really, leaves can become fun place cards.

Susan Branch

 

Spray painting leaves to match your color scheme can change up the decor quickly and inexpensively. Last year I grabbed some leaves off the magnolia tree in my yard and spray painted them gold. Adding them to a bowl tied with raffia, I had a FREE fall centerpiece.

 

Acorns are all over the place! Pick some up and put them to good use:

Martha Stewart

P.S. Don’t you love the cute walnut salt and pepper holders? AHHdorable!

 

This necklace from Etsy reminded me that you can paint acorns…

Four Flights of Fancy

 

…or roll them in glitter for some extra sparkle.

Stone Gable

 

Pinecones are perfect fillers for vases and bowls, scattered on table tops, or swagged across the mantle.

Shanty 2 Chic

 

Cakeeventsblog.com

 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just be sure to bake out the critters first!!

Click here for baking instructions.

 

The great thing about using most of these items is that you can send the kidlets outside to gather them, which gives them something to do while you’re running around like a chicken…or turkey…with your head cut off. ;)

 

Hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Y’all!

 

I’m so thankful for YOU!!

 

Filed Under: Fall, Free, Thanksgiving

Fall Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

November 8, 2011 by 4 Comments

From Better Homes and Gardens

BHG.com

 

What?! A post?!! Is this FOR REALS?

 

Yes, this is a real post. This blog is not abandoned. Sometimes my life gets in the way of my blogging, so thank you for being so patient with me.

When I began Free Stylin’, I was in a very different place in my life than I am right now. Even though I still have the desire to create and inspire and decorate and share, I just can’t do it all. Not right now at least.

Luckily there is an enormous amount of creativity and ideas around me through catalogs, websites, blogs, Pinterest, friends, family, etc. Instead of trying to DO ALL and BE ALL, I’ve decided that, for now, Free Stylin’ will be a collection of all the ridiculously awesome ideas I come across that are “as close to FREE as possible” and/or things you can make by using items you may already have on hand.

 

Bottom line…I’ll pass along the great ideas I come across instead of hoarding them in an attempt to try them all.

 

Cuz believe me…I’ve tried trying to make every.last.dang.cute.idea. It’s just too much right now.

I will continue to post my own projects as well. As I freakin’ FINALLY finish up The Office, I’ll be sure to show the afters. IF When I get the guts to hose down the kitchen cabinets with white paint, I’ll tell you all about it. My master bedroom makeover, that’s been in the works since I practically moved in 8 months ago (8?! Wow!), will definitely get some Free Stylin’ face time – don’t you worry. You’ve been warned!  ;)

I figure my blog can evolve with me – be what I need it to be when I’m in different places in my life. This way I can continue to talk and write about what I love but in a way that I can keep up.

 

So, with that in mind, I’d also like to extend an invitation to YOU!! If you have a project or idea you’d like featured on Free Stylin’, PLEASE e-mail me! (freestylinbeth (at) gmail (dot) com) I’d love to see your cool ideas and pass them along to others. You don’t have to have a blog to be featured…just submit before and after pics with a description of what you did. If you do have a blog, send me the html code or url to the specific post. Just keep in mind that your idea needs to be using items you have on hand or that can cost as close to free as possible.

 

Coolio? I hope so.

 

So here are today’s great ideas…using things you “most likely” already have on hand:

 

Fall Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

AKA What do I do with my Halloween pumpkin now?

(Click on the link for how-tos.)


 

*Fall-ify your porch with items you have on hand…

Pumpkin, leaves, branches, an urn or pot, and HOPEFULLY a battery-operated light.

Fancy House Road

 

*Use Epsom salt to add a little sparkle to your cute pumpkins.

Davis: Day by Day

 

*And take it a step further by turning it into a vase.

miniature pumpkin vase--epsom salt

Addicted to Decorating

 

Martha Stewart

 

*If you are hosting Thanksgiving, make sure your guests show up to the right house.

Spraying the pumpkin a fun color and adding house numbers helps direct the traffic to your front door.

Twig and Thistle

 

*Try spray painting the pumpkins with Rustoleum’s Chrome spray.

Shiny, metallic decor in a second!

Pottery Barn

 

*Turn your pumpkins into candle holders.

Silver pumpkins on crystal vases

BHG

 

Martha  Stewart

 

*And, last but definitely NOT least, you could make a REAL pumpkin pie.

DUH.   ;)

Pumpkin Pie

Betty Crocker

 

Anyway, so there are a few ideas of things to do with your pumpkins…besides watching them turn into a science experiment or leaving them on the porch HOPING the neighbor kids will “dispose” of them with their teenage angst. ;)

Okay, so maybe that’s just me. :)

So – what about you? What do you do with your pumpkin once Halloween is over? How do you carry the fall theme over in your home?

 

 

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Filed Under: Fall, Free, Pumpkins
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