A Bit of Southern Hospitality

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Roeshel

I just wanted to share a quick shout out to my friend, Rhoda, at Southern Hospitality today for featuring a DIY Show Off home tour. I’ve “known” sweet Rhoda for years and finally had the fun opportunity to meet her in 2011 at an event, then last year at Haven and to meet up with her again earlier this year at another event. She’s every bit as awesome in real life and so talented. If you’re looking for inspiration, whether it be decorating or personal, you’ll want to ‘meet’ Rhoda too.

She has so many amazing projects. You name it, Rhoda’s accomplished it. My favorite is her happy green home office. A great place for getting creative and being inspired…

So if you have the chance, pop over to Southern Hospitality today. Check out the DIY Show Off home tour. While you’re there, visit Rhoda’s beautiful previous home and gorgeous new home and all of her awesome DIY projects. And tell her I said “hi”.

Enjoy a wonderful long holiday weekend! TGIF!

Oh! And if you’re visiting from Rhoda’s…welcome! So happy you stopped by! You’re invited to take a look around, get comfy and hopefully inspired. There’s a Silhouette Portrait Giveaway currently going on and I host a weekly DIY party filled with inspiring projects. You can see more of our Home Tour here and my DIY Project Gallery page here.

Guess the DIY blogger Contest

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Roeshel

I’ve always wished I could go back in time…just a little, not quite this far! But, join me for a ride in a time machine to go back. Back to a time before there was Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, even the internet. Before chevron, chalkboards and ombré were hot. And specifically, before there were blogs! And just for fun: let’s pretend we are sitting at the popular girls’ lunch table… We’re going back to when some of these DIY gals were worrying about how high they could get their hair and for some, back when talking on the phone for hours meant stretching that long spiral cord beyond its limits and tying up the only phone in the house. Remember getting busy signals? Common purchases for these DIY gals may have been the latest cassette tape, neon bracelets, a swatch watch and prepping for a future in blogging with daily writing exercises starting out “Dear Diary,“. You wouldn’t catch them dead in the hardware store, totally unheard of to the max! Are you there yet? Do you see leg warmers or jelly sandals? You’re getting closer…the time machine stopped. Step out and behold… the time before blogs:

Okay, now that you’re snorting with laughter, wipe your tears before your mascara runs…can you tell which one is me?

Do you recognize any of these DIY bloggers? Do you think you could recognize them in High School, Middle School or Elementary School? For sure! These awkward youngsters will one day be the brains behind your favorite DIY blogs. And they are giving a $300 Lowe’s Gift Card to the first person who can guess which faces match with which DIY blogs.

Here are the blogs to match {you might want to click back and forth to see current profile photos for help}:

Here are the details (you must be 18 yrs or older to win):

Visit the link below where you will be able to enter your guess for each blogger pictured above. (All information will be kept private.)
The first person to correctly match all the faces with their blog will win a $300 Lowe’s gift card!
If you win, you will receive an email with instructions to reply with your mailing address. (Then your prize will be mailed to you.)
And of course, you will gain bragging rights for being the biggest DIY Blog Fan Ever! Totally RAD, right?!

Best of luck to you, should decide to take on the challenge. I’m not even sure I could get them all right.

Enter Your Answers

*Special thanks to Mandi of Vintage Revivals who bared her soul about blog puberty, (inspired the idea to “share” awkward photos with you) and Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl for organizing this fun contest. It’s just like looking back through family albums, isn’t it? Embarrassing!

Todd & Lindsey

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Roeshel

Dear DIY readers…I’d like you to meet Lindsey: talented crafter, baker and DIY’er at the blog Todd & Lindsey.

Last month, I hosted a Christmas Tree Contest. When I went to make the announcement in the last DIY Holiday Highlights party, I must have gotten sidetracked and dropped the ball. I’m so sorry! Way to go, right? {hanging my head in shame}

Thankfully, the winner is super sweet and patient. I’m excited to share that the Christmas tree with the most likes is…

Todd&Lindsey and their budget Christmas tree:

beautifully decorated with some DIY ornaments including:

With her mix of beautiful handmade ornaments, it’s no wonder she’s a winner. Congratulations, Lindsey!

Her inspiring Christmas tree led me to another post, which prompted more looking around…little does she know, I didn’t just visit one post, I invited myself to take a look around and fell in love. So much goodness to see. Here is just a peek of the DIY (and more) goodness you’ll find at Todd & Lindsey…

Conversational Heart Garland Wreath – super cute for Valentine’s Day!

DIY light bulb pears…adorable!

a lovely home tour…

beautiful muslin rosette wreath tutorial…

and look at this LOW CARB pizza…yum!

I spy so much inspiration. See more DIY, tons of delicious recipes and more at…

Simple Redesign: Dresser to Media Center

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Roeshel

DIY Project: dresser turned media center

Blog: Simple Redesign

Julie from Simply Redesign recently share on her blog “how to turn a dresser into a media center” with the help of her husband. Here is the dresser before:

Amazing after…

dresser after

DIY media center

Simple Redesign shares TONS of DIY, great custom furniture tips and lots of inspiring furniture makeovers to motivate rescuing something old and making it fabulous. Here are a few more favorites…

painted dresser chartreuse

painted furniture

What are you waiting for? Pop over and introduce yourself.

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Roeshel

Happy New Year, DIY Show Off friends!

Thank YOU for an awesome year of friendship, encouragement, support and sharing DIY, decorating, home improvement and crafts. If it wasn’t for you or for sharing our love of DIY and decorating, the hard work involved with blogging wouldn’t have the special meaning that it does. And as revisited my 2012 DIY projects, I couldn’t help but think that the BEST part of 2012 wasn’t my DIY at all. Nope. It was the DIY community, my DIY friends, DIYShowOff readers, my blogging buddies. YOU are the best part of DIY Show Off, YOU are a blessing, the reward and your comments encourage more creativity and motivation to move from one completed project to the next. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m looking forward to another year of getting to know, making new friends and of course, more do-it-yourself decorating and home improvement.

2013 GOALS

Do you make new year’s resolutions? I call them “goals”. Here are my thoughts for me starting 2013 off on the right foot:

time management: Develop a schedule for blogging, projects and life. My current schedule is random and although I’ve adjusted to working from home, I need to create a routine. I’m not spending the right amount of time for each task I’d like to complete, even on a daily basis. Do you have any tips that help keep you on track? I’d love to hear ‘em!
blogging: Working towards another successful year of doing what I love and being better at it.
loving: Adjusting to an empty nest means there’s just something missing at home. Our girls are on their own and we lost our doxie 3 years ago. In 2013, we’re opening our hearts and home to a dog. Our rescue application has already been submitted. Just waiting for a match. Can’t wait to share our new fur-bundle of joy with you when the time comes. If you’re a long time DIYShowOff follower, then you know that our doxie, Niski, was a big part of my blogging. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have a canine assistant again.

hobby: Become a better photographer {practice.practice.practice.}

DIY: Of course there will be DIY! on the list: a dreamy cottage style bathroom makeover is a must as well as finally completing the family room/craft room but my biggest DIY *wish* for 2013: new windows, a welcoming front door (previous owners re-routed the ‘front’ door to the side when building an enclosed porch) and some pretty landscaping. It‘s a mess of a jungle out there! This is the view of our old farmhouse from the road…

Seriously…a holly bush has turned into a 20 foot tree. And it looks as if this old farmhouse has turned her back to the world in shame, doesn’t it? Hoping to help her smile with pride in 2013.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, amazing new year…

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you

Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want, you get.A year in which you cherish
The past year’s memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies.I wish for you a holiday
With happiness galore;
And when it’s done, I wish you
Happy New Year, and many more. by: Joanna FuchsDo you give any thought to goals with the start of a new year?

See what goals my friends’ are sharing {please feel free to share or include a link to your goals in the comments as well}:

Let’s stay in touch…
Facebook

15 Awesome DIY Highlights

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Roeshel

Every week, I host a DIY linky party where so many of my talented blog friends share their latest DIY and every week, I am so inspired. I wanted to share a few recent favorites with you {please visit and pin from the original link}:

Julia from Cuckoo 4 Design always has a plan for some fun DIY and shares her tutorial for a DIY room divider. Beautiful and functional!

I love every room Janel has shared of her fun eclectic home at Nellie Bellie and her epic hallway makeover has so many fun features including a painted floor and awesome lighting…

So beautiful! Amy from the Blissful Bee shares her formal living room updates. Great space to hang out! I love what she’s done to create an inviting formal living room {nothing stuffy or impersonal about her style…it’s awesome!}

As a mom of girls, I’ve never had the opportunity to decorate a boy’s room but loving these…

Color, texture, memories…it’s a beautiful combination for this big boy room makeover at Dixie Delights.

A sweet little vintage/industrial nursery from Korrie’s neighbor at Red Hen Home…

Speaking of sweet little boys rooms, did you see this adorable stenciled biplane dresser at Classy Clutter? SO cute! {stenciling tutorial included}

and then…speaking of Classy Clutter, there’s an amazing tiny kitchen makeover! Need an example of how paint can brighten up a small space? Check out the before and after that Mallory finished earlier in the year {dining room makeover too}. Wow!

No entryway or mudroom? Creating your own closet to mudroom. A great idea for making a welcoming space to take off shoes. This one from Handmade Modern is so pretty and organized:

or…Ellora from Creatively Southern shares tips for creating an entryway space right inside the door:

Closets aren’t just for storage or clothes or junk or entryway/mudrooms. A closet makes a cute office space too. I love the organization and pretty closet office at Thrifty Parsonage Living…a quiet place to be busy.

A vintage rustic master bedroom filled with DIY awesomeness and gorgeous vintage accents at Down to Earth Style…

Bethany from This Little Estate invites us to see her stunning kitchen remodel. Beautiful choice in materials, lovely styling, unbelievable before and after…

Sheila really did an amazing job with creating this beautiful footboard wall hanging at Plum Doodles…it’s so creative, so pretty!

Tricia from Simplicity in the South is updating her sweet petite master suite {makeover in progress} and it’s looking good!

and last but not least, my laundry room inspiration. There is not one thing in this laundry room that doesn’t fit my style or requirements. It’s full of character and so functional. Yes. It’s dreamy.

All of the links were really worth sharing but since I can’t do an entire post, you’ll have to visit the DIY party to see the rest. Including these fun ideas:

Weaving with twigs from hurricane
Chicken wire bulletin board
Thumb tack embellished ornaments
Simple rustic Christmas ornaments
DIY decanter bar lights
Super cute stocking hat crochet pattern
Building a nook under the stairs
Autumn front porches
Painted faux hardwood floors
DIY curtain rods
Recycled cork floor mat
Reversible tree skirt
so many sweet furniture makeovers
DIY felt Christmas trees
Mason jar chandelier
and so much more!

Hope to see you Sunday at the next DIY Project Parade!

If you’ve been featured above, please feel free to grab an “I’m Featured” button {here} to show off! Thanks to everyone for linking up and sharing your inspiring DIY creativity and hard work!

View Along the Way ~ Capiz Shell Chandelier Pendant Look for Less

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Roeshel

DIY {do-it-yourself} is often the way we achieve a more expensive look or way to obtain a similar budget friendly version of a product we love. Kelly from View Along the Way has an amazing example. She loved this $549 capiz light fixture from Horchow {rightfully so!}…

Kelly achieved a similar look for a much more budget-friendly price using…

1. capiz shell tea light pendant from TJ Maxx

2. IKEA Januari lamp

3. two ceiling canopies

Here is her beautiful DIY version…

See the tutorial from Kelly at View Along the Way {please remember to pin from the original tutorial too}.

How to Make a Capiz Shell Chandelier Pendant.

Kelly! This is so creative, so pretty and so clever! Beautiful job! Thank you for sharing!

Miss Mustard Seed – “Inspired You”, inspired me {review and giveaway}

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winners will be contacted via email.

Congratulations to Jessica and Gena!

If you’re a blog reader, love pretty decorative accents or painting furniture, it’s likely that you “know” Marian from Miss Mustard Seed. I’ve “known” Marian for years and her amazing story and inspiring talent are a reflection of the kind heart behind the Miss Mustard Seed blog.

From the moment I returned from the Haven 2012 conference, my entire summer was spent renovating a small apartment and oh, joy! It was a blast. Nearly everyday warm (my favorite time of the year) and spent doing something I love to do…DIY and decorating. And as the renovation came near to completion (there are still a few things left to do including taking “after” photos), we enjoyed a much needed vacation. No DIY, no work. All relaxation and spending time with family. And you’d think one would return all well rested and ready to jump back into routine. But when I returned to a home that had been neglected all summer with the fast approaching holidays, shorter days, colder temps, gray skies and an empty nest, I suddenly felt overwhelmed and stressed and had no idea where to even start in my cluttered unfinished surroundings.

This past week, my copy of “Inspired You” {Inspired You: Letting God Breathe New Life Into Your Heart and Home} arrived and because I’ve been moving from one little thing to the next {although with little motivation and accomplishing next to nothing}, it sat on the dust covered coffee table for a few days. Then giving into my lazy mood one day {well, honestly, most days}, I took a moment for myself and brewed a cup of tea, propped up my feet and opened my book. I.could.not.put.it.down.

So truth be told, a moment turned into a couple of hours (it’s 200+ pages) but it’s not all tutorial style. It’s Marian’s stories, her ideas and thoughts sprinkled with a few tutorials to refer back to and beautiful photos of her adorable home and inspiring vintage, thrifted, hand-made decorating style. I found myself looking up and around my home, pondering what works best for our family, what we do like, what we don’t, what’s not working, sometimes clarity, a spark of motivation. Marian’s thoughts are similar to my own but seeing them through her eyes, the gentle reminder of what is important, well, it gave me a fresh new perspective and several times, I set the book aside and walked around my home from room to room. I was inspired to grab my notebook, write down a few comments or a to-do list for a certain area, goals. And I was inspired to look at one task rather than the entire huge overwhelming picture which helps me realize that if our house is comfortable enough to mess up, we’re happy.

Basically, when I agreed to review our friend’s new book (because not only am I a Miss Mustard Seed fan, I love promoting my blog friends and share their excitement in fun opportunities and success of hard work)…I had no idea that her book would do just what the cover says. It helped me let God breathe new life into my heart and into my home. My house is not perfect. It never is perfect. It never will be and at this moment when my house is far far away from perfect, I finally found peace and motivation to start somewhere, anywhere to work towards my goal.

So, if you’re looking for a ‘decor’ book for your holiday wish list, collect home decor books like me or need a talented friend to hold your hand and encourage you to make what you already have something you love…this book is for you. It’s not one you’re going to pick up, only flip through pretty pictures or refer to for a furniture painting tutorial. It’s one that you won’t be able to put down and it will inspire you to start an enjoyable satisfying journey to making your house a haven for your family.

And the happy ending to this story: I walked away truly inspired. And motivated. And thankful. With a fresh perspective, I got my butt up off the couch and dove headfirst into “letting God breath new life into my heart and my home”.

“Inspired You” GIVEAWAY

And I have the opportunity to share “Inspired You” with two {2} lucky DIY Show Off readers in a lovely giveaway this week! How to enter:

Leave 1 comment about what you would most like to change about your home.
Share this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, etc. and leave a comment about each share. {Thank you!}

Giveaway starts today and ends Saturday November 17th at midnight EST. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

Marian, Miss Mustard Seed with me at Haven 2012…at the end of a LONG crazy day. Seeing blog friends’ dreams come true is so exciting! You can visit Marian at her inspiring blog, Miss Mustard Seed.

Meet DIY blog friend, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife…

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Roeshel

Good morning, DIY friends! This past summer at the Haven conference, I had the opportunity to meet one of my inspiring DIY blog friends face to face. She’s sweet, she’s funny {unfortunately she wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t get to spend much time with her} but she’s feeling better and while I’m away on vacation, I invited Stacy to introduce herself…

My name is Stacy and I blog over at Not JUST A Housewife. I live in a small 1938 cottage style home and I blog all about fixing it up and decorating. I have 4 little boys so with 6 of us in such a tiny area, I have to be creative in how I do things to maximize the space.

One of my favorite projects I have done this year was building floating shelves for my office. But these are not ordinary shelves….. Not only are they made out of old fence pickets (I love to repurpose!) But they have a secret

They have hidden drawers! They are only a few inches deep but it is perfect for papers. My office has always suffered from piles of papers everywhere. So this was perfect

Here are the basic steps it took to build them. I have a more detailed tutorial on my blog.

I started by cutting the fence pickets down to size and using a miter saw I cut the ends at 45 degree angles.

Then I nailed them together after applying some wood glue.

Once the shelf was put together (It really is a box-y tube at this point) I atttached a board to the wall and then slipped the shelf on the board. I screwed the shelf into the board to hold it.

And then I built a basic drawer that fits into the opening of the shelf. For more detailed instructions and pictures visit the tutorial on my blog.

Some of my other recent projects:

My son’s bed has drawers so he couldn’t have a traditional side table or it would block the drawers from opening. So I built him a floating side table.

Like I said, I LOVE to repurpose items into something new. I used old door knobs (original to our home) as towel hooks. I also cut out a new frame for our medicine cabinet for our vintage inspired bathroom.

I don’t just work indoors. I love to garden as well. I recently finished my very own secret garden!

Thanks for sharing your hard work and awesome DIY, Stacy!

Redoux Interiors’ tips and technique for creating a real wood look…

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Roeshel

I’m on vacation this week – hurray! I’ll still be in and out of “the office” but I’m so happy to have a few guests this week. First up is my super talented blog friend, Karen:

Hi DIY Showoff Readers, I am Karen, aka “Good Time Charlie from Redoux Interiors.

I am thrilled to be here filling in for Roeshel. I love Roeshel’s blog so much, probably for many of the same reasons you do. There are really good tutorials here, and I always learn something new. I am going to share with you how to make anything look like wood, for real!

Do you ever find a piece of furniture, especially a table, that you really wished had a rich, wood toned top, and you could paint the rest. The problem? The top is plastic, or veneer that is really in bad shape, or just ugly wood! These nightstands started out like this:

I had a vision for these two. I wanted them to have a rich wood top, and an expensive, creamy glazed body.

I achieved the look by using several layers of glaze. This isn’t hard, and you don’t really need any particular artistic skills, just a little practice, and you can start turning any surface into wood.

I come across a lot of Farm tables like this. Maybe you even have one in your home? The wood top is usually inferior wood that isn’t stainable. Many of these tables are built well, they just need an updated “Redoux”!

If you haven’t worked with glaze before, you might want to start by just familiarizing yourself with how it works, feels. Try antiquing something with glaze, and then adding another darker glaze to deepen the color, you will get the hang of this technique in no time.

Let’s get started, time to gather your materials:

I use Modern Masters products for this technique, they are high quality and the products are concentrated so I end up using less. You can purchase these online through the MM website, some Kelly Moore stores have them, or you can buy them from my distributor HERE. Alternatively, you can use similar products, and high quality, highly pigmented acrylic paints (best purchased at an art supply store)

NOTE: If you are painting a surface where water where will be present, I recommend starting with two coats of an oil based primer, I like Zinnser. Follow this with a light brown standard paint, to make your “base color”.

TIP: You can paint over an oil based primer with water based paints and glazes, but not vice versa. Make sense?

Modern Masters Dead Flat Varnish, or Glidden Polycrylic in flat, or very low sheen
*Foam roller, or old paint brush
*High quality paint brush (I like Purdy Brand)
Glazing medium (cream)
*Tobacco Brown colorant (or warm wood acryclic paint color)
Aged Mahogany colorant (or similar acrylic paint color)
Van Dyke Brown or Coffee Bean Brown (this is a very dark brown color)
Cheese cloths, cut in half, and wadded up to look like a “pom pom”
Chip brushes, 2″, 3″, or 4″ (depending on the size of your piece)

1.Using the foam roller, apply varnish to a clean, lightly sanded surface. Using the high quality paint brush, lay off the varnish in the direction of the grain.

2.When 1st step is dry, prepare your glaze by making a mixture of TB colorant by a 1:6 ratio with glaze. Depending on how big of a piece you are glazing, start by making a small amount, you can always make more.

3. Using a chip brush, apply Tobacco Brown glaze all over surface, generally following the grain, (or if there is none, in the same direction). While this is still wet, apply your Aged Mahogany colorant straight out of the bottle. I like to pour some onto a paper plate and then use a chip brush to (dab it on). It should look like this when you are finished with this step.

4.Now Use your cheesecloth Pompom to pull the glaze in the direction of the grain. The pompom will absorb the excess glaze and softens the look. When your cheesecloth is loaded up with glaze, you can use it to apply glaze to the sides and details. Also, just sort of re”pompom” it to use a dryer section, and continue doing so until your cheese cloth is all used. Use your chip brush to pick up the excess glaze that may have settled in corners and grooves.

5. Prepare your next layer of glaze by using a mixture of the Van Dyke Brown (or very dark brown) in a 1:1 to ratio. This is a very strong mixture, if you want your wood to be lighter, use more glaze to colorant ratio. Apply Dark Brown glaze with a chip brush in the same way you did the first layer. If you are doing a cabinet door, start with the middle, and work your way to edges. Again, soften and “remove” excess glaze with a Cheesecloth “pompom”, following with a chip brush like you did in step #4.

***Optional step*** If you desire a richer, darker look, you can experiment by repeating the first step, just by adding another layer of the Tobacco Brown glaze, and then when dry, another layer of the Dark brown glaze.

6. You can decide to leave your finish as is, or you can take this optional step. When glaze is completely dry, use some of your dark brown colorant straight from the bottle. (Again, I like to pour it onto a paper plate). You can apply some to the edges, using a chip brush, and randomly throughout your piece to “darken” the wood. Use a rag to “blend” the colorant.

8. When you have achieved the desired look, seal with protectant of your choice. I have used wax or a clear coat, or nothing, depending on where my piece will be used. Both will work beautifully with this finish.

Tip: This is one of my favorite glazing “tricks”. You can try this on just about any surface. If you are painting a surface that is not easy to paint, i.e. laminate, etc., then it is a must that you begin with a high adhesive primer.

Here is the kitchen table I did, completely “glazed over”

Before:

Close up of corner:

One more note…..the chairs were black with the same fakey wood on the seats. I used my sprayer to paint out the chairs and the table base with Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black in an outdoor paint they carry called “Resilience”. I don’t usually use an exterior paint for indoor use, but this family has small children, entertains often, and I decided to go with something that would hold up to all kinds of wear and tear, and lots of wiping down!

The wonderful thing about this glaze treatment is the endless choices of wood tones you can come up with. Once you get comfortable with this method, you can begin experimenting with all different colors of glaze and colorants. Here are some other samples of work I have done using this technique:

This bathroom was honey colored Oak. The owner’s master bedroom was all Cherry Stained wood, I added more red tones using more Aged Mahogany to achieve this look:

This bathroom had all white laminate cupboards and did not match the English Country Style of the rest of the Decor. I used less red and dark tones to achieve this look:

This was a large, very light colored built in Oak cabinet. It didn’t suit the new owner’s tastes. Instead of stripping and staining the entire piece. (which would have been very long, laborious, and EXPENSIVE!), I used my glazed wood technique. The new owner’s were delighted. They had a rich, dark, built in, for a fraction of the cost and time it would have taken to strip and stain the entire piece.

Hopefully I inspired you to go create your own wood on some unsuspecting furniture! It is really fun to experiment with this technique. I would love to hear from you if you have more questions, or even better, see your results!

What an awesome technique! Would you look at that gorgeous dark rich wood? ::insert whistle:: Thank you so much, Karen for sharing your tricks with us! Can’t wait to give this a try!!!

I’m in the {HomeTalk} Bloglight today!

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Roeshel

Hello friends! I am SUPER excited! Guess what? I’m in the HomeTalk Bloglight today! If you’re new to DIY Show Off, welcome! {I’m Roeshel, blog author of DIY Show Off. It’s nice to e-meet you!} You may want to visit the DIY Show Off home page to catch up on all of the awesome things going on this week. I don’t usually talk much about myself and in person, I’m usually at a loss for words but warning – writing comes A LOT easier for me so this is a long one {see * below}! You can usually find me wearing paint covered cloths, no make up and working on a DIY project…

and if we’re already friends…thanks for sharing my excitement today {and all week}! You’ve already seen me at my worst and you’re still here! Blogging = true friendships, I tell ya.

I’ve actually been a long time member at HomeTalk (since May 2011) and love the community that supports everything “home” related. If you’re not familiar, HomeTalk is a site dedicated to DIY, home improvement, home repair, home maintenance, gardening, decorating – with so many ideas, inspiration and a place to ask for advice, collect inspiration and pretty much just talk about home {“Home+Talk”}! Oh and a place to share and ‘show off’ – my kind of hangout! You can find DIY Show Off on HomeTalk here.

I had the pleasure of meeting this super sweet woman from HomeTalk at the Haven Conference this past summer. Miriam is such a supportive and encouraging friend to many HomeTalk members and DIY/home bloggers. {Thanks, Miriam!}

Being in the Bloglight means I get a virtual trophy, cash prize and tiara, I think. Just kidding! It means I get to share a few things about my blogging experience. I always feel shy about doing so. I’m not an expert, but here’s my story:

About me…

How did you first get into blogging? While I still feel like a new blogger a lot of the time, I wrote my first blog post in 2007. Yep, five years ago. I’m still loving every minute of it. {Well, minus crashed blog pages, html coding or those types of things…enough to drive a technically challenged blogger mad!}. My blog was actually a diary, a journal of what was going on in our lives. No introduction, no “hello world”, no grand launch – I didn’t really think anyone would actually read it. Back before the days of social media, it took NEARLY 1 YEAR before I had a real comment that wasn’t spam. And yes, I read and commented on other blogs too. It just took a while for things to warm up. Can you imagine waiting that long? I didn’t really think much about it at the time because I didn’t expect that anyone was reading. Things have changed since then. It’s been a long journey of ups and downs. Don’t give up! In 2007, we purchased this old neglected farmhouse and as you can guess, a lot of my blog posts discussed our projects, our before and after transformation, our DIY.

After a couple of years of writing my personal blog, I found that others online shared my passion for DIY, home improvement and decorating and DIY Show Off was born. I’ve been writing about DIY for over five years. I’m often asked what I will write about when our home is complete. Um, I think we have projects to last us 20 years and during that time frame and to infinity and beyond I’ll be starting over, changing my mind, rearranging my home. It’s something I’ve always loved to do.

How did you decide on the name for your blog? There are books filled with baby names and dog names and cat names. I think I’m going to write a book filled with blog names. It’s HARD to choose a blog name! After blogging for a couple of years and discovering that the topic I enjoyed writing about most was DIY, I decided to create a new blog dedicated to do-it-yourself. I started focusing on sharing our home projects and giving others (bloggers and non bloggers) a place to share {SHOW OFF} their DIY home improvements and decorating, with links back to their blogs. I love recognizing a DIY job well done and helping other blogs grow too!

It’s a place to Show Off DIY. So…”DIY Show Off” it became after a sleepless night when I couldn’t stop thinking about a name. Some of you might remember my first look and my tag line…

Which project has brought you the most traffic to date? It’s a toss up between my painted foam playmat (which I now use as outdoor wall art because it turned out too cute to step all over)…

and my last minute idea to for a “using what we have” stair landing makeover with FrogTape…

By far, our home tour has been the most popular page and is my favorite post to update. Because if I’m editing that home tour page, it means we have progress, baby!

Since I’ve been a member of HomeTalk for quite a while, most of my posts are before the HUGE growth HomeTalk experienced this year. I invite you to check out my HomeTalk posts {here}. To date, my most popular HomeTalk post was my super easy DIY yarn pumpkins {yarn+pinecones}. Shared 1.6k times! Woo hoo! And yes, that traffic trickles down. Blogging can sometimes feel lonely. HomeTalk is a place where you can meet new friends who share your DIY and decorating interests, a great tool to help grow your blog too. If you’re not a member of HomeTalk, it’s free to sign up!

Do your friends and family read your blog? Yes! My daughters read my blog. Bri reads it regularly and Ali has been reading more, especially since her apartment reveal is coming up! And Mr. DIY? He catches up on posts regularly. He loves reading comments. His favorite DIY blogger comment was that our marble subway tiled backsplash is ”to die for”.

Hearing words of praise and approval are so encouraging! We’re like blog dogs. The more “good job” comments we get, the more we want to do it again!

I know my mom and sisters check in on occasion and I have at least one friend who tries to read every day. And if I get excited about something and share on my personal Facebook page, all of my family and friends are very supportive. Outside of that, I’m lucky if someone knows what a blog is which is so hard to believe. Stuns me every time I’m asked. I probably say the word “blog” 100 x a day and some people don’t know what it is?! It’s an everyday part of my life.

How has keeping a blog changed you? The changes I’ve experienced through blogging have all been positive. Home projects are more fun when I can share. I’m still amazed that what I do inspires and helps readers. Knowing I’m helping and encouraging others to create a home they love encourages me. It’s also a huge help at keeping me focused and seeing projects through to completion. It’s helped me stay focused. Blogging sometimes makes me more confident, then turns around and makes me more humble too. Discouraging days happen and hanging in there during those takes makes me stronger. And the best part by far has been the friendships and relationships I’m making. Connecting with other DIY lovers has changed my social life!

How I blog…

*Do you stick to a strict posting schedule? How do you keep track of when and how often to post? I prefer to keep things low pressure. My blog linky parties are the only strict scheduled posts at DIY Show Off. The DIY Project Parade is creeping up on it’s 150th post!

Other than that, I post when I have something to share and when a feature by another blogger or reader is submitted that is a good fit with the topic of DIY. DIY Show Off is 99% DIY related but I’m trying to incorporate a little more personal and lifestyle posts. I enjoy blogging. My posts aren’t always planned, my schedule isn’t super strict. * I find that if I put too much planning and scheduling into my blogging, I change the post 20 times and add enough details to compete with the longest novels {ahem…this blog post is the perfect example of a planned in advance blog post. I rest my case!}. The most I’ve worked ahead is by one week and although it does feel good and like I’m all organized, I then get lazy and start back over with writing the day before I post or the same day. Besides, when I finish a project, I want to share ASAP, not store it in draft for weeks.

What are your favorite types of posts to read/write? Well, let’s see. I think you know the answer to this one! I love posts related to DIY, decorating, thrifting, repurposing. But I also enjoy posts about fashion, crafting, blogging, photography and lifestyle.

DIY!

What advice would you give to other bloggers that you wish you had known when you started blogging? I wish someone had told me that even though I would approach blogging with a casual attitude, that there is the potential for it to become a HUGE important part of my life. {It’s contagious and addictive!} That even though I love blogging, even though I’m passionate about my topic and excited and all motivated, there will be times of doubt, lack of confidence and discouragement. There are highs and lows. There are smiles and tears. It happens to everyone. Blogging looks easy and positive enough and it is! But it also portrays an organized, beautiful, mostly always happy life where everything is perfect, going well and positive. Most times, Blog life isn’t true reality, it’s an edited airbrushed version of reality. We never know what’s going on behind the scenes. We see what others want us to see. If you’re a new blogger or just a blog reader, I’m grabbing your hand, looking you in the eye and stressing…

Blogging is time consuming and a lot of work and in most cases, something else {less important} is being put on hold or neglected. If you find you love blogging but feel discouraged or overwhelmed, don’t give up. Step away from the computer. You’re a blogger! You make your own schedule! Real life and good feelings are the priority. The worldwideweb won’t explode if you don’t post or take time off. Find a balance that works for your real life and realize that growing a blog takes a lot of nurturing, hard work, learning and dedication…but real life comes first.

I’m doing something I’m completely in love with…making our house a home. If I allow it, weeks can go by tied up in projects, taking and editing pictures, writing tutorials, proofreading, hitting “publish” and starting again. A lot of hours go into just one project for one blog post. Add blog maintenance, fun opportunities {some even paid}, blog friendships {there are so many inspiring friends/blogs that keep me on the computer for hours before realizing I missed lunch!} and social media to the mix and you have time to eat and sleep. It’s important to set time aside for real life. When blogging becomes a full time career, it means the potential to work double time. And while it’s a lot of work, I love it and it’s a good fit for my life. Growing a blog takes time, patience and work but your content is out there. Someone, somewhere, sometime is going to be reading what you’ve written and be inspired.

dream.create.share.inspire

Making new friends is so much fun! Thanks to HomeTalk for the awesome feature and letting me share a little about myself today! Thanks for stopping by! I’d love for you to stay in touch by following DIY Show Off…

Facebook

Thanks for enduring 4 blogs posts within a 48 hour time frame! There’s just been so much good to share this week with the 3 HUGE giveaways, DIY Fall Festival linky party, today’s fun HomeTalk Bloglight feature and my Joss & Main Curated Collection later today! And I promise that after today, you won’t hear a peep from me until Sunday…where I’ll be hosting the regularly scheduled DIY Project Parade from a warm and sunny vacation US destination. I.cannot.wait!

Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} giveaway!

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Roeshel

Happy Wednesday, friends! What better way to start the last half of the week than with an awesome HUGE giveaway! 16 blog friends have been working together to bring you, our readers, followers and friends a chance to win some fabulous prizes as a “thank you” for all of your support and encouragement. (It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!) Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily fromDecor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany fromPretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

(It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!)

Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Grand Prize A: Value $1,600.00

A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles.
MSRP: $100.00

$150 gift card to D.Lawless
Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00

$500 Gift Card to Kirkland’s. MSRP $500.00

$500 Gift Card to Payless Décor MSRP $500.00

$350 Gift Certificate to Red Letter Words. MSRP $350.00

Grand Prize B: Value $1469.98

$200 Gift Certificate to Leen The Graphics Queen MSRP $200.00

Two Black and Decker Platinum
20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP:
$149.99 each

$500 gift certifcate to Worth Home Products. MSRP $500

$220 gift certificate to LoveFeast Shop MSRP $220

$250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00

Grand Prize C: Value $1472.54

One Cordless Dremel tool from
Dremel. MSRP: $139.99

One Countertop Transformation Kit from Rustoleum MSRP $250

A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP:
$482.55

A $100 shopping spree to Royal
Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100

Do we know how to go out with a bang or what?!

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is like the incredible sponsors’ Facebook pages:

And for an additional entry add us to your Google+ circles by visiting one of these blog friends and clicking the “G+” icons:

…and then validate your entry by answering the question below {click “do it”}. In order to see the question, you need to click “do it.”. I’ve had a few readers also say that you need to also click “log in to Facebook.”
PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget above, come back later. Thank you for being patient!{Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi friends! Did you have fun with yesterday’s Everything and the Kitchen Sink Giveaway? We sure did! In fact, we had so much fun that we decided that we just couldn’t stop there.

So today, this group of 16 DIY and home decor bloggers are back with a second amazing giveaway. This time, you’ll have a chance to win some jaw dropping DIY prize packages. You know you are just itching to get started on some new projects or {ahem} actually finish the ones that are already in progress. Are we right?

You already know the group of gals that are bringing you the chance to win the DIY goodies. But just in case you need a reminder, here they are:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

Ready to see the prize packages? Let’s get started!

Grand Prize A:

A $500 gift card to national off-price Home Fashions retailer HomeGoods! Click here to find your inspiration! MSRP: $500.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: $149.99 each
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00A $500 Visa Gift Card
Frog Tape Gift Basket filled with FrogTape goodies for your next DIY project from FrogTape. MSRP $550.00

Grand Prize B:

One 8×10 HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw area rug, Grandeur collection (this includes: Exotic Journey, Luna de Luna, Nirvana, Nomadic Elegance, Good Karma, A Stitch in Time and Zybra). MSRP: $1299.00
A $150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00

Grand Prize C:

1 custom stamp, 3 Peel & Stick packs, 2-color ink, 1 color ink and 3 boxes of note cards from PSA Essentials. MSRP is $250.00
$1000.00 gift certificate to AZ Faux Beams. Good toward Old Timber or Sandblasted beams (can include shipping).
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100.00
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

How to enter, you ask?

Mandatory entry: Follow all 16 bloggers on Pinterest…{Yes, this means clicking over to Pinterest 16 times, after all the prizes are worth it!!}

PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget below, come back later. Thank you for being patient! {Not a Pinterest User? Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink Giveaway {nearly $5000 in prizes!}

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Roeshel

Good Morning, DIY friends!!! Get excited! Today is a great start to an awesome week! 16 blog owners are teaming up to bring you the most exciting giveaway that we’ve ever seen! We have worked hard to put together INCREDIBLE prize packages and the best part is that the fun has just begun! Today our first giveaway will begin, and tomorrow there will be a new one! THEN, if that’s not enough we will have ANOTHER one on Wednesday. Yep, three days of different giveaways with fun prizes just for YOU.

If you don’t recognize the bloggers above {I’m sure you already know most of them}, here is a list starting from the top left:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals

Let’s get to it! Want to see the prizes? Of course you do!

Grand Prize A:

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP: $482.55
$150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00
One under-mount sink with install from Karran MSRP: $750.00

Grand Prize A Total MSRP: $1632.55

Grand Prize B:

A $500.00 gift card to IKEA. MSRP: $500.00
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100
A $250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: 149.99 each
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

Grand Prize B Total MSRP: $1419.97

Grand Prize C:

One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
One Dream Chair Swivel Chaise Lounge from RST Outdoor. MSRP: $499.00
One Flow Wall Garage and Hardware Storage System. MSRP: $499.00
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00
A $500.00 Visa gift card from Homes.com. MSRP: $500.00

Grand Prize C Total MSRP: $1737.99

How to enter you ask? Well, all you have to do is Like all 16 Facebook pages below: {you’ll need to visit DIY Show Off if you’re viewing in a reader or email to be able to enter}

And then answer the question below to enter officially: {your entry automatically enters you into all three prizes} {If you don’t see the question box below, Rafflecopter is experiencing technical difficulty…but please check back if that’s the case! Thanks for your patience!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook. Winner will be notified by email on 10/22/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings.
Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

My blogging experience, my story…

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Roeshel

I just created a page under my “about” section for new and long time readers to learn a little more about the girl behind DIY Show Off. I’ve never really done this before and not sure why, but here’s the introduction…

Ever have one of those times when you’re feeling super blessed? When you’re so happy you could just burst? Nothing specific has happened. No awesome event. Not a special announcement or exciting news. I write for my DIY blog (DIY Show Off and you’re here! “HI! Welcome! or Welcome back!”) and I almost always have a DIY project in progress. I looooove DIY. I love being crafty, decorating, improving my home, shopping, planning, organizing and even cleaning. I love learning. I love hands on. I love transforming ugly into pretty. And I’m so thankful that what I love to do has become my career via my blog. It’s a dream come true and I’m thankful for each and every visit every single day, every link up, every comment, every share and every feature. And the encouragement and support I receive, that makes it all worth while. Thank you!

Hello. My e-friends call me Roeshel. My family calls me Shelly. Mr. DIY calls me Mittens. My girls call me Mim.

Since I’ve been blogging for so long, sometimes I assume I’ve known my blog friends all along. But my analytics show differently most of the time. So, if you’re new to DIY Show Off {“Welcome! Hi! SO glad you’ve stopped by!”}…you may not know our story. I’ve created a page that tells more about me, my blog experience and my life. I hope you’ll stop by, I’d love to e-meet you!

Here it is: DIY Show Off blog story

I Love Thrifting Day – fun, finds & friends

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Roeshel

#ilovethrifting

Groups from all over participated in I Love Thrifting day this past weekend. As you know, I had the pleasure to organize and host the North Pittsburgh event.

Our group was small, consisting largely of family sprinkled with a few friends

and the opportunity to meet 3 local blog friends!

Kim {Reposhture} and me. Love her creativity. I’ve featured her before. We just didn’t know that we were practically neighbors. Now I can ‘borrow’ her ski pole lamp or have her professionally DIY a piece of furniture for me!

I don’t know why I didn’t get my picture with Susan from Oh My! Creative {so many fun crafty features}, but you can see her in her green/white striped shirt in some of the photos. Love her and can’t wait to get to know her a little better. I have local blog friends!

And dear sweet, Jessica who I actually met last year. Jessica’s a local pet sitter at Sittin Paws, providing an awesome alternative to kenneling. Now I can consider getting a dog {I miss Niski} because vacations won’t be a problem with a friend like Jessica in the neighborhood! She’s also blog author at Craft Frau Times…but she’s lacking the ‘time’ to blog right now.

Our scheduled was as follows:

9 a.m. we arrived at the North Hills Goodwill.

Lots of thrifty treasures!

Next up was Wexford GoodWill. It’s a more intimate store (not a donation center) but packed full of treasures and the service was a little more personal.

At this point, our entire group of lucky #13 was gathered…

Pittsburgh 2012 #ilovethrifting

Yep – there’s my aunt, my cousin, my GRAM! My sister, niece, daughters and friends!

We also had a scavenger hunt at each store. Just a piece of paper with one word. The more hideous, the better.

A little prize was awarded for those finding their “thing”. Ali won $5…

Some really fun finds…

Next up, we headed to Cranberry Twp. to another GoodWill and more shopping! If I had room in the vehicle, this would have found it’s way to Ali’s tiny apartment where I would give “painting a loveseat” a little DIY trial. It was like new!

Time for lunch! Place: North Park Lounge ClubHouse where seating was limited for a small group, but booths were all in the same location. Food was good. Company was amazing.

Last stop: Gibsonia GoodWill.

It was a long HOT {104 degrees} day…we shopped til we dropped…

Some of us headed to my house for a little thrifty show and tell…

What did I come home with? Surprisingly, very little, but LOVE

my thrifty treasures:

A pouf! Price: $15.
An old clip board for filleting fish – $2.99.
Target shower curtain $11
$2.99 ticking bed skirt for me to cut up for a project.
Garden gnome. A little pricey at $9.99 but I couldn’t resist his cuteness.
Picnic basket $4.99.
Pitcher – I don’t remember. Maybe $1.99.

A special thanks to Rashon at Mr. GoodWill Hunting, the brains behind #ILoveThrifting day. Remember, we finally had the chance to meet a few weeks ago at the Haven Conference.

And a special thanks to GoodWill of Southwestern PA for the discounts! If you’re local – the Butler GoodWill store is having a fun event this Saturday! I might even gather my friends and where our shirts and partake of some refreshments and sales!

Joining the party at Rhoda’s: Check out all of the fun thrifty treasures’ links. You’ll want to see her latest progress in her new home too!

DIY Chicken Wire Wall

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Roeshel

Meet: Kate from Kate & Kuby. Kate is a DIY’er with a recently new-to-her home and a goal to decorate the entire house (including nursery) before the arrival of their sweet little bundle of joy in October – all on a small budget. She’s been doing an amazing job. Her favorite project so far (and mine too) is her DIY chicken wire wall…

Materials:

Chicken Wire
Staple Gun

Wall before:

Chicken wire wall after:

Genius! Now it’s a reusable gallery wall!

Total cost $25. Easy and affordable. I love the look. I love it’s functionality. See the full post at Kate & Kuby – DIY Chicken Wire Wall.

Here is a sneak peek of a few more fun DIY from Kate:

DIY Anthropologie Letters

DIY embroidery hoop art

DIY newspaper trashcan makeover

{original newspaper/outbox DIY waste basket tutorial}

Happy 4th! {and news/updates}

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Roeshel

Happy 4th, friends!

I hope you have a fun memory filled day with family and friends!

There’s a few reminders and things I want to share with you:

1. I shared about

a few weeks ago. You’ll want to pop over to see the winner chosen by Brittany Pretty Handy Girl. AMAZING outdoor kitchen by The Logan’s Landing and watch to see who Traci from Beneath My Heart chooses on Saturday.

Get the details on how you can enter!

2. The winner of the Granite Gold Cleaning Kit + $50 Bed, Bath & Beyond Gift Cards is….

Chance @ Designed by Chance - “I have slate and it needs help. It was sealed when we got it, but that sealant is getting sticky and messy. I just don’t know how to fix it.”

Congratulations, Chance!

granite gold products Bed Bath & Beyond gift card

3. I LOVE THRIFTING DAY IS THIS SATURDAY!

Counting down the days! You can participate from anywhere and share/follow along on Twitter using #ilovethrifting. I’m hosting the N. Pittsburgh location and already looking forward to possibly getting together with local non blogger and blogging friends like these super talented blog friends:

Jessica from CraftFrau Times - I met Jessica last year and we had a great time thrifting together!
Kim from Reposture - Kim is so talented. You’ve likely seen her amazing DIY pallet table recently…
Nan from Playtableful Decor – so many fun DIY ideas!

We’d love to meet you too if you’re local! Blogging not required – only a love of thrifting. You can see the North Pittsburgh schedule here.

4. Show off your DIY in this week’s ongoing DIY Project Parade!

5. I’ve redone our HOME TOUR page! I’d love for you to pop over and make yourself at home. Friends welcome! We’ll update the page as we complete more room renovations…

DIY Show Off Home Tour - barn patio DIY Show Off Home Tour - gazebo, grape arbor DIY Show Off Home Tour - patio installation

6. I’m very late in acknowledging this, but so honored that Desiree from The 36th Avenue gave me this sweet sticker for our summer mantel:

DIY chevron sign

7. And finally, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our little girl. I’m hoping that turning two doesn’t mean “terrible twos”!

Happy Birthday, Lalka!

The Sweet Survival – Master Bedroom Makeover

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi everyone I am Trisha @ The Sweet Survival! I am so happy to be guest posting my master bedroom over here at DIY Showoff! Roeshel is a special lady and I just love her blog. So I can’t wait to share with you all our master bedroom transformation.

I wanted to use our existing bedroom furniture but give the room and bright and fresh makeover. It started with the duvet I found on sale at Horchow. I am sure they do longer have it it was last year when I got it. I purchased the duvet and standard shams from there. I added the white euro shams from West Elm and the ruffle pillow from Etsy. The white coverlet came from Homegoods.

From the bedding I picked the dramatic teal wall color. It is Scenic Drive from Benjamin Moore. My Mom helped me paint the room. She is a pro painter. I had the valences made from coordinating fabric by a seamstress on Etsy – she no longer has a shop. Last spring I completed the gallery wall and my light fixture make over. The frames are a mix of old and new from Pottery Barn, Michael’s and Target.

I only had one nightstand from my original set so I was out to find something else to work as nightstands for the room. Our guest room upstairs recently got converted to Carson’s nursery (it is a work in progress – almost complete) so I decided to borrow the nightstands from that room. They are the Charlotte nightstands from Pottery Barn. The hardware was replaced with these gorgeous knobs from Anthropologie. The lamps were purchased from Home Goods last year.

We had a old chair that we used in our living room at our old house that was completely ruined by my cat. So I decided to have it slip covered by a local seamstress. She did an absolutely amazing job. I love it. I made the pillow with fabric from Denver Fabrics and purchased the throw from Overstock.

I just love how everything turned out! Thanks so much for letting me share my space with you all. Feel free to stop on by The Sweet Survival and check out the rest of my house and my crafting addiction!

My first blog conference experience ~ Haven 2012

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Roeshel

You’ve probably read several recaps about the awesome Haven Conference and mine is very similar, if not the same and I can’t NOT share. I seriously am so glad that I got over my anxiety and just went.

Haven was a highlight of the year type of experience for me. Blog conferences have never been in my budget {so many home improvements/so little $} but when I heard about the Haven Conference and how there would be sessions that would interest me (blogging and DIY) and most importantly that I’d have the opportunity to meet so many DIY blog friends in person, I made it a top priority. I can’t believe I was almost way too shy and nervous to go.

My favorite part was transforming e-friends in to real life friends. The best part for me is that I met so many amazing people. Bloggers, non bloggers, men, women. I was nervous. I was star struck. But every person there was super friendly. I recognized faces and blog names. Many times, it was like seeing a long time real life friend. I have “visited” many of their homes, read about their lives and even featured some of their DIY projects after all. It was a DIY reunion and everyone seemed to enjoy picking up their friendships were we left off in blogging earlier in the week. There’s nothing better than meeting a group of friends who share the same interests. There’s always something to talk about!

I’d like to thank the Haven team for organizing such a successful amazing event: Southern Hospitality, Kristin, Centsational Girl, Home Stories A2Z, Miss Mustard Seed, Beneath My Heart, Thrifty Decor Chick, Just a Girl. Their hard work was evident and they put together the best first blog conference dedicated to our favorite topics: DIY home improvement, decorating and blogging.

John & Sherry from Young House Love were the keynote speakers and had us hooked and laughing. They’re hilarious, such an adorable couple and were the perfect start to a dream come true event. Like most long time bloggers, I’ve “e-known” them from the start and I got to introduce myself but as you can imagine, there wasn’t a moment someone didn’t want to meet and talk with them and there was certainly no time to pose for a picture or talk for long.

I didn’t have the chance to attend all of the sessions but the ones I did were so interesting, informative and fun! The speakers were so smart and so helpful.

I Love Thrifting
I Like Big Blogs – tips on growing your blog
Beginning Paint & Stain
DIY Your Blog Design
Power Tools with Ryobi
Basic Carpentry
Advanced Painting
Blogging PR
Decor 101
Design Studio
Basic Photography/Photo Styling
All About Advertising
Slipcovers and Upholstery Basics
Hobby to Business

I didn’t take many pictures of the event in action and I didn’t have a chance to take a photo with everyone I met and believe it or not I didn’t get to meet everyone I wanted to meet either. I missed meeting some blog friends (so sad about that!) and even some of the sponsors. There was just so much packed into such a short time. Here are some of the friends I met, proof that these blog friends are real people: (if you’re pictured here, yes you have permission to borrow the picture!)

I was so excited to meet my friend, Rashon {Mr. GoodWill Hunting}! (Can’t wait for I Heart Thrifting Day coming up 7/7). As always, he was charming, hilarious and shared some awesome thrifting tips. I couldn’t wait to meet him and attended his session first thing, hanging on every word.

Me with Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage.We did get to spend a lot of time talking and I have a feeling it’s the start of a lifelong friendship…

At the Picket Fence! Heather, me & Vanessa. I got to dine with Vanessa and talk about our lives, our families and our DIY. She’s lovely and her sister, Heather had me laughing so hard I was crying. These two sisters are such an inspiration!

Julia from Hooked on Houses and me. I’ve been hooked on Julia and her blog for years.

Ange {The Blooming Hydrangea}, KariAnne {Thistlewood Farms} and me. Both of these beautiful ladies were a hoot and so sweet!

Me with Becky from Organizing Made Fun. Becky’s always been an inspiration with so much helpful advice and meeting her was a treat!

Me and Beth from Unskinny Boppy. Beth and I have been friends from The Nest before blogging and it was super sweet to meet her finally!

Me, Brittany {Pretty Handy Girl} and Jessica {Decor Aventures}:

Me with Carmel at Our Fifth House…

Ange and me again…

Me with Cassie from Primitive and Proper. Cassie has an amazing talent with painting furniture (my go to blog for advice and beautiful furniture inspiration and fellow DIY’er at the DIY Club)…

Gail {My Repurposed Life} and me – so happy to finally meet! Our email/blog friendship is now real life! Woo hoo!

Deneen from Dreaming in Color and me…she is so friendly!

Sweet Deb from Bungalow with me:

Dusty (All Things G&D), Amanda (Serenity Now) and me:

Me with Ana White. I’ve admired Ana’s building skills from her Knock Off Decor days. Ana – if you’re ever in the Pittsburgh area, you have a place to stay (of course I may put you to work, but that’s a DIY girl’s idea of fun, right? Spa day to follow!).

Gail, me and Katie (half of the husband/wife team from Sew Woodsy). Katie and her husband were some awesome lucky winners at the conference!

Lesli (My Old Country House) and me. Not only is Lesli a super talented artist, she’s now my real-life friend.

Tonya (Love of Family & Home), me and Beth from Unskinny Boppy:

Me with Miss Charming from Charming Zebra. Great smile, great new friend.

I met Laura from Top This Top That - beautiful inside and out and I’m so happy we had the chance to meet!

And Laura from Finding Home Online is super model tall, gorgeous and so sweet:

Ellen, me and Vicki – maybe someday bloggers who were attending a fun girls’ trip. They called themselves “blog stalkers”. We had a great time chatting over lunch.

Me and Miriam from HomeTalk:

Me with Todd {we met last year here} from Shaw Floors HGTV Home:

Why I didn’t get pictures with Karah, flat Kelly or Debbie, Sherry & John, Layla & Kevin, Sarah, Maury, Jocelyn, Linda, JamieLyn, Lisa, Andrea, Kim, Sheila, Pamela, Vivienne, Kerry, Kelly and so many more friends…because it was that crazy of social/learning and we were too excited saying “hi” or didn’t find each other. Next time!

There’s a picture of me with Traci over at Beneath My Heart. Isn’t she a doll? She is a sweetheart in real life too!

Thanks to Brittany for sharing this picture.

Front: Sandra {Sawdust and Paperscraps}, Roeshel (Me!) {DIY Showoff}, Brittany {Pretty Handy Girl}

Middle: Chris {Just a Girl}, Myra {My Blessed Life}, Marian {Miss Mustard Seed}, Stacy {Not Just a Housewife}, Wendy {The Shabby Nest}, Traci {Beneath My Heart}.

Back: Gina {Shabby Creek Cottage}, Beckie {Infarrantly Creative}, Beth {Home Stories A2Z}, Rhoda {Southern Hospitality}, Sarah {Thrifty Décor Chick}, Kate {Centsational Girl}

I swear I wore about 7 outfits in 3 days out of the 50 (slight exaggeration but I had no idea what to wear to a blog conference!) that I managed to squeeze into my carry on but you can tell from the pictures above that I only had my camera out for a small amount of time.

I was way to shy to play the part of paparazzi and not expert enough to have my camera settings correct in changing lighting. And it’s HARD for me to keep bugging others to use my camera to take my picture…ya know?

And the awesome sponsors had fun interactive booths and amazing giveaways including a swag bag packed full of DIY related goodies! Special thanks to: FrogTape, Purdy, Shaw Floors/HGTV Home, Home Depot, Apartment Guide, HomeTalk, Ryobi, Kreg, Minwax, Rustoleum, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, PureBond, Oreck, Royal Design Studios, 3M Tekk, Bondo, Homes.com, Moen, Mirror Mate, Fish Window Cleaning and Mail Chimp.

Here I am with the Purdy team after winning the amazing (OMGosh!) $1000 worth of Purdy products {thanks to Rhoda for drawing my number!}:

(I also won a Home Depot gift basket! I told you it was an awesome couple of days!)

Meeting others who share my DIY and blogging interests made for a great time! I left there feeling energized, empowered, motivated and inspired and can’t wait to dive into my next DIY project and to see my friends again.

See more Haven 2012 Conference recaps at Southern Hospitality.

DIY by Cuckoo 4 Design

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Roeshel

Julia from Cuckoo 4 Design is sharing some of her awesome inspiring DIY talent with us today. I’ve introduced you in the recent past {you’ve never been more envious of a crazy cat lady and her deluxe DIY cat tunnel before} but I wanted to give a shout out to a few more of her DIY goodies! {We hosted a sweet German exchange student named Julia too and I love pronouncing “YOOL-YAH!” every time I visit her blog.} You can see all of her DIY projects and more at

BUT here are a few of the super amazing things I love most (click the pictures to be directed to her original link):

What?! Can you believe this super transformation?
Julia paints cuckoo clocks! How cool! I’ve been looking at yard sales and thrift stores ever since I spied this beauty taken apart, painted and re-assembled by Julia…
Ever wonder what to do with a collection of trophies, awards and medals? Well, Julia’s creative idea is awesome…

Just pop over, walk right in. She won’t mind. In fact, I have a feeling it’d make her day. She’d love for you to visit. Take a look at her before & after tab and the gorgeous inspiring projects on her side bar. I’m patiently waiting for a home tour. The sneak peeks are gorgeous…

See more from Julia at Cuckoo 4 Design.

DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog

Budget Friendly Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement and Decorating blog

Category Archives: Blog Friends