DIY Project Parade ~ Dinner Party Details and Silhouette Cameo Review

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Roeshel

It’s party time! My baby girl’s birthday is tomorrow.

I don’t know how this little girl…

became this young lady so fast…

{Happy Birthday, honey…love you!}

All I did was blink.

Can I get a
(x) A hug
(x) A tissue

My family gets together for birthdays and she’s requested that I cook. If you know me, you know that Mr. DIY is the chef around here (but I do know how to cook, I just resign because he enjoys it so much – who am I to argue?) and since she’s moved out, home cooked meals are few and far between. At her pleading, I’m making a salsa chicken soup. I tweak this recipe a little. I set the table with fresh bread, shredded cheese, avocado strips, sour cream and Goldfish crackers. And since we’re not hosting Thanksgiving dinner (a tradition my brother and his wife generously invite us to)…and because it’s her birthday, I’m in the mood to add a little festivity to the dinner table. (A special thanks to Butch and my Mr. DIY for fixing the dishwasher…otherwise plan B was pizza and paper plates!)

I saw these on Pinterest…

Aren’t they cute? Chocolate and peanut butter yummies!

Perfect! I’ll be making them later today.

I am lucky enough to review the new Cameo for Silhouette America who will be running an awesome discount on Black Friday (through November 28th) for DIY Show Off readers and the Silhouette online store will already be having a huge discount during those days so you’re going to want to stop back on Black Friday and add the Silhouette Cameo to your holiday wish list!

The Silhouette CAMEO™ is an electronic cutting tool for personal use. Like a home printer, it plugs into your PC or Mac®
with a simple USB cable. However, instead of printing it uses a small blade to cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric and more.

Use Code SHOWOFF at Silhouette America.

Silhouette CAMEO™

$299.99

Now, I need boxes to hold the acorn treats and place cards. This is where the Cameo saves the day. No need to get dressed to run to the party store. Using some scrapbook paper I have on hand and purchasing three shapes from the Silhouette online store, I used the Cameo to cut out two deer for place cards and a fun favor box.

The Cameo cuts up to 12 inches wide.

There’s only one blade (instead of Silhouette’s 3) but it’s adjustable.

It’s quieter and cuts nice and quick. Ever try cutting in bulk using scissors? Not fun. Cramped hands and not perfect results either. You’re going to want to add the Cameo to your holiday wish list.

I chose a pretty box pattern for holding yummy acorn treats…

And these cute little deer for place cards…

Colorful and pretty. Perfect for a birthday dinner party?

Now…time to go clean for company and run to the grocery store for ingredients. You know I love to host a fun party! Right? You’re invited to this one:

Let’s see what you’ve been up to lately! Do you have an amazing decorating, home improvement or room transformation to share? Consider doing a guest post instead of linking (send an email to thediyshowoff@gmail.com).

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only.

5. If reading this in an email, pop over to http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com to see the inspiring DIY projects linked up!

6. If you have a Fall or Holiday link to share, feel free to link up to those parties going on too! See side bar for the button and link.

7. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week.

8. Visit a few other links to make some new friends,
get some creative ideas and feel free to leave me a comment. I’m likely sitting here on the computer and could use a happy distraction!

*The Cameo was provided by Silhouette America to share tutorials, projects and promotions with DIY Show Off readers. Projects, tutorials, some supplies and opinions are my own. As a Silhouette America affiliate, using the code SHOWOFF will earn me a small commission ~ thank you!

I’m sharing a quick and easy burlap art over at the DIY Club today using stretched burlap from Canvas Corp and a Sharpie. Check it out!

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DIY Project Parade

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Roeshel

I‘ve been working on some home improvement DIY and decorating projects but nothing to share in that department quite yet. I’m determined to stop procrastinating, get brave and jump right in this week. However last week, I saw these $448 shoes in the Anthropologie catalog…

LOVE! Well, minus the peep toe. I like gray but I’d prefer black. Did you know I love clothes, shoes and fashion almost as much as I love DIY? Most of my clothes are thrifted…I just love shopping those racks way more than at the mall. Budget. Budget. Budget.

Then I remembered I have these shoes…

Using a flower tutorial from Jones Design Company (love her flower tutorials – I even made some felt flower hair clips too)…anyway, I got to work making flouncy flowers….

Fabric was left over from a sheer curtain that I turned into a pillow cover that I cut up (resourceful)!

and now I have these. Not exactly like the Anthropologie shoes but from old to new and pretty for FREE! And I like them better than the Anthro ones.

Just in time for a real live date night because believe it or not, life is more than DIY (our last date was in April). We have to remind ourselves of that here. We try to make time to do something fun together (although we do find date night at the hardware store fun too but it’s nice to just forget about DIY and refresh once in a while). Last night, we went out for a delicious dinner at Rock Bottom followed by entertainment at the Improv and Sing Sing. Hiliarous!

And instead of looking like this…

I got a little sassy and wore a leopard scarf and movie star sunglasses instead of safety goggles…

and because my daughter says she thinks scarves look better with hair up or back, I wore a ponytail.

The rest of my outfit was toned down. Just black and cream, nothing fancy but all comfy, classic. Can’t get too wild with a leopard scarf. Plus walking around town is chilly in November so pants and sweater it is.

Button Tip – if you have a button that’s ready to fall off or the thread is starting to u
nravel, apply a coat of clear nail polish to keep it from unraveling more and popping off. (Thanks, mom!)

= SECURE

My ~~OLD~~ NEW Flouncy Ruffly Shoes:

(sneak peek of my dressing room – one of those projects I mentioned)

Here I am with my handsome date…(isn’t he cute?):

So, that’s my DIY project and my weekend. Let’s see what you’ve been up to!
(Anyone notice that my post is scheduled for Sunday, 11/13 at 5 a.m. but it’s showing up Sat. night? Strange!)

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5. If reading this in an email, pop over to http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com to see the inspiring DIY projects linked up!

6. If you have a Fall or Holiday link to share, feel free to link up to those parties going on! See side bar for the button and link.

7. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week.

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Partying here:
Photobucket

Remodelaholic’s Anonymous

DIY Cat Window Perch and DIY Project Parade

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Roeshel

Looks like a great day to sit near a window and enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face.

Meet Lalka: Enjoying her new window seat with a view of the barn and her new catnip stuffed dangly toys…

Fun!

A quick trip to the hardware store for brackets and screws and we were able to get started. Lots to choose from. We chose the shortest gray ones for this project. Bri made a window seat too. Hers is from scratch, mine uses an old breakfast tray. Tutorials for both are shown below.

TRAY TURNED CAT WINDOW PERCH

Materials:

Old Tray

Pillow

Shelf Brackets

Screws

Optional: Line tray with scrapbook paper and secure with Decoupage. I used vintage wall paper. New pillow cover. I used an old pillow and leftover fabric scrap. I also used scrap fabric, stuffing, ribbon and cat nip to make some toys attached with an eye screw.

Here’s what I did (using the optional steps mentioned above):

1. I sanded and scuffed up an old tray. I cut wallpaper to fit inside and secured to the bottom using Decoupage. Let dry.

2. Using left over fabric, I sewed an envelope pillow cover for an old pillow to use as a cushion.

Cut fabric. Allow an extra 1/2 inch on the top and bottom. Triple the side of the width of the pillow.

You’ll have a large rectangle. My pillow is approx. 12 x 18 inches. My fabric was cut to an approx. 13 x 54 inches.

The short sides of the fabric: One edge of my fabric is the selvage end. I sewed a hem on the other end.

One end is hemmed. One end is the selvage (or hem both ends if no selvage).

Hem side:

Fold fabric. Edges should be on top (back side up/out) and be near the middle. Anywhere in the middle works.

I want my selvage end to be inside, the hemmed side out. Make sure selvage is the top folded piece.

Pin and sew both long edges. Reinforce over hem/selvage part of seams.

Flip right side out and insert pillow.

3. I drilled a hole and used an eye screw for attaching catnip stuffed toys on ribbon (see toys below).

4. Measure and mark where the brackets will go. Pre-drill holes.

Our windows are not framed in this room and the tray is a perfect fit underneath the sash.

5. Attach bottom screws of shelf brackets.

6. Hold tray in place (my tray fit perfectly under the window) and mark where holes for short screws need to be inserted into the tray. Pre-drill holes.

7. Attach tray to shelf bracket with short screws.

8. Loop ribbon toys through eye screw.

9. Add pillow!

How it looks from underneath…

Lalka loves her new space…

She’s a big girl for 1 year old. Perfect for watching for birds and squirrels or snuggle in a ball in the sun.

Catnip Stuffed Toys

Here’s what we did:

1. Make toy patterns and trace onto scrap fabric. I made a fish, bird and mouse.

2. Double fabric with right sides together and cut out shapes.

3. Cut a piece of ribbon. Mine are between 2-3 ft. Grab ends to find center. Hold center and start rolling ribbon.

4. Pin ribbon roll between two sides (right sides facing each other) of fabric. Ends should be sticking out past fabric.

5. Sew around shape, leave an opening for stuffing. I reinforced (back and forth) over the ribbon to make it more durable for pulling/playing. Sew close to the edge but be sure to grab both pieces of fabric. Snip curves.

6. Turn right side out. Alternate stuffing and catnip

7. Hold open edge together, making sure edges are tucked in. Sew closed and continue sewing a border around the entire shape.

8. All done. I fed the top of the ribbon loop through the eye screw and secured animals to hang from cat tray/window seat.

EASY DIY CAT WINDOW PERCH

Bri made one for her cats too, we actually cut a board to fit the window sill…

Layout batting and fabric under board and cut to size, allowing fabric and batting to wrap on under side.

Wrap in batting, starting with stapling in the center of each side and working way to corners.

Cut away excess.

Repeat to cover in fabric.

Bri covered a piece of cardboard with wrapping paper and stapled it to cover raw edges.

Follow steps 3-8 above under TRAY to CAT WINDOW PERCH.

Bri’s cats love it!

~*~*~*~

Let’s see what you’ve been up to this past week!

1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5. If reading this in an email, pop over to http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com to see the inspiring DIY projects linked up!

6. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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Category Archives: DIY Project Parade

DIY Project Parade ~ Dinner Party Details and Silhouette Cameo Review

DIY Project Parade

DIY Cat Window Perch and DIY Project Parade