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Posts by Amy
Adding Storage: Clothes rack
Functional and fabulous: I dressed up a clothes rack, turning extra clothes storage into eye candy.
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Handmade Christmas Gifts
A glance at three handmade gift ideas, just in time for the holidays.
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Christmas Tablescapes
Easy inspiration for your holiday tables: A peek at three Christmas tables I designed for an article.
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Sweet Pillowcase Nothings
A fun way to use fabric scraps, and sweeten up pillowcases: pillowcase messages.
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Inspiration: Versailles
Castle decor isn't usually my thing, but I found a few items that would be swell to have in my life at the Palace of Versailles.
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This, I Celebrate
My first podcast! Hear my guest contribution to a sweet little project on Celebrations.
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Tin Can Vase with Linen Napkin
Wrap a tin can in vintage linen for a vase with mucho charm.
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Junk Shop Finds
In the absence of thrift stores, I've been close to needing a therapist. But one hour and $20 at this place and I'm cured. For now.
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New Around the House
A few new things around the house are starting to make our flat feel like a home.
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Hostess Gift: Dress Up a Spring Bulb
An easy way to throw together a hostess gift, using a simple plant and supplies you probably already have on-hand.
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Vintage-Inspired Milk Bottle
The right olive oil bottle looks exactly like a vintage milk bottle... perfect re-use!
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How-To: Hip Giftwrap
4 Simple Tricks for Impressive Giftwrap... that take hardly any time at all.
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Toilet Paper Roll Tree Topper
From trash to Christmas treasure. All you need for this star are a few toilet paper rolls and some glue!
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Tram Ticket Wreath
Another Trash Craft: a Christmas wreath that costs way more than you'd think, and yet was free.
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Up-cycled Magazine Garland
My windows are all dressed up for Christmas, and their wardrobe cost almost nothing! Easy DIY garlands from magazines and wrapping paper.
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How-To: One-Day Room Makeover
You don't have to buy new furniture, rewire lights, or even paint to redo a room. A few simple changes can give you a new room fast.
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Turn A Picture Frame Into A Tray
When Plan A for this frame didn't work out, Plan B turned into an even better idea!
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Upcycled Tin Can: Striped Flower Pot
An easy, 5-minute project: turning a ravioli can into something your friends will be jealous of.
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Jewelry Crush: Noonday Collection
I love styling homes, but styling myself ... well, I need some work lately. I think I found some inspiration!
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New Around the House
In a land without Goodwill or Craigslist, a couple finds are keeping my budget-decorating optimism ticking.
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New Love: Oil-based paint
I'm still scared of the post office, but I'll boldly attempt Czech at the paint store. And with very happy results.
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Warm Up A Room With Scarves
Keep your sofa, tables, chairs from getting the chills. Dress them in scarves for winter!
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Video Tour: Tiny Awesome Kitchen
It was small, but it wasn't cramped. A farewell tour of my European kitchen corner.
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Tiny Art: Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of my favorite world landmarks. Life-size, it's awe-inspiring. Tiny-Art size, it's pinch-inducing.
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My Happy Wall
Not just for the fridge: Rummaging through the closet is even more fun now with all our kid pics and art.
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My Minimalist Kitchen
I always thought about tossing that extra set of chipped dishes. Now I know I should've done it a long time ago!
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Chevron Art Spruce Up
It's small, but I'm pretty happy with my one contribution to our designed-to-the-nines flat!
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Not Yo' Grandma's Wall Arrangement
Lucky sofa. It gets to live next to what is probably my favorite collage arrangement ever.
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Girls' Night! Craft Social
For your next girls' night, have a Girls' Night-In... crafting! And don't forget the snacks.
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Organize This: Necklaces
My new soapbox: everyone should store their necklaces in a hanging fashion. Just look at 'em... they're so happy that way!
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Design Crush: Nancy Mims
Nancy Mims designs the coolest fabrics and wallpaper, so I wasn't surprised she also has quite the decor thumb, too. Check out her hip pad, studio, and take on life.
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How to Remove Calcium Crud
Good as new... world's easiest trick for getting rid of calcium crud.
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Sweet Storage: Plastic Fruit Bins
I'm sure I'll wind up tossing (recycling) the plastic bins my European fruit comes in eventually, but till then, I keep finding uses for them!
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Petal and Tee Pillows
Fun DIY pillows -- one using felt, and one using an old tee -- made a smashing combo for my niece's room.
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My Love Affair with Jars
In moving overseas, we've simplified and we're trying to live on the cheap. Enter, up-cycled food jars!
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Built-In Closet, Built-In Joy
I may have to install this closet in every room/house I live in for the rest of my life.
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Tiny Touches of Home
Setting up our new apartment, using only things that wouldn't register extra weight in our luggage. Here's what made the move.
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How To Pack for a Trip
Had to sleep on the guest bed last night because I've taken over ours with packing. This is not going to be easy.
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Light Switch Candy
Newest trick I learned: those overlooked wall spaces might be the coolest place to hang art.
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Felt Flowers
A five-minute project that will have all the baristas in town complimenting you as you order your latte.
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Featured: Remodelaholic
I made the cut! My bathroom's cool factor is high enough for one of my favorite inspiration sites: Remodelaholic.com.
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Mustachioed Bathroom Art
I paired some plastic panels and a record cover for some easy art on what is, perhaps, an unexpected wall.
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Organize This: Bathroom Cabinet Pt II
How do you spell "Fun"? New bathroom storage! Rounded out with some T-H-R-I-F-T-Y finds.
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Organize This: Makeup
My makeup drawers and makeup nook make me happy. Chore-turned-treat: victory!
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Cute as a Magnet
Here's another use for all your favorite fabric: covered button magnets. They're adorable. Go ahead, admit it.
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How Not to Make Curtains
Love the fabric. Like the idea of curtains. Not crazy about how they turned out. Learn from my mistakes? Or at the least, just laugh at them.
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Easy Centerpiece: Thrifted Vases
This vase-roundup for a client cost all of $15. Tho I wish I'd filled the bowl with some decorative balls, so I threw a decorative-ball roundup in this post for good measure.
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Organize This: Gift Wrap
All-in-one, all-in-awesome. My dad's footlocker is one of the few hand-me-downs that has survived my redecorating (always will). Plus, it's a great solution to the ever-pesky "What to do with gift wrap?" question.
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Art By... All These People
Almost all the stars of my latest wall-hanging arrangement are by independent artists. If any of them tickle your fancy, you, too, can be a proud owner.
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How to Hang Things By Yourself
"Here, honey. Hold this right here so I can see it. Honey?" Use this method to hang an arrangement flawlessly, by yourself.
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Black & White Nursery
Black walls in a nursery? Yes. Absolutely. This bad-to-the-bone nursery has rock star written all over it.
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Dressing the Nook
My nook, after shopping the house and stealing from other rooms. And stringing Christmas lights -- the answer to every decorating challenge.
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Organize This: Bathroom Cabinet
If your bathroom cabinet looks like a tornado tore through it, here are some ideas to create order.
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Fabric Flower Collage
Fabric, scissors, and mod podge: ingredients for magic. Okay, I'm being dramatic. But they're pretty much all you need for a fabric collage.
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Modern Bathroom Mural
70's, erased! It only took four years, but our downstairs bath has gone from less-than-inspiring to rockin' awesome, if I can say so myself. Check it.
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Quilted Baby Letters
These quilted baby letters were so easy to make! Hang with clothespins, and you've got yourself a customized, vintage-feel baby gift!
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Credenza Decor
It's been a game of musical chairs with all my chotchkes, but I think I've finally found an arrangement I like for my re-finished credenza.
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In the Mail: Seeds from Mum
I love getting mail. Especially mail from my Mom. She sends the most thoughtful little treasures. Last week it was a packet of seeds from her garden.
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Hands in Love
This simple trio hangs above my brother- and sister-in-law's bed. Such a sweet, personal touch for master bedroom!
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Lamp Scores!
Fueling my lamp addiction, I found these coordinating bases and a pair of stunning lampshades in the same week at different thrift stores! Total damage: $26.
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5 Ways to Find the Painter in You
It's hard to be happy with your own work. BUT I LOVE THIS PAINTING! I used some unconventional techniques that can help you find your inner painter, even if all you've ever painted is a wall.
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Bird in Hoop Mobile
Adorable, easy, and inexpensive: my kind of craft. This Bird in a Hoop mobile makes a great baby gift!
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Organize This: Condiment Packets
It's the little things that I find so gratifying. Like wrangling my condiment packets in a tupperware instead of a ziplock. Man, I'm gonna sleep good tonight.
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Peacock Decor
I accidentally started a peacock collection. The feathers and colors dot my living room, and I just recently noticed the theme.
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Nursery Trees Mural
A gift to my best friend/sister-in-law and my soon-to-be niece. This mural just took some paint, some scrapbook paper, and half a day.
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Easy Faux Bois Art
A layer of paint and a few lines in chalk. That's it! This faux bois art took about half an hour, including dry time.
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Dresser Face Lift
I pulled out my crafty on old gold knobs and drab door panels for an easy dresser update.
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Before & After: Gail's Entryway
I rounded up a few simple pieces for Gail's entryway, and now it's a welcome she can be proud of.
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Before & After: Gail's Living Room
Armed with a pair of inspiration pillows I snagged at a thrift store, I transformed this living room into a serene scene for my friend Gail.
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Bird and Leaf Silhouettes
Fast and easy art: cut your favorite silhouettes out of fabric or paper and frame them in double-pane frames.
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Simple Seashell Decor
What to do with sea shells? A non-nautical way to decorate with tiny shells.
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Thrift Store Shirt Pillow
Two shirts from the thrift store made this a quick and easy pillow project.
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Closet Organization: Scarves
Puking Closet Syndrome Culprit #3: Scarves. This is an easy way to organize all those fabulous neck-warmers-turned-accessories.
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Windowsill Flower Pots
I finally dressed my windowsill! Completely by accident, and completely on the cheap, I might add. Thank you, Goodwill.
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Homemade Valentine: Box 'O Love
A simple, memorable way to tell your sweetheart how awesome they are this Valentine's.
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Jewelry Organization a la Kitchen
Jewelry storage inspired by kitchen items and some awesome thrift store treasures.
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Before & After: Credenza
An old office credenza found a new home in my kitchen as a buffet. But it wasn't allowed in without a few coats of red paint.
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Fabric Vine Collage
Weapon of choice: needle and thread, or glue stick? Either one will work on this easy DIY wall art.
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Succulents in Vases
Know all those vases you've collected over the years? Stick some succulents in them for an easy terrarium look.
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Cake Stand as Fruit Bowl
A cake stand makes a great grab-n-go fruit display, especially if you stack a bowl on top to keep those rascally bananas separate.
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One Nightstand Two Ways
How to create two different looks for one nightstand, thus warding off the "I'm tired of you" blues.
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Peacock Wreath
This simple, handmade wreath was a gift from a friend. This baby is too fabulous for holiday-only appearances! She's my year-round wreath.
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How to Store Christmas Ornaments
Shoe boxes take the hassle out of storing Christmas ornaments.
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Wick Dipper: The Musical
A little music, some Christmas decorations, and a pine-scented candle. Now if I only had a wick dipper and a video camera! Oh. Check.
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Paper Star Ornament
A simple, elegant Christmas craft: an eight-pointed paper star.
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Christmas Credenza
A little crafting, a little rearranging, and a wintery credenza scape cost me $0 dollars.
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Organize This: Pantry Door
Need more kitchen storage? Have pantry door? These shelves are great.
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Secret Santa Party
Power in numbers: I got some friends to team up with me to buy presents for foster kids. For their willingness, I surprised them with handmade thank-you gifts.
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Organize This: Home Office
My favorite organizing trick is to "Think up." We just left the doors off Ikea kitchen cabinets, and now have plenty of craft/office storage.
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Closet Organization: Slacks & Skirts
Another tip for taking back control of a closet-gone-wild: clean-lined, wrinkle-free pant and skirt hanging.
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Closet Organization: Jeans
Puking Closet Syndrome Cure: Fast and easy to fold, jeans are great stackers.
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Chain Belt as Necklace
Accessory innovation: cool as a belt, even cooler as a necklace!
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Introducing: Mondays with Mom
Introducing (...dum da da dum!...) my mom, HNWN's weekly guest blogger.
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Retro-Fabulous Luggage
Real leather vintage luggage for $12.50? Who cares if I neeed it. I need it! Solutions for cleaning and using my Hartmann find.
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Free Download: Owls!
Make your own! Free patterns for an owl mobile and plush crinkle owl toy.
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Austin Handmade Market
I could describe how awesome glow-in-the-dark soap is, or I could show you. Meet some Austin Handmade Market vendors in this video.
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Before & After: Mirror
Thirty minutes and one bottle of spray paint later, and I've got a modern twist on a traditional mirror.
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Mobile Madness
With umpteen baby showers on the horizon, I figured I'd better get crafting! Found these ideas for mobiles featuring, appropriately, creatures of flight.
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Taming the Junk Drawer
How to tackle the junk drawer: empty, purge, then categorize. It's easy, I swear!
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Diagnosis: Puking Closet Syndrome
Puking Closet Syndrome. It's an ugly condition with nasty symptoms.
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