inital ball jar embellishment

August 2, 2016

I find joy in the details and today’s simple DIY is a perfect example!

I found this raised initial Ball jar at Terrain. I really liked the idea of an initial on the Ball jar, but I wasn’t crazy about the shiny silver lid provided with the jar. I also thought the initial needed a little embellishment.

These items were easy enough to remedy with some gold spray paint and a little bit of gold leaf.

A gold leafing kit is an essential part of any craft supply stash since there are tons of little uses for it. These kits are easy to find at craft stores.

I first spray painted the lid of the jar with a gold metallic spray paint…easy enough! Next, I applied the gold leaf. I brushed some liquid adhesive provided with the kit onto the area where I wanted the gold leaf. I purposely did a messy painting job because I didn’t want it to look too ‘perfect.’ (I thought I may even want to sand a little of the gold leaf off after I had it completed to make it look a little worn.) I used a cotton swab for to apply the adhesive, rather than getting a brush dirty – and after the application, I just threw out the cotton swab!

After the adhesive got a little tacky, I carefully placed a little piece of the gold leaf over the initial and pushed it down with a clean, soft cloth. Lastly, I added a sealant, provided with the kit, to keep the gold leaf in place and prevent discoloration. (I applied this with a cotton swab as well.)

Be sure to follow the directions provided with your gold leaf kit for best results!

I love the result! I got rid of the shiny silver lid and that little speck of gold leaf on the initial made this monogrammed jar perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

99 cent diy table numbers

July 5, 2016

The cost of throwing parties, particularly weddings, has gotten crazy expensive. The good news is that the little details that make events special can definitely be beautifully executed with very little cost. Like my friend Phyllis says “it’s not what you have, but what you make of it.”

These easy DIY table numbers are made from 99 cent plastic – yes, plastic – Ikea photo frames! You may need to spend a little more than 99 cents to create one if spray paint and paint pens aren’t part of your craft supply repertoire. I happen to have both of these items on hand.

You can choose a color spray paint that best matches your party décor, but choose one with a label indicating adhesion to plastic. I like metallic paints because they add an air of elegance to the final product.

Purchase one frame for each party table. Unwrap each frame, removing the two acrylic plastic inserts and place them aside. Spray the 2 pieces of the frame(s) completely with 2-3 light coats of paint, following the directions on the spray paint can.

While the paint is drying, you can add the desired table number to one of the 2 acrylic pieces using a white, (or whatever color you choose), paint pen. Be sure to remove the protective plastic covering the acrylic before you begin. If you aren’t comfortable drawing a number freehand, no worries! Simply print out a number/type style you like from your home computer and trace it! That is the beauty of the acrylic! Once completed, you can put the second piece of acrylic carefully over the painted piece to protect it from scratching.

Lastly, screw the bottom piece of the frame into the top section and slide in the acrylic pieces.

Beautiful, right? These table numbers coordinate well with many different party themes and decors. I hope I have inspired you to give them a try! Of course, you can always use your painted frame to display a photo!

Note: I used Rust-Oleum metallic spray paints in the colors – some photos are in pure gold and some in hammered rosemary. The pure gold is a smooth finish. The Rust-Oleum hammered metallics create a textured paint finish that you can see in my close-up photo above.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

coastal in newport, ri

May 27, 2016

Earlier this week, I shared some of the wedding details from the Newport, RI wedding I recently attended. Today, for Friday field trip, I am sharing some of the coastal décor details from my stay at the Newport Marriott.

The photos above and below are details from the bed headboard.

The painting hanging on the bathroom wall created the feeling of a porthole.

The restaurant booths:

The nautical themed art work was not limited to the bathrooms – there were plenty of pieces throughout the hotel.

This light fixture was created from a collection of bottles.

Loved the numbers on the back of the balcony chairs!

The use of ropes was a constant throughout. Here are a couple additional examples:

Maybe you have been inspired to create a couple of your own coastal touches? Maybe from rope?

Thanks for stopping by! Have a really marvelous holiday weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

wedding beauty in newport, ri

May 24, 2016

It has been a very busy time for me. Right after a short trip to the West Coast, I attended a wedding on the East Coast in Newport, RI. On both coasts, my stay was directly on the shore so I was surrounded by all the coastal details I adore!

At the wedding, I was able to see a guy very special to me wed the gal of his dreams. This gal also happens to have amazing taste and their wedding certainly reflected it!

Today I am sharing with you a little bit of the beauty from the evening.

At the couple’s request, photos were not taken at the ceremony or reception, but I did sneak a few photos of the amazing ocean view venue at Castle Hill Inn and a couple of the gorgeous details incorporated into the décor.

I hope you enjoy the photos! You can see a little more Newport on the blog on Friday!

Thank you so much for stopping. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

1 comment

coastal party favors

May 10, 2016

Friends, you know how much I embrace a good theme – particularly a coastal one! SO, you can really appreciate today’s post!

I was recently challenged to create Mother’s Day favors for a party celebrating a group of moms on the California coast. Exciting! This is the type of project I love! I am super excited to show you the results of this project!

First, I got a Connecticut artisan to create my vision of a coastal themed, zippered, canvas bag. I wanted to have a really great bag and find something related to my theme to tuck inside to make it extra special.

I had imagined a metallic anchor on the front of the bags, and I got just that! How perfect are these?! And, the anchor printed lining couldn’t be any cuter!

What did I choose to tuck inside these custom creations? I first decided on some candy beach stones and packaged them in round glass-topped tins.

Next, I added an anchor shaped bookmark – a great item to have for beach reads!

As a way to utilize the new bookmarks, large baskets of gently used paperbacks in various notable titles were part of the party décor for moms to grab on their way to the beach. Fun!

I hope I have inspired you to create some themed favors of your own for your next celebration.

If you have a vision for your own design and want to contact the artisan I used, check out Ralph & Martha on Facebook!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

bathroom vanity annie sloan redo

March 22, 2016

My friend Wendy recently decided she needed a change for her bathroom vanity and asked me if I would like to paint it. Of course, I jumped at the chance! She had looked at the Annie Sloan chalk paint colors and thought she would like Chateau Grey.

Chateau Grey was one of the few colors I hadn’t yet used for a painting project and I was eager to paint with it. The green tones in the paint were perfect for the accessories Wendy had in her bathroom and I knew she made the perfect choice in paint color.

The vanity was wood and very dark. We both knew that the chalk paint would lighten up the entire look of the room. The great part about painting the piece was that it would highlight some of the detail that really went unnoticed.

I started by painting the piece with two coats of Chateau Grey. Over that, I applied a wash of approximately 50/50 water and Annie Sloan Country Grey by painting, then wiping with a soft, clean cloth. I like adding a wash over a solid paint color because it gives more dimension to the paint.

Next, I added a coat of clear wax. Then, I gave the piece a light distressing before adding some dark wax. After the piece was completed, I added an extra coat of clear wax to the top of the piece since it is in the bathroom and I wanted to give the top a little added protection.

Wendy decided to keep the original hardware on the vanity and it looked great on the finished piece. She did change out the faucet in her sink.

The before faucet is pictured in the photo on the lower right. You can see the difference switching out the faucet made to the overall look of the vanity. The strawberry water? Well, that is one of the perks of doing a job for a friend!

The little decorating touches and glimpse of Easter Wendy added to the room made it just perfect!

The only thing better than helping a friend with a painting project? Helping a friend with a painting project that involves a family heirloom! That is the case with the next project I have almost completed and will be sharing soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

2 comments

nests and eggs for spring

March 15, 2016

My last work assignment had me thinking about all things Western. Now that I am back from my trip to Texas, the only thing I can think about is spring in New England!

Spring really has a jump on me this year! Easter is only 2 weeks away and I have not dyed one egg! I usually have tons done by now! Not only that, last Sunday I was an hour late to work because I had forgotten about the clock change!

Today, I am grabbing all my found nests and eggs and plan to arrange them on my mantle as my tribute to the coming season. I love to decorate with natural materials and nests and eggs are definitely favorites of mine; right behind sea glass, shells, and driftwood!

A mantle full of nests and eggs is a great way to welcome spring into the house! If you don’t have a found collection, garden stores and craft stores have some great ones that look realistic that work just as well. Dyeing eggs (after removing the insides) in natural shades also look great in a natural looking arrangement. Remember to add some branches from the yard – unusual shapes look especially interesting!

I hope I have inspired you to create a tribute to spring in your home. Enjoy this special time of year!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

jonesing for spring

February 16, 2016

The below zero temperatures here in Connecticut have caused me to have many day dreams about spring!

I thought things might start looking a little like spring at Terrain (one of my fave stores) and, on a recent visit, I was not disappointed. The winter displays are starting to be replaced with some touches of the next season. Taking a little time to visit the store with a friend is not only inspiring, but a great way to forget about the winter blahs – if only for a short time!

Here are some favorite things from my visit! Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

before & after with napoleonic blue

October 27, 2015

You know I love my neutrals! So you will understand why my last furniture redo took me out of my comfort zone. I painted it in Annie Sloan Napoleonic Blue! Yes, a deep blue! Why? When I saw the piece, I just thought it needed blue!

I didn’t leave it straight blue though. I added a wash to tone it down a bit and add some texture.

I thought it was a lovely piece. I did some minor repairs to it and cleaned it up a bit. Then, I started by painting it in two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Napoleonic Blue.

My next step was to add a wash of Country Grey. I chose Country Grey because I wanted a vintage look and I thought a white or beige would be too bright to give the look I was trying to achieve. I mixed water with the Country Grey in a disposable pan – probably a 60/40 mix; using 60% water. I brushed on the wash and quickly wiped it off with a piece of cheesecloth to get my desired texture.

After letting it sit a couple days, I added a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax. I let it cure for a few days and then did some light distressing before adding a second coat of clear wax.

I found some great knobs in Home Goods that coordinate perfectly with the piece and look the same as the knobs in a pricier store!

I think it is a wonderful transformation and a great result for my first time blue project!

Now I need to get rid of a couple pieces to make space for some new projects! I am excited to start my next project – a family heirloom for a friend that will serve as a lasting reminder of a special family member…can’t wait to start it!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. If you would like to see instructions on how to make my velvet pumpkins like the ones pictured, click here for a tutorial!

1 comment

showhouse on the green

October 23, 2015

A show house is a super way to spark creative spirit. So today, for Friday field trip, I am sharing some of my favorite ‘sparks’ from the Designer Showhouse on the Green in Fairfield, Connecticut. Presented by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as a benefit for Operation Hope, the show house includes 18 different spaces transformed by designers and decorative artists.

The great thing about this event is that every guest has a different take away – making it a wonderfully unique experience for each and every attendee.

My favorite space in the show house was the laundry room! I just loved every detail, including the light fixture…

The sink’s tile backsplash…

Right down to the towel choice…

And, themed art work on the wall…

I saw plenty of inspirational window coverings. This airy covering was really unique…

And the color, clean lines, and classic design of this covering especially appealed to me…

With breast cancer awareness month on my mind, I couldn’t help but notice this little vignette using the signature color…

I would love to curl up with a book in this corner space!

There were interesting tabletops to admire…

And, plenty of beautiful art work for sale. I love the use of light in this piece…

And, the playfulness in this piece offered for sale in the boutique pop-up designed by No. 299 of Fairfield.

The pop-up offered plenty of giftware for sale…a nice addition to the show house and a great way to get a jump on holiday shopping!

I hope (pun intended) you enjoyed a little glimpse of the show house. If you live in NY or CT, please consider attending this event to benefit Operation Hope because there is so much more to see! It continues through this weekend (October 25th). Check the website, by clicking here, for more information.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

pleasure in simple things

search

categories

recent posts

archives

my friends & favs

inital ball jar embellishment

99 cent diy table numbers

coastal in newport, ri

wedding beauty in newport, ri

coastal party favors

bathroom vanity annie sloan redo

nests and eggs for spring

jonesing for spring

before & after with napoleonic blue

showhouse on the green