playfulness

New to Me: Constellations on a Jack-o’-Lantern

Arts & Crafts, DIY, Inspiration

Husband and I do Halloween in a very minimal way in our house: usually we only carve a pumpkin, light candles and get ready for trick-or-treaters. Despite not growing up with Halloween, I love seeing what creative decorations and tips other people have shared.

Earlier in the month I was going through some of my notes and found this photo of a gorgeous Jack-o-‘lantern carved with constellations:

Martha Stewart Magazine Oct 2017 p107

Martha Stewart Magazine, October 2017, p. 107

It’s from the October 2017 issue of Martha Stewart Magazine. Apparently they used a LED light string and pushed into each hole an individual light as a star. No wonder they’re so bright. Very nice!

Happy Halloween to those celebrating!

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Faux Fireplace with Tablecloth “Tile” Surround

Fabrics & Materials, Inspiration, Stunt Double

I’m always on the lookout for unusual solutions to decorating problems. The fireplace below certainly applies: despite it’s traditional looks, the reality is very non-traditional.

DSponge Schroors Netherlands Fireplace Sm

It’s from the Drachten, Netherlands, home of Mindy and Theo Schroor. From their description (the mantel is “purely decorative”) it sounds like the fireplace is a faux one built around an electric stove. The tile surround is actually a tablecloth mounted to the wall.

I’ve seen clever faux fireplaces before. In this one, it’s the tablecloth surround that really makes the whole, however: the print displays copies of Dutch artists’ work and details from Delftware ceramics, repeated tile-style, as a lovely nod to the local history. The history nerd in me definitely appreciates the choice!

Found via design*sponge.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

New to Me: Made of Sundays

Design & Designers

Made of Sundays is a new-to-me design studio focusing on creative wall graphics – decals, posters and stickers – based in Helsinki, Finland.

I have to confess their style isn’t quite to my liking in general; I’ve never been big on polka dots, sprinkles, or triangle or dot patterns, for example. However, this door hug decal is incredibly cute!

Made of Sundays Door Hug Decal Bathroom

Made of Sundays.

 

Ok, I confess that I like the green-to-blue rain drops, too. 🙂

Made of Sundays Gradient Rain Drops Blue Green

Made of Sundays.

 

I guess I’m more of a fan of their style than I thought! 😀

Visit Made of Sundays for more!

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Happy Halloween!

Arts & Crafts, Colors, DIY, Inspiration

I’m impressed – and cheered! – by the DIY rainbow pumpkins by Brittany W. Jepsen at The House that Lars Built:

House that Lars Built Rainbow-Pumpkin-Porch-0102

The House that Lars Built; photo by Jane Merritt.

Isn’t the array simply stunning?!

Happy (Rainbow) Halloween!

P.S. An honorable mention goes to Brittany DeMauro at Costume Supercenter for sharing Avengers pumpkin-carving stencils. Avengers assemble!

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Online Finds: TP Roll Ghost Halloween Craft

Arts & Crafts, DIY

Being a Finn, I don’t typically decorate for Halloween. These über-cute ghost tea light holders might make me change my mind, though:

The Craft Train Kate Ghosts-hero-2

Kate at The Craft Train.

Aren’t they adorable! And made from very simple materials – repurposed toilet paper rolls, white paint and a black marker. Visit Kate at The Craft Train for the whole project.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Quilting-Like Upholstery Tacking on Cabinet Doors

Design & Designers, Inspiration

What a fascinating take on upholstery tacking: the doors of a free-standing dining room cabinet are tacked in an elaborate pattern on what looks like leather.

Desire to Inspire Toronto Interior Design Group Quilted Cabinet Doors

Toronto Interior Design Group, found via Desire to Inspire; cropped.

The leather is clearly set over some sort of puffy filling held down with the tacks. It quite reminds me of quilting.

Found via Desire to Inspire.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

A Pompom Solar System

Arts & Crafts, DIY, Geek out!, Stunt Double

Love this – Lisa Tilse at We Are Scout turned our solar system into a pompom mobile:

We Are Scout Lisa Tilse Pompom Solar System

Lisa Tilse at We Are Scout.

So clever! The blue and green Earth is the best, closely followed by Saturn with its rings and the colorful Jupiter.

Visit her site for the tutorial.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Experimental Cooking: Popcorn Nachos

DIY, Food & Drink

Due to various dietary restrictions (some old, some new), we’re trying out different versions of old favorites and recipes completely new to us. This means food experiments! Here’s Husband’s latest: popcorn nachos.

Experimental Cooking Popcorn Nachos

It works surprisingly well, even if the result is a bit crumbly. As long as you’re using a fork, it’s fine.

You don’t need a recipe as such, but here’s the how-to:

  • Pop a batch of corn and pick out the unpopped kernels. Spread in the bottom of a baking dish.
  • Top with a light layer of salsa, chopped peppers, olives, mozzarella, etc. – whatever you’d put on regular nachos.
  • Bake in the oven at 350 Fahrenheit / 175 Celcius until the cheese melts.

Did you try it? What did you think?

Colorful, Geometric Paper Jewellery

Arts & Crafts, Design & Designers, DIY

This amazing geometric paper jewellery pings the same receptors in my brain as the geometric quilting patterns I found earlier.

The House That Lars Built Paper Earrings Necklace

The House That Lars Built; photo by Jane Merritt.

They come from a set (tiara, earrings and necklace) inspired by the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry of Britain.

How inventive – kudos! Visit The House That Lars Built for the tutorial.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.

Colorful, Geometric Quilt Patterns

Arts & Crafts, Design & Designers

Oh, wow, I love the colorful, geometric quilt patterns by Elizabeth Hartman.

Elizabeth Hartman Fancy Forest and Delightful Desert Collage

Elizabeth Hartman / Oh, Fransson; collage by Eppu Jensen.

I first found them while browsing for various fox crafts, and didn’t have time to immerse myself in her other patterns until now. There are so many great ones I can’t choose a favorite, or even a few favorites. For example, there are these unicorns with colorful manes…

Elizabeth Hartman Lisa the Unicorn

Elizabeth Hartman / Oh, Fransson.

…and (erudite) hedgehogs:

Elizabeth Hartman Hazel Hedgehog II

Elizabeth Hartman / Oh, Fransson.

In addition, the patterns include swans, feathers, sloths, butterflies, owls, whales and llamas, to mention a few. And the colors in the sample quilts are gorgeous…! Even though I said it already, I’m gonna say it again: so hard to choose! 🙂

Did you find a favorite?

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked to mention this; just passing along a good thing.