Mini-Blind Shades

About a year ago we installed some Ikea Billy bookshelves in our little loft. We chose units to fit around the window, but it left an awkward foot or so of wall above the window that I didn't like.

I had decided that I wanted to mound a roman shade to the wall that would cover up that space and make the window look taller. I had read through a few tutorials on how to make roman shades, and they were a bit intimidating. Then I saw this easy, clever idea, but I really wanted a functioning shade, so that was a no-go. Solution: turn my yucky mini blinds into a pretty shade! I followed the tutorial over at the little green notebook, and I really love the color they add to the room.

I chose the Amy Butler fabric because it picked up the wall color and the color of our desk chair. Plus, it's just an awesome print, right? I bought the fabric from my friend's online fabric shop, Christa Quilts. Check it out!

If you are thinking of tackling this project yourself, here are a few of my tips!

1. Taking the thing apart was confusing and a bit scary for me, so I thought I would point out the important string. You want to keep the one that runs through the center, the lattice that is used to tilt the blinds can be cut off.

2. Measure, measure, measure! I tried to make sure everything was measured exactly right, but one of my slats seems to be a bit off.

3. If you want to line your shade, don't try to do it the way I tried to do it. That totally will NOT work. I first glued the blinds to my shade fabric, and then glued my lining fabric on the back, sandwiching the blinds between the two pieces of fabric. If you do it that way, your shade will not gather the way it should.

If you want to line your shade, you will need to add the lining fabric BEFORE gluing on the blinds. When I realized, my mistake, I just ripped the lining fabric off the back. I may redo it later, but for the moment my shade is remaining unlined.

Anyway, overall, I am very happy with my new pretty shades! I am working on a few more projects in our loft. Coming soon!

I'm linking up at Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Hookin Up with House of Hepworths, What I Whipped Up Wednesday at Sugar and Dots, Friday Flair at Whipperberry, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs, Party Mindie Style at the Hungry Hungry Hypo, Pity Party at Thirty Handmade Days, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, and Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting (which is totally appropriate since I finished this at two in the morning).

Beach Bash

So... I've been a bit MIA lately. One thing that has been distracting me is finishing up my project for the Beach Bash over at the Country  Chic Cottage.

The party started today, and my post should be up in a week or two. I'm excited to be participating!

As I mentioned in my last post, I've got about a thousand projects in the works. Hopefully I'll have one finished to share with you all soon! 

If you are looking for a deeeeeelicious summer treat, try out these watermelon frosties. We had them tonight. Yummm.

Craft ADD

I've got it bad. I usually have about three or four projects I'm working on simultaneously, but right now I think I'm juggling about ten. It's bad.

And then last night, instead of finishing up a project I had already started, I came up with a great idea (I think) and started a new project. AND THEN about an hour into that one I thought, "I really ought to be finishing up a different project while the kids are sleeping like maybe the one that involves a saw." So then I switched to a different project adding a newly started incomplete project to my to-finish list. (But I did get my wood cut without a three year old running around).

Basically, I can't focus.

But I definitely have things in the works.

Like this.

And this.

Or this one.

And that.

Hopefully I will have something finished to share soon!

Pretty Pom Pom Packaging

Here is my guest post from earlier this week over at Sarahndipities. Hope you enjoy!

Last Christmas, when I began to run low on ribbon, I came up with a fun way to top packages that also uses up some of my yarn stash: pom-poms!

A big pom-pom on top of a gift is fun and a bit unexpected. It adds height and a big shot of color. 

There are many, many different ways to add pom-poms to your packages, but here are a few of my ideas. When attaching one or more pom-poms to a wrapped package, you can simply wrap the yarn around the gift a few times and tie the pom-pom on. Another option is to use a crochet hook to chain a "ribbon" for your gift. (Sarah from Sarahndipities has some good info on how to make a crochet chain here.)

There are so many great ways to use pom-poms. Don't limit yourself to boxes!

I don't know about you, but I usually keep gift bags I have received and I have TONS stored up. To make a gift bag more unique, you can pull out the original handles and tie it closed with a big pom-pom.

You can also add pom-poms to the end of crochet chain, so the tails of your bow will have little pom-pom punctuation marks.

To add pom-poms to the end of a crochet chain, thread one of the ends of the tails used to tie the pom-pom into a yarn needle. Use the needle to pull the tail through the end of the chain, and then tie the pom-pom to the chain using a double knot.

So. Now you want to make some pom-poms, right? Well, you could buy a pom-pom maker. Or, you could use this technique that only requires yarn, scissors, and your fingers.

1. Wrap the yarn around four fingers. I find that it helps to start with your fingers a bit spread apart.
2. Keep wrapping the yarn. The more you wrap the fuller and bigger your pom-pom will be.
3. Take a piece of yarn about 10-12 inches long. Push one end of the yarn through your middle and ring finger and wrap around the loops of yarn.
4. Tie a double knot as tight as you can. 
5. Cut through the loops. Do not cut the longer strings used to tie the pom-pom in step 3. These strings will be used to attach your pom-pom to whatever project you are working on.
6. Your pom-pom will probably be a bit wild and uneven at this point.
7. Give your buddy a little trim. The more you trim off, the tighter your pom-pom will be.
8. Admire your work!

So, how will you use your pom-poms?

Guest Posting

Hello all! I am very, very excited to be guest posting today over at Sarahndipities!

Go check it out!!

Plastic Wrap Watercolors: PGSOMW III

Confession: These guys aren't actually on my wall yet, so I'm not sure they should count as a PGSOMW project (That's Project: Get Something on My Walls. Obviously. haha... ). But they will go on my walls once I get the frame situation figured out, so... here they are!

I have enjoyed doing some watercolors now and then, and I really enjoy playing around with washes and textures. I came across an excellent, detailed photo tutorial on how to create this fun effect at watercolorpainting.com. It is very easy to get this fun result, and I look forward to playing around with it more in the future. Check it out!

Basically, you need watercolor paper, watercolors, a brush, and plastic wrap. That's it! 

I just love the texture it creates. It reminds me of faceted gems.

So, what do you think? Is this something you would give a shot?

I'm linking up with Make Something Monday at Sarahndipities, Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs, and Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things

Best. Giveaway. Ever.

Have you heard that Oh Happy Day is giving away a trip to Paris?

Seriously.

Check it out: http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris/

Paneling to Wall Hanging: PGSOMW Part II

Welcome to the second installation of Project Get Something on My Walls (PGSOMW). This loverly has actually been on my walls for a while now, but I wanted to share her with y'all. 

I had this big empty wall in my family room/dining room. It was sad and bare for nearly a year. I wanted something big to fill up the space. After thinking about it for a long while, I decided I wanted something with more texture than color and I liked the idea of a natural wood look. 

While wandering the halls of my local home improvement store, I came cross some plank wood paneling that looked something like this:

via Lowes

I think it was under ten bucks for one package, which was plenty for my project. 

This is basically how I put my paneling wall hanging together (Sorry I don't have any pics!) I started off by picking my favorite, knottiest planks and laying them out in an arrangement I liked. 

These kind of planks have a groove on one side and a notch on the other. This allows you to put them together, kind of like an awesome paneling jigsaw puzzle. Instead of lining up all of the panels, I decided to give it a slightly staggered look. 

Then I used two pieces of scrap wood on the back to glue the whole thing together. I used liquid nails for this project because it was what I had on hand. After the whole thing was glued together, I used a pickling stain mainly because I had wanted to use pickling stain for a while. I used this stuff:

Minwax 61860 Minwax White Wash Pickling Stain

But I think you can make your own by just watering down some white paint. 

At this point in the process, I let my canvas sit in my garage for about six months. This step is completely optional. 

Next, I painted a dandelion motif on the canvas. I found an image I liked, drew some guidelines with pencil on the paneling canvas, and then went to town with my brushes. I used a three dollar paint sample from the home improvement store, which is kind of fun to do because you can choose from so many colors.

If the thought of painting something to hang on your wall is giving you a panic attack, then you could totally use a vinyl decal. That would look pretty awesome, don't you think?

So remember those scrap wood pieces I used to hold the paneling planks together? Well, those babies are also The scrap wood pieces on the back hold the paneling planks together, but they are also how I hung the piece. I drilled out two notches in the top piece of wood to match up with two nails I hammered into studs in my wall. **I am not claiming this to be the best or safest way to hang this thing. In fact, I am sure there are many better, safer ways to do it. This is just the way I did it.**

I could have taken a picture of that, but I drew you a pretty picture instead. You're welcome. 

Here you can kind of see what I am talking about with the side view:

 Anyway. There you have it. One less bare wall!

I'm linking up at Addicts (not so) Annonymous at Addicted 2 Decorating, Friday Favorites at Inspiring Creations, Friday Flair at Whipperberry, Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots and Jello, Any Link Goes at Bacon Time, Feature Friday at Spunky Junky, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T, and Fantastic Friday at Iron Violet Designs.

Paper Cutting: First Attempt

Recently, I came across the most amazing blog ever. Have you seen All About Paper Cutting? You have to go look at some of her amazing paper cuttings.

So, I checked out some books from the library and gave it a try. Here is my first paper cutting:

I used a pattern from Papercutting: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft, and I like the way it came out.

Can't wait to try some of my own designs!

Big Bow Tee with Free Stencil

Warning: I am not a model.

A few weeks ago I came across Matchstick Magazine, which is awesome, and within its virtual pages, I discovered this tee:

Which is apparently no longer available. So even if I wanted to spend nearly 80 bucks on it (I don't), I wouldn't be able to. All of this means that I basically had to make my own. Right? Right.

Luckily, I picked up a oatmeal colored t-shirt on clearance at Target that really could use a big bow. Using the Wildfox Couture tee as inspiration, I drew a bow. I printed my pretty bow onto a piece of freezer paper and used an Xacto knife to cut my drawing out. Then, I ironed the freezer paper onto the tee and used a sponge and a little fabric paint to make my bow.

My bow got moved a bit more to one side. And I really dig my new tee. And I hope you like it too.

I learned a few things while trying to take pictures of the finished project. Mainly that my son really likes to have his picture taken. And also that I make weird faces. 

So. Do you want to make your own big bow tee? Do ya? Well. Listen. I've got your back. 

You can download a pdf file of the stencil I used right here. Right now. For free. I just ask that if you download my stencil that you also become a follower of persia lou or subscribe to my RSS feed. Deal?

Big Bow Stencil -


If you use it, I would love to hear about/see your projects! 


I'm linking up with Whimsy Wednesday at BADD, Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Simply Creations at Simple Home Life, Friday Favorites at Inspiring Creations, Feature Friday at Spunky Junky, Weekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots & Jello, and Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things