Inner monologue gift tags from angry chicken

For those of you who are still buying and wrapping gifts. Here are some funny and cute, free printable gift tags.

Holiday tags from Martha

Vampire Diaries Marathon

I'm a sucker for anything having to do with vampires. For those of you who missed the first run of the show the CW is airing all 10 episodes of the Vampire Diaries starting tonight. Two episodes will air each night, from December 14th to the 18th, starting at 8pm. Program your DVR's!

Make it! Mid-Century Modern

As you must be able to tell I am very into crafting and DIY. So I was very excited to learn that curbly has just released a great e-book called "Make it! Mid-Century Modern". From what I can see my favorite projects are the atomic ball clock and Girard inspired ottoman. Click here to download the PDF for $9.99 or have a printed version delivered to your door for $18.

Paint Over

Back in September I caught the end of Paint Over with Jennifer Bertrand (Design Star Winner of Season 3). I have been searching for the show ever since and it seems that it aired for one week at 4pm and that was it. What's the deal? It seemed like it had potential as opposed to certain other Design Star winners. I mean seriously did anyone watch the Antonio Project? I wouldn't let that guy within 10 feet of my house. Myles of Style is boring. The only successful show to stem from Design Star seems to be Color Splash with David Bromstad, who I'll admit I secretly wish was my BFF. I read she had a baby so perhaps that is holding things up, but please HGTV bring her show back.

Another free calendar

Here is another free calendar courtesy of a print a day. The dates have been left out so that you can use it year after year.

Free Advent Calendar

Courtesy of Mibo.

Tutorial: Starburst Mirror

With the nice versions of these mirrors going for over $100, it's worth attempting to make your own. This is actually my sister's DIY project, but since I'm the crafty one, I helped a bit.

Tutorial can be found here.

We did stray from the tutorial somewhat. We used spray paint instead of silver leaf and a larger mirror in place of the automotive mirror.

Pin It

DIY Snuggie

First came the freedom blanket, then the slanket and then the snuggie. They all seem pretty ridiculous and the snuggie commercials are extremely cheesy. But then I got to thinking about all the times when I have been nice and warm under a blanket and need to grab the remote, or the phone or eat something and you have to weigh the options of whether exposing your hands to the cold air is worth it. Maybe there is something to this whole blanket with sleeves idea after all.

No need to buy one, just make one yourself. Free snuggie patterns are available here and here. Happy snuggie making!

Free Photoshop Brushes

If you are looking for free Photoshop brushes, patterns and other digital freebies check out Pixels & Ice Cream. She is extremely generous in allowing people to use them for both personal and commercial use.

2010 Printable Calendars

Printable Dog Silhouette Calendar

Nice and Simple Printable Calendar

My 2010 printable calendars are up for sale in my etsy shop. Make sure to take a look!

Tutorial: Lawn Decorations

Aren't they adorable? Originally my plan was to make a Scooby Doo scene, but since we were already into the month of October I decided to go with these characters instead.

Happy Howloween

Trick or Treat Street

I went to a quilt show a couple of months ago and discovered "Trick or Treat Street" a fabric line designed by Sherri Berry. Adorable. I bought the panel immediately and it now hangs on my front door in celebration of Halloween. I was so enamored with the characters that I also made two life size decorations for the front yard. I'll post that tutorial later this week.

If you are interested in purchasing the panel for yourself, see over the rainbow.

I'm back

My hiatus ended up being longer than I intended it to be. I will resume posting within a couple days and do my best to post at least once a week.

I Want to Be an Ice Queen

Halloween will be here before we know it, which has left me thinking what I would be if I was going to dress up. Typically I am not in need of a costume because I don't go anywhere. But if I was going to dress up I would want to be Nicolas' Ice Queen from the Project Runway season 6 movie genre challenge. If I ever learn to make clothing I just might attempt to make this. The overall look would be a pretty cool Halloween costume. Are you dressing up for Halloween? What are you going to be?

Name change

As you can see iheart-orange has been changed to orange sugar. I apologize for any confusion but my etsy shop and blog now have the same name and I just like the new name better.

Pardon my absence

We moved to a house and I have very limited access to the internets with my bf's crackberry. There are many projects to be completed and painting yet to be done. I won't be online until the 15th and I'm not sure if I will be able to regularly post, since there is so much work to do. So I'm taking a temporary hiatus.

Orange belt

Orange belt on sale at Martin + Osa for $24.95!

Adorable bicycle

I don't own a bicycle, but if I was going to purchase one this would definitely be an option. It comes in other colors for those those of you who think orange is too bold and can be yours for $235 (incl. shipping). The basket liner leaves something to be desired but I'm sure that can be changed. And as you can see from the big old watermark splashed over the picture it's from bikebuyers.com.

Tutorial: Ironing Board Cover

Fabric is Anna Griffin's Lanterns

I have a cheapie ironing board from Wal Mart and the cover it came with is craptastic. Every time I iron something large, like a piece of fabric, the ironing board cover and padding shifts, driving me insane and making ironing even more of a pain in the butt than it already is. A new ironing board cover was on my list of things to do and I decided to just tackle it.

For the most part I followed this tutorial. Also see this tutorial.

My only suggestion would be to use elastic drawstring (which I found at JoAnn's) instead of twine.

If you need new padding as well, I zig-zagged a layer of cotton batting to a layer of insul-bright. I actually had to stitch it to the underside of the cover to get it to stay in place. Or a better/easier alternative is to buy one for $12 from CityChicCountryMouse on Etsy.

Ebay Finds

More furniture rehab candidates:

Georgetown Galleries Dresser
Starting bid: $150 Seller: artcollector-usa
Needs a hardware update.

Screens - Pair
Price: $275 Seller: yolandaroe
Use as is or give them a coat of paint.

Dresser
Price: $275 Seller: yolandaroe
Needs a hardware update

Headboard
Starting bid: $80 Seller: artcollector-usa
Needs some paint and an upholstered insert with some nailhead trim.

Mirrors (auction is for one)
Starting bid: $50 Seller: tsandcompany
Needs a coat of paint.

Syroco mirror
Starting bid: $35.99 Seller: calli511
Would probably spraypaint gloss white.

Avington Chair via Target

I absolutely love slipper chairs and found this cute one at Target the other day. Would you believe it is actually comfortable too? Reviewers are giving it high praise. Price: $159.99

Ebay Finds

Night Stands (auction is for one)
Starting bid: $50 Seller: tsandcompany

Ebay finds

Walnut dresser
Starting bid: $180 Seller: artcollector-usa

Drexel Dresser
Starting bid: $100 Seller: tsandcompany

My old planters get a new lease on life

I had these planters sitting around taking up space after a failed cucumber growing attempt and decided to take a cue from Jessica at How About Orange and spray them something bright and cheery to go with my new hibiscus plants. You can get spray paint specifically made for plastic but unfortunately there isn't a wide color selection. For this project I used Rustoleum Plastic Primer, Ultra Cover Satin in Strawflower, and Ultra Cover Matte Clear for protection. You should wipe down new plastic surfaces with paint thinner before spraying. Since mine had been outside and exposed to the elements I skipped this step. I washed them with warm soapy water, let them dry and they were ready for their makeover.

Free craigslist image preview download

I have a love/hate relationship with craigslist. It can be incredibly useful but also time consuming since you have to click on each listing to see the picture. Well I just found a free download for just this issue courtesy of Jeffrey Palm. I don't know who this guy is, but he rocks. All you need is Firefox, greasemonkey and the script.

Patterned floors

DIY patterned floors have been popping up all over the place and I'm loving them. Here are my favorites:

Catherine's patterned floor

paisley wallpaper

Making it Lovely

Within the next month I might be attempting one of these myself.

Ebay finds

Dresser
Starting bid: $100 Seller: tsandcompany

Magnetic art for your appliances

This is definitely something new and different that I haven't seen before. Magnetic art for your appliances.

Blu Dot & Urban Outfitters = +00

I'm not exactly on top of things. I just discovered that Blu Dot and Urban Outfitters have teamed up to create a furniture line marketed under the name +00. I'm liking this couch and shelving unit. Wonder what the quality is like?

Ebay Finds

Coffee Table
Starting bid: $200 Seller: artcollector-usa
Would love to stain this a nice dark brown

Headboard
Starting bid: $249.99 Seller: artdeco*rocks
Another great furniture rehab project

Buying in bulk

One of my mottos is, "it isn't worth baking, if it doesn't involve chocolate." Chocolate chips are involved in nearly everything I bake, so I go through bags of them pretty quickly. My chocolate chip cookies involve a bag and a half. I recently discovered that you could buy them in bulk and bought a 72 oz. bag this weekend. I'll have to see how long it lasts.

Colorful garden hoses

Ooooooh. Look at these garden hoses that come in 6 different colors. So much nicer than the typical blah dark green hose. And they're made out of rubber which is supposed to prevent them from crushing and kinking like vinyl hoses. A little steep at $69.95 but definitely nice if you are in the market for a new hose.

[Source: Outblush]

Passive aggressive notes

Passive aggressive notes