Giveaway in progress

Just in time for your holiday decorating. Click here for details on how you can win this.

JUST ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS CUTE RUNNER

CSN stores is doing it again! A GIVEAWAY!! ~CLOSED~

I think by now, most of us are in love with CSN stores. The variety of merchandise they sell in their over 200 stores is amazing to me. I recently worked with a client that is looking for  bar tables and stools 
and of course, CSN is the first place I thought to send her. She will also be needing rugs, artwork, and accessories. She can find all of those things and more at CSN stores too.
From Espresso Makers to baby items this company has it all!!


Now for the good news!! CSN Stores is offering a Gift code to one of my lucky readers for $55.00. You can use it in any one of their stores. How fun is that? Get a jump on your Christmas Shopping or buy a fun gift for yourself.
The rules are easy:
 Tell me how you will use your gift code. For yourself or a gift.  One entry


For a second entry let me know you are a follower.


If you want two additional chances, feel free to spread the word by blogging or tweeting  Just be sure to let me know.
Winner will be announced Thursday Nov 18th


That's it! EASY!!
Here are a couple things I have my eyes on

 

Not your ordinary cookie

Just a reminder, there is still time to enter my giveaway here
I got this recipe from a sweet friend several years ago. It is is a favorite for just about any celebration from bridal showers to Christmas parties. We also like to stack them in cellophane bags tied with christmas ribbons for gifts for our neighbors and friends. It is one of hubby's favorite cookies. Hope you enjoy them too.


Dipped Gingersnaps
2 C sugar
1 1/2 C canola oil
2 eggs
1/2 C molasses
4 C flour
4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbls ground ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
Additional sugar for dipping
white bark or vanilla candy quick


Mix sugar and oil until blended, add molasses and eggs mixing well. Combine dry ingredients and add slowly to oil mixture. Shape into balls, roll in sugar and bake 350 degrees 
for 10-12 min shorter for softer cookie longer for crisp
cool on wire rack and dip 1/2 the cookie in melted white bark. Let set on wax paper and Enjoy!!

Cookies are displayed on the Gramercy double dish stand and  the Villa stoneware plates from Willow House. You can find them here


Linking to foodie friday
  
 
And to 

 
a href="http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">

Finally, the medallion tutorial

Remember this medallion?

 I think I promised to show you how I did it weeks ago. Then life just got crazy

(a new grand baby,  away helping with new grandbaby, 2 new staging jobs, a project at church, hubby broke his leg, a baby shower at our home for new grand baby, hubby's 98 yr old granny passed away....)  I'm sure you get the picture. "Life" has been happening around here. 

All that to say, here I am finally getting around to the tutorial.

      I picked up this grecian looking medallion at Lowe's

I knew that I wanted to do something different than the "norm" with it. Often times they are finished to look like plaster work or left as is. I wanted it to look more like the chandelier, to fit the style of our dining room which is more traditional.

So I took some of my favorite paints:

Oil rubbed bronze spray paint, Folk Art acrylic paints in burnt umber and antique gold and my favorite foam brush and stencil brush.

Here's where it gets tricky, meaning I have no "during pictures" so I will do my best with a good description from here.

I took the medallion and sprayed it all over with oil rubbed bronze paint.

After letting it dry for about 10 minutes (cuz I just couldn't wait) I took my stencil brush and dipped it into the antique gold paint and stippled it all over the medallion. I then took the cloth and wiped it off leaving only the gold in the cracks and crevices. I  excitedly took it out to the dining room and held it up to the chandy and ... I didn't like it. It just wasn't quite the best match. Since I am a bit of a perfectionist, I had to keep working to get it right.... enter burnt umber folk art paint. I tried stippling that into the cracks and crevices but ... didn't like that either... so I combined the two colors as shown here the antique gold mixed with the burnt umber

to get the color on the right

I used the foam brush and brushed it over the entire medallion and wiped it off with the cloth leaving the new color in all of the cracks and the end result....Perfection ( at least to me : )

I just love how it turned out! Though it sounds like it was a lengthy process, it took maybe a half an hour from start to finish.

I just kept thinking while I was experimenting to get the color right, that the worst that could happen was I would have to repaint with oil rubbed bronze and start all over. This thought helped me lose the fear of "messing it up" and just be creative. So I guess that is the lesson today... 

Where there is fear, there is no creativity!!

                         

Linking up to Metamorphasis Monday over at between naps on the porch and to sunday showcase party at "under the table and dreaming"

Hip Hostess Giveaway! *Closed*

I am honored to tell you about my sponsor the hip hostess. They are the sweetest ladies! A mother/ daughter team who create the cutest aprons. They just know how to "do" aprons! I happen to own two of these cute aprons and I love them!!! Talk about a touch of class in the kitchen. They arrive to you beautifully packaged. Great for gift giving. In addition they also offer tea towels and magnets in prints that match the apron patterns Here is what the girls say about their aprons: Whether you make it, bake it or fake it... our new collection of Hip Hostess aprons will positively change your domestic attitude! Mixing fresh fabrics with clean design and functional style we're flat out moving a little "hip" into your kitchen. No matter what you're cooking up, Dinner at Eight or Gourmet to Go, we've got a hip little apron that's just your style! Weather it is this cute little sheath apron Or a stylish Demi style Or  this new style Cafe style apron  Or matching Mother/daughter aprons You are sure to find an apron you can't live without. These sweet gals are offering one of their new cafe style aprons to one of my lucky followers. Here's your chances to win: 1:  Go to the Hip Hostess site and tell me your favorite apron style and print 2: This is a giveaway for my followers so you must be a follower to win. Please tell me that you are : ) 3: Blog or tweet about the giveaway and let me know you did Giveaway will end Sunday Evening May 16th. I will announce the winner  Monday May 17th If you can't wait to own one of these darling aprons, the gals are offering a discount to you my fabulous readers, now through May 31st Enter code: DECOR to save 20% off your order With Wedding season just around the corner, these aprons would be wonderful bridal shower gifts! The end of the school year is near how about a gift your favorite teacher will love?

CSN Stores and a Giveaway!! *CLOSED*

Have you heard  of CSN? If not you need to check them out!!!

CSN is a website that has over 200 online stores. Yes 200! You can find anything from tv stands to storage items, toys to tools and everything in between. Lamps, bedding, clocks, cookware, chandeliers, rugs, and more!
I received an email from CSN stores asking if I’d be interested in hosting a giveaway on my blog. I took a look at several of their sites and liked what I saw. The prices are very reasonable and many of items are shipped free.
CSN Stores LLC is a fast-growing, privately-held company offering customers the best online shopping available for home and office goods. A $200 million company, CSN is made up of more than 200 online niche shops offering a huge selection of products. They have items for budget-minded shoppers, luxury seekers and everyone in between.  So now to the giveaway part

They are giving away a set of these cute pillows to one of my lucky followers.

The Lizzie Pillow Pack is multi-colored, soft, warm, inviting and Very spring like!! Set of three fabric covered pillows and each in a unique size and print. 

Ok here are the rules:

Here’s how you can get 5 chances to win
1.  Comment and tell me how you’d use these pillows. Would you keep them or use them as   

 a gift? If you don’t have a blog you must leave an email address.

2.  You must be a follower so please become one I would love to have you. Leave a comment telling me you are a follower   

3. Tweet with a link to the giveaway and leave a link or  your twitter name in your comment.
4.  FOR 2 chances, post about the giveaway on your blog, make sure you link back to the giveaway, and leave a link or your blog name in the comment.
The giveaway will end at 6:00pm PST on Sunday April 11th and the winner will be announced Monday morning 

April 12TH.

Good Luck!!

Mail box fun!!

Recently I won a giveaway over at  Whimsy by Victoria. She showcased a few collections of her

 very favorite things and then gave packages away to lucky followers. I just love how they arrived in my mailbox.

Is that not just adorable packaging!!? 

Just a small taste of her creative mind!!

And this is what was inside...

If you have never visited her, you need to pop over she is a very creative lady, talented too and I have enjoyed reading her posts

Thank you Victoria you made my day!!

Time For A Giveaway! Giveaway is now Closed

  

It is almost Spring and because I can hardly wait for it, I thought I would help pass the time by having a giveaway.  I am giving away (1) 4x6  imageglow candle to not one but 2 lucky winners.

imageglow® candles are the perfect hybrid of home accessory + candle. lantern candles with modern patterns embedded in the wax of the candle that glow when illuminated.

signature imageglow® lantern candles are a hurricane lantern shade surrounding a long burning candle. the lantern style is a safe candle as there is no exposed flame - it is deeply recessed inside the wax shade. the imageglow® lantern candle is reusable – 
after the initial candle has been consumed a tealight can be used.

Our lantern style candle has wax walls which enclose a 35 hour candle. The lantern is reusable by inserting a tealight within the wax walls of the candle.
The lantern walls help shield the flame from breezes when used outdoors. This style of candle is safer as there is no exposed flame. Great for event venues and other public areas.

You can find image glow candles at Love the Decor.com as well as other fine home decor items.

Now for the contest rules:

1. Be a follower for 1 entry If you are already a follower you are automatically entered

2.  Leave a comment 1 entry

3. Please go to Love the Decor.com and tell me your favorite item for 2 entries

4. Blog or tweet about the giveaway for 2  entries ( be sure to let me know)


5. Make  purchase from Love the Decor.com and get a whopping 5 extra entries

Giveaway ends  Sunday March 21st and winners will be announced
Monday March 22nd

Winner will get to choose from the following candle selections

        French paper                         

                   

My Very First Giveaway!

I decided to have a GIVEAWAY to feature a new item I am carrying on my webiste lovethedecor.com called Imageglow® Candles. These are beautiful,unscented candles perfect for those with allergies or for use at dinner parties. imageglow® – the candle with the glowing heart™
They are the perfect hybrid of home accessory + candle.
pillar candles and lantern candles available
with modern patterns embedded in the wax of the candle
that glow when illuminated. There are many styles and patterns to choose from.
an imageglow® candle is the perfect gift for so many occasions in your life
· thank you gifts
· birthday gifts
· anniversary gifts
· coworker gift
· house closing | real estate agent gift
· teacher gift
· memorial candle
· coach gift
· housewarming gift
· hostess gift
. Christmas Gifts
imageglow® candles can be a striking part of your home decor whether your style is rustic decor, modern decor, traditional decor, french country decor or shabby chic decor or an ecclectic style you call your own
· spa candle for your bathroom
· elegant candle for living room
· kitchen candle to add color
· romantic candle for the bedroom

The winner will get (1) 4x6 lantern candle and (2) 3x3 candles in their choice of patterns.

So you know the drill.
Become a follower = 1 entry already a follower, let me know

Visit my website and tell me your favorite item on the site and the candle pattern you would pick if you win = 1 entry

Twitter about the giveaway using @lovethedecor in the twitter blurb.Come back and tell me you twittered. =1 entry

For 2 extra entries, blog about this giveaway and give me the link

Please leave separate comments for each entry.

The winner will be chosen the old fashioned way (on strips of paper placed in a bowl) Tuesday November 3rd