Cartwheels In My Mind

Look alike Anthropologie Newspaper Lamp.

Good Friday ladies and gents! How was everyone's week? The Cartwheel's team we have been busy little bees this past couple of weeks... we have some crafts&surprises up our sleeves that we want to reveal to you. But, I'm afraid those crafts/surprises will just have to wait for just a tiny bit longer. Confused? Excited? Impatient? That's what we like to hear :)

 

Okay, so the other day while I made my weekly trip to Anthropologie I came across this:

Oh yes... A newspaper lamp shade. Awesome right? Well, I'll tell you what isn't awesome... the price. It was either $298 or $398. WHAT THE WHAT?!? No thanks. Who is spending this kind of money in the first place?!?

So, this got me thinking... I could so do that. In fact, I know of a lamp that was in need of some doctoring. Just look at this thing: 

Ripped. Abused. Unwanted. Not for long... All this lamp needed was some TLC {tender lovin' care} and some newspaper transformation. 

This project was so easy beasy! All you need is: 1. paint brush{es}. 2. Paper Modge Podge. 3. Old newspapers. 

Rip out sections {preferably the ones that don't have pictures... just words.} crinkle them up like it's trash then coat the back. Then start placing each piece on the lamp. . Once the lamp is fully covered with newspaper brush a layer {or layers} of modge podge over the front. 

Once it's dried stand back and admire your look alike Anthro lamp that didn't require borrowing a loan to purchase. 

This project took roughly an hour to do but was super fun! Find some tunes to jam out to, invite some friends over and have a newspaper lamp partaaaay. There is no wrong way to do this... so if you're worried about messing it up don't be! :)

Do you have a fun project you would like to share with Cartwheels? We would love to see it {and share it with our readers}. Send us an email at: [email protected]

SHOUT OUTS:

Grungy lamp: The Heritage House.

The Wall Street Journals: My dad!! {thanks for saving all those old papers. Who knew they would come in handy for an awesome project?!}

Lampshade{first image}: Anthro

Nashville Antiques via iphone.

Hidey-ho neighbors&neighborh'ettes. Today's post is tuning in from the great land of free refills,pulled-pork sandwiches, and country music. That's right folks, NASHVILLE {or Nash'vegas as I like to call it}.  I was out exploring the downtown area of Franklin the other day and came across some real beauties found deep within the city walls. The antique city walls to be exact. What was a girl to do when short on cash... CHARGE YOUR PURCHASES ON A CREDIT CARD?  Yeah, right. Hmmm.... How about take a picture of all those beauties via iphone if you don't have the funds to purchase anything {Yes, I did just get an iphone and do realize I'm behind the technological times... they don't call me a late bloomer for nothin'}!

I was so stoked to hit up three antique shops while I was there along with some other pretty boutiques and I couldn't keep it all to myself. Is that alright if I share my nash-iphone-antique-adventures with yall? 

Three things I would love to have that weren't seen in the antique shops: symbol pillows, soap figurines and a birdie mobile for my future children I will one day have.

Those weren't antiques but they sure are pretty to look at... now, moving along to what was is really important... the oldies but goodies.  

   

 

If you're in the market vintage technology this is the place to go... they've got it all from typewriters, phones, fans... and golf balls in egg cartons? Haha. Hmmm..

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall... Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and got rusty.

If that birdcage would have fit into my budget {and my suitcase} I would have purchased that thing so fast! Check out that old school baby stroller too? 

 

Make sure to check out Scarlett Scales Antiques for ornate clocks and luggage. Beautimous. 

Now wasn't that fun exploring a city through the iphone?!? HOORA! HOORAY! Out of all three places Arbor Antique Mall was my favorite... jewelry/old dolls/crazy lamps/awesome birdcages/civil war relics are just a few things you'll see popping up around that place.

Ps- when I say Nashville antiques I mean downtown Franklin. If anything is within a 20 minute driving distance I count it as the same place.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT ME: I almost had a wreck on the way up to Nashville because my sis& I were dancing to music a bit too loud in the car.

Reader Submissions Thursday.

So it's Thursday...and that means it's time for a new batch of art shares from readers that took the time to post to our flickr group. Don't know about it? Just click here and check it out...it's easy and everyone is welcome! Today I decided to share art from two different contributors whose work I love. We've got three pieces of art apiece, so prepare to be inspired! 

First up, Miss Kate O'Brian. Kate was one of our very first guest authors here on the site (you can see her AMAZING mini-album tutorial here.) There is this subtle edge to Kate's work that just draws you in and makes you want to make some art straight-away. The colors, the white space, the minimalistic appeal? Incredible. Intriqued? Then let's see some art! 

See what I mean? Just incredible! And this is just a sneak peek...be sure to check out her other work. I swear you will thank me later for linking you up. :)

To see more of Kate's work, check out her blog: diaryofarenegadescrapbooker.typepad.com;

or you can find her on flickr under the name artsychic75 here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44928072@N00/.

Next up we have Julie Ann Shahin. I feel like in two words I would describe her style as ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS (ok, that's actually 3 words). The colors and the way that she mixes patterns and textures is way beyond what alot of us would be able to pull off, but she does it flawlessly and to perfection. Even without reading what it say or looking at the photos, everything is so inspiring. But when you do get close, you realize that there is meaning and heart in each of her pieces as well. LOVE IT!

Want to see more of Julie Ann's work? Let me tell you how:

blog: julieannshahin.blogspot.com 

flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/julieannshahin/

Thanks so much, ladies, for sharing your art with us!

What are all of you working on today? Don't forget to post it to the group flickr site. We are always looking for new talent...whether it's to share for a reader submissions post, a guest designer spot or even to join our team. :)

x's and o's,

Cheryl

Touches of Spring : : Quick Decor Projects

 

Spring in Ohio is so tempermental.  One day it can be beautiful, sunny, and warm and the next day it can be gray, cold, and snowing.  Right around this time every year I start longing for sunny spring days filled with green grass, flowers blooming, and blue skies with fluffly white clouds.  As I type this post and look outside my kitchen window, I can see a dreary sky, wind blowing, and big icicles hanging from the tree.  So, to brighten my spirits, I decided to do some quick decor projects this weekend to bring a few touches of spring into our house.

First up was a quick decor change to brighten up the fireplace in our living room.  When I was Christmas decorating I had filled this vase with pinecones, so it was definitely in need of a change.  A few spring blossom branches from Hobby Lobby and some stones as filler and it instantly brightened up that little corner of our house.

 

The next change was super fast and simple....the addition of a spring quote to our chalkboard wall (excuse the terrible quality of this photo.  I'm not sure what happened to it!)

 

 

We have a built-in china cabinet in our kitchen and it's a place that always gets decorated with seasonal items.  For spring it is decked out with a cute butterfly garland.   

I used my Cricut to cut butterflies out of fun, spring colored paper using the PaperDoll Dress Up cartridge (I cut them at 5 1/2 inches).  I also cut butterflies (same size) from plain cardstock and then adhered a patterened butterfly to each so they would be more sturdy.  Then I punched a hole at the top of each wing, strung them together with twine (Honeydew from The Twinery) and hung it on the china cabinet.  Instant spring!
 

Another place that needed a touch of spring is this antique cabinet in our family room.  I change out the decor seasonally, but didn't really have anything I loved for spring.   Two quick projects later and it is dressed for spring! 

First I added a little details to a pillar candle to give it a little more personality.  I bought a spring green candle at Target and then using my Cricut , cut a branch and bird from vinyl (both shapes from Storybook cartridge) and stuck it onto the candle.  The candleholder is actually a favor from a friend's wedding many, many years ago. 

 

Then I made a spring print to sit next to the candle.  I used scraps of patterned paper and cute the banner using my Cricut (Sports Mania cartridge).  I used twine (Lemondrop from The Twinery) as the string for the banner and then adhered each little triangle to the twine.  The letters for the word "spring" actually came from my stash of rub ons.  I haven't used rub on alphabet letters in a long time, but I thought this font was perfect for spring.  Using more scraps and a few punches, I added the details of the butterflies and flowers.

I orginially was going to frame the print, but I didn't like how the frame overpowered it.  Instead I used a thin 6x8 canvas that I painted robin's egg blue.  When it was dry, I used glue dots to adhere the white clip and then clipped up the print.  I loved how it looks with the springy blue border!

 

I love how each of these little projects has added a touch of spring to different spots in our house.  It's hard not to smile and be excited about sunny days with green grass, flowers blooming, and blue skies when I look at each of them!  Hopefully those days are just around the corner!!  THINK SPRING!!!

RANDOM FACT ABOUT ME:  I have very small feet and have to buy my shoes in the children's section.  Yep - girls size 2!  At times it's awesome because I can find some cute shoes....and other times it's just plain humiliating and frustrating. It is the one thing about my body I'd change in a heartbeat if I could!

recoRd coVer

If I told you that I had a super-duper-EASY-BEASY less than 30 minute project for you would you say that you're interested?!? Hmm? YES! Okie dokie then... let's get to it! All you need is LOVE {Beatle's anyone?} an old record cover like this:

or this:

  

and a super cute piece of scrapbook paper. Okay, so you might want to purchase a vinyl record cover that isn't as cute as those... but you can find them at any thrift store {or "charity shop" as the British say}. I'm pretty sure I purchased mine for like .20 cents. I know, it's so cheap it'll make you wanna slap yo mamma {who came up with that phrase anyways?!?}. Once you pick out your record cover {make sure it's an U-G-LY one because you will be covering it up} glue the sheet of paper over it like so...

I used super glue and dabbed it on each corner plus the middle portion of the paper... That's it. No need to frame it {unless you want to}. You can place it anywhere in your house! Let's review shall we: 

way cute scrapbook paper.

ugly vinyl record cover.

regular ol' glue gun.

empty spot in your house to place this cutie-decor-piece-o-art.

SHOUT OUTS:

Record images: Weheartit

Record: thrift store

Best Flour scrapbook paper: Hobby Lobby.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT ME: The site of blood makes me queasy to the point where I might pass out... and speaking of passing out when I have to get a shot, I usually pass out. Yes, I am a child trapped in a 25 year old's body.

e's gUesT beDroOm: faBrics&dOilies

 

 Hiya loves! Today's feature: {drum roll please} my guest bedroom... TADA! I'm uber pumped about this room because for the first 6 months we were in this house there was nothing but a wardrobe and a GIANT craft pile in the middle of the room. It's been a slow go but I have finally gotten to where I don't run up the stairs and barricade myself in front of the door so people don't see my crazy glue guns/random thrift store saves that I'm going to upcyle for some future craft/ect. 

I had thought it would look cool to frame fabric using these glass frames that have hooks on all four sides {does that make sense?}.I found them at the thrift store for 30 cents each {what a bargain!}. By stringing the frames with a wire and hanging them at different levels I thought it would add a fresh look to the room.

Other than ironing the fabric {you know, so you don't have any crazy wrinkles staring back at ya}, the most time consuming thing was figuring out what fabrics I was going to frame. 

The How To:

Shout outs:

Sweet Dreams pillowcase: UrbanOutfitters.

Comforter: Anthropologie. {on CRAZY clearance!!}

Light Fixture: made by yours truly. If you missed the how-to you can just go here.

Curtains: Primark.

Fabric: John Lewis and Hobby Lobby

Framed picture of the the girl holding the heart balloon: Paperchase {it's a postcard}

Owl pillow: the cutest British boutique EVER called Lilac Rose.

Vintage velvet chair: my grandma :)

 

Random Fact: I always run up the flight of stairs in my house. It's true... and every time I am halfway up I always think to myself, "WHY AM I RUNNING?!?!" It's embarrassing whenever I have guests at the house. HA.

Random Fact #2: I really like Courier New font.