a new advent calendar and christmas cards

Here is our new advent calendar, purchased from the thrift store and upcycled to fit my style a bit more.

My 9-year-old daughter has talked about getting one of "those calendars that you can open the door and get chocolate from" for some time now.  One day, after last Christmas, I spotted one at the thrift store.

Here's what it looked like when I found it.

 It's not horrible, just not my style.  So I gave it a coat of paint and used some number stencils and a sharpie.  The sharpie made it go really quick, then I lightly sanded over it all to give it some aging.

And of course added some goodies in each cubby (4 to be exact), including our favorite Lindt chocolates.

 

I'd say this fits in a lot better now, and we're excited to start counting down the days!

Also, speaking of Christmas cards, Heather at Life Made Lovely is offering some really cute ones for $15.  I chose this design 

{I'll share my final card when it gets closer to Christmas, but isn't that the cutest family and picture you have ever seen?}

The best part is, $10 of it goes to help this family get closer to bringing their son home from the orphanage.  As bloggers, we often have opportunities to get free Christmas cards, which I am not opposed to at all (I did that last year), but when I saw Heather's post I knew that's what I wanted to do this year.  So if you are looking to order Christmas cards soon, go check it out, you'll get cute cards, and help a family in a great cause.

keep primping,

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #24 and Winner!

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here are my favorites from last week's party:

551 East Furniture Design primped this fabulous dresser with a design of the old flag of England.

Avery and Anderson made this super cool lace doily monogram.

Lovely, etc. showed off a simple, yet beautiful, magnetic tray.

and last but not least,

Twigg Studios made this really cool 3D book page deer head.

Thanks for all your inspiration every week!

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

 

 

One more thing before we start the party.  The lucky winner of this beautiful blue necklace is:

aimee

who said...

i love the knecklace, i hope i win xxx

aimee, email your address to maraven{at}sfcn{dot}org so I can get this out to you!

keep primping and link up!

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #23

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here are my favorites from last week's party:

Sweetgirl Expressions primped this beautiful blue stool.

Liz Marie Blog showed how to make your own deer head sculpture.

RustiChic revealed her unique blue union jack dresser.

Twigg Studios used paint and burlap to make this cute grainsack style pillow.

and because they look both cute and yummy,

Over the Big Moon showed how easily it is to make donut hole acorns.

Thanks for all your inspiration every week!

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

thankful for you {giveaway}

I love how this time of year forces us to count our
blessings. I am so thankful for so many things.  One
of them, being you!  You know how to make a girl feel good, I feel like I have the best
followers!  To show my gratitude, I'm giving one
lucky winner this beautiful necklace.

I loved this necklace so much I bought 2--one for

me, one for you!

I love the blue color and the size of the flower--a

definite standout!

I would love to give this to one of my lovely
followers--just leave one comment and I will choose
the winner Tuesday, November 29th, and announce it
that night at my linky party. 

Just think you and I could be twinners, or you
can re-gift it to some lucky girl for Christmas,
I won't tell!

I'm also thankful for my lovely sponsors, give them a visit!

 

I'm off to have a fun family-filled weekend.  The
next time we meet I'll be talking Christmas.

keep primping and Happy Thanksgiving!

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday Linky Party #22

Happy Wednesday! It's time to link up all your fabulously primped projects, including anything you have made, or made to look better, or anything you have found to {primp} your space.

Here are my favorites from last week's party:

Pinecone shared how to make your own faux jadeite cake stand for cheap!

Maple and Magnolia primped some bookcases with beautiful styling and fun, but classic, silhouettes.

French Country Cottage updated an old bench with this pretty slipcover and vintage accessories.

Restore Interiors showed off her beautifully painted bow-front chest.

Thanks for all your inspiration every week!

Now it's time to be inspired again:

Please become a follower if you are not already, and grab my button to post somewhere on your blog so others can join in on the fun!

<div align="center"><a 
href="http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/" title="{Primp}" 
target="_blank"><img 
src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/amycarver3/primpbutton2.jpg" 
alt="{Primp}" style="border:none;" 
/></a></div>

keep primping and link up!

thanksgiving bunting

Here's an easy thanksgiving bunting I made last year, but updated just a little.

The original pattern, that can be printed off for free, has really cute fall plaids and burlap designs.  Since I only have a black and white printer, I had to improvise.

 

I just printed it off in black and white and added my own burlap, and old book and music pages for depth and interest.

 

The neutral colors go good with my already neutral fall mantel.

Best of all, most of the work is done for you. Just print it out and start cutting.

 

 

Here's what the bunting looks like in it's color form:

{cute plaids!}

Go here to get the free downloadable pattern.

keep primping,

my own indoor flea market {kind of}

So I've been busy gathering and making things to add to my etsy shop,Primp Junktion, whose inventory has been dwindling lately.  Here's a little snippet of what I've recently added:

When I set everything out to sort though and photograph, the big pile kind of reminded me of a flea market, unique pieces of this and that, some vintage, others handmade. 

It made me really happy to look at it all.

If you love old books, vintage linens,

 

farmhouse baskets,

or junque jewelry,

Check out my new wares just added to the shop here.

 

keep primping,