End of year post {my favorite projects of 2012}

This is my absolute favorite post to write for the whole year.  At the end of each year I feel like I didn't get much done until I write this end of year post,  and realize I actually did.

 

 

Here are some of my favorite projects throughout the year, including some pretty big outdoor projects, like ...

 

 

 our DIY chicken coop,

 

changing our plain garage doors into carriage doors,

 

 

 

finishing our outdoor firepit.

 

 

 

 And some indoor ones:

 

updating a tiny french farmhouse bathroom,

 

 

 

 

finally buying the white sofa from IKEA I've wanted for forever,

 

 

 

 

I also finished a few favorite furniture projects including:

 

this painted faux grain sack stool,

 

 

a cute blue farmhouse cabinet,

 

 

 

 

a shabby little table,

 

 

 

 

 

a farmhouse chair,

 

 

 

 

painting and rearranging my sewing cabinet and nook,

 

 

 

and a few sewing projects too: 

 

vintage sheet bunting,

 

 

and a union jack bunting, just in time for the Olympics.

 

 

 

 

It's so fun to look back over the year and see the changes that have taken place around here. This little look back has also got me thinking about what I want to accomplish this next year, big and small.  Also thank you to those who have ever joined my linky party this year.  I am amazed at all the creativity and talent that is shared each week.  You inspire me.

 

 

keep primping and Happy New Year!

Christmas cards in a bucket

 One last thing before I take the week off. This is how I save my Christmas cards every year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simply punch a hole in the corner, add a ring some ribbon and any embellishments you want. Then stick in a cute bucket or basket.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's our Christmas card this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been doing this for several years and find it is the easiest and cutest way to save all those Christmas cards, year after year.  My kids love to pull each one out and see how much we and our family & friends have changed over the years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!  I will be taking the rest of the week off but if you have something to link up this week go here, my linky party will be running for another week.

 

 

keep primping & Merry Christmas!

 

Primping for Christmas {a home tour}

Welcome to our home.  Hope you enjoy the little bits of Christmas spread throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had a fun time adding to our faux snow globe collection started last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pleated burlap stockings hung on one of my favorite free finds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A homemade felt ball garland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our advent calendar I made over last year.

This year we drove for about an hour so we could experience scouting out and cutting down our own Christmas tree.  Ours looks a little more like a bush than a tree but we got there late and had only a little bit of time before the sun went down.  I decided to decorate this year with all homemade ornaments, made by the kids and by Grandma.  It was hard not to bring all the vintage bookpage and grain sack ornaments I made for my tree 2 years ago, but I think these just fit this wonky tree better.

 I'm enjoying getting ready to spend Christmas at home with my family. I'm also loving some some newly found photo apps.  I was really disappointed to find that my favorite editing site, PicMonkey has changed, so that you now have to upgrade to use virtualy all the good editing tools.  Plus I've found it's just easier to take pictures on my phone.  Instragram and Pixlromatic are my current favorites.

 

 I hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year,

and have a very Merry Christmas!

 

 

keep primping,

 

 

Primp Your Stuff Linky Party #76

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:


Hymns and Verses shared her Christmas home tour which is all inspirational. My favorites are her front porch ...

and this hot chocolate bar.

 

 

I love this colorful vintage vignette at A Ruffled Nest.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm loving two deer projects:

 

 

this cute glittered deer silhouette

by The Good Life!

 

 

 

and this retro branch buck by Made In a Day.

 

 

and last but not least,

 

 

Marty's Musings made this super cool scrap wood tree.

  

Thanks for all the inspiration!

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!

Primp Your Stuff Linky Party #75 and a 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:


Shaggy Sheep Home shared the coolest advent calendar, sitting in an old suitcase.

 

 

Common Ground confessed she's a chalkboard cheater (check out how she made her faux chalkboard design).

 

 

 

Twigg Studios designed this sweet Christmas in a nutshell,

with a tree that pops up!

Simply Reinvented primped a gorgeous french desk--love all those details!

 

Thanks for all the inspiration!

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 this party. The lucky winner of the $50 French Bleu Vintage giveaway is ...

Cassie @ Primitive and Proper

 

Congratulations Cassie!

keep primping and link up!