Spiced Pine Cones

1. Buy a bag of pine cones or gather your own. Scrub the dirt off the pine cones as you rinse them under warm water and stack them.

2. Place the pine cones on an old baking pan with two inches between the pine cones on all sides.

3. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Slide the pine cones into the oven and set the timer for one hour to kill any bacteria. When the timer goes off, remove the cones and place onto newspaper.

4. Collect the spices that you want to use as seasoning for your pine cones. Popular options include ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground clove.

5. Sprinkle the spices onto the pine cones. Coat them well by turning the pine cone over and sprinkling spices on all sides. Tap off excess spices.

6. Allow cones to dry then tuck them into a basket and place near your fireplace.

Crafty idea via how to - image credit © Julie Magers Soulen, 2010.

8 Other Things

Did you know...you can clean more than just dishes in your dishwasher.

Rain boots should have the liners removed and lie horizontally. Hook flip-flops on tines in the top rack. (FYI, Crocs are not dishwasher-safe.)

Tools with metal or plastic handles will be fine. Towel-dry afterward to prevent rusting.

Ceramic cabinet knobs do well in the silverware basket, so if you feel like embarking on the process (remove, wash, replace), go for it.

Hairbrushes and combs made of plastic can take a spin, but not wood or natural boar-bristle brushes. Be sure to remove all the hair first to protect the drain.

Fan grilles, switch plates, and vent covers are in if they’re plastic, aluminum, or steel. Enameled, painted, or plated should stay out.

Garden tools may have come in contact with pesticides or animals, so don’t mix them with a load of dishes. (And don’t wash those with wood handles.)

Light-fixture covers are fine in the top rack, as long as they’re not antique, enameled, or painted.

Potatoes can get nice and clean in the top rack with a rinse-only cycle (no detergent). Sound crazy? It makes mashed potatoes for 20 a lot quicker.

Retro-style dishwasher by SMEG (I know, cute, huh?).

Info shared via - click for a list of 14 more!

Series: Displaying Art and Photography - Canvas Wall Art

Artwork is an important part of decorating your home. Art sets the mood, adds an accent or functions well just because we like it. Art adds a finishing touch, and it can be the inspiration for a room design but how do you find the right piece of art for your room? Canvas wall art has become popular over the last few years and more people are purchasing or creating superb pieces for their homes.

What makes canvas wall art great is that it can be inexpensive to buy or make yourself but it still gives the appearance of an authentic piece. Choosing the right canvas wall art can be challenging but in a few easy steps you can find the perfect piece for your room.


Audrey - Ikea 20 x 20 canvas $70

Match your color scheme
The first step in choosing your canvas wall art is to look at your color scheme. The basic rule of thumb is to choose an art piece that will match your room without detracting from any design elements that are already in it. If you find that your design style is filled with cool sleek lines and neutral colors, then a canvas wall art that adds a touch of color to a room is a good choice. If your room is filled with color, then simple wall art with minimal color will provide a nice break in the room. When you go to purchase your canvas art, bring swatches of your room colors to help you find the right colors and to be sure that the colors of the room and art do not clash.

Match your artwork
As with all other pieces of art and photography, there is a wide range of styles. Landscapes, flowers, abstract and other designs can be found in canvas art so make sure that the theme in the picture does not clash with the theme in your room. A lighthouse landscape doesn't fit in a room with Asian decor and an oriental floral piece won't look right in a room with a nautical theme. Just because you like it doesn’t mean it will match your decor so save your money for the right one.


UP - Pfeiffer Photos 20 x 24 canvas $150*

Match your wall
The area where you will be hanging the artwork is an important part to choosing your canvas . First, take a tape measure and get the dimension of the space that needs art. With those dimensions, you will get a better idea of what you would like in a piece. Make sure that the canvas matches the size of the wall. A big mistake is to go off to the store and buy a piece that is too big or too small. Too big, it may not fit, too small, it may appear out of place in the room. You don't want your art just floating there in the middle of empty wall space. When you purchase a canvas--ready made or for a DIY project--bring your tape measure and wall measurements to get the best match.


Nothing Beats Homegrown - scent of rain designs

Choose your style
Styles differ depending on your room, your design, your budget and your taste. Before you purchase or create a canvas, you should know the style that you want. A large canvas can really be a statement piece in an area with a large open wall but it's not the only way to go. Panels are a can fill a room and break up a pattern just enough to bring the eye to the artwork. If you produce a piece of art in panels, it is important to use the right subject. Most landscapes don’t work well in panels but if you choose a landscaped piece, make sure that you use canvases side to side and not top to bottom. For larger canvas panels use the rule of three, especially if you are decorating a large wall space but it's okay to use more than three. Look at the art and decide the best way to showcase it.


Winter Forest Diptych - JK Photography

Make your own
The last thing to mention about choosing the right canvas wall art for your room is to make your own if you can’t find something you love. It's easy to make canvas wall art and if you like abstract art, anyone can create interesting and unique work with little effort. Photography can be made into canvas wall art and you can use your own images or work with a photographer to produce a canvas of their work to display in your space.


Creative canvas arrangement - grid on one wall, large solo opposite

Canvas wall art should reflect your design and character so you don't need to stay within the norm. Branch out, explore and don’t hesitate when you find a perfect piece of canvas art for your wall just use it!

This series shares fresh ways to look at your fine art and photography pieces and to inspire you to seek out more. Future posts will feature with ideas, how-tos and photos to push the traditional "frame-it-hang-it" aside and have more FUN in your space!


*Most images in our shop are available as canvas prints--upon request and as a special order. Visit the shop or contact me for more information.

DIY Project: Upcycled Painted Filing Cabinet

Repainting a filing cabinet is a quick and affordable way to bring a fun color into your home office. I found this DIY project online and thought you all might enjoy it.

YOU WILL NEED:

Metal file cabinet(s)

Drop cloth

Screwdriver

Sandpaper

Primer

Rust resistant spray paint

NOTE: Always work outside when painting for proper ventilation!!

1. Remove all hardware first. Pull out all of the drawers so you can spray each one individually and allow them to dry separately.

2. Clean your cabinet of any marks, rust or debris, then sand lightly to give the surface some tooth for the paint to grab onto.

3. Use a spray paint primer (available from any hardware shop or home store). Apply primer from about 12" away, erring on the side of caution by applying even, light coats. Allow to dry overnight.

4. Spray paint in the same manner the primer was applied (work slow and steady to avoid streaks or uneven sections). Allow to dry at least overnight before use.

FOUND HERE.

DIY Project: Faux Brick Wall

We have a wall in our living room that needs a new look. It's 12' long and 8' high and currently houses a huge canvas print (Ikea, used via Craigslist for 50% off!) behind our TV. I don't want this wall to look too "busy" so shelving is not an option. Shelves + stuff on shelves = clutter = dust = no thanks.

My first choice would be to apply faux brick panels to give our room the feel of an urban loft (without the cost of monthy loft rent). After researching faux panels it has become clear that this idea is well beyond my budget for this project.

Enter second option: paint. If the how-to article can be trusted, we can do this for under $100 and a weekend of DIY time. We shall see. In the meantime above are two inspiration photos I found online to keep my designer juices flowing until we take on this decor adventure.