DIY: Step-by-Step Roller blind instructions

I came across the following Martha Steward blog article that provides detailed instructions on how to make a roller blind for you kitchen or bathroom. The following link contains easy to follow instructions as well as images with how to proceed: www.alternative-windows.com

The main consideration when making a shade or blind is its purpose. Do you want it to block out the sun completely or do you just want to use it as a decor item in your house. This will influence the type of material required for the construction.

 

Days to go to new Lovilee

Chooseday: Five elements of design

The best way to start a design project is to familiarise yourself with the five elements of design:


Line - this directs the eye towards to focal point in a room, it can be curved, straight, horizontal or vertical. Straight lines tend to feel strong and masculine, whereas curvy lines reminds more of the softer and feminine side. All of a room's elements may contain line, the architecture: doors, windows, arches and floors, as well as the decor: fabrics, wallpaper, accessories and furniture.


Color - creates a mood and always exerts an emotional response, this tends to be the most important of the design principles. Studies conducted have shown that certain colors like the colour red invites our appetite (great for a kitchen) whereas the colour blue depresses appetite.


Texture - strong or rough textures like iron, hammered steel and denim fabrics exempt a masculine feel, whereas soft, shiny and sleek items provides for a softer, feminine feel.


Mass - "the amount of space or visual weight an object tends to have". A great example to demonstrate this concept is an upholstered sofa or grand piano. A glass dining room table with the same physical dimensions, places in the same space does just not carry as much visual weight. This element of design creates balance in a room.


Form - Form refers to the actual shape of an element or item in the room. If the walls are tall and slender then the best choice for furniture will also be tall and slender. The form of the furniture should echo the form of the room’s architectural elements.

DIY: Toolbox essentials

Before we continue with our DIY tips, there are a few basic tools that are must-haves in your in-home-toolbox to make prettification and simple home repairs more convenient. The following was taken from an article on About.com and I have added some of my essentials to the list as well:

Source: Sears.com

Tape measure
A 3m tape measure should suffice. Measure twice, cut once!

Screwdrivers
Make sure that you have at least two of these, one star and one flat screwdriver. It is better to have one small and one large of each and they generally come in sets that work out cheaper than buying separately.


Pliers
I prefer sharp nosed pliers, they are ideal for the odd jewellery repair as well as getting small objects through holes.


Spirit level
Sometimes gauging with the eye still produces a skew artwork, it just pays off having one of these, no matter what size.


Claw hammer
I know, we as girls think the smaller the better, but rather buy the standard size hammer, as it is really more functional. The Claw hammer is also great for removing nails.

Assortment of nails, screws and picture hooks
I personally prefer a Hilti tool, as this prevents you from frequently hammering your fingers and assists in hitting nails in straight. They are also easy to remove with pliers and leave little to no holes afterwards.


Wire cutters
Well, what can I say, they are just needed!


Pencils
These are better than pens in marking the walls for hanging pictures etc as it can always be rubbed of with an eraser when done and almost draws on any surface.


Masking tape
How many times has having a roll of masking tape saved me from having to clean up ceilings / windows from being painted? I cannot even count, this must be one of my favourite inventions ever, really easy to use and it pulls of very easily afterwards! (Tip: When painting, always peel the tape off when the paint is still wet after the last layer to avoid pulling paint off as well.)


Stanley knife
I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have had to use mine. There is always some fine cutting or trimming that needs to be done, where scissors will not suffice.


No more nails
This new glue on the market literally sticks everything from mirrors to tiles. It is a great no mess no fuss adhesive.


TIP: When buying tools, do not opt for the cheapest sets, rather buy a decent set that will last a lifetime.

Chooseday: The smart choice for your wedding

If you are getting married soon, or know someone that is on the verge of taking the big leap, we have a great one-stop online resource to assist through this chaotic time. Matha Stewart Weddings is a website that provides you with the most amazing planning checklist  tool, as well as budget manager to help make a success of your special day.

It keeps track of all your invitations sent, replies received, sends you reminders when what vendor needs to be paid and when to contact whom. It also provides an interactive table outlay page where you set up the venue size and floor plan. You are then able to seat families together with a click of a mouse and move people around, without forgetting to move their spouses.

The site also provides great real-wedding examples, provides templates and other DIY wedding ideas and is just in general your one stop wedding resource.

 

  

DIY: Taste the love, valentines tea

I found the following post on Design*Sponge and just had to share it with all you creatives out there. One of their readers sent in the post on how to make your own lovilee valentines tea bags in three different ways. Not only is it nice to look at, but will certainly make the person drinking the tea feel special and loved.

Click through on the following link for step-by-step instructions on how to create the tea bags below.

 

DIY: The Art of hanging Art

Hanging pictures or art to look great is in some cases easier said than done. Here are a few tips and different ways to hang art in a room:

• Choose the art - Art can range from old postcards, calendar pictures, photos, original or replica paintings etc.
• Surround your art or pictures - add a nice frame or mat to the picture. Contrasting mats to the wall have a greater impact.
• Find the center of the wall - the center of your first picture should be eye level or slightly above (approximately 150mm from the floor).
• Choose the layout - this only applies if you have more than one piece you would like to hang. Trace the sizes and shapes of the frames on brown paper or newspaper, now stick them to the wall as you would like them to hang with some masking tape. It is advisable to leave these on the wall for a day or two before you hand the actual art.
• Bigger is often better, one nicely sized piece of art can sometimes have a bigger impact than lots of art groupings together.
• Once you are sure that you have the right layout, start hammering!
• Remember: The smaller the nails you use, the easier to remove them and fill up the holes at a later stage.

Styles:

• Vertical - For small walls or in vertical lines on a bigger wall.

Source: Xc3.xanga.com

• Horisontal - Works great on long walls, I found the following horisontal alternative:

Source: TheCreativeMama

• Symmetry - gives a formal feel to any room



Source: Home-Dzine

• Clustered - I just love this, all is square and gives a great formal art display.

Source: 4.bp

• Art shelves - a new and modern way to display art

Source: Alldrin Photography

• Staircases - this works better in a "stepped up" format.



Source: AFP interiors

Chooseday: Modern guy love - Treemail

Country Living magazine has created a valentines treemail app, where you are able to send a tree carving of your and your valentines' initial to Twitter, Facebook or via email. The application allows you to choose your own knife width as well as the tree bark style to carve into. The cost of the app is $0.99.

So for all the guys out there... No excuse not to have a card that shows the love this year!

Source: Design*Sponge

For more on this application, visit Design*Sponge or alternatively download it from Country Living Magazine.

DIY: Valentines eve

Here with some inspiration for valentines eve to make that special person in your life feel truly loved. This can be done by making use of any flower petals in your garden, leaves could work just as well. The key is to choose one or two colors from the garden at most to decorate a romantic space.

DIY: Frosted glass the cheap and easy way!

There are some really cheap and easy ways to decorate windows by "frosting them". The idea is to create a sandblasted look by making use of a spray paint.

Rust-Oleum frosted glass spray (available at Builders Warehouse).

Step-by-step how to:
1.  Buy or make your own pattern stencil. (here with some awesome ideas)
2.  Cut out your patterns on self-adhesive plastic
3.  Make sure that the surface you will be decorating is clean and free from oily or dust particles
4.  Stick your stencil images onto the surface
5.  Start spraying!

DIY: Before and after...

I have been looking for a chandelier for our dining room for a while now, and just paid attention to the standard crystal ones, but was stunned to see what a huge difference paint made to the chandelier below.  And because I am in my purple phase it makes the idea even more appealing!

Read more at Design*Sponge  on their Before & After projects.

 

Decor: A Christmas dinner...

My colors for Christmas are purple, white and silver this year. I thought I'd put some items together to give you some inspiration for your table tonight.

May you have a lovilee time off.

DIY: Become a bookmaker!

I got married earlier this year, at Ducks Country House and Venue, a quaint little place on the bank of the Klipriver in Henley-on-Klip, Gauteng. Melanie Wessels was responsible for my gorgeous and unique photos, with Ilana from Cosmetiek doing my make-up.

I made a scrapbook album for our memories of the day, that contains all our wedding stationary, seating arrangements and church songs sang, but felt that I still wanted something smaller to take with to others as a brag book.

I am an absolute internet addict and found a following company called Blurb online. Their books are cheap and super easy to make and you have a wide variety of choice when it comes to colors and outlay. You can even sell your book online at no cost!

Here with a preview of my book that I am expecting in the post any day now:

Kelly Wedding by Karen Kelly | Make Your Own Book