New Items in the Shop

10 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Invites & Save the Dates, Shop Gray Star Design, Weddings

Tags

bridal shower, classy, Creamy Damask Bridal Shower Invite, Creamy Damask Thank You Card, Deco Inspired Save the Date, fall, fancy, flowers, forma, garden, gray, gray star design, leaves, modern, Modern Gray Flourish Wedding Invitation Suite, nature, rustic, Rustic Leaves Wedding Invitation Suite, table numbers, traditiona, vintage, Vintage Rose Table Numbers, wedding, wedding decor, wedding invites, woodland

I just wanted to share some of the newest items I now offer in my shop. I try to incorporate different styles into my designs so they can appeal to everyone so I hope these newbies are liked among many. Feel free to click on the images to view the item in my shop for purchase.

My Rustic Leaves Wedding Invitation Suite is the first square invite I designed. Although simple and clean, they have a rustic feel that is perfect for a nature inspired wedding. If you are planning a fall event, these would really be nice. It’s available in brown and gray.

My Modern Gray Flourish Wedding Invitation Suite is modern and classy. Perfect for any traditional style event or a wedding that is simply grand.

This super fancy and modern Deco Inspired Save the Date will certainly impress your guests and get them prepared for the event of the year. With a beautiful chandelier design on the front and decorative elements on the back, they bring a nice touch to your special day.

My new Creamy Damask Thank You Card is a pretty way to say thank to all your guests who shared thoughtful gifts. Perfect for a bridal shower and wedding. By using a flat card you also save trees. They also match my Creamy Damask Bridal Shower Invites.

Perfect for a garden wedding or rustic styled event, my new Vintage Rose Table Numbers would make a beautiful addition to your guests tables. Instead of numbers, they feature a different flower on each. Of course they can be customized to whatever you would like them to say but the unique touch of these nature lovelies will make everyone smile.

Guest Post: Seasonal Decorating Ideas

07 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

books, card garland, christmas, Decorating Ideas, diy, holiday, leaves, ornaments, Poles Direct, Shehla Ali, snowflakes, snowglobe, snowman, tinsel, traditional, tree

When it comes to seasonal decorating everyone wants a stylish and sleek look, not the usual commercial over the top presentation. Here are few ideas you can try during this holiday season.

If you always put your decorations in the same place then why not rearrange things. It’s fun and won’t cost you anything.

Instead of having the traditional Christmas tree why not use books to make one. It really is easy and more modern. Just pile on layers of books making the piles smaller length wise on top. Once you have accomplished this, then wrap Christmas lights around it.

Photo Credit: Neatorama

Cut bits of tinsel and tie it on chairs at home. If you have a floor lamp then use that for Christmas décor too.

Use warm colors in your home. This does not mean you have to redecorate everything, just tiny adjustments will enhance your room and give it a seasonal effect. Instead of new carpet or flooring add a rug that will compliment the color of your floor.

If you’ve run out of room because there is too much décor, try taking extra ornaments and hang them on interior curtain poles.
Guest Post: Seasonal Decorating Ideas
Photo Credit: (left) Cozy Little House (right) Free Home Decorating Ideas

Create a display for all your Christmas cards. Stick a piece of string on one of your walls and hang the cards on them rather than causing clutter.

Photo Credit: Summer Holiday Vintage

Pick up leaves or cut out snowflakes and put them in glass frames and display them around the house.

Take an old jar and put fake snow inside of it to create a holiday globe. Include a festive icon such as a snowman or a christmas tree and you’ve created a wonderful decoration.

Photo Credit: Worley’s Lighting

When you have finished snuggle up with a cosy blanket, light some candles and enjoy your Christmas.

{Shehla Ali has written this article on behalf of Poles Direct, a supplier of curtain rods in the UK.}

Tis’ the Season for Autumn Decorating

13 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

autumn, Autumn Decorating, brown, corn stalks, crates, decor, decorating, fall, festive, front porch, gourds, halloween, hay, holidays, leaves, nature, orange, pumpkins, red, seasons, thanksgiving, trees, wreaths, yellow

Autumn is officially here and I must say it is the best season for decorating. With holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving and the beautiful fall weather, there are more than enough reasons to get creative and play dress up with your home.

In my opinion, using the harvest theme is always your safest bet. Plus, you can start decorating in September and change it all up in December when Christmas starts to roll in. That’s 3 months of super fun and also a good time span to not have to do anything else! Easy peasy, I say. From pumpkins and gourds to corn stalks and hay bales, there is so much to work with as well. Playing of autumn’s finest colors of oranges, reds, yellows and browns set the tone for endless possibilities.

For our front porch, we combined some of the season’s finest elements; corn stalks, leaves, pumpkins and mums. I used a few vintage crates for height and variety but kept within the fall color palette. I’m also considering adding a hay bale or two and I am waiting for a wreath I ordered for the front door to arrive. When Dan and I go pumpkin picking we will showcase our carved art pieces on the stairs as well. Just in time for the holiday.

I understand Halloween is a fun holiday, especially if you have kids. Incorporating themed decor is fine during the end of the October. Just be cautious to not go overboard, unless you’re creating a haunted house. I notice a lot of people can get a little cheesy with their seasonal decorations and most of the time its what they chose to use, not how they put it together. As long as you go with nicely styled pieces, you should be fine.

Bringing the outside in, isn’t so hard either. Just shower some fall goodness around your home, a little here and a little there, and fall will bring warmth and cozy to your space. From the front door to inside the comfiest of rooms in your home, autumn can come alive. This is one of the most colorful seasons and there are many reasons to celebrate it.

For my dining room table, I just wanted to bring a touch of the season so I dressed it with tiny pumpkins and gourds. I also showcased a vintage crate I had in my office that was sort of hidden so it felt new. Nothing crazy, just a little bit of earthy goodness.

Here are a few inspirations for autumn decorating that I felt were beautiful, fun and most of all, realistic. We can all make a nice statement at our home’s entrance and we can all surely give the inside a seasonal makeover. With the right decor and placement, fall can be celebrated in your one and only home sweet home.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Photo Credit: (left) Fancy House Road (right) Farmhouse Country Style

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Photo Credit: (left) Blissfully Domestic (right) Front Porch Ideas & More

Photo Credit: Fresh Home Design & Architecture

Photo Credit: Front Porch Ideas & More

Photo Credit: (left) Creating a Family Home (right) Revedecor

Photo Credit: Revedecor

Photo Credit: (left) Heather Ballard Lifestyle (right) Shelterness

Photo Credit: Cupcakes and Crinoline

Photo Credit: (left) Brown Eyed Gal (right) HGTV

Photo Credit: Decoist

Photo Credit: The Glitter Guide

Fall Into Autumn Weddings

07 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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Tags

autumn, bouquets, bride, centerpieces, events, fall, flowers, groom, harvest, leaves, orchard, seasons, table settings, trees, weddings

Fall is right around the corner and although I chose to have a spring wedding, autumn is my favorite season of them all. I love the cool weather and how the colors change. The sky is a different blue and I find that beautiful as well. Everything is a little bit darker and richer which is nice after the hot summer.

I have only been to one fall wedding in the past and they definitely celebrated the season through the decor. The one thing I would watch out for is to go overboard. A harvest theme can get a little crazy and seem like Thanksgiving and a darker theme can look like Halloween. In most cases, these won’t end up successful, unless you want to celebrate the holidays.

I think its most important to really use the fall colors wisely and try not to use one too much, like having a whole event of orange. Don’t get stuck in traditional ideas and think you should only use brown, orange and red. You can bring in other colors as well. Just blend them with a unique style.

Here are some great examples I came across of fall themed weddings. I say, celebrate nature and its beautiful changes and let the Earth give you all the inspiration you need.