Tooo Neat!

Confetti Scissors? I love these! Available at the Container Store (and coming to a Michael's near me, soon, I hope!)



Wall Street Journal Market Watch: Princess is the Crowning Style in Japan Fashion ~ Marie Antoinette~ Roses, Frou-frou, Fifi, & More! You gotta see this video~



Kale? Twinkling Topiaries Suspended for Christmas I've always loved kale; but I've never thought of hanging it. Makes a lovely front porch appeal focal point from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Does this remind you of hanging mistletoe balls? Complete photo how-to here.




Decorating Cream Walls with A Sharpie: Pretty Sharp ( Why didn't I think of this?) Although I would never do this, I have to admit it caught my eye and popped both wide open. WOW! On second thought, if I had a basement family area, I really might! You have to check out the WHOLE basement play room to really appreciate how much decor impact this fellow managed with only ten dollars spent on Sharpies. An amazing pan view can be seen here.

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Pretty, Practical & Fun to Make: Wearable Coasters

This holiday season my wineglasses are going to wear their coasters on their feet - no more nasty tabletop circles for me. These wearable coasters can be made from recycled holiday greeting cards, comic strips, newspapers, old cds, gift wrapping or even plain brown paper. The coasters are a fun, rewarding project - pretty and practical for your holiday entertaining.

In fact, relying mostly on my old holiday trims, I made dozens of the coasters in different designs, and the only thing I had to buy was the dimensional paint to finish the scalloped edges and add sparkle. I used FolkArt Dimensional Fabric Paint by Plaid, available online. Sigh.. take a look at these eight designs and maybe you'll agree - Recycling is sooo satisfying.

Wearable Coasters ePacket Templates & Instruction Available

You can add see-through pockets to old cds for a WOW! wearable coaster, filled with confetti . Trim the wine glass with curled ribbons and tuck in a fun tag and you'll be ready to say you were "Born To Be Merry!"

See eight fabulous designs for holiday and casual party events following

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Putti; Cherubs; Cupid: What's the Difference?

Cherubic art has winged its way to our hearts and our shabby cottage chic decor. Although the terms putti, cherubs, and cupids are each synonymous with pudgy round little winged motifs, mostly boys - the artistic rendering in subject matter and meaning are decidedly different and should never be confused.

Because I often paint cherubs; and I wanted all of my cherubs to be innocent and sweet, I've exhaustively researched the finer points of cherubic art. How does one know the difference?

Putti - meaning "children" in old Italian. Compositions with emphasis on profane, cultish ceremonies of abandoned revelry often pairing putti with females in different stages of dress or nudity. May also be with just one female, either nude or dressed. The facial expressions of putti generally lack the innocence of cherubs and cupids. Rule of thumb: If there is a female in the painting, it's generally secular and considered putti -not an innocent cherub. An example of putti may be seen here.

Ancient Cupid of Roman Mythology: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, identified with the Greek Eros. Cupid was the son of Mercury and Venus. He was usually represented as a winged infant who carried a bow and quiver of arrows, which he shot at humans to inflict wounds that inspired love or passion. He was also sometimes depicted as a beautiful youth. Though generally considered beneficent, he could be mischievous in matchmaking, often at his mother's behest.

Most of us are familiar with reproductions of the above painting, L'Amour et Psyche, Enfants, 1873, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau . It is often cropped so that the emphasis is on the kiss, deemphasizing the nudity.

Modern Cupids: Sweet little baby-faced figures with bow and arrows often used for Valentine Day card illustrations. Especially appealing in vintage valentines as shown below. Certainly secular, but there isn't anything in the sentiment to cause unease.

Cherubs: Cherubs or cherubim are the first angels mentioned in the Bible and are said to stand next to the Throne of God. In the Bible, they are described as four-winged creatures - a far cry from the baby-like cherubs with which we are so familiar. Since the cherubs did not appear until Adam and Eve committed the original sin, many feel the cherubs represent Adam and Eve - naked and innocent - in the Garden of Eden. It follows naturally that cherubs are often cast as guardians in garden settings, surrounded with florals, busy with their work of tending to nature, protection and adding to the beauty of gardens. Many are used in outdoor statuary and fountains. Their expressions can be sweet or fiercely protective. Cherubs have become symbolic of wee guardian angels in our homes.

My Paintings of Cherubic Art: Below, two of my original paintings, each of cherubs, spotlight two different "looks", each designed to convey an essence of guardianship. The first painting, shows motion of a determined garden cherub or angel protector, not near as babyish, with what I hoped to depict as a serious expression of being fully on guard for danger to those for whom he is responsible. He is carrying a dipper of water, evocative of his role as provider for the area and those under his care.The second cherub is descending - curious about a new nest of eggs. I reached for an expression of sweet wonder on this cherub's face. I tried to show that the birds were comfortable with the cherub , unthreatened, without the instinctive need to protect their eggs - they know this sweet cherub intends no harm. My goal in composition and design is to always strive to capture the purity and innocence of cherubic art, never putti; because there is a big difference...

Click Photos to enlarge

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Ooh, La la! Naughty or Nice Chic Lace Tape for Your Gifts

It's time to make your list, check it twice & make decisions about naughty or nice ~ and now there is a wonderful way to act on that decision without resorting to switches - especially for mischievous friends. If you love gift wrappings, gift trims and even the effort it takes to make a gift or package gorgeous, you will love this printed package tape, two inches wide on a roll.

This is available in naughty black lace or nice white lace at Boiler Design Office. Here's the link.

Nice? ... treat them to pink paper, white lace, a fluff of wedding tuile plus a silk rosebud and the sparkle of a metallic gold or silver tag; sooo quick - soooo pretty - sooooo Shabby.

But if they've been naughty... tuck black French fishnet stockings inside a package wrapped in silver metallic paper, black lace tape with a rhinestone studded mini high heel tied with black satin ribbon for a Paris Chic naughty flair.

Antique & Vintage Rhinestone Wreath by Debbie Del Rosario

Click HERE for DIY Tips

ANNOUNCEMENT: You may see Debbie's beautiful home featured as The Cottage of the Month for November, 2007, at Jennifer Grey's website ,

The Old Painted Cottage.

My immensely talented friend, Debbie, has the most breathtaking Christmas trims you could ever imagine that she has created mostly with her own hands. All of her Christmas creations, ornaments and trees are stunning . This gorgeous, knock-your-eyes-out wreath is just an appetizer -Debbie has promised many more photos for me to share.

Debbie created this wreath with vintage & antique rhinestone jewelry collected one piece at a time. Pins, clips, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, chokers have been chosen to add to family heirloom pieces.

If you have a collection of vintage rhinestone jewelry and would like to make something similar - be sure and visit Many Shades of Shabby by Devonia Projects DIY Instruction Page for additional details from Debbie that you might find very helpful. Thanks, Debbie!

ATTENTION: Watch for this product to be HOT! Golden Bead Gel

Gina Wolfrum has graciously shared her photo of an exquisite example she produced from Golden Bead Gel. (click on photos to enlarge)

You must meet Gina, a cutting-edge master of elegant finishes in murals, ceilings, furniture and accessories.

Her work is synonymous with adjectives such as elegant, magnificent, and awesome that make you stare in awe, wide-eyed, wondering...

How could anyone paint All of THAT while they are miles above a floor?

A link to her website, Elegant Finishes by Gina, will remain available listed always as a trend setter; an accolade she has surely earned. Can you imagine a ceiling embossed with hundreds of Swarovski crystals? Gina did and has done several - including a nursery with a twinkling stars and another graced with an exquisite salon flair. Thanks, Gina.

I've also added a link for Golden Artists Colors, available at most craft stores. You'll need it once you enlarge the photo sample above a and check out Gina's website. Golden Bead Gel is a translucent when dry - gel - requiring whisper-thin application, that I anticipate may well turn out to be one of the most important new products to be discovered by artisans in the romantic genre.

This gel has micro clear glass beads that add texture, sparkle, and shine when dried. Think of adding tiny touches to brocade silk lampshades, to Christmas ornaments, to rose wallpaper, to stenciling, to any paper or paint project, to seashells, to painted signs, to literally any project - from your ceilings to your walls - if a subtle dazzle would add the ultimate finishing touch. It's exciting, it's new and it's waiting for you to make it your own in your decor.

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