Retro Rustic Clean Country Laundry...

Good Morning!

I have never been SO excited in my entire long three decade life to do laundry. Yep, we finally upgraded! No more el cheapo craigslist castoffs! With the amount of yucky dirty laundry I do in a week, it really trumped all other home upgrades/furniture/yardstuff/travel trailers etc.

Seriously.

We ordered our new washer and dryer about 5 days before our long trip to South Carolina...and despite having to try and figure out how to pack the entire house into 4 suitcases, I decided to repaint my laundry room. I had TONS of time.

Because really now, what better time is there to paint your laundry room when you can completely remove your washer and dryer? And what paint lovin lady wouldn't seize the chance for a room redo and to cover up more babypoop colored walls and ceilings? (yep, ceilings too)


Hello, perfect chance. Couldn't say no.

My Mama was kind to help me paint AND did my laundry for me at her house (yup, washed, dried AND folded!) during those 5 days pre-trip when you do so stinkin much laundry just to have all of your regularly worn clothing ready to pack.

I chose my fave new neutral: Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage. (Er...I mean Home Depot's Behr Paint and Primer in one color matched to RH's Silver Sage from a paint sample card.)
(Course, I was not thinking clearly and threw the empty paint can away - doh! I'm praying my friend still has the can so I can get the formula.)

The glorious new washer and dryer arrived 14 days ago....and I am in love. Big RED puffy heart in love :)

I love doing laundry!!!

It's the actual folding and putting away part that's been the problem. I have piles of super clean perfectly steamed laundry all over the house and just don't want to do the unfun part of laundry.

(No this is not a local casting call for dirty laundry. And before I get baskets of laundry on my porch with little notes that say "wash me!" let me say something here. All laundry that isn't from my own family...or has not received the laundry blessing from the laundress will be taken to the backyard and torched. Bless your heart.)

I'm still working on the decor/organization in my walk-thru laundry room. I'm hoping to convince my hubby that installing a built in side shelf, high wide plank beadboard, a sitting bench with shoe cubbies and a coat rack with shelf would be an exciting early summer project. Jury's out on that one.

I'm hoping for lots of galvanized metal, pops of red and aqua, some worn edges. I'll call it retro rustic clean country.

Now if you will excuse me, I plan on shirking my laundry folding and putting away to browse inspiration photos on my new fave, Pinterest. Seriously. Get on there. It's way too fun.

Amanda

P.S. The $50 giftcard giveaway for blessing Mama's and Babies is still going on! You have time to enter to win, go HERE.

Of course, FACEBOOK :)

UnBrilliant...

When you get the brilliant idea to offer straws to your kids to drink their tomato soup instead of using a spoon, just ignore it.



Trust me.



Maybe I need to drink another cup...er, pot of coffee because obviously my brain is not on.

OR, maybe the paint fumes have finally gotten to me. Yup, I have another painting project going on. Another room that will be transformed so it feels more like ME. That better serves our family and our (OK....my) great organizational needs.

Translation: I'm slightly messy. I have issues with organization. I LOVE the look and concepts, and drool over pictures of organized, compartmentalized, sorted and labeled storage areas. I just can't get it there. There's a major mental roadblock. Really, I need to call my sister, offer her a mocha in exchange for whipping our room into shape.

I have the mess + she has the ability( Hot Venti Mocha) = DUH. Right?

Becca, seriously, I need ya girl...

A


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It's Really Just A Gangsta-Wannabe Salutation...

I'm collecting decorative letters so I can eventually have the entire alphabet on a wall in our bonus/playroom.

I keep a list on my phone of what letters I need so when i'm out and about dumpster diving, thrifting, clearance rack perusing or whathaveyou I can quickly see if I need a certain letter or not.

It's not going very quickly.

I'm already imagining the day when I have only two or three letters left and I find a particularly elusive letter. I'll be jumping up and down, pumping my fist and screaming "EEEE!! I found the EEEE!!!" or something equally embarrassing.

Being that it's been awhile and I've only put a fender bender-sized dent in my alphabet-collecting mission I'm needing to do SOMETHING with all these random letters sitting around. So, I just threw em up on the walls in the house.

Yes, I'm having a huge family party here on Sunday and I'm sure I'll get the, "Huh, look at that, there's a huge C on the dining room wall and none of their names start with C. Wonder what THAT'S for?". I'll have to make up something brilliant and wow them when I say it stands for the Spanish verb cocer (to cook) or the four C's of diamond gradation.

Conversation starter? Youbetcha.

Keeps me on my toes as well. Because really, it's going to be a mighty stretch to come up with what V F stands for. Very Friendly? Vocal fatigue (occurs VERY FREQUENTLY in our house).

That's it! Very Frequent Vocal Fatigue. Yup, sounds good to me.

Can you figure this one out?



Spring Break?

Green Beans?

Plant Biology?


Take your pick, I like em all.

And my favorite double grouping of them all:



It's really just a friendly gangsta-wannabe salutation.

And it's always nice to be friendly...

Amanda


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Skidamarink De Dinky Dink, Skidamarink De Doo Printable....

Who can finish that song with me? Oh yes, growing up in the 80's had its perks. Living close enough to the Canadian border ALSO had its perks. Oh yes, Canadian television!

In case you are curious, the song 'Skidamarink' was the finale song in 1910 for the Broadway Musical "The Echo" but was made popular in the mid-80's by a Canadian childrens program called "The Elephant Show".

The middle of the song features the lyrics:

I love you in the morning and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!

They make me smile.

So I created a printable thinking this will be fun to hang on my wall to make me smile daily. Feel free to use them to help YOU smile too :)

Pin It

Pin It

Just click to enlarge and save the file on your computer. Print it out at Costco and voila! Ubercuteness...

Amanda

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Two Free Paper Wreath Tutorials...

Let's all talk about some wreaths.

Some hand make paper el cheapo ones. As in, I spent nada on these. Just used stuff I already had lying around. Super thrifty decor.

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There is about eleventy hundred thousand book page wreaths out in crafty blog land rightthisverysecond and I was feeling left out and had to join in on the fun. Of course, I did it MY way. With shortcuts. Of course.

1. Grab an old book. We're going to thrash it so don't choose something important!

2. Rip ALL the pages out from the binding. I ripped the pages out in about 50 page handfuls at a time.

3. Stack them and while holding them dab and lightly paint the edges with dark brown or black craft paint and let dry. *** OR, do what I did....which was run out to the garage, hold the stack of pages in my hand and give it a 7 second shot of espresso brown spray paint. Simple and quick drying...perfect except for the large spray paint splotch on my left hand. ***

4. Go out and purchase a foam round wreath base. *** OR, do what I did...which was to eat pizza. Grab that perfectly round (if slightly smelly) cardboard pizza liner and cut a large hole out of the center with your kitchen shears. Voila. You've got a wreath base...and you get pizza. Win-win situation. ***

5. Scrunch, roll and accordian fold the pages and glue them individually to your frame, making sure to hide all evidence of frame. *** OR, do what I did....staple them in large chunks and glue gun only when necessary. Saved a TON of time.***

6. Hang on wall. Take pics and blog about it.

Easy peasy. Perfect to do while watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

Next up, rolled paper wreaths. Most of the rolled paper wreaths I've been seeing are made of vintage sheet music which is cool....except I didn't have any and didn't want to purchase any. Huh, I wonder WHAT kind of paper that I can use in large quantities that I have lying around??? Oh yes of course, my Christmas wrapping paper stash.

I mean c'mon, you all know I shop at Costco. I buy a hugenormous wrapping paper roll every Christmas and use about 1/1000th of the roll. Perfect!
1. Grab wrapping paper you like.
2. Eat more pizza. OR, if you want to be more classy, use a non-pizza sauce stained piece of cardboard to trace and cut out a circle frame for your wreath.
3. Cut a thousand or so (exaggeration. I don't want nasty emails from readers complaining that I misguided them in a craft tutorial and have caused them to suffer carpal tunnel syndrome) squares of wrapping paper. I did about 12x12 ish. And I used an old dull rotary cutter to slice though the paper quickly.

4. Heat up that glue gun and start rolling, keeping the printed side of the paper on the outside. Make cones that are smaller at one end and bigger at the end. Use a tiny dot of glue so your cone doesn't unroll when you let go. Position and glue to your frame.

5. Uh, keep doing that until it's done. It looks BETTER to be unperfect and have cones that are larger and some smaller...and the pattern varying a bit.

Done! This was my first one that I hung above my slider doorframe:

Then my sis-in-law came over and we got bit by the craft bugs and came up with:

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I completely LOVE the candy cane wrapping paper. Which means this wreath is my fave too. Hang a $1 silver glittery Merry Christmas ornament in the middle and you are DONE. Hang above fireplace, stand back and enjoy.

Now, get to paper wreath creating!

A

P.S. For all you delightful lovelies, I have decided to have an indefinitely active Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop coupon code for 15% off all orders. Cause you are delightful. AND lovely. Your 15% off coupon code is: FOLLOWLOVE15 . Happy Shopping!

Joining these fab parties:

Keep Calm drink a Peppermint Mocha Printable...

Really now, how can I possibly make a Keep Calm free printable for Pumpkin Spice Latte and NOT do one for Peppermint Mocha? I know, that'd be sad for Peppermint Mocha. He'd feel all sad and left out.

So, I finally got my craft on and came up with:



My favorite part of this printable is the cutie patootie lil Sbux Peppermint Mocha cup. Isn't it sweet?




I also had to return to my spray paint shelf and revamp another thrift store 99 cent frame. Yup, I spent more moolah developing the print ( a whole big fat $2.99) than I spent on the frame. I may have mentioned this before but MELIKEY the INEXPENSIVE DECOR. I used Krylon's Cherry Red:



Love how it makes my taste buds jump and jive when I walk on by. Our local Sbux may be memorizing Lola's license plate and starting my order when I pull up to the order window.

All I can say is BRING IT ON.

OK, you want jumpy jivey tastebuds too?? Okee dokee, here you go!

Normal font:



FUN font:



White on Red (minus the cutie patootie itty bitty mocha cup):



Upload to Costco or whomever, get it printed out, frame in something cherry red and you'll be hitting up Sbux in NO time.

Merry Christmas!

A

P.S. For all you delightful lovelies, I have decided to have an indefinitely active Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop coupon code for 15% off all orders. Cause you are delightful. AND lovely. Your 15% off coupon code is: FOLLOWLOVE15 . You still have time before Christmas to get some gift shopping in! I have multiples of every scarf ready made and am trying to ship out next day if possible. Happy Shopping!

Linking up:

Christmas Decorating Efficiency...

I spent the greater part of the last three days trying to get my Christmas decor in from the garage and actually set up.

My Christmas Decorating Efficiency was greatly thwarted by a wreath dismantling imp and a giddy Christmas light strand stealer.

Lil Chick is fascinated with wreaths. I can just see the questions in her brain: "WHY in there a big circle on the wall? WHY are those little colored balls stuck to that big circle on the wall? WHY are there some sticks poking into that big circle on the wall?"

And WHAT is the best way to find out about something and how it works? Yes, she dismantled it.

Picture thousands of tiny Styrofoam red berries dotting my carpet and a little girl with a whale-spout ponytail chewing on the end of a curly willow branch.

Like I said, Christmas Decorating Efficiency...ah...Thwartation. Pretty sure that's a word.

As for the budding electrician, we are SUPER CERTAIN that there are light strands with half, a third or the first and last third of the light bulbs burnt out. OR short circuited. Whatever. What I now know is (thanks to the info from my brother-in-law, Wonderboy) I am not supposed to store them in the garage. Which is what I do. Which is why I have issues with my lights. Huh. Shocking. (Stunned silence.)

Our strands of Christmas lights have now been plugged into eight different double light sockets around the living room, connected together in every mathematically possible way and painstakingly examined bulb by bulb by my little wannabe electrician. And to think I was considering putting a Christmas tree in his bedroom!? OK, I may still just do it. Cause it's fun. And he's a kid. And kids should have fun.

I'll be sleeping with a industrial sized fire extinguisher on my nightstand, but hey, kids should have fun...

A

P.S. For all you delightful lovelies, I have decided to have an indefinitely active Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop coupon code for 15% off all orders. Cause you are delightful. AND lovely. Your 15% off coupon code is: FOLLOWLOVE15 . You still have time before Christmas to get some gift shopping in! I have multiples of every scarf ready made and am trying to ship out next day if possible. Happy Shopping!

A Cascade of Ruffles and Baby Poo Walls..

I've loved my white waffle weave shower curtain for the good past five years or so that I've owned it.

Last week, all of a sudden, I was convinced it was horrid and boring and needed replacing...NOW. The truth is, I shrunk it in my dryer some months (probably a year) ago and it bugs me that my shower is wearing Capri's.

Not a great look.

Using what was lying around and finally acting on some creative thoughts that have been zinging around my brain the last year or so I came up with something new.

Something to replace my (as of two weeks ago) perfectly fine white waffle weave shower curtain.

A canvas cascade of ruffles shower curtain:



I left the edges unfinished. I'm digging the french rustic look:



Disclaimer: I'll probably change my mind faster than you can say "Your Capri-length white waffle weave shower curtain was fine".

One problem. One HUGE problem. Next to my rustic french ruffle shower curtain the bathroom walls and ceiling now look like they were smeared in two week old baby poo:



And although I'd say that there is no better room in the house than a mudroom bathroom to have the color of baby poo smeared on the walls, I'm getting the painting twitchies.

Some of my fave's:

Behr's Nurture:



Behr's Sage Tint:



RH's Atmosphere Blue. I like how it pairs with a lighter beige in this picture:



Opinions on paint colors anyone? Because the baby poo smeared walls NEED. TO. GO.

Stat.

A

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Plaid Lampshade Recovering Tutorial...Plus Giveaway!

Welcome to Plaid Flannel Party week! Let's get started on the Plaid Flannel goodness:

Hello there, meet my friend Uglampo:

He's a lamp shade and he's kinda ugly. He doesn't really fit in very well with our bedroom decor. (No, that face is not for reals. Hello photo software stickers, I love you).

Uglampo's twin brother Uglampi did not sign the media and press waiver so we are unable to post pictures of him. We deeply apologize.

Sadly, (OK, not too sad for me) we need to say buh-bye to Uglampo. He needs an extreme makeover....but needs so much work that his former identity will be null and void. New identity, here we come!

Lay Uglampo on your chosen piece of fabric (PLAID! CHOOSE PLAID!) and while rolling the lampshade cut out the basic shape of the lampshade with a good 2 - 3 extra inches all around:




You'll end up with a piece as shown below and your Uglampo will end up with motion sickness. Perfect.



Put a dab of glue (I used my hot glue gun because it's fast and easy) where each of the arrows is pointing and lay your Uglampo on it, being sure to smooth out any wrinkles or folds. Glue small 3-4 inch sections on the lamp edge and roll along your fabric to attach it. Do NOT be afraid to quickly rip off sections of misshapen, folded and rolled on fabric before the glue fully dries and redo them so they lay smooth.* AHEM*.

Uglampo is feeling a bit dizzy after all this rolling and gluing going on...but he's looking FAB:



Where the two edges of the fabric meet, glue one side all the way down flat against the lamp. On the remaining edge, fold the raw edge under and glue it down forming a smooth line with no raw edges showing. Think about wrapping a present and tucking the ragged edges on the bottom under forming a smooth folded line. Same thing. Clear as mud, right?

Cut slits into the top extra fabric where any lamp hardware is attached to the outer rim. I had three metal bars to work around so I cut three slits:



(Hee hee, those scissor photo stickers are making me giggle )

Glue along the inside edge of the lampshade and tuck the fabric in leaving a smooth edge. Then trim off the excess fabric:



(Why yes, I DO realize I'm overdoing the use of photo stickers. Let me have my fun)

And there you go, you are DONE. I really can't believe I turned such a rather simple project into a post this long.

Meet Plaidlampo:



Ain't it a cutie pie?

BEFORE:



AFTER:



And you betchyourbuns I'll be ripping that plaid flannel off and recovering those lampshade anytime I am the least bit sick of them.

Looking at that picture makes me want to restain those tables....and spray paint the lamp bases....and stencil a quatrefoil pattern on the wall. You get the general idea. Anywho...

OK, giveaway time!

Up for grabs is this teal, purple, pink and black plaid blossom pin...because sometimes a full plaid shirt/skirt/dress/coat is just too. much. plaid. This gives you just a nibble of plaid to accentuate an otherwise dull outfit:



Please don't ask me why a fiery glowing pumpkin is peeking out from the right side of the blossom pin. I won't have an answer for ya.

Oooo, I have an idea...



That's better.

Giveaway Rules:

1. LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me what outfit/article of clothing you'd use this sassy pin.

2. Earn another entry by FOLLOWING ME via the Google Friend Connect Follow Me doodad located on the right sidebar and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you just signed up or already DO follow Vintage Dutch Girl.

3. Earn yet another entry by subscribing to the Vintage Dutch Girl blog via a reader and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you newly subscribed or already do so.

4. Earn another entry by "Hearting" or "favoriting" the VintageDutchGirl ETSY shop and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did and WHAT YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN THE SHOP.

5. Earn another entry by BECOMING A FAN on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE...and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you became a fan or already ARE a fan.

6. STILL need some more entries? Whew...OK. Earn another entry (if you're still counting, that's up to FIVE) by blogging about, facebook posting, or tweeting about this giveaway (with links added in to spread the fun!) and LEAVE ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

7. OK, last one, I promise. GRAB THE Plaid Flannel Party BUTTON located on the top right side of the blog and post it on your blog to spread the news during this Plaid Flannel Party week and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

(Sorry, but for shipping reasons, this contest is only open to residents of USA and Canada)

*why so many entry possibilities? I want to say THANK YOU to those who read and follow along with my blabberings and projects!*

I will leave the contest open until THIS FRIDAY, October 29th, 10 PM PST at which time I will select a winner through Random.org and post the results.

Remember!!! You do NOT have to run a blog or have a google/gmail account to enter. Just click in as anonymous and make sure you tack your first name and email on the bottom of your comment so I can contact you if you win. Enter to win and join the fun!

A

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