A Bathroom Renovation Guide: Selecting, Measuring & Installing

If you've ever renovated a bathroom, then you know there are so many details to take into consideration, like how to choose a shower head, how to measure a shower door, how to measure and choose the right toilet, how to choose the right bathtub, and how to hang that heavy mirror.  Since I have been helping my parents with some design choices for their bathroom renovation, the need for some expert advice on bathroom renovating has come to my attention.  So, I pulled together a few articles that will hopefully give you the basic information you need.  

DIY Didn't I Think of This Sooner

Don't you just love the "Ah-ha" moment!  Sometimes it's using an everyday item that the rest of the world has been using for years, or sometimes it is using something in a new and different way.  Either way, it's usually something that was right in front of you all along.  So when Wayfair invited me to join in on their "DIY Didin't I Think of This Sooner?" sponsored campaign, I knew that I could come up with a list of those moments...so here are just a few.

4 DIY Pillow Makeovers as seen on Atlanta & Company

4 DIY Pillow Makeover Options

It can be so easy and inexpensive to do a DIY Pillow Makeover.  If you want to see just how easy, you can check out the video below from my recent visit to Atlanta & Company.

How to Make Christmas Photo Card Placemats

The holidays are over, and if you are like me, you got some amazing Christmas cards from friends and family.  So, I'm going to show you a quick way to turn those photo greetings into everyday placemats.  So, join me as I host another LIVE CraftyHangout sponsored by Darice Crafts.

Helpful Hint: If you would like to further protect them, you could always have them laminated.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the video!

Niki

How to Add Height or a Backdrop to Your Party Decor: The Easy Way

 

Buffet Table Backdrop

Decorating for events is one of my FAVORITE things to do, but I always find it challenging to add height to my table and have a great backdrop for photos (especially if the wall behind the buffet table is not so exciting).  Thanks to today's sponsor, Darice Crafts, I have come up with an excellent (& easy) solution to these problems -- Wreath Hangers!

10+ Cutting Machine Projects and a Cricut Explore Air Giveaway Package

Cricut Explore Air Package Giveaway

Today, I am teaming up with Jen at 100 Directions and some of my other bloggy pals to giveaway an awesome Cricut Explore Air prize pack and show you some fun projects you can do with a cutting machine.

Upcycled Bag Makeover: No Sewing Needed

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Phoomph, but all opinions are mine.

Reusable Bag Before and After

Want to make your fabric craft projects easier?  Just add oomph with Phoomph!  These fabric adhesive sheets require NO SEWING!!  I have so many projects in mind for this stuff, but for today, I want to show you how easy it is by turning kids' outgrown clothing into an embellishment for a reusable bag.  I am bringing this craft to life with video by joining Crafty Hangouts for another LIVE Google Hangout Tutorial.

2 Ingredient Healthy Espresso Macchiato Recipe & Instant Decor for a Mason Jar

I received product in exchange for this post.  However, my enthusiasm for this coffee replacement is 100% legit. :)

2 Ingredient Healthy Espresso Macchiato

Today I am sharing a LIVE Google Hangout that I hosted for Crafty Hangouts thanks to our sponsor, Ball Mason Jars.

My Craft Room (Craft Closet) Makeover

Craft Room Decorating Tour

We just moved, and I am so excited to organize and decorate our new place.  So, when Angie from The Country Chic Cottage invited me to be a part of her tour of craft rooms, I really wanted to participate and thought it would be great motivation for getting things in order.

Easy, Beautiful Scrapbooking with Project Life

Easy, Beautiful Scrapbooking

{This post is part of a paid campaign.  However, my LOVE for Project Life is real.  I have been drooling over them for months!!  They totally Rock!}
 
Don't you just LOVE it when you find a new product that is totally awesome AND solves a problem for you?  I sure do!  Today, I want to tell you about a crafty product that has solved a huge problem for me...and will for you too.  The amazing product is Project Life.  So, you might be wondering what problem they solved for me.  It was my scrapbooking dilemma.  I LOVE a beautiful scrapbook that displays your pictures, tickets, souveniers, etc.  However, I just can't ever seem to find the time to make them.  I don't know if I just take too many pictures and have my hand in too many pots (blogging, room mom, career, schooling, house keeping, other crafting whims, and a million other things) OR if I just want each page to be perfect and so I spend HOURS trying to get it to meet that standard.   Either way, I want a beautiful scrapbook (preferably without having to cut my pictures) that doesn't take me 3 months to complete...and THAT is what Project Life has done for me.

20 Ways to Support Others During an Illness or Death

20 Ways to Support Others during an Illness or Loss of a Loved One

When someone you know and love is in the hospital or loses a loved one, most likely one of the first things out of your mouth is, "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."  Without a doubt there are things that you can do to help without them ever having to tell you what to do.

New Bathroom Ceiling

Popcorn Ceiling Before Makeover

Do you have a popcorn ceiling that must go?  It just might be easier to handle than you think.

Your Home's First Impression - Front Porch Makeover

Porch Makeover

Around here, we are getting ready to put our house on the market and start down the road to selling our home.  Since so much of my time is being spent "sprucing up the place," I thought I would share the transformation with all of you.  Since I am a real estate agent, I thought it might be a fun way for me to share some of my home selling knowledge.

Card Making Made Easy

Easy Homemade Card

A couple of weeks ago I received a package in the mail that made my day!  I received a box full of David Tutera Paper Crafts which are Coming Soon to JoAnn's.  The best part is that I got to try it out before it was even available.   

Card Making Made Easy

What I love most about the products is that you can make layered and embellished cards in a fraction of the time, and they are absolutely beautiful.  They are as easy as 1-2-3!

Pick a Card and Envelope Combo

Step 2 - Add Layers to Your Cards. Sand It if Needed.

Embellish the Card and Envelope

Because I was so impressed with the ease and beauty of the line, I made a little video to show you just how quick and easy it truly can be to show your love with a handmade card.

A handmade card using the Sand It feature

Although these supplies were designed for cards, you will find they are a great addition to many projects.  Just to show you the versatility, I created a scrapbooking type page to insert in my school notebook.  As I sit in my journalism classes, my little creation keeps me inspired and motivated.

A plain notebook gets a new look with card making supplies.

I started with a simple notebook and scrapbook paper.  Then, I added one of the pink cards (opened), layered the Step 2 silver cutout layer which I love, and embellished with a "Make a Wish" tag, flowers, a jewel and a few journalism related stickers.  I love how just sliding it all inside the clear cover of my binder added such style to my notebook. 

Paper Craft Layered Details

Here are a few other fabulous projects from some amazingly creative bloggers:

To sweeten the deal on this amazing product line, three lucky winners will receive a $300 grand prize pack of supplies from David Tutera's Celebrate Cardmaking line AND a personally signed book from David!  20 additional winners will receive a $50 Celebrate prize pack.  Sign up here for a chance to win: http://pages.exacttarget.com/tutera-optin-blog/.

Keep up with the David Tutera Celebrates Cardmaking line is easy at these links:

Facebook         Twitter          YouTube

*I received product in exchange for this post. However, the opinions are 100% my own.

Niki

*This post is linked to Hookin' up with HoH, Made U Look, DIY Project Parade &  DIY Thrifty Thursday 

Loyalty Card Apps

Store Loyalty Cards App

Last month, I pointed out a simple, and I mean simple, way to organize all those store discount cards so that they would not only be out of your wallet, but would be easily found and not weigh down your keys.  You can catch up with it here.  Since then, that post has been making it's way around Pinterest.  Others have commented and made the suggestion of using a keyring app for your cell phone.

keyring apps to store all those store discount cards

I happen to be a little more cautious than the average bear when it comes to online safety, so I choose not to download the app and just stick to my original method.  However, knowing that my Pinterest peeps were so curious about the apps available for their phones, I decided to help them out.  Here are three cell phone apps that will eliminate those cards completely and store all of the information you need (and sometimes more) so that you can save as you shop.  (Click the app name to visit the website.)

CardStar

3.5 Stars on Android Play with 1,599 reviews

*Stores discount cards
*Available for Android, iPhone & Blackberry

Keyring App

4 stars on Android Play with 26,331 reviews

*Stores cards
*Allows you to enroll in new loyalty programs
*Gives access to exclusive coupons and discounts
*Available for Android, iPhone, Windows & Blackberry

FidMe

4.5 Stars on Android Play with 5,643 reviews

*Stores cards
*Free with no ads
*Finds new loyalty cards with use of geolocation
*Available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows & Many Others

Photo Credit: MS Office Clipart Online

Like I said before, I do not use an app, so I do not have any personal experience and am not making recommendations, just merely answering some questions that have arisen on my post's pins.  I have read that some store scanners are not able to read the barcodes and, therefore, the number must be keyed in by the cashier.

If you have any experience with a loyalty card app, feel free to share your experience in the comments.

Hope this helps!  Happy Shopping!! 

Niki

Store Discount Card Organization

How to Organize Store Discount Cards

Although I clip coupons on occassion, I am certainly not an extreme couponer.  However, I do have a huge collection of store discount cards.  I mean, why would I pay more than I have to, or decline a "reward" for what I am going to spend anyway?

The problem came when all of those cards started making my wallet look like this:

Wallet Full of Discount Cards

Thankfully, some of the stores offer smaller versions that fit on a key chain.  I had way too many to try to keep them with my keys, so I decided to have a ring designated just for discount cards.

Discount Card Organization Solution

Purse Hook Used to Hold keychain

It was exactly what I needed!  It seems like an obvious solution, but I haven't seen anyone else doing it.  To make it even more convenient, I attach it to the little hook inside my purse.  Then I can easily find it and hand it to the store clerk.

I hope this helpful hint will help you get all those discount cards organized and accessible so that you can spend more time shopping/saving and less time looking for your discount card.


To see a few apps that will help you organize them, check out this post: Loyalty Card Apps.

Happy Shopping!!

Niki


Linking here:

 

Laundry Room Makeover with Printables

Laundry Center Makeover

A while back I bought one of those three section laundry hampers thinking it would be the solution to my Laundry Room (or lack of Laundry Room) problems.  It provided a space for darks, lights & towels.  Unfortunately, it was consistently covered with items that didn't fall into those categories -- Handwash & Stain Removal.  So, I decided to remedy the problem with items I found at my local Dollar Tree and printables I made myself, which you can download at the bottom of this post.