Last Chance!

Today is your absolute last day to order from the retiring list...and in my rush to show you all the great stamps that are retiring, I neglected to tell you that a LOT of Decor Elements will also be bidding us farewell.  There is a big change to this product line starting tomorrow which will be great...but also means you can't buy Many Welcomes, which now graces my door, any more.

Why do I love Decor Elements?  Well, the reasons are many, but #1 on my list is the fact that I'm a renter...so my home decor isn't in my hands as much I wish it were.  You know the drill--white everything, with no hope of painting, and restrictions on hanging "decorations".  This is where Decor Elements fit in!  I put Many Welcomes on my (very plain) door, since I don't have an entryway.  This doubles as our welcome mat, since our door is at the top of a staircase, with no room for a real mat!  When it's time to move, I can peel these right off and throw them away without harming the paint, thus keeping my ever-important deposit in tact.  Or I can change them sooner, if I change my mind about welcoming everyone in.  (You might recall I had snowflakes on the door around the holidays).  With few other decorating options, Decor Elements are a win-win for me.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Coffee, Sugar, Flour Decor Elements

I loved this project.  And, it took 10 minutes.  I purchased these cool ceramic canisters from Pier 1 Imports some months back and have been using them unlabeled.  Then, while organizing my cool, new stamping room, I found these old decor elements labels I had yet to use.  While these are now retired, don't fret, you can always order decor elements sheets and die cut any words or designs you like.  This is just a testament to how easy Decor Elements really are and what an impact they make.  I hope I got you excited about them so happy shopping!

~Kiran

Materials: Decor Elements Labels, Decor Elements Applicator

Decor for the Holidays

One of my top priorities for the weekend was to make the apartment festive--decorations were in order.  So I thought I'd share a snapshot of my tree--with its cute snowman ornaments.  As requested, I promise some snowmen projects soon.

In the meantime, today's bingo piece is...the tree.  How fitting!

After the tree, I put up some decor elements.  I took down the fall wreath and replaced it with the leftover snowflakes from Jackie's decor party.  Remember the holiday plate I made earlier?  Well, I used some of the other GIANT snowflakes to decorate our door for the holidays.  A quick and easy way to spruce things up for the holidays.

I also put up these ornaments (on the left), which are now retired.  It was very quick and easy, and now that corner feels just as festive as the one with the (3 foot) tree.  Decor Elements are just great--easy to put up, and just as easy to take down when the time comes.  They adhere directly to the wall, but won't hurt wallpaper, paint, or wood.  If you'd like to see more about how to use Decor Elements, see this great post by Kiran--it's full of useful tips!

I wonder if it will snow soon?

Cheers!
~Melanie

Five Minute Makeover

Today is Book-a-thon Blitz!!!  If you've been wanting to make great projects like this, you should host a party.  If you're in the Philly area or NJ, Kiran and I can help you out!  Just send us an email.  Now on to today's project...

I am so excited for the decor party this weekend--I just can't wait!  However, I didn't have a lot of time to work on a project last night, so I decided I would "test out" the Flurry Decor Elements I ordered for Jackie's party.  I knew that the big snowflakes would be BIG, but wow was I surprised when I opened up the package!  Since I'm planning a small-ish project as the make-and-take (to share next week, I promise), I wondered what I should do with those big ones.

I have this glittery red holiday plate that I got at Target a few years ago--I love to pile deserts on it.  It's about 12" wide, just to give you a sense of the size, and you see my chosen snowflake as well as the Applicator Tool in the photo above--be sure to order the applicator!!  (I forgot to get it my first time, and it is MUCH easier with the tool than without).  Anyways, while I love this plate, the paint is on the bottom and it's starting to chip...but I want it to last, and decided one of this giant snowflakes would be just the thing to spruce it up.

After very carefully peeling the Decor Element off its backing sheet, I did my best to center the snowflake on the plate.  I hovered with the snowflake a bit, before I got it exactly where I wanted, and then I pressed down to smooth out any air bubbles and make sure the snowflake was really stuck.  That's this picture--I'm 80% there!

It took me maybe 1.5 minutes to use the applicator to transfer the Decor Element to the plate, then carefully peel back the cover paper and voila!  I have a fabulous plate that I just can't wait to use...though I'm not sure how I can bear to cover up that lovely snowflake with cookies and brownies.  I just love it!  

I have to say, this was the quickest and most satisfying project I've done in quite a while.  I'm sold.  :)

Cheers!

~Melanie

Decor Elements: Flurry 

Decor Elements to Go!

Ah, decor elements--we love them.  Between the two of us, Kiran and I have gotten quite a few...both for ourselves and as housewarming gifts for friends.  They're perfect!  We love the designs, the colors, and most of all that they are NOT permanent.  They stick to the walls, but are easy to remove and won't hurt paint, wallpaper, or any other thing.  But what if you don't want to leave your awesome decor element behind when you move?  Well, Kiran has the answer, and detailed how-tos, for you below...  

Use a frame!  I got this one at a local craft store for less than $20.  I'd call that a steal, given how big the large "eat" is.  The next step is to assemble all your pieces, and make sure that the frame really is the right size for your project.

As you might have guessed from that last comment, this decor element was a little bigger than the frame. But it's not a problem!  Stampin' Up! has gridlines on the back of the decor element sheets (how handy), so I could confidently trim in a straight line.

I took the frame apart from the back and simply turned the paper (with the fake photos ) over and added a layer of white cardstock to make sure the images would not be seen.  If you have a roll of paper wide and long enough to cover the frame size, feel free to use it.  You can use different color paper to create a unique and bold look and match just about any room!   Once I flipped the paper over, I put the frame back together again and turned it over.

TIP: make sure you have the frame right side up (check the hooks in the back to make sure it hangs right side up).  If you happen to realize the frame is upside down after you have finished the project, no worries - you can take the frame apart again and just flip the glass but this can be painstaking.

Once the backing is peeled & you're ready to lay the sheet on your surface for transfer, move slowly & cautiously making sure you're not getting lint/hair/debris on the sticky sheet because it might end up on your finished product.  TWO TIPS: Clean the surface first!  I'll be honest, having an extra person to help is really helpful and I'd recommend it. 

Start from a corner and flatten slowly with the decor elements tool moving from edge to edge diagonally with light pressure.  This will eliminate air bubbles/pockets.  TIP: If you do get air pockets, you might be able to use a fine straight pin/needle to poke a hole in the bubble and release the air.  I have a few tiny air bubbles in the handle of the fork but can you tell?  Didn't think so.  When the frame is hung, all you'll hear are the "oooh"s and "aaah"s of your guests.

See our other decor element projects here, and check out the current offerings in the Definitely Decorative catalog to the right.

Cheers!
~Kiran & Melanie

Rub-ons for Everything!

In my last card post, I got very excited about our rub-ons (what can I say, I'm excitable!  And they are great!).  So this post is a continuation...but these rub-ons are from the Definitely Decorative line, which means that they're for more than cards.

The photo above is my sister's bedroom.  Jackie lives in a apartment, which means plain colored walls and not a lot of options.  We've all been there, or are there currently.  But the beauty of Decor Elements (rub-ons for your walls) is that they don't affect paint, plaster, etc--so make your apartment your own!  When it's time to move out, just carefully peel the Decor Element off the wall and throw it out (they're only good for one use).  It's that easy!  Best of all, your landlord will never know...

Next up is Kiran--I told you she'd be making repeat appearances--and her fabulous IKEA dresser.  Check out picture one (and ignore that top drawer).  It's a big dresser that gets the job done, but it doesn't add much character to the bedroom, if you know what I mean.  So Kiran and I got to work...

Look at it now!  The dresser looks great in the picture (if I do say so myself), but even better in person.  Those drawer fronts look almost like they're inlaid, and everyone who sees it just says "WOW."  What did we do?  Well, Kiran bought two big sheets (since retired) and we cut each in half lengthwise.  Then we measured the drawers--twice to be sure--and marked with pencil where the decor elements should go.  After that, it was all following Stampin' Up!'s directions, and we were super proud of ourselves!  This is the first time either of us had used any Decor Elements, so we certainly weren't professionals...but look again.  Who would know?

 

Back to Jackie.  Since she liked her tree and birds so much, I've gotten her a few more decor elements for her birthday and Christmas.  As you'll see with her new flour and sugar bins, these aren't just for walls.  And that fun EAT is the perfect bright red touch for the door between Jackie's kitchen and dining room, since all of her kitchen supplies are red.  It's a sign that makes a statement!




Interested in getting some Decor Elements of your own?  Just let me know, and I'll hook you up with a catalog all your own.

Cheers!
~Melanie