This week on My Craft Channel we are showing you how easy it is to use your vinyl as a stencil so your projects look like they've been hand painted. Every week we will share a discount code or giveaway so stay tuned for all the fun extras. – See more at: https://www.mycraftchannel.com/shows/the-wood-connection-show/season-1/reverse-vinyl-using-vinyl-as-a-stencil
The post MY CRAFT CHANNEL: REVERSE VINYL appeared first on The Wood Connection Blog.
You can see why I love this Valentine Banner and Box Sign, they fit so perfectly with my other Valentine Decor!
Because they turned out so perfectly cute I know you're going to want to make them yourself. Here's what you'll need from The Wood Connection to do just that!
Mini Banner Pieces
Mini Heart
12×12 Box Sign
Wood Glue
All of me loves all of you paper
Banner pieces paper
1″ Foam paintbrush
Paint Colors:
Tompte Red
Peony
White
Sea Foam
Aqua Grosgrain Ribbon
Red Lace Ribbon
Other Supplies Needed:
Red/White Baker's Twine
File/sandpaper
First thing you're going to want to do is set up an area, I covered my area with some wax paper so I wouldn't have to worry about them sticking to the surface if the edges had a little paint on them. I painted all sides of all the wood pieces including the box sign. With so many pieces by the time I got to the last piece the 1st was ready for a new coat of paint. I suggest a good movie while you're doing this, it's so easy but takes time. A few thin coats works best.
Once it's dry, using a nail file/sanding block/sand paper (I prefer a nail file because I like the control) sand downward along the edges, this will take off the extra paper and give you a nice smooth edge that seals the paper completely to the wood (you can see a little more what I'm talking about here)
When you've finished sanding wipe off any dust and then I like to use a thin layer of matte clear coat spray on the top.
I also really love layering banners/garlands and think the pom pom garland looks really cute with it.
So there you have it, a darling Valentine's Day Banner and Box Sign that can easily be accomplished in a day and be up long before Valentine's Day actually gets here.
If you'd like to make this yourself you're in luck! Head on over to our site Housewives of Riverton and be sure to enter our giveaway for a $25 Wood Connection Gift Certificate.
You can also find us on Instagram at:
Housewives_of_Riverton
Have a fantastic day and happy crafting!
The post Valentine's Banner & Box Sign appeared first on The Wood Connection Blog.
A mother can't possibly pick out her favorite child (at least publicly), nor can a designer, with their painstakingly curated collection of furniture. If you asked me my favorite piece right now I would be so sad to neglect a piece of the full amount of love it deserves. BUT, with that said, my credenza, THAT CREDENZA up there, is my favorite child today. Hell, he's also teacher's pet and employee of the month.
So because of my job (and this blog) I got my greedy little hands on that credenza (in exchange for my, nothing but totally genuine, love for that piece on the blog). To say I was elated, and excited would be an extreme understatement. The fact that I slept on the floor of the living room the night that it arrived, so I could wake up next to it, just goes to show how happy I was to have it near me – or that I am certifiably insane. I digress . . . both my credenza and I are in a very happy, and monogamous living room relationship.
My initial plan for that wall/credenza was to devote half to my TV and the other half to some pretty accessories, so that it didn't look too bare, or too cheesy, with a massive big screen on top of it (as seen in the pic above). This photo was taken around Thanksgiving, hence the fall decor and non-gray walls.
Once I took the TV down and began prepping out this post, I realized how much better (duh) it looked without a massive black boob-tube up there. So, I cleared it all off and tried my hand at a few different scenarios. The first one being what I like to call "artsy fartsy, black and white."
This setup started with that massive (42″x52″) photograph that came from an awesome new online art resource called Captured52. Basically, every week for 52 weeks they publish an open edition, framed, original photograph in a large scale print. If you haven't heard of them yet you must go check out what they have.
Once I had that large man up there, who I have yet to name, I started accessorizing around him. I brought in a few different styles of art, all in the same range of colors, to add depth and texture, and then a mirror to bounce off some of the light that streams in from the windows, directly across from the credenza. I finished it off with a small task lamp, and a few brass candlesticks and candles, because who doesn't want a bit of romance in their living room?
In true Emily Henderson fashion I restyled it out completely 5 more ways, and then ended up on this look, which was a totally different, but good option for me. Let's call this option "Browns, Woods, and Candlestick Drama." I started this one similar to the other option, with one large piece of art – which this time was the nude oil I snagged from the Rose Bowl last month for $30. I threw the mirror up behind it again because, well, it is vintage, I love it, and it brought some light into the room. I also love the way it reflects the ceiling beams into your view, and juxtaposes the clean lines of the frame of the nude, as well as the modern lines of the wall sconce.
I added these wooden candlesticks in front of it all to bring in some of the warm brown tones of the painting. Some vintage, some new and some not even candlesticks, but I loved them so much I improvised by stacking up three chunky wooden planters, and throwing a pillar candle on top.
You know how I mentioned how impossible it is to pick out my favorite piece of furniture? Looking at this picture just solidifies that even more. This chair is giving me life. It arrived last week, and it was even more stunning than the pics I had seen online. I want to adopt it as my first child and never let it go. The leather bin, which comes in two sizes, is perfect for stashing my magazines and mess of cords and chargers, not to mention it makes the perfect companion to the leather chair.
Until last week I was very anti floor pillow. I did not understand it, I didn't get why people would stash pillows on their floor, and I definitely didn't get the appeal of it. The Citizenry sent these through, and although insanely stunning in person, I was still very skeptical of the floor pillow trend except for when used in styling an image. I threw these on the floor to add some depth in this picture, and let me tell you I have used them EVERY single day since I put them out on the floor. I am constantly throwing my feet up on them, sitting on them while I work on my computer, or using them as the most comfy huge pillows to lean on. So thank you floor pillows of America for making our/my life a little bit better.
Now comes the hard part of deciding which setup I want to keep in my living room. Are you a fan of the "artsy fartsy, black and white," or the "browns, woods and candlestick drama"? Which do you think works best with the new console, or which do you think you would live with? Be sure to vote below, as I am very curious to know what everyone thinks.
In the meantime I have rounded up a get the look for my space, as well as some of my favorite credenzas at under $500, under $1,000, and some pretty awesome dream credenzas if your budget dictates a bit more. Be sure to check the sizing on these as every credenza has a bit different scale, depth, and width and not all may work in your space.
1. Credenza 2. Wall Light 3. Leather & Metal Chair 4. Black & White Face Print 5. Leather Basket 6. Wool Rug 7. Candle Holder 8. Bust 9. Planters 10. Floor Pillow 11. Gold Candle Holder 12. Black Circle Art 13. Tabel Lamp 14. Textured Throw Pillow 15. Candle Holder 16. Nude Line Drawing
1. Besta Storage Combo | 2. Braven Media Stand | 3. Hayden Sideboard | 4. Besta Storage Combo | 5. Windham Stand | 6. Oxford Credenza | 7. Gray Storage Credenza | 8. Greyson Sideboard | 9. Stax Console | 10. Fuel navy Credenza
1. Zuo Buffet | 2. Alba Credenza | 3. Hampshire Six Drawer | 4. Willo TV Stand | 5. Mid Century Console | 6. Clapboard Console | 7. Congo Credenza | 8. Marin Shiitake Console | 9. Palm Beach Console | 10. HD Media Console
1. Broc Console | 2. Rose Glass Console | 3. Big Sur Sideboard | 4. Morrison Credenza | 5. Zann Sideboard | 6. Cross Credenza | 7. Walnut Credenza | 8. Rosanna Console | 9. Bennett Console | 10. Walnut Sideboard
In case you missed my last two posts where I picked out my sofa , or my gray paint color click on through. And be sure to check out all the other Makeover Takeover posts from the beginning: Sara Updates Her Childhood Bedroom | Sara Jumps Into Bed | Sara’s Custom Closets | Ginny’s English Roll Arm | Ginny’s LA Living Room | Jessica’s Living & Dining Room
***written by Brady Tolbert, photography by the always wonderful and insanely talented Zeke Ruelas. Styling, and design by Brady Tolbert
The post Brady Picks A Credenza (and a big sneak peek) appeared first on Emily Henderson.
Valuing Your Badassness: how to make sure you are getting paid what you should (and what your male counterpart would get paid).
Today on the blog we are introducing you to two of our new potential contributors (and internet friends of mine) to the blog, Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark (otherwise known as the duo: Alie and Georgia). They are self proclaimed "Party professionals and cocktail connoisseurs" and best friends who, after posting their viral video for a jocular cocktail called The McNuggetini, went on to create more palatable libations for both TV and the web. They followed with their debut TV series "Tripping Out with Alie & Georgia," and can be seen weekly on Cooking Channel's "Unique Sweets." They also host the popular comedy podcast "Slumber Party with Alie & Georgia." These girls are fun, know how to make a mean cocktail, and aren't afraid to let their inner badass out. Take it away girls.
In a perfect world, a boss underpaying you would be punishable by said boss’ worst selfies being published on the front page of HuffPo. In an even more perfect world, we would know our value and not be afraid to ask for what we deserve. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world and it can be downright frightening to assert yourself…plus your boss has probably deleted all those terrible selfies anyway.
We’ve all been in the position of knowing we deserve more (more money, more time off, more sticking to your job description, etc) but for those of us raised to not make a fuss and to go with the flow, asking for such things is akin to leaping into a shark infested swimming pool. It’s good to start off knowing that it’s very unlikely the person you’re asking is going to fire you or hate you or spread a nasty rumor that you loathe puppies.
When you remind yourself that the worst that can happen is to get a “no,” it becomes a lot less scary to assert yourself. And to turn that “no” into a positive, maybe it’ll be just the thing you need to go forth and find a job that values you and asking for what you deserve. In the meantime, here are our suggestions for how to kick ass, take names, and get paid like a dude.
Do Your Research
Just as you would never walk into a Tinder date without doing the minimum amount of gentle stalking (Facebooking, asking friends, checking the sex offenders registry), you shouldn’t walk into a meeting without arming yourself with facts. Craigslist is a good place to start. What are starting salaries for similar jobs? Is the job description way less insane than yours? What is the minimum amount of experience needed? Now take those facts and compare them to your job. Do you have a crazy amount of experience that would be hard to find in another candidate? Have you been kicking ass in this position for a long time? Has the market changed since you were hired and the value of your position gone up?
The more facts you have, the more confident you’ll be and the more authority you’ll command. When in doubt, ask a friend in a similar position what they would ask for. Preferably a dude, because history shows us they’ll ask for more (huge eyeroll).
State the (Embellished) Facts
If your livelihood is in a field that’s less defined, or you’re applying for a job that’s newly created, it can be hard to know what to ask for. As party planners and cocktail creators, we get asked to host events and make signature cocktails all the time. Sometimes those asking don’t understand the work that goes into such an undertaking (hint: a lot). Start by stating your services and what comes with them. Be specific and detailed, so they understand how much you’re contributing and that they won’t get your expertise with a more basic option. This is a good time to brag about yourself: social media following, jobs you’ve done in the past and how you helped make them successful, and people or companies you’ve worked for. If you’re too humble to brag about yourself, ask a good friend to describe what you do and how badass you are as if they were telling someone they wanted to set you up with. It’s easy to ignore all the little things you bring to the table when they’re just part of your awesomeness, but these are assets to those who get the benefits of said awesomeness.
Speak With Authority and Without Apology
When Maura Tierney won her much deserved Golden Globe for Best Actress, the first thing she said when accepting the award was to call herself “four eyes” and apologize for her glasses. She apologized because she needed help with one of the five senses, you guys! This chick just beat out four other very deserving women and her first thought was to apologize for herself! Being humble is one thing, but putting ourselves down and apologizing for ourselves tells others that you don’t understand your own value, so why should they? When you speak with authority and project an air of confidence, you seem like someone who doesn’t need to be babysat and coddled. And who doesn’t want a competent worker? If confidence isn’t your strong suit, try conjuring up the most badass woman you can imagine. How would Angelina Jolie or Morticia Adams present themselves? Would they slouch or be too afraid to make eye contact? Probably not. Take on their persona and run with it. Nobody but you knows you’re playing a role.
Know When To Work For Less Than You’re Worth (sometimes this does pay off)
The big, bad word in freelancing these days is “exposure.” Here’s a secret that could get get us shunned from the freelance community: we’ve worked for just “exposure” in the past and also accepted way less than what we would normally ask. We automatically think of fat cat Big Business stealing from the little guy when we hear stories of higher ups asking for work in exchange for getting your name out there, and yeah, there are many examples of that being laughably audacious and straight up ridiculous. But like everything in life, there are exceptions to that rule. Here are a few:
● You don’t have a ton of experience in the field and getting your name out there will help your resume and give you some traction in the community
● You’ll get other perks by working on this project, such as freebies, followers, networking opportunities, and ins at other (paying) gigs
● It’ll give you leverage when you kick major ass and they want you to work for them again in the future. True story: we once wrote one piece for a publication for “exposure.” The next time they asked we said we couldn’t do it for free, and they offered us an amount we would have NEVER had the guts to ask for
Know When To Walk Away When You Don’t Feel You’re Being Valued
All that said, sometimes you just gotta walk away. If you accept what’s being offered, will you feel taken advantage of? Resentful? Straight up pissed off? Is every email you send and meeting you attend and alarm clock that goes off in the morning going to make you feel bad about yourself and undervalued? In that case you have our permission to “NOPE” the hell outta that job. Sometimes walking away is the only way to convince yourself that you deserve better.
Now go forth and be the badass we know you are. And tell us your own stories of badassery in the comments! Everyone loves a success story.
*** Photo Sources: Desk Photo, Alie and Georgia: Cooking Channel
The post Let's Start With Getting A Raise … appeared first on Emily Henderson.
Ah, the idea of ‘Me Time'. It's fairly elusive (if not non-existent) these days, which is kinda fine because most of my down time is spent with a baby's cheek in my neck while I marathon "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" and I wouldn't have it any other way. But, if you can, Lord knows it is very important to take some time even once a week for yourself – kid-free, job-free and maybe iphone-free. In this episode of "How Do You Do…" we show you a couple slightly less obvious ways to do this in your own home.
Whether you work from home or just have a home office there are some simple tricks that can help you enjoy your work space. Keep pens, paperclips, and small office supplies corralled on a tray. and in one area of your desk. This sounds like a simple thing, but you would be surprised how much more productive and less stressed you are when all of the things around you have an organized place to live.
Good lighting is also key to productivity (especially if working into the late hours of the evening). We may not all have an office like this one, with natural light streaming in, but this beauty of a lamp (below) from Target can help shed a little light on the issue, no pun intended.
Zanna is big about visually having her ideas and process displayed, as it helps with her creative process and efficiency in what she does. Creating an area in her office where she can keep track of all of that in an organized area not only frees the space of clutter, but it also keeps her mind uncluttered, and the ideas flowing freely as well. Besides, who said that you can't think outside of the box when it comes to post it notes.
"Me time" during work time is all about finding some pieces that work for you, and allow you to enjoy and make the most of your moments that you do have to spend working. Sometimes me time is also just shopping online for some new pretty things like you might be doing right now.
Here are some of our favorites to help add a bit of "me time" to your work space.
1. Mint Chair | 2. Desk | 3. Brass Wall Decor | 4. Sisal Rug | 5. Lamp | 6. Pillow | 7. Mug | 8. Magazine Organizer | 9. Vase | 10. Basket | 11. Gold Tray | 12. Ceramic Dish | 13. Gold Stapler | 14. Marble Container | 15. Wood Tray | 16. Ceramic Bowl | 17. Brass Accessory | 18. Tape Dispenser
Curious about the clothes/products in the video that Zanna styled? Here you go.
1. Denim Tunic | 2. Striped Dress | 3. Cardigan | 4. Jeans | 5. Leggings | 6. Fringe Boots | 7.High Top Sneaker | 8. Leather Boot | 9. Sea Salt Spray | 10. Lipstick | 11. Lotion
"Me time" is also about carving a space out for yourself during the day, even when all that means is making something that you do everyday a bit more enjoyable. YouTube star Shameless Maya is a very busy girl, but for her we wanted to create an area where she felt like she could pamper herself doing something in her daily routine. We got crazy by using a barcart, yes a barcart, and turned it into a makeshift vanity. We shall call this a ‘beauty bar', and go ahead and say that every lady deserves her own beauty bar.
This one was for Maya. It was a space for her to really take care of herself. Everything she needs is at her fingertips, and like we said before, everything has a place. We corralled all of her makeup, toiletries, lotions, potions, and anything else she needs by using containers, organizers, and trays. By and adding some pieces from Target's new collection we repurposed an item that traditionally you would never think to have in your bedroom, but totally works for her.
Tiered dessert trays, glass display boxes, and votive holders are all totally affordable items to pull your beauty cart together. We kept the color palette simple and clean by sticking to metallics, whites, and neutrals. Adding the fresh flowers and scented candle help to bring a little bit of the spa home with you.
What are you waiting for America? The beauty bar revolution has begun, and everything you see in the image above is in stores and online at Target, so run, don't walk before it all flies off the shelves.
It's all VERY good.
1. Faux Fur Bench | 2. Rattan Bar Cart | 3. Area Rug | 4. Storage Stool | 5. Geometric Clutch | 6. Wicker Wall Mirror | 7. Keychain Clutch | 8. Rattan Tray | 9. Coin Purse | 10. Glass Jar | 11. Geometric String Lights | 12. Glass Organizer
Photos by Tessa Nuestadt for Target. Head on over the ABV blog for even more style info. Hair and makeup by Danielle Walch and fashion styling by Zanna Roberts Rossi.
The post How Do You Do: Me Time appeared first on Emily Henderson.
My 20's were a really good decade. My priorities were as follows: 1.) Hustle everyday to figure out my career, and 2.) Have A LOT of fun. We (Brian and I) moved to New York from Oregon in 2001, when we were 22, with absolutely no plan and barely any money saved (well, Brian got into NYU grad school so HE had a plan, but not me). The decision to do that, informed my whole life. Obviously, and yet in a lot of ways it was totally irresponsible – which is exactly what you are supposed to do in your 20's. Not be irresponsible, but take risks and be adventuresome even if your bank account tells a different story.
Here we were; the day we left to drive cross country to New York. I wish I could say it was also Halloween or perhaps some sort of local "dress like a weirdo" holiday, but it wasn't. It was 2001, and that is just what we chose to adorn our bodies in.
We were so up for adventure and didn't care that we didn't have an apartment lined up, jobs in place, or any friends there to meet us. There was a spirit and fire in us that I can only hope my kids have at that age.
I think back and wonder HOW we had so much fun when we had no money. We are conditioned in society to correlate the two – and obviously in a lot of ways it is true, but man did we make some insanely fun memories without spending a dollar. I was bartending at night, and walking dogs during the day, then later worked retail. Our rent was $1200 for a tiny 400square foot studio apartment. And then after we broke up, I moved to Spanish Harlem by myself and paid $1100 on my own (this was in 2002, that same apartment would be $2k now at least). I remember often having under $100 in my bank account and I wasn't in a ‘borrow money from my parents' situation.
But the thing is, when you are 25, and have just a couple hundred bucks in your bank account you make your own fun. You live with too many roommates, you seek out the hole in the wall indian joints and eat a lot of rice to fill up, you sneak into Broadway theaters at intermission. You might even make a table out of a stop sign and a saarinen base.
In case you are wondering what the heck is that, don't worry, I've got a closer photo:
Our standards and expectations on what qualified as a good time were lower, so the fun we had was so high. The city had so much to offer as the fun just existed in the city naturally. Sure, we saved to go see a show, and once a year got super dressed up to go to a really expensive dinner, but other than that we hung out, and made ourselves freeloading tourists – waiting in lines for cheaper tickets to things, walking around for hours, hanging out on stoops and people watching. We even had our engagement party at a 6th street Indian restaurant that was BYOB, and we told all our friends to do just that. Nobody cared and it was a total blast.
So whats the point? The point is that if you have an inkling to live in a big city, but have very little money JUST DO IT. This is the only time in your life that you will be able to do something like that. I'm not saying that I'm old and lame, but basically now I'm old and lame. When you are 22 you don't know that living in 400 square feet with another person is uncivilized, or maybe you do, but you don't care. The older you get, the more comfort and space you want and need. You have your things, your king bed, your huge squishy sofa. Now that we've lived in a house in LA I honestly don't know how I would go back to small city living, but I'm INSANELY glad we did it when we did.
Living in a tiny apartment forced us to always be out, and being out forced us to have fun and see the city and world. We would bring food/drink to central park and literally hang out all day with friends. We would camp out next to the outdoor concerts that cost money and drink and listen to the music for free. We would bar hop and try out like 13 different bars a night – although this was before drinks cost $17 each. We would go to the cheap off broadway shows that were either amazing or terrible. We went to The Moth every week, bad improv all the time, and when we were invited anywhere that seemed to have a cool art scene, we felt like we had made it. And we had. We were cool.
And we travelled. You'd think that not having any money meant that you can't leave the country but we did. We went on an all-inclusive resort-y vacation to the Dominican Republic that cost $500 for flight/hotel/food/booze for a week, and then later to Vietnam and Laos where we lived on $15 a day (including lodging). Now we labor over every hotel and restaurant choice, but back then we didn't care, we were psyched to be anywhere different. But looking back we should have travelled more and done even weirder sh*t.
While I don't want to go back to wearing say, cotton chaps and a vintage teenage mutant ninja t-shirt, there was a freedom and liberty in being 26 that is harder to access when you are 36.
I know a lot of people who say "I would have loved to have lived in New York" but they didn't, and now, after having a proper house, kids, etc. It's probably not going to happen. So if you want to do it, or if you don't, just be sure to get outside, travel, do weird stuff, live broke, work your ass off creating some career (even if it means dog walking during the day) and have a hell of a lot of fun, you will never get this time or age back again in your life.
The post Live Broke In A Big City appeared first on Emily Henderson.
Hi guys! It's Melanie from Find it, Make it, Love it. If you've followed Steffany and I very much you may have noticed we LOVE dual purpose holiday decorations. Like THIS ‘Trick or Treat' sign that says ‘Happy Thanksgiving' on the back (see HERE.) We've done that with quite a few projects and today we're doing it again! I happen to have a lot of birthdays in my family in December and January, so we decided to do this ‘Happy Valentine's Day' reversible sign that says ‘Happy Birthday' on the other side.
Pretty cute, right? Of course, you could have it say whatever you wan……..we're just getting your wheels turning.;)
Here's what you need from the Wood Connection to make one too:
Other supplies you'll need:
Start by staining all the letters and the block.
Once the stain is dry, paint over just the front of the letters and block with white.
We love the look of the stain on the sides of the letters and block with just the fronts painted. It's a rustic, 3D look that is beautiful!
For the Valentine side, paint one side of the block red (the other side should be white.)
Let dry, then apply the vinyl.
Dip a pencil eraser in white paint to make polka dots. Polka dots are always a good choice!
Sand the edges of the block and the letters and this side is done!
Of course, you can be done now and have an adorable Happy Valentine's Day sign, but like we said, we love reversible decor.
So now we'll share the Birthday side! It's so easy, just turn the block over to the white side and add letters, stickers or vinyl to spell BIRTHDAY. We had this pad of alphabet letters that we think worked perfect for a colorful and playful look. We glued them on with a good old glue stick! Cute! Since I'll get this out birthday after birthday and for Valentine's Day, we will probably seal it with some matte mod podge or even a spray sealer; but that's totally up to you!
What do you think of the dual purpose projects? It's like multi-tasking, but more efficient- haha!
We would love for you to hop over to our blog Find it, Make it, Love it and browse around, while you're there be sure to enter our Wood Connection giveaway! You could win a $25 gift certificate-Yahoo!!
All you have to do is follow and tag on Instagram- SUPER easy!
Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_finditmakeitloveit/
https://www.instagram.com/steffany_finditmakeitloveit/
The post Happy Valentine's Day Reverse Block Decor appeared first on The Wood Connection Blog.
