Fox Hollow Cottage

Sprinkles of Spring in the Kitchen

2012-03-04T21:00:00.005-08:00

Spring has Sprung at Fox Hollow Cottage

I am so very ready for

Link Party Parade.

That I am about to BURST!

My copy cat project. Done.

The mantel... Deocrated!

A completed craft? Check.

The Tablescape. Ready to go.

I did find something I could share though.

Without cheating!

*Yippie*

It's so nice decorating the archway shelf now that we spruced it up! See how we gave it a simple face lift here.

I can already tell this wire cloche is going to be a favorite of mine.

To see how I used it at Valentines

{after a wee makeover}

Take a peek right here.

Now, as soon as it warms up a bit...

I can get some flowers planted outside and it will really feel like Spring!

Mmm... I love the changing of the seasons.

Wanna Monkey Around?

2012-03-04T09:32:00.003-08:00

I am interupting your lazy Sunday to tell you the sky is no longer falling.

Picnic lovers Rejoice!!!!

It seems our prayers may be answered...

Well, at least mine anyway.

I never ask for much ;)

Some brilliant people, who loved picnic too,

are busy getting a

BRAND NEW

photo editing site up and running...

"Cue the angels singing"

PicMonkey Is Coming To Save The Day!

Tonya from Love of Family and HomeMade my Morning {possibly my MONTH, we'll see?}when she posted this info on facebook. I have signed up for email notification when the site goes live and I have liked thePicMonkey facebook page. I think I am going to run around my house and do a little"Happy Monkey Dance" now. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! ~SMILES~

Happy~Hoppy Saturday

2012-03-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Bunnies Are Multiplying At

Fox Hollow Cottage.

Everywhere I turn, another one has popped up!

They are hopping off the mantel and sneaking into the kitchen now. They can't sit still waiting for the Great Spring'tacular to start! Hope Your Saturday is Treating You Well! ~Hugs & Stuff~

Spring Is Popping Up At Fox Hollow Cottage

2012-03-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

And this little guy is waiting to welcome you.

He is saving you a seat for the

Great Spring'tacular

Tablescape Party on March 15th

with Debbie from ReFresh~ReStyle

It's finally getting close now!!

Only TEN days until the party kicks off

Monday the 12th with Debbiedoo's for the

Copy Cat Portion of the Party.

~I'll be hosting the Mantel Party~

Tuesday the 13th here at

Fox Hollow Cottage

and Gina will be hosting the ~crafty~ part of the party over

at Random Thoughts

on Wednesday the 14th.

Hope you are gearing up to join us!!

My Baby Blog

2012-03-02T07:00:00.050-08:00

I never thought about what I wanted my blog to be until the question came up.

Then I had to think. So I thought.{Which can be scary} Don't get too excited...I did not come up with anything earth shattering. I do know I want my blog to stay personal. I would like for it to always feel welcoming. I want it to continue to feel like I am talking to friends. That is something I really enjoy! I would like to figure out how to write without using "i" 47 million times. I will continue to push myself to try new things, and then share them with you. And, I will continue to be a lazy crafter. I still think I should trademark that. heheI have had many of you tell me you like the easy, simple crafts I do. {Whew! Thank goodness...} Mostly, I want it to grow naturally. I always want Fox Hollow Cottage to be, and feel, "real". I guess I didn't really answer the question. I never was good in school...I tried though. And that counts as participation right? Hmm...Why do I feel like I just made a diary entry? Sincerely!!

If you have a blog and would like to share YOUR goals.

You Can Link With Any of The Following Blogs

and be automatically linked at ALL!

Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

Linda @ It All Started With Paint

Kari @ Thistlewood Farms

Karah @ the space between

Andrea @ The Cottage Market

Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

Jessica @ Stay At Home-ista

Miss Bliss @ Bliss Ranch

Laura @ Top This Top That

Sarah @ The Adventures of Our Fami-Ly

For my non-blogging readers...
I'll be back soon, blogging about felt, flowers, Spring, paint or something equally exciting!

Next Up Is

If I Don't POP Before It Get's Here!!!!

Spring'tacular Sneak Peek

2012-02-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

Do you know how hard it is for me not to share all the Spring goodness going on at our place?

It. Is. HARD.

I never wait for anything...

the minute I'm done, I can't share with you guys fast enough.

{hence, my facebook addiction}

This is killing me.

Because I love me some instant gratification!!

I did get all my things out to put something together for the tablescape portion of the party today.

Want to see?

Ta~Da

I have no method to my madness.

Unless you count chaos?

I just get everything out.

And play.

Here is a wee peek...

Getting so excited for the party...It starts on the 12th and I sure hope you come play with us!

You can grab a button off my sidebar if you would like to share. Hope to see you there!!

I am such a dork!

2012-02-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

So, am I all alone in my dorkdom?

I sure hope not!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs

refresh~restyle

this morning and I got so excited when

I spied a piece of furniture in one of the photos!

This one to be exact...

SOURCE

Why all the excitement?

Because I have the SAME hutch.

I don't know why that tickled me so...

It Just Did.

And I got a big, dorky smile on my face.

I guess I'm easy.

I'd show you a photo of mine...

Really, I would.

But, it lives in my 15 year olds sons room now.

Yeah.

Can you imagine?

It's so wonderfully styled.

LOL

Yeah. Right.

Someday...

Not rushing!!

I hope to reclaim it and decorate it once again.

So, what silly thing makes you smile?

If you see something you have, or someplace you have been, in a magazine, on TV or in a blog...

Do you get excited like me?

Please tell me I am not alone.

How To Remove Word Verification From Your Blog

2012-02-25T18:27:00.005-08:00

Please... for the love of all that is holy!

get

WORD VERIFICATION

off your blog.

I can guarantee there are people who would

LOVE

nothing more then to leave

fantastical, flowery, praise-filled comments

for you on your blog...

BUT

They Do Not.

Why~oh~why do you ask?

BECAUSE...

Not only, do you have to type in an almost indecipherable word...

NOW

you must enter

TWO.

You have GOT to be kidding?

So, if you want comments...

and we all do!

Please, follow these very simple steps on

If you have a BLOGGER blog do this;

(If you are using the "updated blogger interface", you'll need to switch back to the old version to make this adjustment. You'll find it in the very upper right hand side of your dashboard.)

1. Go To Your DASHBOARD.

2. Select "Settings".

3. Then, Select "Comments". (it's right under settings)
and looks like this;

4. Scroll Down.

You Will See This;

Show word verification for comments?	YesNoThis will require people leaving comments on your blog to complete a word verification step, which will help reduce comment spam.Learn more Blog authors will not see word verification for comments.

5. Select NO.

6. Save.

Please know, I hope I don't come across as a know-it-all.

Because I might know just about enough to get by ;)

I am truly just trying to help.

I have heard time and again from people, that they are not even bothering to leave comments if they have to jump the hurdle of word verification.

My goal in writing this will be met if I help just one person. Maybe two, if they pass it on!

I know I am a relative "newbie", but

I was instructed from day one, that no one has the time or patience to play around with

Captcha

or "Word Verification".

I was so very lucky to have some great bloggers

give me advice from the start!

Like Viv from The V Spot.

Debbie from Debbiedoo's

and

Gina from Random Thoughts

I have of course met so, so many of THE best people since I started blogging.

You are all AMAZING!

Hugs&Stuff

(If you don't have a Blogger blog, I would be happy to help get you info for removing word verification, just leave me a comment!)

LINKING AT

Debbiedoo's

(Newbie Party!)

The DIY Dreamer

My 1929 Charmer

Why Do You Pin?

2012-02-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me why I pin.

I responded quickly with the following...

I pin for for many reasons.
Ideas.
Inspiration.
Cool tricks to make life easier.
Plus, it's got lots of pretty pictures, just like looking at a magazine!
I did start pinning some of my own things.
But I would pin, even if I could not share FHC stuff.
It's like girl-porn.

{hehe}

That was my answer.

Right off the cuff.

No over thinking.

So, Why Do You Pin?

I would love to know!

Playing Catch-Up

2012-02-23T16:06:00.001-08:00

Hey All!

Since I ran off to Vegas and came home sick,
I have been trying to catch up.

On returning email.

On reading all the blogs I follow.

On laundry.

On cleaning my house.

AND

Getting ready for the upcoming

Spring'tacular Link Party!

I am so excited, that my mantel is already done.Which is not good. Because I want to share it so bad!I swear. I am like a 5 year old.{Nah, I bet a five year old has more patience.} I'm busy~busy getting ready for the other parties too! Mostly, I wanted to take a second for a quick post.WHY? To let you all know I so appreciate you being along for the ride. Fox Hollow Cottage is really growing and I needed to tell you, I notice. It certainly would not be the same without you. So Thank You For Being Here. Sometimes things get busy and I wanted to say, that if you follow me and have a blog, and would like me to follow you back, just leave me a comment letting me know.I would be happy to. Hugs&Stuff

What Happens In Vegas...

2012-02-20T22:11:00.001-08:00

Is bound to get blabbed about on my blog!!

It's okay though... we didn't get all

"Hangover-y"

So we're cool.

We Were Actually Very Well Behaved.

{considering...}

Jim and I had a pretty smooth day of travel.

{especially since I hate to fly!}

We left the house at 2am to catch our flight.

blah-blah, drive, fly, catch a cab...

Arrive in Vegas

hook up in the lobby at

Bellagio

with my sister and her guy

Perfect Timing!

Our room wasn't ready but the housekeeping staff was so sweet!

I could tell they were nervous but I assured them it was no biggie!

So they spoiled me and loaded me up with...

Everything on the cart.

Serious!

Trust me, they were tipped ;)

It saved me a trip to the store too.

Since I had to throw away;

-my toothpaste

-my hair serum

-my hairspray

-and my conditioner

after going through security.

I was mistaken in thinking the allowable size was 4 oz.

It THREE

Just FYI ~ You're Welcome

---Anyhow, on to the FUN Stuff---

Our first night we went to see

The Jabbawockeez show at The Monte Carlo

It was FANTASTIC!

The whole trip was great.We relaxed.Everyone had cocktails.Even ME!~Shocker~We had some super food.Killer BBQ.Except that sneaky Jalapeno in the corn bread.Evil People - Who does that?It was a BIG SURPRISE to me. We Shopped A Bit.Braved a Wind Storm.Ate... Drank... JIM got his PRECIOUSIn & Out Burger.We took a hilarious, drunken, late night cab ride to Chow Downon some tasty burgers&friesYUM The cab rides were entertainment in themselves.Wow~Thought we were in TJ for a minute... We even hit the mall and got Austin a few things! I think fun was had by all... but mostly definitely by my SISTER.Who won $1,000 playing a penny machine. This is her after the win...PERMA-GRIN!

{luv ya sis!} That's it for now.Still fighting this crazy cold.It has decided it likes me and wants to live in my chest. I will post more soon.I have some great photos to share. Hugs&Stuff

PS- Sure hope you can make it to

the link party we have planned!

Broken Promises

2012-02-18T16:58:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I promised myself I would not blog willy-nilly about whatever popped into my little old head.

I told myself;

I promised myself I would blog when I had a project to share, when I had new decor to reveal or when I found a particularly great thrifting find...

You get the picture.

Well, consider that promise broken...

After taking off for Vegas.

(and not winning a zillion dollars-how is that possible?)

Being gone for days.

And coming home with a nasty cold/flu...

It's been days since I got to connect!

I realized you have all become part of my life.

When I took to facebook yesterday to whine and boo-hoo a bit about not feeling good, you were all so beyond sweet with so many

"get well" wishes.

I was seriously touched.

I Miss Crafting.

I left my stuff out the entire time I was gone.

{which is so rare for me}

because I was going to jump right back on it when I got home.

Hmm... did I jinx it? lol

I Miss My Clean Kitchen.

Because a hubby who brings you food while your in bed is fabulous!

The dirty kitchen? Not so much. LOL

but mostly, I miss you.

I hope to get back into the swing of things soon!

In the meantime...

Don't have too much fun without me.

The Great Spring'tacular Party Invitation

2012-02-17T18:00:00.002-08:00

~Flash News Report~

Hot Off The Press!

Spring Fever is spreading like rabbits.

Symptoms include, but not limited to:

1. Daydreaming about pastel colors.

2. Increased desire to bite off chocolate bunny ears.

3. Visions of marshmallow peeps dancing in your head.

Prescription:

There's only one cure and we're here to help you!

The Great Spring'tacular Party

Join others who are experiencing the same thing, there's nothing more fun than getting together and spreading the fever!

I hope you'll join us for 4 days of inspiration. Link up ~ at one or all parties! You've got plenty of time and we know you're getting Spring Fever just like us!

Grab our button and put it on your sidebar!

Invite all your friends.

We're going to have a Party!

<div align="center"><a href="http://foxhollowcottage.blogspot.com/" title="Fox Hollow Cottage"><img src="http://refreshrestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Screen-shot-2012-01-23-at-3.43.12-PM-e1327351698531.png" alt="Fox Hollow Cottage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

~Everyone Is Invited~

We hope to see YOU there!

Debbie from Debbiedoo's is hosting the Magazine Copycat Party on 3/12

Shannon {ME} from Fox Hollow Cottage is hosting the Mantel Party on 3/13

Gina from Random Thoughts is hosting the Craft Party on 3/14

Debbie from reFresh reStyle is hosting the Tablescape / Recipe party on 3/15

Make Sure to Mark Your Calendar
So You Don't Miss Out!

Happy~Happy Heart Day

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, as you read this,

I am day dreaming about how I am going to spend all the money I have won in Vegas.

$$$

Feel Free To Post Your Suggestions!

It's Always Fun To Dream...

$$$

Well, regardless of my finances,

I wanted to make sure

and wish each and every one of you

a very

Marble In The Houzz

2012-02-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

I'm So Excited!

Que The Pointer Sisters.

{yes, I'm that old}

Our new marble arrived today.

It's so beautiful.

I feel lucky to have even this little bit.

It's really heavy, I had to open the box in my trunk just to bring two pieces in so I could show you.

Here is the official peek!

{i heart it}

It will have to sit and wait a little bit before we get to install it though.

Since...

The Vegas Post

Now, I'm not trying to rush our vacation.

(believe me, we need it!)

But now I will have getting home to Austin

and

the new hearth to look forward to.

I sure have a big smile on my face

So Take Off All Your Clothes?

2012-02-02T19:42:00.001-08:00

That's how it goes... right?

(Guess that will only make sense if you read my last post)

I know I will probably get some odd searches for that.

They will be so disappointed though!

{hehe}

No dilly-dallying

I am jumping right in!

If you read my last post then you

know the accent paint color

for the fireplace was a

No~Go

No? Then go catch-up...

We'll wait.

You can read about it here.

This is where we started when we bought the house.

Day #1

And this is how it looks right now.

I worked up the nerve and just

WENT FOR IT.

I love the color.

It's so soothing and feels so fresh!

I find it funny that the deeper, darker color

looks a zillion-gazillion

time better then the lighter color.

It pulls the entire living/dining room together.

I am so beyond happy with it.

Plus, painting the red, glossy brick

a creamy, matte white

was the best thing I could have done!

I am so glad Mr. Fox lets me do just about anything I want.

As long as it's not pink polka dots in the bedroom, he is pretty cool with it.

My Coffee Filter Wreath

finally got a proper home too.

Don't Mind This Little Detail...

I ordered some amazing marble today.

I fell in love with it.

... and the price too!

It wasn't all bad though...
Thanks For The Memories Mr. Mantel!

Our Holiday Mantel

New Year Mantel & Banner

Valentine's Mantel & Felt Flower Tutorial

So To Re-Cap

I think I like the "NOW".

What do you guys think?

Would love your feedback.

I can. Not. Wait!for the marble to arrive. It's like Christmas.

Our Mantel Was Featured At;

and

Linking Up At:

Home Stories A to Z

So Fabulously Flawed

My Romantic Home

It's Getting Hot In Here

2012-02-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

"The Fireplace One"

I know I gave ya a little tease on facebook the other night about what I was doing to our fireplace.

I decided to see what I could do with some paint!

So, I painted the red brick white.

(and loved it)

Then, I tuned up the mantel with a fresh coat of glossy white paint.

Next, after lots of thought, I decided to paint the previously "tan" colored wall over the mantel a fun accent color.

I should have stopped while I was ahead.

{will I ever learn?}

I somehow doubt it.

Because I knew the second I was done it didn't work.

I slept on it anyway.

I wanted to give myself a chance to look at it with fresh eyes in the morning.

(Knowing all along I was going to have to repaint something)

The two wall colors were not playing nice.

They were fighting each other like cats & dogs.

Cool & Warm...

It was not pretty. Not pretty at all!

After painting that cool, pale aqua...

I realized how golden my wall color really was.

Can't forget the original "before" photo.

AFTER

Well, since I was not prepared to repaint most of my upper floor, I knew that accent color was getting changed.

I was however, really pleased

with how the brick looked in white

It was definitely time!

I also took my little Goodwill find wall sconce and axed the brassy gold colored arm.

I did some tapping off, hit it with some white spray paint and it is much improved!

This thing is a lifesaver in a living room with no ceiling lights.

Hope to show you the after, "after " soon! All I need is a bit of sunshine tomorrow so I can snap a few photos.

Sharing My Favorite Shade of Aqua

2012-01-31T21:40:00.000-08:00

Let's face it...

I am an irresponsible blogger.

I was cruel.

Heartless even.

I posted pretty painted things.

I teased you with a luscious shade of aqua, then refused to share my color.

I was wicked & thoughtless...

I have since seen the error of my ways.

I went and got my aqua

Martha Stewart "oops paint"

color matched so I can spill my secrets now...

Just For You Guys!!

I went to my local, employee owned

Bi-Mart and the sweetest old gentlemen helped me. He was really just so dang nice!

~How Refreshing~

Here is a sampling of

Pittsburg Paint

Aqua Fiesta 356-4

R:138 G:194 B:195

Hope this helps anyone who was in love with my shade.
It's a spot-on match.

This is such a great aqua!

It's got just enough depth to keep it from being comical and I find it surprisingly versatile. As you know... I'll use it on anything ;)

You can click below to visit

Pittsburgh Paints.

Wishing you sweet aqua dreams...

I'm Sharing My Impossible Today

2012-01-31T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today, I am linking up for the

I Made the Impossible

Possible Challenge!

Come On Over To The Party and Check Out All The Great Projects!

I entered my craft and home decor storage.

Feeling Spontaneous!

2012-01-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

Hey All!

We had a great weekend here at Fox Hollow.

Friday night my nephew slept over and he and Austin had a great time gaming.

They were laughing so hard, that I was giggling just hearing them!

Then, Mr Fox took the boys out really early on Saturday morning to go target shooting.

Way too early for me.

I prefer to head out late morning in the Spring or Summer,

when it's nice and sunny out.

I'm not very dedicated. hehe

We cooked, relaxed some, hung-out and in general took it easy.

I read a few books... Just a nice, simple weekend.

I also managed to do a lot of terribly boring

house keeping & laundry.

Not a craft was made.

So today, I am itching to do something.

...and have just decided on a whim

to paint our fireplace.

(random photo of our fireplace!)

If you hear crying later, that would be me.

Getting Grout Clean & White

2012-01-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I shared a picture on my facebook page of some

slave labor I had employed.

{wink wink}

My son and nephew were sweet enough to give me a hand scrubbing up the kitchen grout.

There are such good helpers!!

We were done in a wink with all three of us working together.

A few years back, I was exasperated with trying to get my grout clean!

- I Like It Bright & White -

I had used a variety of things that only worked "okay" and was tired of splashy bleach.

This particular cleanser has bleach and its nice and thick, so I decided to give it a shot.

Porcelain bowl. Porcelain tile.

Same difference.

It's not like it's been in my toilet bowls or anything.

I applied some to the counter tops.

Smoothed it into the grout and let it get busy.

(You can use the tip to squeeze it right onto the grout lines.)

Works like a charm.

Without all the mess that the liquid bleach makes.

It still takes working it into the grout with a scrub brush on tougher stains but I am always happy with the results.

This isn't rocket science and I didn't invent anything but if you have white grout, you might want to give this a try.

(I don't recommend this on anything other then white grout and non porous tiles)

I don't know about you?

But, me.

Me, I like my white grout to look, well, white.

Not like an old, dingy, wife-beater tee shirt.

So, next time you clean your toilet, show your grout some love too!

Just don't use the same brush.

No one paid me to say this.

In fact, they would probably pay me to shut-up.

Or, "be quiet" as I tell my son to say.

~Have Fun Cleaning~

I'm Feeling Lucky

2012-01-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

It's morning time right now, so I'm going with it.

If it's not morning where ever you are.

STOP.

You have to quit reading and come back later.

Just teasing!

I know. I'm a pain.

So anyhow...

after lots of chatting, looking

and changing our minds

{mind changing. mr fox. just sayin'}

about where to spend a few vacation days next month...

We Have Decided That

The BONUS ?

I get to see my sister!!!

She and her guy are gonna meet us there.

I'm SO excited.

We are having a {much needed} get-away.

AND

I get to see my sister.

(I know, I all ready said that)

Yay. Me.

Oh. and Jimmy too... of course!

~Hope You Have Something To Be Excited About Today Too~

PS - I got to thinking...

Gritty to Pretty... Our Kitchen Story

2012-01-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Again!

I'm so excited to share our completed kitchen with you.

Since I haven't been blogging long, I'm just now getting a chance to share some of our
"before & after" projects with you all.

And since the house was so ugly.

{shh... don't listen baby!}

We have lots.

Most of our projects are fairly simple.

Our kitchen by far was the most involved.

Since, let's face it, we had to start over from scratch.

I guess we could have struck a match come to think of it?

Just FYI, I sold the stove & dishwasher

(after testing and cleaning)

so those were recycled!

Green me =)

Right out front actually, while we were there at the house working.

Remember, we were still living in the

"Dream Home" at this point.

I figured every little bit helps

and it was going right back out, let me tell ya!

Because every time we needed something

it was $100... or $1,000.

Why is that???

If case you missed my last post

here is a little

pre-reno

refresher for you...

You can see more before photos here.

In case you want to scar your retinas.

I don't know?

You might be into that.

Here Are Our Humble Afters

Please Beware!

You won't find marble or high-end finishes.

Just lots of budget friendly material used the best we knew how.

I talk more about our chandelier here.

We started off fresh with all new

flooring and cabinets.

The cabinets are from Kraftmaid.

The finish is Linen.

This entire kitchen was a last minute DIY.

We "parted ways" with our contractor, took over and finished it on our own.

The cabinet install, counter top build, tile, back splash and beadboard were all installed by my dad.

Who had never done it before!

We learned a lot working on the house together.

And ate a lot of Subway for lunch.

What our original plans included...

(White Cabinets & Marble Counters)

and what was left of our budget after the dust settled

Left Us Oceans Apart

I tried to get the fresh, crisp look I craved

with the finishes we could afford.

If I had it to do over,

I would have gotten white cabinets.

Budget be damned!

Live & Learn

Thanks Dad!

for building up all the cabinet tops to match the crown molding height so I could fill them with treasures!

My hubby installed all the crown molding.

Also a first-time for that.

It came out wonderful!

Learn more about how we spruced up the archway here.

I searched and searched until I found some reasonably priced jewelry.

Getting the most storage possible was key.

We added upper and lower cabinets on this wall, where previously, there was nothing.

We stayed with the white tile and beadboard theme for unity.

I did not mix cabinet finishes because I did not want it getting too busy.

Our floor plan is surprisingly open considering how old our home is. The living room flows into the kitchen, then straight into the sun room. I am certain there were some changes made at some point.

We did run into a few snags to be sure.

(not so many after the bad guy got the boot though)

But all that is boring and I'm sure you don't have

All Day Long.

Though at the time, it was hard to go through,

I am so thankful for the kitchen we ended up with.

I know we are truly lucky.

Many people don't have the family, skills, tools or time

we did to take over and finish on our own.

See how we got our light fixture to match our faucet here.

If you have any questions about our kitchen

I would be happy to answer them.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Please note-I do know there are some good contractors out there! We just weren't lucky enough to find one ;)

Linking Up At:

The Shabby Creek Cottage

The Real Gritty Before Pictures

2012-01-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

I Must Have Been Off My Meds.

...or so you would think!

If I was on meds.

Come to think of it, maybe I was supposed to be taking some?

(just teasing a little, not making fun!)

I'm talking about the decision we made when we dicided to buy this house.

In fact, my dad looked at me like I was

insane

the first time I took him to see it.

We had just finished a full renovation of our

"Dream Home".

And we were moving on to the next project.

I don't even think the paint was dry yet?

But being the "crazy kids" we are, we had went out and bought ourselves a new project.

A 1920's cottage style fixer-upper.

{cough cough}

Yeah... it needed some fixing all right!

But we had big plans and a healthy budget.

(notice I said "had" a healthy budget? More on that later too)

BONUS!

this house had a little surpise...

ANOTHER House.

A whole, entire EXTRA house.

We knew right away that this was the place for us.

We could down-size and the other place would be just right for Jim's mom.

It was perfect!

Well, you know what I mean ;)

Isn't it funny how you always wish you took more pictures later on?

I was not even thinking about,

thinking about, blogging back then.

I did take some before shots...

but I sure wish I had taken more.

So you could fully appreciate the hideousness of it all.

~HERE are OUR befores~

(I am not responsible for any damage to your eyeballs)

Front Door, Main Living Area and Fireplace.

Lots of Pumpkin Orange and Hunter Green Accents.

All the door & window trims were painted using a hunter green shelac based paint.

That is a post in itself.

It was so very, very fun trying to cover that.

They used it on the fireplace surround too.

Oh. Joy.

That green wall there.

(yep)

Again, with the green.

It's covered in paper bags.

Not a good DIY project. Never do this. Please.

That's my dad.

He was our project guru.

Jimmy is very handy.

But he had a full-time job.

So, that left my dad & I busy~busy

doing lots of projects on our own.

Like painting the exterior of the house.

and the entire interior too.

Putting in 23 new windows.

I am a caulking Queen.

Just ask me!

... and I use the term "kitchen" loosely

to describe this room.

It was a total

scabbed in

mish-mash

junkin'~funkin'

hot mess!

Happily, we were able to put a new kitchen in.

And I am very grateful for what we have.

But all the finishes had to be changed and

A Lot

of compromising was done.

Bad contractor. Inexperienced me.

Long, boring story.

Coming Next to Fox Hollow Cottage

The Pink Petal Flower Tutorial

2012-01-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

More Felt Fun!

I promised the "petal" flower tutorial but I got carried away with coffee filters...

(You can read about that here .)

I didn't forget though.

You'll need the same supplies as we used to make the Roses & Mums.

You can find the Mum tutorial here.

Supplies

Felt, Scissors & a Glue Gun

If you want to try your hand at the Roses...

You can find that tutorial here.

Let's Get To The Petal Flowers!

So Simple~You'll Love It

(Plus, I took lots of photos so it should be pretty clear)

But, if you have any questions, just comment and I will answer them the best I can asap.

Next scallop the outer edge of the felt.

Then, just as with the other flowers...

start rolling.

It starts looking like a flower pretty fast =)

Which is great, because I am all about

instant gratification

The reason I cut that little apostrophe shape at the end/center is because it fits perfectly onto the bottom and finishes it off, all in one piece.

Put glue all over the flower bottom and place the flap over the glue.

See? It flips over and ta-da!

~It's finished~

I thought a fresh little green leaf might be sweet so I gave it a shot.

Cut the felt free-form, into a leaf shape, then place a drop of glue at the base and gently fold over for shape.

Next, place a tiny dot of glue on the petal of choice and affix leaf.

Repeat...

and make yourself a whole bouquet!

So happy you stopped in!

Flamingo Toes

Linking Up At

at Decor Chick

The DIY Showoff

Home Stories A to Z

My First Crack at a Coffee Filter Wreath

2012-01-20T13:42:00.003-08:00

I really want to share my coffee filter wreath even though I am so sleepy!

I was up WAY too late and woke-up WAY too early.

So, I'm going to pop up some pictures and share the how-to later.

(if you still want a "how-to" after you see it!)

I really doesn't look like the ones I checked out on Pinterest after I was done.

Even though I used almost ALL my hubbies coffee filters in the process!
Whoops ;)

He was wondering if I could save him one or two?

No worries, I ended up going to buy more.

He has caffine.

This is my friend Debbie's wreath!

Isn't it so cute with the red & white checked ribbon?

Source; DebbieDoo's

and Melanie's has some pretty felt flowers!

Source; Sweet Melanie

Mine looks like it's drunk.

Okay, maybe just tipsy.

Oh. Well.

... like my sister always says

"It is what it is".

I made it, so that makes me it's momma right?

And I love it.

(definitely a wee bit more before I peeked at Pinterest)

It just has a few bits & wobbles sticking out I didn't notice until I took the pictures.

Hmm... must be a theme?

That's what happens when I have my picture taken.

{because it couldn't be the cookies...}

You know how I'm on a big flower kick?

Well, I managed to pop a few burlap roses in the mix.

I'm afraid to trim up the little extra bits throwing it off.

So, I'll leave it as-is and chalk it up to it being my first.

This photo just had a pretty sparkle... and I liked it.

See ya all soon!

I still have glue in my gun...

This Project Was Featured At:

HERE

LINKING UP AT:

Home Stories A to Z

The Delectable Home

Crafty Scrappy Happy

It's a Felt Flower Fiesta!! (with a step-by-step tutorial)

2012-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

Okay.

I. am. obsessed.

But it's calorie free...

and I can drive after I do it so,

It's all good!

Right?

Welcome to my

"Felt Flower Madness"

It all started when

I tried my hand at making a few

flowers to embellish my Valentine Mantle.

You can check it out Here.

Well...

That was all it took!

I was hooked.

These are the sweetest little things.

They are so Cute

Easy to make

~What a Perfect Combo~

(trio actually, they are CHEAP too)

I Love Them.

I have played around a bit and I have made three different styles now.

The original "Rose" shape,

a pretty flower with "Petals",

and a zingy "Mum".

Come on girls...

~Grab Some Felt, Scissors & Glue~

Lets make something!!

The larger the felt, the larger the flower.

If you use the 9 x 6 piece (without further cutting)you will get the flower shown at the end of the photos.

If you use the "remaining" 1/4 piece of felt,

you get a lil' mini~mum like this.

Hold Firmly and Continue

Gluing and Rolling

Once You Reach The End

The Flower Is Complete!

{and I just realized I need a manicure. STAT}

Yep, It's THAT Easy

If you want to finish the back, I'll show you an easy way to do that too!

After gluing on a felt square. Begin by holding the bottom scissor blade upright and flat against the base of the flower and following the curve all the way around. It makes a perfect cut.

In my next post,

I'll show you how to make

a pretty petal flower.

(and a tiny leaf too!)

Hope you enjoyed

stopping by to "smell" the flowers ;)

Hope Ya Come Back Soon,

Valentine Mantle & Felt Flower Tutorial

2012-01-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

Love Is In The Air

Fox Hollow Cottage

I am so, super-excited to share our

Valentine Mantle

with you all!

Over the weekend

I gathered up anything I thought had

Valentine potential

from my clean craft room!

(You can see how it got that way here.)

I found several sheets of scrapbook paper, some red and white felt, ribbon, chiffon and pink mini floral fabric. It was a start.

So, I'd love to share how I decorate... but I don't have any particular creative process.

I usually just gather up anything I think may work.

And I look at it.

Yup, that's right...

I just look at it.

Which often leads to lots of fiddling, moving things around and a little
"Which looks better?"
#1 or #2
{Sorta like at the eye doctor}

I'll usually start with one item.

That ONE thing I know I want to use.

In this case, I had 3 key pieces I wanted to use.

I wanted to use this window,
though I wasn't sure how?

This picture of

And, I also wanted to use this...

Because how cute is this?

Source; Click here.

So, I print it out.

Super!

The color came out nice & vibrant.

Problem, I printed is sideways.
Solution, Use it sideways.

I placed it in an 8x10 shabby white frame I had on hand and filled the empty space by adding a long strip of scrapbook paper and a felt heart I cut out.

---DONE---

Question...

Why is it so extra cute when it's free?

Next, I got started on making some felt flowers.
These are so easy!

I will tell you just how easy they are...
I made some.

I whipped one up in two seconds and it was perfect.
{Well, perfect to me anyhow}
I guess my standards may be a bit low ;)

You know, I like it fast, cheap & easy.
Or
I won't craft it.

Here is my step-by-step visual tutorial

You will need; felt, scissors and a glue gun.

1. Fold any size felt in half, then half again.
The larger the square, the larger the flower.

2. Cut along edges to round off.

3. Start cutting into the felt as shown above.

4. Circle around as you cut.
(you can cut with a little wave or straight, play around)

5. Start at the tip, or beginning and roll.

6. Keep rolling until you reach the end.

7. Flip over.

8. Place glue in a circular motion onto the back surface of the flower and attach felt back.

8a. Use a spare piece of felt to cut into small circles to attach to the flower backs.

Note - I found as I made more, that if I made my last cut into the main felt piece into an apostrophe shape, it fit right into place on the back when I was done. Then, I was only using a single piece.

I am not a master tutorialist.
(is that a word?)
So... I hope this was easy to follow!

I was grinning from ear-to-ear making these.
They are just too sweet!

Simply adding some scrapbook paper as a back round and layering on some family photos made a picture frame turn into holiday art with a personal meaning.

I wanted our Valentine mantle to reflect love & family.

Next thing you know, everything started falling into place.
I hung up the frames, added some flowers, fluffed a bit and it came together.

Some Garland Warmed Up The Iron Gate In Our Fireplace. It Was Looking A Bit Bare!

Twinkle lights are always a must!
I had some pink ones and they added just the right sparkle.
I love me some SPARKLE.

Hope you enjoyed looking around.
I sure enjoyed sharing!!

Stop in again anytime...

PS - Now, I know I am not the first person to make felt flowers.
I have been seeing them here & there, but mostly ignored them
thinking they would be far to difficult to make!
So, just to be clear... I know I didn't invent these,
nor am I trying to take credit for them.
Just passing them on =)

Thanks to Bonnie & Trish

uncommon

Linking Up At

Home Stories A to Z

at Decor Chick

DIY by Design
A Simply Klassic Home
Tip Junkie

Frugal Fresh Aqua Decor

2012-01-13T20:59:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!

I'm so happy to get to share my
newly freshened up home with you.

Using some paint, thrifted finds and stealing a few things from other areas of my home,
I've got everything freshened up
for the New Year.

This is post #2 on
getting my house back in order

after deleting the holiday decor and doing some deep cleaning & organizing.

Whew! That was a long sentence.

I am so happy to be able to say, I got everything put away today.

And in it's proper place too.

Yippee!

While I did not get the mantle done...

I know, it's being a bugger.

I did get everything else re-decorated, and I was not expecting to.

I just went with the flow...

and the sun room and kitchen were flowing.

The mantle, not so much.

"Curse You!" Mantle.

Anyhow, here are the rest of the living room picks I was too beat to blog about last night.

-ENJOY-

Not a huge change here...

I was trying to keep it crisp & light.

The table is different ~ In my fav' aqua shade!

(Stole it from my downstairs bathroom)

The B&W lampshade is new.

It has a some pretty flocking on it.

I find them a great way to change things up for very little money.

The lamp with the crystals on it was in the family room.

Now. It's not. {I'm a thief}

I kept the birdcage empty on purpose. I liked it that way, for now.

The B&W storage basket was in the master bedroom. It's keeping some magazines tidy now.

This is my new coffee table!

Jim and I picked it up at a Goodwill for $7.99 when we went out thrifting on my birthday.

-Yup, $8 bucks-

It's only primed but I needed to get it in the house.

I loved it the second I popped it in it's place.

I'm debating what color to finish it with,
so I'm living with it for now.

This beauty of a crown was used in it's original Gold color for the Fall.

I knew it would soon turn Silver though...

and I {heart} it

BIG Time.

I ended up booting it off the coffee table though.

Nothing is safe!

In favor of this...

It's really difficult for me to get whole room shots.

No matter what the time of day, some part of the room always looks very, very dark when I try to get my entire room in the frame.

This is the side table to the left of the sofa.

Next, I painted my wood bench.
It was a cottage green color.

It served me well but it was time for a change.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day

so I took full advantage and "got my paint on".

Before

My New & Improved...
After

That's the same white stick I used for the candy cane wall hanging at Christmastime. I just stripped it back down.

I loaded up my newly aqua'fied bench with lots of glass ball jars, a few silver platters

& some little white twinkle lights.

It really shines.

I'm having fun trying to take interesting photos.

Hope you guys don't mind my photo heavy posts
when I add the fun shots?

I really like sharing them a lot!

I'm liking the lighter, more airy look of the room and the clean feel of the white & aqua.

I guess I was pretty "paint happy"

because I also turned this black table

~White~

(which unfortunately, shows off the little broken part more)

Darn!

If you missed yesterdays post...

You can check it out here.

And here is some real life...

(before flopping!!)

Yes, I'm one of those moms.

My furniture is so light, which I love!

BUT.

It's not "slip covered" so there is no washing it.

And it has got to last... so.

I protect it for everyday use.

-Just In Case-

We usually hang out down on our computers and in the family room but ya never know.

BOYS. {enough said}

Happy Friday the 13th.

I have been blogging for four months today

and I sure am glad I'm getting to hang out with all of you.

because...

YOU'RE AWESOME!

LINKING AT:

Simply Sweet Home

Fresh New Decor for 2012

2012-01-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Organizing & Purging is Great

but

DANG!

I sure made one a heck of a mess.
Which I shared here if you would like to see the before & after.

I finally managed to get everything in it's place and moved on to getting some decor back up.

That was a MUST.

~My poor house was looking pretty sad and bare~

It was unexpectedly sunny yesterday, so I took the opportunity to paint a few things that I had been wanting to change up a bit.

I started in attempting to decorate late in the afternoon, but it really wasn't flowing.

Does that ever happen to you???

I was certainly unimpressed with my efforts.

I finally hung it up late last night and decided to start fresh today.
It went much better. Yay!

--------------------------------------------------------

Now, since I am not the fastest blogger,
and it's already getting so late... I think I'll just share a little of what I did today and then I'll share the rest with your guys tomorrow.

Hope that's okay!

~ Have Fun Looking ~

It can be easy to add a touch of

Valentine whimsy to your decor!

I added a few white feathers and a single {red} heart ornament.

Now, it's says...

You'll probably notice I move things around a lot and some of my decor will pop up, then disappear for a bit, only to reemerge later.

Almost all my decor is thrifted, made over or multi-purpose.

Nothing is expensive, that is for sure.

So if you like anything you see, it's definitely affordable.

Even though this little iron piece was brand new, it got a quick shot of white spray paint to give it the fresher look I wanted.

I like aged and timeworn as much as the next gal, but did not care for the moldy looking green accent that was used.

I'm funny like that.

This frame was a thrift store purchase I made late last Summer.

Sorry for no proper before.

It was ugly. The end.

I am getting much better now.

The grey is some spray primer I had on hand.

I could not decide on a color?

I finally settled on white paint.

I know! Wow, so bold ;)

I finished this sweet side table awhile ago but she never

got a proper before and after reveal.

Poor Thing!

She's a sturdy gal, made of solid Maple that I found at a local thrift store. She got sanded, primed and painted with homemade chalk paint, in aqua, of course. I then distressed her and added a wash off dark stain to bring out all her beauty.

I first tried the homemade chalk paint here.

Now she is pretty again and smooth as silk!

Her she is... getting her first starring role.

See You Soon!

Here!

Linking Up At
52 Mantels
My Simple Home Life
You Are Talking Too Much

We have a WINNER!! - The announcement

2012-01-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

~Hey Everyone~

First off, I want to say

THANK YOU

to EVERY SINGLE one of you

who took the time to enter the giveaway!

(that was held here.)

I really appreciated all the participation.

It was so fun to do a

"It's my birthday" giveaway!

Thank you so much to

Ramsign

for supplying the gift.

We have a Lucky Winner and that is...

#20

Karin at

Art is Beauty

Again... thanks for joining in the fun!

Karin, I would love to see what you choose. Maybe you can give us all a peek when it arrives?

Please message me at
foxhollowcottage@mail.com
and I will get all your info so we can get you your prize!

I hope to host many more giveaways in the future...

Who doesn't like FREE stuff?

I know I do!!

Have a wonderful week & I hope the New Year is treating you well!!

Winning a little Lisa Rinna

2012-01-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'm a Winner!

Thanks to
Marvelous Marketing
and their super fun
"FABULOUS Friday contests"
on facebook.

I won an autographed copy of
Starlit by Lisa Rinna

You can find Marvelous Marketing right here on facebook!
... and here for the official 4marvelousmarketing page.

And this, is the Official Lisa Rinna page.

I just love her.
She is so sweet & spunky!

I watched her on Melrose Place
and of course...
Days Of Our Lives
(She'll soon be reprising her role of Billie Reed!)
Her first episode back is scheduled to air March 8th.
Can't forget Soap Talk,
Along with Celebrity Apprentice
{Yes, I admit I watched that season}
and
DANCING With The STARS.
I even watched
Harry Loves Lisa.
(which was very cute!)

Look forward to catching her as
"Billie" again soon.

So, Thanks to
Lisa Rinna
&
Marvelous Marketing...

I know what I'll be reading tonight.

Resolution One - Organize & Purge

2012-01-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

I am coming up for air!

My very first

"Organize & Purge"

task is done.

{yay}

I had been putting off organizing & purging my upstairs ~~craft,~~ okay... ~~crap room,~~

All right!

---DUMP ROOM---

Because, let's face it.

That is exactly what I was doing in there.

Now... it wasn't dirty, or icky. Swear!

BUT

I could barley walk in there.

Everything was slowly moving into the center if the room.

Like magic.

It certainly could not me the fault of Moi'?

Since I was also going to be flipping all the contents of the room with the contents of my lower floor storage closet, I went ahead and emptied the entire room.

Yep, fun times.

I know how to party.

{big wink}

Where you ask?

Why, right into my living/dining room area...

Isn't that how you do it?

After a few days of seriously editing what would not be returning and trying to put something in every nook & cranny to make the very most of my space, the upstairs room now holds all my home decor and holiday items.

~WHEW~

No more trudging up and down the stairs every time I want to freshen something up!

--- Here is My Story in Pictures ---

{with a few words, you know I'm gabby!}

I think this is my favorite change.

It fits well under the window without blocking the light.

This is where I started.

...and this is now!

Really would LOVE if all the totes were

the exact same.

The different colors make me twitch a little.

I vowed not to spend a dime

just my time ~ so no new ones.

(... for now)

This furniture piece and the mani's may look like space wasters but I sell on ebay and I use them almost everyday.

More Wreaths, Toss Pillows

and Toted-Up Home Decor.

All Easy to See & Find.

I really tried to make smart choices about where I placed things.

There is a closet behind the entry door and we use it for coats & board games. I managed to find enough room to hang up all my table linens in one place. This works well because I can really see everything I have now.

This is HUGE for me.

I can now reach it, without it being in the way. at. all.

It's the little things.

Man, when I go for it... I really go for it!

This is the gigantic mess I made to get the spare room looking like it does now.

Only one more to go now!!!

The storage closet.

{please... help me}

This post was featured!

by Jen at Tatertots & Jello

by Eclectically Vintage & A Sort of Fairytale

Linking Up At

(this project was also featured!)
at Whisper Wood Cottage

Stuff and Nonsense

The Day After

2012-01-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

The day after my birthday

PLUS

the {entire}

month of December

(that feels like it started the day after Halloween?)

have caught up with me.

The holiday season

which lasts just a little bit... longer at our house

since my birthday is on the tail end

is now over.

... and I am exhausted.

What A Whirlwind

It will be a little slow here this week but I will be back soon with my batteries charged and a better organized home to show you!

Click here to see what I have been up to.

As for today... my body is demanding some rest.

Photo courtesy of; handsomedogs.tumblr.com

Love & Hugs in the New Year!!

Scroll to Top

Happy Birthday To Me... I Mean YOU!

2012-01-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

Today Is My Birthday
(well, it's not really until tomorrow but I could not wait!)

and I am thrilled to be having another!

I told myself when I was sick, that if I survived

I would be happy to get grey hair & wrinkles

because it would mean I was still alive and getting older.

A blessing denied to many, and for which I am thankful.

So, Whoopee!

I am getting some grey hair & some wrinkles.

Must mean it's PARTY Time.

Today.

I turn 43 years old.

Let's CELEBRATE.

It's my Birthday...

BUT

I am giving away the present!

I am sure you would be delighted to have something like this grace your home...

Metropolitan

Highlander

Arrowhead

Lighthouse

Engelhardt

WELL GOOD!

Because
One Lucky Winner
will receive a

gorgeous home address number sign from

Ramsign is Europe’s premium supplier of traditional enamel signs.

The most obvious quality of the products is the classic design that is well understood and appreciated by generations over most of Europe. The main functional quality is the extreme hardness of the enamel, which provides resistance to sun, water and dirt.

All Ramsign signs are enamelled on the back to prevent corrosion.

This ensures every sign a long, virtually maintenance-free life.

Ramsign is a European Company based in Denmark.

Pride or craftsmanship abounds in their product!

These signs are manufactured with a genuine glass enamel and stencil technique, which is the original manufacturing method. Production takes place exclusively by hand.

Thus arises the small inaccuracies which gives the signs their unique craftsman touches.

The hand made stencilling and the fat, glossy enamel

are important characteristics

and the very soul of the

traditionally produced enamel signs from Ramsign.

Each enamel sign is carefully stencilled and burned at 800 degrees Celsius. This process is repeated for each color.

Enameling is a ceramic process in which small changes in humidity, temperature and time is essential for the and appearance of the enamel colour.

Only when the enamel is melted and cooled down the true color of the enamel will appear. Manufacture of enamel signs can be compared with the production of blown glass, where no two copies are alike. A true art!

The winner will have the opportunity to choose a house number sign from a variety of

five different styles, from one to five digits.

(does not include name signs or address plaques)

Please visit the
Ramsign
website by clicking here
to view all the colors and styles!

In case you rent, or already have a home address sign, you could always get a number just because it's a favorite.
Maybe your child's or a sports figures jersey number or a number that is meaningful to you?
or...
you could make a gift of it for a family or friend!

Good Luck!
Open to All ~ Worldwide Shipping.

Let's Start This Thing...

To Enter;

1. You must "Follow Me" here at my blog, Fox Hollow Cottage and leave a comment letting me know you do.

To give you extra chances to win you can...

2. "Like" Fox Hollow Cottage here on facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do).

3. Follow me here on pinterest and leave a comment letting me know you did(or already do)
***Winner will be selected using Random.org
on Monday January 9th.

***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED-Thank You.

--- Happy New Year to you all ---

Thanks for making the last few months pretty dang spectacular!!!!
I really have had such fun sharing and chatting.
It has meant a lot to me.

Happy Day

XO~Love me!

Plain & Simple

2011-12-31T19:50:00.000-08:00

Nothing Flashy.

No Pictures.

Just a simple New Year's wish from me to you.

I have most sincerely loved getting to spend time with you all in 2011.

May 2012 Hold Everything Your Heart Desires.

~Happy New Year~