New Ways to Decorate Your Tiles and Windows

This idea is not entirely new, but more ideas come out everyday and this is worth taking a look at.

So you are stuck with those 4" X 4" white, contractor tiles. You hate them, they are boring and it would be costly to replace them. Lets face it, you don't have many choices when it comes to tile other than taking a hammer to them.


Wallies Inc. has teamed up with a British company to distribute "Tile Tattoos" and also decorative vinyl window covering to provide privacy where you need it. They come in a variety of designs and sizes.
Here is the item that I actually could use. I have a shower in the Master Bath that's open to the world!! I don't know about anyone else, but I like some privacy in the shower.

These come in rolls, so I'm assuming you can cut them up to fit a window, sidelights around your door or in my case, the two glass shower walls. I love this!

I've seen these vinyl covering before, but I'm so impressed with such elegant designs. Check it out for yourself.

http://www.wallies.com/

01 02 12

How To Decorate A Toilet???

I am sure you are going to think I’m crazy but I’ve done some research on decorating toilets. Browsing through Internet sites I stumbled upon a few really great ideas, things that I never thought of and have never seen before. You may be interested…………

Or maybe not…………..

Let's start out with Toilet Tatoos. I found these delightful, creative decorative skins for toilet lids. Who knew???? Such a neat idea to decorate the lid! They come in all sorts of designs including classic, wallpaper, whimsical, holiday and seasonal . The best feature is that they are removable so you can change them according to the season or holiday you are decorating for.

You can clean them with regular cleaners as long as they are not abrasive. They attach to your lid by electrostatic energy-no adhesives. They even have a few selections for those "potty" training kids that encourage them to actually use the toilet. They cause no damage to the lid either. Some of the designs are very elegant and some are simple. They run cost around $9.95 and go up. You'll enjoy these!

Here's the link:

http://st114.startlogic.com/~toilet-t/t3tattoosR1.htm

I found that you can also decorate your tank. This guy sells some great looking "tank art", simple but creative and fun. They appear to be a decal so they are also removable.

The site where you can find these great decals is:

http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5070255&search_query=toilet

I also found that you can hand paint your tank or lid using enamel craft paint. So if you are inclined to try it get together the following:

• enamel craft paint


• small paint brush
  
• permanent marker
  

Draw out your design with the marker and start painting away.

Last but not least: you can decoupage your lid. I tried one out today for my son's bathroom. I plastered his face right into the center. Needless to say it was worth the work when I saw the look on his face..........he thinks I've lost my mind and does not like the idea that his face is right in the middle. This one was "just for the fun of it".

Now that I know it works, I can make another one that is perhaps a little more tasteful.

I know that he and his friends will enjoy this one, at least until I get around to making a more subdued version.

So you can decorate the lid or tank if you are sick of those fuzzy rugs that cover the lid or that plain white lid that greets you when you enter the bathroom. There are creative options out there to change it up.

01 02 12

Product review...flameless candles

Candles for the window sill....battery operated, stays on for 6 hours and then turns off, no wires...........

Once and a while I like to include some product reviews. They can be very helpful when deciding if something is worth the money and if it really works. This is a review about flameless candles.

I love the look of candles in the windows at Christmas time, but I hate wires all over and really hate going around shutting them all off at the end of the day. Too many wires, too much work.........

Every season I am on the hunt for "the perfect candle". I 've already given up on buying one for every window in my house. I'll need too many and they'll cost to much.

One year I picked up a few battery operated candles. They lasted about one week and the batteries needed to be replaced. Who needs that!

The next year I purchased a few more to try. They were battery operated and supposedly flickered like a real candle. Yes, indeed they did flicker but the flame was Halloween orange, not exactly what I had in mind. It's a good thing I only bought one at a time in my pursuit to find the perfect candle.

This year, once again I stumbled across a battery operated, with a timer(goes on for 6 hours and then turns off), flickering candle. I found it in Linen's and Things and used my 20% coupon. It was a perfect size for a window sill, nicely made and does flicker like a candle with a yellow glow. You can see it pictured below. This candle is made by a company called Carlon.

This little candle turns on and off manually or shuts off after 6 hours. It sits on a little pewter-like base

The story of my life: I loved this candle so much I went back to buy more (with multiple coupons on hand). SOLD OUT! I have not found them anywhere that cheap, but you can bet I'll check back at Linens and Things for more.

I did however find a pair of flameless, taper candles made by the same company. Same concept and basically the same candle, just a taper in shape. I placed them on my fireplace and every night around 5Pm they magically go on and stay on until 11PM. I've had them going for three weeks and have not replaced the batteries!

The taper is pictured at the top of this post and to the left. I was surprised when I opened these tapers up that the bulbs are made out of soft rubber. That makes sense because if it falls-no break!

I am really enjoying these candles and so far they seem to be holding up very well.

I searched around and found a pretty comprehensive web site that carries this brand. I have no experience shopping with them but they do carry the brand that I got at Linen's and Things. If you want to look: check out

http://www.flamelesscandles.net/

Which brings me to the next subject. Last year I bought two of these wall sconces in a Thrift Store. Total cost: $6.00 for both. They were painted mustard gold. I brought them home and repainted them with colors that would match the room where I was going to place them. I used acrylic paint and then sealed them with clear polyurethane spray.

I have a candle in each but I'm not brave enough to light those candles up, it's just too close to the wall and I don't feel comfortable leaving them unattended. While I was looking around the Internet researching the flameless candles I realized they make them for this very purpose. All widths and sizes are available, so I'll just replace the real candles with the flameless ones.

You better believe I'm ordering two for my sconces. How nice that I can now light them up and walk away. Safe, easy and convenient.

01 02 12

Floating Frames.....

Floating Frames

Floating frames are a simple way to display art work. Basically it's two pieces of glass that sandwich your print, photograph or picture, with a frame around it. The wall you hang it on will show through the perimeter glass. Not fancy, no matts....just your photo.

They are available in many retail stores. The three in the above photograph were purchased in Walmart for $5.00 each. The prints inside came from the clearance aisle for $1.00 each. Total cost $18.00.

What makes these particular frames nice is that they really focus on the art work, not the frame. If you have something you want to highlight, this is a great way to do it.

Although they have a contemporary look to them, old world prints still look fabulous. I've seen them in black, wood tone and white. Remember, if you can't find them in the color you need, paint them the color you want.

01 02 12

Attractively convenient..........

Something New..............

I recently came across this new item made by a company called Wallies (http://www.wallies.com/). It's a peel & stick chalkboard that goes on most surfaces. The best thing about this is that it is removable! A few years ago someone came out with chalkboard paint. At the time I really thought that was a great idea. Paint it on and you have a chalkboard. But what happens when you don't like it anymore or want to move it to another area? You'll be painting again!

Wallies chalkboard goes on and comes off. What a great idea! I couldn't decide where I wanted to put the chalkboard. The entry hallway on the side of the house seemed like a good idea but so did my kitchen cabinet. I decided the cabinet was the way to go. If I change my mind later, I just move it. It is also repositionable so don't have to worry if it doesn't go on straight. It even came with chalk! I tied a string to it and fastened it next to the board. The package includes four 9"X 12" boards and comes in four great colors.

With three teenagers in the house and so many things to remember, what better way to keep track of it all. Wallies make a number of great wallpaper cutouts. I've checked their web site and found plenty of ideas that I can expand on. They also have wall murals. Check it out at: http://www.wallies.com/

I do most of my painting by hand, but for someone that is not artistic or doesn't have the time these are a great alternative. They can be used as a wallpaper border, on furniture, lamps and more. Let your creative juices flow and you'll find plenty of uses for them. I am currently working on some projects using more of these items. I'll bring them to you soon.......

Wallies web site is very comprehensive. You can order a free catalog, order products from them and find out where you can buy them locally.

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