Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Grandma

Grandmothers are very special people and are sometimes overlooked over Mother’s Day. Giving your grandmother a special gift is a way of saying thank you for being a good mother to my mother. Every grandma out there is a mother herself so she should feel special on this day too. Here are a few handmade and store bought Mother’s Day gift ideas for Grandma.

Think outside the box with some kind of landscaping or gardening gift. If your grandma spends most of her time outdoors pruning bushes and planting flowers, then these personalized stones are a great gift idea. You can have these made locally, make your own or purchase them online too.

Get Grandma Flowers that will never die with a recycled paper flower bouquet. There are a couple of ways to deliver this gift. You can make the vase out of old newspaper and put real flowers in it, or you can make the entire ensemble out of recycle paper too. Don’t worry if you are not too crafty though because you can buy these things online too.

What grandmother doesn’t love a little bling? This personalized bracelet is affordable and would be a perfect gift for mothers too. Add in children names, quotes, dates or whatever you like to personalize the bracelet for her.

Hopefully you find these ideas helpful when you are on your search for a Mother’s Day gift for your grandmother. These may even inspire your own unique gift as well.


Powder Room Decorating Ideas

When you decide to redecorating, choosing to do so in your powder room can be a great way to start renewing your entire home. Since the half bath is small, you can do the job quickly and inexpensively. Here is a powder room decorating ideas 2012 has to offer.

 

1. Paint the Powder Room

Painting is one of the cheapest ways to update a room’s style and help it feel fresh. For powder rooms, it’s best to use a semi-glossy paint that can be easily cleaned. Also choose a paint that resists mold.

What color should you paint the bathroom? Light colors can help make a small room appear more spacious. On the other hand, darker colors such as burgundy, dusky rose, mustard and plum can be very attractive if the lighting’s right. The options are endless.

 

2. Deck the Walls

Small powder room walls can be decorated easily. A thrift shop might have just what you need. For example, you could repaint an old spice rack and use it to display vintage perfume bottles or pretty soaps and lotions.

You can also find or make art for little money. Buy picture frames at a thrift shop and paint them if needed. To fill the frames, add your own creative black & white photos, your kids’ artwork, or pictures from greeting cards and calendars.

3. Use Good-Looking Bathroom Fixtures

Since powder rooms are open to guests, they’re typically more elegant than the other bathrooms in a home. Show your guests a bit of class by installing a few attractive elements. Of all the things you’ll add to decorate the powder room, probably the faucet and the mirror should be the most costly. You might be able to find very cheap yet attractive vintage lighting, mirrors and other basics at a thrift store or on eBay.

4. Provide Light from the Sides

Place a soft light, possibly with a pink or amber hue, at either side of the bathroom mirror. Bright lights from above can create shadows and unflattering glare. Use low-watt bulbs and add a dimmer switch if possible.

5. Decorate with Linens

Tie together your half bath redecoration with coordinated towels and a bath mat. You can get great deals on these at stores like Ross and TJ Maxx.

 

Candles add color and a fresh scent to half baths

6. Finish with Candles

Scented candles help keep air fresh while adding aesthetic appeal to a powder room. Obviously, candles should be used away from towels and other flammable items.

Tip: You can redecorate your bathroom inexpensively with pretty candle holders from a dollar store













Dorm Decorating Ideas 2012

Dorm rooms are not exactly luxury but that you want to make your own. Some schools are going to have limitations of what may be appropriate for your decorating but with a little creativity your dorm room can be quite homey. It is a good idea to talk to your roommate beforehand. You both need your own personal space to feel comfortable in. Respect each other’s right to express themselves has they wish. You may decide you like the same colors, but if not you should feel good about your share of the limited space.

Everything has its own place

One of the biggest dilemmas you are going to face is the lack of storage. The rooms are quite small and shared so maximizing storage is key by utilizing pieces that can do double duty. Dorm room decorating tips designate a place for everything (preferably out of sight in decorative containers or boxes) will make the small space appear more open (and cleaner too.)

–Raising the bed with rack risers allow you to utilize the space under it. Storing your luggage with extra clothing in them and storage bins will help you stay organized.

–Pretty hat boxes can hold a myriad of small items in one place and be stacked one on top of another for use as a little table next to the bed for the alarm clock. Or stack them on a shelf in the closet along with closet organizers for shoes, scarves, purses, etc.

–Use decorative hooks and self-adhesive hooks that come in lots of different sizes for hanging things. (Keeps things off the floor!)

–If the guidelines permit, install brackets as shelves for your textbooks. Add interest with funky bookends, a framed photo or other collectables.

–Customize a wire storage system that can be assembled to whatever size you want and dismantled and reorganized later.

–Strategically placed plastic crates (come in many colors) are cheap ways to store things and can be used as small tables.

–And if you can swing it, a nice comfortable chair next to your bed. Something other than leaning against the wall would be great.

Simple Touches

Color is an easy way to make an impact on dorms rooms but painting is usually out of the question. However there are clever dorm room decorating tips that can introduce a little drama but check the guidelines before putting anything on the walls. Instead of buying all new, bring things from home that make you feel good. The little dorm room touches can go a long way and with that being said, having a touch of home is always a good decorating idea. The dorm room decorating ideas 2012 seems to be putting out there really take your own personal style and taste and combine it with the available furniture that will fit. When it comes to creating your home away from home, sometimes the littlest touches can bring you the most happiness and the most room.













Living Room Decorating Ideas For Apartments 2012

You want to work hard at getting it right but the result has to look as though it’s been thrown together in five minutes! Your living room is the place where family and friends sit when visiting, so you should make a special effort to create a comfortable harmonious environment. Your living room is usually the first room you seem upon entering your apartment. The living room has to be shown well but in many cases the living room also has to be able to carry off other functions such as a dining room, playroom or office.

Keep your eyes open: 

If at all possible, take your time and try not to pressure yourself or let others rush you. Spend time looking for ideas and inspiration in books, magazines and online. Make a point of looking around houses that are open to the public, such as ‘Showhomes’ and don’t forget to take mental notes when you are out dining in restauarants, as the design work has probably been done by an experienced interior designer!

Factor in your personal taste: 

What color do you like? Light or dark?  Strong or muted? And what about textures? Do you like antiques or modern? What type of rooms does you like the most - cosy or ultra modern?  Don’t design to impress others - design for yourself and your family after all friends just visits, you have to live there.

Traditional: A traditional style is generally formal, sophisticated and timeless, using antiques, rich woods, overstuffed seating and muted understated colours. The emphasis in a traditional room is on comfort, style and classic refined elegance.

Fabrics are rich and luxuries, fixture and fittings of high quality and accessories includes paintings, vintage prints and framed personal mementos. Traditional rooms are thoughtfully composed and generally have a formal feel.

Modern: Classic modern (contemporary style) treats interior spaces almost as pieces of three-dimensional art, balancing form, shape, colour and texture.

Surfaces are plain, colours are usually clean and pure and shapes are geometric with immaculate detail and finishing. The whole look is pared down and polished.

Country: Signature elements are materials and textures that are natural rather than man-made. Furniture that is simple and hand crafted and an absence of modern artifacts. Country comfort today is called many thing such as romantic, rustic, country house and shaker just to name a few.

Casual Themes: It’s a well-chosen and harmonious mix of furniture, fixtures, colors and accessories that appeal to you.

Casual requires a confident hand to team up ancient and modern, to combine the clean lines of contemporary with the warmth of country and tie it all together with color and texture.The most successful casual rooms generally confine themselves to two or three different styles and frequently use a common decorating theme such as color and shape. The living room decorating ideas for apartments 2012 has to offer is only limited by your budget and your space so try to utilize everything you can to get the best outcome.















Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

Instead of decorating your eggs the same old way this year, try out some of these Easter egg decorating ideas that will catch everyone’s eye.

Idea #1: Blue Bird







Supply List:

Eggs
Store-bought or DIY egg dye (blue)
Printed paper or cardstock
Yellow cardstock
Scissors
Craft glue
Fine tip black marker

Instructions:

Dye egg blue and let dry completely. Cut a wing from printed paper and glue to the side of the egg. Cut a triangle from yellow cardstock, fold a tab at the flat end and adhere to the end of the egg with glue. Let dry. Draw an eye with the black marker. This is one of the cutest and most popular Easter egg decorating ideas out there.

Idea #2: Monograms

 

Supply List:

Eggs

Store-bought or DIY egg dyes

Wire egg holder

Acrylic craft paint

Small paintbrush

Small letter stickers

Instructions:

Rest an egg sideways on an egg holder and dip in dye bath of desired color, but hold the egg so the top third of the egg stays above the dye bath and remains white. Let dry completely. Pour a small amount of acrylic craft paint in desired color on a plastic plate or wax paper. Dip the non-brush end of a small paintbrush into the paint and dab on egg to create a dot. Paint dots around the white oval. When the paint dries, apply letter stickers to spell a name or just one sticker for an initial.

These are both really great and unique Easter egg decorating ideas that you can try out this year.