Pigs in Hiding (100th day)

FREEBIE - Pigs in Hiding


The 100th day of school is Thursday......EEEKKK!!!! I am almost as excited as the kiddos (true sign on a kinder teacher :0) Anyways, we are doing tons of fun learning activities this week associated with the number 100.

What's on tab for tomorrow????Well, I'll tell ya!! Pigs - pigs everywhere!!!!!!

One of the great activities I love begins with reading the darling book - Pigs in Hiding - by Arlene Dubanevich.

It's such a cute story in which a whole bunch of piggies are playing hide and go seek. One little piggie looks for the others, but can't find them (despite it being obvious to the reader where they are). Finally in the end all the piggies come out.

Then is when all the fun begins.......

After reading the book (I read it to my class in a place other than my classroom). When we return to the classroom door, I have a friend or co-worker meet us and exclaim, " There are piggies everywhere. I wonder how many there are?" (These paper piggies are all over our room!)

We then set out on a quest to find all the piggies and count how many there are - forming a hundred's chart along the way..

I hope you love this FREEBIE as much as I do!!!

SEI February Desktop Calendar

Have you started your valentine's day projects yet? We know that lovey holiday isn't for the whole month, so enjoy a delicious and simply happy wallpaper all 29 days!

1024 x 768   1280 x 1024   1600 x 1200   1900 x 1200   2650 x 1440
ipod 640 x 960    ipad 1024 x 1024
 

As always let us know if you have any questions and thanks for using them!

Cold outside, warm inside, bis

No I am not making a special sort of turkey in my kitchen.

I am just working a bit inside, because for the moment it's too cold to "enjoy" the garden.

Here are some pictures of one of my latest projects, a new tapestry in my big frame.

Finally I have something in that frame, its not the best thing, but I couldn't find something else for the moment, everything I want is the price of a luxury car and I can't give that to just a painting :-s

What do you think?

Gift Wrap Trim

Sometimes the way an ordinary gift is presented, makes it extraordinary! Emily has a beautiful way to trim any gift, using paper punched from the lovely Promise Me collection.

"To make a paper garland trim: Punch starburst circles from patterned paper and then feed them through the presser foot on your sewing machine, making sure to leave a small amount of thread between punched shapes; wrap around gift."

"Don't be afraid to combine textures of lace, trims and patterned paper trim to a simple gift to make it soft and feminine."

new printable: 12 Essential Questions to Ask Your Designer

I've released a new Printable "12 Essential Questions to Ask Your Designer" on my website.  You can download this as well as other great Design Guides by clicking the image below.

If you are already a subscriber, you will receive a link tomorrow in the monthly newsletter to access these guides.

leaping zebra office swag (psst it's a giveaway) & a new beginning

It's official.  I am moving to Arizona.  Crazy, right?  It still hasn't sunk in despite starting to sell off my furniture and collect boxes.  Why am I moving you ask?  Well, my husband prefers the West and I knew that eventually I would like to be back there too (I didn't know it would be so soon) so before my business became too embedded in Atlanta we decided to move.  I also have to mention that the impending anniversary of this & Atlanta spring winds with towering trees helped us along.

I am so sad to leave Atlanta and the strong and beautiful design community that is here, but I am always up for an adventure and a new home.  But don't fret, because ACL isn't moving, it'll still be right here at www.acuratedlifestyle.blogspot.com even if my view is a little different.  

I am still available for design services and especially during the transition, IDESIGN.  To learn more about my upcoming move sign up for my newsletter (in your mailbox on Wednesday).

Finally to the goods, I have a sweet Scalamandre mouse pad & tape measure for you with their iconic leaping zebra print.  Learn more about this print over on Heather's blog (it has a good story).  

So how to do you win this super-chic office loot? Here is how:

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

To Win:

 1. Be a fan on Facebook

2.  Leave a comment (with email address) on this post (below - not on FB).

________________________________________________________

Rules: One entry per person, but you can certainly get your mother and brother to enter for you.

All entries must be received by February 3rd at midnight ET.  Winner will be notified via Facebook.  US residents only.  If you are leaving an "anonymous" comment make sure your email is included so I can contact you. 

Sweater Baby

Amy used some really cool techniques on her layout today. It has tons of texture and dimension. Lucky for us, she is going to explain how to create this look.

"Born the day after Christmas--our little guy is no stranger to sweaters! And this wonderful photo of him in my favorite of all of his sweaters inspired both the title and design of this layout."

"To begin this layout I tore strips of this maroon paper from the Silver Valley Collection to accent my background paper with and create a 'sweater' feel. To get this beautiful white edge on my tear I turn the side of the paper I will be using face up and I tear towards my body in a long continuous motion. Then I used some stitching to add some texture and to secure the torn layers to my background."

"Next I spread a block of white acrylic paint over my background with a palette knife to establish the foundation for my page design, while toning done the pattern a bit and adding a snowy effect to the page that would help my Silver Valley die cut clusters to tie in perfectly."

"I cut the circle stickers from the Silver Valley sticker sheet in half to create the fun border to the left of my photo and bring a more juvenile feel to my layout. Then I added my title--I like to use two different alphas because of the contrast it adds. Finally I added a little jute bow, the metal filigree charm--with the back side facing up--and my tag with the date of my photo for a little extra charm."

Tutorial ♡ Ripple pattern

Happy Monday!
Finally here in Eindhoven the winter is arrived..it's snowing! And what's better to start a new crochet project? Since a friend of mine asked me how to do the ripple pattern, I've decided to make a simple tutorial to help her.
I hope that you like it and for any questions, please add a comment below!

♡

Buon lunedì!
Finalmente qui a Eindhoven l'inverno è arrivato..proprio in questo momento sta nevicando! E quale occasione migliore per iniziare un nuovo progetto all'uncinetto? Siccome una mia amica mi ha chiesto come fare il pattern a onde (o zig zag che dir si voglia), ho deciso di fare un semplice tutorial per aiutarla.
Spero che sia sufficientemente chiaro, ma per qualsiasi domanda vi invito ad aggiungere un commento qui sotto!

Ilaria Chiaratti 2012

I'm BAAAACCKKKKK!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

Well - long story short: I finally got my husband off his behind (after much nagging, whining, pleading -- you get the drift). My Internet is fixed........!!!

I am totally catching up on everything....It's amazing how quickly things get carried away without you :0)

I am super-duper close to reaching the milestone of 200 blog followers..... I would love to make this milestone.....so if you would like to give my lil ol' blog a shout out - I would be super appreciative - Thank you!!! ;0)

Cozy Knits

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My story from the great beyond.....

Well..... I'll be missing in action for the next couple days :0(

Yesterday night my husband got home from work, got on his computer. (Of course, I am already on mine)......And our Internet goes from Fine to Flop! We could still get on, but it was SLOWWW!!!! GRRR.......

So, my husband calls up the Internet company to try to fix the problem. Well, the Internet company flips a few switches and .....now we got NUTHIN', NADA!!! Thanks Internet company from the Dark Ages..... GRRRR.....

So, the Internet Company from the Dark Ages (which I affectionately call them) are coming out Tuesday to fix it.....but until then, we are living in the Dark Ages. Man, it takes me back to the way life was in the 80's :0) My kids think we are in Armageddon without Internet.....(there idea of roughin' it).

So, with the exception of my IPhone I am now Internet-less until Tuesday:0(

Shop till you drop

Well I buy a lot of shoes because I do a lot of shopping, that sounds normal isn't it :-)

Oke it's a worldwide Crisis, but that doesn't stop me, i need to feed myself!

So here are the new finds of the last days.

And don't we help the economy when we spend well, hopefully I can get a tax reduction for all my shopping.

And also a new white chinese statue to my collection, my little family is getting bigger and bigger :-)

A very nice malachite plate directly out of Congo, the seller took it with him in the sixties, and I am addicted to the material.

Love Scrapbook Layout

For this layout Kim used papers from Holiday Cheer, Homestead and Silver Valley. She said, "I love the yellows and golden hues of Homestead and although I only use bits and pieces of patterned paper in my layouts, this was a great way to show the many colors and patterns in these collections."

"I wanted to utilize the White Elegance alpha stickers in a new way by laying them next to the photo in the same direction as the banners." Why not try switching it up, like Kim, and place your title vertically on your next layout?

New items at la casa!!!

This year it's not really a snow winter in Belgium. Not like last year at least, I wish it snowed a lot or well that it was already spring, then the garden is so nice. This week I was looking through my archive to look at the garden pictures. I want spring now :-), so I can go to yard sales and brocantes!!!!

But I can't complain of the things I bought this week. It seems I am in a Coral state of mind. I attracted them for the moment, everywhere I go, I found them at bargain prices :-)

Here they are, my new little baby's

Inspiration House

Tuesday evening I was invited to the press preview of the Cathedral Antiques Inspiration House.  You should visit yourself because while Atlanta has a lot of Showhouses, this one is certainly upping the ante. The color is vivid, local artists are represented, and the details are to-die for.

Love the art in the Library by Lindsay Coral Harper, she also has painting from local Emily Amy Gallery that could not be more perfect in the space.   

and the contrasting details on the curtains.

This paint color in Laura's room look liked a neutral until you stepped into the (white) kitchen and saw the contrast.  Is mauve the new neutral?

Lovely details in Ladies Retreat by Elisabeth Jordan.  When you visit, check out the towels she has in the bathroom- more details!

Silver-leafed ceiling, uh yes please!  And Susan Currie even re-grouted the existing moroccan tile floor to match the design.  

What's the first thing you notice?  For me it was the dark painted border along the edges.  Sort of like a drawing to create architecture in this room.  A pair of ladies were commenting how adept Chris Holt is at combining the new & the antique.  I love the custom combination of the upholstered bedframe with the iron canopy frame.  

A beautiful, colorful but serene gender-neutral nursery by Allison Harper & Nancy Duffey.  Chalk-board wall & wall lamps.  

While at the House, I also had the pleasure of visiting with friends Jennifer Boles of the Peak of Chic, Erika Ward of BluLabel Bungalow, and Ally of From the Right Bank, as well as friends who had decorated spaces in the House; Laura Walker Baird & Amy Morris and the editor of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles the ever-charming Clint Smith.



If you would like to visit, the house opens to the public on January 29th and closes on February 12th.  For more information visit: cathedralantiques.org

If you'd like help designing a home you absolutely love, contact me about design services.  

Winter 2011

Melissa used the Spooks alphabet stickers for this layout. Somehow they don't look so spooky on this wintery scrapbook page. She also made her own embellishments! We'll let her share all the details...

"I took some pictures of my family earlier in the month of December and this is one of my favorites of my sister and her husband. I changed the photo to black and white and used the papers from 'Silver Valley' to accompany it. The muted silvers and blues went so well with the photo."

"I used a variety of circle punches to scatter across the left hand side - it is super simple to create your own customized embellishments by punching out various size circles and layering them on top of each other! Use dimensional dots to adhere them for a special pop on your layout!"