Isn’t my sister’s bedroom so great? Her apartment is very old, has high ceilings and everything is white, white, white. It makes such a great backdrop for big stuff! She lives in the top floor of the 4-apartment building where I used to live before I got married.  While I was home for this visit, she finished off these double doors to use as a headboard.

The doors were originally from my parents’ 1820’s farmhouse and were painted with layer upon layer of white paint. My sister and my parents stripped and sanded them down to the wood. Don’t they look cool?

I would love to do something similar here in Dublin, but our teeny tiny bedroom just doesn’t have room!

I’ve always been a bit of a wimp when it comes to statement necklaces. They make me a little nervous, all that statement going on. But when I saw Chelsea’s tutorial for a chunky necklace sort of mounted on canvas, I was inspired to try my own version. I’ve been wearing it around town over the last week, making a whole lotta statements – and loving it!

Here’s how to make your own.

You’ll need the following:

polymer clay like Fimo
rolling pin
knife
baking tray
canvas
glue gun
chain
findings
jewelry pliers

First, roll out your clay to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a knife, cut various size triangles. I cut about 40 triangles, which made this necklace and two smaller ones.

Place your triangles on your baking tray and smooth out any edges. Bake according to the directions on the clay package.

When your triangles are cooled (takes no time at all!), cut out a piece of canvas, making sure to leave enough room at the top corners to attach the chain. Arrange your triangles on the piece of canvas and secure them with a tiny bit of hot glue.

Using your jewelry pliers, attach loops to the corners and then attach your length of chain.

And there you have it! Your very own statement necklace!

{Then have your husband take a few photos on your way to brunch and try not to feel too cheesy!}

This week, our Maine weather has been cooperating and delivering sunshine and small breezes, but last week it was giving us rain upon rain upon rain, Dublin style. Not so great for my tan, but great for getting a few projects completed. Like this cheerful piñata-inspired lamp!

I love piñatas, but I don’t love the idea of spending so much time on a homemade one, only to bash it to pieces. This sweet lamp lets you have some piñata in your life for a lot longer! This one winged its way to the Midwest to a little teal and pink nursery – but not before I snapped a few photos!

A few weeks before my trip home, I picked up a big paper lantern (like this one) from Ikea. It was two euro – I just couldn’t leave without it! And then apparently I couldn’t go to America without it. Ha!

I picked up four rolls of crepe paper from the craft store: two rolls of kermit green, along with a blue and magenta. I cut them into one foot strips, then cut half inch slots in them halfway across the width of the crepe paper. Then I cut those one foot strips into thirds so they would be more manageable.

Then with my trusty glue gun (and about 15 glue sticks), I glued the green crepe paper to the lantern, starting at the bottom and working my way around to the top. When I got about a third of the way up, I started adding strips of pink and blue intermittently.

Et voila! A piñata you can enjoy for a long time!

Special thanks to my sister for letting me use her pretty apartment for these photos!

What you’ll need to make one yourself:

paper lantern
2 rolls green crepe paper
1 roll magenta crepe paper
1 roll blue crepe paper
hot glue gun
15 glue sticks
3 hours of time with a movie to watch or playlist to listen to!

Then follow the simple instructions above!