My New Favorite Site (And a Reminder)

I had a completely different post planned for today but...

I have found a new site that I just LOVE.  And, according to my daughter, it's been around for a long time.  But as usual, I'm a little late to the party.  :-)  Ready?  Have you heard of Polyvore?  It's a website that allows you to create virtual outfits.  I made a few last night -

You've probably seen these "style boards" all over Pinterest.  Yesterday, I took the plunge and opened my own (free) account.  And it is awesome. It's sort of like paper dolls for grown ups.  Not only does the site have thousands of images (usually with brand name and price info attached) but you can add a "Clip to Polyvore" button on your toolbar and add your own images.  Which of course I did.  I clipped a couple of images from Old Navy (like the sweater and flip flops below) - 

It's fun putting outfits together - and finding your style - for free.  Or, if you don't want to waste spend hours looking through images of awesome clothes, you can choose to follow other people's collections.  (In case you're interested, I'm kristenmycoveredbridge).  I've also added my outfits to Pinterest (you can find me at Kristen @ My Covered Bridge - just click the button on the sidebar).   Head over to see my other virtual outfits!  

So, why do I like this site so much?  A couple of reasons.  It's a great way to see what goes well together - without even leaving your house.  And it can be used as a reminder of items you want to buy (when they go on sale of course!).  Sort of a pre-made shopping list for your next mall trip.

Btw, I have no affiliation with Polyvore and have not been compensated in any way for this post.  I'm just a fan.  (But, if I could find some way to make "spend endless hours putting cute outfits together on Polyvore" my full-time job, I'd be a very happy camper.  Are you listening Polyvore??  Call me...)

On a side note - this is the LAST day that Google Friend Connect will work for non-blogger blogs (I am a blogger blog, so, for now, you can still follow me through GFC.  Rumor has it that GFC will be going away completely soon.).  If you have other favorite blogs that you want to keep up on, you need to follow them in some other way.  I will be spending a good amount of time today signing up to follow my favorite blogs on BlogLovin.  I started using it last week, and it works well for me (you can follow My Covered Bridge on BlogLovin by clicking on the link on my sidebar).  I think that this is the easiest way to search through new posts.  It's a simple, user-friendly dashboard.  Right now, it's my number one choice for following blogs.  Of course, there are other options - Facebook, Linky Followers, RSS feed, and Email to name a few.  But the important thing to remember is that time is running out.  Don't leave your favorite blogs behind!

Fabric Art

Remember when I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had been cleaning out closets?  Well, I've been trying to find fun ways to use some of the old t-shirts and dresses that my kids no longer wear.  Some of the fabric is really interesting - and I'm just not ready to get rid of it.  So, I framed it.

This is a super easy (and inexpensive) project.  I bought a frame at Michael's for $4.99 (they are on clearance) and chose an old sun dress (I can't believe how fast my daughters are growing up!)

I cut a rectangle out of the dress (my daughter suggested leaving the ribbon trim in the picture) - 

I glued it down in several spots to keep it flat.  Then I added the matting - 

And then the frame - 

(My entry into504 Main’s Tickled Pink partysponsored by Appliances OnlineBosch Washing Machines)

Now, it's ready to hang in my daughters' room.  And the whole thing cost $5!  I love that!  

Btw, I still have lots of leftover fabric on this dress - I'd love to make something else out of it.  Maybe they'll get a pillow too!

I've shared this project here - 

seven thirty three

Creations by Kara

The Shabby Creek Cottage

My Repurposed Life

Blog Swap - Welcome Days of Chalk and Chocolate

I'm so happy to have Jenny from Days of Chalk and Chocolate as my guest poster today!  I love her blog!  And if you're looking for me, I'll be over sharing some projects at her place.  

Hi friends!  My name is Jenny and I blog over at Days of Chalk and Chocolate. Thank you so much Kristen for having me today!  It's always fun to reach out to bloggers and trade places!  You can find Kristen over at Days of Chalk and Chocolate today too!
As the seasons change most of us start dreaming of ways to decorate our homes to reflect that season's particular elements and spring is one of my favorites!  It's a time when I crave freshening up my winter home with pale, soft colors, flowers, and things that represent a new beginning.  I have been trying to think of something new and springy I can hang on my front door and I keep coming back to my favorite wreath:  the ruffle wreath!  The soft, feminine ruffle is always sweet and fresh looking and you can adapt it to any occasion, season, or holiday just by using different colors!
I have made a couple of versions of the ruffle wreath. I made a linen and satin flower version for my sister last spring.  I love the way it turned out and I'm so glad I didn't muck it up with too much decoration. It's subtle and I like that!

My next ruffle wreath was one I did for fall. I had found some teal corduroy in the remnant bin at Joanne's and I was inspired to use it as an alternative color to the oranges, browns, and golds that are always so popular. Here is my tutorial.

Need some more inspiration?  Here are some ideas I found around the blog world!

Just Sew Sassy
Aren't the colors so bright and springy?

The Modest Homestead
I love the feathers!

Jones Design Company
This was my inspiration for my first wreath.  It remains my favorite.

Fireside Studio
Summer colors!

The Scrap Shoppe
This burlap and denim wreath is perfect for the
Fourth of July!

All Things Thrifty
Here is a cheerful Christmas version.

I hope you are inspired to add some ruffles to your front door this spring!  And visit me any time at Days of Chalk and Chocolate!

Cheers!

Jenny

My Friday Five - Week 16

Pinterest.  We all love it.  But sometimes it's a little bit daunting.  At least for me.  I pin lots of stuff that I could never make, houses that I will never live in, and recipes that I'll never cook.  Well, today, I've decided to share five smaller, more doable projects.  We all love actually doing the stuff that we pin, right?  Here's a list of fun projects to try.

Oh and before we begin...I am trying something new.  As you know, Google Friend Connect is going away soon for non-blogger blogs.  I am a blogger blog, so you will still be able to find me.  For now.  But I am concerned that this will change at some point.  I've been looking into other tools to connect and came across something interesting.  Have you ever tried BlogLovin?  I checked it out last night and so far I love it.  It has a VERY user friendly dashboard and it seems to work well.  If you want to follow me through BlogLovin, I've added a link on my sidebar.  If you have any experience with BlogLovin that you'd like to share, please leave me a comment or send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com.  I'd love to get your thoughts and opinions.

OK - back to the fun stuff.  Ready?

1.  Paint your washing machine.  I cannot believe how cute this is - 

I also cannot believe how many times this has been repinned (well, yes I can.  Come on it's super cute!).  Abbie from Five Days Five Ways painted and stenciled this washing machine - what a great idea!  This could actually make doing laundry fun!  Head over to her blog to get the step-by-step.

2.  Make a monogram using washers - 

I love this idea - it's easy and inexpensive!  Kristy from I'll Get You My Pretties created this beautiful work of art.  So clever!

3.  Modge podge fake fruit - 

Confession time - I have never used modge podge.  But, after seeing these cute pears from Emily at On The V Side, I may start.  I just love these.  Aren't they sweet?

4.  Dress up a mirror - 

That's just what Michelle from Ten June did.  And it is stunning.  Head over to her blog to get all of the details for this sunburst mirror.  It really makes a statement!

5.  Repurpose embroidery hoops - 

Yup - those are embroidery hoops!  I want these!  Don't you?  Head over to Hill Country Homebody to find out how to make them.  Gorgeous.

Are you inspired yet?

Easy To Navigate Pages

I love blogging.  I write new posts five times a week.  That's good, right?  Well, yes. But all of my older projects just keep getting pushed out of sight.  So, I've been trying to figure out a way for my newer readers to find my older projects.  You can find them through the archives on my sidebar but I never felt that that was enough. And since blogging is really visual, I wanted you to be able to see projects that you'd be interested in learning more about.  Which is why I cleaned up my pages.

I have no graphic design experience (obviously) and couldn't even locate pictures on my computer  before I started blogging.  But I knew that if I wanted to blog, I'd have to learn.  A lot.  And I'm getting there. Slowly.  So last week, when I showed you how I made my blog button and how I installed it, I had an idea.  Why not make my project pictures clickable?  Then, my pages would become a little more interactive and user friendly.  Here's my step-by-step, in case you want to try it too.

Start with an image.  I uploaded mine to Picnik (I know they are closing.  I am using other programs, like Pixlr and Fotoflexer, but for now I knew I could do these in Picnik faster.)

Crop the picture into a square.  I made mine as big as possible.

Then resize the picture.  I chose 200 x 200.  But this can be changed in the HTML code at any point.  So if you want to change the size later, it's easy.

You can edit the picture (exposure/sharpness), then save it to Photobucket.

Now, you have a picture to use.  We'll get back to that in a moment.  Head back to your blog, and open a new page.  Then choose the "Edit Html" tab on the top.

Now add the following - 

<a href="http://mycoveredbridge.blogspot.com/2011/08/hey-lets-make-dance-floor.html" target="_blank"><img height="200" source="blank" src="http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x414/kristenW4/dancefloor.jpg" width="200" /></a>

BUT you need to make the following changes - 

1. The line in red - this is your post URL.  You can find it by opening the post (in a new tab).  

Simply copy and paste it over the example.

2.  The line in green - this is your picture URL in Photobucket.  If you hover over the picture that you want to use, a pop up box will appear.  Choose "Direct Link".  Paste that code where it is green.

Does this sound confusing?  Well, think of it like this - the HTML code will do a couple of things.  It tells the computer where your picture is (the green line) and where you want to go (the red line).  Once you have changed those two lines, you are finished!  If you click over to the "Compose" tab, you should be able to see your picture!  And once you publish, you should be able to click on it!

I put multiple projects on the page by following these steps for each project.  Just remember to eliminate the space between each picture's HTML code.  So the end of one code and the beginning of the next code should look like this - 

/></a><a href=

And one last point, I chose to add a bit of code to make it easier to come back to the main page.  When you click a picture, it opens in a new tab.  That is my preference (I don't like clicking the back button a bunch of times).  Look at the code above.  See this -  

target="_blank"

That's what makes it open a new tab.  If you don't want it to open a tab, simply take that out.

I hope this helps!  If you have any questions - or you need something to be a little clearer - leave a comment or send an email.  Like I said, I'm still learning all of this stuff.  And at first, it is really confusing.  But the more you play around with things, the easier it gets!  Really!  So give it a try!

Advertise For Free On My Covered Bridge!

I started My Covered Bridge last July.  At the time, I had no idea how much I was going to enjoy blogging.  I assumed that I'd be sitting at a computer, editing pictures, writing posts and keeping to myself.  I didn't realize how much interaction I'd have with readers and other bloggers.  It's been a really wonderful experience so far.  I'm so glad that I started this blog.  I've made so many new friends and worked with some great women!

So I want to take it a bit further.  I love promoting other blogs - whether it's showcasing a great project on My Friday Five, or listing my favorite reads, or just thanking bloggers for featuring one of my projects.  It's the sense of community that makes blogging so much fun! And now I'm thrilled to offer a new opportunity for my blogging friends - FREE ad swaps!  I'll place your 100 x 100 ad/button on my sidebar in exchange for space on yours.  It's a win/win - we can help each other grow!

So send me an email -  kmwerynski@gmail  - and let's swap!

Don't forget - I'm still always interested in hosting guest bloggers!  Let me know if you'd like to post on My Covered Bridge - I'd love to have you here!

Thanks - And More!

I want to thank some wonderful ladies for featuring my projects lately.

Holly from 504 Main featured my How To Make a Blog Button tutorial

Laura from Along For The Ride selected my Valentine's Day Wreath

And Michelle from Someday Crafts featured my T-Shirt Spheres

Thanks ladies!  I really appreciate the shout-outs!

In other news, as I have mentioned before, I herniated a disc in my lower back two years ago.  I still have issues with it at times.  Well, now is that time.  Ugh.  I've been trying to stay away from bigger projects the last couple of days so I can rest and heal.  But, I'm not very good at resting.  So, I've been working on my blog.  A lot.  And, I'll be making more changes over the next couple of days.  If you head over to my Furniture Projects, Yup, I Spray Painted That!, and Other Fun Projects! pages, you will see a new, easier to navigate listing of some of my past projects. I still have more to add - and of course, I'll give you a step by step tutorial on how I set those pages up.  I've also cleaned out my Pinterest boards.  I rearranged a lot of pins - hopefully it makes more sense now.  Check it out - and I'd love it if you followed me over there!

One last thing - I wanted to share a giveaway happening right now on one of my favorite blogs - Funky Junk Interiors.  Head over to Donna's blog for a chance to win a $50 Home Depot Gift Card!  Tell Donna that I sent you - and hurry.  The giveaway ends tonight!

Ombre Penny Art

Here's a fun little project that I did over the weekend - Ombre Penny Art.

I love copper so this project was right up my alley.  I started with a frame from Michael's (on clearance) for $4.99 and a bunch of pennies -

I lined up all of the pennies from bright and shiny to dull and weathered - 

I wanted a very random look so I left them heads up or tails up, facing any direction.  All willy nilly.   Which is a big deal for me because I usually have to make everything straight and neat.  I just knew that this project would look better if I veered away from my usual habits.  :-)

 I took the frame apart, and dry-fit the pennies to the backing - 

Then , I super glued the pennies in place.  I started with the four corners - just so everything would come out straight.  I also used a ruler to keep things in line.  And that was it!  Now, it's hung in my kitchen and I think it looks great!

And since I work from my kitchen table, I get to look at it all of the time!  Yay!  

Here's the cost breakdown - 

$4.99  frame

$1.08  pennies

$6.07 Total

Anyone else work on an art project over the weekend?  Or use the phrase "willy nilly"?  Or spend an hour and a half ironing that huge pile of clothes in your room that you've been ignoring?  Just me?...

I've shared this project here - 

Coastal Charm

Today's Creative Blog

Savvy Southern Style

seven thirty three

Creations By Kara

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Funky Junk Interiors

Craft O Maniac

Under the Table and Dreaming

Boogieboard Cottage

Between Naps on the Porch

Young House Love

Bower Power

Hi Sugarplum

My Friday Five - Week 15

This has been a great week - I welcomed my first guest blogger (thanks Maury!) and I co-hosted my first link party (thanks Jaime!).  On the home front, it's been crazy busy!  I've been trying to get a few things knocked off of my to-do list but I still have a lot of projects to tackle.  I'm hoping to have a very productive weekend!

But back to this link party - it has been so fun to look through all of these projects!  As of right now, there have been 390 entries (and the party is still open if you want to add your project!).  I decided it would be fun to highlight some of these projects on My Friday Five.  Well, it seemed like a good idea...until I couldn't decide which ones to pick.  Then it hit me - I will pick five for the post and highlight some more great projects on Facebook.  If you'd like to see what other projects I've selected, become a FB follower!  There's just way too much to include in one post!

Let's get to it.  Ready?

1.  This kitchen redo is amazing!  You really need to go over to Eclectically Vintage and see what Kelly has created - 

I am in love.  And a little speechless.  Everything from the marble counters to the red stove - just beautiful!

2.  Here is a smaller and more budget friendly project - a $10 wood counter - 

Tracie from Cleverly Inspired made this counter with some lumber from Lowes.  Isn't it great?  Stop over to her fabulous blog to get the step-by-step instructions.

3.  While we're in the kitchen, how about some Oreo Cupcakes?

Yum!  Chrissy from The Taylor House whipped these little guys up.  I have pinned these - and I can't wait to make them (so much for my goal of eating better this year!).  

4.  This Giant Pencil from Michell at Girl In Air is so cool - 

Head over to her blog to see how she made - super clever!  I bet every kid would want one of these in their room!

5.  And you know I had to pick a furniture redo, so how about this Mid Century Modern Two Toned Dresser - 

Kelsey from Fabulously Flawed gave this old dresser a new life.  I think it looks awesome!  

Are you inspired yet?  

Don't forget to become a Facebook follower to see some of my other favorite projects from the link party!