Christmas Countdown Art {Dare to Deck the Halls}

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  Nate and I enjoyed a lovely snowy weekend in Chicago.  The city is pretty much magical covered in snow.  More on that later.

Today is the last link up for the Dare to DIY.  Goodbyes are always hard.  The theme this week is Dare to Deck the Halls and the party is over at NewlyWoodwards!  I've been working on quite a few DIY holiday projects (which I have already completed) but the one I wanted to share for Dare to DIY is a Christmas Countdown.  Which I finished last night.  I'm so on top of this blogging stuff.  

I've always wanted some sort of Christmas countdown art.  This is one of those projects that in my head was going to be quick and easy and turn out beautifully.  None of that happened but it's still cute in it's own quirky way.  (It also photographs horribly. Eh.)

I started with a blank piece of wood that I painted with chalk board paint (two coats).  I then designed the lettering/numbers in Photoshop.  I traced them onto the sign using tracing paper.  (I'm going all old school on you.)  I then used white Sharpie paint pens to poorly go over my tracing paper marks.  

You could just do this with chalk pens.  I wanted something that I could use year after year.  

This year I am just "priming" the circles as I fill them in.  Next year I will probably "x" them out.

Here is it hanging in our festive dining room.  And I still have like 10 days to enjoy it.   Go team Michelle.

Now it's party time.  Be sure to check out the fabulous projects by my partners in crime.

(Colorful pom pom wreath via Primitive and Proper, Joy to the World print via Maybe Matilda, Christmas countdown via Decor and the Dog, Plaid and Union Jack pillows via NewlyWoodwards)

Now it's time for you to head on over to NewlyWoodwards and link up your best deck the halls projects!  There are some great handmade items for one lucky person that links up!

Did you dare to deck the halls?

Dare to DIY Features + Dog Art Giveaway

Happy Friday the 13th!  Last day of work for the week.  Yes!  Nate and I are headed to Chicago.  He surprised me with tickets to Elf the Musical.  We're both pumped.  Hopefully we can beat the snow!  We've never been to Chicago during the Winter so we'll so how tough we are.

Today I'd like to share with you features from Monday's Dare to DIY {Give Handmade} link party, a sneak peek of Monday's Dare to Deck the Halls project and an awesome giveaway.  Action packed post, right?

First up, the features.  There were seriously a ton of great ideas.  Be sure to check them all out right here!

I really loved this DIY novelty IPhone speaker from CeciBean.  It's beautiful!

Next up is this delicious looking lemon sugar scrub from Made2Style.  I'm kind of obsessed with body scrubs and this one's ingredients look like a winner to me!  

Check out our Dare to DIY pinterest board for inspiration!  Wanna see the other co-hosts picks? Check them out at Maybe Matilda, Newlywoodwards and Primitive and Proper!

The party is over at NewlyWoodwards on Monday.  The challenge is Dare to Deck the Halls. 

"DIY something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same."

Here's a peek at what I'm working on!

And now it's time for a fun giveaway from a childhood friend's Etsy shop, Painfully Polite.  

Amanda and I grew up in the tiny town of Dayton, Iowa.  I don't talk about my hometown much but it was a pretty awesome town to grow up in.  800 people.  No stop lights.  One of those towns where you seriously know everyone and their families.  We ran the town until dark and then went home to have suppers with our families.  Us Dayton girls stick together.

Amanda is a graphic designer that is looking for a way to use her skills outside of work.  And I'm madly in love with her latest dog art. 

Amanda took this darling photo of the Ike-ster in his Charlie Be Good tie...

and turned it into this masterpiece!

I die.

Ike's girlfriend, Daisy, got in on the action too.

TOO MUCH CUTENESS!!!

Would you like to win a masterpiece of your pup?  Amanda is kindly offering up a digital print for one lucky reader!  Be sure to check out the quirky collection of art available from Painfully Polite.  I know some of you will love this grammar art print.  Enter via rafflecopter below!

Happy weekend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Home Tour {Living Room}

Are you rested up from the start of our home tour yesterday?  Okay, good!

Let's continue in the living room.  Our living room is decked in gold, wood tones and a furry dog.  All important elements in design.

I had thought about making Ike move but he gets grouchy when you kick him out of his spot.  And I'd have to fluff that couch cushion.

Here's the view from upstairs.  Ike keeps a close eye on me at all times.

He leads a hard life.

Our tree is 12' tall.  It's super fun to light and decorate.  It's a good thing Nate isn't afraid of heights.  It may only be half decorated otherwise.

We are so on top of the present game this year that it's not even funny.  We have one gift left to buy and wrap.  We are killing it.  Wrapping is easier when you have the cutest fox paper in the world (thanks, Target).  

I'm not big on the same decor each year but there are a few items that make a reappearance.  Like this old A Christmas Carol book I bought a few years back at an antique store.  Don't mind the dust.  I'm out of Swiffers and clearly we need to change our filter.

You may remember our nutcracker mantel.  Update:  they have not attacked us in our sleep.  Yet.

Our console table is home to this year's Christmas card display.  I usually just throw our cards in a basket but I figured I had this great wire thingy that I bought in the fall. It works perfectly for Christmas cards.  Extras can go in the basket.  The houses are part of a village that Nate's family had growing up.  We need to find a place for the whole set in the future!

Are you all decorated for the holidays?  Does your pet have their own "spot" in your living room?