MAKE: CHRISTMAS WINDOW BOXES

Supplies:

♥ Window boxes (mine are from IKEA)
♥ Christmas tree branches (I got mine out of the scrap pile at Lowe's for free)

♥ Wet florist foam

♥ Small rocks

♥ Hammer

♥ Plastic for protecting work area
♥ Decorative branches 

♥ Decorative ribbon

Instructions and pictures after the jump

MAKE: LETTER WREATHS FOR CHRISTMAS

This is a fairly simple project that doesn't require many supplies. Learn how to make letter wreaths that you can hang in your window this holiday season after the jump.

APARTMENT THERAPY: ONE MINUTE TIP

Hi everyone! I did a one minute tip for AT. Click the image to check it out :)

MAKE: OVER THE DOOR CHRISTMAS LANTERN

Deck the halls with Christmas Lanterns 

Fa la la la laaa la la la laaa.

Don't burn down your apartment building

Fa la la la laaa la la la laaa. 

It's usually pretty dark in the doorway to my apartment and I'm always fumbling for my keys, not to mention the challenge I face getting the key in the door. I often use my cell phone light to see the keyhole but my phone is always buried in my purse at the end of the day and when I've got to tinkle I just need to get the darn door open (TMI?). I do have a hallway light but it's wired to my neighbor's apartment and when I flip the switch it turns the light in their apartment on as well. They've never complained but sometimes I don't want to startle them, especially late at night so out comes the phone (after some digging around in my purse). The moral of this story? Make a temporary light solution for my rental that's cute, doesn't pose a fire hazard (I hope not) and can be dressed up during my favorite holiday season.

Make it after the jump.

NO ELEPHANTS ALLOWED BABY SHOWER

WARNING: LOTS OF PHOTOS IN THIS POST :)

The theme for Trixie's baby shower began with the image above. I spotted it on Pinterest, shared it with her and the rest is history. I started by designing the invitation around this and then began planning pinning the shower. Please enjoy the photos from my dear friend's shower.

My mamma bear helping to mount books and prints on wall.

Mommy and Daddy!

More pictures after the jump.

MAKE: CAKE BUNTING

Trixie's shower back in July (which means this post is lonnnng overdue) gave me the perfect opportunity to make bunting for her cake. I planned to make bunting for my sister-in-law's shower a year ago but my nephew decided he wasn't sticking to the schedule and came before the shower even happened. Thanks a bunch Nick!♥ 

This time around we schedule the shower way in advance because babies can be so bossy, no?

I gathered my supplies and whipped this cutie up during my lunch break. Easy peasy! See how I made and used it after the jump.

BAKING FROM NOT SO SCRATCH

Last weekend I baked lots of cupcakes and brownies (for my friend's baby shower) with a little help from Trader Joe's and my local supermarket. I was also in charge of the decorations for the shower and store bought mixes really helped to simplify things. Ain't no shame in my game. Below are Instagram shots of the baking process as well as tips on making box cake and brownie mixes taste better. 

SNAPSHOTS OF MY CRAFT ROOM

These are Instagram (attempts at using the blur tool) shots of my craft room. I used these shots to play around with Pugly Pixel's photo layout template while learning more about my newly acquired Photoshop. Fancy schmancy!

POTTING UP PERENNIALS

I bought some perennials two weeks ago at Home Depot and I finally got around to potting them up.  

I placed Styrofoam peanuts in my plastic whiskey barrel, topped it with soil, added my plants, gave it a good watering and stepped back to admire. What color cushions should I get for my chairs? 

A few more touches and my balcony will be ready for summer! Have a peek. 

GARDENING ADVENTURES

I've been working on my green thumb, or lack thereof and below are photos of my adventures in gardening. Last year I killed ALL my house plants including a sweet pink and green speckled leafy plant that I really adored. This year I'm growing tomatoes, arugula and herbs from seeds (squeal). Keep your fingers crossed. So far, so good.

Take a look at flower arrangements I made and Union Square green market snapshots below.

TIE DYE

Here is a skirt I made when I lived in Guyana. I got the skirt sewn in white cotton and tie-dyed it myself. Oh I miss the sunny days :) This picture was taken in FL around my 19th birthday about a year after I moved to the US :) I jazzed it up in this picture by adding a sequin scarf around my hips.
I love the background of the Rasta men. Aye mon!

Click here to see more of my designs.

Flea Market Photos

On Nov 21, my etsy shop participated in its first flea market. As previously mentioned it was the 2009 MCNY Flea Market. It was a small flea market inside of the university but it was very fun. Take a look at the pictures I promised.

Not sure why the quality looks so distorted when I uploaded them to both facebook and the blog...hummmm. Visit the facebook album for more pics!

Krystyle featured in Etsy's Treasury

I just wanted to thank DesignsbyShellie for featuring my Forbidden Dance Necklace on Etsy's Treasury. The link expired last Thursday at 10:18am but I took a screen shot of all the wondeful dance inspired pieces. Take a look.

Lacie did it and so can you!

Lacie over at Creative Attempts, attempted my Antropologie Inspired Tuxedo Scarf Tutorial and did an awesome job. Now it's your turn to try out this cute scarf and don't forget to send pics so that I can see your awesome job.

Happy Friday!

*{Giveaway Closed}* Giveaway: Some Romance From Me to You!

The giveaway is closed as of 9:00 am. I used a random generator at random.org to select the winner of the beautiful pair of Rosy Rosebud earrings . Thanks to all those who responded to my giveaway. I was very excited about having my 1st giveaway on my blog! It is the first of many more to come ;) So without further delay the winner of the giveaway is (drum roll please)

***Anapina***

Congratulations Anapina! I will send you a message requesting your shipping information :)

Since the responses to the giveaway weren't many, I have a little something for Courtney and Brandon+Michelle as well :) I made some handmade Valentine's cards during the week and I would love to send you each a card! Sounds good? Thank you all so very much for participating!

Krystle :)

I am doing my very first giveaway and I am soooooo excited about it. At first when I created my blog, I had no followers and as of today I have 28 and that makes me very very happy. I am just thankful for everyone that follows/reads/looks at my blog and I am happy about the small community that we are able to form, even though we don't see each other in person ;) So to extend a small token of appreciation ( I sound so cliche here don't I?) I would like to giveaway this pretty pair of Rosy Rosebud Earrings available in my shop. I figured this would be the perfect time to do a giveaway since January was my birthday month and Valentine's is just around the corner. The earrings are from my Romance collection (hence the title of the post).

There are 3 options to enter the giveaway.

Remember to always leave some sort of contact information such as an email address when you comment.

1) Leave an awesome comment on this post.

2) Become a follower and leave a comment. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment.

3) Link the giveaway on you Blog, Facebook or Twitter, then leave a comment letting me know you did.

The Giveaway will start today and end Friday 02/05/10 at 9am ,when the winner will be picked randomly, (I will probably use a random generator site) announced and then contacted. I'm so excited!!!!

All my followers as of yesterday (01/31/10) who leave a comment on the post will get two automatic entries in the giveaway =)

Good Luck Guys!

UPDATING THE BLOG

Vacation

Hey guys, I'm on a supprise vacation/supprise mini trip so I won't be posting for the next couple of days. Sorry!!But here are a few projects to keep you through the weekend. See ya on Monday!

• Make shades out of mini blinds with LGN
• Bug Catcher Necklace at Craft
• Printable Roundup at One Pretty Thing
• Embellished Sandals at Martha
• Applique Cushion Cover Tutorial
• Long skirt to summer shirt at Craft

{Stripe Mania} on Decor8

Well hello there! It's been some time since I last posted and while I wasn't exactly planning to start back blogging as yet I couldn't resist the fun of Stripe Mania! Holly over at Decor8 (who's blog I love) posted about Stripe Mania and instantly I became excited. It seems like such a simple and fun exercise to partake in. Stripes are so much fun and all the rave this season (and last season and forever!!!). Read more about the mania here and view the other bloggers wearing stripes here :)

Here is my Stripe Mania photo.

In case you are wondering I bought my stripe top from the J.Crew Factory in Atlantic City along with the hot pink version. It has a cute gold exposed zipper in the back :)

I wonder if I'll see another blogger in this color or the pink.

{ Love Like Love } Elephants + Peonies

 I'm a little elephant short and blue, here is my handle and here is my trunk!

Okay I'm a bit of a cheese ball but this little guy arrived about 2 weeks ago at my front door. When

Target launched the Calypso St. Barth collection I woke up early the morning, whipped out my card and frantically ordered this guy in addition to the main thing I really wanted to get (guess what?). I felt like my other Elephant teapot needed the company as well.  However, I didn't get this guy for the sole purpose of tea drinking. I don't drink tea that often in the summer time and would hate to keep this little (actually, he's a pretty decent size) guy locked away in the cupboard. My light-bulb went off and I knew he'd make a wonderful vase and without a doubt fill him with beautiful pink Peonies or any other pink flower. 

Love   Like 

UPDATE:

I wrote this post a week ago and had it scheduled to go up today and then last night I was in the supermarket, saw some flowers for $4.69 a bunch and gave in. Here is my G2 android snapshot using an app to give what they call a 70's look?? I wasn't around in the 70's so as Leonardo DiCaprio said in Catch Me If You Can, "Do you concur?"

p.s This is a sneak peek of my craft/guest room :)

Love xoxo

{Creating Yourself } Cocoa & Hearts

From the very first moment I started reading the blog Made by Girl  I was hooked!

I found a link to Made by girl via the wonderful Holly of Decor8's blog and it was  that very click to Jen's blog that made me fall in love with her style, creativity and personality. I read Jen's blog daily, much like I do Holly's and everyday it's one of the sweet things I look forward to. Reading my favorite blog's are usually the highlight of my day and provides a form of relaxation.

Jen Ramos' style is quite chic and sophisticated, yet she shows you how to have good style without emptying your coin purse.