Madigan Made { simple DIY ideas }

May 18, 2013

Where did 3 years go? (and I can’t do it all!)

2:05 PM Shannon Madigan

Madigan made… a What’s Up, Weekend?

What’s up?

Wow. The middle of May marks this blog’s 3 year anniversary! I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging that long!
As I’ve done with prior blogiversary milestones, I’m not planning a big celebration… but I do want your feedback on this blog’s growth and my plans for next year. I’ll be sending out a reader survey in the coming week. Look for it – I want your input!
With this milestone, I want you to know that there are some changes coming for this little blog that I hope you will like… a facelift, a new logo and some adjustments to my editorial calendar.
One of the things I am changing in the coming week is that after this coming Monday I am no longer going to be hosting the Project Inspire{d} link party. I’m torn about my decision because I enjoyed hosting the party with my other co-hostesses.
I really want to thank those of you that have participated in the link party! I enjoyed the party and visiting you (the readers of other blogs) and their projects. But... I've been feeling guilty that I'm not spending enough time with the party. Basically, the linky is a commitment I just don't think I can keep up with on a regular basis through the week. I need to refocus a few things here at Madigan Made. (and make sure I still have time to spend with the furball above (and my hubby)!)

I can’t do it all and I appreciate your understanding!

So, Monday night will be my last linky. If you are still interested in linking up to the party after this week, head on over to Dukes and Duchesses, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Setting for Four or Artsy Chicks Rule to link up with those fun bloggers.

What am I digging lately?

I spotted these projects out in blogland recently. Go over and pin them, share them, make them… they are great ideas!

I love how simple and cute Jessica’s faux stacked bracelet looks! Get the look of lots of bracelets without all the clanking around!
Wedding season is upon us. Do you need an idea for DIY centerpiece? Check out Johnnie’s huge list of summer DIY table décor.
These modern DIY votive candles at Paper and Stitch are simple… and, well, perfect!

(Want to see what else I’m loving? Be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest… I love sharing simple and easy creative ideas in those forums.)

What was I up to one year ago?

This time last year I showed you the easiest way to make a simple, handmade greeting card. I love creating cards like this.

What are you up to this weekend?

I hope you enjoy your weekend! (and that it is a little crafty!)

Tropical Inspired Home Design with #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

4:01 PM Shannon Madigan

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2. All opinions are 100% mine.

Madigan made… a sweepstakes announcement for the design fan.

If you’ve been around this blog long enough, you know that I’m a fan of simple home décor ideas. I also love rooms that have a little pop of color and personality. I think that is why I appreciate the design aesthetic of the husband-and-wife design duo Robert and Cortney Novogratz. I’ve enjoyed their fun and colorful ideas on their TV home show for awhile now. They show viewers how to combine vintage and modern style... and they make it look so easy!

Did you know that now you can have access to this couple’s style through CB2 and Novogratz Collection? The Novogratz’s latest collection for CB2 was inspired by their vacation home in Brazil. Sounds like a wonderful springboard for summer decorating ideas, doesn’t it? The new collection has a lot of spunk!

Check out this colorful Rouge coffee table. It would be fun out on a deck or for a pop of color in your family room. (durable, too!)

I love the clean lines of these sectional pieces. The simple button tufting is ‘just enough’ detail… plus the pieces come in fun colors (or gray, if you prefer neutrals)!

Besides being able to bring a little Brazil (and Novogratz!) into your life at CB2, you can possibly go to Brazil! CB2 is running a sweepstakes from May 2nd through June 3rd and you and 3 friends could win the trip of a lifetime! Win a one week stay at the vacation home of Bob and Courtney Novogratz in beautiful Trancoso, Brazil. Ten other winners will receive $100 gift cards to CB2 and signed copies of the book, "Home by Novogratz". Find out more about the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes here.

Soak in the Brazilian sun and surround yourself with an inspiring setting and décor? Sounds like the perfect vacation to me!

A Simple Way to Update a Thrifted Lamp

5:54 AM Shannon Madigan

Madigan made… The Happy Housie a feature!

TGIF!!

Are you heading out this weekend to a garage sale or flea market? Well, I’d advise that you look for a curvy lamp like this one. Krista spotted this lamp and looked beyond the ugly color… she saw potential in the shape of the base. All it needed was a little spray paint!

Head on over to Krista’s blog to see the dramatic before/after of this thrifted lamp update.

Do you have a craft, recipe or décor idea

that you’d like to share with my readers?

I am ALWAYS looking for great projects to show off here on Fridays. Please fill out this form and tell me about it!

20+ DIY Glass Projects for Your Home

5:28 AM Shannon Madigan

Madigan made… a Hometalk clipboard of glass ideas.

Glass is one of my favorite mediums to decorate and craft with…. you can create so many unique home accessories with glass. You’ve seen me paint glass (a lot of times), etch glass, work with glass marbles, and much more.

Well, this past week I found a ton of glass DIY projects from other bloggers that might interest you, too! I created a collection of all of these ideas in a clipboard on Hometalk.

Wait, what’s HomeTalk, you say? It’s a forum and sharing site where people meet to talk about home décor and DIY projects. You don’t have to be a blogger or have a website to share pictures, ask questions and find home ideas there. Join me over at HomeTalk this week and follow my glass clipboard as I find more clever glass ideas! (just click on the photo above to go to my clipboard)

(Note: I received no compensation for this post… I just really like glass projects and wanted to tell you about HomeTalk because I enjoy that site and thought you would, too!)

Simple Outdoor Updates with Lighting and Color

12:00 AM Shannon Madigan

This post brought to you by TIKI Brand®. All opinions are 100% mine.

Madigan made… easy updates to the deck with color and lamps.

Have you been sprucing up your outdoor entertaining spaces? The weather is finally getting warm here in Pennsylvania and I’m anxious to get outside and use our deck this spring and summer.

We love our deck. It expands our living space so much more in the warmer months. We are out there a lot eating, grilling… or just sitting!

But, we need to do a little updating out there.This season we hope stain the deck again, set out some plants and just make the deck feel a little more homey.

Remember the simple and inexpensive updates I made to the deck two years ago with the green furniture and accents? I still love that fun, green color… but this year I want to add another accent color to mix things up.

I was debating between a green and yellow color scheme… or a green and cobalt blue combination.

Well, fate intervened when TIKI® recently sent me a few of their outdoor torches to try. They included this beautiful blue glass TIKI Brand Glowing Table Torch… and I knew that blue and green was the combo I had to use!

I love how the blues in the glass globe look with the green chairs. Now I just need a few more cobalt accessories to pull it all together. Maybe a green and blue outdoor rug? Maybe I should paint some of my pots blue?

Attractive outdoor lighting is a must for us. I like how the blue glass torch sits on a table top and can be used as a traditional oil lamp or it has a multi-color LED display that can be used without a flame. That feature will be perfect if we want some lighting at night on our low coffee table between our Adirondack chairs. The LED lights mean that there is no chance for our little pup to get burned with the lamp sitting in her reach.

I also received this tall, copper 2 in 1 TIKI Brand Flame & Solar Torch from TIKI®, too. It is a traditional staked oil lamp…. BUT the removable piece sitting on top is an LED solar powered source, too!

That top piece can be removed and set alone somewhere for a flameless light source. I kinda like it on the top of newel post of our deck stairs. We could bring it over to the dining table or grill, too.

Both of the oil lamps can be filled with OFF!®/BiteFighter® Torch Fuel which will help us keep the bugs away this summer. You can find the TIKI Brand Glowing Torch and all of these products at Wal-Mart and Target or just log on to tikibrand.com.

Want to see what the oil lights look like lit? Check out this quick video:

Adding a few new lights outside is one way I’ve started to update our outdoor space. It made a difference already! I have other plans that involve those cobalt blue and lime green colors. Perhaps I can get them done and show them to you soon!

Do you like to use TIKI® Brand products outside? Which ones? Be sure to follow TIKI Brand on Facebook for more outdoor light ideas!

Link up to Project Inspire{d}!

8:00 PM Shannon Madigan

Madigan made… another creative party!

Well, it is Monday night… and it’s time for us to kick off the week with a little creativity! Are you ready to share your projects or see what other people have been doing? I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!

Want to know what DIY projects caught the attention of the five party hosts last week? (clockwise from top left)

Nancy picked this pallet wine rack over at Sweet Pea
Mary Beth picked this flower pillow at Pumpkin and a Princess
Heather loved the mason jar breakfast idea At the Picket Fence
Randi liked the fun skirts from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
I liked this DIY plate wall from On Sutton Place

I hope you get a chance to go check out these other fab creative bloggers who are also hosting this link party tonight. We’d love it if you’d consider following us on Twitter!

You can find us all on Twitter here: