Christine from Pure Joy Events has a passion for planning kids’ parties and finds Anthropologie’s window displays to be a great source of inspiration for her backdrops. I have been known to find creative uses for paint stirrers so it’s no wonder this ombre paint stick design caught my eye. Christine created her beachy backdrop by painting large paint stirrers and them simply sticking them on the wall with painter’s tape. How cute is this for a surf-themed birthday or pool party?

I have said time and again how much I love the possibilities with stenciling, and Melissa from 5 Foot 12 Creations totally drives it home with her ikat console. I mean… wowzers! With a small paint brush and plate of craft paint in hand, Melissa completely transformed an IKEA console into a trendy piece of furniture that is sure to spark lots of conversations. It’s no wonder Melissa’s cabinet was one of the faves in the Creating with the Stars knockoff round!

We all love a good monogram, and Angie from The Country Chic Cottage for Crafts Unleashed shows how to make them come to life with some scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. It’s really as simple as cutting and gluing! And with all the craft paper options out there, the possibilities are pretty much endless. Why be limited by store bought letters when you can design your own with a scene you love?

Marie, a KOD reader without a blog, wanted to create a display shelf on a wrought iron aquarium stand she purchase online. A bookcase from Ballard offered just the look Marie was after, and she sought out the help of her husband to revamp the aquarium stand by adding two plywood shelves. I’ll let Marie take it away with the details…

I may not be a coffee drinker, but I can still appreciate a pretty mug when I see one! Janel from Nellie Bellie put her artistry to work by handpainting this ceramic mug for a special friend’s birthday. Janel doodled away on the plain white mug with ceramic paint markers to take it from drab to fab!

I may not be a coffee drinker, but I can still appreciate a pretty mug when I see one! Janel from Nellie Bellie put her artistry to work by handpainting this ceramic mug for a special friend’s birthday. Janel doodled away on the plain white mug with ceramic paint markers to take it from drab to fab!