CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Free Downloadable Gift Tags

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:00:26 -0800

If you want to add a special touch to your holiday gifts, Amy Butler has you covered. You can download a variety of adorable gift tags in PDF form at her site. Then, just print out the patterns on heavy card stock and you're set to go (and give). How's that for a little holiday cheer? Source

The Card Shop: Gift Givers

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:06 -0800

As facile and affordable as your pharmacy variety gift tag stickers may be, they're a little lacking in the humor department. That's why I'm refreshed - and your giftees will be, too - by the Shine Box Print Gift Givers Tag ($6.95). These gag gift tags come with the requisite "To" and "From" fields, but they're given a dose of light-hearted humor with wry one-liners like, "I made this myself, in China," and "No elves were harmed in the making of this gift." Gift shopping is hard, and so is paying the bills on time at month's end. But this part is easy.

How-To: Make Homemade Gift Tags

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:15:19 -0800

One great way to personalize a gift during the holiday season is by creating unique gift cards. I recently found a cute, easy tutorial for doing just that. You start out with a simple shipping tag, like the one seen above.

What You'll Need

shipping tags
small fabric scraps
glue or thread and needle
twine, yarn, or ribbon
letter stamps, or calligraphy markers or other nice pens

To find out how to make it, read more.

Here's how to do it, from Zakka Life:

Cut a small piece of fabric with pinking shears. Hand sew fabric onto tag, or glue the edge closest to the small end of the tag.
Hand stamp a name, or write the name or message under the fabric on the tag.
Attach a ribbon, twine, or piece of yarn to tag, and attach it to gift.
Give gift!

Check out Zakka Life for other inspiring home posts!

View 3 Photos ›

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:10 -0800

Tour a rich-hued hotel in Vienna. - AT:Chicago
Learn about the history of the Chesterfield sofa. - ShelterPop
Tour a swanky MCM home. - Re-Nest
Stock up on cute holiday gift tags. - PoppyTalk
Make candles for holiday gifts! - Craft
This gorgeous table is made from scrap wood. - Charles and Hudson

gift tags

CasaSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:30:45 -0800

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Casa Interview, Part II: Domino Founding Editor Deborah Needleman (and an Awesome Giveaway!)

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:00:39 -0700

Deborah Needleman, the founding editor of Domino, is a goldmine of savvy advice on decorating your home, honed from years of experience heading up the style-centric magazine as well as decorating her own home. You can read the first half of my interview with her here. Deborah's tips and thoughts on decorating continue in the second half of this interview.

Our homes are really personal spaces. Considering that most of us are shopping from the same few décor retailers and finding inspiration in the same shelter magazines and blogs, how should we go about personalizing our homes?
Every home definitely needs a few old things and a couple unique things. And when most of what we have is mass-produced, it's more important than ever to have some things made by actual human hands, whether it's pottery, rugs, pictures, whatever. It is essential to find a few things that no one else has, whether you find them in a shop, at a tag sale, bring them back from a trip, collect them from nature, or even make them - like just tacking up drawings or notes from friends. Stuff that is meaningful to us, what we love or collect or find is interesting to our guests. I also do think it's really nice to have one really good piece - whether that's a table, rug, chandelier, whatever. It gives your room some substance, some weight - and also ensures it doesn't look like anyone else's.

To read the rest of the interview, read more.

I love your home, which I saw featured in New York magazine a few years ago. I know that you’re a big fan of neutrals and white, or at least you were when that article was written. Are you still a neutrals gal?
Thanks. It's funny, in New York City which is so chaotic and where I get easily overwhelmed, I need to be a neutral gal. It totally calms me down, and keeps my head clear. But upstate, where I feel more relaxed, I love layering patterns and color - florals, suzanis, chintzes, Indian prints, etc. I'm covering my sofa there in purple linen, my study is painted black, and one room is the craziest color green I've ever seen.

I love how your home is elegant and adult-oriented, yet still kid-accessible. What is your advice on and personal experience with creating gorgeous spaces that are also kid-friendly?
I have never understood dumbing down design for kids. No one had kid-friendly homes when I was growing up - people just had the homes they had and their children lived in them! A family home is for adults and children - why on earth would anyone give over their living room to let it look like a play room?! I'll probably get hate mail for this, but aside from a gate so children don't tumble down the stairs, and maybe a lock on the cabinet if you have the kind of children that want to eat the Ajax or whatever, children can be taught that table edges are sharp and that food is to be eaten in the kitchen and that open markers can't be left on the rug!

Other than that, if you have a fairly light palette like I do, you have to accept that you won't have the cleanest house in the world. Fortunately I like a bit of a patina on things! I like that the floor is scuffed by skateboards in part because I love a house where children feel free to run wild, have loads of friends over, and make forts out of the sofa cushions, but also where they have a sense of responsibility and respect for things. Oh, and I have cheap rugs, so if they get destroyed, I won't be sad! And I certainly wouldn't choose a linen velvet sofa fabric if I had to do it again! Kids don't rule the roost, they share it.

Your HomeGoods StyleScope tool helps home decorators find their style. How would you describe your own style?
I think I'm fairly conventional at core - I couldn't have furniture at funny angles or a bed floating in a room or anything too wacky or "fun." I dig symmetry. I like things that are classic in shape and form - not overly embellished, but I appreciate many kinds of design. I think I take this fairly classic base and mess it up a bit. I'm certainly not traditional. I like to layer on personality and quirk with ethnic textiles, cushions, interesting objects, fabrics, and art. I love stuff from India, Morocco, England. Thus, Bohemian Classic.

And to revive a favorite Domino feature of mine, what are 10 things that make you happy?
Hilarious question! Well, first of all, we never let people say their children or their dogs!!! Too boring and obvious.

Nearly all Santa Maria Novella products (if I could only choose one thing, it'd be their potpourri. But I'm crazy about the milk body cream, the honeysuckle perfume, and the pomegranate soap and bath salts). I am obsessed with scent - on my body and in my home!
My veg garden. (Really, seeing my children eat their way through our veg garden, but at Domino I would've edited that out as too sentimental!)
Making flower arrangements for the house.
My white parsons table (I have two) - and a brilliant new parsons side table in the pitch-perfect green color.
Comfy chairs in kitchens and bathrooms.
Cheap weekly blowouts from walk-in, no-appointment places.
Summer dinner outside with friends.
Staying in a lovely hotel room (never a trendy hotel, I like old-school, old-fashioned hotels). I love that nothing belongs to me and the beds are perfectly made. The Duc du St. Simon in Paris is pretty excellent.
Bobbi Brown makeup. Makes you look sun-kissed, not dolled up.
I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't say this, but having a decorator!! Specifically having the genius Rita Konig as a decorator!

Thank you, Deborah! We have a special giveaway for you CasaSugar readers on the way. One of you lucky readers will win a $500 gift card to HomeGoods! Check back for more details about the giveaway later on today!

Registry Roundup: Bathroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:00:12 -0700

As you continue contemplating your wedding registry, consider your bathroom. After all, the bathroom is the most public private room in your home: you can guarantee that every guest who steps into your home will use it, and they'll develop an impression of your style and habits through it. So, you want to keep your bathroom as organized, clean, stylish, and guest-friendly as possible. I've gathered a lot of different bath products and accessories that will dress up this space, many of which will add a lot of style at a small price point. Also, by registering for a number of smaller price-tag products, you're guaranteeing that your guests will be able to pick up a few gifts for you instead of just one. Take a look at my finds for some ideas. Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

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Gift Guide: Handmade Gifts For Indie Girls

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:30:19 -0800

Last year, many of you told me that you were making or buying handmade gifts. Many of you also took the handmade pledge. So, if you're in the market for a one-of-a-kind gift for a special someone in your circle of friends, I thought I'd round up some of the best handmade gifts I've come across, using, of course, my favorite purveyor of everything DIY and handmade, Etsy.
These gifts are great choices for all of your independent-minded, design-savvy friends and family members who are looking for something as unique as they are this holiday season.

To see my handmade finds, read more.

There are a lot more where these came from, so visit Etsy or your local arts and craft fair for more great holiday gift ideas. And make sure to check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage.

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Gift Guide: Gifting For Charity

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:30:18 -0800

In these strange economic times, it's even more important than ever to support nonprofits and charities that are working to preserve people's homes and healthy living spaces. With that in mind, I've chosen some of my favorite charities that work with gardens or housing issues. I can't emphasize the importance of these programs enough. Some, like Habitat For Humanity, you've probably heard of, while others, like the Ruth Bancroft Garden, are more locally based, but still do very important work.

Even if we're all running around like crazy trying to craft or buy gifts for our friends and family members, I think that it's important to stand back for a moment and reflect on the important work that these organizations are doing. After all, our communities are an extension of our homes, and keeping our communities healthy is just as important as maintaining our individual homes. If you have the need to find a meaningful gift for a loved one, consider giving in his or her name to one of these charities. It will make a world of difference! To see some charities that I love, read more.

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How-To: 7 Ways to Repurpose Holiday Cards

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:40 -0800

What to do with that fat stack of last year's Christmas cards you've got stashed in a drawer? Well, if they're photo cards, save 'em. But if you've collected some cards with holiday-themed graphics, Real Simple says repurpose them! Cut up that old stationery into festive shapes like stars, Christmas trees, and ornaments. Then, scribe each of your guests name on the paper, hole punch, and tie the place card to your napkin with a ribbon or some red yarn. I have a few of my own holiday card repurposing ideas for you, so read more.

If there is no writing on the backside of your card cover (where the image is), you can cut off the top fold and use it as a postcard, writing your message on the blank back side.
You can slice card covers into four to six different rectangles and use them as gift tags. Punch a hole in the card and slide it onto your ribbon before you tie your bow.
Cut the card covers into festive shapes like Christmas trees, ornaments, and stars. Then punch a hole, and tie a loop through it with ribbon. Then, use it as an ornament on your tree. You can add additional ornamentation with glitter, beading, etc.
Cut the card covers into star shapes and letters to spell out "Merry Christmas." Then, make a garland out of them by stringing them together with red baker's twine, yarn, or ribbon.
Buy a pack of blank note cards. Cut up a few card covers into different shapes or stripes, and collage them with Mod Podge glue onto the front of the blank note card.
Or, you can send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a safe home that rescues abused, abandoned, and neglected children. It runs a 30-year-old recycling card program to benefit the children. The children participate in the program by making new cards removing the front of donated ones and attaching a new back made with recycled paper, and then they are sold. Cards may be donated by sending them to:

St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

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Square Feathergrain Wastebasket - $19.99	Modern Glass Bath Accessories - $16.00
Mediterraneo Toothbrush Holder by Alessi - $42.00	Vetiver Folding Hamper - $59.00
Shower Curtain Roller Rings Set Of 12 - $9.95	Shower Curtain Liner - $14.95
Italian Hotel Satin Stitch Shower Curtain - Select Colors - $79.00	Hotel White Bath Rug - $59.95
Fez Bath Mat - $19.00	PB Organic 700-Gram Weight Bath Towels - Select Items - $8.00