Grey Likes Nesting

I can hardly think of anything better than eating pizza and drinking wine…except eating pizza and drinking wine with my favorite girlfriends. Not only are these girls real life besties, but they are talented and creative crafters and bloggers. So naturally, they really know how to throw a dinner party.

The lovely Tobe of Because It’s Awesome, along with her friends Carrie & Morgan from Ampersand Design, and Laura of A Girl Who Makes, plan routine dinner parties and take turns hosting in their homes. What a brilliant idea. While we’re away emailing all of our best gals to totally copy them, enjoy the wonderful details of their italian inspired fun!

PS. Come back later this afternoon for a brilliant little Leftovers Bag DIY project from Laura – complete with step by step instructions and printables! Who doesn’t love printables?!

Photos courtesy of Eric Linebarger Photography via Because its Awesome.

Take beach style to glamorous new heights with this Palm Beach Hideaway Inspiration Board.

Glitz required, sand optional. 

Clockwise from the top: M.A.S.H. via Pinterest; Shelter via Pinterest; Scarf from J. Crew; Coastal Living; Watch from ASOS; Essie’s Tart Deco; Glam Things; Bag, Kate Spade from Nordstrom.

To wrap up a fab week, here’s a few Grey faves and finds. The mostly pink theme was completely accidental, but a lovely surprise!

Faves:

This Guide to Champagne Cocktails is amazing. So many ways to go beyond the mimosa. I think a Black Velvet for the beaus and a French 75 for the ladies, wouldn’t you agree?

These words to live by:

This pink velvet chair and the whole room it lives in.

Finds:

These earrings the Kendra Scott collection. The lilac and gold is so perfect, it hurts.

These prints by artist Jaime Rovenstine. They are gorgeous, and completely affordable. Here’s the one Summer nabbed for her home!

This easy way to make fancy little petits fours using pound cake cut into cubes and a simple 2-ingredient icing. Perfect.

Images: Enjoy the Little Things via Design Love Fest. Pink velvet chair via Paris Nights and New York Mornings. Earring via Kendra Scott. Art print via Jaime Rovenstine. Petits Fours via Country Living.

I’ve said this before, but I have no problem saying it again. I love Ashley at Sugar & Cloth. She’s super creative and her DIYs are projects that I would actually make. You know, there are lots of DIYs that I’d pin, but never make. Today’s fab project from Ashley is on my to-do list for this weekend, I’m so in love. Enjoy!

I love the idea of marquee letters, and according to Pinterest, so does everyone else. The only catch is the real deal vintage letters are few and far between, and most DIY versions involve a crazy amount of steps, weird tools, and too many measurements for my comfort, but not with this one! If you can use a knife, you can make this!

Materials needed:

Large cardboard letter (JoAnn’s is the best place to find one)

X-acto Knife

String Lights

Pencil

Paint (optional)

Instructions:

1 | Cut along the seam of your cardboard letter, only on one side. It’s surprisingly easy! This will be the back side that hides the cord.

2 | Twist the glass casings from the strand of lights, and lay them out where you’d like them placed on the front side of the letter, and then trace the smallest part of each.

3 | Cut an asterisk shape in each circle, which will allow you to push the bulbs right through into place.

4 | Put the bulbs back into the circles you cut, and the twist the lights into place from the back, tucking any excess cord in the sides.

Now your letter is ready to plug in and display!

Ps. If you missed Ashley’s last DIY exclusive for Grey, click here to check it out.

Earlier we shared some serious inspiration for chalkboard art and now we’re back with some of our favorite ideas for incorporating it into your home. Our best tips and tricks:

1. Start small. If you’re not fully committed to say, painting a whole wall with chalkboard paint, try starting with just a frame or a piece of furniture. Find a unique frame with a solid backing at a thrift store, remove the glass, and paint the backing with chalkboard paint. Or, take a wood table or cabinet and paint the top or doors. All the fun, no commitment. Now I sound like a man!

2. Be bold. The combination of huge chalkboard art on the walls with the bright colored accents really makes the look pop. These pieces of art can be created by taping off rectangular sections on the wall and painting the middle with chalkboard paint.

3. Score something vintage. This vintage schoolhouse chalkboard is a gorgeous addition to the entry way, or in any other room.

4. Dive in. Afraid of nothing? Just go for the gold and paint the whole wall. We especially love this look for the kitchen. The practical uses are endless.

5. Take it outside. Still not convinced chalk art needs to make a cameo in your home? Try it outside! Could be a fun addition to a backyard BBQ or front porch entrance.

6. Details, details. Think of other fun uses for chalk art, like place settings and labels. If it can be painted, it’s fair game.

7. Get seasonal. One of best things about chalkboard paint is that you can always swap the art out. That frame that usually hold yours grocery list, or the wall that normally has your favorite line from a poem? Turn it into a perfect place for holiday cheer. So much easier than putting together an artificial Christmas tree. Seriously.

Images Sources:

1. Crush Cul de Sac & 79 Ideas / 2. Unknown via Pinterest / 3. Hinge Design Studio / 4. My Paradissi  / 5. What Katie Ate / 6. That Inspirational Girl & Annaleenas Hem / 7. Unknown via Pinterest