100th Post Giveaway coming soon!

Woo-hoo! I am closing in on my 100th post! I have a fantastic giveaway in the works to celebrate.

Here are a couple sneak peeks to keep you on the edge of your seat! Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration but you are going to love it.

Keep checking back because my 100th post is coming soon and you won't want to miss this giveaway!

It's The Little Things That Make A House A Home Giveaway!

I am so excited to announce that I am a new sponsor of Karla's blog It's the little things that make a house a home .

Karla is amazingly creative and her home is absolutely gorgeous. I can't remember how I actually "found" her but I am so glad that I did. She has the greatest ideas and loves to share them :)

Speaking of sharing... Karla and I am having a GIVEAWAY!! You can win any item in my Etsy store!

Just go to Karla's blog, she's even offering the chance for multiple entries!

Photo Wall Grouping

This is an older post that I wanted to reshare with you.  I did this gallery wall and I loved it so much!  But, it had to come down when we added board and batten to the dining room.  I am now scouring my favorite blogs looking for inspiring gallery walls with board and batten.  I'll be sure to post when I am done :)

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In April I started to collect black photo frames and photos for a grouping for my dining room wall. Yes, I do realize that was SIX whole months ago. Mostly what took so long was working up the nerve to start it. I knew that it would be quite a project and I was really concerned that it would come out terrible and all I would have to show for my efforts was a wall that looked like swiss cheese! Well, my fears were unfounded because I LOVE the way it turned out!

My first photos were these from Shaded Memories aren't they fabulous?

Then I found these beauties from Kimberly of Mimi Charmante She is so talented and has a great blog too!

Then I found these (among many others) from Layla and Kevin of Lettered Cottage Art. I especially love the red door photo.

I took this photo, below, myself with a little help from my friend, Gerry. It was taken at Airlie Gardens. If you are ever in Wilmington, you should take a couple hours to tour their amazing gardens!

So yesterday I was feeling down because it was my girl's birthday and she is now living 800 miles away. I decided to tackle this project that has been waiting so patiently for me. This is an older picture. Since it was taken we have repainted, replaced the table and chairs with ones that actually match and replaced the light fixture with a new chandelier.

Before

After

First I gathered the frames and the above photos along with some family favorites. I placed all the photos in frames and made white mats for some of them out of white card stock. Then I laid them out on the dining room table, then I rearranged them, then I rearranged them again, and again, you get the idea! This part took me literally HOURS! Because I have such a varied mix of photos I had to be careful that I didn't bunch the family photos together and that I evenly spread out the color photos among the black and white photos, etc. Finally I was ready.

I cut scrapbook paper to the size of every frame (no newspaper to be found) and place them on the wall in their correct place (another hour). I don't have pics of this part because Hubby had the camera at Cub Scout camp. Sorry!

Then we had dinner (I needed a break by this point). Then I re-spaced some of the papers and then started hanging the photos. This was the easiest part of the entire process.

See how I have four "layered" on top of the others? Well, just before I got to those last four I looked at the wall and almost cried! It looked like I just randomly hung them! It was a mess! I thought I was going to be up all night filling the nail holes and repainting the wall! Then I decided to finish with the layering and then decide if all my work for for naught. I am so glad that I didn't give up because those four really brought it all together.

I am so happy with it! And so happy that it is all finished!

Now what project can I fret over for the next six months?

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Linking up to

Inspired Room

Thifty Decor Chick

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

My baby girl is 19 years old today. Can that even be possible?

Kortney is so beautiful inside and out, even when she doesn't know it,
even when she doesn't show it.

She is amazingly artistic and creative. She cares deeply about so many things;
the environment, music, her brothers & sisters, her hair.

Kortney has been a champion for underdogs her entire life.
She's seriously interested in politics and will share her point of view without being asked.

She's also strong willed, stubborn and drives me crazy most of the time. I miss her so much.

Happy Birthday Loo-loo!

Weekend Deals

We are participating in Etsy's Weekend Decals promotion. Friday October 23rd through Sunday October 25th EVERYTHING in our store is 20% off! Just mention "weekend deals" in the message to seller section of checkout and I will send you a 20% refund (does not apply to shipping).


A reminder too that today is the last day of the Growth Chart Sale! They are normally $50 each, on sale now for only $40!

This weeks new design October 21

Aside from the growth charts that I have been working on I also found some time to work on a design for our office. Our daughter has moved out (so sad, we miss her terribly already) and we have decided to move our office into her room.
Our new space needs a lot of work including wall decals, of course. I love this saying and designed this decal to remind James and me of all the important moments in our lives. It reads "Remember your yesterdays, Dream your tomorrows, Live your todays" Of course, I am generous and wouldn't hog it all to myself so I am listing it in my store to share with you :)

I am working on a couple more designs for the office but this is a nice little start. Will let you know when I get the rest done!

Introducing Childrens Growth Charts! On Sale!

I have been working hard to finish designing our new line of children's growth chart wall decals.

They are done and ready to add a sweet touch to a child's room near you!

There's a monkey growth chart...

A rocket blasting off...

Sweet butterflies...

and a cute tree...
For this week only all of the growth charts are on sale!

They are normally $50 each, on sale now for only $40! Now through Friday!

Take a Pic and Win!

Each Friday we choose one customers pic to be featured on our blog and the winner receives a $20 Gift Certificate to our Etsy store!

This weeks winner is Misty! Look at the beautiful nursery she created for her baby Jack. Isn't it absolutely darling? The decals are our retro starbursts in olive and charcoal in custom sizes.

Congratulations Misty and thanks for the pics!

Start sending in your pics now for next weeks drawing. Just send a pic of your applied decal to leenthegraphicsqueen@charter.net and enter to win a $20 gift certificate to our etsy store.

Buy One Get One Half Off Sale!

It's my wonderful hubby, James' 40th birthday tomorrow (October 15th) so to celebrate we will be having a big sale in our Etsy store.

Buy One Get One Half Off Sale! Buy any decal in our store and get another decal (of equal or lesser value) half off.

http://www.leenthegraphicsqueen.etsy.com/

Mention JCBDAY in the message to seller section and either wait for a revised invoice or we'll send you a refund.

This BOGO sales ends at 11:59 pm October 15th.

Auction Fever

I love to go to auctions. I usually go alone because James doesn't love to go to auctions, which actually works out because it probably wouldn't be that much fun with him sitting on my hands the entire time so I wouldn't bid.

I wish I had better pics to show you, these are from the auction house's site.

A couple of weeks ago I was feeling lousy but dragged myself to Big South Auctions in Wilmington for this

Can you even take how gorgeous it is??? When I got there I knew that I had made the right choice in dragging my sick self out because it was so fabulous in person. It's about five feet round, nicked in all the right places and so perfect! I knew exactly where I would hang it (on my dining room wall) even if it was a little (ok a lot) large for the spot.

While I was waiting for my perfect decor item to come up for bid I admired and even bid on a few other items, like this beautiful french chair (I was outbid)

and these great old books (outbid again)

and this gorgeous rug (outbid quickly on this one)

This I didn't bid on because it was SO huge! It's on old framed map of London and it was about 7 feet wide! Very very cool! I wish you could see it in person.

Finally, just before I was about to lapse into a stuffy nosed, headache, sore throat, body aching coma, they finally brought it up to the front, my beloved old french clock face. I was ready. Sweaty palms and all. I had a number in my head that I was willing to spend on it. Ok, I knew that I was willing to go a little above that number even. The auctioneer started the bidding WAY high, that didn't scare me, I know his tactics. They start really high and slowly come down to reasonable numbers until someone bids and then the numbers start going up again. Well, before he could even get to the number in my head, someone bid!! Way too soon! And then someone else, and someone else... it went on for about five minutes (which seems like a long time when the most fabulous thing you have desired is slipping through your sick, sweaty, in shock at the unfairness of it all, hands!) I wanted to stand up and yell "hey, knock it off! That's mine!"

My beautiful clock face sold for four times what I had been willing (actually more like able) to spend on it. *sigh*

It's ok, it was too big for my dining room anyways, sniff.

SALE 20% off EVERYTHING

SALE * SALE * SALE * SALE * SALE * SALE * SALE * SALE *

Now through Sunday at midnight (EST) receive 20% off EVERYTHING in our store! Just mention OCT2O in the message to seller section of checkout and we will send you a revised invoice. What will you use your 20% off discount on?

This cute tree?
Or this beautiful saying?


How about wispy grass?


Or a pretty name decal?


Every item in our store is 20% off! But only through Sunday at midnight. Have fun SALE shopping!

Introducing Carrianne Photography!

I recently had the absolute pleasure of working with the sweetest woman, Carrianne of Carrianne Photography. I will show you the decal that I made for her in a few days but for now check out her gorgeous work. I am so impressed with her sense of style and color. What even more impressive is that she is self-taught!


I asked Carrianne to tell us a little about herself and her growing business and this is what she had to say~

"I am located in Cary, IL (Northwest Suburb of Chicago). I am a self-taught photographer and owe my success to my great clients who refer me to their friends like crazy!! The best thing about my job is that I get to watch my clients grow up. My first newborn clients are now 4 years old! So fun!! I also love living vicariously through my newborns...I get to love them up and then give them back!! ;-)

I have 3 wonderful kids who keep me very busy...but I'd have it no other way. I'm working on slowing down enough to enjoy the little moments of life -- because like everyone says...it just goes way too fast."


I love the natural look of Carrianne's work. There's nothing stuffy or fake about her photos. They look so candid and unrehearsed. So Real.

Not only does she take amazing photographs but she recently started offering photo jewelry. The best news for those of us who do not live near Chicago is that she will make any of these beautiful pieces with your pic, it doesn't have to be a photo that she has taken. I am SO getting one of these Dangling Names Photo Necklaces! How great would this look with jeans and a long sleeved tee? They come with your child's name hand-stamped on sterling silver dangling bars with a Swarovski crystal birthstone attached. What a great gift idea too.


Double Strand Frame Bracelet: This can easily be worn with a casual outfit...or dressed up for a night out. This bracelet sits flush against your wrist...so you're not catching things on it. LOVE it!

Carrianne Photography also offers birth announcements and save the date announcements.


You can contact Carrianne through her website. She also has many fun photos to look through. Thanks to Carrianne for sharing a little about herself and her amazing work with us. Best wishes to you :)

New Design~ Paris!

This weeks new design is simple and elegant. It would be so lovely in a french decorated bedroom don't you think?

Dandelions

It's so sad to be in my yard and realize that all the dandelions are gone. I am sure they will make another appearance before the cold sets in though. To celebrate my beloved dandelions here are some customer pics of one of my most popular designs. Enjoy :)

Here's a great before and after

I am so lovin' the tone on tone look these days.

This customer wrapped the floating seeds around two walls of the room, SO cute!