HELP Wanted!!

HELP! So I need to hire a web designer! Well maybe I should say programmer. I do not need any graphics done (at least for now) but I do need someone who is good at coding/html. Someone who is familiar with hosting provider Merchant Moms would be great. I don't mind waiting until you can get to my project. Please email toni(at)designdazzle(dot)com for details.

Also...
Thank you for visiting and reading Design Dazzle! I especially appreciate all the comments posted on my blog and all the wonderful emails I receive. It's been quite a joy seeing all the creative endeavors that end up in my inbox. I love showcasing the talents of so many - thank you for sharing!!
I'm also very grateful for all the write-ups and shout-outs for Design Dazzle on your blogs and websites. All of you inspire me!

Whimsical Inexpensive Furniture

Looking for a whimsical, fun and inspiring kids room furniture and to not have to take out a second mortgage? Look no further than Ikea's Mammut line! It is an line that has been around for some time now and seems to change a little from year to year but is an Ikea classic. With bold and bright colors, curvy smooth edges and oversized knobs, the Mammut Collection will be a parent, child and crowd pleaser for years. Offering boy and girl version in pink and blue, the collection consists of beds, dressers, toy/clothes armoire (that is to die for), shelves, bookcases, play tables, chairs and stools. Starting at $6.99 at Ikea.Com
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Mermaid Party Ideas

When I first laid eyes on this mermaid doll, I had to have her!! Thus the mermaid party was born! This was such a fun table to create and figure out for an under-the-sea celebration. Some of these decorations are Christmas ornaments and picks from the floral department. Keep a lookout for after Christmas/holiday sales - items that don't look "Christmasy". In planning a baby shower or birthday party, knowing far in advance what you're looking for sure can help keep costs down.

Doesn't every mermaid need a sea shell crown? To make the crown I used the following supplies:
plastic birthday crown
shower curtain rings (star fish)
christmas ornament (shell)
Christmas glitter floral pick
gold spray paint
bright colored spray paint
wire
hot glue
glitter, glitter, glitter

Taylor (a friends daughter) is the mermaid model - isn't she adorable? I know, I know the seahorse is the bomb! It's paper mache and no I didn't paint it, it came that way. I also designed the mermaid costume - fabric was purchased for cheap in the LA fabric district. Starfish shape was cut out of the confetti glitter fabric and ironed on to the top with fusing fabric.

Isn't glitter better on everything? Weeeell... not on my husbands face (especially when we're sitting in church) the poor guy...having to live with a crafty wife will do that to you. Glitter can get everywhere...

The dolphin ring toss game is available here.

A seahorse Christmas ornament and ribbon are made into a napkin ring holder. If you don't want to spend money on fancy plates, concentrate on making napkin ring holders a little fancier. Plain dinner plates can be dressed-up with napkin ring holders.

Starfish shaped chocolate lollipops - image from here.

Floating mermaid balloon sculpture from here.

The following images are from LA Sweet Settings.

Adorable appliqued under the sea tablecloth.

Molded seashell chocolates dusted with luster dust.

Someone is a very talented artist. Oh my goodness..I LOVE the seahorse, fish and bubbles! The seaweed is made out of crepe/tissue paper and the white lights add the perfect touch.

Add crepe paper and ribbon to a stick to create mermaid limbo - image from here.


Little Dance Invitations creates the cutest invitations from your child's photo. Email this company your child's photo and they will make unique invites for your special event. LDI is located in Australia but do ship internationally.


The clam shell is handmade. The shell back was a piece of board cut and painted to look like a shell. A snow toboggan was attached to the board and painted to match the clam back. A small ball was painted for the pearl. Image from here.


Belly Feathers made this inexpensive bubble bath look expensive with cute mermaid tags and ribbon. Great party favor.


Dress your little girl in a mermaid costume for her under the sea/mermaid birthday party.

Free download for sea-star cards. Tricia Rennea created these note cards and also sea-star invitations available on her website.

Make your own... Milk Bottles

Recycled frappuccino bottles....quite genius

Spray paint a Starbucks Frappucino bottle with white spray paint.

Print off some words in a font that you like. I printed off sprout, bloom and grow. Cut out the word in a square so it fits on the front of the bottle.

Place a small piece of carbon paper under the word and using a stylus or pencil trace over the word firmly.

Be careful if you tape the carbon paper and word to the bottle as you can peel off the paint.

Paint over the carbon traced word with any color you wish.

Spray a final coat of clear paint over the bottle. Instructions and photo from Maize Hutton.

It would be so fun to decorate a baby shower, nursery, kids party with these milk bottles. How about painting the bottles bright colors...

Some more milk vases:

Porcelain replica milk bottles, hand-cast from antique half-pint glass milk bottles from Alyssa Ettinger (etsy).

Vintage Glass Milk Bottles w/Carrier

Classic Peter Rabbit Nursery

With home, the home you call your own,
It really doesn't matter where,
There is no place, in all the world,
That ever will or can compare.
Peter Rabbit.

I love that quote! I also love this Peter Rabbit baby nursery created by Whitney of The Glamorous Life of a Housewife. A lot of love and thought went into this baby nursery that is both classic and beautiful! The classic art and books of Beatrix Potter is a perfect choice for both boys and girls.

The attention to detail is sweet! Blue and cream striped walls is the perfect backdrop for this room.






Beautiful vignette with all of Peter's friends:)



This Peter Rabbit wall image and the following image was painted by Cerone Designs.


Vintage style Beatrix Potter postcards - easy and inexpensive way to decorate a room with. Postcards can be framed or decoupaged depending on the look you want.

Beatrix Potter Drawer Pulls

Peter Rabbit Art

12" x 36" Art Print

Peter Rabbit Wall Clock

Sugar & Spice Party

Kara from Karas Party Ideas created a Sugar, Sweet and Spice Party for her bunco group. I would have to say most bunco groups don't get this much fun. She created a candy buffet, dessert and ice cream bar and chips and salsa to go along with the spicy theme.

Here's the ice cream, punch and cupcake table. She made the window awning out of card board (painted it with matching paint) and hung it with fishing line. Loving it...

Aren't these candy rimmed glasses the best? Kara dipped the glasses in karo syrup and rolled them in candy sprinkles~
Cupcakes displayed in cupcake tree stand. To see more fun photos of this clever party - click here.

Design a Kids Bathroom

Designing a Bathroom for Kids

Bathrooms are often the forgotten space when it comes to decorating your home. Your family may not always think about the amount of time spent in the children’s bathroom but this area is such an integral part of your child’s early years. Here are some simple bathroom solutions to keep in mind and you will not need to spend much time or money to create a fun and inviting design:

A bright paint on the walls, a playful shower curtain with coordinating towels and rug and a few fun pieces of artwork and accessories will make the room and instant attraction.

Replace exciting towels rack with a peg board or wall hooks so the child can reach their own towel or robes.

Removable appliqués make for fun artwork or wall borders that can be easily removed as the child gets older and tastes change.

Purchase a colorful step stool that the kids can reach the sink for teeth brushing and washing hands.

Monogrammed towels and accessories will let the kids know that the bathroom has been designed with them in mind.

If your home has a family bathroom, then storage may be a problem in the bathroom with the kid’s products and the adult’s products intermixing. Adult grooming products should be stored out of reach and electrical outlets covered to keep the kids safe.

Whether your children have their own space or share the bathroom with the family, the bathroom should be a fun, safe place for the whole family to enjoy.

Design Dazzle Contributor - Kristin DeMarco.

Need Paint?

Glidden is giving away a quart of paint. Pick out your favorite paint color and Glidden will send you a free quart. What could be better than free? Click here for details.

Gender-Neutral Modern Nursery

Angie Hranowsky a South Carolina-based designer, created this gender-neutral nursery with a modern feel. The nursery's palette is sophisticated and classic. I'm loving the slipper chair and the choice of fabrics. Nice touch with the Roman shade fabric and same color blue trim added to the bottom of the slipper chair. The crib is from Nursery Works and the giraffe lamp is Jonathan Adler.

DIY Frosted Mirror

Images from Artful Illusions.

Fun ideas using etching cream or spray frosting for mirrors...

• An easy way to make a silhouette is to take a picture and print it out in black and white.
• Tape your image to contact paper.
• Using an Exacto knife, carefully cut around the perimeter of the design. This takes a little time, so go slowly.

• Place your stencil or image on the mirror (the contact paper will stick to the mirror).
• Paint on the frosting medium according to the directions. Spray frosting (purchase at home improvement stores) seems to be an easier method - depending on what you are etching.
• After the allotted time, wipe the glass frosting from the stencil.
• Peel the stencil off the mirror.
• There is a waiting period to clean the mirror with glass cleaning product.

For more fun ideas check out Artful Illusions.


A quote is another way to get a great result using frosting on a mirror. House Obsession used stickers to make her quote on the mirror.

Use etching cream per directions.

House Obsessions suggests waiting for at least 5 minutes for etching to work and to put a thick layer of etching cream on. More details here.

What do you do with those old mirrored brass closet doors? Images from here.

The door trim has been resurfaced to stainless and frosted window tint was added to the mirrors.

Result: updated mirrors with a modern look. This is definitely a great look - just make sure you don't need to use the mirror!