make it vs. buy it - making things pretty…

Don’t say I never gave you anything…

monster One of these days, believe it or not, I’m going to start writing this blog again. In the meantime, to reward you, my loyal 10 readers, I give you some super-cool new tags to slap on your gifts this year.

Click to download The Official Purple Monster Holiday Tags v. 2009 (tags are in PDF format). So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that jazz… and don’t say I never gave you anything!

Add comment December 17th, 2009

Why ARE there so many songs about rainbows?!

I’m constantly wanting seeing ideas to copy out there on teh interwebs and this artwork combines some of my favorite things: typography, fiber art, Muppets and DIY!

(via Apartment Therapy)

January 20th, 2009

omg, seriously?!

I can’t get the animation to load over here, but you MUST go look at The Cutty Spot.

Not only does dude have patience, dude has mad X-Acto skillz! Love it!

Add comment December 18th, 2008

ain’t that the truth?

I am DYING laughing over this poster featured on Apartment Therapy today. DYING!

Add comment September 1st, 2008

benched…

We’ve been oh-so-slooooowly renovating the exterior of the house. We’ve added one metric f-ton of mulch (and by we, I mean the hubby). Lots o’ plants. And, a couple of weeks ago, we finally installed the new storm door (that’s been sitting in the front hall for four months). And by “we,” I, again, mean someone else — mostly my dad.

So now that the major hardware in front is looking halfway presentable, it’s time to look at the rest. And, honestly, the front stoop (man, I love that word) just bores me to tears. We have a cool mailbox, and a really cool doorbell which, apparently, attracts toddler fingers with a force similar to that of the North Pole). The avocado green door will be painted, just as soon as we can figure out a color (so, eh, maybe October). On my wish list is slate tile to cover the ugly slick concrete and a bench. I didn’t even know I wanted a bench because, hey, we’ve got giant buckets of sidewalk chalk and various wiffle balls and plastic golf clubs for ornamentation. Then I saw this bench.

Now, I am not usually a big fan of benches â€” eh, a bench is a bench — but I’m lusting after this one. Alas, it’s $300. For a plastic bench. I’m thinking maybe the design is simple enough that I can manage this one as a DIY. And when I say “DIY,” I, of course, mean “Oh, Daaaaaaad!”

1 comment June 25th, 2008

I’m no Comic Book Guy…

but, because I grew up watching Batman reruns on the local UHF station, I’m in lurve with this POW! t-shirt. But at almost $50, I’m thinking maybe I’ll go for a DIY version. HelloooooÂ cafepress… here I come.

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Add comment April 10th, 2008

the cost of beans…

So we’re nearing the end of the basement playroom remodel and I’m starting to think about what we’re actually going to put IN the room after all the hellishness of construction is said and done. And what’s a playroom without some sort of beanbag? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s a room with $700 to spend on something else, that’s what it is. I first thought I’d just make a couple but then thought, “there should be a ton of these out there — save yourself the grief.” Ha.

So I trolled around and found various “meh” beanbags but my first love was the Fatboy. They have great colors but I was really looking for more of a box-type cushion and the only one of those they have is round. And large. And $230. Which is expensive but, turns out, not really super out of the ballpark.

Next we hit upon Sumo Lounge — ok colors, great price, structure is still too floppy.

Which brings us to Eazy Bean. They have great colors, lots o’ cushion styles including my favorite, this 3′ square one but oh, there’s a catch. To the tune of $685. What?! For a damned bean bag?! Sit on the floor, kid…

3 comments March 31st, 2008

SKULLCAVE!

I’m totally in love with the Skull Cave. What’s not to love? It’s a cool plasticky thing with a face that your kid can hide out in, then you can roll it up and stuff it away in a closet when they’re done (except for the part where they say they will NEVER be done and can’t we please, PLEASE leave it up just one more day, please?).

The thing I’m not loving? $271. Therefore, I guess I’ll be looking for thin, flexible sheet plastic and stockpiling utility knife blades.

And band-aids.

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Add comment March 10th, 2008

no “BUY it vs. DIY it” decision necessary…

because this Open Source Storage unit is DIY only. Isn’t it cool? And supposedly you can make it with only rudimentary DIY skills and a drill. For $200!

The OSS#3 cabinet is pictured; there are also plans available for the more vertical OSS#4.

Add comment March 6th, 2008

Valentine’s Day is kicking my…

rapidly-swelling-because-of- massive- Conversation- Heart- inhalation ass.Â Â

FYI: If someone begs you to be a room mother because no one else has signed up, there’s a reason for that. One, apparently this seemingly-simple job is too much work and other people know that, and two, you have “sucker” stamped on your forehead.Â

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

See you tomorrow after I’ve burned all the candy in the house.Â

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2 comments February 14th, 2008

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making things pretty…

Posts filed under 'make it vs. buy it'