Birthday Cupcake...

Delicious passion-fruit cupcake

Iced with passion-fruit butter cream icing...

Decorated...

with sweet fondant  and sugar pearls! 

Who needs a cake when you can have a birthday cupcake?

Blue fondant butterflies...

Gorgeous paper case...

 On a beautiful antique plate...

This plate is 'Paragon'

Pretty, don't you think?

Fine bone china, made in England.

Birthdays are a time to celebrate...

With a cupcake made with LOVE!

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#cupcakebirthdaycake #cupcakebirthdaycakeideas

Stamped Gourd Bowl...

On my previous post about painting the back boards on the bookcase/shelf, 

you may have noticed the decorated gourd...

Many have asked me how this was done...

Here's a quick tutorial:

Paint the whole gourd (Cutting into a bowl comes later!)a base colour. 

 Here I have used cream.

Then stamp (I used a large shell stamp from the 'Stampin Up' range) 

using permanent black ink,

 spacing the shell stamps around the gourd as you go. 

 I guestimate everything...no rulers used!

Wait for it to dry.

Use a very sharp cutter to cut around the top of the shells, 

thus creating the bowl.

Paint the inside of the bowl.

Then using a sponge swipe contrasting colours of paint randomly around the gourd.

I used a bright yellow, brown and a gold.

Do your detailing.

I painted a border of brown.

Touched the shell stamp design  up with some bright yellow, 

and painted bright yellow around the cut edge of the gourd.

Join the shells and accentuate the top border using a permanent black marker pen.

When completely dry coat with clear varnish.

And there you have it.

Have a go if you can source a gourd.

They are so much fun  to paint and decorate.

#gourdart #gourds

Shelf do-up...

I have been looking at bookcase do-overs on Pinterest.

 Which, if you didn't already know, is my other 'happy place'!

There are so many clever ideas to be found there for shelf.

Wallpaper on the shelf backboards.

Painted wood

Fabric mod podged on.

The list goes on.

I have always disliked my bookcase.

Ornaments just don't display well because the wood is so dark.

The 'Sitting Room' where the shelf resides has a lot of red and white in it, and it's pretty bright.

To fix these issues, I decided to simply paint the backboards of the shelf white, while leaving the dark wood everywhere else natural.

And what a difference it has made!

 My ornamental collectables stand out!

(I am wondering why it took me so long to do this!)

It has brightened up the wall too!

And the best thing is...

 My cute flying pig has wings for all to see!

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#paintingwoodenfurniture #diyshelfdoerupper

#restylingwoodfurniturewithpaint.

George...

Now don't you be fooled 
by his butter wouldn't melt in my mouth good looks...

This dog has serious attitude!

Meet George...

Using the word mischief to describe him is an understatement!

Here at Mia Bella Gardens, we call him a work in progress.

Apparently, the  'Hungarian Vizla' breed is a work in progress for their lifetime!
(I'm still coming to terms with that!)

They are known as velcro dogs because they have to be close to you.

I'm talking, actually sitting on top of you when you are trying to watch TV!

George is probably just darn happy he found us.

He was sad, neglected and abused before he came to us.

Seriously underweight, weighing in at only 17 kilos the day he arrived,
George is now happy, healthy and loved!

He has found his forever home,

even though he drives us completely crazy with his naughtiness.
(Now here's the reason why I do not have a lovely wreath on the front entrance door, 
and why I made a sturdy silver platter welcome sign.)

Currently, I'm in a creative planning phase, 
redesigning a gorgeous front porch entrance...
that is 'George proof'!

We love him to bits!

How could you not love that face?

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#hungarianvizla

Welcome Door Sign...

I found this cute little silver platter in the thrift store the other day 

and thought wow I can do something with this!

It has the most beautiful detailing around the edge.

So out came the paint!

I wasn't feeling too bad about painting over it because I don't think it 'real' as it doesn't have any makers marks on it.

Using a gorgeous yellow colour, I applied two

coats to the middle, leaving the  detailing around the edge as is.

While it was drying I went on the net and found some free printables. 

http://thegraphicsfairy.com/ is a great place to look.

I couldn't decide on one so I printed three.  It took me a while to choose,

 but I opted for the bee.

Plus printed out a Welcome word using a pretty font.

The clever reasoning of this is hubby is learning all about bee keeping at the moment, 

so I thought he'd approve of my new piece of clutter!  (My plan worked!)

 Mod podge the graphics on to the platter.  

When dry, mod podge over the entire painted area.

 Then I made a wire hanger using contrasting coloured beads.

And here it is - the first part of my front entrance upgrade.

 It is so cute!

Bonus is - it is completely George proof!

Check in tomorrow and find out what I mean....

until then, have a fabulous day.

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#diyprojects #upcycingideas #DIYhomedecor