Featured Blogger -- Andy of Poppies at Play!

One day during our blog browsing we came across a little something golden.....

that little something is Poppies at Play. We love their motto: dream it. create it. love it.

IT immediately caught our eye which is why it was a MUST to include Andy on our list of favorite blogs!

We are thrilled to introduce you to Andy and her blog - along with her beautiful work.

{1} Tell us about yourself & your blog, Poppies at Play.

Hello! My name is Andy and I am the author of Poppies at Play! I am married to Joe and together we have 5 beautiful children. The Joe works as a shop teacher at the local junior high and his interest in woodworking really gave me a desire to learn how to use power tools. I've developed a great love for creating, building and repurposing. I started blogging a couple of years ago in an effort to develop my creative talents. Poppies at Play is a place for me to house and catalog all of my repurposed furniture, vinyl designs and DIY home accessories. I also annually host a bloggy style parade of homes to showcase the interior design skills of talented bloggers.

{2} When did you realize you wanted to enter the bloggin' world?

When I began blogging I really didn't understand what it meant to enter into the blogging world. It was quite a thrilling surprise to see how many people shared similar hobbies and I am constantly amazed and inspired by woman who are successfully creating a warm and loving environment on a tight budget. I can definitely relate to pinching pennies! I am actually very glad that we don't have a lot of money. It's much more fun and fulfilling to decorate a home from scratch.

{One of Andy's DIY projects. See the kitchen island before here.}

{3} One of the things you show-off on your blog is your vinyls & the many projects you have done with them. When did your love of vinyls begin?

The Joe and I both have a desire to open a small store of our own one day. We thought it would be beneficial for us to own a large vinyl machine. When we first purchased it, I was completely clueless. If I wanted something made, I would ask The Joe to design and print it for me. Over the past two years I have really enjoyed learning about Illustrator and graphic design. Now I frequently use vinyl on my repurposed furniture or to create unique stencils.

I also love to design vinyl signs and have really been blessed by being able to make some extra money by selling vinyl and still have the pleasure of being at home with my children.

If you are interested is seeing which vinyl designs are for sale, you can hop over to The Market.

{4} Do you have a favorite post?

I don't really have a favorite post, but a surprisingly popular idea was Ding Dong Ditching with Ding Dongs. I designed a couple of simple printables to go along with the idea. It was definitely a one of my kids favorite activities!

{5} What are some of your favorite sites & blogs to surf?

One of my favorite sites to visit is Funky Junk Interiors. Donna is an amazing author and I love her tips on blogging and photography as well as her inspiring projects. I also really enjoy stopping by Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge.

{6} Just recently you showed of your home in the Parade of Houses. What is your favorite room in your house & why?

My favorite room in the house is my family room. It's not fancy, but it's the place where we spend the most time together as a family and where we get together with friends. It's also the room that changes most frequently. Maybe it's because I spend so much time looking at it. I'm trying to curb my addiction for change and be content with the way things are for a little while.

I wanted to keep this room very white and clean feeling. It helps to balance out my addiction to bright colors.

{DIY: Picture Frame Bookshelf}

{7} What is your favorite DIY project?

DIY projects are my very favorite!! I love to dream projects up in my head and then try to figure out how to make them come to life. It gives me such a great sense of accomplishment!! I love having The Joe come home from work and be impressed by something that I have built. I am really an amateur woodworker, but I loved building this picture frame bookshelf, our magazine rack, and with The Joe's help, our kitchen island shelf.

{DIY: Magazine Rack}

I would like to give a HUGE thank you to Casi and cupcakeMAG for featuring my blog!! It was an honor and I'm so completely flattered by the invitation!

Thank YOU Andy for being so amazing and sharing your blog with us!

Make sure you head over and follow Poppies at Play now and LIKE them on Facebook. Andy would love to have you along for the ride on their brand new page!

cupcakeMAG HOME Featured Etsy Designer -- It's Written on the Wall plus a giveaway!

When we first meet LaNae of It's Written on the Wall we were thrilled to find her Etsy shop full of our favorite Audrey Hepburn & Marilyn Monroe vinyl wall quotes. And we mean, thrilled! It's Written on the Wall is your go-to place when wanting to re-vamp a wall in your home or even put them on a canvas so you always have them with you! We just adore LaNae and her Etsy shop & think you will too which is why we are giving you a chance to win a $75 shop credit to get your shop on! 

Read on to get to know more about LaNae & her FABulous biz! 

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway too!

{Marilyn Monroe Wall Quote, $24}

{What made you start It's Written on the Wall?}

Starting this business was something that I would never have imagined doing. Not that I'm not creative, I've been creating things most of my life but this was a surprise.  My daughters were interested in selling vinyl lettering/wall quotes and needed someone to design and make them and I thought, "I can do that" and so I bought my first Gerber and taught myself all about the world of vinyl and design and have been doing it for the past five years.  I had been selling on eBay for 8 years prior to that so I already knew everything about the business end. Designing wall quotes is such a wonderful creative outlet for me and I love doing it.

{One of our FAVEorite Audrey Hepburn quotes, $14.99}

{How did you come up with your shop name?}

It was easy to come up with the busines name "It's Written on the wall" mainly because that's what it looks like....to quote my brother "It looks like you've been writing on your walls"  He's right except it actually looks like someone hand painted the walls. You can change the mood of a room with a wall quote, whether it is an inspirational quote or something funny or profound.

{Coco Chanel Wall Quote, $19.99}

{Tell us about some of the quotes you  have in your shop.}

We have over 400 designs in our Etsy shop with categories ranging from quotes for girls, boys and home and family to celebrity quotes. If you like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel then we have something you'd like. We also have Vince Lombardi, Nick Saban and Lou Holtz to name a few. There's 

something for everyone in our shop.

{Because everyone needs a little Carrie Bradshaw on their wall! $18.99}

{What are you are not designing the items in your shop what can we find you doing?}

If I'm not designing then you'll find me in the kitchen. I love to bake. I've just recently put together a family cookbook that was a lot of fun. I have three granddaughters ages 9, 5 and 2 that love to bake too so they are in the kitchen with me whenever they come over and, of course, sweet treats are our favorite recipes.

{We are in LOVE with this Scalloped Circle Monogram, $23.88}

{What is up next for the shop?}

There's always a new design in my head waiting to be put into play. I never worry about running out of ideas for my designs. A simple ride in the car, a magazine or photograph can inspire a new design. So I guess what I'm saying is that I am here to stay, I love doing it too much to stop.

{All Things It's Written on the Wall}

{blog}

{shop}

{facebook}

Read on to enter the $75 shop credit to It's Written on the Wall! 

Stay tuned for when we launch our new re-vamp'd site -- 

we have a few more of our It's Written on the Wall projects to show-off on cupcakeMAG Home!