5 Creative Ideas for Walls + 1 Helpful Idea

As I try to get back into the swing of things around here, I've been on my usual haunts; Pinterest, Décor Pad, Tumblr, Houzz, StumbleUpon, blogs, online magazines, etc., etc. looking for inspiration.  I found exactly that and then some!

 

Chalk board paint in a intricate stencil design

 

I am so impressed by this!  First of all, I really can't imagine whose home this is in!  I mean, it couldn't be mine, only because my two would be so intrigued by it until there is no way at all it would remain this clean and in tact!  I wonder if there is some sort of spray they used to seal the chalk to the wall?  But then, what if you later wanted to change the design?  Anyhoo, I love it all the same!

1"x6" plywood boards wrapped in metallic grasscloth

 

Okay, so I have some left over plywood (20" squares) from making Gillian's headboard a few years ago in my garage that I could totally use to do something like this with.  I'm always buying remnants of fabric that have gone on sale at different stores, so I'm sure I have something that I could use somewhere in my home where a statement would be made by doing this.  I like the idea of using longer pieces too.  Hmmm...let me give this one a little more thought!

DIY wall art using Styrofoam and fabric

 

I always have around the house canvases of different sizes for paint projects for the kids.  I could do something like this using paint and stencils, as well as fabric or wrapping paper!  I just bought the coolest wrapping paper from TJ Maxx a couple of months ago thinking I would use it in Gillian's room when we do her makeover.  So many ideas...

Frames filled with corkboards for kids artwork

Bingo!  I am so doing this for that little girl!  Oh my gosh, I cannot begin to tell you how many pictures she draws in a weeks time!  And all of them, she expects you to keep and display prominently somewhere!  She can change them out at her whim and also have the satisfaction of seeing it displayed for as long as she likes!  Well, here we go!  Problem solved!  NEXT!!!

 



Thrift store frames glued to wooden boxes

 

I just like this idea because it makes for a really nice wall composition.  Simply by getting thrift store or flea market frames and attaching them to the appropriately sized boxes; you have a very nice way to display small treasures that would otherwise be looked at as clutter anywhere else!

Gallery wall art templates

 

Creating a gallery wall just got easier!  I wasn't going to post this one because I felt like just because I do this when considering the placement of frames and art, you do it as well.  In the event that you didn't know to do this, it makes life so much easier to get some paper; I typically use craft paper because it's a little bit stiffer.  Trace the outline of the frame and cut it out.  Oh, before you cut it out, mark where the hanger is on the backside of the frame onto the paper or just measure it out and mark it.  That way once you figure out your placement, all you have to do is place your picture hangers, hang the frame or art, and then gently pull the paper away from the wall!  Voila!  Gallery wall complete with only the holes that you are using!

 

 

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*All Images can be found via my Pinterest Creative Ideas board



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FINALLY! My Completed Project for 2013 Room Service Atlanta

Before I get to the pictures, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who supported me in my efforts to make this project an overwhelming success!  Overwhelming?  Sure, because I had no idea how I was going to pull this off.  All I had was a vision!  In no particular order:  Gerald Peterson, Jackie Kearse, Terry Kearse, Rice Painting, Marco Lemon, Scott Kelly, Kelton Bryant, Deirdre Frutiger, Dale Oudems, Steve and Jill McKenzie, Brigette Young-Martin, Dr. Karen Chaplin, Laura Newsom, Ramsey Eddington, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (Atlanta), Floor and Décor (Southlake), Glidden Paints, Walmart (Midway Drive), Target (LaVista Rd) Walmart Distribution Center (LaGrange, Ga), and Dayka Robinson & Erika Ward (Room Service Atlanta Organization Founders).  If I overlooked anyone at all, please charge it to my head and not my heart!  I could not have done this without any of you!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

I remember when Gillian and I first toured the Girls and Boys cottages; she wanted to do a girls space, but I was more drawn to the boys.  Why I chose the largest space in the cottage, I have no idea!  I left there that day thinking to myself, what had I done?  I was leaving for Paris in two days, so I thought I would worry about it when I got back! 

 



 

That is a 47" 3-D television that was donated by the Walmart Distribution Center, located in LaGrange, Georgia as well as the amazing Carson sofa sectional donated by my good friend Jonathan White at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams in Atlanta!  The DVD player was donated by Terry Kearse, along with his DIY skills at putting down the tile in the small bathroom!  The dry erase board, books, and games were original to the space.  The posters and frames, as well as the snacks are from Walmart.  The glass canisters, clock, and pillows are from Ikea.  Oh! the popcorn containers are from The Dollar Tree!

The cross is original to the space also.  You can see it in the first picture, tucked in the right corner, sitting on top of some books.  Gillian gave it a coat of paint and we left it where we found it!  After all, God was in every detail of the planning of this space.  You don't mess with perfection!  What goes better in a space where movie watching, sports, and gaming are happening?  Snacks...and lots of them!

 



 

 As you can see, Gillian was in the right corner of this picture making her own video commentary!  She wasn't pleased with my decision, but lent her support in every way she could during the project!

 

The flooring made the biggest difference in this space!  Oh it's so much better than the two layers of commercial carpet glued on top of some weird kind of tile!  If you haven't heard already, my most amazing friend Deirdre Frutiger made this possible!  The art was so generously painted by Steve McKenzie!  He and his wife Jill truly are two of the most gracious and supportive people I've met in a long time!  I think it's just incredible for these guys to have original artwork by a very talented local artist!  The Luna 45" table is another fantastic donation by MG+BW!  The chairs were found by my good friend Dale Oudems from Ikea via Craigs List!  This guy can sniff out a deal!  I'm never that lucky!  But I guess with friends like mine, luck has nothing to do with it...I'm very blessed!

 



 

 Look closely at the Ikea side tables!  They were my attempt at creating a little rhythm to flow with Steve's paintings!  Ha! close, but definitely no cigar!  I actually really like them, though!

 

 

 Not sure what these window treatments were, but I knew they had to go!  It was pretty scary!  The furniture was used in other spaces.  Those designers that snagged them, did some pretty amazing things to them!  When I saw them, I just didn't have any imagination whatsoever!  My hat goes off to these very imaginative designers!

 

 

 Truly never knew what a Fat Head was until this project!  My girlfriend Jackie Kearse has three sons and so she knew all about them!  As if contributing two weeks of her time and sweat wasn't enough; she made these Fat Heads possible as well!  These things come with tons of decals!  We only used the individuals, their names, and a couple of the Falcon ones.  The rest, I'm sure her sons will enjoy when I do their new bedroom!  Her home burned in February, so she was very inspired by this project!

 

 

That wallpaper paneling piece, that was once an exterior windows kept my mind in riddles until literally the 11th hour!  That's how creativity works sometimes!  It had to be God inspired people, cuz I had nothing until driving one day!  A few people suggested some really cool art piece, but I just wasn't feeling that!  What I did finally come up with ended up being my favorite spot in the whole space!

 

 

 That's right my friends, Astroturf purchased at Home Depot for less than $20 bucks!  It was already pre-cut, so I just measured out how much I thought I would need to make a small rug for the gaming chairs to sit on, and I had just enough left over to hang in that horribly, unsightly space.  After we hung it, I began to think out loud and expressed how cool it would be to paint a football field on it and carry the theme onto the floor as well.  Jackie went to work!  She grabbed her phone and googled some images of football fields, and voila!  Those gaming chairs are so cool!  I love the speakers in the headrest with the controls on the sides!  This area I set up for the guys to play PS2 (which was also donated by Jackie's boys) and watch movies on the DVD player (donated by Target).  Walmart Distribution Center also donated the 32" television!  The chest that the television is sitting on is from Ikea!  I just decided I would add my on little DIY touch and paint a little of the trim and louvers!  What do you think...pretty special, huh?

 

 

I knew I wanted to put something very personal in the space and I thought what better place to put it than on the bathroom door.  These are all the things that I had to have in order to make this space a reality for these deserving young men.  The only one I didn't put up was gratitude, however in the personal piece that I wrote to them, I made sure to let them know that showing gratitude for even the smallest acts of kindness and support, keeps the blessings flowing!

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda



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Mid Week Tidbits and Other Stuff

I've been having such a great week!  I hope you have as well...

 

 

Since announcing my participation in the 2013 Room Service Atlanta project, friends and followers of my blog, Facebook, and Twitter have been so supportive with their donations and words of encouragement.  I feel really blessed to have these people in my life.  Sure, some I may only interact with on the social media sites and have not ever laid eyes on, but to know that there is something about me and what I'm doing that has impacted them enough to do something to help me and my cause, simply overwhelmes me.

 

 

There's nothing that I like more than statement necklaces.  I've not tried layering them, but after seeing how striking this looks, I think I may try my hand at it and give it a go.  Yesterday, I took my son to the park to shoot around a little bit and walk the trail.  Guess what I had on?  That's right, a statement necklace!  I should have had him take a picture!  I don't think anything of putting one of those fabulous pieces on with a sweatshirt or zip-up hoody!  Like Bill Blass once said "Style is primarily a matter of instinct."  Great instincts, great style! 

 

 

I long to have one of these sitting places in my home.  It doesn't have to be in my bedroom...hmm, I actually prefer that it's not.  My bedroom is definitely relaxing, as it should be; but when I try to read in there, it's not long before I'm sound asleep.  I love to read!  I will read anything I can get my hands on.  Unfortunately, I don't get to do as much leisure reading as I would like, but I do my best to get it in when I can.  Stephen King was quoted as saying, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."  Obviously, I like to write and I'm never really at a loss of things to write about.  Well, that's not exactly true.  Sometimes, when I'm trying to decide what you guys will be interested in reading, I do find myself at a loss...

 

I wish I were more of a DIY'er!  I would love to go buy a few of these wide plank boards and put them together to make an awesome desk like this!  Or table even for crafts and what not!  I do know a few people who could make it for me.  Maybe I'll give them a call and see what we can do.  There is a quiet pleasure I get when I design something on paper and then actually see the manifestation of it.  So maybe it's not so much the DIY aspect that I'm interested in, as much as it is just designing pieces and having someone else make it!  Now that's a thought!

 

Ah, Tina Turner...the Burner!  I love her!  I've never had the privilege of seeing her perform in person.  What a show she puts on, I'm sure!  I adore this picture of her.  I adore the picture of any woman (or man) that can smile and laugh with abandon.  It says a lot to me.  I'm told I smile a lot.  I do.  It was even observed by a friend that I smile even when I'm uncomfortable or faced with a less than desireable situation.  I do.  Smiling makes me feel better and it makes handling those sticky challenges easier.  I don't smile when someone is upset with me.  That would be mocking and insensitive.  I have more sense than that!  I just think that if we all smiled a bit more, it would make life and all of it's challenges and difficulties a little bit easier to bear.  You should try throwing your head back and laughing a hearty laugh!  Let me know how it made you feel.  Oooh, also try smiling when you're upset!  That's a good one!  Definitely let me know how that one goes!

 

I think a lot.  Too much even.  Sometimes anyway.  But, I will say this 95% of what I think about doing for myself, my family and friends, and my career, always has a positive ending!  The other 5% either wasn't given enough thought and ended with unfavorable results or never got done at all...

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Images



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5 Cool Ways to Re-Purpose Your Drapes and Spice Up Your Décor

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In today's tough economic situation, many people are looking for ways to save money. Some people try to cut down on their spending, while other people take on extra jobs. Many families have stopped indulging in luxuries like dining at restaurants or going to the movies. Finding new ways to cut costs can be an art form for many people, both metaphorically and literally. Some people have rediscovered old hobbies, like cooking or reupholstering furniture. There are countless craft projects that any person can do to simultaneously save money, reuse what they already own, and bring a little bit of spice into their décor. One great material that is easy to repurpose are drapes and linens. If you have some old drapes and linens, here are five cool ways you can repurpose them to bring a little bit of excitement into your home.

 

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Reupholster small pieces of furniture. Chances are that your old drapes are not completely destroyed, and that some parts of them still look great, even while other parts are fraying. Use the parts that look the best to reupholster some small pieces of furniture, like cushioned chairs or small ottomans. If you use the fabric in the room the drapes were hanging in, you know the colors already match! You can also use the fabric to make new pillows for your couches.
 

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Turn the linens or drapes into skirts for furniture. If you store anything under your bed, you probably want to have a bed skirt to hide everything. Why not use your luxurious drapes to make a new bed skirt? You can also make skirts for coffee tables and bookshelves if you think there is a mess worth hiding.
 

Google Images

 

Google Images

 

Add some pretty new trim to your towels. If you have a guest bathroom, you might want to spruce it up by putting some trim on your hand towels. You can use your old drapes or linens to decorate your towels - it can be a great way to hide stains or other signs of wear. Nobody will ever suspect there is a bleach spot hiding beneath the lovely trim or design!
 

Google Images

 

Google Images

 

Transform an old bed sheet into a new woven rag rug. You might think a "rag rug" can never be lovely, but you are wrong. Many kinds of woven rag rugs can be made without ever using a sewing machine or touching a needle and thread. Rag rugs can add a great accent to small and large rooms alike, and are often seen as welcome mats, bathroom mats, and closet area rugs.

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Make a new tablecloth out of an old sheet or curtain. Tablecloths are one of the easiest accents to use because they can be changed so quickly. If you loved your bed sheets, but ruined a piece of the set, use the remaining sheet to make a new tablecloth. You can trim the edges with other fabrics that complement the primary one. Feel free to get creative and make a special new tablecloth for everyday use, special occasions, or both.

 

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Old linens, curtains, and drapes are easy to turn into new pieces of décor. All it takes is a little creativity, some time, and some patience.

Make it AMAZING!
Rhonda

 

About the author: Michelle Lim has written for the home and garden industry for many years. When she’s not writing, you can find her reviewing luxury bedding companies. Please click here for more information.

 

*Images via Google Images and Pinterest



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A DIY Project: Pickle Jars, Burlap, and Twigs

Okay, so last weekend the kids and I began our Fall decorating.  I've been saving pickle and olive jars for the last few weeks to use for school projects (there's always something going on), arts and crafts, and just basic organization of crayons, markers, yada, yada, yada.  Anyhoo, I thought maybe I would just place tealights and votives in the jars and randomly scatter them around the house; mainly in the foyer, hallway, and loft. 

 

 

I'd remembered I had some burlap left over from a table covering that I'd made a while back and decided I would use it to cover the jars.  I didn't want to use glue because I may want to reuse the fabric for something else and I only had a little bit of double stick tape; so my mind went to the spools and spools of ribbon that I've accummulated over the years.  But then I thought to myself; no, no, no use the Hermes or Louis Vuitton ribbon that you have.  Hermes looked better as the LV ribbon was much too wide.

 

 

I already had birch twigs from years ago that I purchased at Pottery Barn for little to nothing at the end of the season.  Always the best time to buy!  Whenever we're in Little Rock during the Fall and Winter, the kids and I go out into my parents yard and load up on pine cones, acorns, fallen leaves, and branches.  The center canister is just the glass from one of my hurricanes.  I placed a simple pillar candle inside and when it is lit, it has the coolest glow!  Needless to say, it is lit every evening.

 

 

The leaf garland is from Hobby Lobby.  Again, on sale!  I know some of you would rather make your own garland from real natural elements, but obviously not me!  I don't particularly care for silk flowers, but they do have their uses.  Real florals and botanicals are ALWAYS best!  They can be pretty costly if you're changing them out frequently, but so are some silks! 

 

The decorating will continue this weekend as well!  I know that sometimes the idea of decorating can seem a bit too much and can kinda be a little overwhelming, but do a little bit at a time and maybe keep them contained to a particular area.  This will make clean up go much quicker and easier!

 

*I used the Pixlromatic app for these images. I enjoy using this app because it has several filters and frames that you can use to enhance your photos. Image 1: Greg filter with the Clean frame.

Image 2: Samantha filter with the Rustic frame. Image 3: Hagrid filter with the Dirt frame.

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

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5 Pinterest Pumpkin Picks

I think this weekend the kids and I will visit one of the many pumpkin patches in our area.  We enjoy going because we go on the hayrides, eat yummy caramel apples, drink hot apple cider, and have a blast creeping out over the funny, bumpy, sometimes scary looking gourds, squash, and other veggies we only see this time of year! 

 

 

 

We've carved pumpkins in the past and roasted the seeds, which was a lot of fun; but it was also a little tedious.  Last year we painted and decorated them using different things like glitter, ribbons, and bugs we made from old fashioned clothes pins.  That was a little messy, but it was so cool to see who could be the most creative.  I think that's what we'll do again this year along with decorating the many pinecones we picked up last year on our hikes on nature trails and park visits.  Other things that we gather on our walks are birch bark and sticks, and acorns.  You can find all of this for sale at Pottery Barn and other retailers, but just a quick look around while out in nature yields all of these things for free.  We've collected some of the most amazing leaves in beautiful colors, but I've not yet learned to preserve them where they don't dry out and crumble.  Note to self:  Research for solutions!  If you know of any, please email me and I will publish your suggestions!

 

 

 

When we're done with our creations, we place them on tables, the mantle and hearth, and everywhere else there is a flat surface, including the floor.  You know how much I love randomly placed decor!  A great place to get pumpkin and Fall decor inspiration is www.bhg.com and www.marthastewart.com.  I really love the ideas that Martha Stewart and her staff come up with!  I still have one of her Halloween publications from a while ago that I refer back to for creative ideas.  Both sites have really easy to do projects that don't require a lot of time and effort. 

 

Whatever the weekend finds you doing...

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda

 

*Images via Pinterest

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Guest Post: Clever Ways to Display Family Heirlooms

Clever Ways to Display Family Heirlooms

Being a designer for a living and having the knack for arts and crafts, I adore old stuff, especially if it holds a certain amount of significance in my life. Heirlooms in my family are as important as a buried bone to a dog. Most of them are hidden in the darkest part of my parents' attic -- not to be totally neglected, just set aside until we find a better use for them.

However, as we continue with our daily lives and everyone grows old, we tend to forget these memorable things that we hold so dearly. From old high school photographs to grandma's rocking chair, or pricey sets of chinaware and fancy pieces of jewelry, we refuse to give them away, yet keep them "in the dark."

So, instead of hiding our family treasures and forgetting about them, I have decided to showcase them in variety ways.

Mix and Match
Nowadays, mixing and matching styles is a trend. This means that you can combine old with the new without clashing or overpowering one from the other. Check out these suggestions below and see if you can apply it to yours.

• Furniture sets can be separated to individual pieces. Dining chairs can be juxtaposed with the other seats in the patio or veranda, while the dining table can be placed in your garden to serve as a breakfast nook. Sofa sets, especially those made of hard wood can also be divided and placed in the patio, gazebo, and bedroom.
  
• Display china, glass, and silverware in a nice cabinet with glass doors to showcase their beauty.
  
• Kitchen ware, especially pots and pans, can be displayed using a hanging rack on top of the island table. It's not just a great adornment; it also helps you to easily get the equipment that you need.

Re-purposing Items
Some items may no longer be useful. However, we still want to keep them for sentimental reasons. The best solution is to re-purpose these pieces -- whether as a display or used for another function.

• Cut up old clothes and turn them into quilts, purses, lamp shades, and pillow cases.
  
• Use old, sturdy trunks as benches or coffee tables.
  
• If you're renovating, old doors and window frames can be transformed into tables and picture frames. Use large house beams for updating stairs and floors.
  
• Break vases and ceramic or glass figurines into pieces and create a colorful mosaic for the walls or floor of your home.

Arts and Crafts
Hand-crafted memorabilia can be distributed to family members as gifts on special occasions or displayed at home.

• Use family pictures for collages and frame them. The good thing about photos is that they can be duplicated if you wish to distribute them to your relatives or if you just simply don't want to cut the original copies.
  
• Arrange medals, jewelry pieces, child's clothing, and other sentimental knickknacks in a shadow box.
  
• Place memorable pictures and postcard under the glass sheet of your coffee table or office desk.
  
• Purchase or create your own photo album. Organize old photographs by dates and by special occasions. Scan them to create a back-up copy. Place these photo albums in your living room or bookshelf for easy access during family reunions or if you wish to show them to your guests.
  
• Personal journals and diaries, letters, and greeting cards may be placed in a box or basket. Older family members can share stories of wonderful memories to the young ones with these written documents.

Divide and Distribute
Don't be afraid to divide sets of family heirlooms and distribute them to your kin. You may not be able to keep precious collections forever. At some point, you will have to break them up to fit your current lifestyle and taste.
If you're still left with a bunch of stuff after choosing the ones you wish to keep and giving away the rest to relatives, maybe it's time to let them go. Organize a garage sale, put them up on eBay, and donate to charity or to a new home that would create new family heritage.

Jessica Phan is a designer for Balsamhill.com a purveyor of high-end artificial Christmas Trees. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is perfect for her because she has a wide range of interests, including Art & Design, Fashion, Photography, Painting and Thrift Store Shopping.

 

 

Make it AMAZING!

Rhonda



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Guest Post: Tara Free of Free Interiors Blog!

Get The Look: 

Hampton’s Show House 2012, Master Bedroom

Hello! This is Tara Free from FreeInteriors blog, where I share original color palettes, design tips, color trends, inspirational finds, and ways you can "get the look" from stunning high-end interiors. Today I am guest posting for Rhonda about the Hampton’s 2012 Show House, and how you can “get the look” of this dreamy Master Bedroom, at a reasonable price!

First thing to consider when re-creating the look of a room, at a lower cost, are recognizing the key elements that make up the room. For example, the green upholstered bed is a strong element in the master bedroom of the Hampton Show House, and that bed is what makes the room unique.

So I will start with the bed, which is the focal piece of the room. Because this bed is so unique, it’s going to take a little D.I.Y. on your part to get the look. I picked out a bed from Z Gallerie, which would work as a great base, and would then need some green velvet upholstery.

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11802-pierre-bed.aspx

Next thing I will focus on are the nightstands. They are mismatched, with makes the room more unique. I found two reasonably priced white nightstands, one at Crate and Barrel, and another at Z Gallerie. When picking out furniture, especially when you’re trying to match the look of another furniture piece, you will need to keep in mind that you’re most likely not going to find an exact replica. Looking for similar features, though, will help you get the look.

Here are my picks, which I think have similar features to our inspirational room, and match with the original look the designer was going for.

 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mimic-white-cube/s212795

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-12850-vision-end-table.aspx

Next on this list: lighting.  I picked out a white base from Pottery Barn, and a peach shade from  “Sweet Peaches Bedding”.

 http://www.potterybarn.com/products/gemma-milk-glass-table-lamp-base/?pkey=ctable-floor-lamps

http://www.sweetpeachesbedding.com/product/tall-max-cinamon-lamp-shade/

After lighting, you can’t forget about the bedding! I picked out this simple white bedding set from Pottery Barn, and a yellow throw to match. 

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/hadley-ruched-duvet-cover-sham-white/?pkey=cwhite

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/pick-stitch-quilt-sham/?pkey=cwhite

To finish off the room, I would suggest painting the wall behind bed (as an accent wall) with a fresh coat of paint in a peachy shade. These colors I found from Benjamin Morre, and you cant paint your accent wall a softer or bolder peach, according to your taste.

I hope with this post I was able to inspire you to change things up in your master bed room with inspirations from the Hampton’s Show House 2012.  When it comes to decorating, never be afraid to take a few risks, and go bold. –That’s how some of the best designs happen!

That’s all for now!



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