How to line envelopes with decorative paper

A home decorating magazine I subscribe to recently featured a set of 10 lined envelopes… for $55! Fifty-five bucks for ten envelopes?! I think that is crazy.

Lining envelopes is such an easy project and doesn’t have to cost much money at all. In fact, I lined the envelopes my husband and I sent our wedding invitations in almost five years ago. Here’s a picture:

Aren’t they pretty? It was a time-consuming project because there were so many, but inexpensive and fun. They added such a polished, fancy feel to the entire set. Here’s how to line envelopes and not spend $55 for ten.

You’ll need:

• envelopes of your choosing
• a pencil
• a ruler
• an Exact-o knife or scissors
• Double sided tape. I like the kind that comes in a little dispenser. You can purchase it in a craft store near the scrapbooking supplies, or in an office supply store. Many drugstores and grocery stores also carry it.
• Pretty paper. This is the fun part! You could use leftover wrapping paper, newspaper, or magazines. Or you can invest in a few sheets of pretty paper from an arts and crafts store.
• A piece of scrap paper.

1. First, trace your envelope on a scrap piece of paper. I used two different envelopes so I had to trace them both.

2. Use your ruler to make a pattern slightly smaller than the tracing. You want to leave enough room for the adhesive strip. I also used the envelope again and just slid it down slightly from the first tracing to trace the top line again inside the lines. Like this:

3. Cut out the pattern and trace it on the opposite side of your decorative paper.

4. Cut out the traced shape from the decorative paper.

5. Place the paper in the envelope and fold the crease. Then, remove the paper and apply the double-sided tape to the back of the paper.

6. Carefully put the paper back in the envelope and press to seal the paper to the envelope. All done!

I just used wrapping paper and envelopes I already had, so the total cost of this was $0. Also, if you’re lining a set of envelopes all the same size, you only need to make one pattern and just repeat steps 3-6 for each one.

Consider a subscription
Did you know you can receive Urban Domesticity via email? It’s easy to sign up.  Just click here to receive daily email updates with the latest content. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Urban Domesticity in your favorite blog reader by clicking here.

Household maintenance to-dos

Last week I listed some personal finance housekeeping tasks on my to-do list right now. As a follow-up, I decided to also detail some of the home ownership and maintenance issues on my to-do list as well.

Even though we pay an HOA fee that covers many maintenance expenses, we are still responsible for plenty inside our townhouse. Fortunately, even though it was built in 1950, it is in really great shape thanks to a re-hab completed in 2006. Still, there are a few little tasks hanging over my head that need to get done, including:

• Fix the dishwasher. It works. It gets dishes super clean and it looks nice. But the door makes an absolutely horrible noise when opened or closed. We think it must be a spring issue in the door mechanism. The Mr. might get around to looking at it, or I might call someone to come fix it. We actually have a “home warranty” from when we bought the place in May that supposedly covers stuff like this.

• Re-caulk the tub. The caulking is getting dried out and is peeling in a few small places. I’d rather deal with it proactively before it gets moldy or causes water damage. I’ve actually done this before (due to some serious mold in our apartment tub) but it was messy and I’m definitely not an expert. Here’s a really gross close-up picture. Ewwwwwwww!

• Re-paint the shower ceiling. Again, not a huge problem yet but the paint is just starting to peel and flake in a few spots due to moisture. And, for some reason, the previous owner used a flat paint. Seems to me it should be semi-gloss in a shower, so I will probably make the switch when we re-paint it.

• Carpet the stairs. We have beautiful hardwood floors, and the stairs are no exception. The problem is that they are very, very slippery. Our dog won’t even go up them, and when he goes down I have to supervise to make sure he doesn’t fall. And, they are slippery for sock-footed people as well. We’re debating about whether to do something like this with an installed runner, or use something like this to maintain more of the current look of the stairs. What do you think?

• Paint the living room. We recently painted the dining room and I want to paint the living room to match. If we decide to also paint the stair walls, we’ll probably need to hire someone to paint the staircase since the ceilings are very high.

• Install shelves in the basement and the garage. This is expensive to do right, but necessary for organizational and potential moisture issues.

• Research and purchase some new furniture. This is more fun! But also more expensive. We’d like new furniture in our dining room and bedroom. Our current furniture is tiny and worked great in our small apartment, but feels lost in our new space. And we often have clothing strewn about the bedroom because we don’t have enough dresser space.

What about you? What household tasks are on your to-do list right now?

Giveaway! Cloth produce bags

Today I’m hosting my first ever blog giveaway! Help make it successful by entering to win.

Yesterday I posted a how-to on making cloth produce bags. I showcased a set of three bags I made from fabric I already had, including an antique grain sack, vintage towel, and linens. And now I’m going to give away the set of three bags to one lucky reader! Here are the details:

1. To enter, just post a comment in the comment section below with the words “Enter me!” If you’d like, you can also share an earth-friendly habit of your own in your comment.
2. One entry per person, please. I will remove duplicates.
3. I will email the winner at the email address you provide on the comment form (your email is not made public). If a week passes and I don’t hear back from you, I’ll choose another winner.
4. The contest will close at 9pm PST on Thursday February 11th. (That’s 6pm for you east coasters.) I will use a number randomizer to choose a winner.

It may take a few minutes to a few hours for your comment entry to appear due to comment moderation. This is simply to prevent spam comments.

Note: For my readers who subscribe via email or blog reader, just click on the post title above to visit the actual site and enter your comment in the giveaway.

How to make cloth produce bags

Yesterday I mentioned that my newest earth-loving habit is using cloth produce bags at the grocery store. All the wasted plastic was bringing me down, so I’ve started using these cloth bags.

One of the bags is a tiny pillowcase that I no longer needed. The others are antique flour, sugar, and grain sacks that I’ve had forever.  Like this:

I decided to make a few produce bags to demonstrate how easy (and fun!) it is. The great thing about this project is that even the most beginner sewers can easily whip up a few of these bags in an afternoon. You can also use scrap material that you might not otherwise find a use for.

First, cut two pieces of fabric the same size. You can make them whatever size you’d like for a produce bag. No measuring or patterns required. I cut one out and then used it as a pattern for the other piece. If you’re using a linen towel, you don’t even need to cut it.

Next, make a simple rolled hem on the top of each piece. To make a rolled hem, just fold and iron the edge over. And then fold and iron it again, pinning in place. To finish, just sew a simple straight stitch along the inner edge of the fold.

Once you’ve sewn the top hem on both pieces, pin the two pieces of fabric together, wrong-side-out, aligning the edges.

Then, just sew the three sides together with a simple straight stitch. Trim the threads and iron the inside seams open.

Turn it right side out and give it a once-over with an iron. Voila! All done.

I also made this one with a cute puppy towel and some more antique linen fabric.

I couldn’t help but get a little fancy with this one. I added the border along the bottom with a decorative stitch.

If you like these bags, you’ll want to check back tomorrow for your chance to be the new owner of this set!  That’s right. One lucky reader will win all three. Update: Click here to jump to the giveaway.

Banishing plastics and chemicals

Over the past year or so, I’ve successfully removed many plastics and chemicals from my life. Nothing in particular instigated the change, but I feel it is a positive shift for health and earth-love reasons. Here are some of my new favorite green, natural, and healthy day-to-day things:

• Cloth and canvas grocery bags. We have a nice stash of reuseable grocery bags that we remember to take to the store 95% of the time. Storing them in the trunk of our car helps with remembering to use them.

• A metal water bottle. I love my aluminum water bottle and feel good about not drinking from plastic.

• A cast iron skillet. The Mr. and I recently invested in a high quality cast iron skillet to replace the non-stick one we’d been using for several years. It took a few meals and a tiny bit of work to get it properly seasoned so that food doesn’t stick. But now, this pan is amazing. It’s naturally non-stick, cleans up in a snap, and food cooked on it tastes great. I may have to devote an entire post to the skillet at some point.

• Glass leftover containers. For years I used plastic leftover containers for food, and I even microwaved food in them… a big no-no, apparently. I invested in some high-quality glass containers with snap on plastic lids. I just feel healthier eating from them.

• Vinegar and water. I’ve been using a cleaning solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water. This natural cleaner works great on so many surfaces including windows, mirrors, granite, stainless steel, my glass cook top, bathroom surfaces, and spot treatments on the wood floors. And last weekend I tackled the soap scum in the tub. I sprayed the 50/50 solution on the tub and let it soak in for about five minutes. Then I scrubbed with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and… wow!

• No parabens or phthalates. I’ve been scrutinizing cosmetic and personal care labels for these nasty additives and (trying) to choose products that don’t contain them. You can read more about these scary chemicals here.

• Organic dairy and vegetables. The Mr. and I have been making room in the budget for more organic groceries. Even if it means eating out one less time a month, the health benefits are worth it to me. I’ve been buying organic milk, leafy veggies, tomatoes, eggs, and potatoes.

• Cloth produce bags. This is my latest upgrade. I was getting depressed about all the plastic bags we used at the store to put fruit and vegetables in, so I found and made a few cloth ones. I’m actually going to write a how-to post on this tomorrow. Stay tuned…

How about you? What green day-to-day habits and items do you have?

Personal finance housekeeping

Part of keeping any household running smoothly is ensuring that the family/household finances are in order. I’ve written before about budgets and frugality. Tracking spending, saving money, and being frugal are great ways to start to get a handle on personal finance. In fact, the primary tenet of good personal finance is “spend less than you earn.” Spending less than you earn is the only way to effectively build wealth and financial freedom for yourself and your family.

In the past year, my husband and I have made huge strides in this area of our life. We discovered a new level of financial discipline when we decided to buy a house. Since then, we’ve continued following a budget, saving money, paying off debt, and looking for ways to reduce our dependence on 100% of our current income.

I’m happy (and relived!) to report that we are now completely consumer-debt free, meaning no more credit card and car loan balances. We also have a comfortable emergency fund, thanks in large part to the first-time home buyer tax credit.

And, while that is all well and good, it is now time for us to really hunker down and take care of some of the more complicated aspects of personal finance: investing and retirement savings. That said, here’s my list of goals for the year that we need to accomplish to truly get our financial house in good order.

Goal #1: Save 15% of gross (before taxes) income in retirement accounts. I recently forced myself to run some hard numbers and look at reality in black and white terms. We’re currently saving more than 15% of our income for various reasons, however we’re only saving 9% of our income in retirement accounts. This has to change.

The best rule of thumb I have gotten is to determine your goal dollar amount by multiplying your total income (before taxes) by 0.15 (15%) and then meet that dollar goal in three ways:

1. Contribute to a 401(k) or 403(b) to the extent the contribution will be matched in whole or on part by your employer. So, if your employer will match at 50% your contributions up to 5% of your income (for example) contribute 5% of your income to your 401(k) and take the match.
2. Next, max out an IRA, either a Roth or a regular IRA. As of the writing of this post, each individual can put up to a maximum of $5,000 in either a Roth or a regular IRA per year. For a two-income household, that’s $5,000 for each wage earner. You might be able to take a tax deduction on the money you put in a regular IRA. You pay taxes when you withdraw the funds in retirement. You can’t take a deduction on the money you put in a Roth IRA, but you withdraw from a Roth tax-free in retirement. There are complicated details and income limitations for IRAs. Here is a good primer.
3. If the total from step 1 + the total from step 2 still does not add up to 15% of gross household income, then contribute the rest to the 401(k) in addition to the amount you determined for step 1.

When all is said and done, step 1 + step 2 + step 3 should = 15% of your before-tax household income. You shouldn’t count the employer-match towards the 15% until you are 100% vested in the money. Since both my husband and I work full time, this will take some number crunching to figure out, especially because our respective employers offer very different retirement matches and benefits.

Goal #2: Open and fund an accumulation account. An accumulation account is a savings account that has enough money to cover expected expenses as they arise throughout the year. By putting a little aside each month, the goal is to accumulate enough to cover annual and routine expenses such as:

1. Auto, home, and life insurance
2. Auto maintenance (or replacement)
3. Pet care (emergencies and routine)
4. Home maintenance, emergencies, and furnishings
5. Christmas and holiday gifts and expenses
6. Vacations
7. Charitable giving

These are just a few examples. Each family may have more or fewer categories based on their lifestyle and needs. I plan to open a special savings account for this purpose and track the amounts we have designated for each category in an excel spreadsheet. I’ve also heard that ING has great online savings accounts with sub-account categories, but I don’t personally have experience with ING. Here is a great post about these types of accounts.

Goal #3: Ensure our insurance and will are in order. This feels like such a depressing, grown-up thing to have to think about. But this year, one of our goals is to determine exactly how much life (and other types) of insurance we need and make it happen. Fortunately we have a close friend in the insurance industry who we can talk to and get straight advice from. We also plan to write a simple will and we may use an online service for that.

What about you? What are your current financial goals? Don’t be shy… you can always post comments under a pseudonym!

Just a note: please remember I am not a professional-finance-anything. This is my plan and what works for us, but should not be considered pro advice by any means!

January round-up (a.k.a. link love)

On the last day of each month (or, in this case, the first day of the next month) I share relevant links that I’ve enjoyed. This month I decided to share some blogs I recently discovered, rather than individual links.

Alias Mother
This is a no-frills, personal blog that’s all about good written content. Alias Mom is a pretty brilliant writer–her posts are honest, funny, and thoughtful. She’s getting ready to deliver kid#2 right now.

Aubrey Road
Lots and lots and lots of beautiful, stylish pictures. Eye candy.

Saving the Pennys
This is a brand new blog documenting one young family’s struggle with a mountain of credit card debt, unemployment, and parenthood. “Mrs. Penny” is an engaging, honest writer and I’m hooked on her story. She has optimism and tenacity about her situation. A great read (start at her first entry if you decide to visit her blog).

The DIY Show Off
Roeshel has a wonderful blog full of do-it-yourself home projects of her own and sent in by readers. Her posts are sure to inspire you to think up a few projects of your own.

What about you? What blogs are you reading right now? Or, better yet, do you have a blog of your own? Please share links in the comment section below.

Q&A Day: What’s the difference between modern and contemporary decorating? Part 2

I’d love to receive questions from readers about any of the posts on this blog or other subjects I might be able to cover. You can always pose questions in the comments section of each post, or send me an email at urbandomesticity[at]gmail[dot]com.

This question was posed on a design message board I participate in:

What’s the difference between modern and contemporary decorating?

It generated some interesting responses, so I decided I’d share my thoughts in-depth here. Yesterday I addressed the term modern and offered some examples of true modern style. In summary, modern generally refers to styles developed in the mid-century. Natural materials, neutral expanses with pops of primary colors, and long, low lines are common in modern styles. You can click here to go back to the post on modern decorating.

So, what does contemporary mean?

The basic definition of contemporary is “of the moment.” Contemporary art, design, and interiors are “of the day.” They exist in the here-and-now. And, taking this further, they could only exist in the here-and-now because ten years ago some of the materials and pieces wouldn’t have been available. And in ten years from now, there will be new pieces that do not exist today. Yesterday’s contemporary is today’s vintage. And tomorrow’s contemporary is still unknown.

Whereas modern is a static term, contemporary is a dynamic, changing term.

There are fewer rules in contemporary interiors than in truly modern ones, because anything kinda goes. Of course there is still a difference between good contemporary design and bad contemporary design. And everyone has their personal taste. But in contemporary design, you are free to use color and pattern. You might combine a vintage mid-century modern credenza with brand new shelves from Ikea, ornate antique chairs, and a rug from India. (Which would also qualify as contemporary eclectic.)

Here are some pictures that represent contemporary styles. All six images are from now-defunct Domino, my all-time favorite decorating magazine.

The photo above features a few truly modern pieces, such as the coffee table and paper lamp. (Remember how I mentioned that modern pieces often show up in contemporary interiors?) However, the way the modern furniture is mixed with the new couch, blue walls, wicker stool, and ornate rug makes this look contemporary.

The interior above actual includes more formal, traditional furniture pieces. In this case, the white walls, open airy feel, and graphic layout of photos above the mantle keep the look contemporary rather than pure traditional.

Again, this interior features some traditional shapes and styles. The bright yellow, white brick wall, colorful artwork, and tailored bedskirt keep the look contemporary and fresh.

If you took away the zebra rub, ornate chandelier and decorative items this would be a rather modern interior. Those touches mixed in keep this look more contemporary, however. And certainly somewhat eclectic.

A few aspects of this bedroom are modern-inspired, such as the fluffy wool rug and hanging swing. The colors, patterns, and layers, however, keep it contemporary.

This serene space uses modern style neutrals, but the overall look is contemporary. Especially because there are no pops of bright color. All those cozy layers on the couch, the gorgeous drapes, and the black furniture qualify as contemporary touches. Some might call this style transitional as well.

Contemporary styles allow for more freedom and trends. Contemporary rooms are always-evolving, meaning good contemporary style changes slightly over the years to reflect changing tastes and the shifting lives of the people who inhabit the spaces. Good contemporary design is almost always a work-in-progress.

Because the tenets of contemporary design are more open-ended, it’s easier to incorporate new pieces and colors into the spaces over time. If you fall in love with an ornate headboard, for example, you could probably incorporate it into an existing contemporary space, but not into a modern one.

Other terms that come up when describing contemporary interiors are eclectic and transitional. Both eclectic and transitional have somewhat different meanings than pure contemporary, but they basically refer to similar looks and feels.

Whew! That was ALOT of information for two days of posts. I’m ready for the weekend! Were these posts helpful? Have I missed the mark? Do you define modern and contemporary differently? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Q&A Day: What’s the difference between modern and contemporary decorating? Part 1

I’d love to receive questions from readers about any of the posts on this blog or other subjects I might be able to cover. You can always pose questions in the comments section of each post, or send me an email at urbandomesticity[at]gmail[dot]com.

This question was posed on a decorating message board I participate in:

What’s the difference between modern and contemporary decorating?

It generated some interesting responses, so I decided I’d share my thoughts in-depth here.

The descriptive terms modern and contemporary are often used interchangeably, but the definitions of each are actually distinct. This can cause some confusion when people want to define their style or search for furniture or other household items. Today, I’ll define modern design and tomorrow I’ll tackle the term contemporary.

In the realm of interior decorating and design, modern refers to a style of architecture and furniture that emerged in the mid-century, reaching a peak the in 1950s. In this regard, modern is a static term. True modern art and furniture were made in the mid-century decades. When someone says they like “modern” furniture, this is often what they are referring to. Here is a picture of a truly modern interior:

Photo from Ameublement et Decoration Modernes, 1961

In the early part of the century into the 1950s, art and design broke with tradition, hence the term modern was coined. The art, furniture, and architecture of the time were in stark contrast to the ornate and deco looks of earlier eras. Modern design is characterized by long, low furniture and natural materials like teak wood, leather, and linen upholstery. The lines are generally straight and un-embellished. Often, the furniture is raised off the floor on legs which contributes to an open, airy atmosphere.

Materials like molded plywood, clear and white plastics, and metal are also common in modern design. In a truly modern interior, most of the furnishings are neutral tones of brown, white, cream, and gray. Walls are generally white. Floors are bare wood or, sometimes, rubber, cork, or cement. Rugs would be made from wool and would also be neutral in tone.

Photo by Supagroova on Flickr.

Color exists in modern interiors in small, isolated doses–generally in the form of an oversized painting or sculpture. Some of the furniture might also be colorful, but only if the rest of the space is relatively blank. The most common color “pops” in modern design are primary colors–pure red, blue, and yellow. Orange is also a common accent color. Decorative objects are kept to a minimum and would include books, wooden boxes, or ceramic pottery.

In many regards, modern design may have emerged as a way to showcase modern art. Generally large in scale and bold in color, modern paintings and sculptures need relatively neutral, blank spaces in order to really stand out and shine. They would get lost and look cluttered in more traditional interiors.

Photo by back_garage on Flickr.

.

Photo by jmayzurk on Flickr.

The term modern is further complicated because many of the most iconic and well-loved modern furniture pieces are still made in reproduction today. Modern design is also still a popular style, so we still see modern interiors quite frequently. Particularly in the past 10 years, modern design has enjoyed a new wave of popularity. And, even in contemporary interiors, modern pieces often make an appearance–more on that tomorrow.

In the meantime, for more images of true modern furniture, check out the photos at Look Modern online, or visit their beautiful showroom in person in Portland. For gorgeous modern interior rooms, check out Atomic Ranch. This wikipedia article is a good overview of modern furniture, with a nice list of iconic pieces.

Tomorrow I’ll explain what the term contemporary means in the world of interior decorating and clarify the relationship between modern and contemporary. Stay tuned…

Update: You can jump to part two by clicking here.

Vegetarian white bean patties

My husband and I have been making these tasty vegetarian treats since we were in college. The recipe is from this little cook book we must have picked up in line at a grocery store once.

These are quick and easy, and fairly frugal as well. If you’re looking for an easy meatless meal give these a try. Here are the ingredients:

1 15oz can cannellini beans (or any type really, I just used white beans)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 egg
1/3 cup bread crumbs (seasoned or plain, doesn’t matter)
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
half of a small tomato, chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped celery (about 1 stalk)
2 Tbsp finely chopped bell pepper (about 1/4 pepper)
2 Tbsp finely chopped onion (about 1/4 small onion)

And here are the steps. (Scroll down for pictures.)

1. Drain and rinse the beans and mash in a medium bowl. I used a pastry blender, but you might be able to use a food processor.

2. Add the lemon juice and egg and blend well. Add the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic salt, and hot pepper sauce. Stir to blend.

3. Finally, chop and add the veggies.

4. Make four patties. I divided the mixture into four, rolled the mix into balls, and then flattened them a bit to form the patties.

5. We cooked ours in a little olive oil on a non-stick pan. Heat the pan and oil up a bit first.

6. Cook until a little bit brown, then flip them over. I think they cooked for a total of around 10 minutes.

7. I like mine with a dollop of Greek yogurt. The Mr. puts salsa on his.

They go great with a green salad and a glass of red wine.