Upgraded Light Switches

I am loving my new light switch covers.  I had read somewhere that you can put paper on light switches with mod podge.  It had been on my bucket list forever but with the new kitchen re-do, I knew I wanted to do it soon.  I picked out a paper that I love.  I thought it might be too busy but if you look at it from a distance, it doesn't look busy at all. 

I started by tracing on the back of the paper.  The sketch below is kind of how I cut out the paper.  The red is where I cut.  It worked out perfectly when you folded it over the cover.  I completed 5 switches in about 30 minutes.

File Cabinet Re-do

My husband has changed jobs and now does not have an office.  He still travels but will be working from home when he is in town.  Working on the dining room table wasn't going to work so we had to re-arrange the house a little.  We decided to move the his office into the mater bedroom.  Of course, I still wanted it to look nice.  I got a great desk on craigslist and painted it (post coming soon) and then I wanted to spruce up the file cabinet.  I love how it turned out.

I first covered the file cabinet with silver contact paper that I got from Lowe's.  It was very easy to cover and that alone looked great.  Then I wanted to add some blue to tie into the desk and walls.  I ordered these great decals from La Leni shop on Etsy.  I have a machine that I could of done this myself but sometimes it is just easier to buy it ;-)

 

I love being featured. Thank you!!  Check out these awesome blogs that featured my file cabinet.

Duct Tape Soap Dispensers

From a previous post, you know that I already re-fill my own foaming soap.  I don't know the last time I bought soap. I love the fact that I can re-fill it for a fraction of the cost. There are times that the soap looks a little clumpy and not as attractive in the containers they came in.  So I wanted to cover the plastic containers and make them look better.  I was about to spray paint them and then thought about all the duct tape that I have recently bought (a little obsessed with all the different patterns).

I tried to tuck the tape into the top and it didn't look very even so I added a ribbon to hide it.  They look very cute and add a little pattern to the bathroom counter.

These were featured on one of my favorite blogs - so exciting.


My entry into the Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles is sponsored by Appliances Online and their best Range Cookers.

Imitation = Flattery: Handprint Canvas

Another pinterest inspiration.  I mod podged some cut out of our hands to canvas.  Can you see the wrinkles?  I am not sure why that happened, has anyone else run into that?  You can't see it when it is on the wall.  I will still hang it in my study.  I think I want to do one every 4-5 years to see how their hands grow. 

Work and Craft Desk

I work from home 4 days a week. It is a great arrangement and I am so fortunate that I get to do this. It is so nice to be able to throw in a load of wash during the day or go to the grocery store on my lunch break. When I started doing this, I knew I needed a space that was away from everything else.  My office does not have a TV in it, however it does have my crafts.  I designed a table that allowed me to separate my space.  It has been so nice.

I designed the built in to fit on the entire wall in the guest room.  It surrounds the large window that is in the room.  The bookshelves are from walmart and we just cut them down to fit.  There are also drawers in the bottom that we ordered online.  The desk top is actually just a huge board from Home Depot that they cut down for me.  It is great to have a place for everything. I wish I had a before picture so you could see how hectic it was.

There is a lot going on but my work section is typically removed from my craft section so it works out nicely.  More to come on the pictures that are hanging.

Ribbon Organization

I'll admit, I have too much ribbon.   I have spools of it along with individual yards.  I love all the colors and patterns.  Every time Hobby Lobby has a sale, I can't resist picking up a few spools.  I needed a way to organize it.  This is what I did for the spools (or some of them)

I took the small tension rods and just put them in my bookshelf above my desk. I love how it adds color and they are so easy to use.  Unfortunately, with 3 rods, this is still only some of the ribbon I have.  I need to go buy at least 2 more rods and will later post what I did with all my yardage ribbon.

Birthday Wreath

This combines a few different wreaths that I have seen in blog land and on Pinterest. It turned out so cute for the girls birthday.

Supplies:

• Straw wreath (which was cheaper than Styrofoam)  
• Zebra duct tape
• Balloons
• Straight pins
• Wooden Letter
• Spray Paint
• Ribbon

I kept the plastic on the straw wreath and wrapped it with duct tape.  It didn't wrap very smooth so I tried to make sure the wrinkles were all in the back along with sometimes taking a few strips and placing them where I felt needed.  I think took the balloons and started bunching them together.  I used about 3 balloons per pin but you can just do it based on how it looks.  I spray painted my letter and glued it to the wreath.  It was so easy and cute.

This was featured on the following:

Kitchen Re-do

Well actually not an entire kitchen re-do, it was only painting the cabinets but it feels like an entirely new kitchen. 

Before

I was all ready to do the painting myself. I had a schedule of 8 weekends mapped out on what I was going to do each weekend. Then I got a quote from a painter and when they told me it was only going to take 3 days, I knew I had to outsource it.

They sprayed the kitchen so I had to remove everything from all the cabinets.  I realized I had way too much kitchen stuff.  It was nice to be able to get rid of some items and then reorganize when I was putting it back.

During

It was hard not having access to the kitchen for 3 days but if I had done it myself it would have been so much longer.

Painted Cream

Glazed

final

I love it!!!.  We decided on cream cabinets with a glaze on top.  Then I did the island black to go with the black appliances.  I don't love the appliances but they were fairly new when we moved in so I can't justify replacing them. 

I am amazed how much brighter the kitchen is.  When I open the cabinets, it just seems so bright.  We should have done this right when we moved in.

Next, hardwood floors....

$2.00 Door Sign

I found this cute plaque at Marshall's for $2.00.  It was a little beat up but I knew I was going to change it up a bit.  I had put a hook on their door for a Christmas wreath and wanted to put something else up there.

I love how it turned out.  So cute and sassy.

Lace Circle Shirt

I am loving my lace shirt. I have this pinned in my To-Do board and believe it or not, I actually did it. there is a great tutorial on Potholes and Pantyhose.

I made a few changes:

• First, I got my lace from Good will.  It was actually a curtain.
• I didn't do the measurements she said.  I just wanted to make sure it came down to my waist so I took that measurement and then made a circle. 
• I also added the lace at the bottom.  I wear a black shirt under it so I think it ties it together nicely. 

It is a great shirt that can go casual or dressed up.  I wear mine with jeans a lot but could also wear it to work with a pencil skirt.

And, the today show said how much lace was in right now.

Imitation = Flattery: Ruffle Bedspread

Our master bedroom has a summer bedspread and a winter bedspread.  In the winter it is actually a duvet cover.  I have seen the ruffle bedspreads popping up everywhere and thought I would add a little texture to my existing duvet cover.

Adding it to an existing cover is both easier and harder than sewing it yourself.  It is easier because you don't have to make an entire duvet cover but harder because you have to be more precise where your ruffles start and end instead of building them into the seam.

I took 2 sets of twin sheets that I found at Ross for $5 each, one in chocolate brown and the other in white.  I then cut them into about 8-10" think strips.  The most tedious part was hemming the edges.  I used my rolled hem foot on my sewing machine and couldn't of done it without it.  It made the job SO much easier.

After that I "ruffled" them.  Since I don't have a ruffle foot, I just pushed the fabric through the sewing machine faster than the natural feed and it ruffled.  This only works if you don't need the ruffle to be consistent.  I didn't care and it turned out looking great. 

I love our new winter bedspread.

See the K on the pillow - just another heat transfer cut out and ironed on.  I think it adds so much to the white shams.

Valentines Towel

I got out my Valentine's decorations and started putting them up.  I love the towel that I made last year.  This was when I was just getting use to my Silhouette machine.  I definitely think I am going to have to make another one this year.  Stay tuned....

Candy Christmas Trees

I actually made these Christmas trees last year but thought I'd share them now.

They were really easy but VERY time consuming (I even saw some like them in the Pier 1 catalog)

Supplies:
 - Styrofoam cones
 - candy (I used peppermints, spice drops)
 - glue gun
 - spray enamel (something to coat and protect)

I decided on my pattern and started gluing the candy to the cones.  I had to go back to the store a few times for some more spice drops but I think they turned out pretty cute.  I stored them last year in a closet on a shelf with a bag over them.  Some of the candy fell off but I was easily able to re-glue it.

Pinterest Inspired: Ornament Wreaths

Last week we had our Chirstmas craft party. They are always so much fun.  I posted last year about the christmas card frame that we made.  I already have mine up this year.

This year we made ornament wreaths.  I got the idea on Pinterest. Origially posted from this blog.  They were really one of the easist crafts we have done.  So easy that I came home and made another one.

The first one I put on the door of my girls room.  It is so cute and festive.  I also love the red, green, gold and silver.  I used plastic ornaments from Garden Ridge so didn't even have to glue the tops to them because they were pretty snug.  There are a few that popped off and we were able to glue those back together.

Pinterest Inspired: Handprint Christmas Tree

Pinterest has become a love-hate relationship.  I love all the great idea but I spend way too much time on it when I should be doing a long list of other things.

I am loving all the Christmas crafts right now.  The girls and I had fun doing this hand print Christmas tree.  I just did one tree for both girls and mixed up the handprints.

This pin was originally from The Other White House

Check out all the other Christmas crafts I am wanting to attempt.  I don't think they will all get done this year...

Dr. Seuss Art

 I love Dr. Seuss sayings.  We had a blank spot in our bathroom that I wanted to put something.  I was going to put up a vinyl saying but I was at Half Price Books and found these books.

I read through them and found some great encouraging pages.  Put them in some white frames that I got at my favorite store - The Christmas Tree Shop.  Voila - Art!!!



“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is You-er than You. Shout loud, "I am lucky to be what I am!"  Thank goodness I'm not a clam or a ham Or a dusty old jar of gooseberry jam!  I am what I am!  That's a great thing to be!  If I say to myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!"  Happy Birthday to You!

 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”   Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Halloween Outside Spiders

I made these spiders 2 years ago and love them.  The same craft party where we made the ghosts, we also made these.  Or at least we were suppose to but I didn't realize how much paint they used.  When I made mine, I spray painted them.  However, spray paint does dissolve Styrofoam so I would highly suggest painting them instead.  They will use TONS of paint.

Supplies (for 1):
 - Large Styrofoam ball (~6")
 - Small Styrofoam ball (~3")
 - 4 black pipe cleaners
 - 2 small red pom poms
 - Black Paint
 - Command Hooks
 - EC6000 glue (the best glue ever)

Paint the Styrofoam balls black.  Then I put a toothpick between the 2 Styrofoam balls but also glued them for extra security.  I cut the pipe cleaners in half and made a hole in the Styrofoam and glued them in the hole.  I then glued on the red pom poms for eyes.

I hang them on the wall by my front door with Command hooks.  I stick the hook to the wall first and then just poke the hook through the spider.

Imitation=Flattery: Pottery Barn Knock Off - Halloween Outside Ghosts

We had a fun craft party to make these Pottery Barn Ghosts.  Usually making something yourself will save tons of money but Styrofoam balls are expensive.  Why do they cost so much?  However, we did save some money and of course had fun getting together to make them.

My Version

Pottery Barn Version

Supplies:
 -  Styrofoam Balls - $6-$15 (I used a 8", 6", & 4") Use Coupons!!
 -  Black Marker  - on hand (for the eyes)
 -  Cheesecloth - $3/Yd.  I used 1 yd for the 8" but less for the other 2.
 -  Eye Screw - on hand
 -  String to hang - on hand
Total - about $35 for all 3

I just used a marker for the eyes and draped the cheesecloth over it. You can double the cheesecloth if you want and also cut vertical strips.  I didn't do either of these and love how they turned out.

Halloween Feather Boa Wreath

Did almost an entire month just disappear?  Sorry for my absence, I have been super busy at work and so every time I sit at the computer, I get sucked into work and never make it to post.

Here is my favorite wreath that I made at the end of last year when there were feather boas on sale.  I'm surprised how much boas can be.  Definitely try to use a coupon or Oriental Trading has some that are fairly cheap (never ordered them so don't know quality).

Supplies:
 - Wood Wreath - $1 (got it at the dollar store)
 - 2 Feather Boas - $10 (used coupons)
 - 3 plastic pumpkins - $1 (got a set last year after Halloween at the Dollar Store)

I wrapped the boa around the wreath and secured with  a drop of glue.  You will want to try to glue the pumpkins to the wreath because if it is just glued to the boa's they will droop.

Burlap Wreath - Pinterest Inspired

Who doesn't love pinterest?  I saw the following burlap wreath and knew I had to have it. 

However, at $45 dollars, I thought I should first attempt to make it myself.

Supplies:
 - straw wreath (you could do Styrofoam but straw is cheaper)
 - 1.5 yards of burlap
 - straight pins

• I first took about a 2" strip of burlap and wrapped the wreath.  I secured it with a straight pin.  Glue would have worked fine but I didn't want to deal with the mess
• I then took about a 4" strip and folded it lengthwise and started pinning it in squiggles.  Really hard to explain and I did it probably 3-4 times until I got the look I wanted.  I had 2 layers of squiggles.  One on the front and then one more towards the outside. 

If I were to do it again, I would probably use glue (hot glue or E6000 would work great)

I used fall colored tulle and just made a loop bow and glued that onto the wreath.  The K is painted in my favorite spray paint - Rub Oiled Bronze.

I love it and it probably only cost me about $9 and 1 hour of time.