DIY {Duck Cloth} Wreath

I have seen a ton of DIY's on Burlap Rag Wreaths.
And I LOVE them.
Except, when going into my local fabric store.....
I found out that they don't have any fun colors of burlap in stock. (For example, pink!)
The next isle over, I spotted Duck Cloth- in lots of colors. And it was cheaper. Sold!

I started with a wire wreath form. This particular one was 12 inches.
(I was wanting a small wreath to hang on my sliding glass doors. I would recommend a larger one for a front door wreath!)

Then I started cutting my 1/2 yard of duck cloth in strips. It was way too neat. 

I love the rough edges that you see when using burlap. 

So, I cut little slits along one edge of the duck cloth and started ripping.

You end up with messy strings of duck cloth. Perfect!
These were too long so I cut each string into 1/3's.

Then Happy Tying!
Because, literally that's all you have to do!!!
Tie, tie, tie, tie some more..... tie till your fingers hurt. ;)

And you end up with a full, fun, frugal wreath!
{I only spent $2.75 on 1/2 of a yard of Fuchsia Duck Cloth and $2.49 on the wire wreath!}

Read More

Bedroom Re-Do

This wasn't a COMPLETE (as in walls removed, reconstruction, etc.) bedroom re-do, but it is definietly a change.
I scored a great deal on bedding that I've had my eye on for quite some time.
Queen Duvet and 2 Pillow Shams- $29
2 Euro Pillows- $10 each
2 Accent Pillows- $26 together
(If you don't TJMaxx, you should!)

It started with bedding and moved on to paint...

I walked into our paint store armed with paint chip samples that I thought would be the perfect shade of gray.
Sample #1- too purple

The next trip to the same paint store, I mentioned that I never thought gray would be such a hard color to match. I got laughed at. Apparently I'm just figuring out what everyone else already knows about gray paint!
Sample #2- too baby blue-looking

The third trips' a charm right?!?!? At this point, the paint guy was probably anything but happy to see me. I got two samples this time.
My daughter even said , "I hope this paint looks good so we can stop coming here!"
And third time is a charm!
Sample #3- Accent wall
Sample #4- Surrounding walls

Hooray! Now I can actually start painting rather than just the test spots.

Here's the BEFORE (with some test spots painted)

I paint test spots on every wall because the color may look different on every wall.

Leave your test spots up for at least 24 hours. That way you can see it during different times of the day, depending on the lighting.

Next, fill any holes that you may have from pictures, curtains, etc.

Tape areas that you are not comfortable 'cutting in' . (Painting term for painting the edges, free handed.)

I can't cut-in to the left of molding because I am right handed. I have also found it easier to tape the base molding. That way, you don't have to lay on the floor to paint. It also prevents little specks of paint landing on your molding when you are painting with the roller.

Move all furniture to the middle of the room...

(I was waaaayyyy into painting to take any decent 'during' pictures.)

AFTER......

I'm planning on getting crisp, white (simple) panels made for the windows.

I'm going to add ribbon accents to match one of my accent pillows...

The bed skirt was free (taken from my daughter's room... her before and after will hopefully appear around here next week.)

Remember the accent tables and lamps that the hubby bought for me for my birthday???

I love the hotel feeling...

Speaking of accents, I chose the wall behind the bed to be a darker color to 'frame' the bed.

I see a white shelf above the bed....

The decor part is what isn't finished.

I'll post more pictures as it gets fully completed.

It took us almost 8 years of marriage to get nice, matching night stands.

I wonder how long until I can get a real dresser????

Read More

Frame Update

I wanted to add a 'little somethin' to my plain black frame.

Enter teal paint.

Brush on (with washcloth)

Wipe off (with paper towel)

End result- teal in the creases. 

I love the rustic look this frame now has!

Read More

31 Days of Things I've Been Wanting to Do, Day 5: Computer Cabinet

"Clean Out and Spruce Up" was my theme for this small project. Something I've Been Wanting to Do... that was free (other than the small green organizers previously bought, but not using anywhere else) and it didn't take long to finish.

We bought a computer cabinet shortly after our move to Indiana. We had just bought our first house.....

and needed furniture! I'm thinking we got it at Wal-Mart? And definitely didn't pay more than $100. Joel spent an afternoon putting it together, and over 6 years, 1 move and 2 kids later, we are still using it!

It's a common place I visit. It holds our desk top computer, printer, file cabinet, the kids baby books, my scrapbooks and my day planner. With all the traffic, it tends to be a place that can get cluttered easily. I'm tempted to buy our next computer cabinet without doors so I don't have an excuse to hide the inside. :)

Not too cluttered but there was definitely a pile or two to be sorted, put away or thown out, and all together spruced up!

I already had a green CD box and a green basket to use to help organize. I also got inspiration from my bathroom lamp.....

and from my entry lamp (both I purchased at Pier 1).

I used hot glue to apply an old green flower pin onto my desk lamp.

and wa-la! Spruced and organized.

Read More