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DIY Dry Erase Resolutions Board

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Minggu, 19 Januari 2014 0 komentar

I can be forgetful and absentminded which tends to get in the way of achieving positive new resolutions. My solution? Keep all your good intentions close at hand and always visible via this DIY Dry Erase Resolutions board! I love an easy and attractive project, and I'm sharing all the details over at SheKnows.

Click here to read more via my article for SheKnows>>

I hope you enjoy my first article/project as a contributor at SheKnows, and I am looking forward to writing many more! So keep your eyes peeled!

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Lulu & Georgia Inspired Rugs

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Minggu, 24 November 2013 0 komentar

The other day I was over at Lulu & Georgia, drooling...as usual. Is this my life? To be spent admiring items beyond my means? Drat my ridiculously good taste! *lopsided grin*
This gorgeous Paint Dot Rug and Arrowhead Rug are positively calling my name, but since they cost more than I spent to makeover my entire bathroom, I guess I'll have to settle for a DIY version.

Materials & Cost
I was thrilled to find these washable cotton kitchen rugs at Target. They absorb the paint well, have plain white backsides, plus I was able to get 10% off because they all had speckles on top! Yep, in my world every cent counts! *wink*
Because I am using the backside of these rugs, it kind of makes these rugs reversible! The paint will not soak through to the other side, so if you wanted you could paint different designs on either side and get two styles for the price of one!

(Target) Kitchen Rugs - $7.19 each
(Walmart) 1 Folkart metallic paint, 2 fl. oz. - $1.77
Leftover Interior Wall Paint, 1/2 cup
3/4" Painters Tape
Sponge brush &/or paint brush

I did not count the interior paint, tape or brush in my final cost for making these rugs since they are items we probably all have lying around...but if you do not have these items you should factor another few bucks into your budget.

Creating An Arrowhead Inspired Rug
Start by creating a chevron design on the rug with your painters tape. Find the middle of the rug and work outward. Oh, and really press that tape down good...I had a couple areas where I pulled the tape up then didn't press it back down properly and the paint bled a bit more than I liked.
Cut your tape strips to equal lengths, this will ensure some consistency of pattern.

You could eyeball a chevron design, however if you really want to keep some consistency, cut out a triangle to use as a taping guide.

Continue the chevron design across the entire rug, keeping a 2 inch space between each chevron layer.

Once you have created the chevron design, cut long strips of painters tape in half and tape them across the tips of the chevrons.

Dilute your interior paint with a few tablespoons of water before painting your rug. You want the paint to be more like a dye than paint...this prevents the paint from drying hard and cracking. It also makes this rug hand washable! The first couple washes use diluted vinegar to soak it and allow any excess coloring to run off.

Peel the tape back before the paint has dried completely. Here is a shot after all the tape was peeled off, but before the paint had dried...it will be a bit blotchy until it dries.

I love my new folksy Arrowhead rug.

See the entire $83 Jack & Jill bathroom makeover reveal here. It is the small projects like this one that keep your budget on track, but make for a great finished space!

Creating A Paint Dot Inspired Rug
The irregularity of the dots are what really make this rug. Sadly this particular type of irregularity does not translate too well into DIY...it just looks like you couldn't paint a circle! *chuckle* Plan for your circles or ovals to be much more precise. If you really want that imperfect look you do have two options: 1. You can create an intentional irregularity within a stencil and then keep each painted dot consistent with the last. 2. Make your ovals/circles more precise, but vary their distances and angle slightly.

The normal course of action would probably be to create your own oval stencil. And what stencil could be easier to create? I don't currently own any stencil materials, so sometimes you have to break out what you have. I used the ring of a canning jar lid and squished it slightly into an oval shape. I cut 4 slits so that it would be able to lay flush on the rug surface. Once you find the center of your rug, start there and work your way outwards, eyeballing an equal space between each oval.

I used the sponge brush to quickly fill in the middle, then a smaller paint brush to be sure that all the edges were well covered.

I admit this is no Lulu & Georgia, but I love this rug in my downstairs bathroom! It adds just the pop of design and color needed.

And there you have it! Two Lulu & Georgia inspired rugs. I may be using mine in my newly made-over bathroom spaces*, however these would be just as lovely in a kitchen, laundry room, entry, or any other space!

*See the entire $83 Jack & Jill Bathroom Makeover here, or the $36 Powder Room Makeover here. These rugs were just the icing on the cake! *wink*

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Take It From The Pros - View Along The Way { DIY Curtains }

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Minggu, 17 November 2013 0 komentar

What is it with bathroom shower curtains? A single flimsy piece of material with a lovely design should be easy to find, and more importantly inexpensive, right? Last week I flew excitedly to Kohls armed with a $10 off coupon, prepared to purchase a pretty new shower curtain! Much to my shock and dismay my ideal shower curtains have a less than perfect price, and I must say it was a bit traumatic. I kid you not, $39.99 for one shower curtain! I sat there in the bath aisle at Kohls trying to wrap my brain around this number...ummmm yeah, not happening. A moment later I hear a lady from the aisle over exclaim "$40 for a shower curtain! Are they stink'in crazy??". Heh heh, at least I'm not the only one who thought that price was outrageous.
Thankfully I ran across a fantastic curtain tutorial by View Along The Way, and I may have just hatched either a brilliant or ridonculous plan to use Kelly's tutorial to make a shower curtain!
But wait, I have even better news...
Kelly from View Along The Way is here on the blog today answering a few question! Plus she was so sweet to stand by ready to give me any necessary aid while I executed her curtain tutorial!

Taking It From The Pros
You know me, I am not a "read-the-directions" or "find a tutorial" type of gal...but I'm trying to be! I am learning that sometimes the best solution to a problem is to seek help from the pros.
I love that Kelly's curtain tutorial isn't impossible for the non-sew'er to follow! *chuckle* I borrowed a slew of books I didn't understand, then read another slew of tutorials to try and figure out if I could even make a shower curtain, so I'm particularly happy that her tutorial was in plain English!

Look how gorgeous her nursery curtains are! You can see why they made the perfect inspiration right?

The Project
Ok, now click here to open Kelly's tutorial in another window...you might want to read it before seeing how mine turned out. It will better help you understand what I did next...

I carefully followed Kelly's tutorial with only three tiny alterations:
1. I used two flat twin sheets as my backing (since these will be shower curtains and don't need blackout lining). This meant I could skip hemming the curtain back (happy lazy me), since it was already hemmed. In addition, I saved a little money on backing and used some old off-white sheets that had a couple small but unfortunate bleach spots. Eh, at least now they have new life!

2. Instead of a straight seam across the bottom of my curtain front, I hemmed the bottom like this before putting the front and back panels together. This way the stitching is barely visible at the front, and the majority of the stitching is at the back. (Back is shown below) >>

3. I tucked the ribbon used for the back tabs under before sewing them...because apparently I'm a sucker for pretty seams (or for punishment!).

Well, what do you think? I applied the basic principles of curtain hanging that Kelly advises to my shower curtains. I hung them much higher up, and I think they are so much more elegant than a traditional shower curtain would have ever been!

I sewed these puppies as two curtain panels so that I could choose to throw them both open from the middle. What can I say? I guess I just prefer my shower curtains to act like real curtains!! *wink*

Are you wondering about the liner? Easy peasy! You can add back tabs to your shower curtains and hang both curtains back-to-back (which I did!), or if you're done with sewing for a while you can still hang your liner as usual from the inside (as shown below)...just flip those curtain hooks around!

A Little Chat With Kelly

Ursula: Your nursery curtains have this absolutely perfect billow at the bottom *drool*, what factors create that elegant feel and how can we recreate it?

Kelly: Thanks! I'm always preachin' the gospel of hanging your curtains high and wide. Hang them all the way up to the ceiling! I think it makes SUCH a difference in how elegant they feel and how it makes your windows feel larger and your ceilings higher. (Basically, if we could get everyone to do it, we could change the WORLD!)

Ursula:*giggle* You're as passionate and dramatic as I am!

Maybe I'm plumb crazy to use these tab curtains as shower curtains, but they really open and close so smoothly! I had no need for the traditional shower curtain hooks! I even used these DIY back tabs for the shower liner...have you found other hanging methods that open and close more smoothly than these?

Kelly: Heck no. I don't know why every single curtain is not hung this way. Rod pocket curtains don't open or close easily, and I'm not crazy about that bunchy look. And don't even get me started on the choppy look of tab top curtains! (I dislike them so much I invented this easy trick for making them look like custom back-tab drapes!)

Ursula: Oh yeah, that makes quite a difference!
You know, what I love most about your tutorial is how I'm entertained (I giggled like a loon reading it through the first time), I'm clued in (as opposed to my usual perplexed mouth agape look when reading tutorials), and I feel like I can do ANYTHING (although I'm a bit of a sewing dummy). How much sewing experience does one typically need to accomplish a feat like this? And what other fantastically do-able tutorials are you sporting on that brilliant blog of yours?

Kelly: *blush* Thanks! Before I made these curtains myself, I had completed approximately ZERO sewing projects. Saying I was a beginner is an understatement. If you can sew a straight line, you're already ahead of where I was when I made these. I get a lot of emails from people who have followed the tutorial and whipped up their curtains in an afternoon! (That blows my mind. It takes me FOREVER to get one straight seam.)

All I know how to do is write tutorials in plain English, because I'm just not fancy enough to do otherwise! If you're looking for more DIY ideas like that, make sure you check out my project gallery! You'll see some classics there like:

-How to make any lamp cordless

-Easy DIY art

-And how we completely made over our entire laundry room for only $157! (Did you know you can PAINT your laminate floors? And it lasts!)

And this is one of my all-time most popular posts, if you're in the market for some great DIY curtain ideas!

Ursula: *reading intently*... yep ummmhmmm...these are some seriously awesome projects. I will have to add these to my extremely long list of great ideas to try. Thanks so much for helping me out Kelly, my bathroom has never looked so good!

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DIY Hairclip Holding Art

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Senin, 11 November 2013 0 komentar

I'm working on the art grouping in my kids Jack & Jill bathroom, when I realize that I've misplaced the glass to one of my frames. Aw bum. I am tearing the place up looking for this tall thin piece of glass, but to no avail! I am terrified one of the kids will "find it" by accidentally stepping on it or scraping their hand along whatever surface I left it on... my poor paranoid mom mind is having visions of a maimed child with a large shard of glass through a foot or hand. *grimace* I "quarantine" the room I am working in and make all three kids sleep in one bedroom...you know, to keep them from being maimed. Two days later (yep two days) I give up in despair (telling the kids they will never be able to enter that room for the rest of their lives), swearing never to absentmindedly set anything down again (which lasted all of two seconds). Resigned, at least I know what I'm going to do with the glass-less frame...create a hair clip holder for all our fancy clips that can be displayed on the wall!
Now, before you go call child services, I did find that missing piece of glass...after I completed my project! Get this, it was where I put it for safe-keeping, on the top of a high bookcase. *face palm* Sooooo how many years after having a child can you claim baby brain?? *wry grin*

The Perfect Frame
The perfect frame for this project might just be the ugliest frame you have around, or one that has mysteriously lost it's glass. I spray painted this frame gold, rubbed it with some dark gel stain, and gave a clear protective spray before it was ready for my little project.

Materials

Glass-less frame
Fabric of choice
Ribbon
Foam or batting
Thin cork (optional)

Steps

1. Use the frame's matte (or the insert photo) to measure and cut your cork and foam (or batting) to size. Cork is only necessary if you plan to insert pins to hang items from.

2. Lay foam/cork/batting on top of your fabric and cut giving an extra inch or so. You need to be able to easily wrap the foam/cork/batting in the fabric.

3. There are several styles you can go for with your ribbon: a simple straight down the middle approach (like mine), or you can create a criss-cross design with your ribbon. This is a little more tricky to hold in position while putting into the frame, but doable with an extra set of hands!

4. Set your frame face down, and position your fabric wrapped foam/cork/batting and ribbon in the empty frame. You are going to place the frame backing so that you can pull the fabric and ribbon taut around the outside of it. Once the frame back is secured it should hold the fabric and ribbon very snugly in place. If necessary, trim any excess fabric and ribbon leaving at least a half inch all the way around. Optionally duck tape the edges to the frame back...this will tidy it up a bit and help prevent fraying edges.

Use this hanging storage to display your practical clips, your prettiest clips, or even your jewelry! I'll be storing my bobby pins...if I can ever find them! My little munchkins were playing princess yesterday, and somehow my pretty clips and all but these two bobby pins disappeared! Well, you'll just have to imagine how great pretty clips look displayed! *chuckle*

It fits well, nestled among the rest of the art grouping I finished a few days ago. In case you missed it, you have to go peak at how I created the art grouping on a total budget of $10! I even put some links to these prints for you... Perhaps there will be a few clever tips you hadn't thought of. *wink*

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The Golden Touch...Storage Bowls

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Jumat, 25 Oktober 2013 0 komentar

I've always been a brushed chrome girl...until now!
Deciding not to replace the pretty gold fixtures in our upstairs bathroom was the best decision I ever made for that space! Now I'm falling head over heels in love with gold, an affair I may not soon get over.

A month ago I purchased Krylon metallic gold spray paint with the idea to paint these awesome bowls I found at Goodwill for $1 each. I love the orange, but since I'm going for gold accessories for my upstairs bathroom, the orange has to go.

Well, lo' and behold I see the most beautiful image on Pinterest of gold sprayed mugs by Garland of Grace blog *swoon*. I literally yelled out loud "hey I did that too!". I don't usually read tutorials (what with my aversion to directions), but I couldn't peel my eyes away from that tutorial because of the gorgeous photos! I wish I had run across it before I completed my bowls, apparently I made the same set of mistakes she did *giggle*... great minds, and all that...

I have three medium bowls and three small bowls. The three large I taped off to paint the inside (with just a hint of the rim exposed), and the three small I created designs using painters tape before spraying.

When I peeled the tape back after it dried, I got a little bit of a rough edge...so definitely peel it before it has dried completely. I find that I kind of like a little bit of "rough edge", but only slightly... Here's a great little tip I stumbled on 5 bowls later. To get slightly blurred edges, remove the tape before it dries completely, then spray the clear sealant right away. The force of the clear spray causes the edges to "bleed" slightly if the gold paint is heavy and still wet. It makes for a neat effect!

I am looking for pretty ways to store practical things in the bathroom, and I'd say these bowls are it! Nail clippers, hair bands, soap, floss, you name it...

Remember, once you spray the inside of these bowls, they become purely decorative.
Whether you use these decorative bowls as storage in a bathroom space, or in any other space in your home, every home needs a little golden touch!

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How To Stain A Basket

Posted by sew4tejhtr6ier Selasa, 22 Oktober 2013 0 komentar

Are you reading this title asking why in the world you would ever need to stain a basket? Yeah, I know, we typically look for that finished product that already matches all our criteria. Which means our baskets are already perfectly stained.
Well I have been looking for the perfect small basket that will match the large dark stained ones I found for my upstairs bathroom, but to no avail! Then it occurred to me, why limit my search by looking for the perfect shade when I can create that shade myself?

After my "oh duhh" moment I realized that I already owned the perfect baskets for the job...and while I love the beautiful bleach tint, I needed these baskets to blend with the dark shades I had already chosen for my bathroom space.

So when you want to pinch those extra pennies, look around your house at what you already own, or perhaps feel more free to search the thrift stores and craft store deals for that perfect shape and texture, knowing that you may be able to tweak the stain. Look for baskets without a hardened enamel-like coating, and haven't already been painted...these are not ideal for staining (although not impossible). Consider painting these types of baskets, or giving them a good sanding before staining. Your ideal baskets are those with a textured or grass-like material, these absorb stain without any prep work.

Materials

Gel stain
Small - medium paint brush
Rag
Disposable gloves
Wipe-on polyurethane

Make sure you have adequate ventilation for this project. While the staining only took me 8 minutes per basket, this project takes several days for the stain and finish to set, so find a covered outdoor space or garage where you will have good ventilation, and you can leave your baskets to dry multiple nights.

Step 1. Use a cheap stiff bristled paint brush to apply the stain. A rag won't do it...you will definitely need that paint brush to get in all the cross-over grooves, just use a dabbing action to punch stain into the grooves. Be sure to use a brush you can throw away when you are done.

Step 2. Use a rag to wipe off the excess stain. Getting the desired tint or shade all depends on how much you apply, how long you leave it, and how much of the stain you wipe off.
After applying and wiping off the excess stain on all sides (including the inside), and you are satisfied with the results, allow it to dry for 12 hours.

Step 3. Finally seal your stain using a wipe on polyurethane. I used a thin coat of Minwax clear gloss wipe-on poly. You only need one thin coat of poly wiped on with a rag. Allow it to set for at least 72 hours before using it. Then enjoy your perfectly stained basket!