Little Changes: Star Fish Accent

Last week I guest posted for Amy over at One Artsy Mama.  And I'm going to re-post the project!  This is just a little accent that'd work for most themes.  

My guest bedroom is a beach theme, but not an in-your-face beach theme, very subtle, white washed, reclaimed wood and airy feel.  This is the first star fish or seashell anything that I put in there and it's very small, which is how I like it.  

Here is what you'll need:

1. Canvas - I bought this at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 - but I could have waited for it to go half off too and saved some more.  
2. Paint.  I wanted a very pale blue so I mixed a little bit of Spa Blue with White Wash to get the color I wanted.
3. A star fish, or really anything that would go with your theme of choice.
4. Glue gun & Glue sticks
5. Tape.  I used regular old run-of-the-mill scotch tape because I wanted thinner lines.  
6. Not pictured - paint brush.

Next:

I taped off one inch sections.  I eyeballed it, because I'm lazy and truthfully I wasn't after "perfect."

Next:

I mixed my paint so I'd have a very, very pale blue.  I just wanted faint lines because I like the white-washed beach feel for my guest bedroom.  I only painted on one coat and it took about 10 minutes to dry.  Once it's dry go ahead and peel off the tape.

Next:

Star fish generally don't lay flat, so I only applied glue at the points and let it set.

Next:

 Because this little accent is small, I used a push pin.  I mounted it in between the guest bedroom door and the door to the guest bathroom.  

And that's all there is to it.  Quick - simple and easy!  Just the way I like it!  Well I hope you all have a great week!

Linking up: See the "I Like To Party" link up top!

A2Z,TCB,


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Little Changes: Finished Centerpiece!

Honestly I feel that there isn't a single "finished" room in my house.  Well, my husband has an office/ man cave that's not only finished but crowded with memorabilia.  One day we'll have a downstairs den and it will all fit nicely down there, but until then - there's a an overly sports decorated office in my condo.

I don't really have a craft this week.  My project was to get my table feeling finished.  It felt simple and it looked like it was a sad excuse for a centerpiece.  When I first moved in I had this expectation of a simple and elegant creme and emerald table.  Classy and understated.  I've since changed my mind about decor about 30 times.

So this weekend I decided to take advantage of Hobby Lobby's 50% off sale for floral stems and glassware.  I spent about $15 total and I feel like my centerpiece is now finished.

Until Christmas when I go nuts with Christmas decor.  Seriously - just wait.


I really liked House of Smith's color palette when she showcased her home's bright and airy kitchen and dining area.  That's where the green and blue small vases came in.  I also used the pop of yellow as well.  I have a love-hate relationship with the color yellow.  I can take it in small doses and this was the perfect amount.

I'm loving the difference!

 Before we have an almost-finished centerpiece.  The tray and table runner might look a little familiar but the centerpiece is just sad.

Now it's colorful and full!  I love curly willow.  I just do.  I used it at my wedding and I have it other places in my house and I'll continue using it - I just love it.  I also love the hydrangea too.  When it come to fake flowers it was the priciest but I think it was worth it.

Finally - a finished table!

What's next for this area?  An indoor wreath to hang on that door leading to the terrace.  And curtains for that very blank window.  We also have a picture we plan to hang on the blank wall in the background.

But it's coming together.

I feel this is kind of weak to link up.  I might end up linking up to a few places but probably not as many with my other crafts.  If you would like to see where I like to party please see the "I Like To Party" link up top!

Some Window Shopping: 5/4/2011

Today is Wednesday. It feels like a Wednesday. Mostly because Friday feels weeks away. But hey - at least we'll reach 60 degrees outside today and that's very good news indeed. I might go get some Mexican Coke to celebrate. (Side note: isn't Mexican coke like 100 times better than American coke?)

Today's outfit that I'm swooning over:

1. Here. 2. Here. 3. Here. 4. Here. 5. Here.

That dress was found at E Shakti. A lovely store in which you can order ANY size dress in any shape you want. Isn't that wonderful? Custom fit to you and the first customization you get? Free. Go ahead and check them out.

Basically I can't afford most of this outfit. I can afford the jewelry and the clutch. The rest is dreaming. But I really do want an E Shakti dress one day. I also wish that the stuff I regularly need to use in a day could fit in a clutch. Well, that's not true, I wish I had the bravery to slim down the ole' purse. My sunglasses case wouldn't even fit in that clutch, but still - it's super cute.

The rest of my wants center around the fact that I don't know what I want to do to my master bedroom. I had a plan all set in motion and then my husband throws me a curve ball. He wants to start saving up for a new bedroom set. Which is fine by me, except the ones we really love are all in the brown family. My decorations were using black, white, gray and purple. That's ok, I think I want to sub out the black with chocolate brown, and the gray with tan or champagne. But I'm still unsure.

I have plenty of time to figure it out, but until then I like looking at stuff like this:

Found on Amazon. I like this. My husband doesn't though. Boo.

These were found during my "I like to browse model homes" time. I'm in love with this bed frame. I like the colors used in both of these and I like the mirrors used too. I like the tan and blue of this one and I also love that chair.

Love the mirror. I'm not sure I'd go with a yellow throw, but the beauty part about a place like this - swapping in new color would be a breeze.

Anyways, I'm off to keep online shopping for my niece and to keep an eye out for master bedroom ideas. Wish me luck!

Little Changes: Mod Podge Sign with Felt Flowers

Now, I know that I said that I wanted to incorporate a little more blue into my space - not green because I have green as it is.

But for this craft, I wanted to see if I could use things I already had around the house - basically the goal was free for me. And since I didn't have blue paper that would work, green it is!!

Instead of a hanging sign, I went for "accent." Mostly because it's really hard to mod podge paper around hanging wire. The felt flowers I made and I'll post the tutorial next Sunday. I like the overall outcome, even if its not blue.

You will need:

In no particular order:

1. A nice protected surface. Since I did this on the floor I used an old mat I had lying around. 2. Felt. 3. Glue Gun. 4. Scissors. 5. Something to trace with. A pencil is ideal but all I had was pen. 6. Glue sticks. 7. A paint brush. 5. Mod podge. 6. Sandpaper. (Optional.) 7. Item you are re-purposing. 8. Lettering. I used stickers because it's what I had. But you can get creative.

I had been given an old sign after someone had brought it back from a garage sale and they realized they went a little nuts. And since I had everything else around the house - this project cost me nothing. But I can't imagine that it would cost very much if I bought everything too.

First I mod podged the paper onto the wood block. I'm never too precise about measuring so I knew I'd have excess on the corners. Which is fine because I planned on sanding the edges down.

After the paper is mod podged on, I sanded the edges. Yes, some of it does flip up, but I'm not too worried about overall perfection.

After sanding the edges I painted on another coat of mod podge.

After that was dry I glued on my felt flowers. (Tutorial on them next week.)

I decided to put the sign above the book shelf after it was finished. Even though it's green, I like the placement.

I like the flowers on it. My husband is coming around.

Like I said, I'll post the tutorial on how to make those flowers next Sunday!

Linking: See "I Like To Party" Page

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Because it's having a hard time working:
TCB, TM, 30 HMD, SD,

Little Changes: Crepe Paper Pomander

I'm stilling slowly incorporating some color into my boring living area. I've decided that blue is that color that was missing. There are some ideas I want to try, but I'm starting slow.

I decided to make a crepe paper pomander in blue to add a pop of color to my accent table. This isn't the first one I've made. In fact, I've made tons. I made fabric flower pomanders, fake flower pomanders and crepe paper pomanders. I have yet to try paper flower pomanders...one day though, I will. Pomanders and really versatile too, they can be displayed in a large bowl or hung with ribbon.

But crepe paper is by far the most cost effective. Since I already had the glue gun and glue sticks this entire project cost a grand total of $7.47. And it could have been cheaper if I re-used a candle holder around the house, but this one was the right size I wanted.

The essentials:

Styrofoam ball, crepe paper, some type of holder, glue gun, glue sticks, and a way to protect your table from the hot glue gun.

Instructions:

If you want all of the flowers to be the exact same size, you'll want to cut the strips the same size. If you want large flowers, you'll cut long strips and vice versa. I started out with the same size flowers but since they didn't cover the Styrofoam completely, I cut smaller ones to fill the spaces. I like to crumple the paper before I start. I think it makes it softer and easier to work with. After its officially wrinkled... You'll start rolling one side. You roll and twist at the same time and eventually you'll notice...

The shape begins to form a flower. Once it gets to this point, you'll put a dab of glue on the side as you go so it sticks together.

First one. Whenever I do this, the first one always ends up tightly wound like this. I learned that if you wrap it loosely the rosettes come out better.

In order to get the rosettes to lay flat, you'll need to cut off the little stem that formed while you twisted and wrapped.

I glued as I went and of course, I ended up with some uncovered Styrofoam. You can always make smaller rosettes to cover the rest. It doesn't have to be perfect. Or if it does, then best of luck to you with your 8-12 extra steps. I'm lazy.

A candle holder was what I was after so I looked at the candle holder aisle because they were all half off. This actually had a glass votive holder in the middle. I thought it was perfect because the sides came up to hold the pomander perfectly but I decided that I could save money by reusing one I had at home so I put this back...poorly. I placed it on the edge, it fell and smashed the glass votive holder...so new holder it is!

Here is the finished product.

I like the pop of color. I would also like to repaint the frames white, light blue and pale green. I'm also planning on re-purposing the lamp shade using white burlap ruffles. I'm also working on a stenciled canvas frame as well...so keep your eye out!

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I heart naptime, The Girl Creative, Under The Table & Dreaming, Skip to my Lou, Flamingo Toes, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Embellishing Life, Dittle Dattle, Craft-O-Maniac, Its So Very Cheri, Pinkopotomus, C.R.A.F.T., Making the World Cuter, Keeping it Simple, DIY Home Sweet Home Project, Life Made Lovely, I'm Topsy Turvy, This & That, Today's Creative, Sugar Bee Crafts, All Thingz Related, Giggles Glitz & Glam, Tip Junkie, Not Just A Housewife, Ladybug Blessings, Vintage Wanna Bee, Sugar & Dots, All Things Heart & Home, Blue Cricket Design, Sister's Stuff, Someday Crafts, DIY by Design, Type A, Passionately Artistic, Trendy Treehouse, Elements Interiors, Handyman - Crafty Woman, House of Hepworths,Paisley Passions, Yesterday on Tuesday, Shabby Chic Cottage, Fireflies & Jellybeans, Somewhat Simple, Momnivore's Dilemma, Sweetpeas & Bumblebees, Remodelaholic, 504 Main, Simple Home Life, Simply Sweet Home, Shabby Nest, 30 Days Handmade, Tidy Mom, Fingerprints on the Fridge, My Repurposed Life, Stuff & Nonsense, It's Fun to Craft, Lovely Crafty Home, Simply Designing, Its a Hodgepodge Life, Tatertots & Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different Act Normal,

At it again: Chevron Table Runner

Yesterday as I was shaking my fist at the weather, I came up with an idea to change my table runner for my accent table.

I decided to go Chevron.

The table runner is just a basic burlap runner that I purchased at Target two years ago. I had to cut it down to fit to the accent table, but its been there ever since.

So yesterday after getting soaked and snowed on, I decided to just do it:

Because I already had the table runner, the overall cost of this project was for two bottles of paint and some more brushes so my total came to $3.19.

What I used:

1. Paint in the color of your choice. I chose "white wash." I used a bottle and a half for this project. 2. Paint brushes. You can use whatever you want but these brushes tend to be on the "crazy-cheap" side. 3. Masking tape or premade stencil. 4. Some sort of way to protect the surface you're using against paint. I re-used paper grocery sacks that I cut. 5. Whatever it is you're painting. (Not pictured.)

I began taping off the chevron pattern:

This turned out to be a little more tedious than expected. While taping off the entire runner would have made this go faster, I ended up just taping off three patterns and reusing them.

Painting:

With this material, it worked best to just "dab" the paint on.

Drying:

I took a meal break while I waited for it to dry...

Finished product:

I really like how this came out. It would have been pretty if I used a really light blue too, but I'm happy I went with white.

I really like the finished product. Even my husband commented on how it draws your eye to the area more.

I think my next project will be spring related decor to add to this table!

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Linking here:

Under The Table & Dreaming Craftaholics Anonymous Type A Sumo Sweet Stuff Dittle Dattle Sew Can Do The Girl Creative Craftomania Its So Very Cheri Vintage Wanna Bee This & That Strictly Homemade Sugar Bee Ladybug Blessings Tip Junkie Today's Creative All Things Heart & Home Eisy Morgan Laugh, Love & Craft Paisley Passions Someday Crafts Type A Sisters Stuff DIY By Design Sugar and Dots Passionately Artistic My Backyard Eden House of Hepworths Yesterday On Tuesday The Shabby Cottage Somewhat Simple Tidy Mom 30 Days The Shabby Nest Simply Sweet Home Simple Home Life Momma's Kinda Crafty Finding Fabulous Creation Corner 504 Main Remodelaholic Fingerprints on the Fridge Hodgepodge Life Whipperberry Tatertots and Jello Lovely Crafty Home Its A Crafty Life Funky Junk Interiors

DIY Showoff, Domestically Speaking,