Category Archives: Projects

05.08.13

DIY Painted Wooden Windchimes...

Posted by Christina // 17 Replies

Have you entered to win? Get on that.

You know that lately I have been backyard dreaming. Longing for days of margarita sipping and sun soaking. So obviously when Sherry, Katie, Renee, and Emily announced the Spring Pinterest Challenge my attention went straight out the window.

My original plans were to build a grotto ala Mr. Hefner but Tim put his foot down when I said the only bunnies making an appearance would be furry.

So I turned my attention to a few of my favorite pins. We already have a welcome mat surplus, so I started making plans to bring color into our backyard oasis in other ways. Enter stage left, the wooden wind chimes. I have a weak spot in my heart for the tink tink of a wooden chime. You too? Well, here let’s make them together. Go put your patience pants on, and bring a pair for me too. I began by painting one little chime while sitting on the floor. Then it dawned on me, I would be painting one chime at a time and holding it until it was fully dry so that I didn’t get paint everywhere and ruin my project. Then I put on my thinking cap.

I grabbed some yarn and hung the chimes from a hook in our ceiling. My smartest move to date, thank goodness for thinking caps.

I used my thumb to pull the chime out and give it a quick thin coat, then let it dry for a hot minute. On to the next one. I will not lie to you and tell you this project is incredibly easy and you can finish it in ten minutes. These windchimes took over my life for seven hours.

It was as close as I have been to throwing in the proverbial towel, especially when I decided that you couldn’t see the orange and red paint well enough.

So those chimes needed to be sanded and repainted in the “cool” colors. There may have been a nervous breakdown, or at least a lot of ice cream consumed. Luckily, the result was marvelous and I couldn’t be happier.

I have already hung them up and forced Tim to sit outside with me admiring their cheery disposition. I just can’t get enough. Are you a fan of windchimes?
DIY anything neato lately?
Need a gallon of ice cream?

05.01.13

DIY double hoop wreath...

Posted by Christina // 11 Replies

You know all those fabric scraps you have just lying around looking pretty?
I declare that we should show them off. I had some Ikat fabric mocking me that had a calling as a superstar.
I love how fabrics can take on a whole new look when you wrap them. I scrounged around my craft stash and dug up two embroidery hoops. I knew they would come in handy eventually, although I thought it would be for when I took the embroidery plunge.

I began by wrapping the fabric around the larger hoop, then found a complimentary fabric to wrap the smaller hoop. Then I hit a wall. Not a real one, although it wouldn’t surprise anyone thanks to my clutzy nature. I wasn’t sure how to attach the two hoops. The answer to all crafting problems is either Mod Podge or Hot Glue, can I get an Amen.

So from attaching the hoops together to bedazzling the wreath with fabric flowers my thumbs took a piping hot glue beating.

The whole thing took about an hour and now I have dreams of thousands of fabric covered wreaths hanging from our tree in the backyard. Beckoning the birdies to perch for a minute. That would be my happy place, until they pooped on my new Adirondack chairs. Then I would bust the broom out and hop on the crazy train. Choo Choo.

Have you been dreaming of bird heaven in your backyard?
DIY’d any fun projects?
What do you do with your fabric scraps?

04.23.13

I went a little spraypaint crazy....

Posted by Christina // 2 Replies

Have you ever come across a project and thought, “yup I have to do that immediately”?

That is exactly how I felt when I saw Ashley’s coasters.

If you have ever done a DIY project you probably already have ninety percent of the supplies. Painters tape, check. Paint, check. Some feisty gold spray paint, check. If you have tiles, well then you are all set. We had to go pick up that last one, but check this out. You got it, this whole project cost us a whopping thirty cents. That is a DIY deal if I have ever seen one. A little paint, a little patience and you get these pretty little souvenirs. Check out the full tutorial here.

While I had all the paint out I figured I ought to spruce up some boring household items, you may have caught sneak peeks if you follow us on Facebook. If you don’t follow us on Facebook, you should get on that…because I love getting more than crickets when I ask questions like, “who is inviting us over for dinner?”

Enough shameless self promotion, while looking around the house for things to spruce I heard a whistle. I looked around my kitchen and then heard a yelp. Then there was some sort of crashing boom and the refrigerator caught my eye. Well, what once was our fridge at least. Lately, it has become a scrapbook of sorts. Please don’t look too closely or you will see two-year old Christmas cards, I can’t help it my friends have cute kids. I lovingly took all those sweet cards and announcements down and tucked them in a memory box. I also made a resolution to take down Christmas cards before the Fourth of July. To help keep the fridge looking classy I decided our magnets needed a little makeover, I mean I already had the paint out so why not.

I took our boring silver clasp magnets (because they hold like a boss) and gave them a rocker edge. Tim likes them because he thinks they look like little nautical flags but I say Mick Jagger would be proud. A little Frogtape, a couple thin coats of color, and voila….a whole new look. I promise to keep that fridge clean and whistle at it before it has to yelp at me.

Do you have matching magnets?
Is your fridge plastered in cards and momentos?
Got any crafts for all those announcements?

04.03.13

A quick fix....book covers

Posted by Christina // 7 Replies

I have been staring at a few books that just don’t make sense for quite some time now. They aren’t Quantum Physics or anything, just mismatched craziness. The problem is I can’t throw them out. One is a Barbie chronicle that any girl who grew up with Barbies would cherish like their first born….maybe. One is a St. Louis landmark book, and one is a Ripley’s believe it or not book with a super fancy 3-d cover. None of them are very “pretty” per say but I love looking through their pages and learning.

You caught a glimpse of them in this post. And I was so embarrassed of their mis-matchedness that I actually hid them in this post.

I finally decided to do something about it.
Super fast, super easy project comin atcha… You want to know how easy this was?
I walked downstairs and dug out some pretty scrapbook paper and the I just made simple bookcovers. Twenty minutes tops.

Now I can just sit and stare at my pretty books.

Which brings me to my next point…I am so happy that publishers have started making book covers almost art-like. All of the books I have bought recently are gorgeous enough on their own I will never have to wallpaper books again. I’m not hating on Barbie and Mr. Ripley, ok maybe I am. Have you bought any pretty books lately? Ever dressed up your library?

03.27.13

Make a fabric covered cork board with me....

Posted by Christina // 8 Replies

When my sister went away to college, she packed up a plain old cork board.

While she saw a place to pin all the digits boys slip her, I saw opportunity for jazzing up the basic. I took her cork board back home with me and nearly two semesters later, I jazzed it up. The best part is that this was super easy, and cheap when you have coupons and sales galore. I hit up Hobby Lobby during a fabric sale and picked up some colorful fabric, decorative tacks and that sweet wooden letter. All of the supplies including extra hot glue gun sticks cost a whopping $10. If you have a coupon you could score the cork board on the cheap too. Then turn on your favorite Housewives show and get to work. The hardest part was putting the tacks in straight and without breaking my thumb. I know there are lots of tutorials on how to keep the tacks straight, and I am sure you could use a small hammer to spare your thumb. I am not that “put-together” but you totally can be. To secure the fabric I just hot glued the back of the board with the fabric pulled super tight, and don’t be cheap with the glue. Really slather it on there. Same goes for the wooden letter, pretty it up and then glue that sucker on.

Have you made anything fun lately?

03.20.13

Bathroom pressure is never a good thing....

Posted by Christina // 17 Replies

I told you that when we went to look for flooring we magically picked out tile for the master bathroom.

We even brought the samples home, and displayed them proudly for all to see. All meaning us…and the dogs. Then something happened, I freaked out. I started thinking about staring at that tile for the next ten years, and wondering how hideous the next home owners would think it was. Will my faux wood floor be the equivalent of gold shower doors? Will this “linen look” actually just come off as dirty?

Originally we picked out “Leonia Silver” for the walls and “Sersa Black Walnut” for the floors. We had left any accent tiles up in the air….and that’s when the panic set in. We still really like both, but we just don’t think they are quite right for our space.

I started browsing. Pinning like a maniac, and rekindling my romance with Houzz.

Tim and I both agree that this room should be masculine and modern. What we can’t agree on are the finishes. We both like a couple different things that always end up contradicting. For instance, we both love the faux wood tile from our original dream team…but hate the look of it with a wood vanity. Enter gray floating vanity stage right. If only there were an Ikea closer.

Hola Option One. I have a serious crush on the Turkish Bath Towels, and a new bathroom is a totally legitimate excuse to buy some. Almost everything pictured would come from Lowes, with the exception of that vanity from Ikea.

But then again… On the other hand we also both like the herringbone trend, but aren’t crazy about it on the walls. Which leaves us with floors, which means we could have a wood vanity….but that means no wood floor clearly. And then we are left with what to do on the walls. Tim likes a manly mosaic, but I still can’t quite commit.

Are you down with the herringbone? Think I can convince Tim to let me bring some more color in? What is your favorite?