Feathering Our Nest With Love: Part 2 & a Crafty Quick Fix!

We've surged full steam ahead on making over our bedroom! Despite the heat and the handicap of living in small apartment with very limited workspace, we've made quite a bit of progress! Jay is thrilled because he's gotten to use some new power tools we received as wedding gifts and I'm super excited to get a paintbrush back in my hands!

Here's a quick preview of some of our progress:

Removed all the hardware from Jay's tall dresser. Helpful tip: Use duct tape to label the lids of re-used plastic yogurt containers. Store any loose hardware you may need again in these containers. Write the name of the project on the duct (and if you're anything like me, the date too! You might have more than one project going at once!)


Primed all the drawers and the dresser itself with Zinsser. The primer I chose purportedly adheres to painted and finished metal, wood, masonry, etc. without the need for sanding. This snapshot is the top of the dresser after one coat.
After two coats of primer (with thorough drying time), I got to add my first coat of real paint! Our color of choice: Aqua Bay by Pittsburgh Paints. We have an exciting finish to add over top of the Aqua Bay paint, but we're anxiously awaiting it's arrival from the postman! Stay tuned!!!

And as promised, a crafty quick fix perfect for any living space!

Crafty Quick Fix: DIY Privacy Fabric Window Clings

Achieve a comforting sense of privacy while letting in the natural light! This project is perfect for apartment dwellers or anyone looking for an inexpensive and removable solution.

Supplies: White Cotton Fabric, Scissors, Ruler or Tape Measure, Iron, Plastic storage bin, Spray Starch

Step 1: Assemble supplies (Image A)

Step 2: Measure the width of your selected window. (Image B) Choose how much of the actual window you want to cover. Since our window contains two panes of 27”, we decided to cover the bottom 27 square inches of each pane. This allows unfiltered light through the top portion of the window, while still providing plenty of privacy from the lower portion. (We have blinds we can lower if we ever want to reduce the level of light in the room!)

Step 3: Clean your window with glass cleaner. We like Seventh Generation Free & Clear Glass and Surface Cleaner!

Step 4: Cut your white cotton fabric to the appropriate size to fit your window. Since I need two 27” squares for my window, I’ve resorted to the old origami trick of folding a right triangle to achieve my square! (Image C) Iron out any wrinkles. You want your fabric as wrinkle-free as possible.

Step 5: Using your plastic storage bin to protect your work surfaces, gently begin dousing your fabric with spray starch. (Image D) Use your spray starch as directed, giving the fabric a good soaking.

Step 6: Once your fabric is thoroughly moist with starch, hang on your clean window pane. Beginning at the top, gently smooth out any wrinkles. Continue to spray your fabric with starch to encourage adhesion. Once all of the initial wrinkles have been smoothed out, apply a thorough coat of starch to the entire fabric. (Image E)

Step 7: Repeat steps 4 through 6 for any additional panes you wish to cover. Rinse your hands, wash out your plastic bin, and revel in your privacy! Image F is a snapshot of our window from the outside at night. The left window pane is completed and the right pane jealously awaits it’s turn!

Tomorrow I'll have updates on the progress to our DIY headboard and Jay's quality time with his new toys!

Crafty Quick Fix: Picture-Perfect Chalkboard

I'm one of those overly-organized people who write everything down lest she forgets. Post-it notes, To-do lists, and magazine clippings can be found all over the house, in my purse, on my fridge, all over my desk... Sometimes those little reminders just aren't enough. They get buried or get lost and you're stuck at the grocery store trying to remember those three silly items you came there to get! This Picture-Perfect Chalkboard helps remedy those pesky situations. Now that quick grocery list stares you in the face every time you walk by this beautiful work of art. It also works as a functional yet funky Family Message Board. Jot a love note to your sweetie, or remind him to take out the trash!

Before:












After:

Always on the lookout for ways to re-use thrift store finds, I crafted this simple project out of a $2 frame. After removing the glass, I stripped the varnished and stained wood with this helpful new product I found: Citristrip. According to the manufacturer, this stripping product is safer to use and better for the environment because it lacks the harsh chemicals other strippers depend on. I also personally recommend Citristrip because it's gel form makes simple work out of stripping and provides excellent coverage on raised surfaces like the beveled frame I re-purposed. After two coats of "Aladdin's Wish" paint from Hardware Hank, and a quick coat of chalkboard spray paint from Krylon on a piece of paneling cut to the size of the frame, you're all set to assemble a fabulous new place to jot down your daily reminders!

P.S. Check out my collection of adorable Owl trivets! I just love that vintage charm!

Crafty Quick Fix: Instant Ensemble

We all have those days... You wake up and realize you haven't a thing to wear, despite a closet bulging with clothes. I've developed a simple way to always have an outfit at the ready for any occasion, without the hassle of trying a dozen things on. Set aside a rainy afternoon, grab your digital camera (or better yet, a Polaroid!), and head straight to your closet! Start piecing together outfits you've worn in the past and have felt fabulous in. Snap a photograph or two of it. Be creative and be daring. Heck, it's only a photo!

The goal here is to create an album of pre-determined outfits you can turn to when you're fashionably at a loss. You can even jot down notes for each outfit, describing what type of occasion its appropriate for, what shoes to wear with it, and what accessories would dress the outfit up or dress it down for a casual event.

"Make it Work." - Tim Gunn, fashion guru

Take it a step further. Invite a best girlfriend over and see what combinations she fancies. She might see potential in that green silk blouse of yours you never had the courage to wear. Even ask your boyfriend or significant other what outfit they like best. Star that outfit in your album and remember to wear it on an anniversary or birthday!

Check out some of the outfits I've created for myself, mixing in some of the tips from Real Simple Magazine's Essentials of a Well-Balanced Wardrobe. Challenge: Can you spot the thrift store finds?

Crafty Quick Fix: Fabric Storage

Anyone who claims the title of "craft-a-holic", finds themselves casually scouring the remnant bins and clearance racks of craft stores, looking for amazing deals and items to inspire future projects. While its lucky to save money and always be looking ahead to your next project, you still have to find room to store all of those fabric remnants and leftovers from past projects. Storage is a difficult premise for any craft-a-holic, but especially so for an apartment-dwelling one! (For a real challenge, try it in a single bedroom apartment with a roommate and a cat like I do!)

Solution: Purchase a shoe organizer to hang in a closet. Inexpensive yet sturdy, this organizer cost less than $10 and really serves it purpose well. I utilize the bottom boot-size cubby spaces as a colorized miscellaneous fabric catch-all. The upper portion, with shoe-size cubby holes, is the perfect spot to store specific materials for specific projects, like dyes to make custom curtains or fabric & supplies to make plastic bag organizers for a non-profit group.

Crafty Quick Fix: Cake Decorating Short-Cut

Check out this crafty and ingenious technique my aunt used to decorated my cousin's birthday cake! Instead of whipping up another color of frosting and relying on a very steady hand to trace Pooh's outline and draw his face, she used mini chocolate chips as the outlining border!

This clever and quick method saves time and aggravation. No need to try and cover up any mistakes. Just re-apply the chocolate morsels! My aunt also added full-size chips to the bottom of the cake, where the frosting meets the serving tray. This visibly adds dimension to the cake as well as hides anything unsightly.

Here's a short list of other creatively cheats you can use to decorate cakes, cupcakes, or even gingerbread houses:

• White Chocolate Chips
• Mini M&M's or Regular M&M's
• Pull and Peel Licorice
• Butterscotch Morsels
• Red Hots
• Jelly Belly Beans
• Cocktail Peanuts
  
• Or any other variety of your favorite snacks and sweets!
  

Crafty Quick Fix: Ribbon Calla Lilies

One of my aunt's was kind enough to donate to my card making and crafting efforts, a Hefty bag full of dozens of spools of ribbon in all sizes, colors, and types. My challenge now is to find new was to utilize and incorporate ribbon into more and more projects. Craftster.com is a great source to find new and unique uses for ribbon. I found a simple but charming tutorial for making Calla Lilies (my sister's favorite!) out of ribbon from Posh N Pretty.


Modifying the tutorial provided there, I created this picture frame. Instead of using hot glue to secure the folds of the ribbon, I used a needle and thread to hand sew them together. It prevented me from burning myself on a hot glue gun and it allowed a little more adaptability! Ribbon accents stripe the wooden frame in coordinating colors and bring a feminine touch to a natural frame.


In contrast to the elegant ribbon version of the Calla Lilly, I used the exact same tutorial to make origami lilies out of paper for a sympathy card. Green ribbon was still utilized to make stems for these lilies. The stark purity of the white flowers against this black background visually evokes the same sentiment of the cards written message.


By changing the color of the card's elements, you could easily create a cards to celebrate almost any occasion. Pastels to celebrate a baby shower. Metallics in silver or gold to commemorate a wedding anniversary. Deep jewel tones to recognize a friend's birthday.

Craft Quick Fix: Body Scrub Party Favors

At the end of last month my younger sister hosted a small gathering of friends to celebrate her 21st birthday. I am a wonderful big sister and I contributed homemade party favors for her guests to take home and enjoy. I used an idea I found on MarthaStewart.com to make a scented body scrub that any girl will go ga-ga over now that it is flip-flop season again. Epsom salt provides gentle exfoliation while grape seed oil or olive oil moisturizes your skin to a smooth, touchable finish. You can even choose your favorite essential oil for a personalized fragrance. My boyfriend has even requested I try making a scrub for him in his favorite scent, pine-balsam! Check out the recipe here.

Packaging these favors are simply a breeze now that Ball Mason Jars have taken on a fun, contemporary design. Their new line, "Collection Elite", provides the perfect storage for all types of things. I used the small 8 oz. size for these gifts, but Ball Mason Jars also come in a larger 16 oz. Pint size. Their wide-mouth design and platinum lids are a stunning update from the Ball Mason Jars your grandma uses!

This project would lend itself to a number of uses: bridal showers, girls-night-out souvenirs, teacher appreciation gifts, brithday presents, etc. Design your own gift labels to suit your needs. Be creative and have fun with it.

And don't forget to make a little extra for you to use yourself!

Craft Quick Fix: Mail Holder

When you can't find quite what you're looking for in stores when it comes to home decor, why not design your own? Found at a local thrift store, this unfinished particle board box was probably a homemade donation. More than likely, its creator intended it to be used as a napkin holder, but the slots cut into two of its sides make for a great mail holder in our hallway instead.

Because it was unfinished, we could design and decorate the box any which way we pleased. Using craft paint in a mushroom brown taupe and dark mocha, this easy project was completed overnight. Contact paper was used to create a stencil and a spray lacquer gives it a protective coat and lustrous shine. Simple tricks and a little patience can turn any simple project into a piece you may come to cherish!

Crafty Quick Fix: Kitchen Update

Last week along with the help of four young & talented cousins and one handy boyfriend, we updated this once washed out kitchen into a cozy, welcoming space. In under two days, we turned white, uninspired cabinets into masterpieces of antique charm. The simple procedure called for removing all doors and hardware before any painting could get started. Jason soaked and scrubbed the old, original hardware in chemical solvent to remove any old paint and buildup. The kids and I painted two coats of Macadamia Nut paint from Benjamin Moore over all of the doors and cabinet facing. After allowing that to dry overnight, we then applied an easy colorwashing technique to give the cabinets depth, contrast, and added color. This technique also hides any imperfections in old cabinets. I also found that kids (with proper supervision) are the perfect applicators for this technique, especially when you have more than one child to help! Randomness in strokes enhances the effect and what better way to achieve random than by enlisting a couple of unique individuals with unique styles to help?


See below photos for a step by step guide to colorwashing.

In the first image, you can see the drastic difference colorwashing made to the cabinets. The left hand door was only painted with the Macadamia Nut while the right-sided doors were given our glamorous colorwash treatment. And in the second picture: the end result - a beautifully simply update to brighten any one's day.











Kid-friendly
Colorwashing


Materials:
1 Gallon of Basecoat (More or less may be needed depending on the size of your kitchen)
1 Quart of Glaze (Found in the painting aisle of most fine hardware stores)
2 3 oz. Paint Samples (One a shade slightly darker than your basecoat and the other slightly lighter than your basecoat)
Paintbrushes (at least 3 - one for each paint color)
1 Softening Brush (like this one available at Lowe's or any inexpensive alternative with relatively firm bristles)


Day One

Step 1: Remove all doors, drawers, and hardware (hinges and handles)

Step 2: Apply basecoat(s) (and primer first if necessary) to all cabinet doors, drawers, and facing. A light shade like Macadamia Nut here works well, but a pastel blue, green, or yellow could also be used. Allow about 4 hours dry time between coats (more time if humid). Allow basecoat(s) to dry overnight before moving onto colorwashing.

Day Two
Step 3: In small containers, mix 4 parts glaze to 1 part paint for each of your sample colors. These samples are now available at almost any paint retailer and only costs about $4 each. You save money and you don't get stuck with lots of leftover paint. I recommend using plastic spoons for the 4 to 1 measuring and mixing only small quantities at a time. It's easier for the kids to handle smaller amounts and it easier to prevent heavy application on any one area of your cabinetry by overly eager Picassos.

Step 4: Create an assembly line of three people. Person A brushes on darker glaze. Person B brushes on light glaze. Person C uses softening brush to blend and give texture. I've found it helpful to demonstrate the process to each individual involved, so they know what important part their role is.

Step 5: Person A brushes on the darker glaze in random areas, using criss-crossing "X" motions. Only a small amount of glaze mixture is needed for each door/drawer. Only allow the person to use what paint is on the brush after one dip in the glaze. This too prevents overly eager Picassos. There's no need to cover every square inch of the cabinetry, as Person B will come in to help fill in spaces. Have Person A move down the assembly line, adding their glaze to each door/drawer.

Step 6: As soon as Person A finishes their first door/drawer, have Person B follow suit and use the exact same procedure only using the lighter glaze mixture instead. Fill in spaces Person A left free, but feel free to leave some of your basecoat color shine through too. Allow Person A to also glaze directly over some of the areas covered my Person A's fabulous criss-cross glaze work. Have Person B move down the assembly line like Person A.

Step 7: Person C will now come along and use a dry softening brush to blend the glazes and add texture and depth to the treatment. Like Persons A & B, Person C will use criss-crossing "X" motions all over the cabinetry, varying between long and short strokes. Random is key! Have Person C follow Persons A & B down the assembly line.

Step 8: Allow glazes to dry at least 4 hours. Assess your handiwork. Feel free to repeat Steps 5-7 if you desire a darker or more enhanced effect. Tip: Have kids trade rolls this time so that Person C gets the opportunity to apply glaze.

Step 9: After glazes have dried, reattach hardware and reinstall drawers and doors.

Step 10: Step back and admire your new space!

Crafty Quick Fix: Jewelry Organizer

One of the many inspiring ideas I've found while using the website Craftster proved to be an amazingly easy and amazingly helpful one! And pretty stylish too! Following a tutorial provided by ModCloth (follow link), I created this nifty way to organize, store, and display my jewelry. The frame is 15"x15" and was purchased for only $5 at TJ Maxx. I had to disassemble it and throw out the ugly safari themed art print that came with it, but the effort proved fruitful. The asian inspired brocade is from JoAnn's. It complements the gold and chestnut tones of the frame. Common pearl-headed pins keep the jewelry in place with the help of a polyester foam inset which the fabric and frame hold in place. It took under 15 minutes and under $15 to create.