Easy Table Turn-Around!

This past week I was so excited to find this little white table at TJ MAXX on clearance for $20.00. (It was regular $50!) When I went to pick it up I noticed that the top was broken. I immediately started seeing the possibilities in my head of what I could do with it! I decided to take it home for a little TLC!

Here is the beginning product before I started working on it...

The first I thing I had to do was fix the broken top. I pulled out my gorilla wood glue and secured that stinker shut! When that was set, it was time to pull it outside!

I decided to go with the same aqua blue I painted the dessert trays last week since I had almost a full can leftover. It's the Krylon "Blue Ocean Breeze" with Gloss

I took the drawers out and went to work! I'm really happy with the outcome of the color! However, I'm not so crazy about the color on the grass...but what do ya do? ;)

After the paint was dry, I got out my sandpaper and started distressing the wood

About this time, I had a little visitor peering from the back porch... (Sorry, I couldn't help but share! hee hee)

Ok, back to work....lol

Here are a few photos of the distressing

After sanding, I went back over it with a clear protective gloss to secure it and make it shiny :)

I wanted to change up the simple round knobs, so I bought a $2.97 package of two copper handles from Wal-Mart. (I had a really pretty chrome color to spray paint them) Then I went to Michael's and grabbed a $3.00 pack of wood accents that I could paint as well

Here are the painted handles and accents

I wanted to make sure that the accents and knobs looked distressed as well, so I used a little white acrylic paint and painted in the little crevices and sanded them both down a little

Here is one of the distressed handles...

Here they are after being adhered with my trusty gorilla wood glue...lookin' pretty good!

When these were set, I went ahead and gave the whole thing one more protective coat and waited for it to dry!

I must say...I just love it! The color is so perfect and bright! Here it is when I brought it into my house! It's hard to tell in the picture, but the plate has little aqua flowers on it and goes so PERFECTLY! :D

This whole thing only cost me $26.00 and is the PERFECT custom addition to my home! :D

Making the Sunburst Mirror!

This week at Craft Night, Angela taught us how to make this beautiful sunburst mirror! We had a lot of fun with this and couldn't believe how inexpensive it is to make and how chic/expensive it looks when it's done!! Everything could be purchased at the dollar store except for the round mirror in the center. (We all found ours at Michaels for under $2.00) The total cost otherwise was only about $1.00 as most of us already had scissors and hot glue gun's at home! 

Here are your supplies:

-4 pieces of poster board (Can be whatever color you'd like)

-Sharp Scissors

-Hot Glue Gun

-Pencil/Pen

Here is how to make it:

First, take two paper towels (still attached) and outline the longest length of a "Petal" or "Sun ray" that you would like for the back row of your mirror (As you move on to the small layers, just cut off a piece of the paper towels to make your outline shorter)

After you have drawn your outline and cut it out, tape it to the poster board and begin cutting your rays. You should line the first one to be pretty close to the edge so that you can get about 4 rays from one side of the poster board.

If you'd like, you can fold your board so that you can cut all four at one time

Here is an example of a cut "ray"

According to the example piece at the top of the page, you should have two layers of eight "rays" and one layer of four "rays". But remember, this is YOUR project! So, if you want more or less rays go with your gut! You'll be happier if you do it the way you want! ;)

After you've cut all your "rays" or "petals", hit the floor with the hot glue gun and glue those suckers onto the small mirror or outline around the mirror

<<Side Note>> Feel free to use whatever you'd like to outline the mirror and make it POP! Some of the things that we used were black foam, a black plate charger or just a round left over piece of poster board painted a darker color

AGAIN...This is YOUR project...It will probably hang in YOUR home or business, so do it YOUR way! Angela has a business where she makes glitzy flower accessories so she made hers into a giant "Glitzy Girlies" Flower... So cute!

I didn't realize that spray paint doesn't hold on paper (Yes people...I know, I know...I'm still learning!) so after a major chrome spray paint FIASCO.... I ended up painting my "Petals" to look like a sunflower to go in my back porch. Can I just tell you that I adore serendipity! What could have been a major let down became an awesome alternative! I can't wait to hang it out there!

One thing for sure though...you can't go wrong with the classics! Check out how beautiful and classy these two look!!!!

I missed getting my own shots of the white mirrors, so thankfully I got copies from the artists themselves! I don't have photos of the other three that were made but let me assure you...they were FABULOUS! One of the girls is waiting until she can find the perfect little clock to go inside her "rays" or "petals"! Such a fun alternative to the mirror!

One last note! To get this look, each ray was folded down the middle to give it some dimension and texture! It so totally appeals to the eye!

Great job, Ladies!! This was definitely a craft night success! :D

"No Sew" Shabby Chic Chair Pillow!

I've seriously been on one heck of a craft kick the past few weeks, and here is my latest "completed" project! We got rid of our old beaten down entertainment center last week and bought a new delightfully distressed ivory piece in it's place. I love it!!!!! The only thing is that it is a little shorter than the one we had before, so when everything was said and done there was this awkward space on it's side. I thought about what I should put there and remembered I had this old distressed black chair that I bought as a prop from a thrift store for $5.00. I pulled it out of the garage and brought it to it's new home in my living room. However, it still didn't look....right. I decided it needed a chair cushion! I went to Wal-Mart and Target but of course didn't like anytime I saw. Then I remembered that I had this awesome teal blue and tan/gold fabric that I use as a backdrop for photo sessions. I pulled it out and just cut enough off for the pillow case. I went to JoAnn's and picked up a foam chair cushion, batting and hemming tape and went to work!

Supply List:

Fabric

Hemming Tape

( Feel free to sew your pillow... I used hemming tape because my sewing machine is in need of repair and the hemming tape is OH SO EASY!)

Iron/Ironing board

Foam chair pillow cushion

Batting

Hot glue gun (Optional)

Here we go:

First, I laid out my materials...



Then, I placed the cut down foam cushion on the fabric and marked where the crease would be. I turned the fabric inside out and placed the hemming tape along the side to create a seam. I ironed the seam to make the hemming tape adhere strongly. After all the sides were sealed, I turned the fabric right side out and ironed it a little more just to give it a little extra adhesive.

Here is a close up of how the seam turns out once the fabric has been turned right side out...

Here, I cut two long strips of the fabric to make the ties. I used the hemming tape to give them nice edges

This next part depends on how you want to do it...because my sewing machine is out of commission for a little while and the hemming tape was just not working with all the batter holding the fabric apart, I chose to pull out old faithful...my hot glue gun! I placed the ties where I wanted them and glued them in place along with the last side of the pillow.

And...TA DA! All done! Just tie the ties on the pillow and you are all set!

Here is my "new" chair in it's new home next to the TV stand. :D

Way too easy + SUPER cheap + Adorable outcome = MY KIND OF PROJECT! :D





Brightening things up on a budget...China plate wall art!

For some reason I have been SO tired of my previous home decor... I just decided one day that enough was enough of all the dark colors!! My whole house has had a theme of dark chocolate brown and rich red. Definitely a pretty combination but oh so dark! I lightened my bedroom a few weeks ago and love the changes that I made! You can see the finished product here: Time for a change! After I did this, the next thing I decided HAD to go was my prized photo wall... it was sad! The photo wall had been my favorite thing about the whole house and I couldn't imagine taking it down. But I knew that if I started there I would be motivated to keep going until the whole house was lighter and more "Me". I started with these basic white frames I bought at Wal-Mart and few different china plates I picked up at a few different thrift stores. Then, I added a plain silver platter I've had stored away in my craft/prop room month for months (Another thrift store find!) and spray painted it a bright yellow! Then, I found some smaller distressed frames at the flea market last week so I cleaned them up and on the wall they went! WOW, it made such a difference! I love it! It's so bright and cheerful and it cost me a total of... get ready for this... $21.00!!!! Yes Ma'am, that's it! Here are the before and after photos! :)

Before... (Another DIY project I designed and mounted)

Now here is the finished project...drum roll please...

Nothing too elaborate...simple, elegant & clean!

Here is a closer look...

DIY Dessert Stands

I found this idea while "blog browsing" the other day and couldn't wait to try it! It is so easy and very affordable! The total cost was only $8.00!!!

Here we go:

Supply List:

-Candlesticks for base

-Aluminum plates from the Dollar Tree

-Spray Paint for color of your choice

-Hot glue gun

Directions:

Set out your supplies outside on even ground... I wanted a happy color that I could use for spring/summer goodies. I chose "Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze Gloss" for a really cute robin's egg blue

Spray paint your plates...

Now it's time to get back to your candlesticks!

With your hot glue gun, glue around the ring of the candlestick and adhere it to the bottom of the plate. You can add as many tiers as you'd like! I wanted to make a cluster, so I went with one 'two tiered' and two 'one tiered'.

Here is the finished product...

I decided to incorporate mine into my spring table decor...I love it! :D

All I need now are some yummy treats to pile on my new plates! Mmm Mmm :)

Upcoming Craft Night...Sunburst Mirror!

Angela D will be hosting our next craft night, on April 20th from 7:00pm-10:00pm. We will be making this fabulous sunburst mirror! If you would like to attend, please email me for the address. Thanks! :)

Supply List:

(1) Small round mirror - $1
(4) Sheets of poster board - 2 for $1
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors (make sure thy are sharp!
Spray paint, glitter or anything else you might want to add to the mirror!

All of these items can be found at the Dollar store!
Feel free to get any type of mirror you would like if you want to switch it up.

Angela also has a surprise little craft for you moms who wanna take something home to your little one(s)! Make sure to bring:

Straight pin
(1) piece of cute scrapbook paper

So excited and can't wait to see you all!

Dangle Earring Holder!

Hi Ladies! I hope you don't mind but I am so excited about this craft that I just had to share it with all of you! I hope that each of you will post crafts you do as well! What a great way to keep sharing and learning from each other!

Dangle Earring Holder

I saw this on http://www.kevinandamanda.com/ and just had to make it! I have so many pairs of dangle earrings that are just imprisoned in a little organizer box in my dresser drawer...sad. This way they are proudly displayed as art and show a piece of my personality! SO much fun!! :D

Supplies:

1. A large enough frame to fit all your dangle earrings (I used an 11x13 to give me some extra room to grow)

2. Picture hanging wire (One box of thin wire worked great!)

3. White acrylic paint and brush

4. Nails & Hammer or staple gun

Steps to make earring holder:

(Sorry I didn't think to take photos as I went along...)

1. Take the back and glass from an 11x13 black picture frame (I just used the cheapest one from Wal-Mart)

2. Using white acrylic paint, brush over the frame (you can also scratch it up a bit to give it that distressed look)

3. Take picture wire and secure three rows across the frame with nails, staple gun, etc (I used nails for this one)

4. (Optional) Cut a piece of fabric or pillowcase and attach with the picture wire (This was an afterthought as a solution to the earrings sliding all over the place into one another. I simply poke the earring back through the pillowcase and it holds them perfectly without losing the look.)



Juliette Easter Baskets!

Tonight I kicked off the Domestic Diva's by hosting our first craft night! I chose the "Juliette Easter Basket" for us to work on. Here is the example that I made to show the rest of the Diva's a basic idea of the Juliette basket. It was so fun seeing everyone's personality show in their baskets! 

 

Step One:

Pull apart the flowers from the stem

Step Two:

Using the hot glue gun, place a little glue on the back of the flower and secure it anywhere on the basket

Step Three:

Place flowers in any design you wish and adorn any extras (Butterflies, birds, etc.)

Step Four:

Enjoy each other's company! ;)

Here are some of the finished baskets!

And what party would be complete without a little snack??