Category Archives: DIY

Jan 16 2012
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Crafts, DIY

Rose Trees – Natural Elegance for a Wedding

One of my little brothers got married this weekend…and our family was recruited to help with the reception.  I made all of the centerpieces, but managed to only photograph the rose trees that graced the four family tables.  Excuse the lighting…it’s the best I could do for a quick snapshot.

 

TUTORIAL: Rose Trees

Supplies Needed
Tree Branch, 5-7 rose buds, brown floral tape, hotglue gun/glue sticks, large vase, glass pebbles or other vase filler and floral block (crystals, optional).

Steps

  • Hotglue rosebuds to branches.  Add more security by taping each stem with brown floral tape.
  • Place branch in large vase, securing inside floral foam block.
  • Add glass pebbles or other vase filler to create greater hold for the branch.
  • Finally add crystals to branches, securing with brown floral tape.

Simple, beautiful, natural and affordable!

Happy Creating,
Jen

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Nov 22 2011
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Before & After, Decorating, DIY, Livingroom, Thrifting, Vintage

Hutch Much? (before & after)

Remember last summer when I posed the question, “Would you paint this?”, referring to my heirloom hutch?

Hutch (before)

 

Well, not one to procrastinate (ha-ha-ha!) I’m here today to show you what I decided to do with it.  I wanted to brighten up the interior, while also maintaining the integrity of the piece since it is a family piece and in good condition.  My solution?

(after)

I found a pale blue roll of wrapping paper at Tuesday Morning’s for $2.99.  I then went about the complicated task of cutting the paper to size and adhering it to the back interior of the hutch with double-sided tape.  I really like the result and it can be removed easily, too, if ever needed!

The blue goes fabulously well with our paint color on the walls.  Seamless, I tell ya!  I filled the hutch with white doo-dads from around the house…it’s really quite lovely.  I just haven’t mastered the art of photographing the details in the light of our livingroom.  (I’m not moving that thing to get some pics…wayyy too heavy, folks).

While we’re looking at the hutch you may notice the painting at the top of it.  I found that at Goodwill a while back for like $1.00.  I just love finding art there.  It makes me happy to no end.  And so there you have it, four months later, an answer for the hutch.

Happy Creating!
Jen

 

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Nov 21 2011
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Autumn, Before & After, Decorating, DIY, Home, Paint, Textiles, Thrifting

Simply Autumn Tablescape

Last week when I posted about my autumn yarn wreath and fireplace mantel decor, The Nester shared some great tips for using what you have to create beauty around you this fall as well.  I love her philosophy on decor because it’s so true that you do not have to buy, buy, buy to have a lovely home.  Our home is a testament to that fact.

So, here’s my Simply Autumn Tablescape.  The “table runner” is really a 1/3 of a sheet I bought years ago at Goodwill for $3.99.  The other two pieces to this sheet can be found hanging as curtains in our “cottage.”  I did no hemming (or hawing) to this piece, so I thought the messy, flowy look would work great and hide any raw edges.

For the stylish “stick” centerpiece I just used a large Ball jar, filled it with dried beans that we will never eat and plopped some large sticks from the front yard into it.  Easy!  Then the last piece to this tablescape is the little silver tray.  I filled it with coffee beans we had on hand and three tea lights.  That’s it!

 If you were around here when I painted our dining room table and chairs you may find those shelves on the back wall to be a new addition.  Yep, I found those on the side of the road.  They’re a bit chipped, but I just call that character.  I really like their placement above the buffet, giving it more depth.

How do you like to decorate your dining table for Autumn or Thanksgiving?  I think Edie did a beautiful job at Life in Grace…don’t you?

And just for fun let’s look at a before and after shot of our dining room…

BEFORE

2008

AFTER

2011

Happy Creating!
Jen

Psst!  I shared this simple centerpiece with Centsational Girl.

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Nov 15 2011
2 Comments
Beach Livin', Bryan, Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Restyling, Wall Decor

DIY Art in Five Minutes & Under $2

Good morning!

Well, the folks who were going to come see our home last night never showed up.  But it’s totally okay because we got our rears in gear and completed our little to-do list to get our home market-ready.  And today?  Well, I’ll be buying a “For Sale By Owner” sign and firmly placing it into the ground in front of our house.  Then it’s just a wait-and-see-what-happens game.  Yay!

Anyway, with all of our little updates our oldest son’s bedroom got a little makeover.  He needed some artwork for the wall, so I came up with this simple, inexpensive solution.

DIY Art in Five Minutes & Under $2.00

First we’ll talk about the large piece…I bought the rectangular frame for 50 cents at a garage sale…to create this look I simple wrapped turquoise yarn around the frame.  Simple & frugal…such a great combination!

For these two pieces I used Dollar Tree frames, doilies (33 doilies for $1 at Dollar Tree), jute and scrapbook stickers.

1) Attach jute to the back of the frame using a staple gun.

2) Take 1 doily and add a scrapbook sticker to the center of it.

3) Place doily art in frame with matte.

4)  Hang & enjoy!

I really like the contrast of the rough jute with the softness of the doily.  And the “Surf’s Up” and “Nice Wave” stickers?  Well, they’re just smile-bringer-outers.  I heart them very much!

And there you have it, DIY art in five minutes & under $2.  Now go create something that makes your heart smile.

Blessings,
Jen

*Sharing this with Funky Junk Interiors, Home Stories of A 2 Z Addicted2Decorating and with Tip Junkie.

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Nov 10 2011
2 Comments
Bedrooms, Decorating, DIY

A Bookcase Vignette and $1 Curtain Panels

Good morning, y’all!

It’s been a while since I shared any decorating tidbits with you, so I thought this morning would be a good time to get back to doing that very thing.  Since we’ve been getting our house ready for the market quite a bit of rearranging has been taking place.  That little white bookcase (which can be found at Target) used to grace our youngest son’s bedroom.  He had two, in fact.  However, the fact that he would pull out every bin and every book every day had me brainstorming another solution for his toys.  Now his toys are on a pseudo-rotation (I say pseudo rotation because he’s the kind of kid that remembers every last toy he owns and requests it each day.  So, yes, some of his toys are on rotation for now, but he has managed to sneak back a few before their due date, so to speak).

We desperately needed a bookcase but with us moving in the near future, Lord-willing, we didn’t want to invest in a new piece.  So Gabriel has one bookcase/toy organizer and we have one, too.  This will make keeping his room organized much easier, and ours as well.

Yay, don’t you love it when things work out?  I sure do!

Oh and before I go, I also wanted to show you an upclose shot of the curtains I “made” for our bedroom…

Isn’t this material a-mazing?  I know!  I found it a few months ago on a trip to Hancock Fabrics.  It was in the clearance pile for $1/yard!!!  The original price?  $18.00/yard.  Whoa – that’s a $17 savings per yard (I’m nothing if not a math genius…hahaha!).  I bought six yards of the material and managed to make four panels for two windows in our bedroom (2 panels per window) and had material to spare!  That makes our fun curtain panels a whopping $1 each.

I so love a good bargain.  It makes me happy for sure!

So there you have it…a little bookcase vignette and $1 curtain panels.  Have you found any good bargains lately?

Blessings,
Jen

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Oct 18 2011
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Adventure, DIY, Homestaging Tips

Adventure: Leaving It All Behind (aka get your house ready to sell)

As you already know when you’re on an adventure of the sort that the hubby and kids and I are on there’s one thing you most assuredly must face:  leaving it all behind.

And by it I mean your house, your stuff…it.

(I haven’t even begun to let myself think about the it as in my friends, family and comfort of the known).

So when you’re leaving it all behind you more than likely need to get your house ready to sell, which is what the hubby and I have been working on lately.  Considering much of our home is already “staged” to an extent many friends have asked, “You have to get your house ready to sell?  It’s already ready.”

Well, it may appear ready to put on the market but in reality there are some minor things we must do to make this home a house…a house for sale that anyone could walk into and love and buy from us.

 

If you’re on an adventure, too, or simply need to ready your house for the real estate market, here are some helpful blogs and websites to get your space ready for that buyer:

Remodeling Guy:  Staging the Exterior

Real E-Staging:  Use Flower Power to Sell Your Home

Nesting Place:  Stepping Inside

About.com:  How to Prepare Your House for Sale

Nesting Place:  Selling Your Place, Make a Website

 

For more on this adventure click here.
31 Days of Adventure:  From Ordinary Days to an Extraordinary Destiny.

Here’s hoping for the best!
Jen

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Aug 08 2011
3 Comments
Decorating, DIY, Livingroom

Pom-Poms are Made to Make You Smile


Some might say this is quirky or youthful.  I say it’s fun.

I’ve been needing a little something to hang above our tv.  I thought perhaps a few framed photos would do the trick.

But after my son’s recent birthday party I had these homemade pom-poms…and thought, “I’m going to try these above the tv!”

And I like it!

It doesn’t hurt that it matches our turquoise/black door, either…

Is there something in your home that could use a touch of whimsy?  Be willing to explore the possibilities because you never know.  You just might love it!

Happy Creating,
Jen

 Also shared with Addicted2Decorating…

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Aug 05 2011
1 Comment
Bedrooms, DIY

All You Need is Love

All you need is love…or whatever else you want to write on this fun & fancy chalkboard that I made.
love…
it’s all you need…
truly.

    • I used a beautiful vintage frame, which was once my sweet great-grandmother’s, and updated the frame with some paint, while also adding chalkboard paint to the backboard.
    • I also attached a piece of black tulle and canvas ribbon (which came from a Target purchase…yay for free!) using a staple gun.
    • I topped off the ribbon with a vintage earring, also my great-grandmothers.

Psst!  For more inspiration check out Funky Junk Interiors SNS and the Weekend Wrap Up Party.

Happy Creating,
Jen

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Aug 02 2011
7 Comments
DIY, Furniture, Restyling

From Run of the Mill to Runway! (aka my dining table restyle)

For the “how to” and more pics check out part 2 of this post.

Well, last week my dining room was turned upside down, quite literally.  With the purchase of my new sander (yay, I love you Mr. Sander!!!) I was able to create this new look for my run of the mill dining table…

Before (circa summer 2010)

After

I am so excited about this new look!  My hubby & I purchased this dining set at SAM’S Club during our first year of marriage…eight years ago.  I knew back then that I would one day paint it white.  Why I waited so long, I do not know, but I love it!

You wanna see more?

Is there a painting project you’ve been putting off for years?  I hope this restyle has been an inspiration for you to pull out the sanding supplies, paint & some elbow grease (because you will be needing it!).

I’ll be back later this week with all the details.

Happy Creating,
Jen

Psst!  I’m joining the “Before & After Party” at TDC & Miss Mustard Seed today!

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Jul 25 2011
5 Comments
DIY

Look out, World…I bought a sander!

Yup, yesterday I took the plunge and bought a sander.  Yay!!!!!!!!! 

I’m super excited about all of its sanding possibilities. 

I’ve been sanding by hand for the last 15 million years.  That and on occassion borrowing my friends’ electric sanders.  Bless their hearts…I keep those things for-ever! 

It was time for me to have my own.

Look out world, er, I mean house…I bought a sander!  No piece of furniture is safe.  You must all beware of me and my diy capabilities now.  Hahahahahaha!

Any more votes on what I should do about my hutch?  Leave it “as is” or paint it?  Also, if I leave it “as is” do you have any ideas on how I could at least brighten up the interior cabinet?

Happy Creating!
Jen

 

 

 

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