Large and Cheap!

I have been wanting a large piece of art for above our fire place.  There are two grates on the wall above the mantel and no matter how I decorate, it still looks busy to me and kind of ugly.  I have found pieces I like,  BUT they are expensive.  I have a big problem with investing in things to fit a space that is temporary.  What if I can not find the perfect space to fit my new nice art when we eventually move?  So, of course, I did a little pinterest searching.  I found a few ideas I liked from three different bloggers, and sort of meshed them all together.

First...Home Depot scrap pile! I bought four pine scraps for $2.00.  Then I picked out a gray color for and little sample paint pod.
When I got home, I put my boards together with some screws from our "tool junk" and wood glue.  This is one of the ideas I got from another blogger. This is my canvas.

I then put a coat of white spray paint on the front and sides for a sort of primer coat. Scrap boards are marked green sometimes and I wanted to make sure that did not bleed through. Plus, I had not decided if I was going to distress this.  Yes, I spray painted with a little snow on the ground.

I covered it with my gray sample paint.

Once, that dried, I taped off some trees.  This is the second idea, I borrowed from another blogger...the style of the trees.  I liked the idea of the mix of modern, sharp trees on the rustic canvas.

I then painted with some acrylic craft paint I have.  Here is the third borrowed idea.  Different shades of the art for some depth and texture.  Now the original idea involved different shades of the same color and multiple applications over TIME.  I do not have that kind of patience.  For me, that means multiple nap and after bed times.  I, instead, did two-three coats of paint on the trees and chose one tree to only have one coat.

 Once that was dry (10 min), I lightly sanded the trees horizontally to give the trees more texture and a bark like effect.  I loved how the pine grain came through a little as well.

Final result:

 I really LOVE it. Ugly, unused grates covered.  Cool art displayed.  And I spent just over $5! (I had most of the supplies already.)

A Fresh Take

We were given this bookshelf a few years ago.  While it fit in our spare bedroom in our old house, it doesn't in our new house.  Ben has a thing with wood semi-matching or complimenting each other in the same room.  So, to take advantage of some additional storage, I decided to give it a fresh take with some paint.

 Some white paint and then painter's tape to mark off a design.

 And then some brown paint.

 Aaahh...love it.

 Oh, and some new hardware.  I love that 50% sale at the Lobby.   I wanted to stay true to the lines of the bookcase so went with a vintage glass look.

 Hmmmm. Do you see that? I had a little help from a 17 month old.  The girls are ONLY allowed to use washable crayons, paint, markers, etc, etc, etc. However, Mommy has her own stash of markers that are not so washable.  Good thing baby girl only decided to decorate this door that can easily be painted.....again.

The Dining Room

OMG.  I am in love with our dining room now.  Our little project has created an entire different look.  Unfortunately, I can not find any before pictures of this room from our walk through.  This room was one of the few that did not have wall paper, so besides being painted a purplish-mauve color and having a terrible light fixture...it wasn't that bad. 
At one point over the summer, since we had sat in the room once since being in our home for a year, I thought we would convert it into a reading/project room.  Create a spaice I could sew, paint, craft etc.  Ummmm, why I didn't realize that the having some of those things in such a public space (meaning no doors to shut) was a bad idea...I don't know.  The girls wanted to craft with my stuff too. Hmmm...back to dining room.  We had painted it a lighter gray to make the room brighter (when it was a reading/project room), but it wasn't really working as a dining room for me.  How can I make it light but still bring a little drama?  Have you seen the many batten board tutorials out there?  I have too.  Hee, hee, hee.
Ben groaned when I said my wheels had been turning again.  But when he saw how cheap and easy it was going to be, he was on board.  Now that we are done, I keep catching him in the dining room staring and smiling.

Here is a before the batten board project shot:

 During...

By the way, I really did the majority of this one.  Officially not scared of the nail gun, but still not a fan of the saw...any type.  So my cute little hubby stepped in to cut ALL the wood.  

He was also great at helping to level all the boards.

 AFTER...

 Don't you love that chocolate?

 But it is still so light with our new white Batten Board!

 Would you believe me if I said we did it for under $75?? I know, I can't believe it either.  BUT, we didn't buy any paint...this is all left over!

Crafty Christmas

After six years of setting up Christmas, Ben and I have accumulated quite a lot of decorations.  I certainly have my favorites and also try to mix it up every year. This year, I wanted to get a little crafty.  I have not done this previously and have had a couple things in mind the last couple of years.  So, I got the supplies out.

The Branch-Twig Tree
I have wanted to do this for a couple of years.  It was so easy, I am not sure why I didn't.  My dad gathered (or maybe cut down) a nice branch for me that I then spray painted a warm white.  You could leave it natural too.  I glittered some of it, then stuck it in a $2 pot (which I also spray painted, sanded and glittered).  Then I added some 50 cent and $1 ornaments.

I am trying to keep the dining room neutral with golds, silvers and whites.  I added a book theme (you'll see) so I put this potted tree on a couple of books borrowed from the spare bedroom.

The Pottery Barn Book Wreath
OH MAN.  I saw this in their catalog last year and have wanted to make it sooooo bad.  It wasn't for sale, it was just a prop in one of their bedrooms.  I found a great tutorial here.  It was so easy, I made two.  I love it so much, I may find somewhere to keep them all year.

 Supplies gathered, a pizza box, a 50 cent book from Goodwill and some liquid fuel...oh and a glue gun.

 A colorful treat always helps the creative juices flow.

Lastly, the Better Homes and Garden yarn ball wreath:
Seriously, I have never been a wreath girl before.  This will be the first time we have had one hanging inside our house.  We typically keep to the Christmas door wreath.  But, when I saw this wreath, I thought it looked easy, cheap and my Mom convinced me it would in fact go with "our decor."  I love it.  Stella even tried to help me make yarn balls.  It was cute, but I have no pictures as the battery died.

 You can't see in the picture, but some of the yarn balls were made with a silver, sparkly yarn (fun!).

Taking Pottery Barn

I REALLY wanted these prints for the spare bedroom.  They were in the Pottery Barn Catalog for the last year.

 So....I made these...

 I still have two more typewriters to make.  It is tedious work.

Like it a Lot

Simple, easy, cheap, but I like it a lot.

First, buy a cheap frame...like $2 from Goodwill.   Punch out the glass and dated picture.

Get yo'self some supplies from a craft store; sample paint from a hardware store. 

Mmm...loving this color.

Now, this part is important.  DO NOT leave the sample paint on a table where a toddler could climb on a chair and stretch across to reach the paint pod, where she would then open it, accidentally spill it on the one year old carpet, and then cry because it got on her finger, all while Mama is getting a drink for a baby (we are talking like a minute people).

 I had to "mess" mine a little bit with some sand paper.  Screw hooks in on sides, then thread the frame wire and snip, snip, snip.

It is good for special cards from Grammies and pictures...

Or a toddlers artwork...preferably done on paper, not carpet.

 *note: carpet eventually did come clean of bright aqua paint the diameter of a melon with lots of water and soaking.