Lego Wall Art

August 27th, 2010

I’m trying to decorate 4 kids rooms spending little or no money while doing it. Hubby says I have a craft and thrift store in the basement. Well, I guess that’s a good thing now.

I had these 3 frames down stairs in my stash, but 2 were the wrong color. So, of course,I spray painted them all black.

Ammon loves Legos. He plays with them everyday and comes up with many different and pretty impressive creations. These Lego cards are from an old game that I thought would be perfect hanging on his wall.

I cut blue card stock to fit inside the frame.

And used double sided tape to secure the card to the card stock.

Then I placed them in the frames.

And lined them up on the wall.

Ammon’s room is road signs, subway art and maps in black, brown and blue.

I wanted to be able to incorporate the Legos too, so I chose the cards with vehicles on them. They’re a little brighter than the rest of the room, but I think they still fit in well and I love the pop of red.

Ammon loves them on the wall and he’s already made all of them.

Please ignore the really beat up wall. His walls need to be spackled and painted, but I’m painting Zach’s room right now, so Ammon’s will have to wait.

Have a Beautiful Weekend! (we start soccer games again tomorrow)

I’m linking to:

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Nite Special Funky Junk Interiors

Craft Schooling Sunday at Creative Jewish Mom

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Make It 4 Monday at Cottage Instincts

DIY Project Parade at The DIY Show Off

Topsy Turvy Tuesday at I’m Topsy Turvy

Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog

Whatever Goes Wednesday Someday Crafts

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday at FInding Fabulous

Filed under Bedroom, Crafts, Decorating | Comments (27)

Another Lamp Transformation

August 10th, 2010

I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, but have never been brave enough. I first saw it in the Park City Parade of Homes 3 years ago and thought it looked so cool but never tried it. Then I saw that Beth did something really similar and that helped me get up the nerve. This is how the little lamp on my desk looked yesterday. I don’t love it.

I wanted a naked shade, down to the metal form.

So I peeled the trim off and the lining out.

Then took scissors and cut the rest of the material off.

Here’s the naked shade.

Hmm, don’t love it.

Maybe if I change the base? Nope, still don’t love it.

What if I spray paint the shade form black? Better, but….you know.

What about twine? I’ve put twine on bottles, vases, frames, wreaths, letters and around flowers. Why not shades? First I tied a knot and added a drop of super glue.

Then I just started wrapping. I tried to space it pretty evenly as I went around. I wrapped the twine 3 times in each area (between the wires) of the shade.

Once I had it spaced how I wanted, I started at the beginning and made them all tighter so it wouldn’t slip. Then I tied the beginning and end together and added a drop of super glue.

She’s pretty snazzy now. I don’t know how much twine I used. I just cut a really long piece off the roll and started wrapping.

What do you think? Now, I love it!!!

It’s hard to take a picture of it with the light turned on, but here you go.

I’m liking to:

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Look At Me Party at Fun To Craft

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Decorating Your Home at It’s A Blog Party

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Metamorphosis Monday at Beween Naps On The Porch

Make It 4 Monday at Cottage Instincts

DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Lamp Categorically Crafting Show at Someday Crafts

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Subway Art for Ammon’s Room

August 2nd, 2010

This is the inspiration for Ammon’s room. I know most of you have seen it before, so to answer a question a lot of you have had. No, I did not make it. I bought it on clearance at Tai Pan Trading months ago for only $15. I just couldn’t pass it up for that price and it’s been the perfect piece of wall art to center his room around.

I plan on making 3 pieces of Subway art for his room. This is the first one in the series. It’s also the first one I’ve ever made so don’t judge too harshly.

I started with this road sign hanging in Ammon’s room.

I started painting over the sign with black spray paint, but it wasn’t working . It was going to take forever to cover over the red and white at this rate.

So I flipped it over and painted the other side. The wood is the same on both sides so it really didn’t matter.

By the way, if you don’t have one of these, get one. It has saved my fingers from paint and blisters.

Here it is, all painted. Because of the texture of the sign, the paint is a little uneven. It works for the look I’m going for though.

I’m using my Cricut and these cartridges to make the words for the sign. Since I don’t have a lot of different fonts, I used different sizes and thicknesses for the letters.

I’m using contact paper for the letters. It’s cheaper than vinyl and it comes in larger rolls.

Next comes laying out the letters and working on placement of the words I’ve cut out.

I think I’m happy with this layout.

I didn’t really use the ruler to measure much. You all know I hate to measure (I’d rather just eyeball it). It worked great to help me keep the letters straight as I was putting them on though.

Finally, I added a clear coat spray to seal it and help hold the letters on.

I have to say, for my first one, I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. Since it’s now midnight, I’ll have to wait to put it on Ammon’s wall in the morning.

I’m linking to these fun parties:

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog

All Things Domestic at Crazy Domestic

Subway Art Party at Tatertots and Jello

Before and After Party at Debbiedoos

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Get Your Craft On Thursday at Life As Lori

Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge

Remodelaholics Anonymous Meeting at Remodelaholic

Friday Favorites at Brown Paper Packages

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

I Made It Without My Hubby at Shanty 2 Chic

Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T.

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Filed under Bedroom, Crafts, Decorating | Comments (34)

Ammon’s New Shelf Decor

July 16th, 2010

I’m slowly working on redecorating Ammon’s room. I had all the items I needed for his shelf area so I thought I might as well start there.

Here’s the before:

I start out by trying different arrangements with the items on the shelf.

The first thing I need to do is paint the shelf black, the green isn’t going to work anymore.

Ahh, that’s much better. I just love black spray paint.

Did you see the little red block on the shelf? It said “planes” on it. Planes wasn’t working anymore and the color red wasn’t either, so it was time to paint it too.

To make it look like the other 2, I sanded all the edges.

Then I used my Cricut to cut out the word “bikes”. I always start by applying the middle letter in the center of the block and working out from there.

The font and the color isn’t a perfect match to the other 2, but it’s close enough.

I just thought at this very moment, maybe I should make new vinyl for the other 2, then they would all match. Okay, maybe later, when it really bugs me. You can see how I framed the bike tag here.

The #3 came from my craft room. I like the color and texture of it.

I turned one of the insulators upside down to give the little globe ball some height.

And I lowered the one way arrow to help it feel more a part of the shelf arrangement.

I like it. Here’s the inspiration for the room just incase you missed it a few weeks ago.

There will be a lot more to come.

I’m linking to:

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Making The World Cuter Monday at Making The World Cuter

Spotlight Yourself at It’s So Very Cheri

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Hookin’ Up at HOH

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Inspired By at The Inspired Room

Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick

Filed under Bedroom, Decorating | Comments (19)

Amanda’s Mirror

July 9th, 2010

I’m working on Amanda’s room slowly, very slowly. She’s not going to be in her room for a few weeks because of visitors, but I’m still trying to get a few things finished for when she is. Here’s the inspiration I’m working with (she’s not allowed to change her mind again).

This mirror was originally mine. I think I’ve had it for 15 years, but only used it for 3. It’s natural wood which made it easy to paint.

I covered and taped the mirror area to protect it. Then painted it Krylon Leather Brown.

I took Amanda to Hobby Lobby to pick out some stencils or get ideas about what she wanted. We decided on this stencil (you’ll be able to see it better in a few pictures). I bought 3 of them to help make it go faster, plus they were on sale for .79 cents each.

I sprayed Easy-tack on the back to hold them in place while I was stenciling. It worked well and made it easier to work with the stencil.

Here’s a close up of the stenciled pattern. I forgot to take a picture of me actually stenciling , but you know what to do. Just be sure to dab off the excess paint onto a paper towel so you don’t have too much paint on the brush.

Here’s the left side of the mirror where I stenciled the left side of the pattern.

The right side of the mirror with using the right side of the stencil.

On the bottom of the mirror, I used the bottom half of the stencil.

And across the top of the mirror I used the top half of the stencil.

The spacing for the pattern is 2″ apart on the top and the bottom and 1″ apart on the sides.

Amanda loves it and I think it turned out pretty good too. I haven’t stenciled for quite a few years so this was a good place to start again. I’ll hang it up in a few weeks when all the visitors have left her room.

I’m linking to:

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

It’s So Very Thrifty at It’s So Very Cheri

Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do

Show Me How at It’s A Blog Party

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

Making The World Cuter Monday at Making The World Cuter

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Anything Related at All Thingz Related

All Things Domestic at Crazy Domestic

Filed under Bedroom, Decorating | Comments (17)

We’re Organized Wednesday #7

July 7th, 2010

Giveaway is now closed!

Welcome to another We’re Organized Wednesday. I can’t wait to see all your awesome organizing ideas.

Amanda’s room is due for an update. This is our inspiration for her colors and possible patterns (taken from scrapbook papers and accessories).

But before we start on the decorating part of the room we need to get organized. I love this part, but Amanda, not so much. The first thing we did was move her dresser into the closet, so she’d have more space in her room. Of course, at that time we went through her drawers and took out any clothes that were too small, old, or worn.

Her clothes are hung above the dresser. Extra bags and stuffed animals are stored on a high shelf.

On the short wall of the closet are shelves for storage of bedding, school supplies, church items, guitar sheet music, snowboarding gear, magazines, art supplies and paper.

Shoe storage is on the wall opposite the dresser.

Her jewelry is stored above the shoe organizer on a hanger and on top of the shoes in a ceramic egg crate. There’s also a little mirror hanging to the side of the necklaces.

Her hats, scarves and belts hang on a wire hook next to her dresses.

Bags for church, dance and school hang on the inside of her closet door. Things need to be repainted the new color choices but at least everything has a home now and there’s more space in her room.

We moved her bed from one wall to in front of the window and placed a bookcase on each side of the bed. The room will be staying this way for about a month because we will be having guests staying for a while. Amanda will be staying with her sister in her room during that time.

I’m so excited for this giveaway. I met Chantel on her blog a few months ago and fell in love with her jewelry. She now has an etsy shop, Treasures Uncovered by Chantel. She’s given one of you a chance to win a beautiful pair of earrings. (This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only)

All you have to do is link an organizing project. You get one entry per project entered.

Or leave a comment stating which earrings you’d choose if you won for another entry.

And visit Treasures Uncovered by Chantel, come back here and leave me a comment about your visit for another entry.

That’s at least 3 entries. Take a look at the earrings you get to choose from.

Aren’t they gorgeous?! Be sure to check her shop often, she always has new items being added.

I’m linking to:

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple

Home and Family Friday at Home Is Where My Story Begins

Show and Share Day at Just A Girl

Now it’s your turn! Let’s see what you’ve been organizing lately!

Link up using the URL code for your actual post and not your general blog. Include a description of your post, someone might be searching for something specific.

Add my button or link back to this post so everyone can join in the fun. (Okay, you don’t have to add my sad button but at least link back to my blog.)

Visit and Comment on other blogs. I just know you’re going to get some great organizing ideas you won’t want to miss. You’ll make some new friends and have fun while you’re exploring other blogs.

Filed under Bedroom, General organizing | Comments (26)

Master Bedroom Plate Wall

June 26th, 2010

Number 10 on 10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge: Design or create something for Master bedroom wall.

I finally finished a plate wall, but not the one I’ve been talking about for the last 5 months. I’ve collected over 25 plates to put together the one in the dining room. Way too many! Some weren’t going to fit in with the color or style I was going for, so I decided to use them in the bedroom. The bedroom colors are black, white and green.

And here’s the blank wall. It’s above our TV. Yes, we have a TV in our bedroom and no, we’re not going to take it out. Sometimes it’s my only escape from watching cartoons or playing Wii.

This is the plan I worked out on the table in the basement (craft room). The black and white wasn’t going to work in the dining room but it will be perfect in the bedroom.

I used the Command picture hanging strips. The same ones I used on the Family letter wall. The Letter Wall has been up for a few months now and nothing has fallen off so I think we’re good.

You just stick the 2 pieces together. Take the backing off one side and stick it the the plate. Take the backing off the other side and stick it to the wall. Hold it in place for 30 seconds and you’re good. Read all the instructions, so you have a good hold.

Okay, so you know how I don’t like to measure anything if I don’t have too. Well, I still don’t and I didn’t, but I did enlist some help from Hubby with eyeballing everything. Here’s the first plates we hung up. I started from the bottom and worked up, mainly because I wanted the bottom one close to the top of the TV.

Here’s 4 more. Hubby was getting worried at this point because of the spacing. I don’t know why. I had them all laid out on the bed the way they were going on the wall.

And here it is all finished. Ta-Da! What do you think? I’m very pleased. It fits in great with the rest of the bedroom. I had all the plates and strips on hand, so I’m considering it free. You can see the top of the TV in this picture and the top plate is level with the top of the door frame.

Yay! 3 tasks down, 7 to go.

I’m linking to:

Sunday Showcase Party at Under The Table And Dreaming

DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Decorating Your Home at It’s A Blog Party

Home and Family Friday at Home Is Where My Story Begins

Favorite Things Friday at A Few Of My Favortie Things

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

Filed under Bedroom, Decorating | Comments (25)

Emilee’s Mirror

June 23rd, 2010

Paint Emilee’s new mirror. Number 3 on my 10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge. I bought the mirror at Tai Pan’s 75% off sale last week and knew it was going in Emilee’s room.

But the color had to be changed to fit in, so I papered and taped off the mirror area.

Then primed it.

Next I painted it a yellow I’m still not sure about. Umm, would you say that was bright? Emilee wasn’t sure about it either, until Amanda said she loved it. Apparently all it takes is a big sister saying she loves it.

It looked pretty good once it was in her room. It’s not going to stay on the dresser though. Her room is a work in progress.

Here’s the details on the mirror. Time will tell if it stays this yellow. I think it’s already starting to grow on me.

One down, nine to go.

I’m linking to:

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Decorating Your Home at It’s A Blog Party

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Craftastc Monday at Sew Can Do

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Filed under Bedroom, Decorating, Painted Furniture, Refurbished | Comments (14)

Kids Bedrooms

June 18th, 2010

I’ve been wanting to share these rooms with you for a long time, but hadn’t got my act together before now. All these rooms are from my friend, Stacie’s house. Her home is gorgeous, her kids are gorgeous and of course, she’s gorgeous and talented. She’s allowed me to share her kids’ rooms with you and I know you’ll be as impressed as I am. Hopefully you’ll get some great ideas you can bring into your own home.

I’ll start with her youngest daughter’s room. Oh, and did I mention she quilts too.

Brynlee is a preschooler and quite an active one too. She is the cutest thing ever.

I love her little garden themed room.

Brooklyn’s room is next. How cute is that vinyl monogram?

This room totally fits Brooklyn’s personality. I love all the pink with pops of other bright colors. Yeap, that’s another quilt.

Don’t you love the walls? They built those and a ledge all around the room, so she can display all her special things.

And a few hooks here and there for bags, metals or hats. Her girls craft with her too and they already have their mom’s talent.

How fun is that ribbon valance?

Here’s another look. Sorry about the bad lighting.

The 2 older kids’ rooms are downstairs. Skylee is the oldest. I’ve taught her class at church for 2 years. She just moved up to the next class and I miss having her in my class every week. I love her walls. Stacie taped them all off and painted each section a different shade of pink. It reminds me of a big paint chip or an ice cream shop. Skylee really wanted green at first, but the whole room turned out looking like Shrek, so they changed to pink.

Don’t forget a shelf to display all her gymnastics trophies and ribbons on.

The colors are so fun in this room. What a great place for a teen to hang out with her friends.

If you have a boy you’re going to love this room. Stacie used tape to mask off this wall before she painted.

She always does such a beautiful job. Perfection!

And on the bottom third of the wall she painted the yardline. How fun is that?

They built these lockers at the side of Ty’s windows to hold his football gear and team mementos.

But don’t think the only sport he plays is football. He has a baseball half of a room too. During football season his bed is on the football side with football bedding. During baseball season it changes to the baseball side with baseball bedding. And she taped off this wall before she painted too.

Here’s the lockers on the other side of the window that hold all his baseball gear and mementos.

And here’s the whole window and locker area with a bench between the two. I like how she just hung the hats above the window for a simple valance. Do we have any sports fans out there? My boys would go crazy for this room.

Great kids rooms, don’t you think? And yes, her kids rooms always look like this. There was no cleaning up before. Can you believe that? Maybe I can talk her into sharing the rest of her house one of these days. She has some great ideas I’m sure she wouldn’t mind sharing. And, as you can tell, she’s not afraid of color. I think I’m going to go make some really fun monogram on my Cricut now. Did you get any new ideas you might want to try?

I’m linking to:

Inspired By at The Inspired Room

Filed under Bedroom, Children, Decorating | Comments (6)

Another Repurposed Candlestick

May 19th, 2010

I know, I know you are probably so tired of my candlestick transformations. Humor me again, please. I’m working on redoing Emilee’s room on a budget. I have several things in the basement I thought I could use in her room, so lets get started. I bought this candlestick at Deseret Industries months ago for under $1. Did you know I have a thing for candlesticks? Why are the price tags so sticky at the D.I.? I have to use Goo Gone to get all the residue off.

And of course, nobody ever cleans their donations before they take them in, so I had to scrap off the candle wax with a plastic knife. Then I wiped it all down with a wet cloth, before I changed it from blue to yellow.

It looks peachy in this picture, but it’s yellow. I used E6000 to glue the 2 pieces together. When gluing them together, it’s best to put glue on each piece, let sit for 2 minutes then stick the 2 pieces together. It dries clear, but takes 24-48 hours to be completely cured.

I made it to hold some of Emilee’s treasures. She collects tumbled rocks from wherever we go. She has some from Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, San Diego, Florida, Las Vegas, Denver, the Zoo and more. I thought it would be fun for her to have them out on display.

Don’t they look pretty through the glass? And she has plenty of room to add more.

The vase came from the D.I. months ago too. I actually bought 2 of them (one’s in the master bedroom). I just added a green ribbon and tulips that were stored in the basement. The blue ceramic jar is from Adam. He made it on a pottery wheel a few years ago, at school. She keeps more of her special treasures in there.