Brick Wallpaper

I know, what happened to me for a whole month hey?!!  Sheesh.

So I have to say I have so many different projects on the go that I haven't finished one, but are in the middle of all of them.  If it weren't for my sister coming over and randomly suggesting she help me put the wallpaper up in my sons room, who knows when I would have gotten to this project.  I DID however have the supplies for it because I did want to do this.  It was a great 2 man job anyways!

Here is the wall in my sons room which I wanted to add wallpaper.  Why wallpaper...?  Because I found a cool brick-like one, and it was perfect for my boyish room.

We cut one strip at a time to make sure it all fit, and the bricks lined up properly.  I bought this roll at Home Depot for $24.99.  I have to say, that even though my sister and I were meticulous in our measuring and cutting, when it came time to hang, we had two short pieces!!! 

What went wrong?  I have no idea, but I had enough wallpaper to fill in the shorter spots.  Problem solved.

p.s. if you were wondering why I am wearing a CAPE in the picture below, it's because I was also having my sister dye my hair at the same time (hence the cropped photo!)

This is my sister hiding from the camera as we measure and hang the wallpaper.

We (okay it was she) soaked the wallpaper in the bathtub and counted 30 seconds.

Then we folded the wallpaper in onto itself to activate the glue.  

We did not press the sides down, we just let them bubble over (make sense?  haha)

Finally we hung the paper on the wall, and used a squeegee to press out the large bubbles.  It worked out great.  We did have to put towels at the baseboards from the water dripping.  I waited until the wall paper was all dry before cutting it on the top and bottom to measure up perfectly.

Here is what it looks like now.  Fun hey?!

It doesn't look like it in the picture, but there is a ledge where I stopped the wallpaper.  That's why I only did half of the wall.

It was much easier having two people to hang the wallpaper and keep company, so consider that when you decide to hang wallpaper.  Although I have to say I think I would much rather stencil my walls than hang wallpaper ever again.  Personal choice.

Now I just have to finish decorating his room.

But for now, he loves the brick!

Any new wallpaper projects for you?

How to Make a Shelf From a 2x4

My sister knew I was on the lookout for some gorgeous mirrors.  Ever since I saw this on the pottery barn website:

source

So she called me up one day saying she found some beautiful mirrors at my favourite store (Homesense), and was describing them over the phone.  Anyways she bought them for me, and not for a great price, but when I saw them I was so in love with them that I kept them anyways.

BUT... first I wanted a shelf under the mirrors for going in my dining room, so I started looking around the house.

I found a stash of wood in my garage, perfect!

I found a 2x4 and started sanding...

I used Minwax American Walnut to stain the shelf.

p.s don't use bare hands when staining (lesson learned!)

Even a plastic bag is good enough when you don't have gloves.

I haven't put a sealer on it yet, but I have satin finish Varathane to use on it. Which you just use a paint brush to brush on.

I had considered buying a shelf from Ikea, but after spending money on the mirrors, I decided the shelf had to make up for the cost, and I am happy with the rustic look.

The anchors holding the shelf were cheap ones from Walmart that were white and I painted black.  I didn't think they were a great choice but  they were only 99 cents each, where as the others were $7.00 each. No way was I spending that much on 3 anchors.  Besides I like them now, and think the look of them is perfect (kind of like barn hinges).

Okay, you want to know the cost of the mirrors (I would if you were writing this post).  $35 each.  Worth the money! I love them!

So there you have it!  My new dining room...

WAIT, something is missing...

There.

A wide open space for my baby to ride in!  

(it had been raining for a week)

P.S.  Dining room table is my next project.  Hopefully soon, as we are eating on the floor!

Cost of Shelf:

2x4 wood:  free

3 anchors: $3.00

Stain: borrowed from sister

Total: $3.00

Circle Skirt

I found this sewing pattern awhile ago, and saved it, knowing it was SO easy, even I could do it!  I know... me use a pattern?!!

I was at the Dollar Store getting a few things when for some random reason I looked down the aisle with the pillowcases, and found the cutest pattern.  So I bought it for the skirt I have been wanting to make for awhile now.

Cute hey!  I know, you surprise me all the time Dollarama!

I bought the elastic band at the dollar store as well, and that's pretty much all you need besides a few pieces of paper to make your pattern, and your sewing machine.

This was what it looked like all cut.

Now, I did not do a full tutorial because Dana over at Made, did the most perfect tutorial I didn't even want to try, so I thought I would just send you over there for her circle skirt tutorial!

And I would just like to say that her daughter Lucy's measurements were the same as my daughter so it made it super easy to just copy what she did.  

Okay, here it is...

Cute and flouncy!

Remember the hairbands I made for my girls here.

"My, what a nice pillowcase you have on dear!"

The perfect amount of SWING.

You can find fabric in the most surprising places.  I am always willing to take something old and make it new.  Especially when the price is amazing!

Cost:

Pillowcases = 2 for $2

Elastic = $1

Total =$3

(* but I have just enough leftovers to make her another!!*)

25 Cent Skirt Redo

So I officially started my garage saleing this last weekend, and I will start by showing you this skirt that I picked up for 25 cents!! 

 I thought it was a cute colour combination and didn't even hesitate about the size of it.  I just bought it.  

I did try it on, and the colours were just not me, but they were perfect for my daughter.

So I put it around my daughter and cut the extra fabric off.

Then I took the extra fabric and made sleeves with it.

I am skipping all the steps because you could probably figure it out it's so easy, rather than going through a boring sewing tutorial with me!

Here is the back:

And a few shots of the front:

I am glad I was able to make a dress for my daughter because she is growing out of everything and this was VERY THRIFTY!!

Also today my sisters and I made some ties for our boys for my brothers upcoming wedding.  They were so easy I had to share them with you, and the link of where to find them to make your own:

Cute, easy fast ties...

(sister in law Meg, sister Chelsea, sister Angela, Me!)

And hey, I know I have been away lately, but I have been up to my ears in projects!  I can't wait to show you!!

Painting Frank and Bing!

I came across a picture of a LARGE painting of a face with a man screaming, and I thought I want to make one of those!  But I wanted people I love and happy ones!

I LOVE Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby... do you?  Oh those swooning songs...  I listen to them way too often (ask my kids!)

So I decided to add them to my home.  But to make a statement I went on a big scale.  

Here is my process:

- I found two large canvas's

- Found the pictures on the internet of Frank and Bing and printed them off

- Then I went and photocopied my pictures onto transparent paper and blew them up with a projector

- Drew them on with pencil

And here is what I had so far:

Here is a close up:

I painted them with just black first.

Then I added the grey and DONE!  

I make it sound so easy don't I?  Well it was! and completely relaxing.  It did take me a few days on an off.

I love Frank in his hat.  It's the perfect character I need.

And Bing's bow tie is the perfect touch to old fashion as well.

I told you they were BIG!

I think I will hang them in my office.  I love how they are having such a jolly 'ol time!

A Stenciled Wall (or two)!

First off, let me just say I came across this photo while perusing google for an idea to stencil, and I fell in love.

Good Girl Gone Glad did a fantastic job on her wall!!  I wanted the SAME.

So, after finding my inspiration from Good Girl Gone Glad, I had to find a trellis stencil which I found on this lovely blog Jones Design Company.  She did her office (picture below) with this trellis stencil and she provides a stencil printout HERE.

I moved my daughter into her own room, and the paint colour was driving me crazy!!!  I had to do something about it right away!!  It's not a terrible colour, but very boring for a fun, hip room makeover!

So I took some paint that I had left over from a project last year (they told me to get way too much!)  as I had enough leftover paint to do my whole daughter's room!  

Okay so I printed the stencil out on the computer, and traced it onto a cardboard cereal box. 

Then I drew the chalk onto the wall in the pattern I wanted.

After many hours of painting I came away with this...

And this...

And this...

It was worth the time!  I am so pleased and my daughter even says she LOVES it!  Ya, she better after how long it took me!

I will have more posts with progress from her room later.  

This took a long time, I need a break now.  

I may just go lay on her floor to stare at it for awhile (wink).