Leftover Burlap Becomes Bulletin Board

This little project was pretty exciting for me.  I saved a wad of cash and got something even better than my original want.

I saw a framed bulletin board at Hobby Lobby for $70 on Saturday.  Now, I would never pay that but I was considering the $35 when it went 1/2 price.  Ya'll know that you never pay full price at Hobby Lobby because everything goes 1/2 off sometime. Right?  But because I am a little cheap frugal, I decided to wait on it.  I'm so glad I did because as luck would have it, I came across a pinterest pin using burlap to make your own bulletin board.  Ding! Ding! Ding! Lightbulb moment!  There is this huge painting I stuck in the attic that would be the perfect frame.  Always always always keep your old decorating stuff so you can "shop the house" and repurpose things later.  Here is the picture in it's original form-

I pulled off the paper backing and popped out the print.  This was a steal at $10 from Old Time Pottery a few years ago.  It was a steal because the frame is heavy, sold wood, and it is huge.  I never was crazy about the picture but it served a purpose for a time.  

I covered the back of the picture with cork from Lowes ($10) and trimmed the excess.  Then I covered the cork with the leftover burlap.  I wrapped it around and secured it every few inches with my arsenal of choice, the glue gun.  If you don't get at least 3 first degree burns from your glue gun, you aren't really crafting. Tip: the cork is THIN. You may want to use the cork from an actual bulletin board that you tear a part.  The price is about the same. 

Pop it back into the frame and then use a staple gun to secure. 

 Then I found a hot guy with tools to change the hooks for me. The painting went horizontal but I needed the bulletin board to hang vertical. 

It's really helpful if that same hot tool guy will hang the board for you.  

Done. The $70 bulletin board for $10 plus leftover frame and leftover burlap. 

Labor Day weekend is over so I'll be taking a craft break now...but then again...there are so many ideas on pineterst...I may have to sneak in one or two more in the next few days. 

The Easiest Project EVER

This is the easiest project you will ever do.  In fact, here are the directions ON the project.

I used the leftover burlap that I had from the fall pennant garland but as I was thinking about this the options are endless.  Find the perfect fabric from a napkin, placemat, hankie, tshirt, scarf, scrap material, pillow case, sheets, even some great scrapbooking paper.  

I can see these all over...big message boards like this one...little message boards attached to bulletin boards or on doors or bathroom sinks with a reminder list for the kids.  

Pair it with a set of the dry erase markers and give it as a teachers gift.  

This project is literally so easy I felt dumb for not thinking of it myself!

Loving the Look, Hating the Pictures

This was our first attempt at the deco mesh decorating.  We went with a garland for the mantel and I have to say I love it so much more in person than from these pictures. Why does the color never turn out right?
Here are the steps.
Step 1- Buy or make a work garland.  I couldn't find one to buy at Hobby Lobby so I made one.  I used wire twine and pipe cleaners. I tied the twine to the table and door across the room so make it pull tight. Attach the pipe cleaners by twisting them every about every 5 inches. It ends up looking something like this:

Step Two- Using the large roll of deco mesh, start at one end and attach it by twisting the pipe cleaner.  Pull it down to the 2nd pipe cleaner to keep your poofs a consistent size.  

Create the poof by attaching it at the first available pipe cleaner like this-

Step 3- Add various other ribbons in a zig zab pattern.   

We chose a red burlap, green damask print, and a plaid.  However, after starting the plaid we decided we didn't like it.  No big deal, just pull it back off.  That's the great thing about working with this material...it is so easy to remove and start over until you have it like you want.  

Step 4- Add in picks of fall flowers, leaves, pumpkins, etc. etc.  We bought them in a bunch and then just pulled them a part. 

It is that simple!  Now, don't judge the top of the mantel yet...we are working on it...getting some ideas from pinterest to make it just right.  Don't judge the colors either. I'm not sure if it is the phone or the lighting or what but if you've been here you know that wall is a deep "barn red" and that is what the burlap is too.  I hate the way it looks pink here. Ya'll know me better than that, right?

Before / After

 I'll have to go back and see if I can find true "before" pictures. The mantel was brown when we moved in. We didn't waste any time painting that but it took awhile to figure out how we wanted to replace the tile/rock.

 

This wasn't an "easy" job. Removing the tile was tedious and difficult. However, it seemed easy as Brad moved on to getting the rock off the top. But ya'll know Brad- he gets it done! He gets it done right. 

 And here is the "after." We love love love it. I wish you could see the texture and variance of the stones in the picture. Some are marble. Some are black glass. Some are sea glass. The photos don't do it justice. (yes, I'm going to have to paint those tall candles...we're thinking of a crackled gold--but we can't get to Walmart today because of this ICE storm!!!)

A before close up...

and finally...a fireplace we love to go with a house we love!

The Mud Room

At the "old house" I put all the kids' artwork on the walls of my closet. In the "new house" I'm hanging it all in the laundry room. I think it is adorable.

As a side note, I tried to call this space "the mudroom"- just because I've always wanted a mud room I guess. Also because there is a sink in there and I think that qualifies it as a mudroom. But the name didn't stick. No one else called it "the mudroom." And when I would say something was in the "mudroom" they would always say, "Huh? You mean the laundry room?" So there you have it. Cute art on the wall of the mudroom laundry room.

Forgotten Favorites

Before the move, I scavenged the internet for decorating / organizing ideas. I even created a folder for the saved pictures. Fabulous idea. If only I had remembered. By accident I came across the folder tonight and thought, "what's this?" Yes. I really did think that. My ADD seems to be getting worse these days as does my short term memory.

Anyway....where was I....oh yes....so I found these pictures of fabulous ideas. I especially love the shutters for mail holders. I still might implement this. You know I actually saw shutters for sale at my favorite consignment store last week when Kendra was here. I didn't buy them. Dadgumit.

Here are some more ideas I'm really going to try hard to remember...these are easy little summer projects.

Why I Love Spray Paint

I found this beaut at the Salvation Army for $50. I talked him down to $25 (go right at closing).- It's solid wood. It was one of those pieces that I didn't know exactly where it was going to go but I knew it was a deal. There were doubters (*cough*Ashley*cough*) that thought it was junk. Sure, it stayed in the garage at the old house for awhile. Then it moved into the garage at the new house. Finally an opportunity presented itself- TV/Wii/Xbox/whatthecrapever-other-game-systems-we-have-up-there stand for the playroom. One can of spray paint later and I think it looks fabulous. Judge for yourselves...

Gameroom Before / After

Before...

Baby blue...soooooo not me....the only room in this house that I just couldn't live with...

After- faded clay. I so love faded clay. I so love this chaise sofa too!

We added the scoreboard as well. LOVE chalkboard paint. Maci is going to work her artistic magic on the board when we get the chalk markers but until then I had to improvise. BAMS needed a sign! What is BAMS? Come on now...Brad, Aaron, Andy, Maci, Mindy, & Spicy!

So my daddy might be mad that the baby blue is gone but even he will have to admit that the faded clay is sooooo much better in here!

My Love/Hate Relationship with Pier 1

I love Pier 1's stuff.

I hate their price tags.

I love the clearance items on their website.

I hate that you can't shop off the website.

I love that the store has a clearance section too.

I hate that I can never find the same fabulous things in person that I do online.

I love that they have so much cool stuff though that there is always something great on clearance.

I love the new orange and yellow throw pillows I got on clearance for the gameroom.

I hate that the room is only 1/2 way painted and so I can't show it to you yet.

I love the huge chalkboard I painted with chalkboard paint in that 1/2 painted game room.

I hate that it has to dry for a few days before I can try it out.

I love that this is my blog and it doesn't matter that this post ventured off topic. At least I posted!~

Holiday Tour

I'm so excited to particpate in the Nesters Christmas Tour of Homes! Here are some snipets of our holiday decor...

The Picture Tree in the dining room...don't tell but this one stays up year round.

G-mama Roberts's angels...she gave them to me when I was a little girl just because I said I liked them one time when we were at her house.

The kids tree on the landing-a place for all those school/church ornaments to call home.

Maci's Tree

Downstairs bath...

This Santa House was a giveaway- One gal's trash is my treasure- Andy's too!

"Teacher gifts"

Peeking Snowmen

A warm fire...we actually need a warm fire this week.

The first present under the tree....to us from Andy...bless his heart, he really doesn't think we know what it is.

Mistreatments Take Two

This mistreatment is my first sewing project since 8th grade. For real. Perfect? No. Lovely? Yes! They appear a little uneven in the picture because...well because... they may be a little uneven. But in real life they are up way high and it's not noticeable. I haven't lost a wink of sleep over the matter actually.

I made these curtains for the boys' room out of a flat sheet and a dust ruffle. See that header thing...that was tricky. Yes Mother, they are still wrinkled. Don't worry. Those wrinkles will fall out- eventually. Plus, the boys don't care.

Future Mistreatment

Ok, THIS shower curtain from Anna's Linens will be perfect for my dinging room! Click on the picture to make it big and see the detail. The colors will be fabulous with the new decor of the downstairs. The big question is the *how to* for this one. Should I get two and make panels? Just do a valance type topper? Maybe add fringe to it and make a straight topper? Hmm...ideas anyone?

Mistreatments Take One

Before. Please don't laugh at my ivy. It served me well for many many (many) years.
After. This is my first take at a mistreatment. I found a darling zebra shower curtain at Target. Yes I said shower curtain. But that part doesn't matter. What matters is that it is a darling zebra print. Add that to my red bathroom and I have a fabulous window mistreatment as well as a nod to my high school alma mater. The how to part wasn't too bad either. Add a few curtain clips to attach to the top. I folded instead of cut because I may actually want to use it as a shower curtain one day. It took a couple safety pins and about 30 minutes of playing around to get it folded and pinned like I wanted it. It could take less time if you aren't as picky. I eventually gave up on perfection and went with "looks good to me." This is a crappy picture...I'll try to remember to get a better one and try again. Keep checking back....many more mistreatments to come!