Dorm Crafts

3 posts in 1 day? I must be crazy! This is a quick post, however. I meant to do it back in August but looks like I forgot. Before my sister-in-law Anna went to college she came over and we had a craft day! We made all sorts of crafts for her dorm room at Cornell University.  I was so excited because I even got to go with my in-laws to take her to college all the way up in Ithaca, NY (only 17 hours away...no big deal). 

Here are a few pics!

 We got this frame at Hobby Lobby and just glued the black and white polka-dotted flower on it. Probably the easiest thing you could possibly do. Look how cute!

 Lookin good craftin

 I made this initial from scrapbook paper and this letter. We got all of our supplies at Hobby Lobby. I cut out strips of paper and put them on the letter until it was covered and Mod Podged everything into place. I cut out the circles with my fancy circle cutters then Mod Podged them on top! 

Note: Her dorm decorations were all black, white, and red (AKA Cornell colors)

I had her Mod Podge a bunch of pics onto canvases. In the middle one she painted polka dots and Mod Podged a picture of her and her boyfriend in the center (with some scrapbook paper behind it). 

Her desk.

 We got that little bulletein board at Hobby Lobby and I wrote her monogram on it with a Sharpie!

Here are some crafts she made for her boyfriend, who goes to Mississippi State.

The bottom picture has Jeremiah 29:11 written around it. 

 I love her!

Anddddd a few pics of the Cornell campus because it's so beautiful!

Organize Your Headbands

What do headbands and oatmeal have in common, you may ask? EVERYTHING! Well...actually nothing but I did find something cool on Pinterest that involves both! It's a headband organizer made from an oatmeal container. Clever, right? If only it was my idea. This was so easy and so convenient!!

I got the oatmeal at Target (Target brand for about $3). I put the oats in a Tupperware container to save for later (although that was probably a waste of my life because we'll probably never eat it). I removed the label, painted the whole thing brown with acrylic paint, Mod Podged it (of course) then put some leftover fabric from my bathroom around it. I had that white fabric flower leftover from a previous craft project. Voila!!

My bathroom is pink and brown so it matched perfectly!

I put some more fabric headbands and things inside it (so if next time you see me wearing a headband and my hair smells like oats you know why).

So there you have it! Happy headband organizing!

I Believe in Miracles - Unshrink Your Pants!

I DO believe in miracles! I have possibly found one of the most incredible remedies the world has ever seen. Did you know that you can UNSHRINK your shrunken clothes??? 

I love stretchy comfy pants but they shrink so bad in the dryer! I end up wearing them once and having to buy a new pair because the old ones shrank like 2 feet (or so it felt like). I recently started going to the University of Memphis gym twice a week to do my exercises after class (I honestly never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth).  It's starting to get chilly (hallelujah) and I need my stretchy comfy pants! Of course...they're all way too short. When I saw a way to unshrink them on Pinterest I thought it was too good to be true. But then I thought...it's Pinterest! When has it ever steered me wrong before?? I had to try it.

IT WORKED!!

Here's the link:

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/10/how-to-resize-shrunken-clothes.html

I did it on 4 different pairs of pants and now all of them have been revived. I can wear them again!!

All you need is baby shampoo and 2 towels per pair of pants (for drying).

Here are some pics!!

Before & After

(Please excuse these bad pics...it's hard to take a picture of your own feet from the side...just fyi)

Some of my other pairs were shorter but look at the difference!!

 Soaking them in baby shampoo in the sink

Rolling them up to absorb some moisture

 Rollin up more pants!

Note: This was when my husband got home from work. Our little kitchen was just covered in wet pants and he didn't even ask what I was doing...he just said "you saw this on Pinterest didn't you?"...he knows me too well.

Unrollin the pants. After you unroll them, gently tug on each leg...stretching the fabric out to your desired length.

(Elphie was very interested in my tactics...she oversaw the drying process)

 I thought it was funny how you could see the absorbed water...I'm easily entertained I know.

 Then I laid them out on fresh dry towels to dry!

Never get rid of your shrunken pants again! Try this!! It really works.

Do you believe in miracles (you sexy thing you)?

Fall 2012 Home Decor

Do you know what today is???? It's the first day of FALL (aka the 2nd most wonderful time of the year). I have always loved this season. Definitely my favorite. The cool weather, pumpkins & gourds, scarves, boots, leaves, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving turkey, my birfday...just everything about it! Another thing that I love about fall is that it gives me a good excuse to decorate! I didn't waste any time this year. The first day of fall (today) I was on it!

Here is my dining room table!

Table runner: Home Goods in Cordova

Pussy Willows: Michaels

Moss: Michaels

Large Glass Container: Michaels

Small canvas & fabric flowers: Michaels

Mason Jars: Dollar Tree

Candles: Dollar Tree

Peas, Kidney Beans, Corn Kernels: Kroger

Coffee Beans: Kroger

Small Pumpkin: Kroger (pumpkin pie pumpkin found in produce)

I don't know if you know this about me but I LOVE Mod Podge. It's liquid gold, I say. Here is a little pie pumpkin that I Mod Podged an "h" to. I cut the "h" out of scrapbook paper that I got at Michaels. I love my little monogrammed pumpkin.  The Mod Podge also makes it last longer. I cover all of my pumpkins with it. 

I got these pussy willows at Michaels and the vase they're in from The Dollar Tree. They look so much like fall to me. I already had the burlap (you can get this at Hobby Lobby). I love the idea of coffee beans and a candle in one. I mean...what smells better than vanilla coffee beans? Absolutely nothing. I could smell them all day long. I got 1 bag of beans at Kroger (Kroger brand) for $5 and it filled 3 jars. Pretty good!

I got this little 5x7 canvas at Michaels (package of 2 for like $2 because they were on sale). I painted it orange/red then painted little green stems. I got the fabric flowers at Michaels. They were $4 each but they came with 2 each. So 2 of the brown flowers were $4 and 2 of the while flowers were $4...you get the picture.  I wrote "happy fall" on it (because fall is very happy) and covered it in Mod Podge. Lastly I stuck the little flowers on. I also got that little easel at Michaels. 

The moss I got at Michaels for about $6. I love moss...I want it everywhere. The acorns I found in my yard. The perfect fally touch.

The large container in the middle I made by layering split peas, kidney beans, and corn kernels in a large vase. I had leftovers and made this little one (above) to go on my kitchen counter.

Next, I made a little fall banner. I was originally going to have it say "happy fall" but I didn't have enough white cardboard letters to spell "happy" (I got these a few months ago at Hobby Lobby)...also, now looking back on it, it would't have fit on my china cabinet anyways. All I did was cut out circles with my circle cutters and attach them to the cabinet with tape and ribbon. At first they started twisting and it was driving me crazy. My solution was to tape quarters to the back of them to weigh them down a bit. It worked!! It also made the banner worth a whole dollar more.

I can't get enough of pumpkins in the fall. I had to have some for my front porch!! Why carve them when you can paint them? I also made an "H" out of buttons on the purple one. People may ask why I painted my pumpkins green with pink polka dots or purple...to them I say: why not?

Here's another little plaque I made last year that has made a comeback.  It's hanging on my carport door.

Last, but certainly not least, let me introduce to you my dear friend, Edna.

Sometimes I start to make things then halfway through I start wondering what the heck am I doing and where I am going with it. Edna was the result of one of those moments.  Last year I made Edith the squash and Norb the pumpkin. I couldn't look at them without laughing. Here's a pic for old times sake:

Edna likes to walk a little more on the wild side. I mean...she has a nose piercing.  I don't even know. 

Hope you were inspired to get to decorating! Be sure to enjoy the cooler weather, always a treat after a good hot Memphis summer (yuck), and oh yeah....HAPPY FALL!!!

Momma's House: Updated (& a little bit of mine)

So this summer I decided that I wanted to tackle my momma's house. Her house is beautiful but a lot of the furniture in it was hand me downs from different times and things just didn't match. It bothered mom but she just never did anything about it...so that's where I came in.  It just needed a little updating, that's all. It was definitely a summer-long project. I'm so happy with how it came out and, most importantly, so is Momma. Most things were Pinterest inspired. Here are some things that we did:

Dining Room

Painted it green (was originally red)

Rearranged cabinets/shelves a bit

Got a new table runner and center of table decor

Hung curtains

I love this burlap ruffle table runner I found on Etsy. Here's the link to the seller:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/theruffleddaisy

I got the candelabra thing at Ross I think for $6.

I love the cool green color. It came from Lowes. It is Valspar's Betsy Ross House Moss. I personally would've have thought that any color with Betsy Ross's name on it should be red, white, or blue...but I guess this makes sense to someone.

We were contemplating not going through the trouble of getting curtains but they really did finish the room. I actually surprised my mom with these. She was in Destin and my grandmother and I went shopping for curtains, found these that we loved at Bed Bath and Beyond, and I hung them before they got home. She had no idea. I will say that I'm pretty skilled with my husband's drill now. If you're smart, however, you'd get the husband to hang the curtains. These were such a pain to hang. We originally bought 4 panels, but after hanging just 2 we knew that 4 panels were entirely too much. We didn't want to block the view out of the window...plus their dog Phoebe would get very upset because that's her favorite lookout spot. I loved how they look burlapy. They were a tad too short so we ripped out the hem and there was some extra fabric. I created a new hem using fabric no-sew stitching glue. You'd never notice if you didn't know I did that. I also tied them back using some pretty brown ribbon I found at Michaels. The rod we kind of created. At Bed Bath and Beyond they have build-your-own type curtain rods. We had to buy 3 rods, 2 connectors, and 2 finials (these came together). Turned out pretty good I think. Momma was very surprised and loved them. 

Living Room

New mantle decor

New piano decor

Almost entirely new wall decor

New couch

Replaced the table tops with tops my dad & I made

Painted a mirror and added initial to it

Etc.

I found these doors at a warehouse in Cordova. I don't think it's open to the public. We knew someone who knew someone, etc. I thought they had potential.

I rubbed them with bleach first to remove all signs of mold and then I painted them to my liking. My dad then beat them up with a heavy chain to make them look older. 

We found the vinage looking glass doorknobs on these things (above). They were on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby and were literally $5 each. My dad had the backplates for them in his garage that I debrassed. We also got the iron scrolls (below) at the same warehouse as the doors. 

New mantle decor! Some people find the door being on the mantle strange, but I think it's kinda cool and definitely different. It's just a really tall room and something tall and interesting needed to go there. I got the wooden candlesticks on the left at Ross (they were really cheap...as is everything there) and I got the birdhouse that is on the right at Hobby Lobby. The other things she already had.  

I really wish I took a before picture of this so you could appreciate it's beauty now. This was a framed picture of a topiary...yes...the strangely shaped shrubbery. We have literally had it in our house for as long as I can remember...it was definitely time for a makeover. I had mom paint the frame (it was a rosey red and green before) brown, first. I covered the topiary with this cute fabric I found at Premier Fabrics. I printed an 8x10 of my parent's from my wedding and matted it with scrapbook paper and stuck it in the middle with glue dots. Tada!!! This is the tiny hallway going from the living room to their bedroom. 

Before the makeover, the piano had a big shelfy thing above it covered in trinkets. It was nice, but I was tired of the trinkets (again, because they've been in our house for forever).  The fruit picture (above) had also worn out its welcome. I painted the frame blue and distressed it a bit by sanding it and being sure to not cover the entire thing with paint. I then covered the fruit with more Premier Fabric. These 6 little frames inside I got at Michaels for $3 each (coupons!!) and painted blue as well. I removed the backs of the frames and had momma glue the glass to the frame with E500 glue (so the glass wouldn't fall out since the backs were gone). I had to meticulously measure exactly where to hang the frames within the big frame. This took a lot of brainpower for me...especially since I was on summer break. Anyways, I did it then hammed a nail straight through the canvas and into the wall on the other side and hung the pictures! They are 5x7 and can be changed out whenever because the frames are easily removed and the pictures are simply taped inside. Pretty cool!

I got the vase on the far left at TJ Maxx as well as the frame (below) and the cute bird lamp. I wrote a Bible verse on some scrapbook paper and put it in the TJ Maxx frame. I figured we had enough pictures in that small area. I got the pussy willow type things that are in the vase at Michaels. I got the candle thing at Burlington for $9.99.

The fruit picture was originally hanging here before I tore it apart.  Momma really wanted a canvas print of one of our engagement pics and this one is one of her favorites. We ordered it here for a very good price:

http://www.easycanvasprints.com/?&extcid=1036&afcid=1001 

It came quickly and in perfect condition. I definitely recommend it. The birdhouse on the left I got at Ross last year and used in my wedding. I filled the bottom with moss that I got at Michaels just because it looked naked when it was empty. She had all of the other things. I did a lot of rearranging of things that she already had. 

This is one of my favorites! This mirror was originally gold (which I wasn't very fond of..it was just too formal and we wanted it to be a more informal and fun environment). I painted it brown with a little bit of red. I foud the "C" on Etsy also. Here's the link to the seller:

http://www.etsy.com/people/kygracedesigns

Just a warning...this literally took 10 weeks to arrive. It says it will take 6-8 weeks for shipment but in my case it was much longer. I wasn't in any hurry though...as long as it eventually came. 

We replaced the lamp shades with paper-bag lookin shades we found at this weird overstock store we came across off of the interstate. They were like $5 a piece. I got the cross, big candle, and picture frame at Hobby Lobby and the candle stand at Tuesday Morning. 

I rearranged these shelves (above) a lot. I got those wooden letters at Hobby Lobby and painted them. That container at the bottom left now has some mossy balls in it. 

The picture above is a before picture of the couch-side table (and also a piece of the old couch). I also purchased that lamp and little bird at TJ Maxx.

Here are some pics of me and dad's little project:

Dad's man garage. Yep...that's a Mustang body on a rotisserie that dad welded himself. IDK. 

No more constant Windexing because these 2 tables are no longer glass! You're welcome for that, Momma.

And here's a picture of their cute new couch!! It's the perfect size for that little spot. We found it at Ashley's in Cordova off of Germantown Parkway.

An overall view of the living room.
Note: This is before we finished the tables.

Kitchen & Keeping Room

Rearranged cabinet top decor & removed most of the fake greenery

Decluttered

Painted a table

New wall decor

Added a few extra special touches

I found these shutters at Sheffield's Antique Mall in Collierville (aka heaven on earth). They were green before but once I hung them I realized that the green was way to bright and limey. I painted them the same color as the dining room and had my dad screw them into the side of the cabinet. 

This piece of furniture was really buggin me. It was too fancy...and the fruit? Why? So I painted it with leftover paint I had from painting Matt's man room. It was Behr's paint and primer in one so it covered perfectly. I painted some streaks of brown on it as well to give it more depth. I also hung that "C" thing. Here's a link to where you can find out how I made that:

http://katiehedge.blogspot.com/2012/01/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html

I love their kitchen. I really didn't have to do much in here.  

I gave them that picture frame with some wedding pics for Christmas last year. I got it at a craft fair.  I also made that little "Welcome" chalkboard out of a silver tray that I got at a thrift store for $1.50 and chalkboard paint. The red chicken came from Hobby Lobby. 

This little box sits on the table by the couch in the keeping room. The sticker came off of it years ago leaving residue and it's been really bothering me...so I fixed it with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge!! It was a 2 second fix. 

Cute little table in the keeping room. She had all of these things.

My dad helped me out with this one. I had him cut wood at random lengths and nail them together. I then painted it with a Bible verse! It hangs in the keeping room as well. 

Laundry & Back Hallway

Decorated it for the first time...I mean most people don't care to decorate their laundry room like I do

The laundry room had to be cute too!! I made the "Laundry" sign out of some wood I found it dad's garage and I used a stencil to paint onto it. I also Mod Podged some pics onto square flat canvases (after I painted them) and hung them with wooden pant hangers that I got at Target. Found that idea on Pinterest, of course!

Also got this idea on Pinterest. I got footprints of all of our dogs and framed them in the back hallway. I thought it was cute.

Momma's Bedroom

Repainted almost all of the furniture

Rearranged shelves

New dresser decor

New over-the-bed decor

Handmade curtains by yours truly

Painted the brass handles on the dresser & bedside tables

Recovered bench

New bedspread & pillows

I painted this cabinet white and streaked it with Palladian Blue (found it in Mom's attic). I've seen the Palladian Blue color thrown around on Pinterest everywhere. It really is beautiful. I think it is the color of the ceiling in their bathroom. The walls in here are a little different. You can't see in these pics but their ceiling is a nice brown. I just love their room.

The handles on this dresser used to be brass. I had Momma spray painted them with hammered silver spray paint. Totally changed the look and gave the furniture a nice updated look. I got the frame on the far left dresser at Marshalls, the bird at Tuesday Morning, I made the frame on the right, and the birdhouse on the far right I got at Marshalls. I filled the birdhouse with mini grapevine balls that I got at Tuesday Morning as well.

Another thing I did while my family was in Destin was make curtains for their bedroom. Momma found this fabric that she really liked at Premier Fabrics but I don't know if they were ever actually going to get made...so I did it. I just used Stitch Witchery (I got it at Michaels) and ironed along the sides of each piece of fabric. I used 3 yards per panel and I needed 6 panels. It tells you how to use it on the package. This was very easy but very time consuming. I hung them on curtain rods (from Bed Bath and Beyond) with clip rings. So simple! Anyone can seriously do this. I can't sew (so that was our of the question) and I'm not very good at ironing but I could do this!! It totally finished the room.

Misc Organizing Adventures

Lastly, I organized some random things around the house. Here are a few pics of some closet before and afters.

This concludes my segment on Momma's house. My summer project has come to a close which reminds me that summer is almost over. Makes me so sad. I am, however, to get this Senior year show on the road. Graduation in 271 days!! Can't come soon enough.

Here are a few collages I made of before & after pics of my house. The before pics were taken a little over 3 years ago when I moved in and the after pics are current.

Happy decorating!!