Hi Everybody-

Can’t believe it is Thursday - this week is speeding by and I can’t seem to get caught up as I was too busy entering all the Silhouette giveaways.  Of course, I didn’t win, but it was worth trying.  I work in display and I use these  ”vinyls” or “VATS” as we call them in the display trade - every day.   No fun projects, only brand and product names - which got me to thinking of  ”logos”.  If you know me by now, you know I like to find creative ways to re-use stuff we normally throw away – which brings me to what I just finished making.    It is my version of subway art for those of us who do not own a Silhouette, don’t stamp, or have any letter stencils.     For my creation, I used shopping bags – you know the ones you get at the mall when you buy a shirt from the Gap or candles at Pottery Barn.  I save these bags, as some of them are so pretty. For the most part I use them to carry my lunch to work in style, but I had quite a few in my stash and played around with all the logos printed on the bags.   I am calling it – LogoArt.  

This post is a two-fer.  There is a second idea on reusing shopping bags at the end.

Gather:

Shopping bags with store or product logos

Scissors, spray glue, a protective spray matte sealer, staple gun and staples, straight edge/T-Square

Thick Fom-Cor or a plywood board cut to desired size

Ribbon about 1/4″ – 1/2″ wide.  You will need ribbon about as wide as the thickness of your board

Picture hanging hardware

Before

1.  Gather your shopping bags.

2.  Cut foam or plywood board to size desired.   I used a Fom-Cor board that I rescued from the compactor at work.

3.  Cut out all the logos on the bags.  I initially cut each logo out on all sides, I should have kept them long on the sides.  This way as you add the logos to the board you can cut them to the length needed to fit the width of the board.

4. Work outdoors if you are going to use spray glue.  I made this out on my deck.   Arrange the logos on the board, playing with the colors and sizes to create visual balance.   I placed the larger logos on the bottom and the smaller ones on top.  Leave about a 1/2″ on the sides, top and bottom to overlap the edges of the board.  Once you like the layout, start from the bottom and begin spraying the back of each logo with spray glue.  Let the glue get tacky before placing on the board.  Smooth each piece with your hand. 

5.  Using a staple gun, staple the excess of each piece to the edge of the board.

6.   To protect your logos, evenly spray a few light coats of a protective finish.  I used this sealer.  I didn’t want a shiny look.  Let it dry thoroughly.   

7.  Measure the perimeter of the board and cut ribbon a few inches longer than that measurement. 

 Decorative tacks

8.  Starting at the top, fold one end of the ribbon over about an inch.  Press a tack into this starting place.  Wrap ribbon along edge of the board and place a tack into the board at even intervals until you get back to the starting point.  You can remove the first tack and place the opposite end under the starting end, then press the tack back in. This will give you a finished look. 

9.  Place picture hanging hardware on the back and hang.

After

“Be kind to the earth recycle, reuse.  Be creative with your stuff”

This Logo Art board is just one way to re-use shopping  bags. I had so much fun with this project, I did another  – just in time for back to school.

Instead of buying boring covers to cover your kid’s text books, use shopping bags . What kid wouldn’t love carrying one of these around in their backpack?

There are many ways to cover a book.  This is the way I do it.

1.  Cut the bag on one side and then unfold the bottom to flatten the bag. 

2.  Carefully remove the handles.

3. Determine where the logo will fall on the book. Each book size and bag will vary.    Wrap the bag around the book to determine fit and size.  

4.  Once the bag is sized to the book.   Close it to see the fit and run your fingers over the books edges to make creases.  When you take the book off you will see the creases (book size) and you can then make the cuts.  See next two photos.

5.   Your cover should look like this.   Fold the binding tabs and tape them down. 

6.  Place book on bag and the fold over top of one corner tab and side.  Tape.  Repeat on bottom corner.  Place one side of book in.  Repeat on other side.   

 Now your kids can study in style! 

I am linking this post to:

Thrifty Decor Chick

C.R.A.F.T.

Somewhat Simple

The ShabbyChic Cottage

Finding Fabulous

Funky Junk Interiors

Tatertots & Jello

Perfectly Imperfect

Tidy Mom

Frugal and Fabulous Design

It’s a Blog Party

Chic on A Shoestring

The Shabby Nest

Frou Frou Decor

Under the Table and Dreaming

I was recently up in my horribly hot attic and came across two headboards that I had made for my daughters’ beds when they were little.  I forgot all about them.  They were one of the project’s  in my book, Instant Decorating.  The photo above is from the book.  Please ignore the upside down and smooshed pillows.  That is how the art director at the photo shoot placed them.  I was not in the room when the photo was taken – ugggh!    I also demonstrated the headboard on Lifetime television at the time, on a show called Our Home.  For TV demonstration purposes, I had to make a series of mini headboard’s so I could easily show all the steps required to make it. For this tute, I am going to use them as a step by step guide just like I did on TV, but this time - all the work was done, just had to snap the photos. They look pretty good  after 16 years – 10 of them in the attic.  I didn’t tweak a thing. 

You will want to add your own style – updated fabrics – patterned, textured, or solid colors will look great.  Nailheads in place of cord?  Leather, suede,  burlap?  Anything goes when you make it yourself.  That is why I love DIY projects so much. You can make everything totally unique to you.

For the full step-by- step directions you can download them below.  If you are visual like me , you may not need the written directions – the photos may be enough.   I chose to curve the top of the headboards I made, but the same steps would apply to a square or rectangular board.  The hardest part of making a headboard like this is getting the wood cut.  If you don’t have a table saw, take your measurements to the lumber yard where they will make straight cuts for you.  After the wood is cut, making the headboard is as simple as layering fabric and LOTS of stapling. 

For full directions download pdf.  –  Directions for Padded Headboard 001

1.  Cut board to size and shape desired with saw.  If you are making a square or rectangular shape then you can use a table saw.  A jig saw works if you are cutting a curved shape like the one below.  Draw the shape again with a magic marker in the center of the board. This will be the center padded area.

2.  Cover board with foam, staple excess to back.    Draw the shape again with a magic marker to show where the padded center starts.

3.  Cover with quilt batting, staple to back.  I unraveled twisty cord slightly and layed it on top of the marked lines.  Staple this cord all along the line.  This starts the depression in the foam between the sides and center.  Excess cord can be cut off.

4.  Staple center fabric onto board, right on top of the twisty cord.  By the time you are done, there are going to be a lot of staples in this “channel” between the the center and the border of the headboard.

5.  Instead of covering the border with just one piece of fabric, I opted to cover it with four different striped fabrics.  Each color fabric was cut into pieces, then placed and stapled to the headboard consecutively to achieve the rainbow effect.

6. Decorative cord is used to hide the staples between the center and  border fabrics.  I could not find cord in the color I wanted, so I covered cord by using fabric and fabric glue to cover the cord. I pushed it back as I went to ruch the cover. 

 Directions on how to do this without sewing a stitch:

If you are thinking that fabric glue won’t be permanent, think again. Remember these  headboards are 16 years old.  The last 10 years they have been stored in my attic where there are huge temperature swings from freezing in the winter to extremely hot and humid in the summer months.  The other six years they were on my daughters’ bed’s. I think the cord held up just fine under such extreme conditions. 

7.  Hot glue the cord ( seam side down) into the channel, making sure to leave excess to staple onto the back.

8.  Run the hot glue in the channel and then press the cord, seam side down into the channel.

9. I used eye hooks and wire to hang the headboard on the wall.  You can used picture hanging hooks, but I didn’t have any when
I made mine and used what I had on hand to hang the headboard.

This is the actual photo from my book – taken in 1994! 

Here is a close up of the cord that I just photographed today onone of  the full size headboards.

I placed this on my daughter’s bed just to take this photo of  full size headboard 16 years later. 

This chart below will show you the approximate measurementsof the materials you will need:

If you have any questions about any of the steps, just leave me a comment.

CSN Stores Givesaway still going on- 

Leave a comment here, to win a $40 Gift Card for CSN Stores.

I know it is early to think about the holidas, but when you get a project done now until the holidays link up any old or new holiday projects at my on-going link up.  I need to get the holiday decorating part of my brain charged up.

I am linking this post to:

Thrifty Decor Chick

Finding Fabulous

Tip Junkie

Today’s Creative Blog

Blue Cricket Design

Somewhat Simple

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Seven Thirty Three

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Just a Girl

I can’t take credit for this very clever way to make your own French enameled tags.  Rachel at One Pretty Thing  found this project and shared it on her site.  I read the post and loved, loved, loved the tags and couldn’t wait to make them to label my kitchen baskets.  Gail, at Can’t Stop Making Things came up with this project.  She used brass key tags and stamping supplies to make perfect replicas of the enameled number tags that the French use in winemaking.    She has an excellent and easy to follow tutorial on how-to make them.  They are very easy and if you are a stamper- super simple.   

 These wine tags were Gail’s inspiration.

Gail noted that she bought the tags at Ace Hardware Store.  That is the only place I found them. Lowe’s and Home Depot do not have them.  If you have an old-fashioned hardware store in your town they may carry them also. 

 I took her advice and used clear stamps for perfect placement of the numbers on the tags.  You also need a  Black StazOn stamp pad and clear embossing powder. I found these at Michael’s.

I thought these tags would be the perfect detail to hang on a set of baskets I have in my kitchen.  You can see more about them here, in a post about my kitchen make-over.

Here they are-

 Before 

And with the added detail of the enameled tags

After

I think details really do make a difference -that added special little touch that gives something more character and interest.

 I love them.

You will find Gail’s step-by-step tute, here at Can’t Stop Making Things.

I am linking this project to:

Today’s Creative Blog

Under The Table and Dreaming

I Heart Naptime

Keeping It Simple

Making The World Cuter

The Girl Creative

Skip To My Lou

It’s A Blog Party

All Thingz Related

…authentic, found on a northern Pacific beach, shiny, bubbly - glass fishing net float!  I am so excited.  I cannot tell you how much I adore these and have wanted one since seeing a home in Hawaii with them displayed all over.     Large and small ones under tables, on window sills, piled in baskets - everywhere.    Mine, that sounds nice doesn’t it?  Mine all mine- my first one.  It is about 3 1/2″ wide.   I found it through the Glass Float Junkie’s blog and Etsy shop.    Kamichia found this float on a trip to the Aleutian Islands.  She had to go by seaplane.  How cool would that be?  Her story is a collector’s dream adventure and so interesting to read.   She has a short video clip and post about her trip.  How I wish I could go beach-combing with her.  

Since my husband’s lay-off, I have had to put my decorating projects on hold.  This was just something I needed – a little gift from me, to me.  A little decorating detail to make me smile until I can really tweak a few rooms in my home.    My new float is from Japan.  Isn’t she pretty?  I chose her from Kamichia’s collection because she is blue and has lots of glass bubbles.   I am not sure where I am going to put her yet.

Perhaps on my sofa table.

I used a plastic ring that retail stores use to hang scarves, to keep the float from rolling off the table.   The rings come in different sizes and are perfect to hold any ball shape decorative item when it is on display.  Christmas ornaments, carpet balls, anything that rolls – and they are free.

I could add my float to the Pottery Barn bowl that I have filled with shells that I have collected from beaches far and wide.

Or in my blue and white bedroom.

No matter where she ends up, I know she is going to have some company soon.  I want to collect lots and lots of them in all different sizes and shades of blue and purple.   If you love these floats as much as I do, you are in for a real treat when you visit the Glass Float Junkie. 

I am linking this post to:

Frugal & Fabulous Design

Funky Junk Interiors

The Shabby Nest

The Shabby Chic Cottage

House of Hepworth’s

Somewhat Simple

Finding Fabulous

The Inspired Room

Tidy Mom

I have been trying to get all my overdue outdoor projects done this past week.  I have been pretty successful.  I wish I could tell you that I just love to do these projects, but that would be lying.  The biggest reason this project is complete in a timely manner is because friends are coming to stay with us for a few days.  This was the motivating factor in my sudden burst of energy to give this swing that hangs from the pergola on our deck a makeover.  I don’t think  there is anything more motivating to get DIY projects done than having guests to your home whether it be for over night or a party.  

This swing is very comfortable, but I wanted to add a cushion to it,  not only for comfort, but to add a pop of color as well.    I love the upholstered look of cushions, but also love instant gratification and being able to easily make something with fabric without sewing  a stitch.   

Before

Here is my swing in my garage waiting for it’s makeover.  It was covered in a greyish cast of worn off  stain and mildew

I washed it with detergent and mildew remover, then rinsed and let it dry out in the sun.  Look at the arm, do you see how it is worn.  I won’t have to sand this – it is very smooth.   I didn’t paint this it, I used solid color stain that just wears away over time.  This was after 3 years outside, except when it stored in the basement during the winter months.

 I have found Behr House and Fence Stain the best product for outdoor wood. It  holds up beautifully, is easy to apply, and best of all, easy to clean up with soap and water – my kind of product.  You can see from this beaten and battered can – that it  has been used many times.    If you have ever painted with oil based outdoor paint, you know it smells and can take days to dry.  When it gets old, it gets chippy and needs to be sanded before painting, not so when you use a solid color stain.

I set the swing up on a table in my garage and gave it 2 coats.  I let it dry for 1 hour between each coat. 

I then hung it back on the deck under the pergola.  This is my favorite place to sit in the evening, especially in the fall when it starts to get cold. I bring out a blanket, some hot tea,  and get all snugly and gaze at all the stars in the night sky. 

For the cushion:  I went to my local Joann’s Fabrics on a day when all the foam was 50% off.  I had no idea that it was on sale and was happy to get such a great deal!  I needed about 5 feet.  Cost was $24.00.  It is 2″ thick foam and very dense.  To cut it to the exact size I needed, I grabbed the electric knife from my kitchen drawer. (The only other time this knife gets used is to carve the turkey on Thanksgiving.)  I have a T-square and measured and marked where I needed to cut.

Super easy to cut foam with an electric knife.  If you don’t have one, take your exact measurements to the fabric store and have them cut both width and length for you.   Take the excess home to use for another project.

To make the no-sew cushion cover:   pretend the foam is a gift box and wrap it as you would a gift, using fabric instead of wrapping paper.

Use large 2- inch safety pins instead of tape.  I got mine at the dollar store.

Fold over the raw edge of the fabric and pin every few inches along this no-sew seam to hold the fabric onto the cushion.

Wrap the corners neatly and pull taut and then pin.  The width of my foam was almost the width of the fabric. Normally I would like to have a bit more fabric to pull over the side edges, but this works.  No one will see the pins.

Flip it over and then it is ready.  I placed it on my freshly stained swing.  I wanted this cushion to be easy to take on and off.  I didn’t want any ties to deal with, so I made sure the foam fit very snugly, so it stays put when I sit on it and easy to grab to take inside when it suddenly starts to rain. 

After

I am linking this post to:

Tatertots and Jello

Under The Table and Dreaming

Finding Fabulous

Just a Girl

Funky Junk Interiors

Frugal and Fabulous Design

It’s A Blog Party

Blue Cricket Design

Somewhat Simple

The Thrifty Home

These two chaise covers have been patiently waiting for a make-over since last summer. They are faded, ripped, and too short for the chairs.  If you have outside cushions you know they can get beat up pretty fast, especially if they are left outside rain or shine.   I had a plan to re-do them, but just kept putting it off as they were still functional, just not pretty anymore.  I got by with them by just placing a beach towel over the cushion when ever I wanted to sit on one.  These are right by our pool so we are usually wet when we are sitting on them.  This gave me the idea to make slipcovers for them out of white beach towels.  I wanted to them to be spa like -serene and relaxing – plus easy to care for. 

Before  

The transformation began when I added length to each cushion. I cut an old bed pillow in two, length-wise.  I then had to cut each half of the pillow to fit the bottom of each cushion making them the same length as the chairs.  I then pinned the pillow to the chaise cushion and using my sewing machine sewed them together. 

I found thick, fluffy, white beach towels at a local discount store called, Ollie’s for a few dollars a piece.   Each chair required two and a half towels.  I looked at the fabric store for white terrycloth but it was $6.99 a yard and skimpy feeling, so I was happy with my towel find.   I washed the towels in hot water for shrinkage and to get rid of extra lint.  Then they sat in my studioffice for about 5 weeks. 

 Once I got motivated to get this project done, I got right to work.  The cover is made up of 3 pieces – top, underside, and a flap.   I started out by cutting out the top section.   I placed the chaise cushion on one towel to make a pattern.  The towel was shorter and much narrower  than the chaise so after I cut the long side off, I then used that excess towel and sewed it to the top to add the length I needed.  ( I made sure I placed the already finished hem of the towel at the top of the cover.  Why have to sew more, right?  If your towel is long enough you can skip this lengthening step.

Once I had the correct length, I cut the second towel the same way I did for the top piece to use  for the underside of the cover. Once they were both cut out and the same length,  I then placed the right sides of the top and underside pieces together and pinned and sewed the two sides and bottom together.  Basically, I made a long pillow case.

I turned it right side out.

and straightened and smoothed it out.

I cut the 3rd towel in half width-wise and had each end monogrammed by a local monogram shop my area.  The monogram is 4 1/2″ high.  Cost was $14.00. 

This monogrammed piece is for the “flap” section of the slipcover.  I measured and cut this piece to fit the open  “back” edge of the cover.  Since I had to cut the towel to fit - I had to hem each side of this flap piece.    Then I sewed the right side of the flap to the right side of the underside piece.  

After

 Simple, spa like, easy to remove, and washable slipcovers. 

This photo will give you a better idea on how I constructed them -  The cover looks like a long pillow case with a flap.  If you look closely you can see the seam where I had to add the excess towel to the end to add length.  Once the flap is over all the way it hides this seam.

Flip the flap over the top of the cushion.

When they get dirty, I can simply remove them to wash.    

I have the best hubby.  It has been really, really hot here – 102 and 103 the last two days.  I was outside frying,  trying to finish the covers and he brought me out an icy cold fun drink to enjoy for when I finished taking these photos.  He even added mint sprigs.  It was just what I needed.  He is the best and always thinking of me, but he is the one who needs some pampering.  He is such a wonderful, smart, and  responsible guy, but stressed to the max - as he was laid off 15 months ago when the economy went south.  He works so hard each and everyday networking and trying to find a new position or a business to start.  I wish I could snap my fingers and make the economy turn around so he and all the other people out of work can find jobs that they love.   We are trying to live as normally as possible and have wonderful family and friends who are super supportive.  It is my hope that we both can soon sit on these chairs and be totally relaxed celebrating his employment.

I am linking this post to:

Being “down the shore” last weekend and seeing all the” beachy” decorating reminded me of a window treatment I made for a segment I did for Lifetime Television’s,  Our Home Show.  The segments topic was super easy no-sew window treatments. I demonstrated how to make 3 or 4 treatments using all sorts of items.  I can’t remember all of them – I will have to go look at the tape, but this seashell one was my favorite.  I gave  other actual “demo” treatments to my friends after the show was taped, as I couldn’t use them all in my house.  I kept this one however, thinking in the back of my mind, I may have a house on a beach someday and will want to use it.  So it has been packed away in my basement, patiently waiting to see the light again.   I don’t have a house on the water yet, but I thought it might be a fun project for anyone who loves shells, the beach, and easy no-sew window treatments.

Here is what you need:

Raffia, Chain from the hardware store, lots of Seashells, Wire ornament hangers, Hot glue, String, 2 Nails, Scissors, Wire cutters.

Hammer a nail into the top of the window moulding on each side of the window.

Drape string or ribbon on the nails to measure how long you want your seashells to drape.  Remove the ribbon/string and measure the length.

Cut chain with wire cutters to that measurement.  If you don’t have wire cutters, when you are purchasing the chain, know the length in advance and have them cut it in the store.

Tape one end of a small bunch ( 1″ in diameter) of raffia

Weave it in and out of the chain.  About every 4-5 links.

My raffia was 36″ in length, shorter than my chain so I had to add a new length of raffia.  Start the second one where the first one ended.

Remove tape.

Tuck ends into chain. Don’t fuss too much as it will get covered with shells.

Hang the raffia and chain on the nails, making sure ends fall evenly on each side of the window.

This next step should be done beforehand.   This is one of those steps that are best done while you are comfy on the couch watching a movie as it is the” mindless” part of the project or what I refer to as the “production line aspect”.   Hot glue wire ornament hangers to the back side of all your shells.

The front will then look like this.

Once you have enough shells to cover the chain, start hooking them all along the chain. Try to mix and match shells along the entire chain to create visual balance.  To cover the top portion of the draped section, you can bend and mold the ornament hooks to get the placement you want.  If you want a more dramatic look, you can add another chain, just drape a bit lower than the top one.  If you have a long window, you could make a few dips (swags) go across the window. 

I am just putting this up for the summer.  If you have a wall in your basement or storage area you can hammer in two nails  a window width apart and hang  the finished treatment there intack in the off season.  Cover to protect it.  This way you won’t have to take it all apart, but it will be safely out of the way and ready when you want to re-hang. 

I am linking this post to:

Tatertots and Jello

Funky Junk Interiors

Thrifty Decor Chick

It’s a Blog Party

C.R.A.F.T.

Making the World Cuter

The Girl Creative

Tools R 4 Women Too

Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

The DIY Showoff

Between Naps on The Porch

Somewhat Simple

Shanty2Chic

The Shabby Chic Cottage

 A while back I wrote about my studioffice work-table and told you that I was going to be changing a few things – that a Part 2 post would follow.  It took some time and I finally got it done!    I had some incentive, as in a deadline- by participating in Where Blogger’s Create 2.

 If you would like to see all the crafty, creative work spaces of many other blogger’s head on over to My Desert Cottage.  There is an alphabetical listing of all the blogs participating on her right sidebar.  Just click any of the blogs in the list and you will be taken to a post about their creative space.   She is even going to make a blog with the links to stay up year round so we can take our time to look at the 400 plus blogs that are participating.

Before 

The two cabinets used as the base of my work table were stained in an “oak”y color that I was not fond of.

During

I decided to paint them and add baseboard with bead trim molding along the bottom so the base would look a bit more modern. You can see things were a bit messy while I was busy transforming.

After 

I love the white and the solid base - now nothing can roll under the table, including dust bunnies.

To see more details of how the table was made there is a link at the end of this post.

My studioffice is set up in the room that the builder designated as the formal living room in our house plan.  Since we have a family room, I decided that this space would better serve as an office and craft room.  A place where I could create, gift-wrap, sew, and just get inspired.  Since it is in the main part of the house – to the right of our foyer, it is in full view- which has a down side.  If I make a mess – everyone sees it.  I can’t close it off. 

The best part of this room is that it is sunny, bright, and cheery, and I feel part of  the household, not stuck in the basement as I was in a previous house.  What really made this a  great place to create was after my hubby installed an electrical outlet on the floor.  It is under the work-table.  This way I can plug in my hot glue gun, Dremel drill, lights, etc.  I have a stool behind the table that I sit on. I also use it when I am at my sewing machine.

My sewing machine is in a corner. I have a round plywood table-top with glass and a tablecloth that I bought at Linens and Things.  I use it to cover my sewing machine when not in use.  I store my tool box and and a few other things under the table. 

Sewing machine uncovered  

Covered

I have a small bookcase in the front of the room where I store all my paper products and stationery. I recently painted it white to match the work-table.

and added baseboard molding and beaded trim to the bottom.  I like the modern look of the solid base.  I simply cut the baseboard molding and nailed it over the existing base.  I counter-sank the nails and spackled the holes before I painted.

Here is how it looks now.

My craft supplies are in the armoire.  This armoire was a hand me down from my in-laws and has gone through many changes- pantry, clothes closet, and now a craft closet.  I try to keep it organized so that I can just reach in and find what I need without having to rummage through everything.  The rolls of ribbon are on tension rods that I fit to the inside width of the armoire.

The desk is a partners desk that my hubby helped me make.  We used an old wood file cabinet that was another hand-me down as it’s base.  The inspiration board on the wall was created using 8 panels of foam board that I bought at the dollar store.  I covered each panel with fabric and used mailing tape to attach the fabric to the back .   I summer-ized my lamps by changing out the shades to white from the black I like to use in the winter months.  I am also in the process of making a summer blue chair cover. You can see it in it’s unfinished state on the chair. Its going right over my black and white check cover.  When Autumn arrives, I can simply remove it.   I also placed a large framed mirror on the wall next to the inspiration board.  This is directly across from one of the windows and reflects more light into the room – which I love, lots and lots of sunlight.

Foam Board and pins from the dollar store that I used to make the inspiration board. 

You can use mailing tape or duct tape to attach the fabric to the foam board.  I used the beaded straight pins to attach the boards to the wall.  They are very sharp and were easy to press into the foam board and sheet rock.  If you have trouble, use something hard and flat to press them in.  Using straight pins in this way won’t leave noticeable holes in the wall.  I used solid color fabric to match the wall.  I like when my stuff, junk, decorative items are  the source of the color in my rooms – not large pieces of fabric or paint.

I made a cart out of a cabinet without a door that I found in a neighbor’s trash.  I added wheels so I could move it around the room. My dad made the  Lazy Susan colored pencil organizer for me.  I found directions for it in an Artist’s publication about 10 years ago.  I think it was a North Light publication.  There is a row for each color family with the name of  the color written on the each side.  Keeps me very organized.  Trax, the cat knocked the whole thing down a while ago. That was NOT fun having to put them all back into the drilled holes.

 When creating the work-table I had another use for it in mind beyond crafting.   When I take the cutting side off-

 It makes the perfect place to set up a buffet when we entertain.  Guests can mingle in here as well as in the family room, kitchen, and dining room.  It keeps the party atmosphere spread throughout the first floor of the house.

Related posts about my studioffice:

 Part 1  How I made the Work-table Post  http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/02/my-studioffice-part-1.html

Partner’s Desk Post   http://inmyownstyle.com/2009/12/getting-organized.html

Desk Chair Cover Post  http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/01/how-i-transformed-a-not-so-pretty-desk-chair.html

Window Treatment Post  http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/02/my-entry.html

I hope you enjoyed seeing where I create.  I will leave you with this pearl of wisdom. 

I am linking this post to:

I am one of those people who is not afraid to stop my car on the side of the road to pick up other peoples cast-offs.   I find it very adventuresome and love transforming my finds into functional pieces.  Best of all – it doesn’t cost me a thing.  I found this hollowed out dresser in a field on the way to the supermarket.   Lovely, isn’t she?  She has nice lines.  I saw potential.

Before

The transformation begins with a trip to the dollar store for 17 white plastic baskets.  I would have loved wicker baskets, but 17 of them would be a bit pricey for my budget.

Also needed:   my computer, printer, and card-stock to make some labels.  I  chose a font size that would fit in the label holders I found years ago.  I cut out a piece of acetate from a transparency sheet to use as my see-thru cutting template.

Vintage looking label holders and labels I made.  If you don’t have any label holders you can see my post on how-to make wipe-off labels.

I used a pair of pliers to attach a label holder to the front of each basket.

I cut plywood to fit into the hollow dresser to create shelves.  There were 8 sections and a small lip where the drawers used to be that I screwed each piece of plywood into.  I then gave it a coat of white paint.  This is a rough piece.  Even after sanding and buffing the front edges still looked raw with the plywood and screws showing.

I cleaned it up as best I could and figured it is going to go in my mudroom so it doesn’t have to look perfect, just functional.  Lots of sanding needed.

After

I also bought white thumb tacks at the Dollar Store and used two different colors of ribbon from my stash to hide the  ugly front edge of the dresser.   I measured the ribbon and placed the purple on top of a wider white grosgrain.  I attached the ribbon to the dresser with the thumb tacks.  I think I am going to add more tacks, so it looks like nail-head trim, but I ran out.  I will need to take another trip to the Dollar Store to get more. 

This dresser sees a lot of action as it is right in the door from our garage where we enter the house.   It is where we place keys, mail, library books, handbags, backpacks, etc.  I have the baskets labeled – Sunglasses, Goggles, Sunscreen, Mittens, Hats…the things we use on a daily basis that I want easily accessible, but I don’t want to see laying around.

I love how it came out.  Not too bad for something I found on the side of the road.

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Before

This dresser is a classic – you probably have one in your family  -  the classic  hand-me down that keeps getting handed-down one generation to the next.  It is not an antique, but so well made even after it takes a licking, it still functions perfectly.  Before it gets handed down once again to my daughter Mandy, I am going to tweak it to her specifcations.  She is going to be a junior at the University of Vermont and is moving into a house with 4 of her friends.   She needs furniture + we had this + I can paint = DIY INEXPENSIVE TRANSFORMATION  TIME.   She was not into the brown and brass.  I can’t blame her, so I got to work. 

This is how the brass drawer pulls looked after I cleaned them to prepare for spray painting.  You can see the one at the bottom has a bit of silver on it.  I tried using Rub and Buff on that one, but I could not get it into the detail of the pull so I opted to use Spray Paint.

Here is the desk that was currently in my daughters room at home.  She wanted it to match the dresser, so even though it looks pretty nice, I painted it.    I set up the two pieces in my garage, lightly sanded them and put two coats of Oil-Based Kilz on each piece. 

Decorative Brass Pull on desk drawer.

Ready to unload  my daughters “stuff” into her house.  It has 5 bedrooms and she is in one that is tiny, tiny, tiny, but very bright and cheery. 

If you have never been to Burlington Vermont it is definitely a destination to experience and explore.  It is right on Lake Champlain.  Gorgeous views everywhere. 

Unique Shops

And plenty of delicious restaurants that have outside seating in the summer months along Church Street.  This is my favorite place to eat.  

And a great place to study.

After

The color of the Valspar paint Mandy picked was  Seafarer.

I used Rust-Oleum Specialty Metallic Spray Paint in Silver for the drawer pulls.  I applied 3 light coats, letting each coat dry thoroughly before spraying on the next coat.  They came out so much better than I expected.  I just love this brand of spray paint.

It is amazing how modern the pulls look now.  

Her desk came out great as well. 

Here  is the dresser in it’s new home. 

The desk is across the room, which is only about 2 steps away.  I found a beach towel at WalMart  to cover her Ikea chair with.  If you decide to do this make sure you wash the towel first – or you will end up with a butt covered in lint.   I took these photos right before we left for the 7 hour drive home to Pennsylvania. 

She was having fun orgainzing and setting up all of her stuff.  I wished I could have stayed longer and helped her more, but I think she has my “decorating” gene and was figuring it out on her own. 

I did fashion a sheer window scarf for her that I found at WalMart.  I didn’t use a rod.  There were two plant hooks on the ceiling that if we removed would have left huge holes. 

I painted the hooks white and draped the scarf on them.  Then on each side I tied ribbons in all the colors used in the room around the scarf and hooked the ribbon on a nail on each side of the window trim.  I had to play with the folds to get each side even.  She was very happy with the results.  

I am linking this post to:

Life In My PJ’s

Thrifty Decor Chick

Finding Fabulous

Tidy Mom

Funky Junk Interiors

Under the Table and Dreaming

Miss Mustard Seed

Frugal and Fabulous Design

Chic on a Shoestring