Make a Headboard – Part One

If you need a headboard, but want something personalized, you can make your own fairly easily. You will need a tape measure, paper to make a pattern, plywood, saw, sandpaper, upholstery foam, an iron, batting, muslin, decorative fabric, electric drill, screws, staple gun, and if you want trim you will need cording or braid.
First, measure your bed so you can decide how wide and tall you’ll need to make your headboard. Normally, a headboard is slightly wider than the width of the mattress, and about 8 inches of the headboard is seen above the pillows leaning against it.

Use paper to draw your headboard shape. You can make the headboard a rectangle, an arch, or some other creative shape. Then, cut the shape out of the paper to make a pattern. Buy extra paper if you aren’t sure what shape you want to go with. This way you can cut out several shapes and tape them to the wall behind your bed to see which shape you like the best. If you aren’t sure which fabric to use for your headboard, you may want to try choosing a fabric that matches another fabric in your room or your bedding.

Next, lay the pattern on the plywood and trace the shape with a pencil or pen. Don’t forget to trace legs to raise the headboard the correct distance off of the floor. Now, cut the shape out of the plywood with a power saw.

Check back tomorrow for part two of this blog.

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Have a Seat in My Foyer

Look at my Pottery Barn chair. I snatched it up at a thrift store for three bucks a few months back. I had no clue where I'd put it, but who could pass up that price! When I got it home I noticed that one back leg had been broken, but it's been repaired well and is nice and solid.
Last week after I moved my table into the foyer, the chair that was there looked out of place. So I washed the cover of my PB chair, and sanded and painted the legs black. Now it has a prominent place in my home.While we're in my foyer, let me show you around. This area measures 8 feet by 11 feet. It's a great size, but there are doors and openings on every single wall, which makes it a bit of a challenge to decorate.This is the backside of my front door. When we moved here, there was a door and a separate long window. We replaced it with this door and side lights, which was a nightmare job for our poor carpenter. My hubby and I put up all the decorative molding. I really wanted to make a statement on this wall. We put lighting in the crown molding. It makes for a cozy light during the day, as well as at night.This little piece was on my doorstep one day. My neighbor was helping her daughter de-clutter and she thought I might like this. I do!
My hubby and I were given permission to remove this mail slot and elevator button from a very old hotel just before they demolished it years ago. Little kids always ask if my closet is an elevator. Wouldn't that be nice.
Well, that's it for today. But I'm thinking that my new chair needs a little something sitting right next to it, so I'm off to work on tomorrow's post.
Make it a good day!

Make Small Rooms Look Bigger – Part Two

Well lit rooms will always look bigger than darker rooms. Make sure the curtains in your room aren’t too dark, and choose sheer curtains where you can. Artificial light works too, so make sure you have several lamps or even consider installing new lights in your ceiling.

Use transparent materials where you can to make a room look larger. For instance, if your bathroom is tiny, choose a sheer shower curtain or shower door instead of an opaque one. You can also choose tabletops make of glass to get this effect.

Mirrors are a sure fire way to make a room look bigger. A mirrored wall can make the room look like an exercise room, so you may not want to take the mirroring tip to that extreme. You can also buy large framed mirrors to put on your walls. Framed mirrors are widely available at reasonable prices and in many different styles.
Surprisingly, a larger piece of furniture used where you used to have several small pieces will make a room look bigger. They create a less cluttered, more open space, with large blocks of color. This makes the room look less busy and more comfortable.

Plain colored furniture in neutral colors will look best in small rooms. Steer clear of pattered furniture. If you want to add more interest to the furniture, try choosing different textures.

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Bouquet Abundance

In my ideal dream world, I would have a big decorating budget. Part of that budget would be used to fill my home with fresh bouquets. I think this dream is brought on by gazing at so many home design magazines. Isn't there a fresh bouquet in practically every photo?
Then it occurred to me. I could achieve my dream! I didn't need an unlimited supply of money. All I needed was a little creative thinking. I needed to think beyond the florist shop. Now I'm enjoying fresh bouquets throughout my home.

A bunch of cat tails freshly cut
from the side of the road,
while on a date with my husband.

A few fern fronds picked from my yard.An inexpensive flower bunch from the grocery store,
placed in several jars for more impact.It just goes to show, that with a little creativity,
you can achieve your dreams!

This One's For You

Two posts in one day? Yep, cuz my blogging friend Shirlee wants some inspiration from a little project that she noticed in one of my previous posts.I bought this wooden clock face at the thrift store. It was someone's unfinished project. I brought it home, finished the paint job and distressed it, then added some big chunky ball feet. I use it to as an anchor for my vignettes.
I'm always willing to help out a friend. Good luck my friend!

Make Small Rooms Look Bigger – Part One

There are a few advantages to small spaces, for instance decorating a small space is that you are often able to save money. Also, it is easier to make small spaces look cozy. But, sometimes you may simply want your small apartment to look larger. If this is the case, you may be in luck, because there are decorating tips you can use to make your space look more spacious.

A small room will always look larger the less clutter you have displayed. This means you need to find ways to get that clutter organized. You can put your clutter underneath table skirts, on shelves or behind closet or cabinet doors. You will be more organized this way too.

Light, cool colors will make a space feel larger. These shades will make a room feel open. The best colors you can choose for this effect are soft hues of blue and green.
Using a monochromatic color scheme will help to make your space look bigger. Stick with the colors from the previous tip to maximize the illusion of a bigger space. Try to choose furniture colors that are similar in color to your walls. If you choose contrasting colors it will break up the space and make it seem smaller, so make sure you do not pick colors that are too different. You want to focus on creating a simple, calm looking effect.

Check back soon to read part two of Make Small Rooms Look Bigger!

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Change With That Sale

Look what I found on the garden clearance!

Isn't it a fun accent?
Although I like the rusty finish, it doesn't match
the other garden accents in my front yard.
So there's just one thing to do---
get out the spray paint!
Can you guess which color?I like it even more now!

It's lost it's rustic qualities and has found it's elegance. It looks so nice on my front porch,
with the fake grass that I don't have to water.
It looks so nice that I'm feeling the need to change out my porch decor.

Doesn't this bouquet look summer-y?
I rescued that metal thing from someone's garbage pile.

I bought new pillows at the thrift store
for my old church bench.
And the frame came from there too.
The topiary is one of those items that gets moved
all around my house.
I need a rest from the heat of the summer
and they say "a change is as good as a rest".
I think they may be right!

Tools Everyone Should Have at Home – Part 3

Even if you only rent an apartment, it is important to have a set of basic tools on hand so that you can make simple home repairs yourself, this is part three of this blog about which tools to keep in your toolkit.

It is beneficial to have a utility blade for opening boxes, or working on craft projects. It is also a good tool because you can remove the razor blades for heavy duty stove cleaning or cleaning tough messes off of floors or counters.
A simple ruler is helpful for many projects for cutting guides, measuring, and marking.

Felt, plastic, and carpet dots aren’t something that you might think to have in your toolbox, but they are great to have around. You can put them on the bottoms of vases, candleholders, boxes, inside cabinet doors, or anything else you could think of. Plastic dots used on the back of a picture frame can help to keep the picture level. Carpet dots are thicker and are used under chairs and table legs to keep from making scrape marks on hardwood floors.

Spackle may be needed for filling nail holes if you move pictures around, or repairing small holes or dents in walls. Most home owners won’t find occasion to use more than just a small container of spackle. Along with your spackle you will need to have a putty knife to apply it with.

A paint can key is easier to use to open paint cans than a screwdriver, and they usually come free at hardware stores. Just remember to save them for future use.

Having several different types of glues available will allow you to accomplish most repairs you’ll need glue for. Also, having solvents on hand may be necessary to remove sticky areas where adhesives or glue used to be.

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Table of Contents

Look at this lovely little table!

Can you guess what it's made from?Does the hole in the bottom corner give it away?For years it served as a short, four panel door
in someone's home.
It still has the original weathered stain.
I just stained it's top to match.
Don't you think it's a-door-able?

I Should Get a Commission

I promise you that I DO NOT work for the Rustoleum company or the Rub 'n Buff company---but maybe I should. Maybe I should show them all of my projects and then they could pay me a million dollars for my incredible ideas and then I could share it with all of you, since you're the ones who inspire me to create more and more projects. . . .Well, it's a great thought, right?

Here's my latest project:(sorry! the picture is dark)

I bought this lovely little statue at the thrift store for three dollars. It's beautiful as is, but I think that I know why it was donated. It's a bit top heavy, and easily tips over. There are some marks on the base that look like the previous owner may have weighted it down with a rock. It also has that verdigris finish that was very popular years ago, but not so much now. All of those problems can easily be fixed with a scrap of wood, a can of black spray paint, and a little R'nB in a copper color. With those little fix-ups, it's now updated,
and looks like this:I identify with the birdy that chooses to do things
his own way.

A Corner of My Home

This little wall measures just over two feet wide. It's at the end of a hall and surrounded by doors; a bathroom door, a bedroom door and a linen closet. This is an area that could easily be neglected. But why neglect a spot that my family walks by several times a day?
Sometimes we put a lot of effort decorating the areas of our home that visitors see and we forget about those small spots that are usually for our family's eyes only. Is there a little corner in your home, seen only by your family, that needs a little decorative touch?

Tools Everyone Should Have at Home – Part 2

Even if you only rent an apartment, it is important to have a set of basic tools on hand so that you can make simple home repairs yourself, this is part two of this blog about which tools to keep in your toolkit.

A hammer is useful for picture hanging or shelving.

A vice grip is a tool you might not think of when you consider buying basic tools, but it will be good to have if you need a slip free hold on a screw or really anything.

It is great to have an assortment of nails and screws on hand. If you’re like me you’ll mostly use them to hang pictures, but occasionally you may need to make small repairs with them.
Blue painter’s tape is essential to have for any painting project to mask off areas that you don’t want to paint. I find that it works best if you pull the blue tape off while your paint it still wet. If you wait until it is completely dry to pull it off, you may have problems with the paint you just painted on the wall peeling off with it. Blue tape can also be used to mark the locations of studs, or even to protect floors from dirt and scratches when you are moving.

A cordless drill is awesome to have so that you can save yourself time inserting screws or removing them, or drilling pilot holes for nails and screws.

Check back tomorrow for part three of this blog!

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A Fish Tale

I bought this box at the thrift store last week. It was probably someone's wood shop project. I know, you're probably questioning my taste right about now, and asking yourself, "What was she thinking?!?!" I'm sure that's what people at the thrift store thought. They could only see that lovely fish decal on a funky little box. The lady who checked me out thought that it looked like a small coffin for fish. But all I could see was the craftsmanship! It's made up of all kinds of beautiful mouldings. It has style. Or at least, it has the potential for style.
I sanded off the fishy and gave it a few coats of spray paint, in what seems to be my favorite color now a days. Then I topped it with a sassy little knob. . .And now it's a stlyish little box that anyone would be proud to put their dead fish in. ;)

Tools Everyone Should Have at Home – Part 1

Even if you only rent an apartment, it is important to have a set of basic tools on hand so that you can make simple home repairs yourself. It is nice to keep these tools inside somewhere, so that you don’t have to go out into the garage to get them.

Keep a 25 foot measuring tape in your toolkit. It can be used to measure windows for blinds or curtains, or your floor for new flooring. You can also use it to hang pictures and to take with you on shopping trips, or you might prefer to purchase a smaller tape measure for those purposes.
A flat head and Phillips head screw driver are very handy to have around for little fixes around the house. These can be used to tighten screws when kitchen cabinet hardware gets loose. It is also advisable to have a tiny set of screwdrivers to tighten eyeglasses or work on electronic equipment.

Pliers are often necessary for small tasks around the house too. Most often needle-nose pliers will be needed, but it is nice to have a few sizes around. Needle-nose pliers can be used for small craft projects as well as for fixing things around the house.

Having a level on hand will save you a lot of work and extra holes in your walls when you hang pictures. Also, hanging towel bars or shelving you will love having this level on hand if you want to save yourself a headache.

Check back tomorrow for part two of this blog!

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Wedded Bliss

Last weekend we were invited to a wedding reception. I bought a nice gift for the newlyweds, but thought it might be fun to make a personalized gift for them too.

I got on my computer and made a template.
I took out my light box (oh, how I love that thing!),
taped the template on it,
then placed a piece of canvas cloth on top.
I used a fabric marker to trace over the template. I cut the canvas down to size and frayed the edges.

I cut and spray painted a board. Then I adhered a piece of scrapbook paper to the board using spray adhesive.

I added the canvas on top.I stained the edges of the scrapbook paper,
added upholstery tacks and
drilled two holes to string the ribbon through.
And Voila!
a personalized gift for the happy couple.

Make your Living Room More Exciting Easily

Sometimes you don't have a lot of money or time to spend decorating, or you are renting and can't change very much of your space. There are a few easy ways to make your living room more exciting and give it more personality without having to spend much time or money.

Simply buying new pillows in a bold color you love or an interesting pattern to displayed on your furniture can help make a room more appealing. They'll also add comfort to your furniture, so you get a bonus. I love the pillows in the picture below, they are the perfect way to make this couch stand out. Too bad you won't get this cute pomeranian with the pillows!
You could paint one wall a contrasting color. You could paint this wall a darker shade of the color it already is, or you could pick a color from a pattern in your couch to paint the wall. Another option is to paint the wall to match the new pillows you just picked up.

Displaying one remarkable lamp will help give personality to your living room. If you can't find a lamp you like you can choose a cool sculpture or pot you like and add the lamp part to it at a lamp shop. Then, you can choose a shade that is funky if you want to make your lamp even more interesting.

A mirror hung on a particularly boring wall will reflect any colors throughout your room to brighten it up. You can also paint the frame of a mirror a bright color to add interest.

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The Big Reveal

I want to THANK YOU ALL! I appreciate your comments, support and even your curiosity! Let's face it, we all enjoy decorating our homes because it brings us, and our loved ones, joy and comfort. But it is always an added bonus when what you do is appreciated and enjoyed by others. And so I thank you for giving me a bonus. You are all so wonderful and kind! Now on to the big reveal. . .

This was my entry foyer before:(one of many combinations I've had here)

It is now the new home of my table and mirror.

Here is the finished look (for this month, anyway).

In an ideal world there would be an electric outlet nearby so that I could have two tall beautiful buffet lamps. But no such luck, so I improvise.

Here's a little close-up of the details of the table.
(I still need to do some touch ups.)

Isn't this over-sized knob delightful?

I'm liking my foyer make-over.It's always fun to change things around!

How to Choose a Home Decorating Theme

Most people aren't quite sure where to start when they move into a new place and haven't done much decorating before. It can be tempting to start with paint, because it is cheap and can make such a big difference. But, it is usually best to end with paint and make the other choices first.

It is ideal to start by putting your ideas on paper. A good starting point is to decide whether you want a formal or casual look. From there, add any artistic items you own or want to own that inspire you to your list. Then, look at what furniture you own and really want to keep and add it to your list. Now, look at your list and think about what type of style you can go with that will make sense with all of these items. If you have a couch with a funky pattern that you love you can use the colors in the pattern to decorate, using the darker or brighter colors for accent pieces or an accent wall, and the base color of the design for most of your decorating. If you have a collection of modern art you want to use, think about adding accept pieces that match some of the colors in your paintings.

If you are having trouble deciding which type of design you can use with your existing furniture and favorite accent pieces try looking for inspiration in your favorite art, colors, fabrics, patterns, or rugs. This blog is brought to you by travel nursing jobs.

A Tale, A Tutorial, & A Tease

I thought I'd tell you a bit about my table. I found it at a thrift store last year. It's old and very sturdy. Years ago someone put a stain/varnish on top of the existing finish, probably to hide scratches, but it made it look like a really bad faux wood finish (the picture shows the drawer with the original finish). The drawer front was broken, fortunately all the pieces were inside the drawer. The trim around the top had a chunk cut out of it, probably to make it fit into a certain area, or to have a spot for electrical cords to run down.
A well built piece of wood furniture always melts my heart, especially if it's an orphan that needs a home. So, even though I had no clue where I'd put it, it came home with me. I used a heat gun to take off the "faux" finish, which peeled off quite nicely. I pulled off the trim and replaced it with a decorative moulding. Then I gave the whole piece a good sanding, still leaving some of the signs of wear. I choose to paint it by hand because there is just a feeling I get from brushing on paint that I don't get with spray. I feel kind of like I'm bonding with the piece and honoring it's craftsmanship (I know, I'm strange!). I painted it black because black is elegant but neutral, and I know this table will probably move around my house.
After finishing the mirror, I noticed that the moulding on the table had a similar detail (a happy coincidence), so I decided to use my silver Rub 'n Buff to add detail.
Since some of you asked how to use this product, I made a tutorial:

Squeeze a small amount on your finger.
A little of this stuff goes a looong way!
(Ignore the fat fingers!)Lightly RUB your finger over the area you want covered.You can add a small amount of R'nB on a
stiff bristled brush to help with the details.
(Notice that I cut down the bristles
on the brush to give me more control)After it's dry, you can go back over it with a soft cloth 'N BUFF to make it shine.Oooooo, looks like I'm almost done with my table.
Can you guess what Monday's post will be?

Picking Paint Colors - Part Three

It can be tricky to get your ceiling to appear to be the same color as your walls. This is because the ceiling is usually seen in shadow, so it appears to be darker. If you want your ceiling to be the same color as your walls, buy a paint color that is one or two shades lighter than your walls. Alternatively, you can mix 75% white paint 25% of your paint color. Ceilings usually look best painted light colors or often white.

When you believe you have selected a color it is easy to buy a pint of that color to test it out. Paint two coats on a section of your wall, then observe the color for a couple of days. This way you can see how the color looks at different times of the day. You can also get a good idea about how well the color will match the rest of your decor. If you have a few favorite colors you can easily test them all on different parts of your wall to see which looks the best.
When testing paint on your walls look out for factors that will make your test inaccurate. For example, if you are thinking of painting your wall tan, and the room is currently red, the red will reflect on the tan sample area and change its color. Brightly colored curtains can also reflect onto your paint sample and change the color.


Once you have painted your walls the color you selected, don't be alarmed if it takes you a few days to get used to it. Even if you decide you do not like it, repainting is cheap and easy.


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Hooray!

Look what I got from my sweet blogging friend Shirlee, from the Painted Prairie. She is so generous and thoughtful! She gave me these two very pretty awards. Thank you Shirlee!
I am a bit of a rebel. I have decided to break the rules and give these two awards to anyone who is feeling the desire to have them. Yep, they're yours for the taking---think of it as finding the very best treasure in the box marked "FREE" at a garage sale!
And, just a little update. . .Remember this project? I wanted to paint it by hand instead of just giving it a quick coat of spray paint. Well, I'm happy to announce that it has it's first coat of paint and, if all goes well, by the end of the day it should be finished. I'm still debating on how I want to finish it though. Do I want to sand it and distress it, or maybe do a little Rub 'n Buff trick to the moulding? Hummmm, decisions, decisions!