DIY jewelry holder ~ my take

I wrote a few weeks ago about my need for a jewelry solution in my bedroom. I needed it up out of the reach of my niece and nephew and DIY, cheap and unique. I looked online for inspiration and found some cute ideas, but none of them fit quite right for my space and needs. I was at Ikea a little while ago and found a necklace solution. I bought a simple white over the door coat hook, hung it on my closet door and hung all of my necklaces on it. They are out of reach of the kids and displayed so I can actually see all of them!

Then I continued to look for a way to display earrings, rings and bracelets. I like the look of the burlap picture frames, but you can't really hang those on the wall and still easily access all of your earrings. Then I saw a picture of an earring holder using a length of small chain and 2 pins and thought that was cute. I wanted to use materials that I already had if that was possible.

Then inspiration struck! I cut 2 strips of burlap that I already had along with one strip of lace that I had and only bought the silver thumb tacks. They were $1.99 at Michaels. I love the mixture of lace, burlap, and metal! Here are some pictures of the process:

I chose "Delight" because it comes from my favorite Bible verse at the moment. Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." That is something I'm clinging to at the moment!


And finally the bracelet and ring dilemma. Without a better solution at the moment I took a silver bowl that I bought a while back from Salvation Army and put it on my small table below the earrings and spread out my rings and bracelets and other miscellaneous things in it. For now it works and I am loving the way it all came together!

Happy Friday!

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! It feels like it has been a long time coming this week. I wanted to pass along this little gem I came across and wish you a wonderful weekend!  See you all next week!

Message board picture frame diy

I saw this project on Pinterest and thought "I could totally do that! It looks super easy." And it turned out I was right! I made a small message board out of a picture frame and burlap. This project could be great for dorm room message boards or kids rooms or even in your home to leave cute little messages around the house for your family! I will probably use mine to write inspirational quotes or Bible verses on to give me little reminders or pick me ups throughout the day!

All you need is a picture frame of any size, some kind of fabric (it's best if the fabric is light colored and not too much going on so you can read what is written easily), scissors and some decorations if you choose.

JoAnn's picture frames were all 60% off so I snagged these frames for $3 each! Such a great find!

My supplies

This spray paint is so tiny and perfect when you just need a little paint. It's about $4

Easiest way to cut fabric to the right size, take the glass out and cut around it. Works every time!

I left just a bit of fabric on each side of the glass just to be sure

Here is the first one completed! I left it black but I'm planning on adding some fun decor around the edge of some sort.

The other frame I am planning on giving to a friend, so to match her decor I wanted to paint it a more rustic looking color, so I scuffed the frame up a bit to make the paint stick better and to make it even more rustic looking

Up close. Looking a little beat up

NOTE TO SELF: Put newspaper or something under the frame next time and save the cement from the paint! There is now a nice square painted onto the cement... oops!

Final product!

And again!

The flower I made from scraps of burlap and some random scraps of lace I found around the house and a button I had. I cut some rough flowers out of the burlap and a rough circle of lace and sewed them all together. Nothing too fancy, but I like it!

I hope you enjoy making things as much as I do! Are there any projects you have seen on Pinterest or other sites that you would like me to try out? I would love some inspiration!

Frosted glass diy project

Hey everyone! Sorry I'm a bit later than usual this morning. It has definitely been one of those days! I must have turned my alarm off in my sleep so I woke up late and was almost late for work... not good! And things have just been crazy already! I can't wait for 3 p.m.! I'm making a quick trip to Home Goods after work to check out the newest inventory and see if I can't find some inspiration while I'm there!

This weekend I started a new project and I can't wait to finish it and show off the finished thing! I wanted to share it with you now though because I think it is pretty cool!

I went to JoAnn's after work and they were having an awesome sale! I got all kinds of stuff for pretty cheap, which is definitely a bonus since I'm not rich! I got enough stuff for 3 separate projects for less than $30!

My room is in the basement and has a large window and one of those tiny basement windows. I put curtains that I had over the large window, but wasn't sure what I should do for the tiny window. I thought about putting fabric over it, but I want as much natural light to my room as possible. While I was at JoAnn's I found this nifty spray paint that makes glass into frosted glass. I cleaned the window and dried it like the can said and sprayed a few layers of "frosting" (hehe) onto the window and let it dry. It worked really well! No one can see in any more, but it still lets some light into the room.

I also picked up a couple smooth glass mason jars for $1.99 each. I wanted to make frosted glass jars for candles or to give as gifts or something. I taped off some stripes and figured I would give it a try. Here are some pics of the beginning process:

From there I sat the jar upside down outside and sprayed the frosting around the glass. It turned out pretty cool so far, but I want to add a few more striped of different sizes and then I will reveal the final result!

Myths about DIY

I found this list of myths about DIY wedding decor here and I can relate to some of them. Recently, I was talking to my mom about what kind of a wedding I would want to have. I told her that I wanted something that wasn't expensive or overly fancy. That's just not me. I want a cheap wedding and a more expensive honeymoon. She wasn't exactly thrilled about my inclination toward DIY weddings or my use of the word "cheap". I don't mean I want a cheap looking wedding, I just want the wedding to ultimately be cheap! There is a difference!

So here are the myths I found:
 

Myth #1: Handmade Is Poor Quality
Above and beyond all other things I hear about handmade/DIY weddings, I hear “Handmade is poor quality” the most — and it kills me!
While there are varying degrees of skill and quality control in the crafting world, most artisans and crafters take great pride in their work and put forth their best efforts for their customers.
The diversity of handmade products available to consumers is truly astounding. A creative couple can find nearly any wedding-related item in a plethora of styles available nowhere else in the handmade community. Etsy is a testament to that!
Handmade goods are (often) far superior to mass-produced, machine milled items in both quality and style. Not only is the handmade item getting personal attention and care, it’s the direct result of someone’s skill and craftsmanship. That’s not something a machine can ever give you.


Myth #2: D.I.Y. Equals Disaster
This is, oddly, one of the most common myths I hear from prospective DIYers. This one usually comes courtesy of some of the more fear-mongering wedding industry people who try to dissuade do-it-yourselfers. This myth is a favorite of mine to dispel.
Usually accompanied with stories of tragic consequences (death, physical harm, eternal embarrassment) of handmade weddings gone wrong, the DIY doomsayers maintain that crafty couples are incapable of creating a fun, fabulous wedding without professional intervention.
The fact is that anyone can have a happy, harmonious handcrafted wedding. Pro help is wonderful when a couple has the need, the budget, and can find the right vendor but it’s not an absolute necessity to pull of a fabulous wedding day.
To be fair, DIY isn’t for everyone and, yes, problems may indeed arise. However, the possibility of problems does not a disaster make. (Remember: even professionals make mistakes.)


Myth #3: Handmade Is For Low Budget Brides or Tacky, Tacky, Tacky
With nightmares of favors wrapped in endless balls of tulle, garishly outdated 1990’s décor, and an abundance of doe-eyed children tchotchkes, some couples have expectations that handmade/DIY is well, tacky.
The face of the DIY/handmade wedding has changed dramatically in the last few years. Once relegated to those that had lower-than-national-average budgets, handmade has gained tremendous momentum in all budget ranges. At DIYBride.com, I’ve worked with couples with less than $5,000 to some in the $40,000 – $60,000 range in the last few years. And none were anywhere near tacky.
As more DIY projects are shared in our crafty communities and as couples strive for more individuality, handmade objects are more accepted and appreciated as part of the wedding experience. DIY/handmade weddings are now stylish, unique, fun, and totally representative of the couple.


Myth #4: D.I.Y./Handmade Is Always Less Expensive
One of the biggest myths about going DIY or handmade is that’ll be less expensive than off-the-shelf and pre-packaged options. Not true!
While couples can save big bucks by buying through indie artists or making things themselves, that’s not always the case.
The adage “you get what you pay for” is pretty accurate. You want quality? Be prepared to pay for it. Time and effort, tools and supplies, and skill and expertise all cost money whether you DIY or hire a pro.

Wicker baskets. Who would have thought?

Growing up I never liked wicker. I thought it was for old ladies to put their knitting in, and definitely not for decoration or use. I liked clean lines and bright colors. I preferred a modern look to things, not an old lady look. But over the years I have begun to appreciate that style more and more, and now I have a few wicker pieces scattered throughout my space. I am kind of picky about my wicker choices, but it is defintely present in my design sense now. Here are a couple examples of how I use wicker in my space:

The first one is in my bathroom next to the vanity. I needed something to hold my hair dryer, straightener, etc and this seems like a great solution! (There will be doors on the vanity eventually, they are awaiting a coat of paint)

Moving? Packing? What to do.

This is a perfect time for you to clean out your dressers, closets, and storage.

You know how it goes. You fall in love with a new place, whether it be a house, apartment, condo, or what have you, and you get a move in date. And then what? You have to pack. But you don't want to pack up those things that you have stuffed in the farthest corner of your closet and haven't looked at in years. Do you really want to haul all of that crap over to your new place just to stuff it into the back of a new closet and forget about it, do you? It's a lot of work to move, so in order to save yourself some energy, it's usually best to wade through everything.

I am in the process of packing to move and it is not always rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes it is downright not fun at all! I am currently in the period where I have to clean out my childhood bedroom and get rid of things that have been stuffed in the back of my closets and drawers for 10+ years. And I am a shopper, so I have a lot of stuff that I have collected over the years!!

Last night I pulled clothes out of one section of my dresser and began sorting into 3 piles; KEEP, DONATE, and TRASH.

I find that it is hard to part with things at first, so I generally go through all the clothes in the KEEP pile at least twice, because on the second look I can be more critical and less emotionally attached to the items. I also try on everything in the keep pile so I am less likely to keep things that don't fit me right any more.

I also always DONATE any clothes that aren't ripped or stained. My church has a clothing closet where they give away clothes and accessories to people in the community that can't afford a lot. {I also donate all of my formal dresses because they can get expensive for girls going to homecoming or prom.} They also take shoes, accessories, and even household items. You never know what people will need and I am glad that my church finds serving the community so important!

The TRASH pile gets anything that has holes, stains or any other issues that would prevent anyone from wanting them. It also gets anything that people don't generally want second hand, like under clothes and socks, shoes that are old and dirty looking, etc.