My Creative Blog:
tutorials

Ok, let's be real here. You know how when we write a tutorial and most of the time we say something like,"It couldn't be easier!" or, "Anyone can do it"? You won't hear that from me today. Painting kitchen cabinets really isn't hard, but it's time-consuming, monotonous and boring. It took us a full 10 days (working on weekday evenings- it could take less time if you have a big chunk of time to devote to it!) from start to finish. That being said, for the amount of money you put into it- really only the cost of paint- you won't find anything that makes as big of a difference. So, if you think you're ready to tackle this project- go for it! You won't regret the time spent in agony. Ha! Just kidding. But seriously, you will absolutely love the results.

1. Take off all of the doors and pull out all drawers. Take off all hardware and store in a safe place! We had a bag labeled with what went where. And if you're anything like me, clean out your cabinets because that's just gross.

2. Sand away! A lot of people will tell you that sanding is unnecessary. However, if you want a really seamless, smooth look, or if you have very glossy cabinets, I recommend a light sanding. I used my palm sander with 80 grit sandpaper (the higher the number, the finer the grit. For heavy duty sanding, use a lower grit sandpaper!)

3. Wipe down the cabinets to remove all dust and choose your supplies. We used a 2-inch high density foam roller that is meant to be used on cabinets. We found that they didn't hold paint well, which meant we needed to do lots of coats, but the paint went on so smoothly! We also used a 2 1/2 inch angled paint brush (Purdy is the best!) to get the corners and hard to reach places.

4. Prime and Paint. We started off priming everything, but quickly realized that to get good coverage we'd have to do way too many coats of paint. So we used Olympic ONE Paint + Primer in pure white that coordinates with our moulding in the kitchen and entryway. We didn't feel the need to use an oil-based paint as long as we used an enamel paint (enamel = paint that dries hard, is usually glossy, and is easily washable). Also, the higher the gloss of the paint, the harder it dries. I wanted a glossy look, so this works for me.

Because our cabinets were previously stained (by us!) a dark walnut, it took several coats of paint. I would say that each door got 4 coats of paint. You could sand the cabinets in between each coat for an even smoother finish, but honestly, that would have taken us 4 extra years, so we decided to skip that step. They still look amazing.

We did both the outside and inside of the cabinets, so that no dark wood peeks out when you open the doors. Here's a super great tip that I wish I had heard of before we started: use push pins in the back of the cabinets to lift them off the ground. No more sticking to the dropcloth!

5. Seal with a water-based polyurethane (we used Sherwin Williams Wood Classics) for extra protection and even more washability (is that even a word?) Again, we went with water-based because oil-based polyurethane can yellow over time and that's not the look we're going for!

6. Wait and wait and wait some more for the paint to cure. You don't want to nick up your beautiful white cabinets, so make sure you wait the appropriate amount of time written on your paint can before putting them back together.
7. Put all the hardware back on the cabinets and drawers.

8. Time to put the kitchen back together! This step couldn't have come sooner in my book, and I was literally, dancing for joy. We hung the upper cabinets first, and made sure to caulk along the side of the cabinet to make sure it look seamless.

9. Step back and admire your beautiful cabinets! All that hard work was worth it, for sure!

I hope I answered all of your questions about how to paint cabinets. If not, be sure to leave a comment with your question!
I LOVE my new cabinets! What do you think? Worth the effort, or just way too much work?

A few weeks ago during round 4 of Creating with the Stars, I showed you guys the bathroom makeover we did for our kids. I love this happy, colorful room- it feels so fresh and clean. One of the little projects in the room that I never mentioned were the hanging frames on the wall as you enter the bathroom.

This was a super easy project that took about 30 minutes total to complete and it's so darn cute. Let's take a look at how I made it, shall we?

I went to a World Market for the very first time while vacationing in Hilton Head, SC (we don't have one near us- boooooo) and immediately noticed these hanging frames, but they were $49.99!! I knew that with just a few cheap frames from Ikea, I could recreate this look for less!

Here's what you'll need to make your own:
- Plain frames (I got mine for 3.99 each at Ikea) — Braided rope — Staple gun (optional) — Hot glue gun — Level — Measuring tape

Step 1: Pull the arm off of your frame, if they have them, so that the frames lay flush against the wall.

Step 2: Roughly estimate how long you want the rope to be by placing the frames the same distance apart (mine are 3 inches apart) and looping the rope up and over the top and down the sides. Cut the rope. Don't worry about being exact here, you just want to make sure you have more than you'll need.

I found this awesome multi-colored rope at the Dollar Tree and am in love. (Remember? You've seen it right here before) For only a few bucks, I have more than I need so I can use it in lots of different ways!

Step 3: Place a knot a few inches down from the top so that you can easily hang your frames when you're ready. I also think this adds a fun detail to the frames!

Step 4: Lay your frame upside down on a flat surface and line it up with a straight edge. I used the edge of my countertops as my guide. This ensures that the frame will be level when you hang it up. Using your hot glue gun, dab some glue to the upper corner of your frames and hold it in place. Do this on both sides. Then run a line of glue down the sides of the frame, pulling the rope tight as you go.

Step 5: Line the next frame up and masure your desired distance (my frames are 3 inches apart) and hot glue in the same places as above. This part gets tricky, so try to keep a steady hand! But the nice thing is that if you mess up, you can just pull the rope off and do it again! (Not that that happened to me or anything:) Repeat with the remaining frame.

Step 6 (optional): Use your staple gun to shoot a few staples in the corner to secure the rope.
Step 7: Fill your frame with cute pics and hang it up! I used a large knob I had to hang the frame- I love the way it looks!

That's it! For under $10, I created a fun piece of wall decor for my kid's bathroom! Can't beat that.: )

And now I just have to ask…is there anything you can't do with a little hot glue??; )

With the return of Spring comes the dreaded Spring Cleaning (at least, it's dreaded for me)! One of the most satisfying cleaning habits for me is window cleaning! There is nothing like a window that's smeared with dog drool, kids fingerprints, snow residue and all sorts of other things being cleaned to reveal the sunshine and the beautiful outdoors. Today, I'm sharing three tips from a professional window cleaner that will make cleaning windows so much easier and a whole lot more satisfying!

Most of you don't know this, but my hubs owns a company called Jackson Home Services that specializes in residential and commercial window cleaning. He cleaned windows professionally for 4 years before taking another job (darn that the economy tanked!), and now runs his window cleaning business on the weekends. He has generously offered to share his"insider" secrets with all of you, just so you don't dread the process any more.: )
Tip #1: Invest in a Squeegee.

Honestly, this one makes all the difference in a window with streaks and without streaks. You can find these at Lowes or Home Depot for cheap, and you won't regret it. My hubs does a tricky"S" move with his squeegee, but for your purposes, after getting the window wet, running the squeegee across the window from one side to the next will work.

Tip #2: Don't use Windex!

It's silly to spend all that money on window cleaning solutions when the pros just use an ounce of Joy Dish Soap (or any other dish soap, but my hubs prefers Joy) in a bucket half-full of warm water. Dip a towel/cloth in the water and wipe it all over the window and then use the squeegee to clean it off.
Tip #3: Use a Lint-free Cloth & Steel Wool to finish it off!

After using the squeegee, take the lint-free or microfiber cloth, and wipe around the corners and base of the windows to dry any remaining water. If you encounter a stubborn spot on the glass, like a paint splatter, screen residue etc, rub it with a piece of steel wool to remove. Make sure your window is wet when you do this! Don't worry, this won't damage or scratch your glass, but will easily remove the spot. Then, start over with the squeegee.
Tip #4: Hire a Professional to make your life REALLY easy! (Bonus tip from ME!: )) If you're in the Bucks, Montgomery or Chester county areas, consider hiring Jackson Home Services to completely eliminate the windown cleaning hassle. My hubs is super resposible, courteous, honest and polite. (And I'm not biased at all!) He does a great job, can give you references, and is offering 20% off for all RHBC readers. To schedule a cleaning, email Kevin Jackson at jacksonhomeservices@gmail.com with RHBC20 in the title.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

One of my 2012 resolutions was to add more of ME into the style (or lack thereof) of my family room. I might have taken that resolution a tad literally come to think of it, but I'm still happy with the progress so far! Let me give you a little back story…

See that artwork? It was hanging in my family room for the past year. It's fine… if you know me well, when I say fine, I mean ehh… take it or leave it. In this particular case, I was ready to leave it, so I started by taking it apart.

I wanted to do something a tad more meaningful. Trust me, I'm all about art just because it looks cool, but for some reason I was determined to create something a little"deeper" for this room.
At first I thought I'd use some cool lyrics I love."American Pie" has always been a favorite song, but then I vetoed that because it just didn't feel right and I'm sure there's some weird deep meaning I am oblivious to.
I decided on Matt Redman's"Blessed be the Name of the Lord", typed it up on an 8x8 and enlarged it at Staples. (Total cost for two was like $5.00)

Here's the deal on the song. I'm not all like,"woohoo it has to be a praise song" or something like that. Truthfully, I hated this song for about 3 years and would actually leave church every time it was played. I wasn't being a jerk, I just couldn't stomach it. You may have heard me mention my twin boys in my birthday post, and this song has a line,"You give and take away, You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name." Let me tell you for a mom that wanted nothing more than to keep holding her babies that line was beyond challenging for me. So why put it on your wall crazy blogger? Well, over time I've been able to get to the point where I do trust and understand that He will give and take and it's not going to be easy, but I'm not in it alone. He doesn't say I'll give and take and see ya later. It's only by grace that I got through each of our losses without becoming bitter and changed. Okay, enough personal stuff, if you want to read about our journey with the twins, you can check it out here. (Who knows, maybe it will be a help to someone.)
So I had my lyrics and needed something to go over them. It took some brainstorming and then it hit me. FINGERPRINTS… our fingerprints!
Here's How I did it! The mat needed a coat of paint. Don't be afraid to change the color of your mat, it's a great, quick fix.

While they dried, I pulled out my kids stamping kit and took some prints. I'm a dork and started with my pointer, but realized a thumb is a better option. Just press, don't roll and don't use too much ink.

Then, I took pictures of our prints. I zoomed in as close as I could get, and then cropped in picasa. Editing the picture to black and white and increasing shadows helped me see the lines.

I happened to have a mini projector on hand (borrowed from a friend about 9 months ago- oops!) and a jar of cherries! I needed the projector a bit higher and they worked perfectly. If you don't have a mini projector an old school, classroom one would work fine too.

Keeping it real… yes, I still have a Christmas countdown on my walls.

I taped the paper on the wall and traced in pencil. I almost went blind. It was not simple to see, but it still only took about 5 minutes of tracing.

I removed it from the wall and traced over my lines with a sharpie.

After reassembling the mat and frame I was ready for after pictures… Darn that my room is bright with a glare 24-7.

Here's my new meaningful, fingerprint art.

I have a second one coming with the hub's print, but I'll show you that when the rest of the wall is finished! I have some fun plans brewing!

So what do you think of my new artwork? It's okay, you can be honest, I know it's a little unique.

Ever have a crazy week at work? Oh my word, last week I was beyond swamped… so swamped that I didn't DIY at all! {GASP} This weekend I needed to make up for some lost time and I have about 3 projects going on now. Phew, feeling more like myself!
You've seen my Granny Frames Gallery in progress, but today I'm going to show you the whole shabang! First, it's time for a little tutorial… Glazed Paper Tutorial

Did you know you can spray paint and glaze paper? Yup, tried it.
See the thin rectangle frame in the middle? It's lacking… it's not really all that ornate or"Granny-esque." I had picked up a big old letter M at some craft store (not sure which one) and I thought perhaps I could make it fit in with the style of the gallery.

I ran to JoAnn's for some scrapbook paper and totally struck out. Nothing would work. What's a girl to do? This gold and blue textured paper jumped out at me, no surprise right… it's sort of bright and tacky.

The DIYer deep within told me I could do something amazing with this paper. Here's all you need: Textured scrapbook paper Spraypaint (I'm sure regular paint would work too) Martha's Metallic Glaze (I used black coffee) Cheapo brush & a rag

Since it's winter and pretty darn cold in my garage I've started painting in our basement. The floor is covered in green and the fumes are intense let me tell ya!

I wasn't sure how the paper would take the spray paint, but it worked like a charm.

And my hands are still green today (3 days later) for some reason it won't come off!

Give the paper plenty of time to dry- about 4 hours. Then the fun begins! Using the same process I used on the frames, you simply slop it on and wipe it off. Don't forget to use the brush to get in all the crevices.

See the difference? Left side before and right side after.

Flip your paper over and trace your letter.

Did you know spray adhesive is my nemesis? It's so darn sticky! Give your letter a solid coating and slap on your new and improved paper.

Once it was on, and my edges were trimmed down, I brought out the big guns. Have you ever used liquid nails? It's a staple in our house and I use it quite a bit for DIY projects. Anytime I can't nail something I use it… we might even have used it quite a bit for our Nate Show projects last month. Be careful though, it is serious adhesive and is not forgiving.

There she is… M for Mangin, or monsters, or macaroni… whatever you want.

Here's the finished wall. I'm a big fan of the layered small frames within some of the larger ones. I'm still trying to convince the hubs that it's okay not to add pictures.

Now it's time to accessorize the room. It's not my strong suit, so I'm going to have Jess over to lend a hand. So, what do you think of my Granny Gallery?

*************************************** One final thing I had to share with you about Red Letter Words. Did you know Dee does custom work? You can get one of her amazing canvases designed just for you! Every family has some phrase or verse or words that are special to them. Why not make it into art? Start thinking of what you'll put on your custom art and then head over to Red Letter Words.

And in honor of Bucks County, check out this Philly canvas…

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick

I feel like this post title sorta sounds like Un-dressing Granny. Ha…well, no worries, this post has nothing to do with grandmothers, and everything to do with making ornate frames insanely awesome.

If you missed my decision to"Go Green" with my frames, you can catch up here. I loved the green color, but it was a tad St. Patty's Day for me. We needed to tone it down a bit.

Distressing frames is a total piece of cake! Here's what you'll need… Frames, dark glaze, a rag, and a cheapo brush. I chose Martha's Metallic Glaze in Black Coffee (and yea, Martha and I are still on first name basis… we're tight like that). I also really recommend using a cheapo brush because you'll be really pressing the glaze down into the cracks and I wouldn't want to do that with my awesome (yet pricey) Purdy brushes.

If you paint your frames, make sure they're really dry before you try to distress. I'm the queen of impatience, but even I waited 2 whole days! (Seriously impressive)

All you need to do is bush the glaze on. Work in one, semi-small-ish area at a time.

You really want to jam your brush into all the nooks and crannies (this is where the cheapo brush comes in).

Let it sit for about a minute or so and then use a rag (or in my case an old baby wash cloth) to wipe the stain off. It's up to you how much you leave on.

The difference is awesome. It's like going from Peter Pan to… umm… Robin Hood Men in Tights?? Okay, perhaps that didn't help any, so I'll just show you.

I love how it tones down the shine and brings out all the rich character of the detailing.

You know that moment when you couldn't be any happier with how a project is looking? That's how I felt about these frames. If you need a super simple project to lift your DIY spirits, distressing frames is for you!

Later this week I'll be revealing the entire gallery collage. It's almost finished! I actually had a little bit of extra DIY help this weekend. One of my life long bffs came down for my 30th birthday weekend. Seth is one of my favorite people in the whole world. We've been friends since we were 13 years old and I was so happy he made the 5 hour trip to help me hang curtains! Ha! Seriously, I totally love having friends that enjoy a good DIY… He hung my new dining room curtains, helped figure out the layout of my wall collage, and even took a trip to IKEA (The shopping might have gotten a slight protest!). Don't worry, I didn't torture him all weekend, I included lots of good food, movies, and a night of snowboarding. All kidding aside, one of the things I'm most aware of as I'm turning 30 this week, is just how blessed I've been by so many friendships in my life.

So, are you going to distress any frames and what do you think of my green ones so far?

P.S. Do you have any BFFs that have made your life that much more awesome? Do tell! *************** Red Letter Words- We interrupt this post to let you in on something AMAZING! Red Letter Words just launched a new Hymns Collection and we're loving it! I don't know about you, but I grew up in a small church, singing some old school hymns and those words have stuck with me throughout my life.

This morning, I was kind of a crappy mom and wife (I really was grouchy and not so nice) and I would have benefitted from this reminder.

I'm so thankful to have a faithful God and one that forgives my crappy attitude… now I just need to say sorry to the hubs and kids as well.: ) Dee's products are fabulously cool, but this collection takes it a step further and makes art something that can really change the outlook on your day. Go check it out and tell her The (not cranky anymore) Real Housewives of Bucks County sent you! www.redletterwords.com
and of course LIKE her on Facebook, because we all love a good LIKE! http://www.facebook.com/redletterwords

Linking up to: TT&J

Good ole Valentine's Day… Love it or hate it it's coming! Well, you can thank me later, but I have the perfect gift for your hubs! This gift started over ten years ago on our very first anniversary… we were broke, still in school, and oh so in love. Let me tell you it was a hit! So much so, that I just gave the same gift for our 10 year anniversary back in November. **Disclaimer- This post is written totally from the perspective of a married woman that adores her husband. I'm being honest here ladies, so you've been warned. Also, if you are my mother, STOP reading right now. Thanks!**
The Perfect Valentine's Gift- The Game of Love Imagine with me for a moment… It's been a long day, you and the hubs are headed to bed. You've put on your favorite comfy, frumpy sweats and a tee for bed. Once your hubs sees your bedtime wardrobe choice he knows there's no shot of romance for the night. He pulls back the covers to hop in bed and… what's this??

You've just pulled off the best Valentine's Day surprise ever. It's time to play The Game of Love! It's a game your hubs will love even more than the Superbowl!
All you'll need for this DIY is some time without your hubby around, some markers, some kind of shape template, and a fitted bed sheet…Seriously mom, if you're reading- Stop!

Ok, you can kind of see where this is going, and I must make a public confession… yes, I used one of my bff's birth announcement as my template! It was an adorable shape- Sorry Mandi!

I spent a lot of time ironing my sheet and then had an idea… I could have just washed and dried it. That would be easier.

Pop on your still wrinkly ironed sheet and you're ready to start making your game board.

If you want nice, straight lines, you can use some masking tape and your template to help with your spacing.

It doesn't have to be perfect (trust me he won't be too focused on your straight lines!) Start tracing your template. Trace it over and over again. Darn that I couldn't really have a friend come and help me with this DIY… awkward: )

Before removing the masking tape, I added some cute little dashes along the top.

You can add your game's title across the top. Don't you love my cheesy name? The Game of Love… still makes me laugh! Feel free to use it or come up with a less cheesy one!

Now it's time to get creative. I included a few presents, snacks, wardrobe changes, and lots more!

Here are a few of my squares… (if you really want to know what else I added, you can try and read the teeny writing! Ha!) I had a few gifts wrapped and ready to go and a few yummy romantic snacks as well.

Put your mattress back and it's ready to go! (Okay, I have some limits, so I pulled a little censored for your protection action!)

In case you're wondering, here are The Official Game of Love Rules: 1. The player will roll a die, but the highest number can be 3 (so divide by 2 or the game goes too fast!) 2. Each square has a 1 1/2 minute time limit 3. No getting carried away- you have to stop at 90 seconds and roll again (the hubs might fight you on that one) 4. Only one person"plays" your role is just the game"facilitator" 5. The Final square is"Score" and you can't skip ahead (if ya know what I mean)
Okay, now my rationale for posting this. No, it's not my life's aspiration for my personal life to be all over Pinterest (don't worry, I am cool with you pinning it though). I just know that marriage is tough. It takes effort each and every day, not just Valentine's Day. I don't know your situation, but I know that 4 kids takes a toll on the love life. As a woman, I have to be intentional about connecting with my husband and making him a priority (FYI"connecting" is a code word! lol). I wanted to encourage woman to have FUN with their husbands… it's really okay- you're married! I call this the"Perfect Valentine's Gift" because for me, it meant so much to Eric that I took the time to think through this, plan out the surprise, and then have an unexpected evening dedicated to us.

So, will you be using The Game of Love to attempt to"Connect" with your husband this Valentine's Day?

Psssst! We came up with a new version of this game this year. Click here for the Game of Love: Travel Edition!
Linking to: TT&J, Stories of A to Z i heart naptime

A few weeks ago during my Christmas home tour, I gave you a sneak peek at the faux sofa table we built and promised the tutorial for how we did it. Well, today's the day, folks! Quite honestly, this does not even need a step-by-step because it's such a simple project. You'll laugh when you see what I mean, and then you'll get to work building your own. I can't even believe what a difference this little DIY made to our living room space, which if you remember, is on my list of rooms to tackle in 2013. We're one project closer to an updated, fresh living space. Woohoo!

Before we get started, let's take a look at the room before the sofa table came to be. Seriously? This picture makes me want to slap myself across the face. I can't believe I was ok with this for so long!

Our sofa is a recliner on both ends, which is super comfortable, but kinda ugly. See that big gap behind the couch? It's a wall-hugging recliner so it needs a little space to open up the recliner. I used to just shove random picture frames back there…you know, to utilize the space. (aka to lazily hide things there because it was easier than taking them to the garage).

Luckily for us, we had some great old barn wood laying around (we LOVE barn wood!) that just happened to be the perfect length of the couch. Every once in a while, these things happen and they renew our DIY energy and make us feel like we're invincible…until the next project. If yours isn't the perfect length, use a chop saw to cut it down. Anyhow, we held the wood up to the wall at the height that we wanted (FYI- the standard height of a sofa table is 32-36 inches high), found the studs and marked the location for each of the"L"-brackets. It's important that you make sure you're drilling into studs so that your shelf faux console table holds up when you put items on it. Once the brackets are attached, place your board on top and screw the brackets to the wood. That's it! Super easy.

You ready for an onslaught of after pictures? You better be!

Ahhhhh…so much better, right? I love it. Unfortunately, because the back of the couch is still about 8 inches away from the wall, there's still a noticeable gap. We could have added legs to our shelf/table- in fact, that was our original plan- but since it's a recliner there was still an awkward gap. But, never fear! A plant that I found on clearance at Lowes' for $2 (yes, you read that correctly!) distracts the eye from the space.

The room feels so much more finished. And in case you're wondering, that old window that I love is moving. Not sure where, but I have something else in mind for above the couch. You'll just have to wait and see. Bahahahaha.

It's looking pretty good with the dining room (full reveal coming in 2 weeks!):

Of course, nothing is ever perfect in my house- that's just how we roll. If you'll notice, there are several things that are wonky about the shelf, but I couldn't care less.: )

So, what do you think of my faux sofa table? Gonna give it a try?

Yay for checking things off my home goals to-do list!
Linking up to: Home Stories A to Z, I Heart Naptime

Isn't this so much fun? We LOVED doing these projects for our most recent Nate's Crate Challenge, and are so excited to be reliving our favorite projects here on RHBC! One of my favorite (and also one of the easiest!) projects from Monica's family room was the moss mongram I made for above her mantel. This is honestly a project anyone can do, so you have no excuse NOT to try this! Plus, this is one of those things that is perfect for Christmas decorating, but could very easily transition into other seasons- all you'd have to do is swap out the ribbon. Pottery Barn sells something similar to this…for 79 bucks! You can recreate this at home for less than $10, and I'm going to show you how.
DIY Moss Monogram

Step 1: Choose the letter you would like to use and place it backwards on the back of the sheet moss. Because I'm a bad blogger, I didn't take any pictures of the process for this during the Nate Show taping. Lucky for you, I wanted to make one for myself! I purchased the MDF letter for $3.00 at Michael's. The sheet moss can also be purchased there, and it literally comes on …wait for it…a sheet! For those of you who might be wondering, it is faux moss, which for me means no watering! Ha! The moss sheds a bit, so you'll want to lay down a drop cloth, or do the messy work outside.

Step 2: Trace the outline of the letter onto the sheet moss using a Sharpie (or any kind of) marker.

Step 3:  Cut along the outline using scissors or an X-acto knife. For Monica's monogram, I used scissors because that's what I had on hand. For my own monogram, I used an x-acto knife. Both work equally well.

Step 4: Turn the letter over and run hot glue along the outside edges. Immediately place the cut moss on top of the hot glue and press down. I don't have pictures of this, but you get the idea, right? Be careful! Some of the hot glue may seep through the moss.
Ok, so this is what the sides of my monogram letter look like:

I only put moss on the top of my letter because I'm lazy. However, if you want your entire letter to be covered in moss, just cut 1/4 inch (or whatever the thickness of your letter) extra of the moss all the way around. Then you'll wrap the letter with the moss and hot glue in place.
Step 5: Cut two equal lengths of coordinating ribbon and hot glue the ends 1-2 inches apart on the back of the letter. Depending on your letter, you may only want one length of ribbon (like I did with mine), so in that case, simply cut the length and hot glue straight down the back of the letter. For my letter, I also cut a piece of ribbon that I folded into a bow and then hot glued to the top of the ribbon. This gives it the effect of it being tied to the mirror.

Sorry! Cell phone pic…(Boo. Bad blogger strikes again!)
Hang that mossy bad boy up, and you're all set!

Beautiful, earthy and simple.

Sigh…Cue the Christmas music! 

Please do not judge the mantel decor by this picture- this was taken close to midnight in the midst of the 48 hour challenge, so it was faaaaaarrr from finished.
So that's it folks! Think you can handle it?; )

Psssst! Don't forget to check back tomorrow for all the deets on how to make your own modern reindeer artwork!

Hey there! We hope you all got to see our Nate Show episode yesterday. If not, no sweat, we've posted them here on the blog! Okay, now get ready for Day 1 of our 12 days!! We're super excited to share today's project with you because it didn't get much face time on the show, but is an awesome project that you'll want to try! Holiday Handwritten Lamp Shade

We love this DIY project because it's adorable, BUT it's also removable! No need to ruin a perfect lampshade just for the holidays. Come January 1st, you can say adios! Here's how I (Monica) did it… While shopping through Jess' house, I found these great lamps that Jess had thrifted and added IKEA shades to. I immediately thought they would look awesome in her Christmas basement!

The best thing about these IKEA shades is that the completely unroll! Score! (If your lamp doesn't unroll, don't fret, just wrap the fabric around it and then cut. A tiny bit more tricky, but good news! You have more than 48 hours to do it! I was in a bit of a rush!) For this project I actually used a khaki sheet from our first Nate Crate Challenge, but you can use any fabric or kraft paper for that matter. You want to trim your fabric so that there is about 1/4 inch excess on all sides.

Once the fabric is cut, use a glue gun or adhesive to attach the fabric to the inside of the shade. If using a glue gun, I promise you a few blisters. I think I still have two! Yikers! Do this step as neatly as you can because it will be slightly visible when the light shines through the shade.

The next step is to grab a Sharpie or fabric marker and write on the shade. I prefer a Sharpie, because the point is a bit sharper (duh, it's called a Sharpie! Sorry.cheesy, I know) For Jess' shade I wrote the first verse to Joy to the World, but you could write anything. A poem, quote, story etc… The only tip here is to stagger your words. I started the first line with"Joy to the World"… and the second line with wherever the first left off, unless it was too similar. And, If you're like me, you might hate seeing your own handwriting, but other people probably think it looks fine.

(Sorry about the frumpy shirt I borrowed from Jess' husband's dresser. It was about midnight at this point!) Once the writing is done, just reassemble your shade and admire your handiwork! It makes a cool impact, with a modern touch. If you like a more traditional feel, you could write in a more script fashion.

So what do you think? I pretty much love it! (and I think Jess does too!)

So, there you have it a simple Holiday Handwritten Lampshade! Now, how many of you are going to search through your house for just the right lamp??
Thanks again Nate for letting us share all the inside scoop of our Nate's Crate DIYs! Check back Monday for the fabulous accent branch Jess created for me!

Have you guys seen Nate Berkus' line at Target? So many cute things, it's impossible not to fall in love. We like to think we're good buddies with Nate, since we spent so much time with him last year, so we're pretty sure he wouldn't mind if we knocked off one of his items. I loved this jute-wrapped hurricane vase. It retails for $25+ but I knew I could make something similiar for much less.

Here's what I came up with;

Isn't it awesome? I love the colors and think it looks very high end for less than $10!

Here's what you need to make your own:
-Rope of any kind(I found this utility multi-colored utility rope at the dollar store)
-Ribbon
-Large Hurricane Vase (found at Target for $2!!)
-Upholstery Tacks
-Hot glue gun

These colors were totally calling my name, and I couldn't resist! It'll work with holiday decor, for sure, but can totally work the rest of the year too!
1. Wrap the rope tightly around the base of the hurricane. Cut one side so that the ends meet.

2. Wrap regular ol' tape around the ends to prevent fraying (don't worry- you won't see this in the end!)

3. Using one cut rope as your template, cut the remaining rope into however many strips you need. Cover the ends with tape.

4. Starting at the bottom of the hurricane, place a line of hot glue around the entire base. Immediately lay your first length of rope around the hurricane. Put a dab of hot glue on both ends and attach them together.

5. Do the same with all of the rope, making sure that ends match up to create a seam. Other than the rope at the bottom of the hurricane, I only put hot glue at the seam, the back and then the other side of the seam of each rope (not all the way around- I'm so cheap I don't like to waste anything!)

I used 10 pieces of rope stacked on each other for my vase, but you'll have to decide what looks best on your hurricane depending on it's height and width.

6. Now it's time to cover the seam! Slightly pull the top piece of rope away from the glass, run a line of glue behind it and tuck one end of the ribbon behind the rope. I used navy grosgrain ribbon because I like the thickness of it and because I know that Nate loves this stuff! It looks messy, but the glue comes right off the glass with a little warm water and some scrubbing.

7. Flip your hurricane upside down, cut your ribbon to the desired length and hot glue to the underside. Be sure not to leave too much ribbon, because that plus the glue can make your vase wobbly.

8. Adhere the tacks to the ribbon. Because nothing is ever easy, my tacks were too long, so I cut the back of it off with some heavy duty wire cutters. I added a dab of hot glue to the back of the tack and poked it through the ribbon so that it laid flush with the ribbon.

Ta-da! I'm sorry, Mr. Berkus, but I'm kinda partial to my version. Thanks for the idea!

These would make a fabulous under-$10 gift for anyone this Christmas! I sort of want to make one for everyone I know.: )

Linking up to: Tutorials & Tips

Anthro Ordinal Dresser Knock Off So, I have to be honest… When Jess and I told my hubs that we were taking his"Toolbox Dresser" he wasn't thrilled (it's been holding his tools in our garage for 5 yrs) and he might have been a tad skeptical that we could turn it into Anthro's Dresser. We're a wee bit competitive, so he gave us just the challenge we needed.

Step 1: Sanding There were many layers of paint to remove. Don't be intimidated. We got through white paint and the original glossy finish. We did use some 60 grit sandpaper because the higher numbers were just taking too long. Yes, it was 11 pm and yes, it was dark, but a girl's gotta protect her eyes!

Each drawer needed to be sanded and then all of the framework for the dresser. Every trace of creamy white paint needed to go! (And No, we didn't plan to wear matching, frumpy outfits…)

We used an orbital sander and a little mouse sander as well. The mouse is great for getting into the nooks and crannies! We did have one minor injury, but that's kind of expected when crafting at 11pm.

Step 2: Template & Cut We just free-handed a template of the little shape that we needed to cut on each drawer. It was a bit annoying and took us a few tries to get it centered and even, but once we did, we just traced around it and were ready to cut. For the bottom of the dresser, we needed to get rid of any scrolly-ness, so we drew on some straight lines and said,"bye bye old school scrolls!" as we cut.

Sometimes we're a little intimidated by power tools, but the more we use them, the easier it gets. We did all the cutting with a jigsaw. It's as simple as tracing a line (well…with a quickly moving blade!)

Step 3: Create a Faux Metal Finish While I was busy doing a jig (AKA jigsawing), Jess used a few spray paints to get the faux metal finish we were going for. We used Rustolium's Hammered Metal and Valspar's Metallic Finish.

At first, it looked like graffiti gone wrong… So we added more of the metallic spray and then we used Martha Stewart acrylic paints in copper and metallic turquoise.

And we liked the results much better.

This is where we called it a night for work night number one. It was about 1am… bedtime!

Step 4: Fill the Holes The Anthro dresser didn't have any holes, but unfortunately ours had 6 holes per large drawer. Have no fear… mod podge is here! Using a little woodworkers trick, we took sawdust from the sander and added modpodge (glue was recommended, but I only had glue sticks). Just mix it up until it's nice and thick and can be molded with your hands. The ratio was about 3:1 dust to modpodge.

We used the end of a kids paintbrush to neatly push it into each hole. Two reasons this method rocks: #1- it's FREE and # 2- it almost perfectly matched the wood because we were using sawdust from the same piece of wood.
Step # 5: Stain the Wood Stain always scares me! It can ruin all your hard work. BUT… at least we knew we could just sand it down again if we made a mistake (which we did). The Anthro dresser had amazing wood tones and we needed to replicate that, so we used a grey stain that we had left over from the Farmhouse Table Remix.

And now for the mistake we made… See the big, globby brush mark of stain on the left? FAIL! We quickly learned that if we held the brush completely parallel to the wood and just barely touched it, we'd avoid ugly blobs. When the staining was done, we did a quick sanding with some 120 and 220 grit, just to make it seem more natural.

Step 6: Poly Time This is such a fun step because it gives instant gratification. The second you brush it on it reveals all the rich, woody, goodness!

Step 7: Add Numbers We had purchased a stencil, but the font wasn't a perfect match, so instead we printed letters using our printer and then traced them firmly with a pen to leave a tracing indent. Oh, you think it's hard to see? We did too! I think I went a little blind trying to paint inside the lines. We know there are other methods to do this, but once again it was past midnight and we were in"Get-er-done" mode.

The numbers looked a little bold at first, but the next morning we gave it a final sanding and made them look more weathered. We also did a final coat of Poly once the numbers were finished.

Step # 7- Hardware We had two extra drawers, so we decided to grab some cool hardware at Lowes. We love how it fit with the style, but still made our piece a little unique.

Phew! That was a lot of work! Two very tired bloggers! (Yes, we make our husbands take cheesy pics of us at midnight… poor guys!)

So there you have it… Ugly Dresser turned Anthro Ordinal! We hope this has inspired you to look past what you see at first and unlock the potential in something you might already own! My hubs openly admits he was wrong and he was pretty impressed with what we did to his"Toolbox Dresser" (and don't worry, we'll buy him a new toolbox!)

Linking up to: Tutorials & Tips, Tip Me Tuesday TT & J, Show & Tell Saturday, Sundae Scoop, Sunday Showcase

So I've confessed that I'm impulsive, but have I mentioned that I'm a procrastinator? Yup, it's true. I never return library books on time… this is awful, but I actually owed over $100 in fines after completing my senior thesis in college (Sorry to any librarians reading our blog!) Anyhow…try as I may, I still put things off all the time occasionally. This week it was my new family room curtains. Since this blog is committed to keepin' it real, I'm going to show you my project anyhow! Painted Curtains
Remember my journey to the perfect stripe? Well, now I needed to journey down the road to painted curtains. It's really simple, so here's what you need to do… Get your Suzie homemaker on… you need to iron! {GASP} People that know me, knowt that I don't iron! Honestly, before our Nate Show appearance a friend ironed for me (she's the best!) I did do this project's ironing all by myself! Go Me!

You need a big open space to complete this project, I wouldn't do it outside though because bugs and dirt could end up as part of your curtains- gross! (Oh, and ignore the wrinkles… I didn't say I ironed well!)

Determine the width of your stripes. I used 19 inches (almost the same as the wall stripes). Then, measure across the stipe and put a few pencil marks to use as guide lines when you're taping it off.

Make sure you get your tape nice and flat and seal it down with your hands a few times

Ta-da! (I swear, they're"wear wrinkles!!")

Now, I took my own advice from Journey to the Perfect Stripe and I used Mod Podge to seal the edges. I'd rather have a clear liquid sneak through than paint. That's the idea with the Mod Podge.

I waited about 10 minutes and then took my handy-dandy foam roller and got to work. I really need to invest in some"decent" looking paint clothes. These pink plaid pants and inside out tee are not the rockin' blogger look I should be going for!

Don't worry if the fabric is a tad bunchy… it will dry fine. I needed to do two coats, but if your curtain will be having any direct light shine through, you'll probably need at least 3.

I heart crisp lines!

Well hello awesome curtain… welcome to my room!

WAIT… Did she say curtain doesn't she mean curtains? Don't you need two panels for the window? Ugh, now we're back to confessions time… I only finished one panel! The other is hung, but plain white!

Maybe you're wondering what's going on with the rods? Well, I didn't measure the window… I bought a rod… it was too short… so I ran with plan B! We're just going to cut down the rod and just have a little mini rod on each side. Even though it was born out of a mistake, I really love how it's going to look… when it gets done…

Now the million dollar questions… how long have they been hanging that way? 9 Days. How long will they remain that way? Either 3 days or 14 (I'm headed out on a little trip soon, so we'll see if I get it done first)
So there you have it… Custom Striped Curtains. This is a totally doable DIY. Ok, well I can't really vouch for that, but half of it is totally doable!

PS One thing we didn't procrastinate on was our Crafting with the Stars Entry! Head over to the contest to see the winners from the first round. We are so excited about the results!! Check it out HERE! We'll give you a little hint…

:)

If you read our posts last week, then you know that Jess and I adore fall. We love it so much that we thought it deserved its own mini-series!

I set out to write a post on awesome ideas for fall wreaths. Sounds simple enough right? I mean wreaths are making a major comeback these days. Well… through my research and pursuit of fabulous wreaths to share, I realized one thing… I HATE wreaths! Yup, I'm confessing it publicly. I think about 90% of them look dumb. So, I needed to find a non-dumb looking something for my door… I found some inspiration and I'm pretty happy with it!
The Anti-Wreath Tutorial Here's what you'll need: An 11x14 frame (with the glass removed) Paint Ribbon Pumpkins (real or"funkins" haha I just love that cheesy name) Staple Gun Chair Pads
I went to Michaels and bought this frame 50% off, but… it was still $15.00. I headed down to the basement in search of another 11x14 frame that I could use.

Here's what I found. I didn't like the lines as much as the other one, but I sure did like the price tag… FREE! (Do you like all the dust on the edges?)

The best part about this project was that I ended up only buying 2 pumpkins and a can of spray paint!

I really wanted to use mini real pumpkins, but I think I was about a week too early in the season. Instead, I found these cuties at Michaels for $2.99 each.

The first step was to spray paint the frame purple. I didn't take pictures of this because really, how many times do you want to see me spray paint something? Then, of course I didn't wait long enough and scratched the paint. GRRR… back to do another coat. I might add here that I used Krylon paint and it was awesome. I loved the way it sprayed and it did dry really quickly… 10 mins max… I just touched it at about 7 mins!

I did a little test run of the frame on the wreath hanger and it was banging all over the place. NOT COOL. I don't want a dinged up door! So… I ran to my closet of tricks and grabbed these chair pads.

No more destroying my door

For the ribbon, I simply tied ribbon onto the stem of each pumpkin and then stapled it to the back of the frame. I also tied one piece of ribbon around the frame and knotted it onto the wreath hanger.

I think that as far as wreaths go, well, it's pretty cute! The whole project took about 15 minutes (ok, maybe 20 because I smudged my spraypaint!)

It's not an"In Your Face" wreath… I think it's just a little accent that fits my style just right. (don't you love the little halloween stickies that my kids taped on the windows with scotch tape? They're my mini decorators. I'm finding faux leaves and pumpkins everywhere!)

For Christmas, I plan to paint it red and add some christmas balls. Something like this…

Source: google.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest So, there you have it. An anti-wreath post, from a wreath hater.: ) I might be a hater, but I know some of you dig the wreath. If so, you need to check out Emily over at one of our favorite blogs Jones Design Company. The Nonna Wreath Tutorial

And even as a wreath hater, I admit this one is pretty cool! Perhaps it's the English teacher in me… Book Page Wreath Tutorial

I'd love to know if you're a lover or a hater… and head over to Emily's blog tutorials and let her know we sent you! Have a fabulous Monday!

P.S. Jess and I hung out Sunday night and did what BFFs do… ate brownie batter, browsed Pinterest, read blogs, and planned out some super fun posts for the next month! Can't wait!
Linked up to: Stories of A to Z Tip Junkie The Inspired Room southernhospitality

You all are familiar with marquee signs, right? They're those lighted signs that you see outside of old movie theaters, hotels or casinos in Las Vegas.

Source
These signs are definitely a retro throwback, but have come back as a home design trend in a big way! Adding one brought whimsy and fun to this kitchen and dining room that otherwise lacked both. These beauties aren't only meant for kitchens, though! They would look fabulous in a kids bedroom or playroom, a fun family room or even a game room. The best part about this project is that you can use absolutely any word that has meaning to you!

We've actually seen a bunch of tutorials for marquee signs using 3-D cardboard letters, and honestly, we toyed around with the idea of using them too. But we knew we wanted this to be a permanent fixture in her dining room so we didn't want it to be flimsy or break after awhile. Using chipboard letters (wooden would work too!) from Michael's on top of a plywood frame made this piece one that will last.
To create the box that your letters attach to, we used a piece of plywood and 1x2 pine boards. Cut the plywood to your desired size and the cut two horizontal 1x3’s and two vertical 1x3’s. Attach those pieces to the back of the plywood with a nail gun, creating the frame. We painted our plywood with the same color as the kitchen cabinets (Summer gray by Valspar) to tie in with the rest of the room, but feel free to go as bright as you want. It's your project, after all!

Decide how many lights you’d like on each letter and mark their placement. Our bulbs were evenly spaced.

Drill pilot holes where on each mark on the letters. Doing this allows the larger bit to go through the letter without splintering it, so don't skip this step!

Using a large bit the slightly larger than the socket of the light bulbs, drill larger holes through your pilot holes.

Go ahead and clean off those letters and spray paint them in the color of your choice. We LOVE Rustoleum's spray paint in Blue Lagoon (it's the color we used on our giant shaped frame)

Once your letters are dry, lay them back down on the plywood and figure out the spacing you want. Draw a small “x” in each of the holes and then drill a hole in each of the “x’s”.Place a few dots of liquid nails on the back of the letters and align the letters over the holes in the plywood. Let dry completely. Thread the sockets through the holes and then screw the bulbs in. We used these string lights from Target- there are about 25 bulbs per strand, so plan accordingly.

We chose to add an outlet behind the marquee sign to hide the cord, but you could easily drill a small hole in the bottom of the frame to pull the cord through. If you paint the cord the same color of your walls, you'll never even notice that the cord is there!

We think this sign is pretty darn awesome and Linda has since told us that it inspires her to be more creative with her cookies and cakes business!

Haven't seen this episode yet? Watch the whole thing online HERE!

Also, we're always adding new Knock It Off projects to our DIY gallery, so be sure to check those out, as well.: )

If you didn't hear our BIG announcement, stop reading right now and take a look here. We are excited beyond words and are so grateful for your support and encouragement! And to think…it all started right here!: ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Remember that little contest we were a part of a couple weeks ago? It was a great contest run by Homes.com for an awesome cause- creating projects for a chance to win $5000 for your favorite charity. Well, sadly, we didn't win, but, we're pretty thrilled with our entry and wanted to share this super happy space with you guys.Let's get on with the project shall we?
I (Monica) have had this project in my mind for a few months now. It was inspired by a printed pattern I had seen in the window of a shop. I couldn't remember exactly where I saw it, but I was pretty sure it was a cool shop we had passed when we were in London in November. Great story right? Crafty DIY project inspired by a European city… Then, two weeks ago it hit me… It was JCrew at our local mall! I just about died laughing when I put it all together! Well, JCrew or London, I sure am glad it inspired me…
For under $20 we created DIY Wood Shim Wall Art

I wanted something with BOLD color, and a modern feel, that married well with a bit of industrial flare!

How's that for a Before and After?
Who knew our dumpy oak piano could be such a show stopper? (You can read all about that little makeover right here. )

Here's a peek at the details- the DIY light isn't my entry, but man I love how it works with the Wood Shim Art!

Even though it looks pretty complex, the process was super simple and the longest part of the process was waiting for the paint to dry. Here's how we did it: #1- Purchase Long Wood Shims

We bought 5 packs of these from Lowes for $3.84 each. They sell two sizes, so make sure you go with the longer of the two 11 7/8" (yellow package).
#2- Cut the ends at a 45 degree angle. I used my miter saw and cut each piece- I started with one at a time, then did a little math in my head, noticed it would take an eternity, and then started cutting five at a time. Worked like a charm!

#3- Paint Your Shims I created a little spray paint zone in my basement and used all my leftover spray paint colors. When you're painting, just make sure that you put half with the angle to the left and half with the angle to the right or you'll be stuck with one sided arrows!

After they had dried I was left with this awesome assortment of color!! I used about 13 different colors, but I also think doing the whole project in various shades of one color could look pretty epic too!

#4- Make (or use) a Plumb Line Once we decided where we wanted our center point, we needed to get a straight vertical line to follow.

We took a nail, some bakers twine, and a socket to DIY a little old plumbline. Nail it in and voila!

#5- String Line your Vertical I love my string line… seriously, I use it all the time! We put it at our top and bottom marks (created using our plumb line) and then snapped that baby to give us a guide line.

#6 Determine your Pattern This step saved us major time. Use the floor to get your layout right and then installing it on the wall is a breeze. We wanted our pattern random and we wanted varying lengths and heights.

#7- Glue it on the Wall Rather than using 300 tiny nails (that could very easily splinter the shims) we opted for Gorilla Wood Glue. It was simple to use, will hold securely, and won't damage my walls completely (the way liquid nails would).

Following our pattern, Jess glued and I placed the arrows. Shims are very imperfect, so I had to be okay with tiny gaps and just kept using the center line to keep things straight.

Even before it was finished, we knew we were obsessed with it!

We finished it off with some fun accessories and the coolest light fixture ever, and called it a day.

There were a lot of DIY elements around our Crafting for Charity project, so to find out details about other projects, you can check 'em out below., We'll be posting more about them in the next few weeks, so just hold tight.: )

Even though we didn't win, we hope you'll still check out Worthwhile Wear, which was founded by our close friends Dan & Steph. They've committed their time and talents to make it their life's work.

Jess and I both have daughters and we couldn't imagine any of them having to endure human trafficking. We love Worthwhile Wear's mission…
Worthwhile Wear exists to rescue and restore girls from forced prostitution, and more importantly help prevent girls from ever entering it. We target highly trafficked areas both internationally and domestically, and offer women the opportunity to overcome two primary factors which are at the root of sex trafficking; poverty and lack of education. This solution is offered through vocational training centers which teach women how to make wears, such as jewelry, handbags, and clothing, which are sold to provide them employment. Additionally, the women are offered free education, a safe place to stay, and restorative programs geared toward encouraging personal growth and re-establishing self-worth.

That beautiful face is not a stock image. They're from Dan's last trip to India a few months back. The work Worthwhile wear is doing is critical and we hope you'll check out their site and follow along with them on Facebook.
What do you thinkj? Could you paint a piano green? Or glue shims to your wall?