10.25.2015

PROJECT CLOSET: DRESSING ROOM

IN OUR APARTMENT OUR "DRESSING ROOM" ALSO HAPPENS TO BE OUR DINING ROOM. AS THE ONLY ROOM IN OUR SPACE THAT HAS HIS AND HERS CLOSETS, PLENTY OF FLOOR SPACE FOR CAST-OFFS AND IKEA BAGS OF CLEAN LAUNDRY, WE STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT IN A "MANAGEABLE" STATE.  AFTER MY MOST RECENT PURGE I WAS ABLE TO REALLY FIT EVERYTHING IN, BUT SOME THINGS REMAINED UNACCESSIBLE AND THEREFORE UNWORN. BOTH OF OUR CLOSETS ARE SO NARROW HANGERS ONLY FIT IN THE AREA WITH THE DOOR JAM--SO THE POCKETS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DOOR ARE POORLY UTILIZED. MY GOAL IS TO MAXIZE MY CLOSET SPACE BY ADDING BUILT IN SHELVES, HOOKS AND CREATIVE STORAGE TO THE DOOR-- ALONG WITH A SPLASH OF COLOR FOR FUN!

Want to evaluate your closet and save money? Check out my free printable closet evaluation here and stop wasting money on impulse buys! 


Small Closet Solutions

BEFORE

small closet solutions


WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 
PAINTER'S TAPE 
SMALL SAMPLE CONTAINER OF PAINT (I USED SHERWIN WILLIAMS "MYTHIC MAUVE")
SMALL WIRE BASKETS ( I GOT MINE AT MICHAELS) 
3/4" WOOD DOWELS OR COPPER PIPE WITH CAPS
SCREW IN HOOKS
COPPER SPRAY PAINT
SHELF PAPER
WOOD (PLYWOOD AND 1x4'S)

small closet solutions

I FORGOT PROGRESS SHOTS OF THE DOOR, BUT I PAINTED THE ENTIRE THING WITH A BRUSH -- JUST TWO COATS OF FLAT INTERIOR PAINT COVERED WELL. BE SURE TO TAPE OF THE EDGES OF YOUR DOOR AND KNOB!

small closet solutions

IF YOU CHOSE COPPER PIPE SPRAY PAINT YOUR HARDWARE TO MATCH -- YOU COULD ALSO PAINT YOUR DOWELS AND HARDWARE ANOTHER ACCENT COLOR TO MATCH YOUR DECOR.

small closet solutions


I ADDED SHALLOW BASKETS FOR HOLDING TIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES. EXTENDED COPPER RODS MAKE IT EASY TO HANG BELTS AND SCARVES WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM. 

small closet solutions

I BUILT CUBBY SHELVES INTO THE SIDES OF THE CLOSET FACING OUTWARD -- MAKING IT SUPER EASY TO REACH STACKS OF PANTS, PURSES OR BOOTS STORED THERE.  INTALL THESE SIMPLE SHELVES BY CUTTING TWO BRACES FROM 1X4'S AND SCREWING THEM INTO EITHER WALL INSIDE THE CLOSET. 

I COVERED THE PLYWOOD WITH PRINTED CONTACT PAPER FROM TJ MAXX. 

small closet solutions

MUCH BETTER RIGHT?! I CAN REACH EVERYTHING AND IT FEELS MUCH MORE SPACIOUS AND ORGANIZED. CLOSETS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL!

Want to evaluate your closet and save money? Check out my free printable closet evaluation here and stop wasting money on impulse buys! 


small closet solutions


STAY TUNED AS I TACKLE THE CRAFT CLOSETS AND PANTRY!


10.24.2015

Funky Florals Painting Tutorial

 Throw your own crafts and cocktails night with your gal pals with this easy painting tutorial! Complete a mini canvas in just an hour or less and include mini-easels at each painting station for a "sips and strokes" set-up!

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

 What You'll Need 

Acrylic Paint 
Medium Paintbrushes 
Small Paintbrushes for details
Oil Pastels 
Pencil 
 8-by-8 Inch Canvas 
Paint Palette or Plates 
Spray Sealant

1. Paint Background 

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

Blend two to three light colors on a small canvas to completely cover the background. Don't forget the edges!

2. Sketch Flowers and Vase. 

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

Use a pencil to lightly sketch out abstract flowers in a fun vessel.  Don't be afraid of imperfections--it adds character and whimsy to the scene!  Here are some sample flower and leaf shapes.

3. Add Base Color 

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

Use a medium paintbrush to fill in the flowers and vase.

4. Add Details 

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

Using a small paintbrush add lines and define petals. You may also want to use oil pastels to outline or add texture to your art.

5. Dry and Seal

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorial

After your artwork has had a chance to dry, spray with a clear sealer to protect your paint from chipping or oil pastels from smearing.

Like this project? Try my floral painted pumpkins tutorial


10.13.2015

Frame your Wall Weavings


This mini-framed weaving is the perfect project to bust your scrap stash and use all those yarn bits you've been saving from your knitting. This project takes an hour tops and is great for a crafting/ movie night! Full Tutorial HERE


10.12.2015

DIY AIR DRY CLAY RING HOLDERS

After losing one of my favorite dainty rings down the sink while vigorously scrubbing paintbrushes I remembered this project I've wanted to complete for a while: Ring cones.  I've been seeing them pop up everywhere from Anthropologie to Etsy-- but here's how to make them yourself! 


WHAT YOU'LL NEED:


AIR DRY CLAY 
ACRYLIC PAINT 
HIGH GLOSS VARNISH OR GLAZE
FINE GRIT SAND PAPER
WAX PAPER

1. KNEAD LARGE BALLS OF CLAY TOGETHER UNTIL MALLEABLE.  FORM INTO CONES BY ROLLING INTO THICK RODS AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO ONE SIDE WHILE ROLLING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS WAX PAPER.
 TO CREATE A PRISM SHAPE FLATTEN FOUR SIDES BY LIGHTLY PRESSING. TAP THE BOTTOM ON WAX PAPER TO CREATE A FLAT SQUARE BASE.



3. ALLOW TO DRY  ON WAX PAPER OVERNIGHT (OR BAKE ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS)

4. USE FINE GRIT SANDPAPER TO SMOOTH ANY LUMPS OR UNEVEN EDGES



5. PAINT DESIGNS OR COLOR-BLOCKED PATTERNS ON DRIED RING CONES.



6. APPLY SEVERAL COATS OF GLAZE TO ACHIEVE THE GLOSSY LOOK OF A FIRED CERAMIC.


These could make great Holiday gifts right?! You can get over a dozen ring cones out of a regular package of air dry clay.



10.08.2015

MAKE IT HAPPEN: 2015

I'd be lying if I said I did my best in 2015.  I let depression get the best of me and was discouraged by even the slightest bump in the road.  At the beginning of this year I adopted the Knope method: organizing goals and projects into binders.  I stuck with it for about two months and after we moved into our current town/apartment I never got it back out again.  Fast forward 5 months after several mediocre part time jobs, many failed projects and un-ending financial insecurity -- rock bottom. I called my mom for a dose of emotional enabling and got some tough love instead:

What was the common denominator of my failed jobs, projects, and pursuits : me.

Instead of placing blame on every experience or employer and victimizing myself I was finally able to hear it: The only person getting in my way is myself.

So -- for the next four days I did the following and had OUTSTANDING results.  I think my mother refers to them as "measurable qualities of success".  I created a daily work schedule for myself, produced daily content, and shared it on EVERY available platform.

I'm now reviving my plans and goals I made for 2015, and I want you to join me -- the year isn't over yet! No one is going to do it for you -- you have to DO IT YOURSELF.

What should be in my binder? 

A daily work schedule on a time table. STAY ON TRACK
(I.E. : 8am-10am coffee/errands, 10am-12am listing items in shop)

Blog schedule or calendar. DON'T STRUGGLE TO FIND THINGS TO POST DAILY

Lists of resources and media contacts. NETWORKING WILL MAKE YOU $

Lists of projects.  SAVE THEM FOR A RAINY DAY 

Goals and when you'd like to accomplish them by. SET DEADLINES 

Long term projects & Business plans. OUTLINE THE STEPS YOU HAVE TO TAKE TO GET THERE 

Ways to build your business in the future ( if you're currently financially restrained). IT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT  

Lists of resources and things to work on while your unemployed (if you're a freelancer like me). PROPEL YOURSELF FORWARD 

Potential collaborations and contact info. MAKE FRIENDS

Household to do's and logistics. DON'T ABANDON YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR HOME

The list could go on and on

The goal is to house the things that can keep you productive all in the same place, your goals right next to the resources that you need to accomplish and follow through with making those things happen. 
Don't get stuck in a Law & Order SVU coma like me. 

If you have your own struggles or success stories you'd like to share PLEASE comment, I'd love to hear how you pulled yourself up and got busy! Have a resource? Share with the class! 

Here are a few gorgeous free printables to get you started : 


Water color to do lists to get you through the day : 


The mother load of printable lists , charts and blog planners to organize you life : 


Free planner printables : 


(DON'T FORGET TO PRINT ON BOTH SIDES/ MIS-PRINTS AND SCRAPS) 

10.06.2015

Hand-Sewn Floor Poufs

No sewing machine? No problem! Accomplishing sewing projects is completely possible without a sewing machine and there are more methods other than using iron on no-sew strips. Complete a few of these poufs for about $10 and find a way to up-cycle your hoard of plastic grocery bags that have taken over your pantry!


What You'll Need 


Large upholstery needle 
Chinese knotting cord 
Several yards of canvas (depending on the size of your finished pouf and how many you plan to make)
Fabric scissors 
Pencil 
Recycled grocery bags or bean bag filler 
Trash Can Lid or large round shape to trace 
Tape Measure 
Lighter 
Straight pins


After ironing the canvas, trace your round shape ( I used a clean trashcan lid) and cut out two pieces--one top and bottom piece for your pouf.


Walk a tape measure around the circumference of your cut circle piece to determine the length of your body piece.

The body of your pouf will be your choice of height (I made mine 13") and the length you just found by walking the circumference.

Not familiar with the blanket stitch? Here's how: 

Blanket Stitch

Pull cord through from the back, 1/4" down from the edge.

Pass the needle behind the fabric and pull through 1/4" to the right of your last stitch

Pull to create a small loop


Pass the needle through the loop and pull taught 


Repeat these steps, passing the needle through the fabric from the back and up through the loop it creates.



After a few stitches you'll have a neat row of blanket stitches. 


Join the two raw edges of the canvas together creating a drum-like loop and bind the edges with the blanket stitch. Tie off end in a secure knot, melt the cord tail into the knot with a lighter for a stronger hold.


Pin one circle around the bottom edge of the loop and bind raw edges together with the blanket stitch. Remember to tie off the end in a secure knot and melt the cord tail into the knot .


Fill the base of your pouf with plastic shoppers so that it stands easily on its own. This will make the next steps easier to complete.

Pin the second circle around the top edge of the pouf and bind 3/4 of the way around, leaving a small opening to fill with more bags.  Be sure to pack bags in tightly or your pouf will lack… oomph. Try sitting on it to see how far it compresses -- plan on over-stuffing!



When you've finished stuffing your pouf bind the rest of the top edge and secure with a knot.  Trim off any stray threads or cord and POUF! YOU'VE FINISHED YOUR FIRST HAND-SEWN POUF!



Once you've completed this project you'll want to sew EVERYTHING by hand. There are numerous stitches and treatments to learn and the results are so much more personal. Looking for more sewing projects? Follow my STITCHES Pinterest board. 




10.03.2015

Matisse's Paper Cut-Outs Costume

Henri Matisse was the original cutting and decoupage master-- honor him this halloween with a wearable canvas inspired by his iconic jewel colored paper cut-outs.  This makes a perfect last minute costume for procrastinators--especially if you have a white T-shirt dress on hand!



What You'll Need 

Pink Felt, Red Felt, Blue Felt, Green Felt, Yellow Felt & Orange Felt 
White T-shirt Dress (or plain T, onesie etc. ) 
Fabric Scissors 
Cardstock 
Fast Dry Tacky Glue 
Sharpie 


Research the classic Matisse shapes and sketch out free form stencils on sheets of card stock. 



Cut out stencils and use as pattern pieces to trace and cut out felt shapes. 



Iron your T-Shirt well before arranging felt shapes and securing in place with fast-dry tacky glue. 
Line the inside of the dress with scrap paper before glueing to avoid glue seeping through both layers of fabric.



Use your felt scraps to make a coordinating headband or clip to style your hair! 


The supplies for this costume ran under five dollars! Share your own budget costume ideas in the comments below! 

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