Posts Tagged ‘IKEA’

• New life for an old shelf

  Date: 2010.05.17 | Category: Crafting, Decorating | Response: 47

  So… I got a new shelf.

  

  So cute, right?! I know!!

  I got it at a certain over-priced thrift store that I’m refusing to name anymore because I think they are way too overpriced considering all their stuff is DONATED to begin with. So I’m not giving them any more props on my site until they stop charging premium prices for crap people didn’t want anymore and gave to them…

  So I got this shelf for $14.99 at previously un-named thrift store.

  However, it originally came from The Great Indoors for $39.99, so I suppose I got a decent deal.

  

  I’m sure I would have paid like $5 if I’d found it at a garage sale, but whatever. I like it and I needed a FLAT SURFACE in this place. (See rant about my red stand.)

  Okay, so obviously I’m me so I’ve done something crafty to this shelf (if the white behind the price tag didn’t give it away already).

  Here’s the shelf the day I bought it:

  

  It’s already pretty cute just the way it is. I love the scroll design on the back! I’ve got a few issues with this shelf though.

  A) all my decor that I’m going to set on top of the shelf will cover up the beautiful scroll work

  B) I don’t want pegs because then I’m going to feel the need to find something to hang from them and also the thought of my kids hanging stuff on the pegs thus knocking the shelf off the wall causing all my breakable decor to fall to it’s death isn’t a thought I’d like to follow through with.

  A modification is in order! Yay! You know what’s more fun than shopping at thrift stores? Taking my junk, modifying it with spray paint and other random supplies, and making my junk awesome!

  First thing I did was pull all the pegs out.

  

  Don’t panic! I KNOW what I’m doing. Maybe. I hope. This project has the potential to go south very quickly.

  Next I took some wood filler and filled all the holes left from where the pegs use to live.

  

  After the wood filler dried I sanded it really well and made it nice and smooth.

  

  So the next thing I want to do is hang my shelf upside down on the wall. Yes, I really did just say upside down. What use is that great scroll work if I can’t show it off? I need it at the bottom of the shelf, not the top.

  To do this the first thing I have to do is remove the brackets on the back and put them on the opposite side of the back of the shelf. I took a mini screwdriver and removed the little brackets, saving the tiny screws and brackets because I’m going to re-use them.

  

  I then flipped the shelf over and decided where I want the new brackets to go. I used a ruler to make sure they were perfectly straight on either side. I’d hate to put them at different heights and have my shelf hang wonky. Yup, wonky. Don’t hate! I’m a Texan. I’m allowed to say words like wonky.

  

  Remember this picture I just showed you?

  

  See how the wood is carved out? When you hang your shelf on the wall the screw sits in this open space behind the bracket. If you don’t carve out this space these brackets wont work. And if you use other brackets your shelf wont sit flush to the wall. So I’ve got to figure out a way to carve out a space where my brackets are going.

  I’m sure there are tools designed for this, but I don’t have any so I had to improvise. I decided to use the largest drill bit I’ve got on hand and just drill several holes next to each other until I’ve got a hollowed out space the right size.

  Fun tip! Figure out how deep you need your drill to go (you don’t want your drill going all the way through the shelf and showing from the front. That would be tragic!) and put a piece of painters tape around the drill bit. That way when you drill, you can stop drilling when the tape reaches the wood. Now you won’t drill too deep!

  

  Once my holes were drilled and I attached the brackets, I took the shelf outside and spray painted it FLAT BLACK and then a top coat of OIL RUBBED BRONZE (ORB).

  Now I’m ready to hang it!

  

  I committed a serious builders faux pas – I used long plain nails to hang my shelf. Normally you should use anchors and screws but I’m moving soon and I didn’t feel like semi-permanently attaching the shelf to the wall. Laziness. Pure laziness. And also I really don’t want a large hole in the wall when I rip the bracket out when I move because then I’d have to putty it up.

  

  She’s rearing and ready to go!

  This is my favorite part! Now everyone can always see it and it won’t be covered up by my stuff.

  

  Here’s how I decorated it the day I took the pictures, but since then I’ve already changed it up a bit. Don’t worry, I’ll show you more pictures of it updated in due time.

  

  Do you recognize the little white vase with the orchid in it? Or maybe my IKEA plant? What about the decor balls? I’ll show you those jute jars in a future post. The large glass vase I bought at the Thrift Store that I’m not talking about.

  

  Do you recognize the plant container hanging on the other wall?

  

  This is the entry way to my apartment. Next to the yellow vase on the right is our front door. On the left is a 1/2 bath. When I say the entire apartment is granite – The entire apartment is granite. Granite is great and pretty, but seriously? There is a limit. Counters, floors, fire place surround, back splash… Do you realize now why every.single.post. I make has granite in it? This apartment is granite overkill!

  Aside from where I hung my H Plate, this hallway is the 2nd worst lit spot in the entire place. Even the sky lights don’t help. Hopefully you can appreciate the shelf in spite of this lighting!

  One more time, just for fun!

  Before:
  

  After:
  

  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! I seriously love all of you!! Your support means so much to me. I’m grateful there are so many amazing people out there who actually like my junk.

  

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• Hanging plant container

  Date: 2010.03.31 | Category: Crafting, Decorating | Response: 33

  A few weeks ago I blogged about finding a bunch of random stuff at Goodwill. One of the items I found was this plant container:

  

  I loved the shape of it and I really liked the texture design on the front but I was not loving the color and I definitely was not feeling the little colored rocks glued to it.

  (Do you like my cloche in the background?)

  I guessed that with a good coating of spray paint this plant holder would look pretty good. If not, well it was only a buck or so anyway!

  I washed it up and scrubbed it really good with a toothbrush to get it ready for painting.

  

  First I spray painted it really well with flat black spray paint. Then I added a light layer of ORB (Oil Rubbed Bronze) spray paint on the top.

  

  I like to paint it first with either flat or gloss black because I think it does a better coat than the ORB and also the ORB is expensive while the plain ol’ black is fairly cheap.

  

  If I paint it really well with the plain black first then I can get away with a very light dusting of the ORB to give it that sparkly shimmery look.

  

  The ORB (Oil Rubbed Bronze) spray paint really just adds that extra little oomph that takes an item from nice looking to “Wow!”

  When the plant holder was dry I found a place to hang it and just hung it up with a plain ol’ big nail.

  

  Sometimes those nails and screws show through and they are UGLY! Easiest thing to do is take a sharpie and just color the end of it.

  

  Ah, much better…

  

  Now for the finishing touches. Anyone remember those IKEA plants I love so much? Ya know, the ones I’m totally obsessed with?!

  

  As luck would have it, the IKEA plant fits perfectly inside this Goodwill plant holder.

  

  I’m in lurve… with the plant AND my new (to me) plant container.

  

  I’m telling you, a little spray paint goes a long way!

  If I haven’t convinced you yet, do I need to remind you about the gumball machine you see in the picture?

  Nuf’ said.

  Go to goodwill (or the neighbors trash can. Oops.), find something that looks like trash, and spray paint it. People will think you have such expensive taste when they see all the awesome stuff in your house. (Unless of course they see you digging through their garbage can. , and then they’ll just be totally jealous that their trash now looks fab and is in your house).

  I know I blab on and on about this, but these projects really are very easy. Most of my projects consist of taking someone else’s trash (either from Goodwill or the dumpster) and adding some spray paint.

  Done.

  Oh, and if you tackle any projects, especially from ideas you got off House of Hepworths, send me an email and show me the pics!! I love seeing them – and I may even post them on my site.

  Caio! Aidos! Dasvidanya! Toodles!
  

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• Keepin’ myself busy

  Date: 2010.03.15 | Category: Crafting, Decorating, Renovating | Response: 45

  I’ve hit a few Goodwill Stores the past few weeks in search of some great decor to refurbish. I’m stuck in LA until the end of June and I can’t do much to this apartment, so at least I’ll keep myself busy now! Check out my awesome finds!:

  
  

  These are metal, so they are great, just ugly. I’m going to paint them and use them for a cool project!

  

  I’m pretty sure I’m going to use these separate. I’d love to paint the box white and copy this:

  

  Which can be found at Wonderfully Wordy. As for the stand, not sure yet…

  

  Can you believe i got these balls for $1 each?! And two of them are solid wood! I’ve already started a project with them and promise to post pics soon!

  

  I’m so excited about these apples!! They are mini and I have the best plan for them!! The vase is IKEA and I’m sure I’ll put it to good use!

  

  I’ve already shown you this globe here! I LOVE this globe and it was only a couple bucks!!

  

  This is the first of TWO wine buckets I found at two different stores. I love them! I’ll love them more once they are painted!!

  

  My favorite find EVEH!!! Can you believe I found this for $24?! And it’s SOLID. The dome is glass and everything else is heavy metal. It even has a logo on the glass from a store it use to belong to. This ain’t a cheap crappy one! I can’t wait to repaint it and fill it up! And I might even have to name her. Just because I love her so much. What a steal.

  

  I. AM. IN. HEAVEN. I saw this cheese dome and was giddier than a kid on my way to Disney! I’ve wanted one for so long. I’m going to paint it black and assuming it looks good I plan on attaching that candle stick to the bottom of it to give it a cake-dome type look. Remember those mini apples above? I’m hoping they fit inside b/c it’s going to be so stinkin’ cute.

  

  Great glass. Enough said.

  

  Such great tin pieces today! I can’t wait to be creative with this stuff.

  

  Isn’t this swirl bucket purdy? I can’t wait to paint it! Also, here’s the 2nd wine bucket I scored.

  

  This is tin and is actually a decent size, so I’m going to paint it and put some tall sticks and things in it.

  

  This little dish is Mikasa. I just love these little Mikasa pieces. I’m not going to paint it. I love the color. It is going to receive a very good bath though.

  

  Picture this frame black.

  

  I’ll probably put this by the phone for little post-it notes and nick-nacks after I give it a good coat of spray paint.

  

  This little jewely box is in perfect condition and is from Bombay Company. It is beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice.

  

  I’m going to leave it just the way it is. And it was only $7. I can’t believe how perfect it is.

  After all my Goodwill shopping I decided I needed some supplies to fix up all these great finds, so I stopped at Home Depot and loaded up!

  

  And then I hit Michael’s for a few surprise crafts.

  
  

  Keep checking back over the next several months to see the transformations of these awesome finds! I love Goodwill!!!

  I’d tell you how much I actually spent ($130) but then I’d have to kill you my DH would kill me.

  Kisses!
  

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• Kids Artwork – display it in style

  Date: 2010.03.12 | Category: Decorating | Response: 30

  My kids LOVE to draw. As Thrifty Decor Chick would say, they luuuurve it!

  What they love even more than that though is displaying it! Here is your step-by-step guide on great ways to display their great works of art as well as how NOT to display it!

  Here’s how my kids display their masterpieces:

  

  This would obviously fall under the category of how NOT to display artwork.

  Here are a few great ideas I’ve found on friendly tasteful ways to display all this paper!

  Clothesline it!

  

  Frame it!

  

  Clipboard it!

  

  (Ideas courtesy of Emily Clark.)

  Curtain rod it!

  

  Easy-change frame it!

  

  (Ideas courtesy of Make and Takes)

  Scan & combine it!

  

  (Idea courtesy of Mother Lode)

  Book it!

  

  (Idea courtesy of Draw Your World)

  Stick it on a magnetic wall!

  

  (Idea courtesy of Raising Olives

  Do your home a favor and enjoy that artwork in style!!!

  Wouldn’t Super Mario Wii World 5 be so much cuter on a curtain rod?

  

  And wouldn’t Mario Wii World 8 look great on a magnetic wall?

  

  I need to install a clothesline for my daughter to display her “dog blanket”

  

  Remember: Love the artwork AND display it tastefully. You CAN have your cake and eat it too!

  Now I need to practice what I preach and get some great artwork displays! Off to IKEA and Hobby Lobby… As Randy would say, “see ya later all my dogs in the pound!”

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• Flashback Friday!

  Date: 2010.03.05 | Category: Decorating, Renovating | Response: 0

  Each Friday I’m going to make a post about something I’ve made or done from a loooong time ago. I might even post pics of me as a child! Yay!

  Without further adieu, may I present to you my nursery!

  

  I painted and decorated this nursery for my firstborn in 2002. I kept the same theme and added pink when my daughter was born in 2004. The entire poem border is hand painted. Many have asked if I used a stencil – no, I free-handed the entire poem which reads:

  Star Light Star Bright,
  First star I see tonight
  I wish I may, I wish I might
  have this wish I wish tonight.

  

  It took me about six weeks, but I could only paint a few hours a day while my son was napping in another room.

  

  First I painted the entire room light blue. For the stars, moons, and words I used quart sized paints from Sherwin Williams and a small artists brush.

  

  I worked out all the details on paper before I started. First, I measured each wall and added them all together. Then I added up the number of letters and spaces and commas and divided it by the number of inches in the room. After that I used a yard stick, tape measure, level, and painters tape to tape off the area I was going to paint – I made two parallel tape lines around the top of the room. After that I measured every increment that I’d previously figured out and put a small piece of tape to mark off each section.

  

  After that I knew that every section was for one letter, space, or comma. Once the letters were done I free-handed the stars and moons. I didn’t use any pencil beforehand. I just drew with paint and if I messed up I covered it up with the light blue paint. While I worked it out on paper before hand I practiced several writing styles to decide what type of font I wanted to use.

  

  

  All of my accessories I found on ebay, Target, IKEA, or discount stores. The crib and dresser were a gift from my parents.

  

  My mom was going to throw this shelf away. I pulled it out of her trash can. It was dirty and broken. I removed the section under the shelf that had pegs on it, cleaned it up, painted it, and added wall hooks to the back of it. I found the cute star and moon pegs under it at Target.

  When we moved from this house I was so sad to leave my custom paint border behind. Once the kids were both out of a crib, I sold all the star and moon accessories in a lot together on ebay.

  So yes, believe it or not, in addition to everything else on this blog, I can also PAINT.

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• Decor Obsession

  Date: 2010.03.03 | Category: Decorating | Response: 21

  Sometimes I get hung up on something and it turns into an obsession. I think I’ve got some OCD in me… One of my home decor obsessions are cheap little fake plants from IKEA.

  

  I think they are around $6 or $7 each. They can’t be much more than that or I would have never spent the money on them.

  

  IKEA has an assortment of pots for these fake plants too. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and are about $2 each.

  

  IMHO you just never have enough green plants in your house.

  

  (Please pardon the shelf this little plant is sitting on. Yes, I am aware that my child took a sharpie to it and drew circles all over. Now I get to refinish it!)

  Okay, maybe that’s not true. You can probably have too many plants in your home, just think about the crazy cat lady that you know. Besides cats, how many plants does she have?!?!

  

  I do have A LOT of these plants, but I try to space them out, a shelf here, a counter there… Keep them spread throughout the house.

  

  As you can tell I really like the white ceramic vases, but this tin one looks great in my bathroom.

  And here’s my friends decor that started my plant obsession.

  

  See it? On the right? Yup, that’s her IKEA plant. I loved it so much I took a picture of her entry way (I LOVE the IKEA shelf as well!) and went out and bought three plants the next week. And then two more a few weeks after that. And another three the next time I went to IKEA… Thanks Erica for the plant tip!

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