Playroom Reno

Happy New Year!

Hope you enjoyed the holidays!  Can you believe I forgot to photograph all the little projects I made for Christmas gifts?  I know!  I think I could make a post out of what I have left over (not 'reject gifts', just things I made for Rowan or extras) so perhaps I'll get on that later this week.

In the mean time....

I found a home for all of the toys and books little R-man received over the holidays.  And I'd like to introduce you to the first part of my PLAYROOM RENO series.

I have a few rooms that I'd like to transform this year, but instead of doing things in scatterbrain fashion, I'm going to take a civilized approach and concentrate on doing one at a time.  And in the most cost-effective manner.

So, this is what I have to start with.  I really liked the idea of bench seating and storage with a pair of Expedit IKEA shelves as seen on i heart organizing.  I am on the hunt for some funky fabric for the cushion and pillows.  Hopefully Tonic Living will unveil their new arrivals soon!  I also need a home for all those mini hockey sticks and stuffed animals that are not bedtime must-haves.

I need to paint this table and chairs set (given to me about a year ago already primed) and figure out a storage cabinet for arts and crafts goodies.  I'm thinking a small dresser or bedside table should do the trick.  I'd also like to add an area to dry/display art work.

The handyman table was Rowan's big gift on his second birthday (dreamed up by me, but built by his dad) and I'd also like to do a little DIY play kitchen too.  I'm not entirely sure what to do about that blue and red desk set.  I'm going to have to do a bit of research on painting plastic; it may end up in Rowan's room.

My colour palette will be inspired by this alphabet set from K&Company.  You can find it at Michael's if you're not into online shopping.  I Mod Podged the cards to some foam core board...not a great idea.  It warped and now it looks all funky and weird.  And I'm not a fan of the random blocks of scrapbook paper I threw in.  This method from Teal & Lime is much better.  I may re-do it :(

The ceiling is unfinished (thanks, previous homeowners) and not a high priority at the moment.  I prettied it up with my bird mobile that use to live over Rowan's crib.  It doesn't really work.  Since the playroom is in the basement and the only natural light comes through a window in the adjacent spare bedroom, I need some fun art work or other wall treatments.

I was proud of my post-Christmas organizing until I returned to the main living area in the basement and saw this...

...trains and trains and trains.  Ahhhhhhh crud.

Tulle Wreath Tutorial

I'm sure it happens to everyone on Pinterest at some point.  Becoming so obsessed with a DIY project or recipe pin that you must try it ASAP.

When I saw the pin for this tulle wreath:

that obsession took hold.  I was thinking of design ideas for the set of Rowan's Christmas photos and after I saw it, I went out the next day to buy tulle and a foam wreath form.  I apologize to the person who originally posted this photo to the 'net.  Pinterest wouldn't let me connect to the URL address for fear of a virus or some other nasty consequence.  A Google search turned up nothing.  I tried.  

To make this wreath you'll need:

~ 12" styrofoam wreath form.  Or check out this idea on how to make a super thrifty form. 

~ 10 m of tulle.  Check the prices at the fabric or craft store before you purchase.  Sometimes tulle can look similar but have a whopping price difference.  I bought mine for $2.50 per meter at Fabricland.

~ Scraps of white cotton fabric; enough to cover a 2 m length

~ Sharp scissors

~ Hot glue gun

~ 2" wide satin ribbon

I didn't plan on making a detailed tutorial, so I failed to take photos of each process.  Hopefully I don't lose you.  Once you start tying the tulle knots, this wreath is a perfect 'movie watching' project.  Easy, methodical and doesn't get too messy.

Cut fabric into 3" wide strips and wrap around the wreath form, gluing at each end.  Neatness doesn't matter, but you need to make sure your wreath is evenly covered.

Cut the tulle into 4" wide strips.  I left my tulle folded to make this part go faster.  I made my tulle strips 18" long, because I wanted a whispy, whimsical look.  

Tie two tulle strips in a double knot and position at the top of the wreath. 

Some of my strips ended up being a little lot shorter, but whateves.  Whimsical, right?

Scrunch the tulle close together until you've used up all the strips or have run out of room on the wreath.  Straighten the knots, trim the tulle to be somewhat even (or very even...it's all about preference) loop a long ribbon around the form and you're done!

You can fasten the ribbon in a bow as demonstrated in the pink wreath above.  I tied my ribbon around the wire on the back of the picture frame.

Refresh the wreath each year (or each season!) by changing the colour of the ribbon, adding a string of beads, a cluster of fabric flowers...etc, etc.

I don't buy many Christmas decor items new from a store, but at a recent trip to IKEA I couldn't resist these little candle holders.  The glittery tree to the left is just a paper cone smothered in glue, teeny beads, sequins and glitter.  Fun project but m-e-s-s-y!  

I might not do another blog post until the new year.  If I get my act together and make some stockings (my 'Winter Holidays' pin board is full of ideas!) I might share them.  Most of the things I'm making are gifts...so it'll have to wait.

How did the photo session go?

Very well!  Thanks Kerri for being so AWESOME.

Happy Monday!

'Antique' Ottoman Tray

After trading my over-sized, glass topped coffee table in for an ottoman, I gained living room seating and more space for Rowan to play.  In turn, I lost a place to put stuff.  Like coffee.  And coffee deserves a good place to sit.

I saw this dynamite wood serving tray at a thrift store.  I loved the colour of green and simple design.  The flowers just screamed "PAINT ME!!"

So I did.  One coat of spray paint in 'antique white'.  If you're looking for a cleaner finish instead of my 'antiquing' method, you'll want to sand the entire tray before painting.  I'm looking for imperfections, so I skipped that step.

Sand with a fine grit sandpaper.

Another coat of spray paint.

Another round of sanding.

The last sanding I really dug into the paint, so I had a lot of dust.  I made sure that the tray was completely dust-free with a paint brush before I coated it with spray-on Mod Podge.  The Mod Podge acts as a sealant, you don't want to skip it!

My happy accident.  A little heavy on the first coat of Mod Podge and you'll get bubbles from the paint.  I liked it, so I went with it.  I lightly sanded over the crackles after the first coat had dried and sprayed on a second coat.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out!  Since I already had the spray paint and the Mod Podge, this project only cost me $6.00.  Love me some cheap DIY!

The Baby Holster

It's a little post today of a little sewing project I completed yesterday during nap time.

Up until now, I had been using the travel highchair to secure Mr. Monkey into this seat.  Not anymore! 

Am I crazy, or does this look like female reproductive organs? :)

I used part of the original as a template for the new highchair strap.  I bought the houndstooth fabric as a remnant a long time ago.  I didn't have a project in mind, I just thought it was so darn cool.

I could have used some fancy buckles or snaps, but I didn't care to put that much effort into it.  Plus, I only had an hour :)

Baby Holster Outtake

Sapling Highchair

How cool is this?!





























Did you know I had these mad skills?  Kidding, I did not make this.  But my Dad did! 

Rowan's highchair is made from maple saplings that were bent and shaped using steam.  Dad said he strapped on some snow shoes and tromped out to the woodlot to harvest some choice specimens. 

My little dude currently needs to be strapped in, so I'm using a traveling highchair to help keep him seated until I can fashion some sort of baby-clasping device. 

Rowan likes to be a part of the goings on at the kitchen table!

On a completely separate topic:

'

I don't know why, but I really wanted to share my latest antique store find.  I guess because it's just so darn interesting and functional.  I was originally going to paint it, but I'm glad I didn't.  It's definitely better au naturel.

A Tale of Two Pillows

Besides painting, I think one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to perk up a space is to make some new pillow covers.

I made these two for a friend (probably my weirdest birthday gift ever); the smaller one is the hourglass pillow pattern (scroll down to almost the bottom) from Amy Butler. 

Front and back of the hourglass pillow

This was my first time making and using covered buttons.  Pretty cool!  Although, I wish the instructions suggested gluing the button together before sewing them on.  I had to preform an emergency reattachment with the glue gun.



For the larger striped pillow I just made a simple slip cover. 

Now that I'm done those pillows, there are a few around my house that could use an update.  Oh what fun!

Peachy French Toast

It's Friday and that means the weekend is nearly here!  Why not make some super yummy Peach Stuffed French Toast for breakfast on one of the 'S' days?

Be sure to top it with some candied pecans and maple syrup!  I'm a firm believer that Sundays should begin with maple syrup on something, but that's just how I was raised.  My dad has been making pancakes or waffles for breakfast every Sunday for as far back as I can remember.  He also makes his own maple syrup (in fact, he tapped some trees a few days ago to begin this year's batch); it's safe to say it's a sacred tradition. 

Have a great weekend!

Frames, Flowers and Baby Leggings

I have exactly two hours and 45 mins before I (and baby) need to be packed and ready to go away for the weekend and what am I doing?  Trying to slap a blog post together last minute.  AND to make matters worse, there are three separate things I wanted to share to make up for my lack of posts this week.

Numero uno:  My new frames.

I LOVE shopping at Value Village.  I've never been able to find clothing that I like (except for a brown leather belt that I adore) but I regularly find some great deals in the housewares department.  I have an addiction to buying glass jars (another post for the future) and picture frames!  I found some frames that had 'good bones' but need some help otherwise.  They ranged in price from $3 for a pack of 4 up to $8 for one of the larger ones.  S-C-O-R-E.

Nothing a little black spray paint with a satin finish can't fix.  I really like when things don't match perfectly.  I dunno...I think it's more interesting.  But that's just me.

Isn't he just the handsomest?  Thanks again to Kennedy for taking these adorable photos! 

Photo collages are one of my favourite things.  The first time I did it, I had major headaches trying to make sure the pictures lined up and were evenly spaced, yadda, yadda, yadda.  A few months ago, my brother-in-law Mark let me in on a secret...

 

 

...trace each frame onto newspaper, cut out and put them on the wall!  So genius!  Isn't the second picture scary?  I'm in the middle of getting my craft/home office room together and it lives in a constant state of disgusting disarray. 

Anyway, back to putting up the photos.  To make life easier on myself, I put a dot where the hanger is on the back of the frame so that I would know exactly where to place the nail.

Want another gross craft room picture?

AHHHHH!!!  :)

Seeing that Monday is Valentine's Day, my second topic is FLOWERS!

Aren't they beautiful?  They're nine days old!

I learned a secret for keeping flowers fresh from the very nice gentleman who sells flowers at the market.  Bleach.  Really.  1/2 teaspoon of bleach in 1 litre of water (with a tsp each of sugar and lemon juice) really extends the life of cut flowers.  I had always just used the little packet of who-knows-what that comes with them.  This is so much better!  Maybe you've got your own secret? 

Last topic:

We're spending the weekend in Ottawa for Winterlude.  I wanted to make sure my little tyke would stay cozy while gliding down the canal, so I made him two pairs of baby tights (to wear like long underwear) from the tutorial over at Made By Rae.  
Hehe!!

Alright, I need to pack!  Have a great weekend everyone!