DIY Paper Frames

So I realize I haven't posted in while. Wow! Time really does fly when you are having fun. Well, guess what? I have all sorts of different goodies for all of you. Let me begin this post by discussing this week's game plan:

• Today: Ikea frame wall art
• Tomorrow: Ombre desk
• Friday: Ribbon hand towels
• Saturday: The Ruffled House Travels: Ardmore, Oklahoma
• Sunday: Well, we will all rest
• Monday: Modernizing Nature to Decorate
• Tuesday: Beer Bottle Decor

Let's start with today's project. I wanted to share a little information about how I came to complete this project. About four years ago, I was shopping at IKEA for my first apartment I would decorate all by myself. I decided I wanted it to be girly, modern with organic and clean lines. So, of course I hit IKEA. Now I will warn you, their products are not meant for a lifetime, but a transition. I love the shape of their furniture, and you can decorate an entire bedroom for about $500.

However, don't get too attached if you move frequently. I will post at a later time, my top 10 IKEA moments with product specifications, but just know that longetivity is not the focus. Back to my new project. Well, last February I created a date book (Tutorial coming soon!) and used a booklet of scrapbook paper. I had several square sheets left over and decided to put them to good use with my IKEA frames. The frames originally cost $1.99 each, but now are going for $2.99 each. Inflation!

Using my ikea frames and scrapbook paper I covered each frame. The tutorial is listed below. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to leave a comment. 

Materials Needed:

• Ikea Frames ($2.99 each)
• Scrapbook paper
• Elmer's clear glue
• Water

Step 1: Gather Materials. Mix 1 part water to 1 part Elmer's clear glue and SHAKE.  Cut paper to fit dimensions of frames.

Step 2: Apply glue mixture to paper and frame. Adhese paper to frame.

Step 3: Wait to dry and hang.

You can also apply a slightly smaller square (such as this one!) to the frame on the top to give a different effect (look at the very first picture of this post!). Please share what you come up with! I would love to see!

DIY Chevron Wall Art

I am currently working on re decorating my master bedroom. I decided to start with an item I love, a beautiful silver quilt. Also, my husband brought the bed and I had two other pieces I knew I would be refinishing. Specifically, I had plans to paint them. There have been so many fabulous Pins on Pinterest, so I looked to use a Chevron theme based on some of the pictures I have seen. Today's Blog is all about the art I created and hung above the bedroom. I will continue sharing other projects in the coming weeks and then a full room tour at the conclusion. Here is a picture of its current progress:

Today I am going to show you how to make the art. Here is a picture of the original panels:

Materials Needed:

• 1 yard of fabric ($10/yard)
• 2 poster frames ($8/each x 2 = $16)
• Duct tape ($3)
• Painter's tape ($6 for a roll)
• Craft paint ($1 for both colors) 
• Paint brush ($1 from dollar store

Total Time: 1 hour

I used about a yard of fabric. These two fabric panels have been a part of my life for about 5 years now. I bought them back in college and used as a floating headboard. Below is a picture of the contemporary fabric. The fabric was found in the Home Decor fabric section of Hobby Lobby and cost about $10/yard. The frames were purchased at Target. They are poster frames and cost be less than $20 for both of them.

After framing the fabric by securing the backside with duct tape Duck Brand Color Duck Tape Black, 1.88" x 20 yd., 1/pk. (Google Affiliate Ad). I flipped it over and used painter's tape Scotch Blue Painter's Tape, 1" W (Google Affiliate Ad) to protect the edges of the frame. Then I carefully cut strips of painter's tape and laid them into a chevron detail. I eye balled the design, but you are welcome to use a ruler and actually measure off the points to make them more even.

I painted two rows of a sunny yolk yellow and one row a pale pastel yellow. I let one coat dry and then went back to give it a second coat.

Once the paint was dry, I slowly peeled off the tape and voila! Art!

Bedrooms have many lateral surfaces, so I hung the frames above the bed to create a vertical focal point and take advantage of 10 ft walls. 

To keep me motivating through all of my crafty projects, I love to drink Keurig K-Cup Green Mountain Dark Magic Extra Bold Coffee, Regular, 18- (Google Affiliate Ad) out of my Keurig Special Edition Coffee Brewer (Google Affiliate Ad) that my sister-in-law bought us for Christmas. One of the best gifts I have ever received. Using a Keurig makes my life simpler and I noticed my kitchen is more tidy.

DIY Bookcase Makeover

If I could recommend a particular furniture piece that would benefit almost every type of lifestyle, it would be to buy inexpensive bookcases. Over the last 10 years, I have lugged four bookcases around to fit into houses and apartments. I used them for everything from storing books to kitchen items to shoes!

Let's take a quick look down memory lane...

These bookcases originally cost about $20 each and were purchased from Wal-mart.

Sometimes, I have used all four in one room, other times I broke them up and used them in pairs or individually. In the pictures above, they are in their original condition. The picture on the left has the bookcases storing kitchen ware. The picture on the right uses one in a living room. Another trick for adding storage is to use storage boxes for small items like the light blue ones here. These were both taken in a 500 square foot duplex located in Houston's Historic Woodland Heights. Let's just say, with 500 square feet, there was not room for even a desk! I used the coffee table for crafting and the bookcases to store all of my supplies!

Here is another way I used two of the bookcases in a different house. This house was over 2400 square feet and let's just say I didn't have enough furniture to fill every single room. I had to spread things out and float items in the middle of the room to fill the space! For this example, I used two bookcases and placed a large mirror in between to take up the entire wall.

Well, now the four bookshelves live in my dining room. They line an entire wall and I decided it was time for them to make a bigger impact. About 2 hours later I had a whole new look! Just in time to host my daughter's 3rd birthday party!

Materials Needed:

• Elmer's glue ($2)
• Empty bottle with a lid/jar (Free)
• Paint brush (from $1 store)
• Scissors
• Wrapping paper of your choice ($4 per roll)

Directions:

1. First cut the wrapping paper to fit the inside of the back each bookcase.
2. Mix up your paste - 1 part glue to 1 part water. Shake the mixture.
3. Using a paintbrush, lightly brush the glue mixture onto the backside of the paper.
4. Then, starting at one corner, start applying the paper to the backside of the shelf. 
5. Go around the edges by painting more glue to ensure corners are attached to the back of the bookcase.
6. Let it dry for 24 hours, before putting items back and add more adhesive if needed!

DIY No Sew Pillows

Today I am posting a project that took about an hour. I found this dress at a place in Austin, TX called The Blue Hanger. It's a place to buy Goodwill items for $1.25. The zipper was made out of plastic and malfunctioned. What I liked the most about the dress was the adorable floral print. Instead of replacing the zipper, I decided it was time to re purpose this dress into pillows. I used minimal items to create these and it took about an hour for both of them from start to finish!

Materials Needed:

• Dress (This one is a size 3 I think) $1.25
• Scissors 
• Needle and Thread
• Stitch Witch: $5
• Fabric of your choice (1/2 yard per pillow) 
• Pillow stuffing (About $4 for a bag at Wal-mart) or two old throw pillows

This dress had seams.

 Before I started cutting, I decided that I wanted the seam to be the center of the pillow. 

I started at the back of the dress where the zipper was and cut the dress up the back seam.

 Then I cut the top of the dress off.

Now I folded the dress so that I could see the inside of the fabric or the wrong side.

I had an old pillow case from Ikea so I used it as a pattern and traced the shape onto the fabric.

Cut the two squares out.

Then, cut a piece of fabric for the backside of the pillow. 

I chose to use scraps from a piece I bought years ago. 

You need about 1/2 yard for each pillow.

Use the original piece you cut for the front side of the pillows as a template to cut the back side.

Now, here's the fun part. Starting with one of the sides of the pillow, carefully lay the Stitch Witch along the top side.

Carefully, pull off the paper.

Then, line the floral piece of fabric and iron! 

(I held mine for about 20 seconds, but read the package of the bonding element)

Repeat on two more sides

For the final side, you are going to need to finish the edges. I folded the end over about the width of the stitch witch to form a hem.

Sandwich the Stitch Witch inside and iron!

Repeat with the other side of the pillow.

Below is a close up after I folded the top of the fabric over the Stitch Witch and pressed.

We are almost done.... Now you have to flip the pillow cover right side out!

Stuff the pillow and carefully sew the fourth side with a simple needle and thread. 

There you have it! New pillows in just a few minutes!