Funky Lamp Redo

I found this lamp at  Goodwill on Saturday for 15.99. While it wasn't the ugliest lamp I had ever seen it wasn't the prettiest either, but I saw potential in what it could be.

Once I picked it up I noticed some areas on the amber glass had been scratched off, I knew then that it was just a colored film that was applied to the glass ball. So I bought it with the intention of adding a turquoise translucent glass paint to the glass. Only one problem, once I got to Michaels I realized I wasn't going to find the right color, so I decided to use my trusty old craft paints.  I did purchase a craft clear glaze to add to the paint hoping it would make it thinner without watering it down too much.

I took the lamp apart and after about 30 mins. of scraping and soaking the glass portion of the lamp the amber color was off! Yeah.......

Now on the fun part, have you ever made colored glass Christmas ornaments where you add paint to the inside and swirl it around.....

I used basically the same idea, I taped up the large opening and added my own color mixed craft paint, swirled it around until all the areas were covered and turned it upside down to let the excess paint drain out.

Once dry, I put the lamp back together with a new lamp cord I purchased at Lowes. I really recommend any time you buy an old vintage lamp to replace the electrical cord. It's just not worth the fire hazard risk, and it  only cost around $6.00, so it's well worth the cost and the peace of mind. 

I'm happy with the way it turned out, and it only cost $24.00 total.

I'm linking up here

here

here

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here

More on my custom made finial........

on Tuesday!

Dreaming of the Islands

 

Kitchen Islands.............oh I love them

but since I live in a 70's style ranch house with it's a typical galley kitchen I guess I better just keep on a dreaming!

We're planning on gutting our Kitchen one day, but no island is in my future, we just don't have the room for one

but I did find these beauties to share with you.

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Love them all!

My Very First Giveaway

This is my first giveaway and I'm giving away one of my burlap crown pillows which I sell in my ETSY store.

The giveaway is over at .........

  Finding Fabulous for the great blog party Frugalicious Friday! If you've never been please check it out!

It's a cream colored burlap pillow with a vintage crown image in tones of brown. It has an envelope back and knife edging, (pillow form is included).

So for those of you coming over from Frugalicious Friday@ Finding Fabulous, welcome.

If it's your first time here, I love to decorate, create things and find great bargains.

I can't tell you how much fun it's been and how many neat wonderful people I've met in blogland in this short amount of time.

I'm so glad to have you here, so sit back and stay awhile...

P.S. I'll be having my own giveaway here at FleaMarketTrixie when I reach 250 Followers........

Easy Gathering Technique

Have you ever needed to gather something but didn't want to use the old standard straight stitch technique.

The first time I used this technique I was amazed how easy it was.

I used this technique when I made my dust ruffle.

This method is great for gathering large pieces, or heavy fabrics. You will need heavy thread, or kite string.
A- Set your zig zag stitch to its widest, and longest setting
B- Put your fabric under the presser foot set to sew at 1/2".
C- Set your thread on the fabric so that it will be in the center of the zig zag stitch.
D- Begin stitching over the thread. Make sure you don't sew through the thread.
E- When you are ready, pull the strings to gather the fabric easily.
Tutorial source was found here

Pillows, Pillows, Pillows

Oh how I love pillows, the more the merrier.

I thought I would share a glimpse of the fabrics that I will be making the  pillows, dust ruffle and curtains out of.

I found 2 yards of this fabulous vintage fabric at my grandmas house this weekend, it was  just enough to make some great pillows. I used the wrong side of the fabric because it was actually prettier, less  shinny and more colorful. Because of the way it was woven you can't tell it's the wrong side.  I love when that happens.

Bedding Sneak peek

I've been so busy trying to get my new room finished that I really haven't had much time for anything else, but I did manage to take a shopping road trip with my Mom this weekend to get my Duvet cover.

I just love it, I haven't actually put in on my bed yet but I saw it on display at the store, so I hope it's gonna look great.

 West Elm's organic cotton pin-tuck duvet in cream.

I'm making lots of pillows to mix it up and add a vintage touch, plus  burlap curtains and a burlap  dust ruffle.

Shabby but Chic Hutch

This is my fabulous craigslist find I got for 40.oo.

I sweet talked my boyfriend into meeting the lady selling it. She listed a picture of it but it was really hard to tell what it looked like, so I told him...... buy it no matter what!

I got lucky, it was a cute piece and it had potential.

(Before)

I started painting  it the next day using my usual acrylic craft paints, I highly distressed it using a razor knife, which revealed the underlying green paint.  I just love distressed furniture, if it gets nicked or scratched it only adds to it.

I guess I could hire Miss Gabby (my cat) to do the distressing. lol  (if you don't know what I'm referring to, read my post  Lesson Learned.

I removed the doors because I wanted to display my pottery collection. I plan on making something with the doors later on.

  (After)

It fits perfectly in my Living room.

I'm linking up

 Here

and

Here

Here

Here

Mantel Party

Join me for a MANTEL PARTY...over at

 

"THE STORIES OF A TO Z".

I just found this party, what an interesting theme.

Lesson Learned

I thought I would share this with you and I'm sure some of you have similar experiences with completing a project only to find out it won't be lasting long in your house.

We inherited chair rail molding in the entrance and hallway in our new-old house and while I don't mind chair rail, I wasn't  crazy about the height at which it was hung. So I decided I was going to be clever and install wallpaper that looks just like beadboard. I'm sure most of you have seen this stuff, it's great, not expensive and easy to install.

I loved it!

But here's the problem, I have cats (4 of them) and I love them dearly, they're my kids, but one crazy kitty in particular (Gabby)

figured out that the brand new wallpaper that looks like beadboard but really isn't beadboard would make for a great scratching pad.

And scratched she has, here,there and everywhere. UUUUGH!

She is the only cat I've ever had that likes to scratch things that are vertical. Who knew!

So something to think about next time you have a project, is it pet friendly?

I'm now trying to figure out the decorating dilemma all over again, Thanks Miss Gabby!!

(yes I still love her even though she's so bad) :)

Lovely Aqua Walls

I painted my bedroom yesterday with the help of my wonderful mom. (FYI: I have the best mom in the world).

 We work well together, she does the rolling and I do the cutting in.

The walls are a lovely aqua color, it's going to tie in nicely with the headboard and the fabrics.

 

Now on to the sewing!!!

Decorating is never done...... projects, projects,projects.

Romantic Wreaths

 

I love wreaths.....

and it seems like paper wreaths are so in right now.

Head on over to my etsy store Here and check out my newly listed wreaths.

Closet Doors+Settee = Headboard

Here it is, my new headboard made out of old closet doors and broken-down settee. 

It's awaiting it's new home in my soon to be newly decorated bedroom, which is still a few weeks from being completed.

I would have loved to use the settee in a bench project, however it was very tattered and weak, so I just used the back piece and the arms for the top. I'm sure  I will reuse the remainder of pieces for another project.

It was a fun, and only cost 10.00 dollars to make. $6.00 for a piece for large molding, $3.00 for settee, free closet doors , free scrap molding and leftover house paint.

I wanted the paint to look old, chippy and textured. I'll give a close up in the future with a how to on making  your paint  look old.

 

   I think that there was only one guess for it actually becoming a headboard.  I can't wait to see it in my new room.

I'm linking up

Here 

Here
 

Here

 

Here

Here

Wow lots of parties this week!

Textured Wallpaper Mirror

I love making something from nothing and this is a great example.

The frame to this mirror came out of a packing box for furniture. I think it’s purpose is to support the cardboard box to keep the furniture inside from being damaged.

I picked it out of the trash pile at a local furniture store. It’s made of MDF and all I had to do is remove the center piece of wood that was attached to the frame.

I had leftover textured wallpaper and thought it would make a great faux tin looking mirror.

I lightly wet the wallpaper just as I would as if I was hanging it on the wall but  also applied white glue to the frame, MDF can soak up materials like I sponge I thought it was important to add this step. I carefully applied the paper, trimmed  it up  and once dry, painted it. I used several different colors to add depth and applied an antique glaze to age it up. 

I’m linking up

Here

                                                 

and

Here

and

Here

Discarded furniture turned into……..?

Any  idea what you get when you cross……

old used closet doors

and

a broken-down settee

Any guesses?

check back this weekend to see the transformation!