I've Got Your Number Pottery Barn Knockoff

So do you remember way back when Pottery Barn had this number canvas in it's catalogs?

 Well I've always loved it and deep down inside I knew I could make it.  I think it was destiny for me to have it because last week while lurking online, I discovered this site and tutorial. 

Isn't it loverly?!!!  Well her tutorial was so thorough that I came out looking like a total genius I tell ya!  Click on the link and see for yourself. 

She's a special education teacher just like me!  Gah!  I love it!  Here's my version of this art.

First I started with a blank canvas that I had bought at Ross for $2.00.  It's 18x24.  Who knew Ross had art supplies?  I stocked up on crap! 

So I took Paisley's advice from her tutorial and I glued pages from an old Puerto Rican phonebook I stole after my last vacation.  What the hell was I going to do with it?  Who knows how my brain works?  I modge podged this by the way. 

After the Modge was dry I covered the whole canvas with a coat of left over hallway paint.  It just so happened to be the right kind of antique-ish white. 

While the paint dried, I took the time to cut some vinyl numbers in various fonts and sizes and placed them like the Potter Barn original.  I of course used my Silhouette but the vinyl was from the dollar store.  After this, I spray painted the whole thing in black.  Then I made it look old by taking painters tape and sticking it here and there and ripping it off.  This gave it a look of wear and tear. 

I love how this came out!! Especially since it took about $3.00 worth of materials to make. 

Nydia 8)

I'm linking this here:

Not Your Average Stool Sample Stool Makeover

My husband’s grandmother passed away last December and we inherited a couple of things that belonged to her.  She was quite a personality and I can only hope to live that snazzy for that long.  92 sassy years is nothing to shake a stick at. 

Anywho, that’s how this little stool made it to my house.  My décor is what I would call mosh pit eclectic, but this stool just wasn’t cutting the mustard.  It was just NOT MY STYLE.  I knew it was a matter of time before I gave it a makeover.  I was just lacking a staple gun.  So on a recent trip to Harbor Freight (secret love) I picked up an electric staple gun and the rest is history. 

This is the stool. 

When I got home with my fancy new electric staple gun, I was so excited to use it that I got right to work on the stool.  Changing out the fabric was a nontroversy because everyone could agree that the fabric was fugly.  Sure, it was probably all the rage at some point, but at this point it had outlived its pretty.  I’m also sure that someday my grandkids will think all my stuff resembles a stool sample too.  Here’s how you too can get a new looking stool out of an old one. 

Step 1- Take apart the whole thing and paint the metal parts.  It helps to sand and clean it first in case there’s loose paint or rust.  I didn’t do this, but I do subpar work.  I expect more from you. 

I'm so impatient I couldn't follow the proper procedures.

Step 2- Take the fabric off the cushion.  This will require much patience grasshopper.  You need to be wise in the ways of staple removal. 

Step 3- Cut a piece of painter’s canvas large enough to wrap around your cushion with about 2 inches to spare.  You will put one staple in and stretch it with all your might to the other side where you will put an additional staple.  Continue to do this until the whole thing is covered.  For the corners you will make strategic folds and staple. 

Step 4- Use a stencil and some fabric paint markers to beautify your stool.  Or leave it plain if that’s your bag baby. 

Step 5- Put the whole thing together again and place the stool where no one will even think of using it.  (neurotic me)

Step 6- Cringe every time someone puts their feet on it.  Lol just kidding. 

Free!  Gotta love that price! 

Nydia 8)

The Signs Are Everywhere

As a way to fill every nook and cranny in my house with something that says, “hey you’re at my house, relax”, I decided to create a sign that states the obvious when people are in the kitchen.  I created a “Let’s Eat” sign.  Yeah I know that’s not very unique or special or whatever, but boy was it cheap!! The whole thing cost nothing to make since I had everything I needed already.  All I did was take a picture frame that was ready for the trash, spray paint the frame from brown to black, pop out the picture, and pop in my burlap creation. 

The sign itself is a piece of cardboard that I covered in burlap fabric and coated with Modge Podge.  Then I placed a stencil over the whole thing and colored in the lettering with fabric paint.  It took all of 5 minutes to make and hanging it over the entrance between my kitchen and dining room really adds a personal touch. 

See.  There was nothing to the little frame.

Grody cardboard that I covered in burlap.

Aww it's so cute!  I really like this FREE art.

Here's a closer look.  Another item saved from the landfill.

Nydia 8)

Say My Name Chalkboard Wine Glasses

I saw some wine glasses in my travels last week and these left me awestruck.  They had a little chalkboard panel on the front in which you could write WITH CHALK!  Gee Willikers!  I was AMAZED!

I instantly became buy-curious and right before handing over the cash, I had a revelation.  I could make these things for free!  I mean for Pete's sake, I had all the supplies on hand already.  So crisis averted, my wallet threat was neutralized. 

I quickly went home and pulled out my cheapo wine glasses that I got at Ross for peanuts; actually 6 for $5.00.  Beat that, dollar store!  I also dug out my trusty can of chalkboard paint -seriously the best thing since sliced bread. 

Here's my tute on making these:

Step 1- Gather your materials.  You'll need a can of chalkboard paint, some painter's tape, some sandpaper, and a bag to cover the rest of the glass. 

Step 2- Tape off a rectangular section with your painter's tape.  Use your sandpaper to rough up the little area you'll be painting.  Rumor has it that doing this makes the paint adhere better.  After you've done the proper amount of sanding, be sure to cover the exposed areas of the glass with a plastic bag.

If you are reading carefully, you may notice that I now have 5 glasses.  One broke.  Poop.

Step 3- Spray paint your little heart away!  First spray a light coating and add two more coats afterwards, allowing the paint layers to dry in between applications.

Step 4- Take the tape and bag off.  Lightly rub the edge of your chalk over the chalkboard paint.  This primes your surface.  You are now ready to write whatever witty remarks or names you'd like. 

Aren't they Fab?!  Ok who wants a drink?

I was so happy with how these turned out that I got light headed and fainted a little.  Let's face it, they were cheap.  It's never a good idea to drop tons of cash on good glassware.  Especially when the glass will be used to hold a liquid intended to impair the judgement and motor skills of the holder.  And if you are anything like me, after a few drinks you too pick up other people's glasses.  Thanks to these bad boys I'll know exactly which glass is mine. 

Nydia 8)

This Girl's Got Big Decorative Balls

Ever since I started wrapping (see here and here), I've wanted to make my own decorative balls.  While these are not usually very pricey, I knew that I could make them for free. 

I thought I was being so creative, then I saw about a kagillion tutorials on how to make these, all over the interwebs!  At that point I felt like I was jumping the shark a bit.  Who cares though, right?  What's another set of balls among blogs? 

Mine are made from kitchen string and some styrofoam balls I bought back when I had money to waste.  Here's my tute:

Step 1- Gather up these materials: some styrofoam balls (size is up to you), a glue gun, some type of string/twine/cording/etc., and some tacky glue or plain old white glue such as Elmer's.

My son was my photographer.

Step 2- Braid some long sections of string and glue the ends to keep them from unraveling and to retain the end's braid shape- this will help create fading seams.

I allow him to be part of the creative process because I don't like my crafting to take away from my kids.

Step 3- Glue one end of the braid to the top of the ball using your glue gun.  Spiral it a little for some extra hold.  This also helps you get started. 

I think he's pretty good for a 7 year old.  I mean come on he captured my process perfectly.  I'm biased.

Step 4- Slather small sections of the ball with your tacky glue.  Continue to wrap the braid over this glue.  Be sure to keep adding glue as you wrap.  Continue this process half down the ball.

Step 5- Turn your ball over and repeat steps 3 and 4 making sure to match up seams. 

Step 6- Allow to dry.  Call people over to admire your handy work.  Search the house for more string.  Skip sleeping at night because you develop a brain erection that can only be relieved by making more stuff. 
Oh wow!  Too much information.  That other stuff just happens to me.  Sorry. 

Not too bad.  Free works for me.

Nydia 8)

It's A Wrap, Wrap Bracelet

Remember when I told you guys that I made some things successfully for my daughter?  Things such as this.  Well, she's at it again!  Apparently, the Strokes tank top was part of a "look" she was going for.  You see she had this vision all played out in her head.  I won't go into all the details but a bracelet, in her mind, completed the ensemble.  Not just any bracelet though, hers had to be a Chan Luu, which costs about a million dollars!  I kid.  They're actually about $180-$240 which around these parts might as well be a million because they're still just as unaffordable.  MAJOR WALLET THREAT because they are FABULOUS!  What to do?  What to do?  Well, I'll tell you what I did. I searched out a wrap bracelet tutorial and got to WORK!  That's what I did. 

Now... providing you with a tutorial on this site would've been nice of me, but I never claimed to be nice and frankly giving an entire tutorial on how to make this bracelet sounds about as exciting to me as unflavored jello for dessert.  Besides this video tutorial is SOOOO MUCH BETTER than anything I could ever explain. 

I had these supplies on hand already.  I just bought beads. 

This project was so easy and cheap that I ended up making two!  Here's the one I made for my kiddo.  So Hawt!!!  It's very beachy, bohemian! 

Isn't she precious?!

Check out the video tutorial.  It's super easy to follow! 

Nydia 8)

My Heart Dances With This Ballerina Painting

I know it's been a while since I posted anything.  You see after going away last weekend and working all week, I had to spend this weekend literally mowing the laundry.  I did work on a couple of things this week but I thought to break my Mondaze by posting this lovely picture my little girl (ok not so little) painted. 

Isn't she lovely?!!!

Around these parts this was kind of a big deal.  Rather, a VERY BIG DEAL! She actually had this one and a few other pieces on display at our local museum.  I was prouder than a peacock!  A few people even wanted to purchase it!  Gasp!  She couldn't believe it.  You see, my daughter is a self proclaimed nerd-person but she has an artistic side. 

When we finally got it back from the museum, I obviously wanted to put it up on my wall.  This was super quick and simple.  I had a picture frame with a broken glass in it.  So I painted it black and popped the ballerina in it.  That's it!  It cost me nothing and it's quite likely the most valuable thing in my home right now. 

Seriously, everytime I look at it, it makes me smile.  Thanks Muffin Top!

LOVE IT!

Nydia 8)