From Grandma's Attic

My grandparents love to keep things, I suppose that's where I get it from. So when I was looking for a nightstand I skipped Craigslist and Ebay and went straight to my grandparent's attic. Upon some digging I found this gem. 

By the time this picture was taken, I had already removed the hardware from the front. But as you can see it's you're typical wood night stand. So I wanted to spruce it up a bit with some white paint.  Now I have spray painted only two things in my life, this nightstand, and a set of Mickey Mouse shaped bookends.  I struggled with the book ends (granted I was 8 or 9) so I was a bit nervous to spray paint today. Yet I sanded a bit to remove any imperfections and started to spray.

I was pretty pleased the way things have worked out, despite my nerves about the paint. I also painted the hardware of the drawer black to go with my theme. 

Makeup Board

As far as my morning routine goes, I spend the least amount of time on my makeup, yet this weekend while packing up my things I noticed how sad looking my makeup bag was. So I took to the internet to find some fun ways to hold your makeup, and I found a project that takes your makeup and turns it into art.

It's called a Makeup Board and it required a bit of work, but not too much. To start I went to a home improvement store and purchased some sheet metal. I then started to hunt for a frame, and after much searching I found a cute frame, with the ugliest picture in side, at the Salvation Army. They were having a frame sale, so I got the frame for cheap.

I dusted the frame off, and removed the picture inside. I then started to paint some details onto the frame.

 I used some nail polish remover to move the oils on the surface of the sheet metal. Then I measured the same fabric I used on the chair to the sheet metal and place it in the frame. I then used the old picture as the back behind the metal to keep it secure in the frame.

The next step was to hot glue magnets that I bought at the hardware store to my makeup. I made sure to buy magnets that were strong enough to cling to the metal through the fabric. By using hot glue, I can just remove the magnets when the makeup runs out and reuse the magnet.

So here is a picture of the final product! I was also lucky enough to find this old locker decorater/organizer which I painted black to match the board.

Pretty Painting

This past weekend was a gloomy, rainy and tropical stormy few days. My area of town lost power for two days, so I was scrambling to find something to occupy my time. I found an old canvas under my bed, that I had ruined by coloring on it with red sharpie. I thought that painting the canvas black would cover up the red paint and for the most part it did.

I decided to start with a black base and then add a silhouette of a chandelier in white. I'm sure you've all seen the wall stickers that are black chandeliers, so using google images, I just combined the designs from my favorite chandeliers and started to paint.

After I finished painting, I added some pearls that broke off of a necklace to make it 3-d.

Spruced up Lamp

Like many other college students, I have a loving relationship with Target, they have their own college section full of cute bedding and furnishings! I found this lamp, only $20 and decided to make it a bit more interesting using some black ribbon and a glue gun. 

By glue gunning parts of the ribbon then continuing to wrap them around the lamp, they are even and secure. Here is a photo of the finished product!

My New Chair!

This past year I was in a frenzy, having been accepted late into the college of my choice I was scrambling to find an off campus apartment. Once I checked that off my list my parents tried their best to find some  inexpensive furnishings for my new space.

While I was grateful for all of my furnishings, my dad, the engineer, bought an ever practical desk chair that was just so out of place with everything else in my room. So this summer I decided to spruce it up a bit, using some cheap materials!

To start I bought some great fabric at the local fabric store, I bought a yard or so and was able to use the excess for other projects. I also bought some pink ribbon, white acrylic paint and borrowed my dad's staple gun.

To start painted a few parts of the chair white, to make the color against black pop. I then measured the fabric on the seat of the chair, and used the staple gun to secure it in place.

Next I added a cute pink bow using ribbon, and a hot glue gun to make the first loop, then added the two loops of the bow section, and last hot glued the two strands that hang down. 

So here is the finished product! I was very happy with the result and can't wait to add it to my room!

My First Post!

So the summer of 2011 is slowly winding down, which can only mean one thing, a new school year! Along with new clothes, school books, and a new apartment, this summer I decided to try my hand at some do it yourself projects. I've always enjoyed painting and things of that nature, so I have been putting the final touches on some fun ideas I've had for a bit.

As previously mentioned I am moving into a new apartment, so giving a mini make over to my existing furniture was a fun project in and of itself. Using some materials, a bit of creativity, and of course, a ton of pink accents I've made some fun pieces to spruce up my new space. I hope to continue creating throughout the year so check in to see some fun new things.

So think Pink and think Fun!