Lampshade in Progress

DIY Fern Prints

I found public-domain pictures of ferns I liked on Google images and turned them black-and-white on Picasa.  Then I printed them directly onto pages of an old dictionary I had around (the Random House Unabridged dictionary, it has about 2000 pages!).  The printer didn't like the paper too much and smudged the ink a little bit, but I think it kind of adds to the effect I was going for.

I'd thought about framing them in matching frames or hanging them up maybe with vintage clipboards, but I didn't have either so I went with clothespins instead.  I used some removable adhesive strips from 3M hooks to hang the clothespins on the wall.

Here are the pictures of the ferns I edited if you want to try this!  (Click a picture to enlarge)

Sharing with Transformation Thursday and Frugal Friday!

Lampshade Help

Through a link I found Tracy's ideas on how to improve a lampshade.  I just love what she did!

Looks like something that will be so quick and easy--perfect!  I'm going to try it tonight with my new (borrowed from my MIL) Cricut!

Potpourri Lamp: Before and After

Before   &   After

Potpourri Lamp: $5.00 (part of this) + Lampshade: free (from my mom)

Practically perfect for my dresser!

From the left:

Bride and Groom--wedding gift from my friend Julia.   She had a friend make it for us!

I have no idea why that Z has made its way there.

Smoochy picture of Shane and me taken in the Virginia mountains right after our wedding.

Wedding cross given by my cousins' "other grandparents" as a wedding gift (they gave it along with what's become of my favorite books).

Picture of Shane and me the night we got engaged.

Shared with: Frugal Friday, Show and Share Day

A Tiny Lamp Project and a Book

Here's a little lamp I bought for $1.00 and painted Rustoleum Light Sage (on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $1.79, I guess on clearance means it's discontinued?).  It's not a bold color, but I like it better than the stark white.

Here it is in the kitchen!

In other (and much more exciting) news, my friend April from A Writer's Journey has a book coming out in November!  I met her through our bookstores and I guess I could call her a customer, but I'll go with friend, because that's how I think of her.  Anyway, she wrote a book and brought me a review copy to read and I'm probably going to stay up all night reading it because I am so excited!!!  (Hope you don't mind me using your picture, April!)

Bye!  I'm off to read!

How I Updated and Charmed My Den {thanks to The Nester}

The Nester's post about using lamps to "Update and Charm Every Room" couldn't have been more timely for me. 

Our den was in desperate need of extra lighting and I'd been thinking about getting some lamps for a while.  The Nester's post was just what I needed to pinpoint what I wanted.  And then I was so shocked delighted when, Tuesday night, Shane said, "I think we need to get some lamps for the den."  So off to TJ Maxx and Target we went, looking for lamps. (Well, to TJ Maxx, then Target, then back to TJ Maxx.)

We ended up getting these three lamps at TJ Maxx for $28.00, $29.99, and $34.99.  

 Not bad...but not great, either.  I thought maybe I could do better.

So yesterday, I stopped at a couple thrift stores and picked up three lamps at Salvation Army for $1.99, $1.99, and $2.99.  I also got three shades from Target at 50% clearance for $9.98 each (still wish I could have gotten some cheaper ones, but I really liked the ones I picked).

Hello, Rust-Oleum Green Apple Spray Paint.  I love you.  You were only $2.99 at Hobby Lobby after my 40% off coupon and an exact match to the paint sample I carry around with me that is the color of my kitchen cabinets.  You saved me money.  You are lovely.  I love you.

When I got home I got to cleaning and spraying.  I've seen tutorials on spray painting lamps and taping everything up, but I have to admit, I didn't do anything special.  In preparation, I just wiped them down with a damp rag.  I knew the shade would cover the top part where I was spraying so it didn't matter if I got it perfectly painted.  I didn't worry about it when I ended up painting part of the cord.

I love how the lamps turned out!  Total cost of TJ Maxx lamps: $92.98 / Total cost of Salvation Army lamps: $39.90 (including lamps, shades, and spray paint (I only used about 1/2 a can).

I did take the plastic off the shades before I turned the lamps on, just not for the pictures!

We're doing some work in our den (more on that next week, but it involves rearranging everything) so I'm not thinking about the overall presentation here (in other words, ignore our off-center wedding picture and book wreath on the wall).  Just admire my new lamps, ok?  Thanks!

Sharing with Transformation Thursday.

A Finished Kitchen!

Welcome to my kitchen!

Before: Christmas 2009

After: July 2010

Before                                            After

Before                       After

Thanks for visiting!

My best advice on painting a kitchen--just do it!  Don't be worried about getting things perfect and don't be worried if it takes you a few days weeks months longer than you planned!

I'm sharing this with Chelsea at Room to Inspire and Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage and Chris at Just a Girl.

J.Crew Copy Cat #2

Here's the second pair of shirts I refashioned.  (See #1 in my last post).  I loosely copied Ashley's shirt at Make It and Love It by cutting out hearts and folding in half--sewing along the middle of the heart.  I was originally going to ruffle up the whole side, but decided to keep it simple. 

Eventually I may go back and add some, making it more like Ashley's J. Crew inspiration shirt:

But for now, it's perfect for me!

J.Crew Copy Cat

Inspired by this shirt I saw at the J.Crew outlet with my SIL, I knew just what to do with a couple shirts I got at the Gap.  I loved the tiny stitches and the randomness of the pattern.

I bought four shirts (two of one color, two of another color) on clearance at Gap for $1.97 each.  My stitches aren't as tiny as J.Crew's, and I used a contrasting thread, but the randomness is all there.

I'll show you what I did with the other pair of shirts on Monday.

Happy 4th of July, everybody!

Kitchen Update 6

The tape may never come off the windows.  I think the heat glued the tape onto them...do you think anyone will notice only two of the bottom panes are tape-less?

And I finally got started on the doors...hello, entryway:

Kitchen Update 5

More progress!  It's slow but it's getting there...touch ups and drawers and doors next. 

Before:

During:

During-er:

Today:

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and bought several knobs to try out.  I'll put up pictures of them soon...I know you want to help me pick!

Ribbon Memo/Picture Holder

Kitchen Update 4

And now on to the window/sink side of the kitchen:

Before:

During:

During-er:

It doesn't even FEEL like the same kitchen anymore!  Walking into our house feels different now, it really does!