Everything Old is New Again

WEEKEND PROJECT #1

I bought this lamp at TJ Maxx for $40 with the intention to paint it, and use it in my nursery.  Never did I think it would turn out as well as it did!

 In two easy steps, I've created a brand new look!  All it took was a can of white spray paint...I wrapped the parts I didn't want painted in aluminum foil.

 Once everything was wrapped, I took it outside to paint.  Here's the base with a fresh coat of paint...

 Step Two: freshen up the shade.  I chose to paint the shade with Tulip fabric paint.  This just happened to work out perfectly...if it hadn't worked out, I planned to wrap the shade with fabric.  But luckily for me, the shade took the paint well and it looked really good!

 ...and the result! I love it!

WEEKEND PROJECT #2

So I've had this bookcase for a few years now - I think it might have cost about $20 at Target or Wal-Mart.  For years now, it's been holding my school books and I keep telling myself that one day I'm going to cover the back with some fabric to freshen it up and add a punch of color and pattern.  Well, now that I'm done with school and have moved my now-empty bookcase into the nursery, I decided it was finally time!

Here's the fabric I chose:

 Since my bookcase was already assembled, I had to remove the back in order to attach the fabric.  Once the back was off, I used spray adhesive to coat the back.

Next, carefully lay the fabric on top of the back and smooth out any wrinkles.

Then, flip the back over to trim any excess fabric.

 Once, glued and trimmed, re-attach the back to the bookcase and you're done!

What do you have lying around that can use a fresh coat of paint or a fabric accent?

iPhone / iPod Charging Dock

This project is a little more intense than most, but well worth it in the end.  I will show you how to make your very own iPhone Charging Dock that will take the place of that ugly white cord lying across your nightstand.

What You’ll Need:

Hardback book

iPhone / iPod charger

Drill

Razor blade

First, you'll want to use the head of your iPhone charger to measure the appropriate cut-out from the cover of your book.  I did this by measuring the length I needed and then drilling a hole on either end. 

Then, use a razor blade to cut between the holes, creating a rectangle that your charger can fit through.  This rectangle will need to be deep enough that your charger can sit flush with the top of the book.

(major props to my husband for helping with the drilling and cutting)

Once you've cut out the space for the charger, you will need to cut a tunnel out of the pages for the cord to lay in.

Now, if you'd like you can glue the pages of the book together...or if you've cut accurately enough or plan to remove the charger when traveling, you may not want to glue all the pages together.

 Now place the book on your nightstand (or wherever you charge your iPhone/iPod) and enjoy! No one will ever suspect that beautiful novel by your bed is actually a charging dock for your iPhone! Plus, no more cords falling behind your furniture when no phone is plugged in to hold it in place.

Super Easy Wedding Gift

So here’s a super easy, super classy wedding gift that will cost you almost nothing. 

What You'll Need: 

a canvas (any size you like)

foam or wooden letters - I used a combo of both

adhesive - I used Mod Podge

white spray paint

You can choose any wording you like.  I chose to include the couples' last name, their initials, and the date of their wedding. You can follow my lead, or choose "wedding" sayings like I DO, IT ALL STARTED WITH A KISS, ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE, WITH THIS RING...you get the idea.  Be as creative as you like!

 Arrange your letters on the canvas to get a feel for the proper spacing, then just secure them with your adhesive.  Once everything is glued down, coat the entire project with a couple layers of white spray paint...and you're done!