DIY: tu tu time

i was shopping around for a birthday present for our newly 1 year old girlfriend when i realized "i can make a TUTU!".

so then i went home, pulled out the supplies, and started tying away.

so, here's what you'll need.

tulle

scissors

elastic band

needle and thread (or sewing machine)

and about 30 minutes

1. cut your elastic. oh, i eyeballed it. about 14-17 inches. (just wrap the elastic around your child, add an extra inch, and cut!)

2. stich your elastic together, having it overlap about 1 inch. secure well.

(stitching shown with toile already on... my pictures were out of order! whoops!)

3. cut your tulle. i used two different colors, purple and pink. i used 42 12" strands. BUT you may want to use more or less, depending on how full you want your tu tu to be.

4. grab your tulle strand, fold it in half, and place your finger in crease.

5. bring your finger to the lower part of the elastic and wrap the loose ends over the top of the elastic.

6. loop the ends through the "loop" the crease makes.

7. pull tightly through.

here's what mine looked like after looping a few tulle strands on. i ended up doing 2 purple: 1 pink.

for a more secure tu tu, sew along the inside of the elastic to keep the tulle strands in place. use a zigzag stitch so when the elastic stretches, the stitches won't come loose. also, you can trim up the ends of the tu tu with scissors after all are tied down. some of mine weren't folded in half evenly, so scissors cleaned this up quickly!

and final product?

haha- he wouldn't take it off!

enjoy!

a few things...

check out this DIY project! UNREAL! when we own a home (one day...), i will be so tempted to do this!

please go check out the DIY over at pick up some creativity. they don't mess around hey.

also, have you heard of emerson made? i want to buy everything in stock! here are some of my fave's.

head over to their website to see the goodies yourself.

what else...

i might try to convince my mom today that she needs this mirror in her guest bedroom. it would look too pretty right above the bed in between two mercury lamps...

pier 1 imports, on sale for $249.98

have a happy, happy thursday and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

(ends at midnight on saturday, march 12th)

looking forward

i was at anthropologie returning some extra knobs that i picked up for a project when i spotted these...

they are 20"x20" napkins that will make AMAZING pillows!

zoom it!

i love the color combo. i would NEVER think i'd like purple and red together!

maybe it's the crocheted hint of navy that does it for me...

best part of it? i found them in the sale section...

$8.00 marked down to $4.95.

when i went to check out, they rung up as $1.50.

love it when that happens!

i ran back to the sale section and grabbed two more! biggest regret? i wish i grabbed them ALL!

i love using anthro napkins for pillows. they have so many different patterns and colors that are so unique. they are sure to add punch to the room while guaranteeing a "one of a kind" pillow. here are some other ones i've made..

(the far left and center)

i am saving these babies for a year and a half. they'll be something GLORIOUS to look forward to when we move. i'll have to have some sort of a "pick me up" when our time in boston is done...

today's inspiration... DIY bench

styleathome.com

can i please have one?

i am going to keep my eyes peeled for a long, skinny coffee table in order to get this DIY bench on a roll...

here are some fun fabrics for all types that would do wonders on a bench like this!

for that boho chic look seen above...

and dress it up with bohemian glam

(this is my favorite!)

looking for more of a modern feel?

here are some tribal, earthy options

for that preppy girl within...

lastly, for the boat lovers

(all fabrics above can be found at calico corners)

i love project like this where the options are endless. there are so many ways to express your taste!

if you give this project a whirl, please send me pictures!

DIY: mirror revamp

mirrors can be pricey little things. i have a hard time spending a lot of money on a mirror/accessory when they are so easy to come by and not.so.large. due to this lack of willingness to submit to prices, i have started keeping my eyes peeled for accessories in other places. thrift stores, consignment stores, markets, etc.

remember this ole mirror i found at a thrift shop?

(this is quite the small image)

i went ahead and painted it black.

what i used:

mirror

drop cloth

paint brush

primer

paint

polyurethane finish (definitely unnecessary)

razor

glass cleaner

i just dropped the drop cloth, got out the primer, paint, and the brushes and went at it. i read on little green notebook that i shouldn't bother taping the mirror. just to paint as i pleased (thanks for the tip, jenny. taping is such a waste of time!!!!). i then let the paint dry and topped it with a poly finish to add some more gloss. (you could just get a higher gloss paint. i didn't realize until after it was painted that i wanted more shine).

you want to see the sloppy edges?

that's nothing that a little glass cleaner can't handle!

i actually used a razor to scrape the paint out of the space between the mirror and the frame (remember, this is a thrift shop find. there WAS a space between the mirror and the frame).

and voila!

this is the only picture i have of the final product! we are going to hang the mirror above this console in my client's entry. more pictures to come.

budget shopping #1

when looking for furniture on a budget, i always try to LOOK BEYOND THE SURFACE! whether on craigslist, ebay, consignment shops, flea markets, or ikea... i always look at the shape of the piece. i concentrate on it's bones and make sure there is no unfixable damage.

here's the deal. paint (and some wood filler) can do WONDERS on a piece of furniture. yeah, it takes some effort, but you can transform trash into treasures with some paint and hardware changes. what's great about it? ANYONE (yes, YOU) can do this.

i have a few pieces stacking up to paint in my home. some for me, some for a client. it's so fun to see the pieces and know they are going to look reborn after taking dip in some paint. for some reason, i have put this painting "to do" on the back burner. THEN i saw this.

{before}

{after}

the ever so talented jenny (from little green notebook) has a client who picked these side tables up at home goods here in boston. (yes, i saw them in person at the store! i am VERY.MUCH.SO REGRETTING not purchasing them!). she gave them a lovely paint job and added new hardware. this makeover is BREATHTAKING! i want this table in MY room!

jenny, thanks for sharing and motivating!

while hubby is on call this weekend, the rollers are coming out and attacking this piece...

(found at brimfield, $20.00)

i know it looks scary, but that's what {before} pictures are for! i have BIG PLANS for this baby!

email me your DIY furniture makeovers and i'll be sure to share them!

2 more days until the giveaway ends!

mark your calendars, peeps! the winner will be announced on saturday. don't miss your chance on these nate berkus pillows. they're too great to pass up! go HERE to check out the giveaway details. ENJOY!

bRaInStOrMiNg...

i'm redoing a few things in our apartment right now. let the brainstorming begin!

oh, what to do...

create "wall of collage"

refinish brimfield piece

transform wrought iron wall decal into sunburst mirror

paint floral print frames black

refinish bennett's navy frame

set and mount antlers

clean, clean, clean

i'm starting with this one today. wall collage. and it's going to go

RIGHT HERE.

i L.O.V.E. these prints that i found in london (portobello rd). they worked so well in our last apartment, but don't do too much for me in this spot. they're gonna swim in black paint and park themselves in my room. the table's been cleared and frames have been dispersed. the lamp is sticking around, but is in DIRE need of a shade change. currently, i have tons of black frames that don't have a home. i'm just gonna make them work right here. so, the debate... tons of frames? clean lines? random arrangement? congested or spaced out?

some images to get my wheels turning...

caitlin wilson

trishiekoh

decor8

country living

apartment therapy

last but not least, i'm using this amazing guide to help me through my project. head on over to design formula for a non-failing wall collage tutorial.

in looking for fun additions to my collage wall, i came across this.

it's a must-have, right? oh, thank you, laura trevey.

wish me luck! pictures of finished product to come!

Baby Nursery

I really need to finish getting my nursery ready! I am debating on a few things... color of bedskirt? Paint the changing table white? (It is our dining table from last year. A drop leaf round table. Right now, the legs are putty grey and the top is slate blue). Get a twin bed or don't? Oh, the things I need to decide in the next six weeks!

So far, here is what we have.

Our babymod olivia crib from Walmart. LOVE IT!

A Sheepskin wool Flokati Rug from Ikea.

A red rocking moose from Ikea.

and navy and white awning stripe fabric from Ikea

and that's it for now! I need to keep working...

Mason is going out to Utah for a weekend, and so I am planning on getting EVERYTHING done that weekend. Sewing a crib skirt, painting a frame and table (if that's what I decide to do), getting last minute essentials for baby boy, making my pillows, deep cleaning the baby's room before he comes (don't worry, I'll do it again right before he comes... a lot of dust can collect in five weeks!), and reupholstering the rocker. I can't wait to show you all of these things finished! Cross your fingers I will finish them, please!