A Framed Coaches Gift

It's been a while!  Where have I been, you say?  I've been in the bleachers watching volleyball for the past several months, but we're done!!!!  And we finished the season with a 1st place win at the big tournament!  This picture is not the best, but it was taken after 3 days of games (27 games, I must add) and a first place finish.  There isn't another picture that would bring back better memories for coach. 

Here's the gift I made with a $10 frame (regular price was $20 at the Hob Lob) and a couple packages of rub ons.  The words around the picture were very simple. The quote proved to be difficult.  Each letter was individual, but I came up with a nice little system for getting them all lined up and straight.  I cut each letter out as small as possible and taped them to the edge of a sheet of paper.  I taped the paper to a sheet of notebook paper so I could use the lines as a guide.  Once all of the letters were in place, I simply removed the sheet and placed it on the frame until I had it centered and straight and then I rubbed them off.  Yeah, I could have ordered the quote ahead of time and had it perfect, but my idea came too late.  The end of season party was less than a week away when I started. 

All of the girls will sign the frame at the party and then we will present it to coach with a heartfelt thank you for all of his hard work and dedication.  One teammate won't be able to make it, which is why there is a lone signature in the corner.  I can't wait to see it with all of the girls signatures!

FYI , these pics. make it look a little crooked because of the angle of the frame.  It's not.  Really.

Rag Quilt

I did it, I did it!!!!  I finished my very first rag quilt!  I enjoyed this project so much, that I'm already planning my next rag quilt.  It's such a good feeling to start something new, having no idea what you're getting yourself in to, only to discover you CAN do it.  It's incredibly rewarding.  I learned so much in the process of creating this one.  The biggest lesson was that experience is the best way to learn.  I could have read articles day and night, but nothing compares to learning by trial and error.  Yes, I had to break out the seam ripper a few times, but that's ok, because I DID IT!  


One of the best tips I found on the internet before creating my quilt was to take pictures of each print, and create my layout before beginning.  Being able to see the finished project before I was done gave me so much motivation.  So here she is, my very first rag quilt!

  

Powder Room Revamp or Remodel or update, you pick

I wish I had pictures of this bathroom from the day we moved in. I don't, so here's the visual. Imagine iridescent blue wallpaper with a 1980's design clad with massive pink flowers of some sort. It was hideous. You can see some wallpaper in some of the before photos, this is actually the original wall paper from, not the iridescent florally blue stuff I speak of.  It didn't take long for me to get busy removing the wallpaper, but as we all know, moving in to a new home is time consuming, which equates to a very half ass job on my part. Despite the half-assedness, the wall paper was gone, and there it sat for 3 1/2 years desperately anticipating my next move. We did replace the toilet shortly after moving in, and just recently, I transformed the wood work and opened up the space a bit (remember this post ?), however, it just wasn't enough.

Here she is in all her pre-demolition glory.  I had already painted over the brown on the top portion of the wall, because of course, I FORGOT to take pictures.  Imagine that! Anyway:

Mark removing the "nice toilet"

What a MESS!!

Mark laying the marble tiles.

Mark talked me in to replacing the vanity with a pedestal sink (brand new, craigslist $75) and laying white marble tile, which I am so, so thankful for! I wasn't sure I'd like the pedestal sink, but wow, the difference. The space feels much more open and less cramped. Since the remodel I have had two people comment on the "nice toilet". What they didn't realize was that this is the same "before" toilet. Suddenly, our "nice toilet" is much more noticeable now that the huge vanity is gone. I have to admit, it is kind of funny to eagerly show someone all of the new improvements and they end up commenting on the "nice toilet". Something I never would have anticipated, but funny none the less.

Aside from all of the obvious surface work, Mark also replaced all of the old plumbing that is now visible behind the sink and added a joist (?) between the studs on the wall where the pedestal sink is now to allow the pedestal to anchor in the correct spot. Blah, blah, blah. So, enough of that. Here's the fun part. The after pics!

I am so, so proud of my talented husband.  There is nothing he can't do!  I am just so impressed with all of his work and the TIME, oh the TIME.  He came to bed many nights after midnight...after working a full day at work.  My only contributions were picking out the paint color (Behr Verdigris), priming and painting everything and caulking and spackling.  Other than that, Mark did it all.  

And on to the next project. ;)

Chest re-vamp

We've had this chest for years and for YEARS I've been meaning to do something with it.

I can finally check this one off my list.

Before

After 

Still need to position this piece and permanently attach it...it's too high and slightly off center in this picture.

It's hard to capture the antiquing in the dark bedroom, but you get the idea.

Thrift Store Treasures!

Despite the lack of project posting, things are a brewin in the Urben home.  I'm hoping to share our latest project this weekend, but I must be patient.  

For now I'll share a few goodies I picked up recently:

A miter box for $7.99 at Goodwill... I have so many projects in store for you, mister miter.  Mark can't understand why I don't just use his compound miter saw and I guess I could, but there is something to be said for not having to get out the mitersaw, set up a workspace and all that jazz.  Now I can just set this puppy on the table and have some instant gratification. 

This beauty was only $2.99 and absolutely perfect!  The moment I saw it, I knew its purpose!  I'll share later.

Another gorgemous piece $3.99 at the GW

This puppy will be painted, distressed and hung in the *newly remodeled* powder room.

Look at the detail in this frame!  Can't wait to purdy it up.  It was a buck.

I have plans for this as well.  Ashley thinks it looks like a toilet seat.  Wait until she sees it when it gets a coat of paint. $2.00

This picture doesn't do this shabby little shelf justice.  It's perfect!  I splurged a little and spent $8

That's all for now.  Crossing my fingers that I can share our big project this weekend!!

Homemade Class Valentines Day Cards

Felt Valentines Wreath

I finally finished my felt wreath that I mentioned here!

This puppy took a lot longer than I anticipated, but the end result was so worth the effort...and I have to admit, it was kinda fun too!

Hanging on my newly painted front door.

Directions on how to make this can be found here

Little Sillies - Oil and Vinegar Cruet set

A little ribbon and some scrapbooking spare parts dressed up these hand me down cruets I aquired from a neighbor friend who recently unloaded a bunch of goodies on me.  Aren't they just precious!

Shelf makeover

I picked this wobbly shelf up at a local thrift store for $5.00.  After tightening up the bolts, I sanded it down, added a sheet of beadboard to the back and some trim pieces to the front, painted it black and mod podged some husband picked scrapbook paper to the shelves and sides.  Now its in Marks home office and is home to all of his work awards. Nothing amazing, but something nonetheless.

Before  

After

Master Bedroom Makeover with DIY Headboard

The sun refuses to shine and I can wait no longer.  My pictures will just have to be mediocre.

Mark and I have been married for 10 years now and although we've always had some sort of home improvement project going on at all times, our master bedroom has always gotten the shaft.  We never take the time to work on our space.  By golly, it was time!

I've had these lamps for probably 5 years, and I've never really liked them much.  The only thing in their favor was the fact that I had two *matching lamps*.  With my propensity for thrifting, having a pair of anything is extremely uncommon in this house.

I gave the bases a black satin spray paint finish and used some fabric that I had on hand (thrift store, 1 1/2 yards, $1.50) and gave them a little botox injection.

Again...these pictures are awful, but you get the idea.

 

Last week my neighbor passed me quite a few decor pieces that she was getting rid.  In the pile of stuff, were these two eye sores.  I gave the frames and the canvas a coat of Ralph Lauren Satin black paint and  used then stuck on a removable decorative vinyl square that I bought half price at Kohl's after Christmas.  9 squares cost me $12...you'll see the others later. 

Before

 (I had already started painting the one on the left when I realized that I forgot to take pics)

After 

(you'll see the other one later)

And my most exciting change for the room, the headboard!  Mark and I have not had a headboard our entire married life, so when I did the bathroom makeover    and had the two left over cabinet doors my wheels started turning.  It just so happens that height of the two cabinet doors combined was two inches more than the width of our bed.  Coincidence? No!  It was fate!  

I used the same Behr Cottage White Semi Gloss paint that we used in the bathroom makeover and bought two wood embossed-like appliques from Hobby Lobby ($2.99 each) and painted them with the satin black latex paint.  I attached them with liquid nails and voila! I have a homemade headboard!!! 

Next, I took some framed prints I already had, removed the pictures, covered the cardboard backing with some nice flocked material that I had on hand from a Goodwill find.  I decided to leave the glass off for a softer look.

Before

After

The frame in the middle of the wall was an old canvas painting that I wasn't too fond of.  It had a silvery frame that I painted with the satin black latex and then I just painted over the canvas (which was previously a floral) with the same color as the wall paint and then I used more of the removable vinyl clings.  

I'm still not done with the bedroom yet, but round one is complete! The walls are Behr Premium Plus in Verdigris, which is Behr's newest paint line.  It's a primer and paint in one.     

So here's the crappy before picture that I almost forgot to take...notice everything has already been moved.  (another note to self: make sure to check your pics to make sure they came out ok...and make sure auto focus is on!):

After:

Clever Craft Storage Ideas

I'm seriously itching to create my own crafting space in the basement, but for now I will continue leaving messes throughout the house, collecting ideas and drooling over stuff like this. Oh how I long to be organized!!

Shoe cubby turned cutting station:

Three ring binder with plastic page protectors - Embellishment Storage!

Toiletry Cabinet

And this one, I LOVE...it's a toilet-paper holder for ribbon storage!  Neato!

Shower Caddy anyone??

I found all of these ideas at BHG.

Want to see more?  Go here.