Baseball Curtain Tie-Backs

My Boys' room is a vintage sports theme that is still underway. I do want I can and when I can. They are very active three year old boys that enjoy the game of baseball, basketball, football, etc. They love it all!

I wanted something that would tie back their curtains, so in the day-time I could have them pulled to the side to let some light in. With that being said, I also wanted something that tied in with the theme of their room. So, I thought of using the actual seams of the baseball and hold it together with a clip.

Materials Used: 
-2, old baseballs (Free, already had)
-2, 3/8in swivel eye bolt ($2.06 ea. @ Lowe's)
-E-6000 Glue  (already had)


Tools Needed:
-X-Acto Knife
-Scissors

First Step: Cut the seam of the baseball out, don't cut too close to the seams because you don't want them to unravel. It is best to leave more than enough of the baseball leather, and if need be you can trim later. Then, cut your piece of seam in half. Clean the back side of the seam strip by pulling all of the strings off. (I saved the inside of the ball for a possible future project).

 Second Step: Take one end of the seam and pull it through the bottom of the eye bolt. Then, bring it over and enclose the eye bolt with some of the E-600 glue. (I used a paper clip to secure it, until the glue dried).

 Third Step: Now measure the length that works best for holding up your curtain. (I just test wrapped it with creating a loop and closing off, then just marked the spot where to have the loop). Now glue your loop and cut excess seam strip. (I used a paper clip to secure it, until the glue dried).

Fourth Step: Tie-back your curtains.

read more "Baseball Curtain Tie-Backs"

Basket Detail ***UPDATE***

Earlier I posted a picture of my plain brown weaved basket that I had added some detail to. I was not pleased  with the outcome. I felt like it still needed some more detail to balance out the basket. All I had to do was bring out the brush and some acrylic paint. I didn't really have a plan, I just kept painting until I felt like it was complete.

                        My 1st Attempt 

                My 2nd Attempt 

I'm much happier with the outcome. I didn't tape because the weaves had intents that I used as my guides. Again, I just used acrylic paint and a brush. And as you see I use the basket for my boys' basketballs, footballs, etc. And the basket sits under a table in my living room, so I am using it as storage but still doesn't compromise style.

read more "Basket Detail ***UPDATE***"

Repurpose for Decor

PotteryBarn is one of my favorite inspiration go to places, and of course I say inspiration because honestly their stuff is just too expensive for my liking. I get their magazine every season and happened to see some pretty cool decorative pieces and thought hey these look like those 80's pendant lights I've seen at my local Habitat for Humanity Store. So I went on a hunt and finally found some that were perfect for repurposing.

INSPIRATION 

http://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/decadendrom-sculpture-metal-objects/?pkey=cdecorative-home-accents

My Repurposed 80's Light Pendants

read more "Repurpose for Decor"

Personalize a Towel

I am super bad at choosing gifts for people, I over analyze and think way to hard on what to get them. I always think: Do they really need this? Would they even use or like this? Is this in my budget? Etc.etc. So, when it came to buying a gift for my nephew who was turning 1, I knew I had to get him something he would actually use and could be useful. I'm walking the isles of Target trying to find the PERFECT gift. I walked by the kids bathing toys and towels. That's when I saw the Batman towel and figured I could personalize it and it would make the gift of a towel that much better.

Here is my version of how I personalized the towel.

Materials Needed:

-Towel
-Fabric (I used less than 1/4 of a yard)
-Wonder under fusible interfacing ( I used less than 1/4 of a yard)
-Cloth
-Thread (color to coordinate with your fabric and towel)

Tools Needed:

-Scissors
-Iron
-Sewing machine

Step 1:

Getting your name in the font and size you would like it. I just drew mine out because I wanted to get the letters the right size to fit somewhat within the boxes of the Batman fabric.

Step 2:

Place your interfacing (with smooth side face down) on top of your print out of letters and trace. You should be writing (with a ball point pen) on the rough side of the interfacing to avoid backward letters. If using a dark fabric re-trace onto the paper side.

Step 3:

Now take your interfacing and place onto wrong side of fabric with rough side face down. (I cut each letter out roughly, didn't cut on the lines. I wanted to get a good placement on the fabric, to ensure that I was getting the most out of the graphics). But you can do it however you would like.
After you have your placement of your letters, you need to iron (5-8 seconds) the interfacing onto the fabric. Let it cool. Once it is cooled then cut out each of your letters. Place the cut out letters on your towel where you would like them (to see how it will look or workout).
Once you have your layout, peel off the interfacing from each letter and place back side down onto the towel.

Step 4:

Next, I took a dampened towel, placed over my interfaced letters and took my dry, heated iron (setting on wool) and ironed firmly over the dampened cloth for 10-15 seconds. I did all my letters, let them cool. If for some reason, some edges are not sealed, just go back with the damp towel and iron to press the edges down.

Step 5:

Here comes the real fun.....sewing the edges of the letters to make it's really secure. I used the zig zag pattern and sewed all around the edges.

Once all of the edges of the letters are sewn, cut any loose strings. Then, put in the wash before actually gifting, that way it is nice and clean!

read more "Personalize a Towel"

Inexpensive DIY Headboard

If there's a will , there is a way! I've seen numerous diy headboards on Pinterest that use wood and that's awesome if you want a permanent shape or don't care to spend a little more on supplies. But I used a substitute that works brilliantly. CARDBOARD! Yup I went to my local hardware store and asked associate if they had any spare heavy duty cardboard from fridge or washer and dryer shipping boxes, and they gladly handed over a few pieces:) 

List of Materials Used

-Cardboard ($0) 

-2 yards of quilting batting ($8) 

-Duct tape

-2 yards of fabric ($20)

Tools Used

-Sharpie marker

-Box cutters

-Staple gun & staples

First take huge piece of cardboard and fold in half. If your piece isn't large enough you can do one half at a time. Measure ideal size of headboard and after drawing your design cut cardboard with box cutters to the appropriate size. 

Lay cardboard shape over quilt batting and cut a 2 inch perimeter around cardboard. Fold batting around cardboard edge and tape batting around it. Less tension will give you a fluffier headboard.

Take your fabric and iron out any creases you may have in it. Now lay the headboard on the back side of fabric and cut a 2 inch perimeter of fabric around headboard. Fold over fabric around edge of headboard pulling tight and using a staple gun, staple fabric to batting and cardboard. It helps if you're starting point is at top and bottom centers and working your way outward. It's a lot easier than you think! Voila! 

read more "Inexpensive DIY Headboard"

Glam Your Laundry Room

Accessorizing Your Laundry Room
Although, it may seem like the laundry room is the least important room in the house,
I wanted mine to shine. I felt the need to accessorize it, paint it, and make it glamorous
that way it would make doing laundry more FUN! Just a theory of mine. It's just about complete, still need a counter top on top of washer and dryer and a hook for my ironing board.

My laundry room walls started off with just a Milk Chocolate paint, it was a Pinterest pin that inspired me to do more from the blog dancingcommas. I instantly fell in love with the herringbone design. I had some blue tape and some paint that I had got FREE from a garage sale. So, I started rummaging through the paint and found the right combo for my herringbone wall.

Now, that my wall is complete (and by the way still loving it!), I needed to start putting things back and get the look together. I decided that my accent colors would be a hot pink and a silver metallic. I found small flower vases at a thrift shop, I think I paid  $1 for two. Then, I filled with fake flowers from the Dollar Tree. My Frame is from Home Goods and the white floating shelf got at a garage sale for $1. But the shelf wasn't so great on the floating part, so I bought brackets (on sale) from my favorite store TARGET. They also add the metallic look I was going for, so a win-win.

  

My laundry room is not very large, so I need to maximize on the space I do have. I have my iron in a rack I got at IKEA. I think it was to place iron and ironing board, but my ironing board is too big. But it does the trick. My ironing board at the moment is just leaning against the wall. 

read more "Glam Your Laundry Room"