DIY Nursery Art

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

This project may be one of my most favorite DIY projects yet! I know I have been on DIY overload lately, but I am still unpacking from our move and keep finding old things for new projects. 

I had a bunch of old frames that I knew I could find a purpose for. I painted most of the frames for a mini makeover. I then added some craft paper of different patterns and texture that added some fun to the frames. I then used alphabet stickers to the craft paper. In twenty minutes, nursery art was created! 

Supplies I used:

Scissors

Alphabet stickers (or can use stencils)

Craft paper (or can use wrapping paper)

Old frames (paint/paintbrush if you want to update them or make them all one color)

Here is what the BEFORE looked like. 

"After"

Enjoy this day,

xo

Alison
Thrifty Decor Chick

DIY Pillow with Extra Fabric & A Staple

When I am home stuck with terrible allergies, I come up with some crazy ideas. Sometimes, I end up loving the project. This DIY project is one I am pretty happy with. 

Our bedroom is full of blues and I have had this extra piece of fabric laying around since Haven Conference last August. I love the pattern but was not sure what I could use it for.

So...I waited until the allergies took over, wrapped an old pillow insert like a birthday gift and grabbed a stapler. 

I used one staple to hold this pillow together!! 

The staple is covered by fabric and not that noticeable and the pillow is comfy as ever. 

Ps....partying over at The Scoop

I can use both sides of the pillow. One a little more trendy and the other side is more classic.

xo

Alison

Surrounding Yourself with Beautiful Things: A Hallway Addition

I believe that surrounding yourself with beautiful things, makes you feel beautiful.
Flowers and candles are my go to for making a home feel naturally pretty and peaceful.

I'm still in the process of decorating our new place and knew I needed to add something to the long and bare hallway. A birdcage, olive green table, and some candles, did the trick.

 

 

 

 

May today bring beautiful things to your home.

DIY Leopard Headband

It seems as though I always find two purposes out of a DIY project.

Last week, I posted this post DIY School Bag to Pillow. It was a great success as a project and a post. Once I sat the pillow in its chippy blue chair, I already had another DIY idea in mind.

The bag's straps were a perfect cut for a headband. (I could never let good leopard fabric go to waste)
I waited for the next rainy day to throw my hair up and make use of this mini DIY project.

I tied a small knot in the back of the fabric to keep the headband still. So easy and fun!

Enjoy this beautiful day.

P.S. partying over at www.savvysouthernstyle.net 

Furniture Swap: FAVORITE PIECE OF FURNITRE EVER

Yay for Friday! So excited to be heading back to Boston for a bachelorette party! Going to be great weather and looking forward to some girlie time.

I have been so excited to share this new piece of heaven, I mean furniture with you that I did not even edit the photos. With moving so much in the past two years, I have been trying to purge some of my old things with memories and move forward. My first rustic piece of furniture was this primitive hutch that I paid way too much money for, but adored it. I was ready to part with it. I called a local retailer to come check it out to see if he was interested....and he was.

Let's just say the armoire was always thought about, but too expensive. We decided to use credit for the hutch towards the armoire and I was just so happy knowing the armoire was coming home...I didn't even care if I got a penny for the old darn thing.

Long story short, new armoire in, and old hutch out.

 

Old hutch

 

My favorite shot of the primitive piece.

 

Can you just die??? I am obsessed. The chicken wire just makes the whole armoire. I'm in love and have great plans for it.
Enjoy the day.
Alison

Ps....partying over at www.missmustardseed.com

 

Thrifty Thursday: $10 Thrift Store Art

I can't think of any better feeling that finding something in a store that you just love and know that it will look fantastic in your home. Right? It is an even better feeling when you think about it all day and go back to purchase it at night and noticing that the price is ONLY $10!!!! When the lady at the thrift store asks if she marked the art to low, say NO and walk away!
As soon as the apple print got through my door, I began the mini makeover. The frame was a beautiful wood but just too dark for me. I distressed the frame with white chalk paint and MMS antique wax and was happy with the quick results.

An apple a day will always do your home good : )

xo

Alison

DIY School Bag to Pillow

A Betsy Johnson leopard bag was my first gift to going away to college back in 2000. Never was I ever so ready to tackle FIT in New York with a more fashionable bag. I used this bag for everything....books....pocketbook....last minute sleepover bag...it did it all.

This bag was one item I could never part with. When I decided to go back to school in 2010, I resorted back to this old leopard bag. Unfortunately, my books were too heavy it and it began to rip. As I saw the first sign of a tiny tear, my mind went to work.

I knew it was something I wanted to use for a DIY project. This bag has been with me since 2000 and helped me reach my educational goals in a fab manner :) I wanted to keep it around to remember my proud accomplishments.

My final decision was to create a pillow from it. Leopard print is always a great way to add a little statement to a basic colored room. So, I brought out the hem tape and was ready for the DIY pillow challenge.

To my surprise, I stuffed the old memory with a small pillow insert I had laying around. I zipped the bag shut, cut the straps off, and did not even need the hem tape! I love the way it came out. A great memory that I can continuously glance at during the day. A quick reminder to keep on setting goals for myself.

Happy Monday :)

I'm partying over at Cedar Hill Farmhouse & Jennifer Rizzo

Bridal Shower Centerpieces

Happy Friday!
Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Massachusetts to celebrate my sister from another mister's beautiful bridal shower. The day was perfect. The weather was ideal, the food was delicious, and the bride to be looked amazing.
I was blessed to be asked to make the centerpieces for the party. Right away, my wheels began turning. I went from store to store to find the perfect vase for the hydrangeas and sunflowers that were the bride's favorite. At one point I was overkill on the decor and knew I needed to take a moment to think about the look I wanted to achieve. Pretty with a classy look was my final decision.
So....I found these mercury glass candle holders and went to the market to purchase the flowers and here are the final centerpieces. The vases all survived the Massachusetts commute too! Phew!

DIY Coffee Table

When you can't find a coffee table you love in a store, get creative and work with what you have.
Remember this desk I had at my previous home? (Ps...you can find me partying over at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/ )

 

 

I always loved this desk I bought from an antique dealer but knew I paid way too much for it. As much as I didn't want to let it go, I really had no use for it. UNTILLLLLL.....I woke up in the middle of the night thinking it would make a great coffee table if I just made the legs shorter! With a saw and five minutes, I was sooooo happy with the end result.

 

About 3 inches of the bottom 4 legs and it was the exact coffee table I was looking for!!!

 

xo

Alison

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite purchases: A Cane Headboard

I always loved to sleep, but now I look forward to going to bed just to lay under this headboard that we recently purchased.
I searched high and low for a headboard that would add some "bed and breakfast charm". The hunt was taking forever. Eventually, I shopped Ballard online where I found this headboard that I knew was exactly what I was looking for. The weathered brown wood added some age to the room and was a perfect match for all the blues that exist in the bedroom.
Here is another sneak peak of the bedroom but I could not wait to share this headboard with you. Just love it!!!

GASP! The detail!

Happy Monday!

 

Vintage Foot Stool Makeover: Before and After

I am having a small obsession with mini makeover these past few weeks. I have been finding some amazing vintage items and quickly thinking of ways I can update them to fit our new home. Living in the apartment lifestyle, you lose the chance to be able to garden. I LOVE flowers and fortunately have found other ways to be surrounded by them.
I found this foot stool in an antique shop for $15. I used a new type of chalk paint in color "serene" and one piece of sanding paper for a little smoothing of all the old paint. With a small paint brush and some paint, I got to work.

BEFORE

I live for this beat up look!

(the scissors were to remove the old price tag)

AFTER

Before and After Wall Hanging: Adding a pop of color

Who doesn't love a mini makeover? I have had this cross shaped wall hanging for a while now and I just can't part with it. It shares a bit of rustic feel and reminds me of my strong catholic faith.
With all white walls in our new place, this piece needed a pop of color. With some leftover chalk paint from another project I worked on, I found the solution. I outlined the details of the wall hanging with a pretty blue and now it pops on the wall.
Happy Wednesday!

Partying over at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net

A sneak peak at my new home!

Hi there! I'm so excited to share much new exciting news, but today I would start with a sneak peak at my new home. YES, I moved AGAIN. This new place will be home for a while and I have been busy decorating and unpacking. Stay tuned this week for a full apartment tour in my favorite hometown of Nyack, New York! Here are a few pics until ten : )
Partying over at Cedar Hill Farmhouse