Earlier today I posted this on my Facebook status:
The problem I have, is that with my youngest child now growing up and being more independent I sit around looking at things for my home and come up with random ways to change them. It’s probably a good thing we don’t have a tonne of excess money or otherwise my husband would come home and wonder if he was at the right place.
I have so many little projects I can do around my home. It doesn’t really need anything done (well a new kitchen, new carpet and converting the garage to a family room would be great) but in reality, it’s fine how it is. We purchased it because it covered our list of must haves – room to play basketball, fully fenced, two bathrooms, four bedrooms. We don’t have much ‘need’ for anything materialistic, I’m grateful for that but I personally have a need to create… All the time.
Originally today I really wanted to paint something. I have this huge blank canvas sitting there but I’ve dedicated that canvas to a project that will happen ‘eventually’ (read: it’s a really good idea I haven’t made the time to create yet) and so I don’t want to waste my $120 canvas on something that I may or may not like…even though I really wanted to. Sometimes I hate that I restrain myself to be sensible financially.
So anyway, from the painting idea I went outside to fiddle around with the log that’s been drying for months. When I realised I couldn’t be bothered working on that project either I decided to move onto the lamps in my living room that even though in the photo’s appear to be fine, are actually kind of grubby after being around my kids for years.
Juggling through my ever growing fabric collection I came across a certain fabric I received from fellow artist Karley Feaver and was absolutely delighted with the way the pattern looked on a lampshade so knew I was onto a winner.
With my trusty glue gun, scissors, fabric & old lamp I set to work and within half an hour (it may have even been 15 minutes) I modernised these out of date lampshades.
Easy peasy. If I had patience I would probably mod podge the fabric on & line the inside where the fabric overlaps with felt. Those would be my tips anyway for anyone wanting to have a go at recovering a lampshade but seeing as these are just for my home, I’m happy! The kids think it looks great too. I’ll finish the matching lampshade tonight.
If you know anything about me, you probably know that I love all things shiny. If it glitters, sparkles, shines, is over the top with bling and catches the eye, I’m in. I love it, it makes my heart sing. I’m like a magpie.
Well this is how I felt when I spotted these side tables below:
I saw them and I instantly thought “Ooo shiny”. Now, I have no idea where you can purchase those barrel like tables and even if I did, it wouldn’t be in my budget; so once again I decided to set off on a DIY adventure to create a shiny side table for Miss V’s bedroom.
Using what I had on hand I grabbed 1 x small square black table, a can of primer, a tube of silver paint and a tube of black paint. I sprayed it white, painted it two coats of silver and then made a black glaze to finish it off. It gave an antique silver result. I really like the way it highlights the texture on the under corners of the table.
The whole process didn’t take very long at all, maybe an hour or two. The longest parts being waiting for the layers of paint to dry. I was going to try a DIY with tin foil for this project but it appears our household doesn’t really use tinfoil – there was none in the pantry and we haven’t noticed there hasn’t been any for months hehe.
On a side note: as I finish writing this I’ve just had another idea on how to make a different sort of metallic side table. Hmmm!
I spotted this on Pinterest a while ago:
I wanted to add the link to the original post but it seems the blog has been deleted. I don’t know if someone DIYed this or if you can purchase it from a store somewhere.
Totally inspired by the look of this stag head I figured I could use it as an idea for my daughters room! I wish I was capable enough to do appliquéd patchwork type of stuff but that’s a little out of my realm of creativity. Maybe one day I’ll give it a go. If I ever get together with you Joanna, you can show me how it’s done. 
For now though, this is my take on the idea:
Total cost = $1 (That’s how much I paid for the cushion) Everything else was on hand.
I made this while I watched The Shining last night haha.
So in 2008, yes 2008… I bought this:
I only know I bought it in 2008 because of this blog haha. I posted here the weekend I got it.
Anyway, Miss V’s room needs a new lighting fixture. All it has is a light bulb because the boys one day threw something in the air and managed to smash their bedroom light shade. Can you see me shaking my head? I am. I have a million stories like this lol.
What I want for her bedroom is this:
I saw one for $99 last year and knew I should have scooped it up. It’s pretty affordable anyway but right now my budget is close to non existent so for now I have to make it work with what I got. Challenge accepted.
The lampshade I bought in 2008, I originally intended to spray paint orange. Never quite got there though because I fell pregnant that month with Boston and the exhaustion from the pregnancy kicked my butt.
So here we are years later and a few months back I found this. Pretty sure it’s from one of my favourite blogs because I recognise the room it’s in. It just happens to be one of my favourite kids rooms ever. EVER. Eh-Verrr.
Don’t you love that huge bulb? I die. I’m going to find one. As for the lampshade I figured, I can do that! I had a lampshade just sitting there waiting and I knew I could find the fabric to cover it so off I went and pulled my gear out of the studio to get to work.
Big thanks to Karley Feaver who sent me some fabric last year. I finally got to use some of it! I’ve been wanting an excuse to use that fabric.
I rummaged through my fabrics and pulled out four samples. Here’s what I was inspired to do:
Steps one and two.
Steps three and four.
Hopefully I can get my hands on one of those large bulbs and I can get Miss V’s room looking half as good as the one above. I’m still considering maybe adding some flowers or beads to the shade. If I do I’ll update you.
Total cost = Free (maybe $1 for everything)
This is one of the little accessories in Boston’s bedroom. It’s from a bag of letters I picked up from a second hand store for $4. Score! I did this B sometime last year and just never got around to posting it up. I have a thing for words/text/letters/initials/monograms. There is one more 40cm B that I’m working on for Bostons room. I’ll share what I’ve done to that one as soon as I’m done this time around.
I still haven’t bought the fabric for his curtains (insert eye roll) but he’s been living in his room for a while and is sooo cute every time he’s in there. Every time he wakes up he has to open up his curtains. Every day he asks to be lifted up to touch his photo mobile that hangs above his bed. He looks at the photos and names the people in them, “Haaas(Nas), Aya (Vahnija), baby (him)” it’s gorgeous. He jumps on his yellow chair (which still needs a little bit of work too) and plays with his brothers and sister in there. It’s no wonder we call him Boss, that’s exactly how he walks around. He really suits his name.
To go back and see Boston’s room process you can visit here (scroll down to see the list of posts) and here.
