found chair makeover for fifteen dollars
I’d been scouring Craigslist for a small desk for my daughter’s bedroom re-do, but after three months of no-go and a birthday deadline fast approaching, I changed my plans last garbage day. With my neighbor’s blessing, I snagged her chair from the curb. It took about two hours to scrub and vacuum it clean. Then I repaired the loose wicker on the front legs, gave it a coat of white primer, and finished with two cans of Krylon Watermelon. (Still not sure about the monogram I taped off in the diamond pattern on the back of the chair — I was going for funky but think now it might be fussy. Thoughts?) Click to read the rest — and see the chair as it looked before Sarah’s magic! (more…)
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help! how do i display my cds?
Chana writes:
I have a ton of old CDs that are not being used due to the convienience of mp3 players. I cannot part with them so they just collect dust in those CD books, taking up space. I love music and was thinking it would be interesting to display the ones that have colorful artwork. I have searched the Internet to see if anyone has crafted such a thing, but only come up with CD storage frames. Anyone have any idea how to frame cds in a collage without having to ruin them with glue?
Hmm…Well, Chana, we actually like the storage frames at Billboard CD Frame — is it not having a case that’s the problem, or are you simply looking for a more 2D solution? You could try attaching the case art to a magnetic board like this one, or slipping them into a ribboned bulletin board. You could also try adapting this Curbly DIY on hanging photos using a wire (photo here). But maybe you want a more finished, framed look. Readers, any suggestions?
Photo by Meow
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get re-energized by design!
This is a sponsored post.
What is Re-Energized by Design, you ask? Well, it is an awesome web series that Shelterrific is excited to be participating in — produced by Puget Sound Energy, it’s all about incorporating energy efficiency into home design. The challenge is this: six teams of homeowners are paired with design coaches and together they compete to re-design 5 rooms with a focus on saving energy with a small budget. Cameras are documenting each leg of the challenge, and with every room one team gets the boot! The prizes are great: a home full of new LED and CFL lightbulbs from GE, a full suite of kitchen and laundry appliances from Frigidaire, and $5000.
I was fortunate to be paired with the Bedford family, who are just delightful. Kristen and her husband Slade have a great contemporary house, fun design aesthetic, and are really willing to completely put themselves into every challenge. This experience for me has literally been re-energizing to me as well, ending a year-long creative rut and getting me back into blogging and crafting and having fun again. I can’t wait to share what we’ve created together.
But as of today, I won’t have to wait much longer, as the first webisode is available at 6am PST at the Re-Energized By Design site — this week’s is an introduction to all the contestants. And stay tuned each week as we reveal another webisode. Also be sure to go to the Re-Energized page on Facebook, where you can enter to win a new Frigidaire appliance like those featured in the challenge!
babyccino diy: how to make a bib out of an old kitchen towel
Babyccino is the best of both worlds: fun and simple tips on living with kids from women in the cosmopolitan meccas of London, Amsterdam, Rome, and Milan — plus contributors from New York City, DC, and more. Their occasional Theme Weeks are full of tips from how to whip up a quick croque monsieur to fun crafts that keep your child happy and occupied. They have DIYs too, of course — like this cute way to make your own bibs from recycled kitchen towels, part of the recent “Simple Living” Theme Week. The how-to is after the jump. Thanks, Babyccino! (more…)
easy halloween diy: groovy ghosts
As we are truly celebrating Halloween this month at Shelterrific, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for every cool bit of ghoulish decor I can. A friend recently made a bunch of these adorable ghosts in no time flat using just four items: a white balloon, a sharpie, monofilament line, and white tulle (she actually used white and off-white). I thought they would be perfect as a super easy, kid-friendly holiday craft — just blow up the balloons, draw on your favorite spooky face, and cover with two roughly cut half-yard lengths of tulle (it’s fun to shred them around the base, too). Tie around the base of the balloon with monofilament line, and then hang. I can just imagine these hanging at different heights in a giant picture window, or perhaps hiding among trees with some twinkle lights to illuminate? –Megan B.
target halloween giveaway spooky decor contest, entry #2: karla’s bat magic
Our second entry is frighteningly fabulous in a completely different way! This one comes from Karla from the inspiring site It’s the little things that make a house a home… So what do you think — can you beat Karla at the bats or out-scream Tracy? If so, you better enter now — otherwise it’s going to be a two-person contest! See all the rules here. (Remember, you can decorate your whole block, or just your cubicle at work. And our readers will choose the winner! Voting will take place in an upcoming post.) Click for more of Karla’s bat magic! (more…)
